So yeah continuing my little opinion series lol..
- Dodge is my favorite brand.. I was DEEPLY hurt when the Grand Caravan was discontinued and it could've stuck around.
- Kia> Hyundai
- The Mustang Mach-E is a bad naming scheme.
- Honda Accord> Toyota Camry
- The new Nissan SUVs are HIDEOUS! They all resemble the discontinued Juke..
- I think Nissans in general are just terrible now. Besides maybe the Frontier.
- Something about Acura is gross.
- BUICK should've been discontinued a while ago. It's lineup is a disgrace now.
- ^Pontiac def. should've been kept instead.
- Suburban> Tahoe
- Nissan has flushed Infiniti down the drain.. The Q50 is outdated, the Q60 is just.., the QX80 has been on the current generation for 11 years and its more redundant bc of the newer Armadas, the QX50 is tired, the QX55 is just.. idk, and the QX60 is nice although the new generation isn't as appealing as the previous one.
And I have a lot more but.
Unpopular among this crowd I suppose:
Trucks are way too damn big. I, a fully grown adult man, should be fully visible when crossing the street in front of a truck, not hidden behind the hood.
Unpopular: There aren't enough bargain basement compacts and subcompacts anymore on the American automotive market.
Quote from: Bruce on August 08, 2022, 09:34:09 PM
Unpopular among this crowd I suppose:
Trucks are way too damn big. I, a fully grown adult man, should be fully visible when crossing the street in front of a truck, not hidden behind the hood.
Yes! So many people say you have a better view from up high, but it just makes your blindspots bigger (not to mention higher hoods are more dangerous for others in a collision).
(https://i.redd.it/ce9z3wy8bm891.jpg)
Unpopular: CUVs are amalgamations of station wagons, SUVs and mini-vans but don't offer the full utility of any of the three.
Headlights, at least some of them, are too bright. There needs to be a maximum standard of some kind.
Ford forgot how to build a transmission. Their 10-speed automatic (10R80) is shit. They make Dodge's infamous 46RE transmission from the 90's look bulletproof.
Quote from: LM117 on August 09, 2022, 06:40:54 AM
Ford forgot how to build a transmission. Their 10-speed automatic (10R80) is shit. They make Dodge's infamous 46RE transmission from the 90's look bulletproof.
There's actually only a handful of transmission manufacturers, and all of the 10-speeds have been problematic.
It's also annoying to manually-select the desired gear; getting any sort of serious engine braking from 9th/10th gear involves clicking down 4-5 times.
Front bench seats are great because they make it easy to exit the car from either side without having to climb over the console. And it's not like they don't have a console; it just folds up and down so it's only there when you need it and isn't always in the way. Carmakers should bring them back.
Chevys are not good cars
Unpopular opinion: Brands and sub-brands don't matter. They're all just cars. Yes, you should look for one with high MPG and lifespan, but brand means nothing. Corollary: those who spend more than $60,000 (purchase price, not counting interest) on a car that isn't fully electric are wasting their money.
Also: Pickup trucks are not trucks. If you don't have to follow truck restrictions, you're not a truck.
Quote from: 1 on August 09, 2022, 07:29:18 AM
Unpopular opinion: Brands and sub-brands don't matter. They're all just cars. Yes, you should look for one with high MPG and lifespan, but brand means nothing. Corollary: those who spend more than $60,000 (purchase price, not counting interest) on a car that isn't fully electric are wasting their money.
Also: Pickup trucks are not trucks. If you don't have to follow truck restrictions, you're not a truck.
60k on any car is a waste of money. Most people domestically purchase far more to fulfill their wants than their needs. This is reflected by the average purchase price of a new car in the U.S. being about 48k. Even in EV territory a new car can be had for well under 48k.
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on August 08, 2022, 11:31:31 PM
Headlights, at least some of them, are too bright. There needs to be a maximum standard of some kind.
new Toyota Highlanders . . . yikes.
Suspension geometry is more important than drive wheels when it comes to handling and cornering.
Quote from: thspfc on August 09, 2022, 08:06:05 AM
Seems like a lot of people hate on touchscreens in cars. I disagree, I much prefer a touchscreen to an assortment of knobs and buttons.
It varies: some touchscreens are intuitive and responsive, others require some trials and patience. CarPlay integration helps streamline some of the mystery.
I do like climate control buttons and knobs over touchscreens for most situations.
The Jeep Wrangler looks cool, but why would you bother to lift it and put 40 inch tires and just use it to take the kids to soccer practice or the mall?
Quote from: formulanone on August 09, 2022, 08:37:17 AM
Quote from: thspfc on August 09, 2022, 08:06:05 AM
Seems like a lot of people hate on touchscreens in cars. I disagree, I much prefer a touchscreen to an assortment of knobs and buttons.
It varies: some touchscreens are intuitive and responsive, others require some trials and patience. CarPlay integration helps streamline some of the mystery.
I do like climate control buttons and knobs over touchscreens for most situations.
I don't hate touch screen, I hate when they aren't ergonomically friendly and poorly positioned. A lot of touchscreens are more form than actual function.
Quote from: BlueOutback7 on August 09, 2022, 08:59:02 AM
The Jeep Wrangler looks cool, but why would you bother to lift it and put 40 inch tires and just use it to take the kids to soccer practice or the mall?
No different than bubbas doing the same to their trucks. I have a Wrangler Rubicon, but I assure you it gets itself dirty on rough roads (just not as often as I would like).
Buying a used car for certain reasons.
There's a lot of good reasons to buy a used car. One I never liked is because "new cars lose 10% of their value the moment you drive it off the lot". It's not that it lost its value. Its because a car dealer isn't going to take it back and give you 100% of what you paid for it. They will have to check it out and clean it, no matter how long you had it or drove it. That costs money.
I'm pretty sure a used car salesperson came up with this excuse.
But, and this is my point...if you bought a used car, and returned it, you also wouldn't get 100% of what you paid back either. They would still take 10% or so of the value off your return, because they will need to check it out and clean it too!
(And yeah, I know there's some places that say you can return a car in X days or X miles...there's little gimmicks that they use that may or may not really work in your favor.)
Quote from: 1 on August 09, 2022, 07:29:18 AM
Unpopular opinion: Brands and sub-brands don't matter. They're all just cars.
