I just bought a Subaru Forester - first new car I've ever bought (all my prevous ones, I got used).
What do you guys drive these days?
My car is 2008 VW Jetta Wolfsburg. I was considering getting an Audi A4 this summer, but then concluded that my Jetta is almost as good at 40% of the price.
That shitty 2005 Dodge Neon I foolishly signed off on when my ex bought it. Ah well.
I don't own a car. The car sharing program I am in has Alfa Romeo Mitos.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.speedheads.de%2Fartikelbilder%2F2008%2FAlfaRomeoMiTo5.jpg&hash=8bef678d67b8509d8ac96cc4fe40cf8e4aa721ae)
When I drive for my job, it's some Mercedes model, depending on what is available. Recently mostly an SLK so I could drive open and enjoy the good weather. :cool:
2005 Chev Malibu...thinking of getting a new one.
07 FJ Cruiser, currently covered in trail dust. It needs a bath.
Quote from: Valmy on August 19, 2011, 11:19:31 AM
That shitty 2005 Dodge Neon I foolishly signed off on when my ex bought it. Ah well.
I drive an 05 Neon. 140K on the clock. All ive changed is oil/filter every 6000 mile, brakes every 60,000, plug/wires every 15k.
I did the scheduled replacement for the timing belt, water pump, and tensior recommended at 90K.
dependable car.
Quote from: Malthus on August 19, 2011, 11:15:08 AM
I just bought a Subaru Forester - first new car I've ever bought (all my prevous ones, I got used).
What do you guys drive these days?
The three main vehicles
05 Neon
91 Mustang lx 5.0; Currently under going a auto to manual transmission swap.
94 dodge Ram 1500
09 Dodge Challenger
05 Jeep Grand Cherokee
05 Honda Accord
Others I don't drive:
09 Honda Odyssey
08 Mercury Milan (yuk)
I bought a family friend's 2006 Toyota Camry a couple weeks ago. Once I get rid of my piece of crap Oldsmobile Aurora, my household will be free of American cars for the first time in like 12 years. And good riddance. Seems like they do okay for the first 80,000 miles, then everything just rapidly deteriorates after that.
I'll miss the 3.5L V6 in my Aurora, but I suppose my Camry's 4-cyl engine will save a bit on gas. My Camry has a standard 5-speed transmission, and I swear it shifts exactly like my brother's Supra did back in the day (weaker engine power but whatever). Driving a standard is like riding a bike, but it is a little annoying when in stop & go traffic. Pretty happy with it overall.
1999 Toyota Camry.
I used to have a 2005 Neon too. :lol: But Korea got that, because that car is fucking tiny. And she'd filthied it up with her awful habits. My Camry is clean.
A 2005 Corolla :wub:
2008 Nissan Versa SL that I never drive and a
2010 Hyundai Elantra
Lease on the Versa is up in November but I think we'll buy it.
They drive Japanese cars in Europe?
Quote from: DGuller on August 19, 2011, 12:30:40 PM
They drive Japanese cars in Europe?
Are you kidding me? There is a lot of them out there. And not just the cheapo ones, altough with a big Suzuki factory in the country, they dominate the low-end part here.
And the sunday drivers market as well. God damn if I had a penny for every time a Suzuki annoyed the hell out of me.
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.
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. :wub:
Still in my 1998 Camaro. Waiting to see a 2012 before changing.
Quote from: Barrister on August 19, 2011, 12:41:17 PM
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. :wub:
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.
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.
2000 Honda Accord V6 coupe. 270k miles. Original slushbox transmission. Diggit. Two year anniversary of payoff was last month.
Quote from: DGuller on August 19, 2011, 12:36:51 PM
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%.
What's PSA? Peugeauouet?
Peugeot & Citroën
Interesting. I was always under impression that Renault was the bigger of the two.
Looking at Wiki, Renault is inded the biggest one, but Citroen is almost as big as Peugeot, so they combined beat out Renault.
currently isuzu pickup but i am considering trading in for a stationwagon. volvo v70 or similar. perhaps the honda accord.
Okay, related question for all: what convinced you to get the car you bought?
Quote from: Malthus on August 19, 2011, 03:10:12 PM
Okay, related question for all: what convinced you to get the car you bought?
60 mile round trip to work
2008 Ford Focus:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fa7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ak-ash4%2F229920_925217908887_15602179_43842681_2119904_n.jpg&hash=37aed741448f876f73c41bfe7ea82f22364b2712)
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. :wub:
2009 VW Golf, I upgraded last year from a Polo.
Quote from: DGuller on August 19, 2011, 02:27:30 PM
Interesting. I was always under impression that Renault was the bigger of the two.
PSA is slightly bigger, but Renault has a very close cooperation (and considerable stake) with Nissan which gives them economies of scale.
Renault-Nissan also cooperates with Daimler, PSA cooperates with BMW. However, none can compete with Volkswagen in scale. Volkswagen may even surpass GM and/or Toyota this year in total output.
