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Vehicles / bikes šŸ Car Talk

Big Owl said:
I just found out that my wife's tires on her car are coming up on 10 years old. They have great tread and they appear to be in good shape, no cracking or separation. NC does not have a age requirement but some states have an age limit on tires based on date stamp on the tires. I am planning on replacing them soon despite not being required to.
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I replaced her tires yesterday. The wife came home from work with a screw in the tire so I decided now is just as good as any. The guy at the tire shop was amazed that they were nearly 10 years old with no patches or plugs. I also had them replace all four tire pressure sensors while they were at it. I found the receipt from 2015 when I bought the old tires when I was filing the new receipt. It was basically the same when you factor in inflation.
 
Spotted in the barrio that is my neighborhood: A Nissan March with Mexican plates. It makes me sad that they don't sell cars this small in the U.S. market.

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The Terminator said:
Please tell me its Manual........
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Ugh. I wish. You can't find too many cars with manuals anymore. And considering my wife has a 10 year old car and we're nearing retirement, I really needed something we could both drive. It actually has a CVT which I've heard horror stories about, mostly from Nissan cars. But for anything that's smaller than a tank, they're mostly CVTs these days. I already miss driving my little Fiat. They call the Crosstrek a "compact SUV" but compared to the Fiat it feels huge. It feels a lane and a half wide.

I've got way too much tech now. One nice feature though is that the Android Auto detected the Pandora on my phone and automatically started playing the last Pandora station I was listening to. With the free SiriusXM subscription and my cancellation of SiriusXM in my old car, I decided to get the paid version of Pandora, which is less than SiriusXM; I don't see extending that service once the free trial ends. I like on Pandora that you can make your own stations. I tried to make one both my wife and I would enjoy and came up with Listen Together, a station with these seed artists:
  • Billy Joel
  • Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
  • Teddy Swims
  • Leon Bridges
  • Electric Light Orchestra
  • Neil Young
  • Suzy Bogguss
  • Bruno Mars
  • John Legend
  • Bruce Springsteen
I told my wife that any song that comes up that she doesn't like, she can thumbs down and kick it off the channel. I'm listening to the station right now... I wonder if she would veto the Gnarls Barkley song (Crazy) that's playing. I hope not; I like CeeLo Green's voice.
 
Doohickie said:
I don't understand how people can drive vehicles this big around.
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You'll get used to it.
+++
My days in the Mazda 3 Sport (6spd manual) are coming to a close. My dexterity isn't what it used to be and I'd prefer to climb up into a vehicle rather than lower myself into one. The CrossTrek was one I was researching but that photo makes me think it's not all that different than the Mazda, seat-height wise. I wonder if an Outback might be an option ...
 
Gedunker said:
You'll get used to it.
+++
My days in the Mazda 3 Sport (6spd manual) are coming to a close. My dexterity isn't what it used to be and I'd prefer to climb up into a vehicle rather than lower myself into one. The CrossTrek was one I was researching but that photo makes me think it's not all that different than the Mazda, seat-height wise. I wonder if an Outback might be an option ...
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After being a 3 pedal purist since I was 20, I have now come to the same realization re: dexterity and not getting younger. Sometimes it really is nice to not have to step on a clutch in heavy city traffic! I'm never getting rid of my 5 Speed Camry, although that car has now been downgraded to "winter beater" where having the stick will be helpful in the WNY Winter conditions.

This factored into my decision to purchase my 1996 Buick LeSabre Custom, which has a column shifted 4speed+overdrive automatic (the last LeSabre to offer a manual was the 1964 model). It is also a car that's quite low to the ground and not hard for my older & handicapped friends/relatives to get in and out of. It is rare for 90s GM products to last this long and be reliable (3800 miracle motor) but the car has enduring #GrandpaSwag.

She's sitting in my parents driveway now, needs an upper intake gasket. Ill be coming down late August to do that, and drive the vehicle back to WNY. The Buick will be covered and live under a carport from November-April.

1751305728340.png



Doohickie said:
Ugh. I wish. You can't find too many cars with manuals anymore. And considering my wife has a 10 year old car and we're nearing retirement, I really needed something we could both drive. It actually has a CVT which I've heard horror stories about, mostly from Nissan cars. But for anything that's smaller than a tank, they're mostly CVTs these days. I already miss driving my little Fiat. They call the Crosstrek a "compact SUV" but compared to the Fiat it feels huge. It feels a lane and a half wide.