I think they do matter, but not for the reason you think. Reliability differs wildly from brand to brand (Toyotas are generally reliable, Chryslers are generally not). Some brands work as hard as they can to provide consumers with as many safety features as their money will buy, others don't. Some brands are going all in on electric cars, but others aren't. I guess it all comes down to doing some research before you buy so you have an idea what you're getting.
Now for my own opinions:
- Brand cachet is absolutely meaningless.
- Pickup trucks are way too popular for what they are. An SUV with a trailer can probably handle 95% of what a pickup can do. Also, I will never buy a pickup because they are too expensive (and I'm saying this as a guy who lives in truck utopia).
- Even so, I think compact trucks are cool.
- Automakers should bring back really stripped down base models and subcompacts.
Unpopular opinion: Brand reliability is nominally different across the automotive landscape, how an owner keeps up with preventative maintenance means far more.
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on August 08, 2022, 11:31:31 PM
Headlights, at least some of them, are too bright. There needs to be a maximum standard of some kind.
THANK you.
I drive delivery at night and some of the light setups just boggle the mind. How many headlights do you need? 'Fog' lights? This is northern Colorado, practically the desert.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 08, 2022, 09:38:30 PM
Unpopular: There aren't enough bargain basement compacts and subcompacts anymore on the American automotive market.
Also true of inexpensive pickup trucks. My first new vehicle was a 1990 Nissan pickup which had a standard cab and short bed. Short beds are still available but it seems they all come with extended cabs. You might be able to order one, but you can't find one on any dealer's lot.
Quote from: kenarmy on August 08, 2022, 09:25:25 PM
- BUICK should've been discontinued a while ago. It's lineup is a disgrace now.
- ^Pontiac def. should've been kept instead.
I can do one better with one that will really rile them up:
Get rid of Cadillac, and bring back Oldsmobile.
The former is because it's not anything like it used to be. Sure, change will happen from time to time, but the former Standard of the World has changed too much to keep up with its German and Japanese rivals. As for the latter, I was such a huge fan of that brand because it once was an innovator in many ways (first automatic transmission in the late 1930s, first muscle car with the Rocket 88, first turbocharged model with the Jetfire, and ushering in a new wave of front-wheel drive with the Toronado), and I also have fond memories of riding in my dad's 442 convertible, then driving my Calais after I got my first license. I definitely felt a big loss when GM discontinued it in 2004.
Quote from: thspfc on August 09, 2022, 08:06:05 AM
The Corvette is the best American-made sports car.
Well, now it's the only American-made sports car out there. Dodge had a worthy competitor in the Viper, but it's not made anymore. As for Ford, there really is no Corvette competitor that I can think of (and the GT doesn't count). The closest thing to that is a Mustang, but it's a pony car like the Camaro, so there you go.
Quote from: thspfc on August 09, 2022, 08:06:05 AM
Seems like a lot of people hate on touchscreens in cars. I disagree, I much prefer a touchscreen to an assortment of knobs and buttons.
Much like the old T9 phones of days long past, physical knobs and buttons are easier to manipulate without looking and are thus safer. Touchscreens are good for media and maps, but for climate control and driving-related functions it should be banned. Been in multiple cars (a Tesla, a Jeep, and a Honda) where the touchscreen crashed and thus made me unable to change the AC or even see my speed in the Tesla's case.
Quote from: Bruce on August 09, 2022, 04:48:53 PM
Quote from: thspfc on August 09, 2022, 08:06:05 AM
Seems like a lot of people hate on touchscreens in cars. I disagree, I much prefer a touchscreen to an assortment of knobs and buttons.
Much like the old T9 phones of days long past, physical knobs and buttons are easier to manipulate without looking and are thus safer. Touchscreens are good for media and maps, but for climate control and driving-related functions it should be banned. Been in multiple cars (a Tesla, a Jeep, and a Honda) where the touchscreen crashed and thus made me unable to change the AC or even see my speed in the Tesla's case.
My Jeep has both a touchscreen and knobs. The biggest problem is the tuner knob is on the passenger side of the center console, which to me makes it practically useless for scrolling. At least I do have a tuner button on the steering wheel.
One feature I do wish my car had is the automatic radio seek option that lets you listen to 5-7 seconds of a station before scrolling to the next frequency if it's not what you want to listen to.
All cars look like identical pods now.
Loud exhaust is for stupid attention-whores.
Motorcycles are death traps and anyone who likes them is wrong.
The bigger the pick-up truck, the more insecure the driver is about the size of his johnson.
Extra small-dick cred if it's a diesel.
Cars are now life-style accessories first and transportation second.
Quote from: triplemultiplex on August 10, 2022, 05:21:48 PM
All cars look like identical pods now.
Loud exhaust is for stupid attention-whores.
Motorcycles are death traps and anyone who likes them is wrong.
The bigger the pick-up truck, the more insecure the driver is about the size of his johnson.
Extra small-dick cred if it's a diesel.
Cars are now life-style accessories first and transportation second.
To me, they're either: little sporty cars with the ass end all up in your face, those crossovers that all look like tennis shoes, or giant trucks.
The diesel thing is hotly debated around here. I get it, if you need a big truck for whatever your reason is. But when it's jacked up, has little rubber band tires on giant rims and has an exhaust the size of a toilet seat, yeah, that's not your work truck, or your dragging-the-family-toys-around truck.
My own car choices are more practical than stylish. I drive a 99 Camry, which is an utterly generic car. There's a bazillion of these on the road, and the car feels largely indestructible to me. I frankly don't have the cash flow that the pimpmobile would require.
I'd like something that's new, or at least new-er, and my goals include that. Would I get another Camry? Probably. Or, a used Prius if one can be had at a decent price that's in decent shape. 50mpg is quite enticing.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on August 09, 2022, 09:59:33 AM
Buying a used car for certain reasons.
There's a lot of good reasons to buy a used car. One I never liked is because "new cars lose 10% of their value the moment you drive it off the lot". It's not that it lost its value. Its because a car dealer isn't going to take it back and give you 100% of what you paid for it. They will have to check it out and clean it, no matter how long you had it or drove it. That costs money.
I'm pretty sure a used car salesperson came up with this excuse.
But, and this is my point...if you bought a used car, and returned it, you also wouldn't get 100% of what you paid back either. They would still take 10% or so of the value off your return, because they will need to check it out and clean it too!
(And yeah, I know there's some places that say you can return a car in X days or X miles...there's little gimmicks that they use that may or may not really work in your favor.)
