The dealership initially deflected my cousins complaints about the stalling engine and had him on track to order another new Pinto! The salesman told him that having a 1975 Pinto wagon with a V6 would make everything better. Unbelievable. It almost worked until their new '74 Pinto started rusting shortly after taking delivery.
I think about that every time I watch Eugene Levy say, "You think you hate it now, wait 'til you drive it."
But in the movie he made the sale.
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.
I remember riding with my Scoutmaster in a 74 Pinto Runabout from central VA to Butler, PA to the 77 Scout Jamboree. He never exceeded 60mph, the speed limit was still 55, didn’t use the AC ever, and it only got in the lower 20s mpg. It was an automatic, metallic brown, upgraded interior. He allowed me to drive it some, it was sluggish and dull.
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
I remember riding with my Scoutmaster in a 74 Pinto Runabout from central VA to Butler, PA to the 77 Scout Jamboree
Believe it or not, someone asked me how old I-79 in western PA was so I googled it in the past week or so. I read that an exit was built solely for the 1977 Jamboree being held in Butler and was closed afterwards. Supposedly it's still visible from the interstate.
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A reasonably nice Infiniti G20, pearl white, a 65 maroon Corvair 4dr hardtop, and several last generation Cadillac DTS. The DTS not so unusual however these were all seen within 10 minutes of each other and all driven by men who looked to be late 30s, not the typical more mature set.
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
A reasonably nice Infiniti G20, pearl white, a 65 maroon Corvair 4dr hardtop, and several last generation Cadillac DTS. The DTS not so unusual however these were all seen within 10 minutes of each other and all driven by men who looked to be late 30s, not the typical more mature set.
Which generation of G20?
My sister and BIL had a gen 1 - dark green over tan leather. Very sharp car.
A reasonably nice Infiniti G20, pearl white, a 65 maroon Corvair 4dr hardtop, and several last generation Cadillac DTS. The DTS not so unusual however these were all seen within 10 minutes of each other and all driven by men who looked to be late 30s, not the typical more mature set.
Which generation of G20?
My sister and BIL had a gen 1 - dark green over tan leather. Very sharp car.
First generation. I looked at one to potentially buy when they were new but decided to buy a 90 VW Passat GL instead.
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
Wanted so much a Gen 2 Lude and original Legend coupe. Alas...$.
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
First Prelude was more like a Civic sports coupe. I remember when I was a freshman in high school, an upperclassman friend had one, silver, 5-speed, sunroof, seemed like a neat enough car (and was probably only around 10 years old at the time, so in this area, was still in clean condition). I also recall my 6th grade PE teacher had a red 2nd gen Prelude, would have been a late model car then. In high school, the 3rd gen was a car of choice for affluent/spoiled girls.
I recall several 2nd gen Preludes in the high school parking lot back in the day. These were virtually all driven by girls. I recall one of the 3rd gen cars (driven by the daughter of a doctor) was a 4WS model, a rarity today. Another 3rd gen, in a fairly bright yellow, was driven by the daughter of the local Honda dealer. I knew a girl who's mom bought a new 4th gen Si around 1993 I think, and it was also 4WS. She got to drive it to school a few times, and it was considered to be a pretty hot car. Can't recall the last time I saw one with that spec. I want to say that girl got a DSM Plymouth Laser when she was 18 - another unicorn these days. Either that was a long time ago, or cars were more diverse then.
there is actually a 4th generation for sale near me. Parked in a driveway on a busy road. Been there for a few weeks at least, so I assume it is either nasty, or overpriced. Or both. Looks decent enough on a drive-by, but a tad tired. maybe a nice wax job and detail would make it nice, though the interior may sink it.
Black. Kinda wondering if it is the same one that used to be in my neighborhood, though I don't think it is as beat up. That one had the front fascia beat up and partly off, and there was a large slick on the road where he parked it. Smoked a bit too I think, but I believe it was just a commuter runner to the nearby park and ride. Has not been there for a while so I assume it finally died.
way back when (mid 80s) my best friend had a roommate that had a gen 1 (the toad model). So what, late 70s? One day it just broke in half.
I had a friend who broke his mom's Accord in half; late 80s model.
