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2021 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4xe Granite Crystal over Saddle
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I was on a business trip earlier this week and decided I needed a rental car. Looking at Hertz, their ‘Premium’ class cars [ this was San Antonio, Sunday thru Wednesday – YMMV ] were priced nearly the same as ‘Economy’ for the days I would need one. So I arrived at the counter – and after the obligatory attempted ‘upsell’ to a Mercedes SUV [ no, thank you ] the nice lady offered me a nearly new 2016 Dodge Charger. I agreed – thinking this would be an opportunity to try out the V6 \ 8-speed automatic version of what I currently drive.
Nope. It was a silver Charger R/T, and – yup, it had a Hemi. In fact, I saw a number of other R/Ts on the line. I was rather surprised to see V8 sedans in a major rental car fleet – when a V6 version is also available!
Still had a bit of that ‘new car smell’ – at just over 700 miles on the odometer.
It was a relatively low equipment version [ no Nav, no leather, no sunroof, etc. ] but it did have XM. I did not drive it as much as I had expected, but here are a couple of random observations:
Suggestion - Check the tire pressures when you rent – this one had 50 PSI in all 4 !
I do this these days whenever I rent – like when I test drive. Generally new cars seem to be delivered with very high tire pressures – for transport.
Even with those very high pressures, the ride [ on generally well maintained streets and highways ] was surprisingly good! and also quiet.
The cloth seat bolsters did not seem to grab me like the ones in mine – mine are leather .
The drivetrain behaved exactly as in my 2015.
- Ray
Still happy to drive my 2015 on returning to Atlanta . . .
can you sell the Volvo & buy that?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
You know this is a FWD car, right? No matter, you'd hardly notice it. Fabulous engine sound, good handling, very comfy car to drive, 210HP but feels like more. A really nice driving experience.
Downside? Fortunately, the one you posted doesn't have the automatic transmission, so that's good. Mostly the downside is finding someone who knows these cars, can get the parts, and loves what he does. If you can't hook up with a trusted Alfa guy to do the maintenance and give it a good PPI, don't go there.
From what I recall, the only problems I had were electrical. The car never failed me, though.
23 Civic Type-R / 22 MDX Type-S / 21 Tesla Y LR / 03 Montero Ltd
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_164
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
I knew that one would get your attention, shifty. Yes, I'm aware it is FWD. I got to test drive one once. Really enjoyed it but was not in a place at that time that I could make a deal. Trying to remember what my daily driver was at that time, but I did still have my Spider in the garage. Anyway, the power certainly felt adequate.
My Spider never failed me, either, so I have confidence in Alfas. As you know, I don't use anybody else for mechanicals. Its all on me. Doesn't scare me one bit.
Stick, I mean, COULD I? Yeah, I guess. No idea what I could get for my volvo at this point. Nowhere near enough to pay for the Alfa, though, that's for sure. I wouldn't be willing to fix up the bodywork, and I have about $500 worth of parts sitting in the garage right now waiting for me to get to work on it. After I complete that work, maybe I'd get $2500 for it, I suppose, given the miles. Maybe $2k. Tough call.
Not sure that Alfa is worth all of $5k. Feels a little high, although there really isn't a market to judge it against.
Anyway, I just happened upon a couple of really interesting Ebay finds that have me intrigued as well.
This doesn't seem to be getting much bidding attention. Not really sure why. I really really dig it. Anybody know how to import a car??
And here is another interesting one. I don't find it as attractive as the Rover, but at least its a manual. ha.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
My brother owned one new - I think it was an '85. They imported them into Canada in the '80s as a way of getting some Western currency, and they were pretty cheap here compared to most any other new car. My brother, being an absolute cheapskate and aware of the Fiat ancestry, was intrigued because he was a sports car guy in the '60s and early '70s, so he bought one for family transport. What a disaster. It never ran right, the dealer/parts network was a joke, and they rusted like nobody's business despite using heavier-than-usual gauge sheetmetal - I seem to remember they made a big deal of touting the "hot-rolled steel" they used, but I never knew if that was a good or a bad thing.