In today's crazy market, used vehicle prices seem to be artificially inflated due to a lack of supply of vehicles in general. I purchased a brand new vehicle in May. 9 miles on the odometer (of which 6 was from when I test drove it). About $33000. Current KBB value is about $37000...and used models of the exact same car are selling for about that.
Quote from: 7/8 on August 08, 2022, 11:06:51 PM
Quote from: Bruce on August 08, 2022, 09:34:09 PM
Unpopular among this crowd I suppose:
Trucks are way too damn big. I, a fully grown adult man, should be fully visible when crossing the street in front of a truck, not hidden behind the hood.
Yes! So many people say you have a better view from up high, but it just makes your blindspots bigger (not to mention higher hoods are more dangerous for others in a collision).
(https://i.redd.it/ce9z3wy8bm891.jpg)
And people want to blame rising pedestrian deaths on pedestrians. These things should be required to have frontal blind spot cameras whenever the driver is stopped or coming off of a stop.
^^^^^
The local NBC affiliate here did a story about that recently. It was pretty interesting to see how many kids they could seat in a row without the driver seeing them:
https://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/blumenthal-letter-frontover-crash-blind-zones/3126149/
My wife's Acura sedan has what the automakers call "proximity sensors" (I just call it "parking sonar"). It certainly helps with that sort of thing, though it's not perfect.
Quote from: Henry on August 09, 2022, 12:45:56 PM
Quote from: kenarmy on August 08, 2022, 09:25:25 PM
- BUICK should've been discontinued a while ago. It's lineup is a disgrace now.
- ^Pontiac def. should've been kept instead.
I can do one better with one that will really rile them up:
Get rid of Cadillac, and bring back Oldsmobile.
The former is because it's not anything like it used to be. Sure, change will happen from time to time, but the former Standard of the World has changed too much to keep up with its German and Japanese rivals. As for the latter, I was such a huge fan of that brand because it once was an innovator in many ways (first automatic transmission in the late 1930s, first muscle car with the Rocket 88, first turbocharged model with the Jetfire, and ushering in a new wave of front-wheel drive with the Toronado), and I also have fond memories of riding in my dad's 442 convertible, then driving my Calais after I got my first license. I definitely felt a big loss when GM discontinued it in 2004.
GM ruined Cadillac by chasing sales volume and invading the traditional Buick/Oldsmobile sales territory. All of the front-drive Cadillacs after the '79-85 E-Body were just cheap knockoffs (though the '92 and later Seville STS and Eldorado ETC were decently competitive with the Japanese and Europeans).
Slowly, painfully, Cadillac cars have returned to competence, though GM keeps kneecapping them with dumb decision making. The CT6 is a phenomenal sedan and, with the Blackwing V8, actually had a credible claim at "Standard of the World" status. I don't care if they weren't moving many of them - it should've remained in production. And, don't get me started on dumping hundreds of millions into an engine that went into fewer than 1,000 vehicles. Dumbasses!
But GM keeps chasing volume with mostly cheap knockoff crossovers in the Cadillac lineup. The XT4 and XT5 have no business in the Cadillac lineup. The XT6 would've been a solid vehicle in 2012; in 2022 it's outclassed. Only the Escalade really seems to get the point of the old-school Cadillac brand.
Electrification may be the key to bringing Cadillac back to its former glory. There's no emissions regulations or such to force sharing of powertrains. They're not stuck with having to fancy up a bunch of commoner chassis to fill up the dealerships. They can tech out to their heart's content. But GM can just as easily lose the plot - again, by chasing volume over exclusivity.
^ I mean, I kinda feel like GM is going to do what makes them the most money...if they sell more cars and make more money than they would making Cadillacs fancier and selling fewer of them, then they're going to say to hell with "exclusivity".
Quote from: Scott5114 on August 13, 2022, 06:13:43 PM
^ I mean, I kinda feel like GM is going to do what makes them the most money...if they sell more cars and make more money than they would making Cadillacs fancier and selling fewer of them, then they're going to say to hell with "exclusivity".
It's the capitalist MBA curse. There's too many bureaucrats in most large businesses today who are so focused on short term profit that they can't see the big picture. Cadillac was once a prestige brand. It might be possible to bring that back. Yes, the sales of Caddies wouldn't be as great. But there's a trickle-down effect where people buy into the brand because they see the excellence at the top and hope in a future purchase to reach it. More people will buy other GM vehicles in the meantime.
It's how my dad looked at it; he started with Chevys in his teens, then bought Buicks starting in his late-30s, and he'd have eventually bought a Cadillac had he lived past 47 because that was the cream of the GM lineup. There was also a trickle down effect in car technology as new features would first be introduced in Cadillacs (and sometimes Buicks) before eventually filtering down to the Pontiac and Chevrolet lines. The watering down of Cadillac eventually has watered down the entire GM lineup as it's no longer that special. Toyota took the opposite approach and successfully expanded into the luxury market with Lexus. And lots of people own Toyotas (my last three vehicles were all Toyotas) because of their perceived excellent reputation which includes the Lexus brand.
I also don't know that there's much of a consumer mindset of working their way up the marque ladder like that anymore. The last few times we've bought cars, we've basically gone online and done a search for cars available between $X and $Y. Whatever we find, we take a look at the reviews and such for, then do test drives and pick which one we like the best. The last time my wife bought a car, we ended up looking at a Dodge Avenger and some sort of Buick before we ended up buying a Honda Civic. Not even remotely the same classes of cars or even the same manufacturers.
Brand loyalty isn't as strong today, but it still exists. While I did try out a few other car brands before my last two purchases, I stuck with Toyota because of their reputation. (I seriously considered a Hyundai but really disliked the Hyundai salesman who alternated extolling the Hyundai with complaints about his ex-wife during my test drive.) It's not hard to find people loyal to a brand; just go to any car show or auto race and the loyalty of Ford F-150 truck owners is a class unto itself.
Given the popularity of trucks/SUVs now, it's a little sad no one in recent years has made a reliable compact truck that doesn't rival a mid-sized BMW in price.
Regardless of the benefits, only the wealthy or highly altruistic types will buy an electric vehicle for many years to come. The price has to come (wayyyyy) down, and charging stations will need to be as ubiquitous and easy to use as gas stations are now. We've got a ways to go.
When vehicle shopping, drivers should forget about everything else about a vehicle until they can answer one crucial question: "can I get and out without twisting myself into knots" . It will likely be an unpleasant surprise, esp. if money is an object.
