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Vehicles / bikes 🏍 Car Talk

Faust_Motel said:
This. They look terrific but are just non-competitive as an EV. It won't be that long before VW cannot trade on Boomer nostalgia anymore- because they won't be driving or driving enough to be buying new cars in volume.

In 'Merica, the VW would be a terrific hybrid for a family that wanted something more interesting than a conventional minivan. That said, my SIL's Toyota Sienna hybrid is a dang spaceship and a terrific car if you can check your ego enough to drive a minivan.
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Having had two minivans at the same time for 5 years, I’d love to have a minivan again.
 
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arcplans said:
Finding a decently cheap manual vehicle has been frustratingly hard. Looking for one for my son. I am going to have a used vehicle lot by the end of the spring of next year between mine, my daughter's and his car.
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My 94 Jeep is for sale. It's got a 5 speed and everything you would want to go off roading and has beefed up body armor and sport bars added to the roll cage. I don't have space for it since I got my '67 Pontiac Catalina.
 
dw914er said:
My 94 Jeep is for sale. It's got a 5 speed and everything you would want to go off roading and has beefed up body armor and sport bars added to the roll cage. I don't have space for it since I got my '67 Pontiac Catalina.
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Sell him a 914 for the boy. Sound decision for a new driver teen boy. 😉
 
mendelman said:
Sell him a 914 for the boy. Sound decision for a new driver teen boy. 😉
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My college girlfriend's little brother got a 914 as his first car. With the six. Ripped it in half on a tree in the first month of ownership (he was ok but I think even now 30 years later occasionally a piece of the windshield works its way out of his forehead).
 
dw914er said:
My 94 Jeep is for sale. It's got a 5 speed and everything you would want to go off roading and has beefed up body armor and sport bars added to the roll cage. I don't have space for it since I got my '67 Pontiac Catalina.
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Bro we went to dinner and all and you never mentioned this!
 
We saw this as we were walking into the restaurant for dinner last night.


IMG_2789.jpg
 
Back in 2018, my MiL gave our middle son her car, a 2007 Focus. He drove it until few months ago, and 50,000 miles, when he bought another car. Since it was given to him, and now sits most of the time, MiL would like to use it so we will likely just give back to her.
 
Had a brand new Buick Enclave rental for the trip in Maine. Drives really nice but some of the safety features are actually annoying as crap. I turned off as many as I could. I don't need flashing lights, buzzers and seat vibrations every time I turn a corner. The headlights are atrocious. It's like there is a clear line of light/no light with them and they don't extend that far. Very unnerving for me not being able to see as far in the dark as I'm used to.
 
MD Planner said:
Had a brand new Buick Enclave rental for the trip in Maine. Drives really nice but some of the safety features are actually annoying as crap. I turned off as many as I could. I don't need flashing lights, buzzers and seat vibrations every time I turn a corner. The headlights are atrocious. It's like there is a clear line of light/no light with them and they don't extend that far. Very unnerving for me not being able to see as far in the dark as I'm used to.
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Y'know how there's certain car models that seem to correlate to certain driving styles? Not do much the Enclave, but those little Buick things- the Encore? Terrible drivers every one. I wonder if it's the combination of cheap, entry-level car and too many bells and whistles distracting said driver.

I'm also pretty sure ford C-Max's come with a pawprint "Who Rescued Who?" sticker from the factory.
 
The Terminator said:
I would try and get a surviving Dieselgate era TDI with a manual. The newer TSI motors are fun with that low-end torque but is not the real thing i.e. an oil burner that goes chatter chatter click click and smells like a bus at the tailpipe.
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Be that as it may, I'm not interested in a diesel. My household and I don't drive long enough daily (on average) to warrant the 'benefit' of a diesel.

This linked one seems like a really cost-effective way to get a small wagon again. Small wagons are fantastic.
 