He had the help of another driver who ran a stop sign at a cross intersection (in 1995, IIRC), but it literally split the car clean in half. He remembers coming to a stop in the ditch, and he could see the back half of the car sitting in the middle of the road out in front of him. He thought, wow, I got hit by a car that looks just like mine! Then he looked behind him and saw nothing but grass and dirt. LOL
He was, thankfully, unscathed, and the other driver had only minor cuts and bruises.
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100, 1976 Ford F250
A guy I used to work with in the '80's, two years younger than me, super-slim, expensive clothes, moussed hair, bought a new first-gen Prelude. Dark blue. First car I ever saw where the front seat was touching the rear seat bottom cushion, LOL.
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First car I ever saw where the front seat was touching the rear seat bottom cushion, LOL.
Really? I thought that was standard configuration for cars back then. My mother always had coupes (ALWAYS), and I never recall riding in a car of hers where my legs didn't hit the back of the seat, often with thee need to put one knee to each side of the seat back. Of course, as I grew older, this was a clear necessity, but even when I was very young I would need to do this.
I hated it. Needless to say, I have never owned a two-door myself, and probably never will.
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100, 1976 Ford F250
No doubt the seats touching like that is a quirky feature of many 4-door sedans, too. I recall in my W202 C43 AMG, with the driver's seat positioned for how I like to sit (low, legs extended), there's no way anyone but a very small child could fit behind me, it was effectively a 3 seater.
I don't have any memories of my mom's gigantic 70s T-Bird having rear seat room issues - but I was a little kid, and it was a large car.
Here's the life - pleasant reasonably sized house with a nice garage, located in a modern developed part of the world, and a couple of fintails in the driveway. Pic is from old PR material that MB is continuously releasing on fb and elsewhere:
Really? I thought that was standard configuration for cars back then. My mother always had coupes (ALWAYS), and I never recall riding in a car of hers where my legs didn't hit the back of the seat
I'm talking about zero legroom in the back--zero--when the driver had the seat in the position he chose to drive it in. And he really wasn't that tall.
No shock that I'm old-skool (LOL), but I thought the radio antenna placement on it was goofy too...that, and the inside mirror was the old-fashioned kind suspended from the ceiling, as opposed to applied to the windshield.
He liked it enough to trade it on a second-gen Prelude though.
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if they bothered to build it, why close it and not just leave it there?
What I interpreted was that the Jamboree was not actually IN Butler, PA but at the newly-made lake made near there. The exit was apparently made to take the significant number of Jamboree visitors directly to the lake area without having to go on roads that others travelled more-regularly.
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This talk about the first-gen Prelude my coworker drove for some reason reminds me of the episode of "Newhart" where Stephanie's "TurboZ" was in the shop and she was left car-less.
Bob Newhart told her she could drive his car (Oldsmobile). Her face turned into a pout.
Her preppy boyfriend said "Your car's American", LOL.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
This talk about the first-gen Prelude my coworker drove for some reason reminds me of the episode of "Newhart" where Stephanie's "TurboZ" was in the shop and she was left car-less.
Bob Newhart told her she could drive his car (Oldsmobile). Her face turned into a pout.
Her preppy boyfriend said "Your car's American", LOL.
A plain 73 metallic brown Delta 88 sedan.
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
I remember the intro to that show (my parents watched it), showing the car driving through the countryside or a small town. I think that intro was later lifted and used in a movie, but I can't recall which,
This talk about the first-gen Prelude my coworker drove for some reason reminds me of the episode of "Newhart" where Stephanie's "TurboZ" was in the shop and she was left car-less.
Bob Newhart told her she could drive his car (Oldsmobile). Her face turned into a pout.
Her preppy boyfriend said "Your car's American", LOL.
I believe that On Golden Pond was New Hampshire, Newhart was set in Vermont. Both, two of my favorite places on earth! Vermont would be a bit of a tough retirement spot, financially, as, well, socialism... New Hampster, not too bad.
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Thanks, brings back memories of watching TV with my parents when I was a kid. My dad was a fan, I remember he was always amused by the Larry/Darryl/Darryl characters. I remember that intro, as I could tell it was an Olds by the lights. It was an older car even then.
I swear I remember something where they lifted bits of that, including the Olds, but I don't know if that was it.
I've seen a Malibu Maxx SS a time or two around here - that has to be a unicorn now. I always kind of liked that sport wagon style, although the market apparently hated it.