Can GM be saved? It seems like they've never recovered from the oil shocks of the 1970s or the mismanagement of the 19i0s, and are still behind foreign automakers in terms of reliability and innovation. And I speak as someone who drove GM vehicles into the 90s.
As this is a thread for potentially unpopular opinions, I'm going to frame these with a bit less nuance than usual.
* RV owners who keep their RVs parked at a single campground for the majority of the time they are away from home would generally be better off, in terms both of finances and comfort, if they bought a second home and tent-camped for brief excursions.
* The only acceptable amount of oil consumption for a gasoline engine in normal service is zero. Any automaker who claims otherwise (i.e., most if not all of them) is trying to manage liability for progressive oil consumption resulting from various types of design compromises.
* If a car is reliable and handles well, keep it until it stops running, even if that takes decades. (I'm actually glad this is an unpopular opinion--if everyone thought the same way, it would be like living in East Germany in the 1970's.)
Quote from: J N Winkler on August 14, 2022, 02:10:25 PM
* If a car is reliable and handles well, keep it until it stops running, even if that takes decades. (I'm actually glad this is an unpopular opinion--if everyone thought the same way, it would be like living in East Germany in the 1970's.)
That's what I'm trying to do with my current car, despite my list of things about it that disappoint me (bad mid-range acceleration, awkward center console, broken power locks making me lock the doors manually, fussy turn signal lever, and the oh-so-boring color [silver]). Compared to other cars I've driven, it's built like a tank (of course, it kind of drives like one, too, but fortunately, the gas mileage is pretty decent).
This should not be allowed:
(https://i.imgur.com/UmLbhuX.png)
Speaking of, full-size RVs should require a special license with strict and rigorous testing. Your grandparents should not be driving around a huge RV around every little backroad without further training and competency tests every year.
Quote from: Bruce on August 15, 2022, 02:44:07 AM
Speaking of, full-size RVs should require a special license with strict and rigorous testing. Your grandparents should not be driving around a huge RV around every little backroad without further training and competency tests every year.
I would prefer having regular physical competency tests for being able to drive in general. A 3-5 interval would be my preference and would include a physical. The most gruesome automobile accident I witnessed involved a 92 year old man who wasn't fit to drive accidentally running over his wife twice with a Lincoln Town Car. Generally things like MHE require someone to obtain a new license every couple years for similar reason.
- Basing public policy on technology that does not yet exist is always a bad idea. Electric cars in 10 years are just as likely to have all the technological limitations they have today as they are to have advanced to be more mainstream acceptable.
- The GPS that can navigate better than me with a free map from the state or a R-M has not yet been made.
- If you have been somewhere more than twice and you still set your GPS when you leave, you are a dope.
- Where the long dead founder was born is not determinative of whether a car is "American" or not. A Toyota Tundra is among the most American vehicles made.
- GM, Ford, and Mopar are incapable of making a quality product. They just don't care.
- There is no such thing as a "demonstrator" . Its a used car.
- Most people with more than 3 bumper stickers, no matter the subject and no matter which side of said subject they are on, are to be avoided.
- People tha pay for a personalized plate, and then cover half of it with the dealer's ad frame, are dopes.
- Car dealers are not your friend.
Quote from: SP Cook on August 15, 2022, 08:51:21 AM
- There is no such thing as a "demonstrator" . Its a used car.
It depends on the state's disclosure laws how it was sold; was it registered with the state or not. Sometimes it's a relief to know it wasn't repossessed or a buy-back (potential lemon or extremely picky customer). There also may be more items and services covered by warranty if the vehicle did not have a previous owner.
It's basically a lower-mileage used vehicle or worse yet, a former loaner car. I would avoid a demo with 12,000 miles on it, it's probably a former loaner or courtesy car, and customers typically treat them worse than their own vehicles. Many of my customers (as well as some sales/service personnel) were wont to take out their dealer/life-induced frustrations upon these vehicles.
Whenever I see someone cutting off others in traffic, I feel there's a 10% chance it has a "courtesy car" or "loaner car" decal on the back windshield. It's probably a greater chance that guest would also look in your medicine cabinet and desk drawers for "no reason".
Quote from: SP Cook on August 15, 2022, 08:51:21 AM
- The GPS that can navigate better than me with a free map from the state or a R-M has not yet been made.
- If you have been somewhere more than twice and you still set your GPS when you leave, you are a dope.
- Most people with more than 3 bumper stickers, no matter the subject and no matter which side of said subject they are on, are to be avoided.
- People tha pay for a personalized plate, and then cover half of it with the dealer's ad frame, are dopes.
- Car dealers are not your friend.
Judging other people harshly, but never himself: SP Cook in a nutshell.
Quote from: SP Cook on August 15, 2022, 08:51:21 AM
....
- If you have been somewhere more than twice and you still set your GPS when you leave, you are a dope.
....
I would distinguish between the person who does this for navigation reasons–in which case I tend to agree with your assessment–and the person whose device is able to download traffic information and recommend alternate routings that might save time if there is an accident or something else messing up the most direct route. In the latter scenario, I don't see any reason why someone should not go ahead and set the device when leaving.
Quote from: 1995hoo on August 15, 2022, 02:03:50 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on August 15, 2022, 08:51:21 AM
....
- If you have been somewhere more than twice and you still set your GPS when you leave, you are a dope.
....
I would distinguish between the person who does this for navigation reasons–in which case I tend to agree with your assessment–and the person whose device is able to download traffic information and recommend alternate routings that might save time if there is an accident or something else messing up the most direct route. In the latter scenario, I don't see any reason why someone should not go ahead and set the device when leaving.
100%. Every time I need to drive somewhere near downtown, I map it since it's quickest to go one of three ways, and depending on traffic, it might make a 20 minute difference. I also map every time I drive into the mountains since, if there's an accident somewhere, there are very limited detour paths you can take. Crappy traffic on I-70 yesterday was mildly abated by taking a 10 minute detour that I wouldn't have known I needed to take unless I was using software.
Quote from: SP Cook on August 15, 2022, 08:51:21 AM
- If you have been somewhere more than twice and you still set your GPS when you leave, you are a dope.
Get burned by unexpected traffic and construction detours and you too will auto-set GPS. Heck, I have to check before I leave the house even on weekends because I-5 gets backed up from random crashes.
Quote from: Bruce on August 15, 2022, 07:12:09 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on August 15, 2022, 08:51:21 AM
- If you have been somewhere more than twice and you still set your GPS when you leave, you are a dope.
Get burned by unexpected traffic and construction detours and you too will auto-set GPS. Heck, I have to check before I leave the house even on weekends because I-5 gets backed up from random crashes.
Yes, indeed. As a resident of New England, where traffic jams can happen at any time for any reason even on familiar routes, using a GPS to get out of it is necessary for preserving sanity if nothing else.
I also set my GPS for directions regardless of the many times I've driven between two points, if only to get my ETA and distance left.
Quote from: Bruce on August 15, 2022, 02:44:07 AM
Speaking of, full-size RVs should require a special license with strict and rigorous testing. Your grandparents should not be driving around a huge RV around every little backroad without further training and competency tests every year.
The larger RVs may require a CDL in many states.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on August 15, 2022, 02:12:43 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on August 15, 2022, 02:03:50 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on August 15, 2022, 08:51:21 AM
....
- If you have been somewhere more than twice and you still set your GPS when you leave, you are a dope.
....
I would distinguish between the person who does this for navigation reasons–in which case I tend to agree with your assessment–and the person whose device is able to download traffic information and recommend alternate routings that might save time if there is an accident or something else messing up the most direct route. In the latter scenario, I don't see any reason why someone should not go ahead and set the device when leaving.
100%. Every time I need to drive somewhere near downtown, I map it since it's quickest to go one of three ways, and depending on traffic, it might make a 20 minute difference. I also map every time I drive into the mountains since, if there's an accident somewhere, there are very limited detour paths you can take. Crappy traffic on I-70 yesterday was mildly abated by taking a 10 minute detour that I wouldn't have known I needed to take unless I was using software.
I know foco like the back of my hand, but sometimes will still google an address so i can see which house it is (3rd on left past blabla street, i.e.) This is handy at night since literally no-one leaves a porch light on anymore when they're expecting a delivery.
That's weird–I leave my front porch light on 24/7, whether I'm expecting a delivery or not.
At this time of year, I take walks at dusk and generally find about 80%-90% of houses in my subdivision don't have exterior lights continuously on in front.
Quote from: Scott5114 on August 21, 2022, 04:04:28 AM
That's weird–I leave my front porch light on 24/7, whether I'm expecting a delivery or not.
Your delivery drivers thank you. Help us help you.
Quote from: Scott5114 on August 21, 2022, 04:04:28 AM
That's weird–I leave my front porch light on 24/7, whether I'm expecting a delivery or not.
24/7?
Astronomical utility bill. :D
Quote from: Rothman on August 22, 2022, 06:52:48 AM
Quote from: Scott5114 on August 21, 2022, 04:04:28 AM
That's weird–I leave my front porch light on 24/7, whether I'm expecting a delivery or not.
24/7?
Astronomical utility bill. :D
They're LEDs. Barely makes a difference, especially with how much the A/C needs to run to keep it from being 1190° inside.
The last time I analyzed our electric bill, I discovered we consume over twice as many kilowatt-hours during the heaviest usage month (typically July or August) as during the lightest (January or February). This is nearly all attributable to A/C usage.
Quote from: Scott5114 on August 21, 2022, 04:04:28 AM
That's weird–I leave my front porch light on 24/7, whether I'm expecting a delivery or not.
I installed an in-wall timer for ours (there are three lights out front). I had originally tried using screw-in light sensors that would turn the lights on or off based on ambient light outside, but they didn't work as well as I had hoped, perhaps because the front lights are in shadow in the afternoon and the sensors therefore turned the lights on too soon.
I dread the day no gas-powered cars will be built. Unless further technological advances are made, I'll just hang onto my 2019 Equinox.
Quote from: Henry on August 24, 2022, 01:44:12 PM
I dread the day no gas-powered cars will be built. Unless further technological advances are made, I'll just hang onto my 2019 Equinox.
I'm curious to see how popular used commercial fleet vehicles will become in the aftermarket when they are the last real ICE options.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 24, 2022, 01:48:54 PM
Quote from: Henry on August 24, 2022, 01:44:12 PM
I dread the day no gas-powered cars will be built. Unless further technological advances are made, I'll just hang onto my 2019 Equinox.
I'm curious to see how popular used commercial fleet vehicles will become in the aftermarket when they are the last real ICE options.
I can't see that many people being suddenly interested in high-mileage, well-used vehicles that reek of cigarette smoke just because they're gasoline-powered.
Quote from: abefroman329 on August 24, 2022, 02:32:34 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 24, 2022, 01:48:54 PM
Quote from: Henry on August 24, 2022, 01:44:12 PM
I dread the day no gas-powered cars will be built. Unless further technological advances are made, I'll just hang onto my 2019 Equinox.
I'm curious to see how popular used commercial fleet vehicles will become in the aftermarket when they are the last real ICE options.
I can't see that many people being suddenly interested in high-mileage, well-used vehicles that reek of cigarette smoke just because they're gasoline-powered.
The prospect of police issued vehicles was always something that intrigued me when the Panther Platform Crown Victorias were around. Now that California is about to make the 2035 passenger sales ban law it gets my mind stirring on possible in-state loopholes. I can certainly see myself possibly looking into DLA Disposition Services sell offs of ICEs in the future given there is usually some deals to be had.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 24, 2022, 05:05:48 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on August 24, 2022, 02:32:34 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 24, 2022, 01:48:54 PM
Quote from: Henry on August 24, 2022, 01:44:12 PM
I dread the day no gas-powered cars will be built. Unless further technological advances are made, I'll just hang onto my 2019 Equinox.
I'm curious to see how popular used commercial fleet vehicles will become in the aftermarket when they are the last real ICE options.
I can't see that many people being suddenly interested in high-mileage, well-used vehicles that reek of cigarette smoke just because they're gasoline-powered.
The prospect of police issued vehicles was always something that intrigued me when the Panther Platform Crown Victorias were around. Now that California is about to make the 2035 passenger sales ban law it gets my mind stirring on possible in-state loopholes. I can certainly see myself possibly looking into DLA Disposition Services sell offs of ICEs in the future given there is usually some deals to be had.
Ah, I was thinking of rental car fleets.
When ex-police cars are sold off, I assume they have the same interior as when they were in service? As much as I like the idea of driving an ex-cop car, I can't say I'm delighted at the prospect of driving a car where the back doors can't be opened from the inside by anyone.
That and cops aren't exactly known for driving gently.
Nor are government employees. But if you can get a 7 year old lower market tier car with potentially less than 40,000 miles it can still be worth having a look.
Regarding cop cars one of the more common issues is lumpy cam shafts from sitting around idling really often. If it is a patrol car then yes all the police gear gets stripped out. Most police auction patrol cars I've seen still had the vinyl back seats though.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 24, 2022, 05:22:59 PMIf it is a patrol car then yes all the police gear gets stripped out. Most police auction patrol cars I've seen still had the vinyl back seats though.
Yeah, this is what I was thinking of, rather than SCMODS and the like.
I've seen at least one ex-cop car that still had the spotlight near the driver-side sideview mirror.
The rise of the SUV and the disappearance of the sedan is a good thing. The sedan body style is stupid in how it wastes all that space above the trunklid.
Also, today's SUVs simply represent a return to form. At the end of World War 2, the average car was as tall as today's SUVs. Then Detroit became enamored with longer, lower, wider and by 1960 car buyers just sheepishly accepted they were supposed to duck to get in and out of their cars.
The weird thing is the people who claim to support building "up, not out" for cities oppose it for automobiles.
Quote from: triplemultiplex on August 10, 2022, 05:21:48 PM
All cars look like identical pods now.
Loud exhaust is for stupid attention-whores.
Motorcycles are death traps and anyone who likes them is wrong.
The bigger the pick-up truck, the more insecure the driver is about the size of his johnson.
Extra small-dick cred if it's a diesel.
Cars are now life-style accessories first and transportation second.
That has always been the case bro.
Quote from: kernals12 on August 27, 2022, 11:22:37 AM
Quote from: triplemultiplex on August 10, 2022, 05:21:48 PM
All cars look like identical pods now.
Loud exhaust is for stupid attention-whores.
Motorcycles are death traps and anyone who likes them is wrong.
The bigger the pick-up truck, the more insecure the driver is about the size of his johnson.
Extra small-dick cred if it's a diesel.
Cars are now life-style accessories first and transportation second.
That has always been the case bro.
Kind of, there was about two decades of noticeable variation around the 1950s-early 1970s era. Safety standards contribute have heavily to how cars have looked really since Federally mandated 5 MPH bumpers have been a thing. All the same, volume automakers will/always try to find a pleasing general facade which will sell in high volume and not be too polarizing. The CUV is the new safe volume automotive shape whereas in the past it was the 90s jelly bean or 80s box.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 27, 2022, 11:37:49 AM
Quote from: kernals12 on August 27, 2022, 11:22:37 AM
Quote from: triplemultiplex on August 10, 2022, 05:21:48 PM
All cars look like identical pods now.
Loud exhaust is for stupid attention-whores.
Motorcycles are death traps and anyone who likes them is wrong.
The bigger the pick-up truck, the more insecure the driver is about the size of his johnson.
Extra small-dick cred if it's a diesel.
Cars are now life-style accessories first and transportation second.
That has always been the case bro.
Kind of, there was about two decades of noticeable variation around the 1950s-early 1970s era. Safety standards contribute have heavily to how cars have looked really since Federally mandated 5 MPH bumpers have been a thing. All the same, volume automakers will/always try to find a pleasing general facade which will sell in high volume and not be too polarizing. The CUV is the new safe volume automotive shape whereas in the past it was the 90s jelly bean or 80s box.
I strongly disagree.
(https://i.imgur.com/sRTEBGV.png)
Watch the evolution of the jet style cars from the late 1940s to 1960s. There was some huge variation in the designs between brands that make them easy to identify. Likewise most cars through the sixties to the Federal crash regs are largely also identifiable. Even more mundane looking cars like the Nova, Falcon and Dart are still easy to identify from each other. That's not even touching on how crazy looking muscle cars and pony cars could get in that era. Even cars on the same platform could at times look substantially different from each other.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 27, 2022, 04:18:00 PM
Watch the evolution of the jet style cars from the late 1940s to 1960s. There was some huge variation in the designs between brands that make them easy to identify. Likewise most cars through the sixties to the Federal crash regs are largely also identifiable. Even more mundane looking cars like the Nova, Falcon and Dart are still easy to identify from each other. That's not even touching on how crazy looking muscle cars and pony cars could get in that era. Even cars on the same platform could at times look substantially different from each other.
I have no trouble telling a RAV4 from a CRV. But then again, I know more than the average person about cars. If the average person can't tell the difference between a RAV4 and a CRV then 50 years ago, they would not have been able to tell a Ford from a Plymouth.
Quote from: kernals12 on August 27, 2022, 04:37:43 PM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 27, 2022, 04:18:00 PM
Watch the evolution of the jet style cars from the late 1940s to 1960s. There was some huge variation in the designs between brands that make them easy to identify. Likewise most cars through the sixties to the Federal crash regs are largely also identifiable. Even more mundane looking cars like the Nova, Falcon and Dart are still easy to identify from each other. That's not even touching on how crazy looking muscle cars and pony cars could get in that era. Even cars on the same platform could at times look substantially different from each other.
I have no trouble telling a RAV4 from a CRV. But then again, I know more than the average person about cars. If the average person can't tell the difference between a RAV4 and a CRV then 50 years ago, they would not have been able to tell a Ford from a Plymouth.
Suffice to say I'm not exactly hurting for automotive knowledge myself. I do have a tendency to have trouble distinguishing a lot modern CUVs at a glance whereas I could easily tell the difference with older vehicles. Maybe that's because I'm older than you and I am subconsciously dismissive of newer vehicles that I don't quite find all that appealing? Either way, I don't see a true objective measure and I was to clarify my above thoughts I would certainly classify them as subjective.
Here is an opinion likely to be unpopular, I tend to find run of the mill commuter cars way more fascinating than performance cars. I could read or watch reviews regarding boxy four cylinder cars of old all day provided the opportunity. Then again, that kind of was the gist of the whole 70s, 80s and 90s automobile thread when I started it years ago.
Quote from: kernals12 on August 27, 2022, 11:20:51 AM
The weird thing is the people who claim to support building "up, not out" for cities oppose it for automobiles.
How the hell are these related? High-rise buildings don't create blind spots for a dozen children who can get run over and mangled by careless drivers.