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mendelman said:
Be that as it may, I'm not interested in a diesel. I and my household don't drive long enough daily (on average) to warrant the 'benefit' of a diesel.

This linked one seems like a really cost-effective way to get a small wagon again. Small wagons are fantastic.
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mendelman said:
This linked one seems like a really cost-effective way to get a small wagon again. Small wagons are fantastic.
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^ Small Wagons that I would be looking at ;)
 
@The Terminator

Leaving work yesterday, a scruffy, but decent looking driver early 90s Olds Ciera wagon was parked in the garage near my car.

Like this one just a little more worn:

b4c700db1ed9d63d136a737b2a30d048.jpeg


Awesome Love It GIF by ABC Network


Also see the 1992 Subaru Loyale 4 sp manual 4wd wagon I had during part of college:

1993_subaru_loyale_wagon_base_fq_oem_1_500.jpg
 
Faust_Motel said:
I'm also pretty sure ford C-Max's come with a pawprint "Who Rescued Who?" sticker from the factory.
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:rofl: Truer words were never spoken!

When I'm at the office I like to get out for a walk around our building and the HQ of the county ISD across the street and on any given day there are usually three C-Max in the parking lot at the ISD. Two of them have stickers about dogs and the third has a big gate up across the back area to keep a dog (or dogs) from getting into the rest of the car. There's also somebody in our building who has a Ford Transit Connect (or something that looks like that but a little smaller?) with some dog stickers on that too.

I have a friend with a C-Max and they also have two rescue dogs and like to tell you about their rescue dogs at every chance they get.
 
WSU MUP Student said:
My FIL has a collection of old cars, primarily Model A and Model T Fords
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I read something online where someone was trying to describe how drive a Model T. Incredibly confusing. I thought it was in this thread but couldn't find it so maybe it was reddit. Anyway, I tripped across this video. Holy cow, driving a Model T is..... different.

 
Doohickie said:
I read something online where someone was trying to describe how drive a Model T. Incredibly confusing. I thought it was in this thread but couldn't find it so maybe it was reddit. Anyway, I tripped across this video. Holy cow, driving a Model T is..... different.

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I am not good at driving a stick but the first time my FIL tried to show me how to drive one of the Model Ts, I picked it up almost instantly. It was a lot like driving some of the older farm tractors my dad had when I was growing up. When I eventually tried one of the Model As, I was the same herky jerky mess I was with my brother's old Ford Ranger in the early '90s. I'm sure if I drove a conventional stick shift more often I'd get smoother pretty soon enough.

All that said, I have no desire to keep those cars once the time comes. My wife and I have already told her dad that when he dies those cars are getting sold off or given to other family members... we will definitely be keeping the '65 and 2015 Mustangs though. Maaayyybeee we'll keep the 1915 Model T coupe so we can have something from every 50 year increment though.
 
WSU MUP Student said:
I am not good at driving a stick but the first time my FIL tried to show me how to drive one of the Model Ts, I picked it up almost instantly. It was a lot like driving some of the older farm tractors my dad had when I was growing up. When I eventually tried one of the Model As, I was the same herky jerky mess I was with my brother's old Ford Ranger in the early '90s. I'm sure if I drove a conventional stick shift more often I'd get smoother pretty soon enough.

All that said, I have no desire to keep those cars once the time comes. My wife and I have already told her dad that when he dies those cars are getting sold off or given to other family members... we will definitely be keeping the '65 and 2015 Mustangs though. Maaayyybeee we'll keep the 1915 Model T coupe so we can have something from every 50 year increment though.
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I watched a video that offered a great explanation about the different eras of cars and people’s desire to own them. There has been a huge price adjustment for the pre-war cars – everyone that grew up with them and had nostalgia for them are either dead or becoming unable to drive them. Everyone else views them as antiques – they’re not really that usable of a car so they only appeal to people that want the novelty of the car. While cars from the 30s-50s became more standard in the driving process (brake, clutch and gas are like they are today), they also are antiques. The person’s argument was that the classics that will have greater desirability are those developed with/post the interstate system. Cars from the early 60’s and on were designed to travel at 55+ that makes them far more usable as a car.



