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Vehicles / bikes 🏍 Car Talk

DVD said:
This is just one of those WTF momments. Do car engineers not realize you need to change that part on a regular basis? or do they know that it forces people to pay a dealship to do the work? Either way WTF.
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I suspect the battery location was driven by some other priority such as crash testing or some such.
 
My Gen 3 Prius had the battery in the back inside the hatch that can only be opened electrically. There is a jump point under the hood but it is still a pain to get to when it's dead. I was happy to see that my new to me 2021 Prius Prime has the 12 volt under the hood where it belongs. I have seen the video of how you have to get into a Tesla with a dead battery. Sometimes low tech is better... now get off my lawn.
 
My Subaru has some good access in the engine bay:
  • Battery and fuse box easily accessible on the driver's side engine compartment near the front
  • Oil filter is on top of the engine, easily accessible when the hood is open (so the only thing under the car that needs to be accessed for an oil change is the drain plug)
Also, interesting unlock/start features:
  • Keyless entry and iginition with a fob
  • Mechanical key built into the fob in case the fob battery dies
  • RF chip built into the fob that will start the car by touching it to the Start button in case the fob battery dies
  • A user setable PIN code that can be entered using a button on the liftgate that unlocks the car
  • Remote start via Subaru app (can't be shifted out of Park unless the key is present and the Start button is pushed before driving)
There are some things that aren't so well thought out too, such as the Homelink garage door opener built into the mirror which is great, except it's only active when the car is in ON mode (not OFF or ACCESSORY). So I pull into my garage, shut the car off, then realize I haven't closed the garage door yet, turn the power to ON (without starting the car), hit the garage door opener, then shut it off.
 
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mendelman said:
FYI

That Caravan is being priced at $12,000.

Nope.

Good luck. 😉
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Around 1999, my wife and I were car shopping and the local Dodge dealer still had a new 1997 Stratus in the building. They would not go lower than the new 1999s on the lot. That, and the fact the battery was accessed from underneath the car, told me a big "no" was in order.
 
I don't remember what car it was but I had something where you had to remove the left front wheel and open a hatch to get at the battery. Perhaps it was a Plymouth Breeze.
 
giff57 said:
I don't remember what car it was but I had something where you had to remove the left front wheel and open a hatch to get at the battery. Perhaps it was a Plymouth Breeze.
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Yes, the Cirrus, Stratus and Breeze shared platforms. What kind of auto engineer designs battery access in such a way?
 
For T-man


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mendelman said:
This is the most beautiful production car ever made.
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Thats what Enzo Ferrari said.

I agree too.



My only complaint about the E-Type is that the convertible and the coupe look different, but it's impossible to keep the coupe hatch lines with a convertible.
The Miata has the same problem but to a lesser degree.
 
Planit said:
Thats what Enzo Ferrari said.

I agree too.



My only complaint about the E-Type is that the convertible and the coupe look different, but it's impossible to keep the coupe hatch lines with a convertible.
The Miata has the same problem but to a lesser degree.
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I prefer the coupe over the convertible.

But that's true of most coupe vs. convertible cars.

EDIT: Also why I like(d) the first gen BMW Z3 coupe:

1999-bmw-z3-m-2dr-cpe-3-2l.jpg
 
So son (22) wanted a new to him car. He has been driving around a 2007 Focus with 160,000 miles that his grandmother gave him at 16 with with 90k. Found a 2016 Focus with 42K and drive with it with my FiL who is a mechanic. Saw no flaws and I would guess had been driven by an old lady to church and the store. One-owner and all service was done at the dealer it was initially purchased from and then treaded in to the same and then sold to my son. Not a great rate he has but as a first time buyer who has not cared much to take care of his credit (he does have a $500 max cc) glad he was approved. He will look at a refi in a year. Has a few more options than his old, which my youngest will drive in place of his 2WD Ranger, in the winter months to his welding job.
 
Gedunker said:
Nice looking truck! Way back in the day, my brother handed down a VW Rabbit hatchback to my dad that was "safety green", a little whiter/lighter green than your Jeep. I was away at college, but next time I saw that car dad had painted it an institutional brown matte color (using brushes and a roller, btw). Apparently, he was not going to be seen driving a bright green foreign car, lol. (The effect of the safety green showing through after scratches and dings was ... unpleasant.
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Brings back memories. My high school boyfriend drove a green convertible Rabbit. It had been his mom’s. His sister drove a brown one that had been his dad’s.
Big Owl said:
I bought one for my daughter's car about a month ago. It replaced a 5 year old battery and it wasn't dead but it was weak. I was getting her car ready for her to take to college. I would like to replace her windshield wipers & restore the headlight lenses before she leaves.
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I did the headlight lens restoration on the 2014 Outback, turned out way better than I thought they would.
 
WSU MUP Student said:
I love it!

When I bought my Gladiator in '22 it was the height of the COVID supply chain chip shortage and basically the only colors I could get were black or white. I really wanted one of the more "interesting" colors like a gunmetal blue (which was what I had on the Wrangler I traded in towards my Gladiator), orange, olive drab, tan, etc. But I ended up with white, which I've grown to really like but every time I see one of the more interesting colors I do get a bit jealous.

I don't think that metallic green that you have was an option back in 2022, but if it was, I would have definitely considered it. Very good looking Jeep!
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Your post popped back in my head, because there's a guy in town that has a white Gladiator that he added Scrambler-style vinyl decals. Looked pretty dope... closest example link I could find quickly: https://adventurelifeusa.com/products/bg002?variant= (Scrambler Style Stripe Kit for Jeep Gladiator)
 
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