Car lovers?

Paleocon wrote:
imbiginjapan wrote:

It's time to get rid of my wife's aging Mini before the engine consumes itself in soot. She's moving on to an Acura TLX coming off a lease. I guess we're getting older.

I went from a CooperS (for the same reasons) to a RDX.

I am still pretending that the Fancy Station Wagon invasion is a myth, but they are everywhere. At least I can get used sedans pretty cheaply because nobody wants them!

imbiginjapan wrote:
Paleocon wrote:
imbiginjapan wrote:

It's time to get rid of my wife's aging Mini before the engine consumes itself in soot. She's moving on to an Acura TLX coming off a lease. I guess we're getting older.

I went from a CooperS (for the same reasons) to a RDX.

I am still pretending that the Fancy Station Wagon invasion is a myth, but they are everywhere. At least I can get used sedans pretty cheaply because nobody wants them!

I am okay with the fancy station wagon. The regular trips to the shore with a 120g ice chest and deep sea rods is a lot less messy and stressful with the added cargo space.

We also have a sedan which we use for the longer commute.

BuzzW wrote:

I watched Craigslist for months. The guides I had read said to look out for rust (a common sight in the midwest) and they said for your first project car, choose a car that starts. After about five months, I bought a '77 Chevy Nova. Now I know Novas ain't exactly the coolest muscle cars.

3rd gen Nova SS was a handsome beast.

BuzzW wrote:

And I know a fourth-gen ain't even the coolest Nova. But it's a good start.

The 70s were very unkind to American muscle cars. In many ways.

Quintin_Stone wrote:
BuzzW wrote:

I watched Craigslist for months. The guides I had read said to look out for rust (a common sight in the midwest) and they said for your first project car, choose a car that starts. After about five months, I bought a '77 Chevy Nova. Now I know Novas ain't exactly the coolest muscle cars.

3rd gen Nova SS was a handsome beast.

BuzzW wrote:

And I know a fourth-gen ain't even the coolest Nova. But it's a good start.

The 70s were very unkind to American muscle cars. In many ways.

Clearly the 5th Gen Nova is where it's at.

Spoiler:

Seriously though, I know they get a lot of hate because they took the name of a muscle car and put it on a FWD compact, but they aren't badin their own right. I'm someone who has never loved muscle cars, and I do love small cars, so the NUMMI Nova appeals to me more than the previous versions.

Agreed on both points. My buddy has a third-gen Nova, love the way it looks. And yeah, the 70s. I think (checks wikipedia) yep, the Camaro in 1975 had a 145 hp V8. Early catalytic converters, yikes. And then there's whole whole engine-falling-apart thing.

Real muscle cars are going for like a gazillion dollars right now though. Part of the reason I wanted a cheap car was the possibility that I'd ruin it. I don't want to deal with the guilt of throwing a lot of money away OR ruining an actual classic car.

imbiginjapan wrote:
Paleocon wrote:
imbiginjapan wrote:

It's time to get rid of my wife's aging Mini before the engine consumes itself in soot. She's moving on to an Acura TLX coming off a lease. I guess we're getting older.

I went from a CooperS (for the same reasons) to a RDX.

I am still pretending that the Fancy Station Wagon invasion is a myth, but they are everywhere. At least I can get used sedans pretty cheaply because nobody wants them!

I actually have a thing for the real sporty wagons (not CUV). Problem is most people don't in America, so we don't get a lot of them.

IMAGE(http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/01-2012-audi-s4-avant-fd.jpg)

MannishBoy wrote:

I actually have a thing for the real sporty wagons (not CUV). Problem is most people don't in America, so we don't get a lot of them.

What's your take on the Jaguar XF Sportbrake? Yay or nay?
I'd consider a sporty, non-lifted wagon as it would carry my music gear well. I'm more unenthused about the CUV/compact SUV trend. They just, really don't do it for me. But then again I always seem to end up bucking trends with my car purchases. It's cheaper that way, it seems.

imbiginjapan wrote:
MannishBoy wrote:

I actually have a thing for the real sporty wagons (not CUV). Problem is most people don't in America, so we don't get a lot of them.

What's your take on the Jaguar XF Sportbrake? Yay or nay?
I'd consider a sporty, non-lifted wagon as it would carry my music gear well. I'm more unenthused about the CUV/compact SUV trend. They just, really don't do it for me. But then again I always seem to end up bucking trends with my car purchases. It's cheaper that way, it seems.

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/qPiCbnW.gif)

imbiginjapan wrote:
MannishBoy wrote:

I actually have a thing for the real sporty wagons (not CUV). Problem is most people don't in America, so we don't get a lot of them.

