Car advice

[edlavallee]

Ooooh... can you get me a Aston Martin cheap?  I promise I'll never ask you for anything ever again if you can! 

For one of these:


You could have one of these:


and this:


And still have plenty of cash left over for a nice flat in the city.

The Aston is a nice looking car, but I can't live in it.

[Signe]

Righ has been thinking about a Corvette.  We've been in the US for ages and he misses driving a proper sportscar.  I don't like SUVs a bit and Hummers are probably the biggest and the worst of the lot.  I can't imagine why anyone would have one.  I suppose they need room to lug their gigantic penises around.  Anyway... I could live in an Aston Martin.  I just can't afford to buy one.    

[Engels]

Righ has been thinking about a Corvette.   he misses driving a proper sportscar. 

Righ, have you test driven a Corvette? Because last time I drove one, in the late 90s, they were terrible. I mean, just awful. If you are into american sports cars, look at a new thunderbird. But short of finding a restored 70s Stingray, stay the heck away from new Corvettes. I'm talking water leaks in the convertible, shuddering fiberglass and bad structural integrity. That'd be ok if it were a 'budget' sports car, but they aren't! A new corvette is more expensive than a new bmw z4!

[Signe]

We haven't driven one yet so who knows.  An old restored one is always a possibility, too.  I don't like the BMWs, so that's out.  You can get older TVRs here, but they're hard to find.  It would have solved everything if we were allowed to drive our car more than 2500 miles per year in the US.  Oh well.  We really just want something fun to drive.  I wouldn't even mind one of those Minis... how much more fun could you have zipping around corners?  At least the proper Mini Coopers were fun for that sort of thing.  With my luck, however, I'd be run over by a Hummer first corner I zipped around!  God, I despise SUVs.

[Engels]

The new Minis are made by BMW :P But I understand the aversion to BMW. They are awful 'serious' cars, even by German standards. Well built, luxurious, but they do lack a certain je ne sais quoi. I own one now, a newer one, and I miss my old Porsche desperately. There's nothing 'wrong' with my new car, that I can put my finger on. But its missing an ineffable fun quality that my 82 911 SC had in spades, even if it was a loud, bumpy and fastidious car.

To be honest, I suspect that most modern sports cars are somewhat all alike with their desire to insulate the driver from the road. Suspension vs gritty feel, sound insulation vs hardened handling; we've all turned into wimps when it comes to zooming about. I even test drove a 1990 porsche 911, the new water cooled kind. It broke my heart.

[Righ]

The Corvette declined with each successive model up to the C4, moving from sports car to poor muscle car. I suspect that's what you drove Engels? Apparently they're pretty awful, and the fact that you can buy them for peanuts supports this. The C5 is the first Corvette to have been built like a European sports car and even managed to get the spoiled Euro pundits to accept them. So, I'd really only be interested in reasonably contemporary Vettes.

And I don't consider a Thunderbird a sports car. I'm not sure what I consider it. White elephant, perhaps.

[Engels]

Well, I suggested the t-bird simply because I assumed that anyone considering an american sports car was going for some form of classical legacy romantic buz rather than actual sports car performance. In which case, you can always find restored 60s mustangs out there for that fix too.

To be honest, I do not know exactly what Corvette I drove. I just remember the feeling that I was in a toyota with a toy plastic body strapped onto it.

I'm surprised to hear you say they are cheap. Looking at the classifieds for both new and used, the prices seem really steep to me. I guess its all relative, but for that kind of money, you can find porsches in very good condition and even with my aversion to water cooled porsches, its still no contest.

If you test drive some cars this weekend, let me know your impressions.

[Signe]

I don't dislike BMWs, I meant I didn't like the Z series.  Personally, I like pointy cars and those are mostly roundy.  One of our TVRs was more roundy than I would prefer but it was good fun so I let it slide.  Astons aren't exactly pointy but they're very dreamy.  Since Righ does most of his work from home and we hardly go anywhere, I'm really not fussed about what we drive.  It was different in the UK because we were always on the road.

Nix, don't buy a Lada.

[edlavallee]

Righ has been thinking about a Corvette.   he misses driving a proper sportscar. 

Righ, have you test driven a Corvette? Because last time I drove one, in the late 90s, they were terrible. I mean, just awful. If you are into american sports cars, look at a new thunderbird. But short of finding a restored 70s Stingray, stay the heck away from new Corvettes. I'm talking water leaks in the convertible, shuddering fiberglass and bad structural integrity. That'd be ok if it were a 'budget' sports car, but they aren't! A new corvette is more expensive than a new bmw z4!

Ack! The new Corvettes are awesome and the rumors about quality on the new (no longer being produced) Thunderbirds are atrocious. Those comments above about the Corvette are not all that accurate.

And as for the BMW Z4, I have driven it and aside from being a very expensive Miata clone, the car is also small, cramped and underpowered.

I love the looks of the Aston tho... I might not be able to live in it, but if it were a woman, I would want to.


edit -- formatting.

[edlavallee]

Righ has been thinking about a Corvette.  We've been in the US for ages and he misses driving a proper sportscar.  I don't like SUVs a bit and Hummers are probably the biggest and the worst of the lot.  I can't imagine why anyone would have one.  I suppose they need room to lug their gigantic penises around.  Anyway... I could live in an Aston Martin.  I just can't afford to buy one.    

Heh, funny thing is right now I am driving what you would call the biggest and worst (in terms of economy) of the lot. But thank you for the anatomical compliment.... I must tell the wife she should feel very fortunate.

[murdoc]

I've been keeping an eye out for a '91 GMC Syclone here, but haven't seen one for a few years.



4.3L Turbocharged V6 in an AWD truck. WOO WOO

[Nija]

You guys talking about problems with new Corvettes are crazy. Everyting '98 and up is amazing. You can find a great shape Z06 for around $30k now.

As far as Syclones go, I park next to a guy with a teal/gray Typhoon. It's incredibly clean and awesome. We've got the coolest cars in the garage.

[bhodi]

The smaller the better. I drive a 2D GTI. I'm a small single guy, I don't need a big car. Currently a 2000 model, I'll be upgading to the 2007 when it comes out (with all the features, which don't happen until day 52 of the model year).

[edlavallee]

Bhodi (small man) and his (not big) car:



Just kidding... Just couldnt get the image out of my mind and this was the only way to get past it and start thinking about work again.

[bhodi]

haha you just made me laugh! What the heck is that?

[edlavallee]

Pic of a kid with his go-kart. You know the kind made with an old lawn mower motor complete with the yank to start...

Gosh, you look so innocent and fresh faced in that photo too...

[Sky]

I miss racing gokarts. Lived down the road from a track, we used to get a ton of free rides because all the employees were our neighbors.

I'd also think of getting a Mini if it weren't for the improper scale of vehicles in the US. I love little cars with good handling, probably from years of racing gocarts.

[Engels]

You guys talking about problems with new Corvettes are crazy. Everyting '98 and up is amazing. You can find a great shape Z06 for around $30k now.

As far as Syclones go, I park next to a guy with a teal/gray Typhoon. It's incredibly clean and awesome. We've got the coolest cars in the garage.

Could very well be that the new corvettes are better than the POS I drove; it was a mid 90s car. If the vettes are now so awsome, it would explain why they are so expensive.

[Signe]

I'd also think of getting a Mini if it weren't for the improper scale of vehicles in the US.

It's kind of scary, isn't it?  We went for a drive yesterday and I was noticing how many SUVs and pick-up trucks were on the road.  In fact, almost everything I saw was HUGE.  I was surprised at the number of pick-ups, though.  It seems strange for PA to have so many. 

[shiznitz]

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060801/auto_sales.html?.v=10

"General Motors Corp., the world's largest automaker, said its sales fell 22.2 percent, with trucks falling 31.2 percent and cars inching down 2.7 percent."

The SUV boom is ending, crashing even.

[Signe]

Righ was talking about that the other day.  It's good news, I think.  No offense to Edlavallee, but I have a feeling he drives a Hummer mostly because he sells them.  My dad used to sell cars when I was a kid and we never knew what he'd be driving from one day to the next.

[Sky]

It's kind of scary, isn't it?   

I'm not scared of much, I've had a lot of EXTREME hobbies (before it was a Mt Dew thing) like rock climbing and cliff diving. But I'm scared of interstate traffic, big rigs, specifically. I've always had a hard time sleeping in cars (control issues), but the last four times I have, I've woken to the driver just about to swerve into a big rig or vice versa. Waking up to see such a monstrosity looming and drawing closer, whilst the controller of my vehicle is somehow not making a correction to avoid death...well, it sucks.

What I'd really like is a plug-in hybrid. Hopefully there'll be something better than the Prius+aftermarket kit by the time I'm shopping. Not sure I could live without my cargo capacity (used to have a Jeep Cherokee, now have a small pickup).

[NiX]

Nix, don't buy a Lada.

Why didn't you tell me this before!?!

I just bought this:

[edlavallee]

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060801/auto_sales.html?.v=10

"General Motors Corp., the world's largest automaker, said its sales fell 22.2 percent, with trucks falling 31.2 percent and cars inching down 2.7 percent."

The SUV boom is ending, crashing even.

SUV boom as a whole is crashing under the weight of the oil prices. The new SUV's (Yukon/Tahoe) are up based on being a new model, however every automaker is now having to revisit their product plans in light of $3/gallon gas. E85 and other technologies are on the horizon, although the gas based alternatives (every hybrid out there) have a very limited future if this keeps up.

One promising news item is the proposals currently in the government regarding creating a "Manhattan Project"-like initiative to come up with alternative fuels to reduce the reliance on gas. About 25 years too late in my opinion, but better late than never.

And Signe, you are right -- I drive one because I didn't have a choice (although I am not a plaid sports coat sales guy). I tend to like convertibles. This sucker is just too big and is really hard to park. I do generate a great many terrified stares when I decide I want to merge tho... You ain't gonna stop me.

[Strazos]

Right, I know you guys have a mid-90s (Correct?) Mustang GT now and are looking to dump it, but I'd at least give the new Cobra a look when it comes out.

[Righ]

98. I'd rather not get a brand new car, and I'm rather keen to rid myself of the Mustang's rear suspension. :P

[Strazos]

I've driven one of the new Mustangs. The new rear is vastly improved. I can only imagine that a Cobra's would be markedly better.

If you want to get something used but fun...um...Audi TT?

[Signe]

Audi makes pretty cars.

Now I want this:



I don't think they'll give it to me, though.     I know I said I like pointy cars but this one is like pointy and roundy at the same time. 

[Hanzii]

Audi is the new Porsche.

Classic Porsches are great, but the new ones aren't - we have constructors, electricians and whatnot using the Cayenne as a work car. That car is just plain wrong and as 4x4's go, the VW Touareg is cooler...

Now my boss drives a '73 911 - that's a nice car, but with two kids I could get a nice used BMW stationcar for that kind of money... which I don't have so I drive a Fiat.

[MisterNoisy]

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060801/auto_sales.html?.v=10

"General Motors Corp., the world's largest automaker, said its sales fell 22.2 percent, with trucks falling 31.2 percent and cars inching down 2.7 percent."

The SUV boom is ending, crashing even.

Actually, it's just the domestic auto industry - import light truck (incl SUVs) sales are pretty flat, while domestic light trucks dropped just shy of 30% compared to a year ago:

http://wardsauto.com/keydata/USSalesSummary0607.xls

[edlavallee]

And now for some amazing spin control:
http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=3&docid=27722

General Motors' dealers in the United States sold 410,332 new cars and trucks in July, the company's best retail and second-best monthly sales performance year-to-date.

"July was our best retail month of 2006, with our strong performance led by launch vehicles such as the Pontiac Torrent and G6, Saturn Sky, Chevrolet Cobalt and Impala and Buick Lucerne," said Mark LaNeve, General Motors North America vice president, Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. "Importantly, our performance in June and July shows we're gaining substantial sales momentum and stabilizing market share. We remain optimistic moving into the launches of the Saturn Aura, fuel-efficient Vue Green Line hybrid and Outlook crossover, GMC Acadia crossover, the all-new Chevrolet Silverado pickup and Aveo economy car, and the exciting new GMC Sierra full-size pickup."

[Hanzii]

F-150 Lightning reviewed:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=eR8d2Kn9HCs&mode=related&search=

"The worst car I ever drove was a Russian jeep in Saigon, Vietnam.
The critical word in that sentence is: Was!"

[StGabe]

I bought a Yaris 2 months back.  Already put 4.5k miles on it.  I love it.  Drove 4 of us the 300 miles to Vegas and it was plenty comfortable.  It has never gotten under 35mpg.  It doesn't have a lot of hp but it's so tiny that it still has plenty of oomph.  One of the best bits for me, living in the city without my own parking spot, is that I find parking spots all the time that few other people can take.

Cost me under 15k, with an automatic transmission, a few other options, and a 6 year / 100k warranty. :)

Other cars I looked at were the Scion xA and the Toyota Matrix.  Both great cars as well.  I considered a Prius but I just don't think they are worth it (and most of the other hybrids don't get good enough gas mileage to be considered over the other cars I was looking at).  Even with gas as costly as it is you'd still have to drive a LOT to save money when you can get such great mileage on another one of the small cars.  Plus I do mostly highway driving where I wouldn't see that much benefit anyway.

BTW, buy your car online.  Check out cars.com, carsdirect.com, etc.  I got one great quote from a dealer, asked a few other dealers if they could beat it (none did) and then had my car a few days later without having to bargain at all.

[Strazos]

F-150 Lightning reviewed:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=eR8d2Kn9HCs&mode=related&search=

"The worst car I ever drove was a Russian jeep in Saigon, Vietnam.
The critical word in that sentence is: Was!"

Well, to be somewhat fair, how many actual Trucks have they reviewed?

The Lightning is something of an abomination though - sportscar power without the handling, truck handling without the functionality (no 4x4? lol). Pick-ups just generally drive like shit if you're use to performance cars.

[sinij]

How about 2001 S60 Volvo? 2002 Honda Accord? 2001 Acura Integra? 2003 Toyota Echo?