There's plenty of SUVs that don't require pedestrians to be 10 ft tall to be visible, like the Cadillac Escalade. A CRV would do just fine.
(https://media.tegna-media.com/assets/WTHR/images/e9de79e4-6d26-4816-ac29-0b4c48f3f642/e9de79e4-6d26-4816-ac29-0b4c48f3f642_1920x1080.png)
Quote from: Bruce on August 27, 2022, 05:27:14 PM
Quote from: kernals12 on August 27, 2022, 11:20:51 AM
The weird thing is the people who claim to support building "up, not out" for cities oppose it for automobiles.
How the hell are these related? High-rise buildings don't create blind spots for a dozen children who can get run over and mangled by careless drivers.
There's plenty of SUVs that don't require pedestrians to be 10 ft tall to be visible, like the Cadillac Escalade. A CRV would do just fine.
(https://media.tegna-media.com/assets/WTHR/images/e9de79e4-6d26-4816-ac29-0b4c48f3f642/e9de79e4-6d26-4816-ac29-0b4c48f3f642_1920x1080.png)
But they give more interior space for a given exterior footprint. A Rav4 is 1 foot shorter than a Camry, which it dethroned as America's most popular passenger car. That's substantially less space needed for roads and parking.
Quote from: kernals12 on August 27, 2022, 11:20:51 AM
The rise of the SUV and the disappearance of the sedan is a good thing. The sedan body style is stupid in how it wastes all that space above the trunklid.
Also, today's SUVs simply represent a return to form. At the end of World War 2, the average car was as tall as today's SUVs. Then Detroit became enamored with longer, lower, wider and by 1960 car buyers just sheepishly accepted they were supposed to duck to get in and out of their cars.
The weird thing is the people who claim to support building "up, not out" for cities oppose it for automobiles.
If you want a vehicle that will show off all your luggage when you're on the road and is harder to park, be my guest. I'd rather the ease of parking a smaller vehicle, the better fuel economy, and keeping my things hidden from potential thieves. The lower height also feels more intimate with the road and I prefer cozy to having a bunch of wasted space.
Yeah, I don't have any interest in ever having an SUV because I barely use the trunk and cabin space I have in a sedan as it is. Bringing all of that into the cabin doesn't really do anything useful for me.
Besides, if your concern is that the wedge of space between the top of the truck and the back windshield is "wasted" by not being part of the cabin, the solution isn't an SUV, it's a station wagon. (And that space is still "wasted" in an SUV or station wagon; you can't put anything there if you want your view out the back windshield to remain unobstructed.)
Amusing how the sedan is called out as being space inefficient but yet nobody wanted station wagons come the early 1980s. The modern CUV has more in common with old station wagons than it does actual body on frame SUVs.
Quote from: CoreySamson on August 09, 2022, 10:51:31 AM
Pickup trucks are way too popular for what they are. An SUV with a trailer can probably handle 95% of what a pickup can do.
A-a-a-a-and, if you don't own a trailer?
Quote from: Scott5114 on August 27, 2022, 06:09:30 PM
Yeah, I don't have any interest in ever having an SUV because I barely use the trunk and cabin space I have in a sedan as it is. Bringing all of that into the cabin doesn't really do anything useful for me.
Besides, if your concern is that the wedge of space between the top of the truck and the back windshield is "wasted" by not being part of the cabin, the solution isn't an SUV, it's a station wagon. (And that space is still "wasted" in an SUV or station wagon; you can't put anything there if you want your view out the back windshield to remain unobstructed.)
If I'm loading a bunch of cargo in the vehicle, then I'm already operating under the assumption I won't be able to see out the back window anyway.
Then again, when I'm on a road trip with the family, our vehicle is usually completely packed from floor to ceiling in the back, plus a rooftop cargo box that's completely full as well.
I don't know about y'all, but I find it very difficult to tell older cars apart. Newer cars, however, I can distinguish very easily, except sometimes between certain luxury makes' models (think Audi A6 vs. A8).
Quote from: kphoger on August 27, 2022, 08:50:31 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on August 27, 2022, 06:09:30 PM
Yeah, I don't have any interest in ever having an SUV because I barely use the trunk and cabin space I have in a sedan as it is. Bringing all of that into the cabin doesn't really do anything useful for me.
Besides, if your concern is that the wedge of space between the top of the truck and the back windshield is "wasted" by not being part of the cabin, the solution isn't an SUV, it's a station wagon. (And that space is still "wasted" in an SUV or station wagon; you can't put anything there if you want your view out the back windshield to remain unobstructed.)
If I'm loading a bunch of cargo in the vehicle, then I'm already operating under the assumption I won't be able to see out the back window anyway.
Then again, when I'm on a road trip with the family, our vehicle is usually completely packed from floor to ceiling in the back, plus a rooftop cargo box that's completely full as well.
I'm guessing that's not too big of a deal to you, given your experience driving a large truck, but if I don't have a clear view from the center mirror I start getting antsy.
Quote from: Scott5114 on August 28, 2022, 07:21:49 AM
Quote from: kphoger on August 27, 2022, 08:50:31 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on August 27, 2022, 06:09:30 PM
Yeah, I don't have any interest in ever having an SUV because I barely use the trunk and cabin space I have in a sedan as it is. Bringing all of that into the cabin doesn't really do anything useful for me.
Besides, if your concern is that the wedge of space between the top of the truck and the back windshield is "wasted" by not being part of the cabin, the solution isn't an SUV, it's a station wagon. (And that space is still "wasted" in an SUV or station wagon; you can't put anything there if you want your view out the back windshield to remain unobstructed.)
If I'm loading a bunch of cargo in the vehicle, then I'm already operating under the assumption I won't be able to see out the back window anyway.
Then again, when I'm on a road trip with the family, our vehicle is usually completely packed from floor to ceiling in the back, plus a rooftop cargo box that's completely full as well.
I'm guessing that's not too big of a deal to you, given your experience driving a large truck, but if I don't have a clear view from the center mirror I start getting antsy.
So...no U-Hauls for you?
Quote from: Scott5114 on August 27, 2022, 06:09:30 PM
Yeah, I don't have any interest in ever having an SUV because I barely use the trunk and cabin space I have in a sedan as it is. Bringing all of that into the cabin doesn't really do anything useful for me.
Besides, if your concern is that the wedge of space between the top of the truck and the back windshield is "wasted" by not being part of the cabin, the solution isn't an SUV, it's a station wagon. (And that space is still "wasted" in an SUV or station wagon; you can't put anything there if you want your view out the back windshield to remain unobstructed.)
