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Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)
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Why not?
Those Preludes were scary fast. the V-tech kicks in and they are GONE!
Not only that, they keep on going.
I once had a customer scare the bejees out of me in a Prelude. I was so ticked that I made him pull over. My goal was to take off and leave him standing alongside the freeway. He knew that and he was able to get back in the car.
I didn't say a word to him until we got back to the store. I told him get out of the &%$# car! and walked away from him.
I only did this three times in my career. Once, a new arrival from India veered into oncoming traffic TWICE. I had to grab the wheel. When she ran a stop sign I said..." THAT'S IT!" and had her pull over so I could drive back.
Just my experience with street racing, in general...
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I jumped on our 325 Vert going uu an on ramp recently and I was surprised over just how much power it had.
Still, I think I would put my money on the Prelude.
The X3's N52 I6 is both smooth & very powerful. BMW engines produce great top end power like Honda 4s. They do have something Honda engines lack, mid range torque. Our X3 also had a 6 speed automatic vs. my Prelude's 5-Speed manual transmission.
My Prelude Type SH is saddled with a few extra pounds compared to its base Prelude counterpart. It's 0-60 mph times were consistently in the 7.0 - 7.2 second range.
The 2 cars drive remarkably similar for being so different.
Yes, my Prelude will get smoked by a 268 hp V6 Camry.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
Bet you never saw a T&C towing such a thing. That was a scary ride home, I can tell you that. Although the van and equipment are all rated to tow higher, I can't imagine it. Could be I'm just not used to towing, but I could feel every little movement back there from the driver's seat.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Didn't those have some exotic nikasil coating for cylinder liners? I wouldn't be surprised if there was wear after a dozen years of high revs.
I'd be doing a compression test before buying one, that's for sure. Likely true for any car that age, of course.
Well if we get a lot of snow, I'm sure it will have no problem clearing out the driveway.
The only thing I ever towed with was my cousin's 2500 Silverado and even with that you could feel a little sway in the back. Power certainly wasn't a problem, you didn't even know anything was back there.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
The accurate way to test compression on a Honda is to do a leakdown test where you pressurize the cylinders.
Unless a Honda has been puttering around town and is carboned up even after 200,000 miles they usually have leakdowns of under 10%.
If they have high leakdowns, it's usually a result of carbon and not wear.
We would do a "carbon blast" where the guys would run strong solvents through the intake systems. Thsi usually did the trick.
Modern engines (not just Hondas) really don't seem to wear much these days. The valve jobs of the past are unheard of now.
I've seen heads pulled off after a ton of miles and the cylinder bores have no ridge or signs of wear.
Aren't the insides of the cylinders coated with nikasil on those? And S2000s as well, IIRC.
2024 Audi Q8 e-tron - 2017 911 C4S - 2025 BRZ - 2023 A6 Allroad - 2024 Genesis GV60 - 2019 Cayman
Some would argue the DeLorean is not exotic, but I bet the Sienna would have been a match for Magnum's Ferrari, too.
We once took in an Accord that was owned by an old lady. She never took it on the freeway and only drove it around town at low speeds.
The leakdowns were over 40% in two of the four cylinders but it still ran well.
So, the tech ran a quart of carbon blaster through it, took it on the freeway and drove the hell out of it holding it in gear at near redline for a few minutes.
Brought it back and it was 4% in every cylinder!
Funny thing about progress, huh? What was once world class (ok, a bit of creative license) in its prime can't even keep up with a grocery getter today.
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
I call that an Italian tune up!
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
It had one of worst if not THE worst V-6 engines ever produced!
These were used in Renaults, Peugeots and (sadly) in some Volvos!
They were just miserable engines that some shops refused to work on!
I watched a guy do this to a 350 Chevy and you would not BELIEVE what came out of the tailpipe! Car ran great afterwards!
You wonder, though. Today's cars, with all the emissions and electronics - will they last as long?
I've seen an Isuzu Trooper throw a rod taking in water. I'm sure the amounts were great (water crossing).
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
Or, he could simply buy something that removes carbon and put in the intake system. It'll shake, smoke and stink something fierce. Then have him pour a quart of Rislone into the oil and go run the hell out of it. Be careful not to overfill the oil too much.
I don't believe in oil additives but I have seen Rislone work many times.
The emissions and electronics actually help. They allow the right gas/air mixtures and the cars run at the right temperatures. Cars run hotter than they used to and that is a good thing.
Also, today's motot oils are so much better than they used to be.
Just make sure that Accord has a good timing belt before he drives it too hard.
You SPRAY it and it takes a gentle touch and skill.
You should hear the engines when this is done. They rattle, belch and ping like crazy!
Don't do this on a nice cement driveway or you'll make a terrible mess!