The explanation seemed true for me – I would like a Model T, a Model A, or some sort of post war car, but I don’t want to spend any money on getting one. I can daily my 67 Catalina 2+2 (albeit spending a ton of money on gas) and have daily driven my 914 and 944T.
 
dw914er said:
I watched a video that offered a great explanation about the different eras of cars and people’s desire to own them. There has been a huge price adjustment for the pre-war cars – everyone that grew up with them and had nostalgia for them are either dead or becoming unable to drive them. Everyone else views them as antiques – they’re not really that usable of a car so they only appeal to people that want the novelty of the car. While cars from the 30s-50s became more standard in the driving process (brake, clutch and gas are like they are today), they also are antiques.
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Restomods or GTFO!

:brofist: :cool:
 
dw914er said:
I watched a video that offered a great explanation about the different eras of cars and people’s desire to own them. There has been a huge price adjustment for the pre-war cars – everyone that grew up with them and had nostalgia for them are either dead or becoming unable to drive them. Everyone else views them as antiques – they’re not really that usable of a car so they only appeal to people that want the novelty of the car. While cars from the 30s-50s became more standard in the driving process (brake, clutch and gas are like they are today), they also are antiques. The person’s argument was that the classics that will have greater desirability are those developed with/post the interstate system. Cars from the early 60’s and on were designed to travel at 55+ that makes them far more usable as a car.



The explanation seemed true for me – I would like a Model T, a Model A, or some sort of post war car, but I don’t want to spend any money on getting one. I can daily my 67 Catalina 2+2 (albeit spending a ton of money on gas) and have daily driven my 914 and 944T.
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That makes a lot of sense to me too. The really old pre-War cars are so easy to work on but such a PITA to actually drive. If you don't mind a trailer queen, they're great cars but if you like to go to "cruise" events or take it out and around town, 30 minutes behind the wheel (or even in the passenger seat) just sucks all the fun out of it. Some of the cars my FIL has are restored to basically new condition and have been award winners at prestigious shows over the years but usually they get trailered in and trailered out. The one exception is the annual "Old Car Festival" at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI each year where the cars get trailered in but then get driven around the park all day and participate in races and relays... but all of the cars there that day are of a similar age so all of the traffic is experiencing the same thing.

I would bet that there are 1,000+ pre-war cars there during the festival each year and they all have little plaques and saying who owns them and how long they've owned the car or how many Old Car Festivals they've participated in and awards they've won at other shows, etc. and I doubt I've ever seen more than a handful of cars that weren't owned by somebody who is now younger than about 75.
 
WSU MUP Student said:
I would bet that there are 1,000+ pre-war cars there during the festival each year and they all have little plaques and saying who owns them and how long they've owned the car or how many Old Car Festivals they've participated in and awards they've won at other shows, etc. and I doubt I've ever seen more than a handful of cars that weren't owned by somebody who is now younger than about 75.
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Despite what you have said I really do want to get an 'inexpensive' driver Model A or something GM/Chrysler age equivalent.

Think it would be fun...theoretically. ;)
 
I’m shopping for new all-terrain tires for my truck. Out of the 30 options my buddy has in stock at his family’s tire shop, I’ve narrowed it down to Cooper, Vredestein, and Michelin. The Coopers and Vredesteins are priced about the same, but the Michelins run about $50 more per tire. I’m not convinced they’re worth the extra cost. Too bad you can’t test-drive tires before buying them. Barring a heck of a discount on the Michelins, I'll likely go with Coopers or Vredesteins.
 
