Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

houdini1

imidazol97 said:

abacomike said:

@stickguy said:

My real best memory was the '69 Volvo. That I can remember taking home new from the dealer. I was so excited! Ah, to be 7 again.

AAH, TO BE 25 AGAIN!  I sure wouldn't want to go through puberty again!!!  

To heck with 25. I'd settle for 39 again.

39 is still too young. 55 sounds good but I'd settle for 60 !

abacomike

imidazol97 said:

@stickguy said:

My real best memory was the '69 Volvo. That I can remember taking home new from the dealer. I was so excited! Ah, to be 7 again.

AAH, TO BE 25 AGAIN!  I sure wouldn't want to go through puberty again!!!  

To heck with 25. I'd settle for 39 again.

To be honest, I'd settle for 50.  Anything's better than where I am now!  

driver100

"houdini1">

Ah, Metropolitans. My brother-in-law had one when I was a teenager. He would let me borrow it from time to time. I remember driving home from visiting a girl friend one night, doing about 70 mph and sandwiched in between two huge 18 wheelers. Kind of scary. His was while and gold or pale yellow and it had a penchant for the manual transmission getting hung up. You had to stop, raise the hood, and push/pull on the gear linkage to get it unhung. This would have been about 1960. I really liked that little car.

I think these would be the original wheel discs or hubcaps that would come with a Metropolitan. I think these even have AM on them for American Motors.
It would be a lot of fun to drive around in one these days....kind of like a Smartcar but much cuter:

driver100

"abacomike"


To be honest, I'd settle for 50.  Anything's better than where I am now!

 

I'd like to be 25 but know everything that I know now.

isellhondas

Yep, those are the ones! Has anyone ever seen a very early Metropolitan with Hudson badging instead of Nash?

abacomike

@driver100:

In the original Superman series on TV in the 1950's, Clark Kent (George Reeves) drove a Metropolitan in the series.  Does anyone remember that?  It just shows you how old I really am!  

At least my memory isn't gone yet - but everything is!  

houdini1

driver100 said:

"houdini1">

Ah, Metropolitans. My brother-in-law had one when I was a teenager. He would let me borrow it from time to time. I remember driving home from visiting a girl friend one night, doing about 70 mph and sandwiched in between two huge 18 wheelers. Kind of scary. His was while and gold or pale yellow and it had a penchant for the manual transmission getting hung up. You had to stop, raise the hood, and push/pull on the gear linkage to get it unhung. This would have been about 1960. I really liked that little car.

I think these would be the original wheel discs or hubcaps that would come with a Metropolitan. I think these even have AM on them for American Motors.
It would be a lot of fun to drive around in one these days....kind of like a Smartcar but much cuter:






Thanks driver, that one looks just like the one I was talking about. I had it up as high as 80 mph. I see he has the hood up, gear linkage must be stuck !

imidazol97

abacomike said:

@driver100:

In the original Superman series on TV in the 1950's, Clark Kent (George Reeves) drove a Metropolitan in the series.  Does anyone remember that?  It just shows you how old I really am!  

At least my memory isn't gone yet - but everything is!  

Remember Captain Video?

imidazol97

imidazol97 said:

To heck with 25. I'd settle for 39 again.

I'd buy a Metropolitan. Put a vinyl/canvas roof on it. Add some gold plating to the
emblems and door handles and maybe even gold hubcaps...

Mr_Shiftright

Hmm...I think Clark Kent's car was a Nash Healey.

suydam

"You had to stop, raise the hood, and push/pull on the gear linkage to get it unhung. This would have been about 1960. I really liked that little car."

Yep. That's what we had to do. You might not like it if it was your only means of transportation, and had to get out of the car while on the shoulder of a highway in 90+ degrees to fix that transmission. Or 40 degrees in winter. Or in a sandstorm.

AND it had no heat or AC, and the main safety gear was your kneecaps.

On the other hand, it didn't break down much because it had so few parts. Ours finally died when a sailor we sold it to wrapped it around a tree one night.

abacomike

Mr_Shiftright said:

Hmm...I think Clark Kent's car was a Nash Healey.

In the early black & white shows, before color, it was a Metropolitan.  

imidazol97

suydam said:

and the main safety gear was your kneecaps.

