The Car Thread!

[QCzar]

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you a long overdue addition to the Misc family of threads.

I must admit, I find it unsettling that this thread wasn't already here. Consider this the all encompassing, uber-automotive discussion zone, with unlimited lb/ft of torque and no brakes. All things auto are on the table and its no holds barred.

Just got a brand new car? Tell us about it.

Hate American cars? Indulge us.

Putting the finishing touches on that classic you've been working on for years? Tell us how its going.

Think Fifth Gear is better than Top Gear? Well then you're just a dunce, but feel free to join in anyway.

This is the Car Thread. Let's get rollin'!

 

[Emher]

I like this thread already

And no, there is nooo way Fifth Gear is better then Top Gear!

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Top Geat is not so much a car show as a situation comedy about 3 guys who get up to all sorts of scrapes and present a car consumer TV show. Think "Last of the Summer Wine" meets "The Kumars at No. 42". [You don't watch much TV, do you? - someone]

 

[tomalak301]

I hate american cars but I do have a Saturn 2000 model. I got it from my parents, who in turn got it from my aunt. That model (The L) was before American cars turned to crap and I got my license with it. I will look forward to buying a japanese made car when I can though, hopefully in the next few years.

 

[Tomato]

Ohh I was going to buy a Honda civic coupe. Yes being asian that does stereo type me. But the price everything about that car was perfect for me. The day before I was going to put my down payment. I got an e-mail saying that I have been accepted for an interview for a MBA down in the States.

So the honda is now on hold.. LOL.. And a plane ticket with my fingers crossed is where I am at.

I was sooo pumped I'm 26 and it was going to be my first car. LOL

 

[Gaseous Anomaly]

I love classic cars. Here are a few pictures I took at the auto show a couple weeks back.

 

[Tomato]

^

Love american Muscle cars. I always wanted a corvette and have been drawn to American cars. It is just the reliability which scares me off.

 

[Holdfast]

A couple of old bangers...

 

[thestrangequark]

^They'll go so well with your new suit!

I can appreciate the beauty of a classic car. My dad's a fanatic. He has a powder blue 1963 Ford Falcon that is very nice.

 

[Tim]

Well, all the car photos I have handy are of my Mexican-assembled hot-rod.

I imagine my car looks like this instead of being coated in road salt right now.

$ ==>

 

[Emher]

I hate american cars but I do have a Saturn 2000 model. I got it from my parents, who in turn got it from my aunt. That model (The L) was before American cars turned to crap and I got my license with it. I will look forward to buying a japanese made car when I can though, hopefully in the next few years.

Just out of curiousity, why do you hate American cars?

I love classic cars. Here are a few pictures I took at the auto show a couple weeks back.

I wouldn't mind having any of those Camaro's....

 

[jkladis]

Just out of curiousity, why do you hate American cars?

My friend, your love for American muscle cars is most noble, but you have to understand where this bitter sentiment comes from. I think it was Car and Driver magazine that printed a nice article about the state of American cars. They acknowledge that the last couple of years offers better, faster, more fuel efficient models, but with the state of that industry, it may be too late. Many of us are still mentally scarred from the models we've owned through the 80s and 90s and some in this century.

They're by no means lemons. Those built around established engines have very reliable powertrains. It's everything else that reflected the lack of quality control. Corrosive tendencies, endless interior and exterior trim pieces falling or easily breaking off, premature electrical failures, etc.

My favorite is Fords. The ride, the sounds, the feel, the handling, after about 30-60k miles, it becomes a totally different vehicle. Like a Transformer that needed me to shake it up first. Those of us who are observant of these things and like to get under the hood start to notice they are just not as solid.

 

[Pikey]

Just to chip in, here is my car. Its a 2000 Peugeot 306 after a not brilliant home polish and wax!

 

[QCzar]

I have always wondered, especially in Ford's case, why all that high quality fit and finish from some of their European marquees hasn't rubbed off on them? Some of the more recent models, the Lincoln MKS for example, seem to be reversing the trend. At least, I hope they do.

