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Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)
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I figure 90% of the time the top will be down. Unless of course I could move to Hawaii and do a Tom Magnum PI and never need a top.
Sorry to hear about the Civic, I think the 2006 is a great looking package.
2. 1980 Chevrolet Chevette
3. 1980 Nissan 280ZX
4. 1984 Lincoln Continental
5. 1984 Nissan 300ZX
6. 1984 Pontiac Firebird Formula 350
7. 1989 Cadillac Allante
8. 1989 Mercury Cougar
9. 1992 Chevy Corvette Coupe (stolen)
10. 1992 MB 300E 2.6
11. 1993 Chevy Corvette Convertible
12. 1992 Mitsubishi Diamante
13. 1994 Infiniti Q45
14. 1994 Pontiac Firebird Formula 350
15. 1997 BMW 750IL
16. 2001 Audi A6 4.2
17. 2002 Lexus LS430
18. 2003 Porsche TT
19. 2004 Lexus RX330
20. 2001 Toyota Celica
21. 2003 Toyota Corolla S
22. 2002 Dodge Ram*
23. 2005 MB E500
24. 2005 MB SL55*
25. 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Supercharged*
This is my list. I may have forgotten one, and didn't include any that didn't get titled in my name. Yes, I am spoiled. I do love all types of cars. The Rover may get traded for one in Vesuvius Orange. Don't envy me, pity me.
* Current Vehicle
I always liked those first-gen Diamantes, too. They seemed more upscale than the later models.
Too bad. Some good winter tires + balanced RWD + manual tranny = very controllable, but fun when you want. I have a second set of SE wheels w/ Blizzaks. Drove two winters on them through anything less than 6" of snow.
My GSL-SE pictures. I don't care for the stripes, but it came that way. I bought it from a friend with 139k miles, and now has 156k. It has been repainted at some point.
I'm 6'4" with long legs and fit in my tiny first gen. People freak when I get of it.
With your support, I hope to go cold turkey for a while.
I just got back from the auto show. My random thoughts:
A Scion TC is an incredible value, and it has far more room than I thought it would.
The new Passat has a higher quality interior than any Lincoln or Cadillac.
BMWs are just cool for a reason I can't put my finger on exactly.
Hondas and Toyotas get the details right.
Ford and GM don't seem to notice details.
The Solstice is nice looking, but in a cartoonish dune buggy sort of way.
The Hummer H3 is not very comfortable to sit in.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
1. 1978 Datsun B210GX (4-speed)
2. 1982 Honda Civic GL (5-speed)
3. 1984 Toyota Supra (5-speed)
4. 1987 Acura Integra (5-speed)
5. 1995 Nissan Maxima (5-speed)
6. 1996 Isuzu Trooper (5-speed)
7. 2002 Honda S2000 (6-speed)
8. 2004 Acura TL (6-speed)
9. 2005 Acura MDX (slushbox)
10. 2005 Porsche 911S (6-speed)
So that makes 47 manually shifted gears in my auto history.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
The hydraulic-assisted swinging rear door is annoying. Seems like it would hit things. Which brings us to your other point, Ford and GM don't seem to notice details...
What are you thinking of dumping the G35 for?
How did like the Allante? Did you find it to be on par with Mercedes SLs it was supposed to compete against?
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
I really like the G35, but it I feel like it is a waste of money since I drive only about 500 miles a month. We take my wife's Odyssey everywhere. When the lease is up on the Odyssey, I might get her an MDX to serve as our luxury vehicle and family hauler. Then I could drive something less practical. The only requirements would be that it would need to be relatively safe and reliable and have four seats.
My wife had a 2000 BMW 323i with a five speed. I should have kept that one for myself instead of trading it.
The LS......I'd do what Terry suggested & sell it privately. Why let carmax make an extra $2-$3K off such a desirable car?
*My wife had a 2000 BMW 323i with a five speed. I should have kept that one for myself instead of trading it.*
Carmax won't sell it there though. It would go in the wholesale auction. It's too old.
Of course GM stabbed themselves in the eye (as usual) and cancelled it for 94 ... but nice clean ones still get some severe $$ ...
Terry.
