Car Thread

[DGuller]

No, I was just under impression that Japanese cars are not top-sellers in Europe, and that brands like VW and Renault are the shit there.

[Barrister]

We actually bought a brand new '11 Rav4 over the weekend for my wife.  Seems like a nice vehicle.  It was ultimately her choice, but I'm secretly glad she went Japanese ratehr than get another North American vehicle.  Her old vehicle was a 2 dr Chevy Blazer, which was not only hellaciously difficult to get the baby in and out of the back seat, but was constantly needing repairs, and rattled more than the baby's rattles.

I drive a '05 Toyota Tacoma, 4 dr, 4x4.  I love my truck.

[viper37]

Still in my 1998 Camaro.  Waiting to see a 2012 before changing.

[Malthus]

We actually bought a brand new '11 Rav4 over the weekend for my wife.  Seems like a nice vehicle.  It was ultimately her choice, but I'm secretly glad she went Japanese ratehr than get another North American vehicle.  Her old vehicle was a 2 dr Chevy Blazer, which was not only hellaciously difficult to get the baby in and out of the back seat, but was constantly needing repairs, and rattled more than the baby's rattles.

I drive a '05 Toyota Tacoma, 4 dr, 4x4.  I love my truck.

Heh, we were looking at the Rav4 too. They are certainly popular here - you see 'em everywhere. Similar class to the Forester.

One feature I didn't like about the Rav4 is the spare tyre on the back. It's the sort of thing I'd worry about backing into things with.

[Barrister]

I think my wife liked that - it made it feel more like a truck to her.

In any event, the Blazer also had a tire on the back, but it was way, way more awkward to deal with, and to see around.

Wife's sister has a newish Forester (I think from last year).  Seems nice, but the Rav4 had more space inside.

[Scipio]

2000 Honda Accord V6 coupe.  270k miles.  Original slushbox transmission.  Diggit.  Two year anniversary of payoff was last month.

[Zanza]

No, I was just under impression that Japanese cars are not top-sellers in Europe, and that brands like VW and Renault are the shit there.

•Volkswagen Group (VW) ... 2,936,832 ... 21.3 ... -4.2
•PSA Group ... 1,844,063 ... 13.4 ... -2.3
•Renault Group ... 1,410,263 ... 10.2 ... +4.6
•GM Group ... 1,190,404 ... 8.6 ... -7.3
•Ford ... 1,109,588 ... 8.0 ... -13.3
•Fiat Group ... 1,041,287 ... 7.6 ... -17.0
•BMW Group ... 750,379 ... 5.4 ... +6.0
•Daimler ... 669,092 ... 4.9 ... -2.1
•Toyota Group ... 600,314 ... 4.4 ... -16.3
•Nissan ... 402,654 ... 2.9 ... +9.7
•Hyundai ... 358,284 ... 2.6 ... +4.7
•Kia ... 262,627 ... 1.9 ... +4.5
•Volvo ... 230,307 ... 1.7 ... +12.6
•Suzuki ... 195,458 ... 1.4 ... -21.7
•Honda ... 187,408 ... 1.4 ... -23.4
•Mazda ... 182,684 ... 1.3 ... -13.5
•Mitsubishi ... 107,347 ... 0.8 ... +8.8
•Jaguar Land Rover Group ... 94,035 ... 0.7 ... +9.2
•Chrysler ... 36,874 ... 0.3 ... -26.8
•Others ... 175,798 ... 1.2 ... +7.1

So the market share of Japanese manufacturers is roughly 12%.

[DGuller]

What's PSA?  Peugeauouet?

[Zanza]

Peugeot & Citroën

[DGuller]

Interesting.  I was always under impression that Renault was the bigger of the two.

[DGuller]

Looking at Wiki, Renault is inded the biggest one, but Citroen is almost as big as Peugeot, so they combined beat out Renault.

[Slargos]

currently isuzu pickup but i am considering trading in for a stationwagon. volvo v70 or similar. perhaps the honda accord.

[Malthus]

Okay, related question for all: what convinced you to get the car you bought?

[11B4V]

Okay, related question for all: what convinced you to get the car you bought?

60 mile round trip to work

[HisMajestyBOB]

2008 Ford Focus:


Before that, 2002 Hyundai Elantra, also a nice car.
Before that, 1994 Ford Explorer with over 200k miles. That one fell apart on me - engine overheated due to leaking coolant + faulty engine temp. gauge; brake lines started leaking, and on one occasion pressing the brake pedal resulted in a spray of brake fluid; AC stopped working; speedometer and fuel gauge both stopped working, forcing me to use the RPM for speed and odometer to estimate fuel remaining.
Ah, my first car.