Reminds me of a 1956 Chevy 2-door hardtop, black and bright yellow, that my cousin bought used in about 1957. It had been in an accident and the two dents in the dashboard metal were from the previous owner's kneecaps. True story.

driver100

Additionally, Mason utilized the TV series “Superman,” as Clark Kent (aka Superman) drove Nash cars in the shows, including a Nash-Healy two-seater. The earlier episode Nash cars were utilized by Inspector Henderson of the Metropolis police department who always arrived in a Nash. Co-star “Lois Lane” drove a Nash Rambler convertible, while photographer “Jimmy Olsen” roamed in a Nash Metropolitan.


Lois Lanes Nash Rambler;

imidazol97

driver100 said:

The tires look so small on that car compared to the car.

abacomike

driver100 said:

Additionally, Mason utilized the TV series “Superman,” as Clark Kent (aka Superman) drove Nash cars in the shows, including a Nash-Healy two-seater. The earlier episode Nash cars were utilized by Inspector Henderson of the Metropolis police department who always arrived in a Nash. Co-star “Lois Lane” drove a Nash Rambler convertible, while photographer “Jimmy Olsen” roamed in a Nash Metropolitan. Lois Lanes Nash Rambler;

Let's face it, WE ARE OLD!!!  

imidazol97

abacomike said:

Let's face it, WE ARE OLD!!!

Remember that old saying, "You're only as old as you feel."

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwic4vD60tzJAhUB5CYKHTjuAbQQFggdMAA&url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2875378/You-really-old-feel-Study-finds-believing-younger-actually-key-long-life.html&usg=AFQjCNHFngtFd00drwUyhM7sJ7fK1tFW2w

abacomike

@imidazol97 said:

"Remember that old saying, "You're only as old as you feel."

Then I must be even older than I thought I was!!!  

ab348

driver100 said:

Additionally, Mason utilized the TV series “Superman,” as Clark Kent (aka Superman) drove Nash cars in the shows, including a Nash-Healy two-seater. The earlier episode Nash cars were utilized by Inspector Henderson of the Metropolis police department who always arrived in a Nash. Co-star “Lois Lane” drove a Nash Rambler convertible, while photographer “Jimmy Olsen” roamed in a Nash Metropolitan.


Lois Lanes Nash Rambler;

Not exactly a Wide-Track!

The front wheels had to be inset like that to allow then to steer, given the lack of a usual front wheel opening. Not a very successful design.

Mr_Shiftright

It's hard to conceive of Superman driving a Metropolitan.

abacomike said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

Hmm...I think Clark Kent's car was a Nash Healey.

In the early black & white shows, before color, it was a Metropolitan.  

stickguy

I looked on IMCDB, and could not find a reference to a metropolitan. Did list him as driving a Nash 600.

abacomike

stickguy said:

I looked on IMCDB, and could not find a reference to a metropolitan. Did list him as driving a Nash 600.

And I thought all I had left was my memory.  I guess that's gone too!  What's left?  Ahh, a new car!!!!  

driver100

imidazol97 said:

driver100 said:

The tires look so small on that car compared to the car.

Not exactly low profile high performance tires.

driver100

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

Additionally, Mason utilized the TV series “Superman,” as Clark Kent (aka Superman) drove Nash cars in the shows, including a Nash-Healy two-seater. The earlier episode Nash cars were utilized by Inspector Henderson of the Metropolis police department who always arrived in a Nash. Co-star “Lois Lane” drove a Nash Rambler convertible, while photographer “Jimmy Olsen” roamed in a Nash Metropolitan.


Lois Lanes Nash Rambler;

Not exactly a Wide-Track!

The front wheels had to be inset like that to allow then to steer, given the lack of a usual front wheel opening. Not a very successful design.

Yeh, they forgot to put in wheel slots.

oldfarmer50

sda said:

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:

I don't think those 4 doors are to look like a convertible. Just an owner that happens to like the style.

At one time owning a convertible was a real status symbol. Today, it is just a preference thing.....you get a convertible if you like driving with the top down.

I get the feeling that someone who puts a fake convertible roof on their car is from the old school who think there is something stylish about having a convertible - even if it is a fake.