I've got way too much tech now. One nice feature though is that the Android Auto detected the Pandora on my phone and automatically started playing the last Pandora station I was listening to. With the free SiriusXM subscription and my cancellation of SiriusXM in my old car, I decided to get the paid version of Pandora, which is less than SiriusXM; I don't see extending that service once the free trial ends. I like on Pandora that you can make your own stations. I tried to make one both my wife and I would enjoy and came up with Listen Together, a station with these seed artists:
  • Billy Joel
  • Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
  • Teddy Swims
  • Leon Bridges
  • Electric Light Orchestra
  • Neil Young
  • Suzy Bogguss
  • Bruno Mars
  • John Legend
  • Bruce Springsteen
I told my wife that any song that comes up that she doesn't like, she can thumbs down and kick it off the channel. I'm listening to the station right now... I wonder if she would veto the Gnarls Barkley song (Crazy) that's playing. I hope not; I like CeeLo Green's voice.
Click to expand...
TBH, Im not even sure that Crosstrek's still offer the 6 speed. My neighbor back home has a '21 with a 6 speed that she loves. I tried to convince my dad to get the 6 speed when he bought his '19 Crosstrek, but he didn't want to learn lol it was a hard sell. Regardless, probably one of the better newer cars you can still buy. My dad loves the Sirus and uses it to listen to Beatles and Golf stations non stop.

Im partial to Toyota now though for any and all Japanese cars I will own in the future. My '99 Camry has been an absolute tank and still going strong, 6 years in my ownership and 26 years on the road. Id love to find an '87-'91 Camry Wagon with a 5 speed one day, gotta go West for that and spend at least 6k though.....In High School (2005-09 for me), those were $700 craigslist cars. Sigh.
 
The Terminator said:
After being a 3 pedal purist since I was 20, I have now come to the same realization re: dexterity and not getting younger. Sometimes it really is nice to not have to step on a clutch in heavy city traffic! I'm never getting rid of my 5 Speed Camry, although that car has now been downgraded to "winter beater" where having the stick will be helpful in the WNY Winter conditions.

This factored into my decision to purchase my 1996 Buick LeSabre Custom, which has a column shifted 4speed+overdrive automatic (the last LeSabre to offer a manual was the 1964 model). It is also a car that's quite low to the ground and not hard for my older & handicapped friends/relatives to get in and out of. It is rare for 90s GM products to last this long and be reliable (3800 miracle motor) but the car has enduring #GrandpaSwag.

She's sitting in my parents driveway now, needs an upper intake gasket. Ill be coming down late August to do that, and drive the vehicle back to WNY. The Buick will be covered and live under a carport from November-April.

View attachment 64818



TBH, Im not even sure that Crosstrek's still offer the 6 speed. My neighbor back home has a '21 with a 6 speed that she loves. I tried to convince my dad to get the 6 speed when he bought his '19 Crosstrek, but he didn't want to learn lol it was a hard sell. Regardless, probably one of the better newer cars you can still buy. My dad loves the Sirus and uses it to listen to Beatles and Golf stations non stop.

Im partial to Toyota now though for any and all Japanese cars I will own in the future. My '99 Camry has been an absolute tank and still going strong, 6 years in my ownership and 26 years on the road. Id love to find an '87-'91 Camry Wagon with a 5 speed one day, gotta go West for that and spend at least 6k though.....In High School (2005-09 for me), those were $700 craigslist cars. Sigh.
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Not only are you going to appreciate the solid dependability of a 3800, but will soon find that Buicks age like a fine wine when it comes to accommodating arthritis. Given your new place of residence I think you owe it to yourself to get an after-market vinyl top on that. It'll look fine parked in the lot while you're attending those KoC meetings and Friday fish fries!

1751307800111.png
 
The Terminator said:
After being a 3 pedal purist since I was 20, I have now come to the same realization re: dexterity and not getting younger. Sometimes it really is nice to not have to step on a clutch in heavy city traffic! I'm never getting rid of my 5 Speed Camry, although that car has now been downgraded to "winter beater" where having the stick will be helpful in the WNY Winter conditions.

This factored into my decision to purchase my 1996 Buick LeSabre Custom, which has a column shifted 4speed+overdrive automatic (the last LeSabre to offer a manual was the 1964 model). It is also a car that's quite low to the ground and not hard for my older & handicapped friends/relatives to get in and out of. It is rare for 90s GM products to last this long and be reliable (3800 miracle motor) but the car has enduring #GrandpaSwag.

She's sitting in my parents driveway now, needs an upper intake gasket. Ill be coming down late August to do that, and drive the vehicle back to WNY. The Buick will be covered and live under a carport from November-April.

View attachment 64818



TBH, Im not even sure that Crosstrek's still offer the 6 speed. My neighbor back home has a '21 with a 6 speed that she loves. I tried to convince my dad to get the 6 speed when he bought his '19 Crosstrek, but he didn't want to learn lol it was a hard sell. Regardless, probably one of the better newer cars you can still buy. My dad loves the Sirus and uses it to listen to Beatles and Golf stations non stop.

Im partial to Toyota now though for any and all Japanese cars I will own in the future. My '99 Camry has been an absolute tank and still going strong, 6 years in my ownership and 26 years on the road. Id love to find an '87-'91 Camry Wagon with a 5 speed one day, gotta go West for that and spend at least 6k though.....In High School (2005-09 for me), those were $700 craigslist cars. Sigh.
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I'd ask if that's my grandfather's old car, but I think it got scrapped after my brother drove it for a few years.
 
Gedunker said:
You'll get used to it.
+++
My days in the Mazda 3 Sport (6spd manual) are coming to a close. My dexterity isn't what it used to be and I'd prefer to climb up into a vehicle rather than lower myself into one. The CrossTrek was one I was researching but that photo makes me think it's not all that different than the Mazda, seat-height wise. I wonder if an Outback might be an option ...
Click to expand...

The comp for a Mazda3 would be the Impreza. A Crosstrek is basically a lifted Impreza. I'd still take a look at the Crosstrek if I were you. But for an SUV (comparing to my wife's Escape) if feels a little more "horizontal." Part of that is due to Subaru's use of boxer engines (4 cylinders arranged in two opposing pairs) which decreases the height needed by the engine compartment, and the lower hood line gives it a more horizontal appearance... I think.
 
The Aussie Foresters had a flat four diesel option (EE20) previously. Feted with reviews like "why the flat four diesel is a bad idea", "Subaru's new motor falls flat", and "Yer stuck mate, why'd ya do that?", you can now get them on ebay to play with cheaply.
 
Doohickie said:
It actually has a CVT which I've heard horror stories about, mostly from Nissan cars. But for anything that's smaller than a tank, they're mostly CVTs these days.
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So a few days in and I'm learning that even though I don't have the clutch and can actively switch gears, my foot is training itself to control the virtual gear the CVT is in by how much I lean into the pedal. If I go easy the RPMs barely change. But if I push it enough, the CVT "downshifts" and I'm learning how far to push it for the RPMs I'm looking for. Now that I'm learning how the CVT behaves I'm finding I can control it pretty well.
 
I just had a moment:

A transmission with discreet gears is like a stringed instrument with frets such as a guitar. You're limited to the notes the frets give you. A CVT is more like a violin: You're not limited by the frets so you can get the exact note (RPMs) you want.
 
Its '25 and I have yet to own a vehicle that's model year does not start with a "1". How long can I keep it up?!? Until I find a 2000s manual Toyota Matrix HRS (surprisingly affordable still) or Volvo V70R (pricey).
 
So my new car didn't come with a CD player. I tried a few things (an actual CD ROM drive from Best Buy which wasn't compatible with whatever OS is in the car, a cheapie personal CD player from Wally World, and finally, a purpose built CD player compatible with my car's OS, which turned out to be plug and play. I put it in the glove box and have a short-ish exposed wire.

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The Terminator said:
OMG Dont even get me started. Those old Nissan & Toyota box pickups were/are sooo good, and they DID THEIR JOB without excess bloat or bells and whistles. Same with the Chevy Square Bodies. GMT400 Silverado's from the 90s are the largest Pickup I can see myself with.
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My FiL has a 1996 F-150 with 275,000 on the 5.0 and his is now the size of the "small" trucks such as the Ranger.
 
I would love to have a little toyota or nissan again. I read somewhere that safety standards make those impossible now, but if we can build a smart car why can't we build a little truck?

Also I hate that trucks are now big enough that they must put the three orange lights on their roof or that some people think that makes their truck look better.
 
Doohickie said:
I actually think it has something to do with CAFE standards.
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I've heard its actually bloat to maintain/justify high prices and profit margins....and also...I guess...all the electronic doo-hickies ( ;) ) and safety features that are now required and 'necessary' for current buyers.

meh.
 
Saw a car this afternoon with a 'marbleized' wrap (or paint job). It was a white background with grey veins.

Not impressive. All it did was look dirty.
 
DVD said:
I would love to have a little toyota or nissan again. I read somewhere that safety standards make those impossible now, but if we can build a smart car why can't we build a little truck?

Also I hate that trucks are now big enough that they must put the three orange lights on their roof or that some people think that makes their truck look better.
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You have the Ford Maverick or import you a kei truck,
 
In the late 90s, my brother had a fake Boss Mustang II with a 302 V8 added by a previous owner.

It had T-tops and no posi and when it actually ran it was pretty cool...and dangerous. That one rear drive wheel went bald very quickly.

Speaking of Mustangs...we visited the Shelby factory in Las Vegas this past Spring Break. It's pretty cool and has a small collection of 'Cobras' on display (Mustangs, ACs,, GT40s, etc), and you could see into the production floor where they take stock Mustangs and turn them into Cobras.
 
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