Not a classic, but was behind a 2nd gen GM minivan, but the Buick version. A Terraza. Can’t say I recall that name. Or that Buick even had a version of it.
The Toyota Venza always reminded me of the Malibu Maxx.
At the time, I liked the idea that the Maxx's rear seats could be adjusted fore-and-aft like front seats.
I saw very few of those Malibu SS's of that generation around, for sure.
I had a number of those Malibus as rental cars. With V6's and whatever level interior got you perforated suede-like seat inserts, I liked the way they drove better than concurrent Impalas. Of course, another GM folks wouldn't even step in.
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The Terraza was the Buick version of the Uplander. A little busier trim outside, but it was the only version of that platform that got independent rear suspension.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
RE.: 'Newhart' and the '73 Delta 88--that show started in 1982 and I remember thinking even then, "A guy like his character would have a newer car than that". I could believe a Delta 88 four-door, but probably...an '82.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
Speaking of later SS cars, I remember in the mid-late oughts, there was a big dump of Impala SS in rental fleets, I assume because they were slow sellers. I imagine they had nice torque steer and front end plow. Even those ~2007 Impala SS are uncommon now, as I think they attract less than meticulous owners.
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I think about that every time I watch Eugene Levy say, "You think you hate it now, wait 'til you drive it."
But in the movie he made the sale.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
Believe it or not, someone asked me how old I-79 in western PA was so I googled it in the past week or so. I read that an exit was built solely for the 1977 Jamboree being held in Butler and was closed afterwards. Supposedly it's still visible from the interstate.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
My sister and BIL had a gen 1 - dark green over tan leather. Very sharp car.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2014 MINI Countryman S ALL4
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
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'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport 2020 C43 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
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Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
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Black. Kinda wondering if it is the same one that used to be in my neighborhood, though I don't think it is as beat up. That one had the front fascia beat up and partly off, and there was a large slick on the road where he parked it. Smoked a bit too I think, but I believe it was just a commuter runner to the nearby park and ride. Has not been there for a while so I assume it finally died.
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He had the help of another driver who ran a stop sign at a cross intersection (in 1995, IIRC), but it literally split the car clean in half. He remembers coming to a stop in the ditch, and he could see the back half of the car sitting in the middle of the road out in front of him. He thought, wow, I got hit by a car that looks just like mine! Then he looked behind him and saw nothing but grass and dirt. LOL
He was, thankfully, unscathed, and the other driver had only minor cuts and bruises.
I hated it. Needless to say, I have never owned a two-door myself, and probably never will.
I don't have any memories of my mom's gigantic 70s T-Bird having rear seat room issues - but I was a little kid, and it was a large car.
I'm talking about zero legroom in the back--zero--when the driver had the seat in the position he chose to drive it in. And he really wasn't that tall.
No shock that I'm old-skool (LOL), but I thought the radio antenna placement on it was goofy too...that, and the inside mirror was the old-fashioned kind suspended from the ceiling, as opposed to applied to the windshield.
He liked it enough to trade it on a second-gen Prelude though.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
What I interpreted was that the Jamboree was not actually IN Butler, PA but at the newly-made lake made near there. The exit was apparently made to take the significant number of Jamboree visitors directly to the lake area without having to go on roads that others travelled more-regularly.
Bob Newhart told her she could drive his car (Oldsmobile). Her face turned into a pout.
Her preppy boyfriend said "Your car's American", LOL.
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
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Now that I see the opener again, music by Henry Mancini, I think that's a classy opening for a comedy show, really. I'd like to live there.
I think of "On Golden Pond" with that opening; I wonder if that's the movie you're thinking of, fin?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlKKMIzL4EA
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2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=538800669
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I swear I remember something where they lifted bits of that, including the Olds, but I don't know if that was it.
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Vermont, "socialism", in 2020 USA? Hilarious
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
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At the time, I liked the idea that the Maxx's rear seats could be adjusted fore-and-aft like front seats.
I saw very few of those Malibu SS's of that generation around, for sure.
I had a number of those Malibus as rental cars. With V6's and whatever level interior got you perforated suede-like seat inserts, I liked the way they drove better than concurrent Impalas. Of course, another GM folks wouldn't even step in.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2014 MINI Countryman S ALL4