Here's a car I think doesn't look bad with a vinyl roof. 67k miles for $1800. If it didn't have a Northstar I'd like to drive it. My 95 Lincoln on the other hand is not enhanced by vinyl at all and it's the same year.

Its a shame that the Northstar developed a bad reputation for oil leaks and head gasket issues due to stretched head bolts. It was a smooth and nice sounding engine. My parent's 98 Aurora developed the famous oil leak that would have required the engine to be removed and resealed. Dad just put a drip pan under the car and called it a day. At 103000 miles, the ugly head gasket issue reared its ugly head. Too bad, because the car was still too nice to be junked. Thankfully they gave it to my sister and they had another engine put in and her boys have used it as their daily driver to high school.

I remember reading that the worst year was 1999 when about 22% of Northstar motors were effected. A gambler might jump at 5-1 odds but I'd never feel comfortable wondering if I was throwing snake eyes.

oldfarmer50

abacomike said:

@driver100:

In the original Superman series on TV in the 1950's, Clark Kent (George Reeves) drove a Metropolitan in the series.  Does anyone remember that?  It just shows you how old I really am!  

At least my memory isn't gone yet - but everything is!  

Mr_Shiftright said:

Hmm...I think Clark Kent's car was a Nash Healey.

Another view of Lois' car.

Look at those curb feelers.

ab348

My friend has a 2002 Intrigue bought new. It has the "Shortstar" V6 which is basically a Northstar with two cylinders lopped off. About a year in he took it to the dealer with an oil leak complaint. They ended up pulling the engine, opening it up and replacing the gaskets deep inside that were defective and causing the leak. Took them several days at god-only-knows what cost. Too bad, as that was a really nice engine, had it in my own 2002 Intrigue w/o a problem, loved to rev.

houdini1

abacomike said:

stickguy said:

I looked on IMCDB, and could not find a reference to a metropolitan. Did list him as driving a Nash 600.

And I thought all I had left was my memory.  I guess that's gone too!  What's left?  Ahh, a new car!!!!  

That's the problem with this darn internet. For years my wife would ask me some question and I would confidently rattle off some half baked answer and she would believe me. Thought I was a genius. Then she started checking some of my answers on her ipad, and that was the end of my genius days !

oldfarmer50

houdini1 said:

abacomike said:

stickguy said:

I looked on IMCDB, and could not find a reference to a metropolitan. Did list him as driving a Nash 600.

And I thought all I had left was my memory.  I guess that's gone too!  What's left?  Ahh, a new car!!!!  

That's the problem with this darn internet. For years my wife would ask me some question and I would confidently rattle off some half baked answer and she would believe me. Thought I was a genius. Then she started checking some of my answers on her ipad, and that was the end of my genius days !

Same with me. Now my wife says : "you know everything...and what you don't know...you make up"

bwia

Just checking in from the Caribbean. I am in Dominica right now hoping to spend a few days before moving to my final destination  in St. Lucia. 

Dominica was devastated by Tropical Storm Erika and the island is in a sorry state. Lots of humanitarian aid (except from USA) but poor coordination and logistics. No politics except to say that China and Venezuela have stepped in to fill the vacuum created when the US lost interest in the Caribbean region after the collapse of the former Soviet Union.

BTW, that $59 fare to Guadalupe is not paying dividends for Norwegian Airlines as there were 110 empty seats on our 188 seat Boeing 737-800. Yikes! With load factors like that  it won't be long before they abandon this route. I spoke with the crew who said they have been flying empty since this service began. Who knows why perhaps they hired some former auto execs to do their market research.

C'est tout

driver100

stickguy said:

I looked on IMCDB, and could not find a reference to a metropolitan. Did list him as driving a Nash 600.

Stick, I quoted an article that said Jimmy drove a Metropolitan, but, I think they got it wrong. I can't find a picture or any reference to him driving a Metropolitan.

driver100

bwia said:

Just checking in from the Caribbean. I am in Dominica right now hoping to spend a few days before moving to my final destination  in St. Lucia. 

Dominica was devastated by Tropical Storm Erika and the island is in a sorry state. Lots of humanitarian aid (except from USA) but poor coordination and logistics. No politics except to say that China and Venezuela have stepped in to fill the vacuum created when the US lost interest in the Caribbean region after the collapse of the former Soviet Union.