What's your take on the Jaguar XF Sportbrake? Yay or nay?
I'd consider a sporty, non-lifted wagon as it would carry my music gear well. I'm more unenthused about the CUV/compact SUV trend. They just, really don't do it for me. But then again I always seem to end up bucking trends with my car purchases. It's cheaper that way, it seems.

I like the looks of it a lot.

But then I like the F-Pace, too.

And am seriously considering a used Audi SQ5, which really are kind of plain looking, but has that sweet supercharged V6.

So I'm all over the place in what I like. I'd probably take a sport wagon over a sport CUV all things equal. I looked longingly at a used CTS V wagon before they started going up in price. Wish I'd have been more serious.

MannishBoy wrote:
imbiginjapan wrote:
MannishBoy wrote:

I actually have a thing for the real sporty wagons (not CUV). Problem is most people don't in America, so we don't get a lot of them.

What's your take on the Jaguar XF Sportbrake? Yay or nay?
I'd consider a sporty, non-lifted wagon as it would carry my music gear well. I'm more unenthused about the CUV/compact SUV trend. They just, really don't do it for me. But then again I always seem to end up bucking trends with my car purchases. It's cheaper that way, it seems.

I like the looks of it a lot.

But then I like the F-Pace, too.

And am seriously considering a used Audi SQ5, which really are kind of plain looking, but has that sweet supercharged V6.

So I'm all over the place in what I like. I'd probably take a sport wagon over a sport CUV all things equal. I looked longingly at a used CTS V wagon before they started going up in price. Wish I'd have been more serious.

A few days ago I had a loaner Porsche Macan from my dealer when my car was being serviced....never drove a crossover before and I was really impressed...I can only imagine what a Macan S would have been like.

If I were in your shoes I'd drive the F-Pace, but check out a Macan or Macan S (not sure on your price range,) if the F-Pace is better, let me know...and I may test drive one too

MannishBoy wrote:

I looked longingly at a used CTS V wagon before they started going up in price. Wish I'd have been more serious.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/20...

BuzzW wrote:

The rear brakes were in bad shape. The rivets on the shoes had worn grooves into the drum.

Luckily, the front discs looked a lot better:

I appreciate people who are good with cars, because I can't identify the problem from those photos. (And really, I don't belong in this thread, because this sentence in the original post ("This thread is not for those that see these machines purely as a means to get from A to B.") describes me. But I enjoy watching all you with your cars. I'll stick with my mundane Subaru hatchback.)

Hassasain wrote:

A few days ago I had a loaner Porsche Macan from my dealer when my car was being serviced....never drove a crossover before and I was really impressed...I can only imagine what a Macan S would have been like.

If I were in your shoes I'd drive the F-Pace, but check out a Macan or Macan S (not sure on your price range,) if the F-Pace is better, let me know...and I may test drive one too ;-)

I definitely like the Macan, but used their still out of my price range. IIRC, they're cousins to the Q5/SQ5 platform, just lighter with less room.

Considering prices on those is like the BMW M235i that I really liked. BMW and Porsche maintenance is pricey. Audi would be bad, but nothing like I've heard about the other two.

Price range is high 20's to mid 30's. Looking at off-lease 2-3 year old stuff.

I did look at this SQ5 this weekend. It's several thousand higher than I want to go, but really clean (had a clear bra on the front, so even the bumper is in good shape) and a year newer than the other SQ5's I've looked at:

IMAGE(https://img2.carmax.com/img/vehicles/15611831/1/v-0x8d58c4b722ba9cc/638.jpg)

But then, on the other hand, I drove this and really liked it, too (2015 Golf R) for $9K less money:

IMAGE(https://cdn-ds.com/stock/2015-Volkswagen-Golf-R-Franklin-TN/seo/VAMP6911-WVWLF7AU1FW167995/sz_89869/w_640/h_480/image-1.jpg)

Two totally different types of vehicles.

EverythingsTentative wrote:
MannishBoy wrote:

I looked longingly at a used CTS V wagon before they started going up in price. Wish I'd have been more serious.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/20...

Not liking the color, but everything else gets a thumbs up

I just impulse ordered a set of 235/40/18 Kumho Ecsta PS91s for my Focus ST, since Tire Rack had them for like $88 a tire. Anyone have any experience with this tire for dry/summer applications? The price sure seemed right.

I just put the FSWerks tune back on my car and I'm tired of the garbage traction I've been getting with spirited driving on my Toyos. I'm ready to actually hook up.