Yes, I do wish station wagons had become the dominant body style, but they didn't, so I take the fact that consumers have taken to what amount to tall station wagons as a victory.
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 27, 2022, 06:11:04 PM
Amusing how the sedan is called out as being space inefficient but yet nobody wanted station wagons come the early 1980s. The modern CUV has more in common with old station wagons than it does actual body on frame SUVs.
Actually, most of those old station wagons were body-on-frame.
Quote from: kernals12 on August 28, 2022, 08:35:19 AM
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on August 27, 2022, 06:11:04 PM
Amusing how the sedan is called out as being space inefficient but yet nobody wanted station wagons come the early 1980s. The modern CUV has more in common with old station wagons than it does actual body on frame SUVs.
Actually, most of those old station wagons were body-on-frame.
Yes, I'm aware pre-unibody cars and how prevalent they used to be. We had a 1977 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser (A-Body) until 1985 when it was replaced by a Caravan. The move from Vista Cruiser to Caravan was the logical progression of family vehicle after my sister was born.
Quote from: Rothman on August 28, 2022, 08:11:04 AM
Quote from: Scott5114 on August 28, 2022, 07:21:49 AM
Quote from: kphoger on August 27, 2022, 08:50:31 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on August 27, 2022, 06:09:30 PM
Yeah, I don't have any interest in ever having an SUV because I barely use the trunk and cabin space I have in a sedan as it is. Bringing all of that into the cabin doesn't really do anything useful for me.
Besides, if your concern is that the wedge of space between the top of the truck and the back windshield is "wasted" by not being part of the cabin, the solution isn't an SUV, it's a station wagon. (And that space is still "wasted" in an SUV or station wagon; you can't put anything there if you want your view out the back windshield to remain unobstructed.)
If I'm loading a bunch of cargo in the vehicle, then I'm already operating under the assumption I won't be able to see out the back window anyway.
Then again, when I'm on a road trip with the family, our vehicle is usually completely packed from floor to ceiling in the back, plus a rooftop cargo box that's completely full as well.
I'm guessing that's not too big of a deal to you, given your experience driving a large truck, but if I don't have a clear view from the center mirror I start getting antsy.
So...no U-Hauls for you?
I can count on one hand the number of times I've driven a vehicle capable of even towing a trailer of any sort.
Quote from: Scott5114 on August 28, 2022, 08:03:26 PM
Quote from: Rothman on August 28, 2022, 08:11:04 AM
Quote from: Scott5114 on August 28, 2022, 07:21:49 AM
Quote from: kphoger on August 27, 2022, 08:50:31 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on August 27, 2022, 06:09:30 PM
Yeah, I don't have any interest in ever having an SUV because I barely use the trunk and cabin space I have in a sedan as it is. Bringing all of that into the cabin doesn't really do anything useful for me.
Besides, if your concern is that the wedge of space between the top of the truck and the back windshield is "wasted" by not being part of the cabin, the solution isn't an SUV, it's a station wagon. (And that space is still "wasted" in an SUV or station wagon; you can't put anything there if you want your view out the back windshield to remain unobstructed.)
If I'm loading a bunch of cargo in the vehicle, then I'm already operating under the assumption I won't be able to see out the back window anyway.
Then again, when I'm on a road trip with the family, our vehicle is usually completely packed from floor to ceiling in the back, plus a rooftop cargo box that's completely full as well.
I'm guessing that's not too big of a deal to you, given your experience driving a large truck, but if I don't have a clear view from the center mirror I start getting antsy.
So...no U-Hauls for you?
I can count on one hand the number of times I've driven a vehicle capable of even towing a trailer of any sort.
In Europe, they'll tow trailers with Mini Coopers. Paul Niedermeyer pointed this out
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/auto-biography/the-great-american-anti-towing-conspiracy/
Quote from: Scott5114 on August 28, 2022, 08:03:26 PM
Quote from: Rothman on August 28, 2022, 08:11:04 AM
Quote from: Scott5114 on August 28, 2022, 07:21:49 AM
... if I don't have a clear view from the center mirror I start getting antsy.
So...no U-Hauls for you?
I can count on one hand the number of times I've driven a vehicle capable of even towing a trailer of any sort.
I don't think the implication was a U-Haul trailer, but rather a U-Haul truck.
Quote from: Scott5114 on August 27, 2022, 06:09:30 PMYeah, I don't have any interest in ever having an SUV because I barely use the trunk and cabin space I have in a sedan as it is. Bringing all of that into the cabin doesn't really do anything useful for me.
Eleven years from now, you may discover it's much easier to get into an SUV than a sedan.
Also, if you should ever find yourself in a living situation where you parallel-park frequently, you'll appreciate the fact that a compact SUV is about a foot shorter than a sedan.
- Maybe it's just me. But the Sienna is scary looking but not in a good way.
- Volkswagen needs to leave the id.buzz where it is. And the "Id" naming scheme is not cute..
- I think Honda definitely favors their compacts (Civic/Integra) over the midsized Accord and TLX :coffee:.
- Do people still have interest in the RC and LC?
- Fiat's US return has been kinda.. you know.. but I've seen way more of them than Alfa-Romeos.
- BRING BACK THE DODGE STEALTH
- Buick messed up by getting rid of all their sedans... Chevy kinda got away with it but Buick has such a fragile lineup. I'm glad Cadillac still has theirs but they should definitely bring back the CT6 or XTS.
- I guess we're gonna continue to turn our eye to the same generation of 4Runner and Lexus GX being around since 09'..
- Mitsubishi needs to get out of its abusive relationship with Nissan/Renault asap.
Convertibles suck. You have to put up with lost structural rigidity, increased weight, and increased cost for the few days of the year when the weather is suitable to drive with the roof down, and doing so takes away all your trunk space and gives you drafts.
A sunroof gives you most of the thrill with almost none of the complications.
Quote from: kenarmy on January 01, 2023, 09:37:21 PM
- BRING BACK THE DODGE STEALTH
Be careful what you wish for. (https://autos.yahoo.com/autos/dodge-stealth-return-grocery-getter-213019817.html)
The recently revealed new Honda Prelude has been mostly unpopular with owners of the previous generations, due to it being a hybrid (and initially reported as an EV), but I like it and plan to buy one.