BTW, that $59 fare to Guadalupe is not paying dividends for Norwegian Airlines as there were 110 empty seats on our 188 seat Boeing 737-800. Yikes! With load factors like that  it won't be long before they abandon this route. I spoke with the crew who said they have been flying empty since this service began. Who knows why perhaps they hired some former auto execs to do their market research.

C'est tout

Interesting news from Dominica......and the low customer count on the airline. Maybe there is a contract in place and they have to keep flying until a certain date....or to maintain other routes.

Keep us informed of your progress, and what kind of cars you see.

sda

ab348 said:

My friend has a 2002 Intrigue bought new. It has the "Shortstar" V6 which is basically a Northstar with two cylinders lopped off. About a year in he took it to the dealer with an oil leak complaint. They ended up pulling the engine, opening it up and replacing the gaskets deep inside that were defective and causing the leak. Took them several days at god-only-knows what cost. Too bad, as that was a really nice engine, had it in my own 2002 Intrigue w/o a problem, loved to rev.

It was a nice engine, not real strong at low revs, but always quiet and smooth. Jump on it around 40mph and it would downshift and fly to 70 in a wink. It was easy on gas as well. I had a 2000 Intrigue GL with sunroof that I traded for the 2001 Aurora 4.0. Really liked both cars and in retrospect should have kept the Intrigue instead of trading for the Aurora.

abacomike

sda said:

My friend has a 2002 Intrigue bought new. It has the "Shortstar" V6 which is basically a Northstar with two cylinders lopped off. About a year in he took it to the dealer with an oil leak complaint. They ended up pulling the engine, opening it up and replacing the gaskets deep inside that were defective and causing the leak. Took them several days at god-only-knows what cost. Too bad, as that was a really nice engine, had it in my own 2002 Intrigue w/o a problem, loved to rev.

It was a nice engine, not real strong at low revs, but always quiet and smooth. Jump on it around 40mph and it would downshift and fly to 70 in a wink. It was easy on gas as well. I had a 2000 Intrigue GL with sunroof that I traded for the 2001 Aurora 4.0. Really liked both cars and in retrospect should have kept the Intrigue instead of trading for the Aurora.

Back on the 70's and 80's, I bought a lot of cars - mostly Oldsmobiles and Pontiacs and a few Chevy's.  I was brought up in a GM family (they were good, solid cars) so like father/like son.  Oldsmobiles were my favorites - 88's and 98's.  In 1987, I bought my first Mercedes (300 D) for my spouse and a 300 SDL for myself.  The owner of the dealership sent his kids to my school so I was able to buy them at dead cost.  Back then, there was a 20% mark-up on Mercedes vehicles.

But I still reminisce about my Oldsmobiles.

robr2

driver100 said:

Interesting news from Dominica......and the low customer count on the airline. Maybe there is a contract in place and they have to keep flying until a certain date....or to maintain other routes.

They've only been flying the route for 2 weeks so it will take some time to get people to even know it's available. Also, it's only 2 flights a week.

abacomike

Just got home from my first extended "outing" since my two hospitalizations for my heart and stent insertion. I drove down to the Sawgrass Mills Area in Sunrise and stopped into Best Buy. They had a sale going on for Printshop software. I always buy a new calendar every year and it usually costs me $6 to $7, but since I needed some photoshop software with clip art, and they had a software DVD on sale from $49.95 to $21.99, I figured I would get the software, load it onto my PC, and print my own calendars from now on. It would pay for itself in 3-4 years. So, I bought the program and loaded it onto my HP PC. After playing with it for about an hour, I figured out how to print a simple landscape boxed calendar so I could write in my appointments, etc.

So I printed 12 sheets (12 months, obviously), clipped the pages together, and started a new calendar for next year with all my doctor, dentist and critical appointment dates entered. Sure I could use my iPhone for the appointments, but this is easier for me to have right on my desk so I can plan each week appropriately.

The drive down there and back is about 50 miles and the car performed outstandingly well. I discovered a new program in the computer system in the car that I never had on an of the other Mercedes Benz vehicles I have owned. You press one of the center, lower dash buttons with a picture of a car on it. Up on the main screen pops a picture of my car with various options in a menu. I selected "ride and handling" and the car is elevated showing that it was set in 100% sport suspension mode. I then swiveled the know to select 50% and selected another option called "engine". The image of the car enlarges and the hood opens showing the engine. Additional meters are then shown (torque measured in lb ft, fuel economy averages by minutes, oil temp and oil pressure, oil levels, etc.). Then there is a diagnostic screen that checks all fluid levels and temps of fluids. Truly an amazing feature that they added to the CLS.

It seems every time I get into my car, I discover something else that is new and informative about the operation of the systems in the car.

sda

But I still reminisce about my Oldsmobiles.

Like father/like son, ditto. From the mid 60s until 3 years ago my parents typically had an Olds or Cadillac in the driveway, with their last being a 98 Aurora. They now have a CR-V. I owned many Olds in the past and was upset when GM announced that Olds was being shuttered in 2001. Of all the GM car divisions at that time I thought Olds had the most attractive and up to date product offering.

carnaught

Ditto for me with the shuttering of Olds. At one point my parents each had an Olds 98 convertible, then we had a Buick, then Cadillacs.

suydam

I didn't grow up with them. My only association with Oldsmobile is the wretched Cutlass owned by my mother in law in the 80s. In the shop every other week. Other than that, I couldn't tell you the name of a single model made by them.

PF_Flyer

My family was a Chevrolet clan until... the '65 Impalas that both my father and grandfather bought at the same time, same color and options... and same transmissions that both crapped out within 6 months. Dad got rid of his and got one of my favorites, a '66 Chrysler Newport

houdini1

abacomike said:

sda said:

ab348 said:

My friend has a 2002 Intrigue bought new. It has the "Shortstar" V6 which is basically a Northstar with two cylinders lopped off. About a year in he took it to the dealer with an oil leak complaint. They ended up pulling the engine, opening it up and replacing the gaskets deep inside that were defective and causing the leak. Took them several days at god-only-knows what cost. Too bad, as that was a really nice engine, had it in my own 2002 Intrigue w/o a problem, loved to rev.

It was a nice engine, not real strong at low revs, but always quiet and smooth. Jump on it around 40mph and it would downshift and fly to 70 in a wink. It was easy on gas as well. I had a 2000 Intrigue GL with sunroof that I traded for the 2001 Aurora 4.0. Really liked both cars and in retrospect should have kept the Intrigue instead of trading for the Aurora.

Back on the 70's and 80's, I bought a lot of cars - mostly Oldsmobiles and Pontiacs and a few Chevy's.  I was brought up in a GM family (they were good, solid cars) so like father/like son.  Oldsmobiles were my favorites - 88's and 98's.  In 1987, I bought my first Mercedes (300 D) for my spouse and a 300 SDL for myself.  The owner of the dealership sent his kids to my school so I was able to buy them at dead cost.  Back then, there was a 20% mark-up on Mercedes vehicles.

But I still reminisce about my Oldsmobiles.

Back around 1975 I was traveling Oklahoma and went from a pea green (hey where is greenpea) Ford Gran Torino to a nice maroon Olds Cutlass with a small v8 as a company car. I felt like I had died and gone to Heaven !! Flogged that Cutlass for 2 years. What a great car. Later I had a 1980 Cutlass that was terrible !

stever

suydam said:

My only association with Oldsmobile is the wretched Cutlass owned by my mother in law in the 80s. In the shop every other week.

I got stranded over and over cruising with a friend who had a Cutlass Supreme back in the late 60s. Mostly fuel issues. Soured me on them.

roadburner

I came from a "Ford" family, although Dad also bought a 1978 and 1981 Caprice Classic. His last car was a 1986 Mark VII LSC, which was a great car.
Me? I've owned two Fords, a miserable 1973 Bronco V8 that I inherited and the 1985 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe(with three pedals!) that I used as my work beater from 1994 to 1998.
I'd buy a Mustang GT Premium with the Performance Package today if my budget permitted it; it's a really nice car.

abacomike

roadburner said:

I came from a "Ford" family, although Dad also bought a 1978 and 1981 Caprice Classic. His last car was a 1986 Mark VII LSC, which was a great car. Me? I've owned two Fords, a miserable 1973 Bronco V8 that I inherited and the 1985 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe(with three pedals!) that I used as my work beater from 1994 to 1998. I'd buy a Mustang GT Premium with the Performance Package today if my budget permitted it; it's a really nice car.

That 2016 Mustang GT is exquisite.  I almost pulled the trigger on one 2 months ago, but after sitting in it, it was just too tight a fit.  If I sat in one now (lost 20 lbs. since heart attack), I would have bought it - but I never thought I would get a CLS400.  The front seats are larger and more comfortable than the E Class.

The styling and power in the new V8 Mustang are the incentives for the millennials as well as we baby boomers.

berri

Owned 3 Olds, none of them were really all that great, although the 76 Cutlass was a nice looker. Also owned 3 Ford's and a Mercury. The Taurus and big Merc wagon were good cars, the Explorer and Windstar were lemons.

henryn

abacomike said:

That 2016 Mustang GT is exquisite.  I almost pulled the trigger on one 2 months ago, but after sitting in it, it was just too tight a fit.  If I sat in one now (lost 20 lbs. since heart attack), I would have bought it - but I never thought I would get a CLS400.  The front seats are larger and more comfortable than the E Class.

The styling and power in the new V8 Mustang are the incentives for the millennials as well as we baby boomers.

Back around 2014, I took a test drive in a Mustang. I really liked the car, and the deals available (end-of-model-year) were outstanding. But ... The center console was so HUGE there was no room left for the driver.

I really like a car with no center console, and those are getting extremely hard to find.

imidazol97

abacomike said:

That 2016 Mustang GT is exquisite.  I almost pulled the trigger on one 2 months ago, but after sitting in it, it was just too tight a fit.  If I sat in one now (lost 20 lbs. since heart attack), I would have bought it - but I never thought I would get a CLS400.  The front seats are larger and more comfortable than the E Class.

The styling and power in the new V8 Mustang are the incentives for the millennials as well as we baby boomers.

When a high power model of a recent Mustang is around me when driving, I love the sound of the engine. I was passed by one coming home from ChickFilA that was GT and had horizontal stripes on the filler beween the taillights--a few years old. Great sound. Reminds me of my youth (long ago when 396 and 407 (406?)) were great sounding engines in the late sixties.

Then there a couple summers back when someone in a Lamborghini or Maserati was zipping around folks doing lane changes for clear space ahead to gun it on I75 with 6 lanes just north of I275 Cincinnati. Just WOW.

stever

henryn said:

I really like a car with no center console, and those are getting extremely hard to find.

Amen.

Michaell

imidazol97 said:

abacomike said:

That 2016 Mustang GT is exquisite.  I almost pulled the trigger on one 2 months ago, but after sitting in it, it was just too tight a fit.  If I sat in one now (lost 20 lbs. since heart attack), I would have bought it - but I never thought I would get a CLS400.  The front seats are larger and more comfortable than the E Class.

The styling and power in the new V8 Mustang are the incentives for the millennials as well as we baby boomers.

When a high power model of a recent Mustang is around me when driving, I love the sound of the engine. I was passed by one coming home from ChickFilA that was GT and had horizontal stripes on the filler beween the taillights--a few years old. Great sound. Reminds me of my youth (long ago when 396 and 407 (406?)) were great sounding engines in the late sixties.

Then there a couple summers back when someone in a Lamborghini or Maserati was zipping around folks doing lane changes for clear space ahead to gun it on I75 with 6 lanes just north of I275 Cincinnati. Just WOW.

At some point I'd love to get a Mustang GT and put a nice sounding exhaust system on it. Doesn't have to be new - heck, it doesn't even have to be the 5.0. I'd take the 4.6. I don't need 400+ HP - 300 would be just fine.

My dad has a '70 Chevy pickup with the 350 V8 - he installed an aftermarket exhaust on it and we could hear him coming home when he turned onto our street. Just a nice burble.

stickguy

I drove a few used mustangs during my recent shopping (before getting the sonata). But they were all V6 convertibles, of the prior to this generation. Not quite the same!