Big Owl said:
I’m shopping for new all-terrain tires for my truck. Out of the 30 options my buddy has in stock at his family’s tire shop, I’ve narrowed it down to Cooper, Vredestein, and Michelin. The Coopers and Vredesteins are priced about the same, but the Michelins run about $50 more per tire. I’m not convinced they’re worth the extra cost. Too bad you can’t test-drive tires before buying them. Barring a heck of a discount on the Michelins, I'll likely go with Coopers or Vredesteins.
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Truck #2 with BFG TKO and no complaints.
 
Suburb Repairman said:
Tires are the one thing where I get real spendy real fast. They're the only safety equipment of a vehicle in direct contact with the road
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The lowest priced option around $125 a tire. I'll spend more than double that. I created a spread sheet with all the Uniform Tire Quality Grading(UTQG), max speed rating, load rating, tread depth, warranty mileage, price, etc.. It's interesting of the 3 tires on my short list, the price per 1/32" of tread depth is ~$22. The tread depth by 1/16th of an inch. While the Michelins have the lowest warranty mileage, michelin's warranty terms is the best of the three. Of course tire warranty has never helped me as I have gotten more than the warranty mileage, exceeded the stated time limit, or i have had a non-warranty issue arrise.
 
mendelman said:
Be that as it may, I'm not interested in a diesel. My household and I don't drive long enough daily (on average) to warrant the 'benefit' of a diesel.

This linked one seems like a really cost-effective way to get a small wagon again. Small wagons are fantastic.
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I have a 2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi. It's a great little car. I bought it in 2019 with around 70k and have put nearly 100k on it since. I drive it back and forth to work (35ish miles each way), much better than driving my Tundra. I'll probably delete it in the next year or so, which should up my MPG from 38-40 up to 46-50, plus the added longevity.
 
Suburb Repairman said:
Tires are the one thing where I get real spendy real fast. They're the only safety equipment of a vehicle in direct contact with the road
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I am lucky to have a family member who gets a "friends and family" discount with Nokian. We've been a "studded Hakkapeliitta in the winter" family for years now. But having had those tires on in some pretty hairy snowstorms (like you have to open the door and look past the sill to try to see where the edge of the road is), I wouldn't have it any other way.
 
estromberg said:
I have a 2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi. It's a great little car. I bought it in 2019 with around 70k and have put nearly 100k on it since. I drive it back and forth to work (35ish miles each way), much better than driving my Tundra. I'll probably delete it in the next year or so, which should up my MPG from 38-40 up to 46-50, plus the added longevity.
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In my fair state once the car is 16 years old you can get an inspection without passing emissions (just an OBD check here, not a sniff test). You'd be close!
 
I had always wanted a truck, and was raised in a Ford family. I bought a brand new 2019 F150 right before covid hit. Fantastic truck, although I started to get the cam phaser and transmission issues around 2024. I traded it in for a 2021 Toyota Tundra, the last of the V8s. Great truck, tows my travel trailer pretty well. When I have taken it in for oil changes, the Toyota guys say that Tundras of that generation don't last on the lot and are becoming sought after nearly as much as 1980s vintage Land Cruisers. In fact, I checked the values on my truck last week and it seemed to have increased in value.

My commute is long and the truck loves to guzzle gas, I am thinking about my next move. Trade for an smaller hybrid SUV, buy a really cheap commuter car, get a motorcycle for warmer months. I still have the travel trailer and the future of that is debatable in the divorce settlement... and with the settlement pending, I dont want to make any significant financial changes. Part of me wants to keep the sought after truck... but im just unsure at this point.
 
zman said:
I had always wanted a truck, and was raised in a Ford family. I bought a brand new 2019 F150 right before covid hit. Fantastic truck, although I started to get the cam phaser and transmission issues around 2024. I traded it in for a 2021 Toyota Tundra, the last of the V8s. Great truck, tows my travel trailer pretty well. When I have taken it in for oil changes, the Toyota guys say that Tundras of that generation don't last on the lot and are becoming sought after nearly as much as 1980s vintage Land Cruisers. In fact, I checked the values on my truck last week and it seemed to have increased in value.