So far the MDX is proving to be a good choice. Handles like a car for the most part and the AWD made the car seem rock solid during a brief downpour we had this morning. I like the NAV and Gee likes the 8-way power passenger seat. Little Gee likes being able to see out of the car more than before.
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He also has a Luxury Sports Coupe that he drives throughout the house. You could tell him that he's not really driving that car but he wouldn't believe you.
Secondly, this is grounds for trading:
steine13, "Toyota Matrix vs. Pontiac Vibe - Compare Notes" #226, 6 Nov 2005 9:44 pm
Comments, suggestions?
I just got so I really like this little car again.
What should I do about getting the paint fixed?
Pretty bummed,
-Mathias
Why in the world would you put something so large on that little car?
I don't get it.
Mark :surprise:
(i) I understand that's how it's supposed to be done.
(ii) Of course I didn't, I put a piece of bicycle inner tube on first. But when the whole shebang slid backwards, the inner tube stayed where it was.
Are you crazy???
That's debatable but hardly the point.
Why in the world would you put something so large on that little car?
Because I need to get two boats to the river, and that's all the car I got. My buddy's cars -- even the big trucks -- are usually not set up to transport ANYTHING on top. The sissies.
Size doesn't have much to do with it. The same thing happened with the Sienna (no paint damage though), but the Mercury Villager was fine. In the end, I realized I was driving an ungainly 4000-lb car just so I could go canoeing 4 times a year. I may have to get a trailer instead.
I wouldn't be so peeved if the rack hadn't started to come apart. Lousy design. Some of Yakimas other solutions are much better.
-Mathias
My name is Mathias and I am a car addict. (Hi Mathias!)
Compared to some of youze guyze, I'm a babe in the woods, though. But my list is better, has prices :-)
The Passat was back home in Germany, the rest were here in MI.
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78 vw passat 80,000km Oct '88 free, gave away aug '91
83 plymouth horizon 100,000mi Aug '91 $900 dumped summer '94
85 nissan pulsar 105,000mi oct '93 $1400 sold spring '94 for $1700
89 pontiac lemans 135,000mi nov '93 $800 sold early '97 for $650
80 chevy cargo van 150,000mi oct '94 $560 dumped june '95
83 malibu wagon 107,000mi aug '95 $725 sold jan '97 for $850
87 audi 4000 105,000mi jan '97 $1000 sold oct '98 $900 to shaheen
88 vw fox 68,013mi dec '95 $1700 sold nov '97 for $1750
85 chevy beauville 92,200mi jul '96 $1750 sold oct '97 for $1750
97 nissan truck (new) 45mi sep '97 $10500
98 chevy prizm (new) 43mi oct '98 $9280 after rebs w/ audi || sold $7280 7/01
92 ford aerostar 110,000mi Jul '99 $3,400 sold oct '02 for $950
98 Toyota Sienna LE 54,000mi jun 02 $14k deered oct '03 sold wreck
93 Toyota Corolla LE 170k Sep01 $1,500 sold to Adam Jan '03 for $800
03 Toyota Sienna (new) 4mi Jan03 $3,800 OTD + $20k @ 0%
04 Pontiac Vibe (new) 5mi Oct03 $14,060 OTD
99 Chevy Prizm LSi 133,000mi Sep04 $1001 + new clutch, sold Mar05
00 Merc Vill Estate 81,000mi Mar05 $7200 OTD sold for $6 Oct05
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I had the most fun with the '80 Chevy van (3-on-the-tree baby!). The best deal was the 88 VW Fox which I sold for what I paid for it... 35k later.
The most expensive to keep running was the '92 Aerostar... all niggling little things. Note how there isn't a Honda on the list. Hmmmm....
-Mathias
I use the Q tower with a bike rack (the 6 wagon has roof rails available, but good luck finding one) and have not had any problem with 2 bikes up top.
I was actually amazed that those 4 little clips could hold all that pressure.I guess I'll have to keep a closer eye on it.
Maybe you should try kayaking, or is that for sissies too?
I would agree with you that a trailer would work perfect for transporting your canoes (where is Jolie? I think she has a trailer for sale!).
I have seen a few things fall off of vehicles on the interstate.... not a pretty sight! Also, a trailer would make you more aerodynamic.
Maybe a paint guy can touch-up that scratches on the Vibe.
Anyway, good luck
Mark
I thought that you were opposed to the <$1k car ...
Last weeks car was a Buick Park Ave. that I drove to Kansas City. For a large car, that was pretty hard for me to get into.
This weekend, I drove a Chevy Silverado Chicago - Minneapolis through Southern Wisconsin playing "dodge the deer" in a driving rain.
Next week's car will be a Neon, I bet.
Problem is I have 3 cars, all TIH. My old beater truck for bike hauling and yard work, the MPV for the family, and the Alfa Spider for sitting in the garage on jackstands while I tinker with it. The Sentra would be a phenomenal cheap-o commuter - I could probably drive it for 50k miles, get 35 MPG, and only need to replace maybe an alternator or a CV joint once in a while. But with a 5 mile one way commute I really can't justify a 4th car as a commuter, and it can't replace any of the other 3.
The really weird part is that last week there was a layoff at my work, and part of me was hoping I wouldn't make it through so I could find a job with a longer commute and thus justify buying that Sentra. Sick, I know. Maybe I'm just going through CCB withdrawal - I haven't bought or sold a car since April! :surprise:
-Jason
I keep seeing old Horizon/Chevettes/Caprices that interest me for under $1k ...
Of course I remember all the good things ... but forget why I have a newer car.
-Jason
*... it is too bad that Little Gee can't drive..*
No trailer for sale here, we decided to keep it. We have 3 vehicles and 4 trailers..........our yard is FULL!!!
Mathais.......what were you thinking???? Goodness!! LOL :P
We have since changed the design of the q-towers. Drop us a line with your address and phone number. I will get some new towers out to you.
Other then tightening the tower more it sounds like you have done everything correct in fitting the rack.
I'm impressed.
Seems to be a stand-up company after all.
I'll let y'all know how the new ones work out.
-Mathias
Oh no no no -- I LOVE the $1k car.
The problem is they're so hard to come by that I'm opposed to looking for one. Now if one bobs in the river as it lazily drifts by, I will do my level best to schkoop it up.
Like the '91 Civic Si I wanted... yeah I'd buy it if it was drivable... but not when it needs $1,500 of suspension work.
As the poet sang:
Thousand dollar car it ain't worth nothin'
Thousand dollar car it ain't worth ..it.
Might as well take your $1000,
and set fire to it.
$1000 car ain't worth a dime,
You lose your $1000 every time.
Oh why did I ever buy,
a $1000 car.
$1000 car is gonna let you down,
More than it's ever gonna get you around.
Replace your gaskets and paint over your rust,
You'll still end up with something that you'll never trust.
$1000 car's life was through,
'bout 50,000 miles 'fore it got to you.
Oh why did I ever buy,
a $1000 car.
A $1000 car ain't even gonna roll,
til you throw at least another thousand in the hole.
Sink your money in it, and there you are
the owner of a 2,000 dollar 1,000 dollar car.
(guitar solo)
If you've only got a $1000.
You ought to just buy a good guitar.
Learn how to play it it'll take you farther,
than any old $1000 car.
If a $1000 car was truly worth a damn,
then why would anybody ever spend ten grand.
Oh why did I ever buy,
a thousand dollar car.
[The Bottle Rockets]
then why would anybody ever spend ten grand.
Oh why did I ever buy,
a thousand dollar car. ***
Kind of reminds me of the song that Mrs Jlawrence01 sings:
Wanna new car, spend three grand
Don't tell me you're spending ten ...
My Daddy will buy you a car for a grand ...
and it'll last twenty years just like his.
As you can see, she's no poet.
Invoice $44522
MSRP $49915
TMV $49437
The reviews all said the 2005 model was underpowered. I assume the torque curve is also improved on the 290 HP 2006 model... I saw one at the auto show and mistook it for a Mercedes (I mean that as a compliment).
It's sportier than the LS400, but has more in common with that than your Civic Si. At $50k, there would have to be a killer lease deal before I'd consider it. If you can buy one for $40k, jump on it!