One quick question...due to the fact that I really don't drive that much and I just hit 32.6k today, when should I do the 1st radiator drain/refill service? it's an '06 model & I've already done the tranny drain/refill at about 31k last year. Car drives great now that the a/c is fixed & I do plan on keeping it for a long while...Honda called again but haven't made a decision about offering any monetary help yet.
Thanks all, I am,
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Check out the new Impreza Sport as well - 27/36mpg with AWD. It seems to combine the 2 different classes you're shopping - small cars and small crossovers. It's not really in yet, but a few demos are making their way around to dealers here in the Mid Atlantic area, and they are available for test drives.
It won't be used to mow the lawn. I have a small home depot ride-on for that task. When we first moved into this house, I tried to find a landscaper. Some guy even came and cut it once, then never came back to discuss terms or collect his money. Oh well. So after that ordeal, I went and bought the cheapest ride-on I could find. With the friends and family discount going on at the time, I paid less than $600. That thing is still going strong 6 years later, so it has easily paid for itself.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
The factory sticker on the car did not include locking wheel lug nuts. The dealer added them at a cost of $185 or so, and apparently does that to any new car added to inventory that is equipped with alloy wheels as a matter of course.OK, it's a profit pack for them, but what the heck, I didn't argue when I did the deal 4 weeks ago.
I bought winter wheels from a local tire shop I trust. They said they didn't like these particular wheel locks, and advised against using them. Trouble is, the 4 lug nuts the dealer removed to put these things on were not found in the car.
I have been trying to get the 4 chrome lug nuts from the dealer ever since. I have never had a more frustrating experience. Phone calls not returned, feigned ignorance, multiple visits with no luck. They either have a big box of lugnuts somewhere in the service department where they do the swaps or they are adding the ones removed to their parts inventory.
I figure I paid for 5 chrome lug nuts per wheel and should be getting that. Am I nuts (pardon the pun)?
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
wonder why the mechanic doesn't like them? I do know the ones on my accord are official Honda issue ones, not some cheap dollar-store brand.
but $185? Talk about mark up!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Nope, not at all, the lug nuts they took off should be with the car.
I totally understand your frustration, I've been fighting for almost 6 months to get the paint issues fixed on my truck. Lots of promises but so far nothing. Plan on going in there tomorrow and causing a whole lotta hell. If I could drive the issue would be already fixed since I would be camped in the showroom every single day until they finally fixed it. Six more months.....*sigh*
I was at the Mazda dealer in Colorado Springs this past Saturday getting service done on the wife's CX-7 and saw a handful of SkyActiv equipped 3's on the lot, both sedan and hatch.
Nice AMG wagon, they probably didn't make too many wagons. That's a lot of money for an '06, though.
E63 wagons are just as rare, I think around 50-60 units per year.
I can't believe they actually charged 185.00 for those locks!!
It wasn't until we had a rash of wheel thefts in our area (and our lot!) that the
store I worked started automatically installing them on cars that had alloys.
I think we charged something like 75.00. We would take the factory lug nuts and place them in the package the locks came in.
I can't imagine why they are even hassling you over this?
Didn't the wife on the Sopranos drive an E wagon?
I know there's at least one E55 and E63 wagon in my area, but they sell here more than other places - there's also another E55 in the same color as mine (maybe 30 units per year for that one).
Just got home from Walgreens & the Civic almost got hit on the left front! Some a-hole woman decided the stop sign she had wasn't for her, so she drove right through it, making me hit the brakes and pull over to the right sharply...almost hit the curb also...damn! She had a big gulp in her right hand, so she must've had her left on the steering wheel. Man, my heart leaped into my throat & it's still throbbing quickly...sure got that adrenaline rush going! Told my kid that I'm done behind the wheel today...she can drive out to dinner later...damn! :mad: Would've hated for my baby to have gotten hit...I would've lost the wholr left 1/4 panel, the alloy wheel & tire and who knows what else...could've been quite expensive plus a rental car. Thank G-d the Civic has good brakes and that I saw it in time to take defensive action. Somehow I had a feeling she was gonna run the stop sign so I wasn't going real fast.
Getting the Mazda & the Civic detailed tomorrow morning...he did a great job on the other 2...even vacuumed the trunks! I know the other 2 will look great tomorrow to.
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
I gotta tell y'all, I've got the new car bug somethin' fierce after test driving them last week...somethin' fierce! Gotta use all my will power here to resist the calling...but I am so overdue here! Just can't get rid of a perfectly good ride just to scratch that itch though...just can't! :confuse:
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2025 VW GTI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Started the lease assumption process last Wednesday, and it was complete this Tuesday.. four business days...
Acquired the vehicle on September 3rd, disposed of on November 8th.. :surprise:
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'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S