Check out the new Taurus (aka Ford MKS).

pictures from AutoBlog.com

It seems like they're trying to Mondeo'ize their American offerings. Not necessarily a bad thing, mind you. I have always been appalled at how much better looking Ford's Euro products are compared to the mostly crap we get (excepting, of course, the Pony).

The Taurus doesn't look really different from the Accord and the Camry, but it sure as hell looks a lot better than the crap they had before. Maybe this can put Ford back in the running at least. I think they're going to have to do a lot to restore the Taurus name.

I am more interested in another former Ford product:

I miiight consider selling a kidney for that beauty. Sex on wheels, that.

 

[Emher]

Just out of curiousity, why do you hate American cars?

My friend, your love for American muscle cars is most noble, but you have to understand where this bitter sentiment comes from. I think it was Car and Driver magazine that printed a nice article about the state of American cars. They acknowledge that the last couple of years offers better, faster, more fuel efficient models, but with the state of that industry, it may be too late. Many of us are still mentally scarred from the models we've owned through the 80s and 90s and some in this century.

They're by no means lemons. Those built around established engines have very reliable powertrains. It's everything else that reflected the lack of quality control. Corrosive tendencies, endless interior and exterior trim pieces falling or easily breaking off, premature electrical failures, etc.

My favorite is Fords. The ride, the sounds, the feel, the handling, after about 30-60k miles, it becomes a totally different vehicle. Like a Transformer that needed me to shake it up first. Those of us who are observant of these things and like to get under the hood start to notice they are just not as solid.

So bascially it's like my mom and parmesan. She had a bad experience with it when she was a kid, and now won't eat it. I'm saddened that so many can't see past things that happened. Then again I drive a GM car from the late nighties and love it (just a 4-cylinder btw, there are awesome cars that are not muscle cars).

Also I'm one who rather chooses a car for it's soul then for it's reliability. Sure it does factor in, but if someone gave me the choice of a Toyota Camry and Dodge Challenger R/T I wouldn't care if the Challenger broke down five times a year. I'd rather have that then fall asleep behind the Camrys wheel.

Then again, I quite detest Toyota. Not becuase they're Asian, but because they're just boring. Honda for one totally gets that you have to have both practial and fun cars, while toyota goes with their boring "reliable"-shtick (and they beginning to lose that since they where so dead set on being number one that they started lacking in their quailty control and have done some big recalls as of late).

And I'm sorry, but do you mean that Fords are you're favorits as in a ngetaive or a positive way? Personally the only Ford I'd consider buying is they Mustang, but that gets changed now into a much uglier exterior. The new European Mondeo and Fiesta, I admit, are good looking cars, but I hardly expect them to be function well. Here I amn guilty of the past crimes one, but also of the current crimes. My grandfather has adamtly stuck with Ford his whole life, and ever since the 80s he's been buying new ones with increased frequency sine they keep getting worn out quicker.

Another example, my dad was a long time buyer of Volvos, but after having had four different ones troughout the 90s, and having mor eand more problems with them, he switched to a 1999 Saab 9-5. That' the car that I drive now, we've had it for seven years, driven LOTS of miles on it, and the only that that's failer was the fuel pump and now recently the A/C computer is acting up. Other then that it just works. It starts every morning, it's got very decent mileage, it's comfortable, it's okay roomy, and the 192 hp 4-cylinder has a veeery nice kick for it's size.


Emher,
GM fanboy

 

[Jeri]

2006 Chrysler 300C SRT8 425 hp, built in Canada while Daimler still owned it.

"Monsta"

"An INTeresting monsta needs an INTeresting hairdo." -- Bugs Bunny

 

[Warp Coil]

I own a 2006 Honda Accord coupe. I'm partial to Japanese brands (Toyota and Honda, specifically). I am quite hesitant to look at American automakers seriously. The "Big Three" really screwed themselves over nicely. For so many years, they relied on their truck and SUV profits. They didn't give a damn about small and mid-sized cars... at least, not in the U.S. American automakers had no problem selling the same old, outdated, poorly-styled cars year after year. There was no innovation. No sense of style or character. They did the bare minimum. The Japenese competitors kept pushing ahead, and eventually reached the top. The U.S. brands have been playing catch-up ever since.

Granted, I'm happy to see GM and Ford finally stepping up to the plate. Some of their recent entries - the new Chevy Malibu, the upcoming Ford Fiesta and Taurus, even the new and upcoming Buicks seem to have taken substantial leaps in quality and style over their predecessors. I just hope it isn't too late for them. GM still has way too many brands and nameplates, and has suffered from years of mismanagement (hence their current financial crisis). I hope they finally pull their heads out of the sand and take corrective action.

 

[Tim]

I'm partial to Japanese brands (Toyota and Honda, specifically). I am quite hesitant to look at American automakers seriously. The "Big Three" really screwed themselves over nicely. For so many years, they relied on their truck and SUV profits. They didn't give a damn about small and mid-sized cars... at least, not in the U.S. American automakers had no problem selling the same old, outdated, poorly-styled cars year after year.

To be fair, the American public didn't seem to have much problem buying up those horrendous gas guzzlers in droves, compounding the problem. At least Ford kept up with offerings of smaller economy cars (the Focus and Ka, for example) in Europe, which seems to have left the company in better financial shape as they have yet to request a bailout.

 

[nx1701g]

I'm partial to Japanese brands (Toyota and Honda, specifically). I am quite hesitant to look at American automakers seriously. The "Big Three" really screwed themselves over nicely. For so many years, they relied on their truck and SUV profits. They didn't give a damn about small and mid-sized cars... at least, not in the U.S. American automakers had no problem selling the same old, outdated, poorly-styled cars year after year.

To be fair, the American public didn't seem to have much problem buying up those horrendous gas guzzlers in droves, compounding the problem. At least Ford kept up with offerings of smaller economy cars (the Focus and Ka, for example) in Europe, which seems to have left the company in better financial shape as they have yet to request a bailout.

I'm sorry to say that I'm one of the people who buys Gas Guzzlers. My latest vehicle purchases:

November 2006 - 2006 Dodge Ram 1500
September 2008 - 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 (Returned my 2006)
November 2008 - 2006 Jeep Liberty (Borrowed from my parents after returning the 2009 due to frequent mechanical problems and high payment)
January 2009 - 2009 Dodge Ram 1500
February 2009 - 2008 Ford Escape (Returned the Ram for the EXACT SAME PROBLEM as the first)

 

[Warp Coil]

I'm partial to Japanese brands (Toyota and Honda, specifically). I am quite hesitant to look at American automakers seriously. The "Big Three" really screwed themselves over nicely. For so many years, they relied on their truck and SUV profits. They didn't give a damn about small and mid-sized cars... at least, not in the U.S. American automakers had no problem selling the same old, outdated, poorly-styled cars year after year.

To be fair, the American public didn't seem to have much problem buying up those horrendous gas guzzlers in droves, compounding the problem. At least Ford kept up with offerings of smaller economy cars (the Focus and Ka, for example) in Europe, which seems to have left the company in better financial shape as they have yet to request a bailout.

I'm sorry to say that I'm one of the people who buys Gas Guzzlers. My latest vehicle purchases:

November 2006 - 2006 Dodge Ram 1500
September 2008 - 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 (Returned my 2006)
November 2008 - 2006 Jeep Liberty (Borrowed from my parents after returning the 2009 due to frequent mechanical problems and high payment)
January 2009 - 2009 Dodge Ram 1500
February 2009 - 2008 Ford Escape (Returned the Ram for the EXACT SAME PROBLEM as the first)

So I take it your next vehicle will be another Dodge Ram?

After one or two bad vehicles from a particular brand, I'd be inclined to switch to a different company real fast!