I used to run Kuhmo Ecsta Supra tires (215/55/17 front and 245/55/17 in back, IIRC) on my '71 Super Beetle. They stuck really well, didn't flex much (if at all) in turns that I ever noticed, though I never auto-crossed it. It's been years since I drove the thing, though, so my experience might not be a good barometer.

Some time back I ran a set of Kumho Ecsta as a summer tire that I also used for autocross. I had no problem with them but I went back to the Falken Azenis the following year, which felt a little grippier to me.

Sweet. Mine are getting mounted right now. Can't wait to test them out.

I also painted my brake calipers red over the weekend, so I'm sure they'll help me hook up with all the added brake horsepower that adds (+50 horsepowers, at least).

Bottle wrote:

Sweet. Mine are getting mounted right now. Can't wait to test them out.

I also painted my brake calipers red over the weekend, so I'm sure they'll help me hook up with all the added brake horsepower that adds (+50 horsepowers, at least).

Depends on the color.

-BEP

I had a set of Ecsta SPTs as summer tires that I was super impressed with. I left them on too long and ended up driving through Franconia Notch in (light) snow, and they were even good in that. At the time I had heard that some pretty serious autocrossers were using them as rain tires. The consensus was that they had a little less dry grip than the Azenis, but were far better in the wet.

bepnewt wrote:
Bottle wrote:

Sweet. Mine are getting mounted right now. Can't wait to test them out.

I also painted my brake calipers red over the weekend, so I'm sure they'll help me hook up with all the added brake horsepower that adds (+50 horsepowers, at least).

Depends on the color.

-BEP

Add car speed holes. Just make sure you have a piece of the holy cross over your heart....

Hobear wrote:
bepnewt wrote:
Bottle wrote:

Sweet. Mine are getting mounted right now. Can't wait to test them out.

I also painted my brake calipers red over the weekend, so I'm sure they'll help me hook up with all the added brake horsepower that adds (+50 horsepowers, at least).

Depends on the color.

-BEP

Add car speed holes. Just make sure you have a piece of the holy cross over your heart....

WAIT WAIT! My DoT just painted four consecutive chevrons on the road. How much bhp will that add when I drive over them!?!?

Hassasain wrote:
Hobear wrote:
bepnewt wrote:
Bottle wrote:

Sweet. Mine are getting mounted right now. Can't wait to test them out.

I also painted my brake calipers red over the weekend, so I'm sure they'll help me hook up with all the added brake horsepower that adds (+50 horsepowers, at least).

Depends on the color.

-BEP

Add car speed holes. Just make sure you have a piece of the holy cross over your heart....

WAIT WAIT! My DoT just painted four consecutive chevrons on the road. How much bhp will that add when I drive over them!?!?

Depends on the color.

-BEP

This is completely out there. But I am looking for an older classic Toyota Land Cruiser from 1970-1984. FJ, or BJ. Anyone know anyone selling one?

Balthezor wrote:

This is completely out there. But I am looking for an older classic Toyota Land Cruiser from 1970-1984. FJ, or BJ. Anyone know anyone selling one?

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...

That fire on the last Top Gear was something else.

Quintin_Stone wrote:

That fire on the last Top Gear was something else.

Got a question for you. I haven't been into Top Gear for a while as some years ago I thought the original team was losing their charm. If I were trying to get back into it what should I be watching? I feel like I saw an episode of a NEW "Top Gear" at some point and thought it was ADHD ass, but maybe that was "Top Gear America"? Are there two Top Gear shows, one for America and on for the UK? And *also* the Grand Tour (which I have seen and don't love)? Which one is the good one and where do I find it? I feel like the show got cloned into dumber clones like that one Tom Hanks movie and now I am very unsure what is worth watching or even how to find the various offshoots.

I personally been following the original crew, the second season of Grand Tour was good in my opinion. I haven't had the means to watch any of the post Clarkson Top Gear since Finalgear.com debacle.

imbiginjapan wrote:

Got a question for you. I haven't been into Top Gear for a while as some years ago I thought the original team was losing their charm. If I were trying to get back into it what should I be watching?

The first season of Grand Tour was a bit painful. They did some cool stuff, but it felt a bit forced. The second season is much better, and I feel like they've relaxed enough that they actually make fun of themselves and the characters they ended up becoming on the original Top Gear.

We don't talk about any version of Top Gear that has an American as a host.

We just don't.

Yes Grand Tour is good and second season is better. Top Gear (UK) is ok once they got past the first series post-host change, but not great. I don’t bother watching any others.