My commute is long and the truck loves to guzzle gas, I am thinking about my next move. Trade for an smaller hybrid SUV, buy a really cheap commuter car, get a motorcycle for warmer months. I still have the travel trailer and the future of that is debatable in the divorce settlement... and with the settlement pending, I dont want to make any significant financial changes. Part of me wants to keep the sought after truck... but im just unsure at this point.
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Don't know how much you tow, but we've switched to Ford Mavericks at the office. The regular gets a combined 26 MPG, the hybrid gets 40 MPG. There's a tow package that will get you up to 4K lbs. Not much but might handle a lightweight travel trailer. Our inspectors love them. They're more car with bed than true truck, but comfortable and peppy.
 
bureaucrat#3 said:
Don't know how much you tow, but we've switched to Ford Mavericks at the office. The regular gets a combined 26 MPG, the hybrid gets 40 MPG. There's a tow package that will get you up to 4K lbs. Not much but might handle a lightweight travel trailer. Our inspectors love them. They're more car with bed than true truck, but comfortable and peppy.
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If I end up selling my travel trailer (10,000 pounds), then I will likely sell the truck. I dont have to deal with much snow in this "armpit" of the PNW... but may look for something with clearance in case I drive up skiiing or to a secluded cabin someplace.

... but I still want to cool factor... :cool:
 
zman said:
If I end up selling my travel trailer (10,000 pounds), then I will likely sell the truck. I dont have to deal with much snow in this "armpit" of the PNW... but may look for something with clearance in case I drive up skiiing or to a secluded cabin someplace.

... but I still want to cool factor... :cool:
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Sell the trailer and the truck and get a last gen Ford panther platform sedan - Mercury Grand Marquis or Lincoln Town Car. It's cheaper to simply stay at 2-3 star hotels/motels than the cost of owning, maintaining, operating and fueling the big truck and a trailer that big.

 
We are now a 4 Subaru family :cool:

2014 Outback (handed down to my daughter)
2021 Forester (husband)
2025 Outback (mine)
2026 Outback (future son in law)

After the accident in front of my house where the kids had their cars parked and my future SIL's Rav4 was declared totaled, we went shopping for a new car over the Christmas holidays. My husband had taken him out to test drive a few cars including the 2025 Forester. He was still trying to decide what he was going to do, and test drove the new Hondas and Toyotas which he didn't care for either. He's also in the market for a house to purchase and after looking at one with him I told him we had some time if he wanted to go back to Subaru for another round of test drives. My friend Gio is the inventory manager there so I texted him let him know we were coming and to pull a 2026 Crosstrek for him. We sent him out for a test drive and Gio pulled him a 2026 Outback that had just come in so when he came back we told him just take it out for a spin. He said ok and came back and was like Mom, I really love this car. So Gio and I got to work and we got Subaru Motor Finance to match NavyFed's rate as he has stellar credit. I helped him work through the math regarding what to put down (he had $13K from insurance to work with), what he wanted the payment to be, my daughter called the mortgage loan officer for his advice on the purchase, got a veteran's discount, and my husband and I donated our dealer points which they tripled for another $1500 off. Gio being the awesome guy he is replenished the dealer points to us a few weeks later. He's super satisfied with the car and the experience.

My driveway looks like a Subaru dealership now when everyone is at the house.
 
My wife has tentatively green lit the purchase of a last gen GM full size station wagon (Olds, Chevy or Buick).

Just need to find a good condition, low-ish mileage example for less then $15,000.

 
mendelman said:
My wife has tentatively green lit the purchase of a last gen GM full size station wagon (Olds, Chevy or Buick).

Just need to find a good condition, low-ish mileage example for less then $15,000.

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Not to give you ideas... but there's a guy up the street from me that has a Buick Roadmaster with an LS3 engine swapped into it.
 
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