I remember one Saturday afternoon in his driveway helping him try to fix a leaky gas tank. He was pretty handy and a good mechanic, and even getting the tank out was several hours work. It was in the right rear corner of the trunk - Pintos had nothing on these - and I forget why it was so tough to remove, but it was a chore. I seem to recall that eventually we figured out that the trunk leaked water into the well where the tank sat and rusted it out at the bottom. Oh joy.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
That said, I've been able to drive lots of different cars during rentals for my company. Some were actually a pleasure.
Is that a nitrous tank in the trunk?
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
fire extinguisher.
I think WD did a P8?? I did see that one, but the details are sketchy in my memory.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
I know I usually rent from Hertz and have been in everything from Kia, to Hyundai, to Toyota (and yes, Ford) on their Hertz Gold Preferred rows.
At Avis, they had a Mustang 6 cyl and a Camaro SS side by side to rent last week when I was in San Jose.
I liked the 164 quite a bit. It would feel dated now I suppose. Mine was only a few years old at the time.
I'm not sure what the market is--I think the 164 has completely bottomed out, so the "market" is probably the same as what you'd pay for the most common decent old used car....$2500--$4000 ??
Loved that engine note, though. Much sexier than the Spider's noises. But yeah, my Spider was absolutely reliable---drove that little sucker all over the country. God bless Bosch fuel injection.
That is a neat car but I was surprised to hear them say it was introduced in 1967. From the styling I would have thought late-'50s. Handsome old-school thing though. I found their carpet color choice interesting, though we are talking a light gray over dark blue car with dark brown leather inside. What they spent on a set of custom headers on a car like that baffled me. Surprised at the amount of money they were able to get for it in the end.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Not to disparage the car because of that. After all, James Dean died in a Porsche 550 Spyder and who wouldn't want one of those?
I really like that Rover. Very attractive car. I guess the Alfa would be easier to live with in the long run, but not exactly a classic. (although, technically, at 21 years old, I could get classic insurance)
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Seem like most of them were automatics
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Hopefully, they've cleaned up all the beer I spilled at the Beer Fest, last Saturday.
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I'm not sure I was much better, the group I was with went to a wine bar afterwards and then to the hotel bar to split appetizers before staggering back to our rooms.
Dinner with the family Saturday night to celebrate the wife's birthday.
Denver auto show is next month.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2014 MINI Countryman S ALL4
They tell me I had a good time.
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I'm taking a gaggle with me to the carshow, but going Saturday night with a follow on visit to the BoatHouse for BBQ. Then, we'll head to kyfdx's side of the river to go to the Prohibition Bar to try one of what's supposed to be the largest broubon selection in the world.
Should be a fun time.
Really interested in looking at Jaguars (whic I will seriously consider for my next ride). Plus, always fun to see the cars I either won't, or can't buy.
Didn't realize that Newberrys had named their bar. We eat at Pompilio's across the street from them, occasionally. You really are pretty close to me there... About two miles.
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'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
I'll post pictures when they're on, but picked them up from a guy who had his own storage garage with a lift and an old Porsche 911 he was working on. Very legit.
2024 Audi Q8 e-tron - 2024 Corvette - 2023 A6 Allroad - 2023 Tesla Model Y
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
For Pebble Beach quality, preserved in amber, best one in the immediate Milky Way galaxy, maybe $9000.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Mita's? Where is that? Food type?
Mita's is in the new 84.51 building, a block from the convention center. Owned by Jose Salazar, the chef/owner of Salazars in OTR. Spanish/Columbian comfort food? Something like that. I've never been there, but ate at Salazars, last month. Incredible food. Mita's should be cheaper, I hope.. lol
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really like 17in blizzak's for my winters for the A4
for the same $5k, I'd have the Alfa.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Are you saying that eBay bids only hold up in eBay court? Once you pull up eBay stakes, you're "free" and under Kansas statutes and Federal US law? That's assuming that you live in Kansas, like I do, of course. Insert your particular state.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
"In most cases, a bid on eBay is a legally binding contract between the buyer and the seller. Due to state laws and the complexities of real estate and vehicle transactions, bids in those categories are non-binding."
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick