Car advice

[sinij]

but remember your going to recoup the extra money by saving on gas in about 5 years, so if you get rid of it in 3 years you may want to think on that.

Gas prices should be at least double at what they are now to make up for increased cost on 75k/day commute. Hybrids are status symbol for aging hippies, nothing more. They are not environmentally friendly (disposal of old batteries), they are not safe (high voltage arcs in crashes) and extra costs over comparable gasoline or diesel engine is well over what you get in gas savings.

[edlavallee]

Gas prices should be at least double at what they are now to make up for increased cost on 75k/day commute. Hybrids are status symbol for aging hippies, nothing more. They are not environmentally friendly (disposal of old batteries), they are not safe (high voltage arcs in crashes) and extra costs over comparable gasoline or diesel engine is well over what you get in gas savings.

To qualify the comments above, they are not more not environmentally friendly (disposal of old batteries), they are not more safe (high voltage arcs in crashes) and extra costs over comparable gasoline or diesel engine is well  over what you get in gas savings.

--> Business Week article
--> Edmunds.com article

The halo that hybrids have these days are the fortunate benefit of good timing and good PR. Hybrids have a long way to go to be a more than just a green political statement and more mainstream. The US Government needs to commit to a cooperative development program and let the scientists develop something better.

--> Southern Maryland article on the PROGRESS Act

[Sky]

I want a hybrid just so I don't have to buy gas but once every six months or more. I almost never do highway travel in my car, and even if I did, I'd use less gas.

Fuck the environment, I'm not all that worried about it. I'd rather not destroy it utterly, but we're not exactly at some crisis point right now, despite what the environuts will tell you. And I did mention earlier the need for serious investments in battery technologies.

Fuck the cost:benefit analysis.

Fuck the 'safety issues' (I used to drive an OMGFLIPPY SUV).

It's all about fucking over those arab assholes. Economic warfare. It's gotta start somewhere.

[Righ]

That's why American cars should run on maize, broccoli, peanuts and oreos.

[Strazos]

Why throw away perfectly good Oreos?

[sinij]

That's why American cars should run on maize, broccoli, peanuts and oreos.

American cars should run on assfat and redneck stupidity that got Bush into the office.

[Sky]

While that would be fine justice, it's more likely they'll run on the tears of the rest of us.

[Jimbo]

I could run a diesel truck/car on french fry grease...does that count as assfat?   

I think my new car is okay and it gets good gas milage, but it isn't fun to drive.  The most fun for me are fullsize trucks and jeeps.  God I miss my 2000 Wrangler allready!  I miss being able to jump curbs, burn out in all 4 tires, put the top down and cruise, and the fact that if I when I fell asleep one morning and wander into the ditch and a farmers field all I had to do was kick it in fourwheel and get out of there...

I despise the jeep liberty, compass, and comander, and I hate that they teased us at the auto show of jeep diesel pick up with a manual transmisson. 

[MisterNoisy]

Not that it matters to anyone, but I just pulled the trigger on a 2007 Scion tC.  No options (the base car comes pretty much loaded), and it's a ton of fun to drive, if not a proper 'sports car'.  The 160-hp Camry 4-cyl engine tied to a fair amount less car, a slick-shifting 5-speed and a nicely buttoned down suspension that doesn't beat the shit out of you.  Pulls strongly from about 2K through 4K (where I stopped, since I'm in the breakin phase of ownership).

I got a kick out of the whole 'Scion buying experience', to be honest.  No negotiating on the price or on your trade-in (flat KBB for condition/mileage), so it's like walking into Best Buy and buying a new console or something.  Like the Saturn thing, but taken a step further, really.  If you don't like their price/terms/product, you go elsewhere.  I was out of there in my new car about 1 hour after entering, and didn't really have to worry about whether or not I'd gotten a 'bad deal'.  It helps that they throw all the goodies in the base model for $17K - everything else is either bad-sounding audio gear (the factory system is quite alright, imo - that extra shit fucks it all up) or overpriced dealer add-ons.

A far cry from the local Honda dealership which made even asking what they were charging for the Civic Si a freaking chore that lasted 3 days via email.

[NiX]

Also, any used car buying advice? I've been reading a fair bit and generally it's never settle for what they want, try and finance outside of the dealers and never give into their crap.

[Engels]

Also, any used car buying advice? I've been reading a fair bit and generally it's never settle for what they want, try and finance outside of the dealers and never give into their crap.

I've done quite a bit of used car shopping, 6 months finding the right porsche, then 2 months finding the right BMW, and my rule of thumb is, if the dealer's haggling too hard, do not trust what they're selling. A dealer that accepts the limits you give him straight up and seems to respect that, and works with that is someone you can work with. Also, do a buyer's inspection unless for whatever reason you feel 100% certain you know what you're getting.

Cautionary tale: I go to a BMW dealer, guy tells me the car I'm looking at has 'special tires' and has had a 'full service' a week ago. All seems great and fine, I'm pleasantly surprised at his modest asking price, so I tell him that I think this is going to be my car, but lets just go ahead and do a buyers inspection. He aquiesces, and voila, sure enough; the tires are knock off all weather gear tires with about 2k miles left on two of them; the oil in the tank is dirty, the shock covers are cracked and that's just a preliminary appraisal.

The buyers inspection cost me 100 bucks, but imagine the hurt on the wallet if I'd believed the dealer. Moral of the story: If it sounds too good to be true, live in hope, but do a buyer's inspection. Dealers know they can get you if they can persuade you that you are getting  a sweet deal.

[edlavallee]

More buy American propaganda from your friend in Detroit.

Quality, bitches!


Would be nice if this article was in the NYT or LA Times, but I am nothing if not patient.