Quote from: Malthus on August 19, 2011, 03:10:12 PM
Okay, related question for all: what convinced you to get the car you bought?
The Odyssey, kid transportation. Jeep Cherokee, driving in the snow. The Accord, fuel economy. The Challenger was a birthday gift.
Quote from: Malthus on August 19, 2011, 03:10:12 PM
Okay, related question for all: what convinced you to get the car you bought?
Well this was/is my wife's vehicle primarily. She absolutely insisted on getting a SUV - she grew up in the country, pretty much everyone in her family drives some kind of 4x4, I think it was as much a self-image thing.
So we started looking at SUVs. I have been very satisfied with my Toyota, so I was somewhat pushing Toyota, or at least Japanese. We looked at a few smaller SUVs from Japanese manufacturers, she seemed to like the RAV4 the best - the CR-V looked to wimpy or something.
I liked it because we could also get the optional 3rd row seats (which we did) which gives us plenty of room to bring people along with car seats.
I bought my truck back when I lived in rural Alberta and I was always hauling stuff to the dump every weekend. :Canuck: Truth be told there's very little need for a pick-up living in the city though. :(
Quote from: Malthus on August 19, 2011, 03:10:12 PM
Okay, related question for all: what convinced you to get the car you bought?
My parents gave it to my sister, and when she bought a new car, she gave her old one to me.
Quote from: Barrister on August 19, 2011, 04:42:18 PM
I bought my truck back when I lived in rural Alberta and I was always hauling stuff to the dump every weekend. :Canuck: Truth be told there's very little need for a pick-up living in the city though. :(
Don't you have a yard?
You'll need to haul in yard/garden supplies sometime. :P
Quote from: Malthus on August 19, 2011, 03:10:12 PM
Okay, related question for all: what convinced you to get the car you bought?
Mainly it was the fun to drive factor.
My car is a 2002 Ford Focus. My wife picked it out.
Ironically, she almost never drives it. She drives a 2006 Hyundai Accent that technically belongs to my mom.
Quote from: Tonitrus on August 19, 2011, 06:29:12 PM
Quote from: Barrister on August 19, 2011, 04:42:18 PM
I bought my truck back when I lived in rural Alberta and I was always hauling stuff to the dump every weekend. :Canuck: Truth be told there's very little need for a pick-up living in the city though. :(
Don't you have a yard?
You'll need to haul in yard/garden supplies sometime. :P
Hence the "very little", not "none".
But I've always lived in small towns, and always knew where the dump was. After almost six months in Edmonton, I actually have a collection of shit the garbageman won't take, and I need to take to the dump myself...
A dated photo, as I've already tricked out the headlights, replaced the ambers with smoked-out LEDs and replaced the OEM tail lights with steel-housed round LEDs.
Next up: front and rear bars, a 2 1/2" suspension lift, wheels and 35" tires.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcf.geekdo-images.com%2Fimages%2Fpic1069849_md.jpg&hash=cfc54c75d2f661b6c40d6a889a5111de8122d4f9)
Quote from: Malthus on August 19, 2011, 03:10:12 PM
Okay, related question for all: what convinced you to get the car you bought?
Walked home over 3 miles in a driving thundersnow in loafers and slacks because my Caddy's RWD failed me one night in January. Never again.
Now I drive over entire families of negroes.
I see you don't have to deal with that front plate bullshit. My wife uses the sound of the plate scraping against the curb as her cue to stop.
Quote from: Ed Anger on August 19, 2011, 07:28:56 PM
I see you don't have to deal with that front plate bullshit. My wife uses the sound of the plate scraping against the curb as her cue to stop.
LOL, that pic from from the lot where I bought it. Still have to mount the plate in the front in Maryland.
But I'm a guy, so I know how to park. And I usually park ass-in anyway.
I like to park in the expectant mothers spot. Screw them. I need my pizza rolls.
Expectant mothers spot?
Quote from: The Larch on August 19, 2011, 07:46:42 PM
Expectant mothers spot?
Since lazy negroes always park in handicapped spots--and in all my years, I've never seen a negro with handicapped tags on their car actually be handicapped--expectant mothers spots were created in some jurisdictions to throw the darkies off their game.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 19, 2011, 07:49:09 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 19, 2011, 07:46:42 PM
Expectant mothers spot?
Since lazy negroes always park in handicapped spots--and in all my years, I've never seen a negro with handicapped tags on their car actually be handicapped--expectant mothers spots were created in some jurisdictions to throw the darkies off their game.
They also like to park in a hospital dropoff/pickup lane. I WAS NOT AMUSED.
2009 BMW M3 is my daily driver.
Wife drives a 2011 Audi TTS.
We have a 2007 Volvo V70 we drive most of the time we go out with our daughter.
I bought the M3 because I had just gotten a promotion and had always wanted a BMW. The other two cars were not my decision and I actively opposed the Audi. Before I bought the BMW almost every car we've had has been a Toyota.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 19, 2011, 07:49:09 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 19, 2011, 07:46:42 PM
Expectant mothers spot?
Since lazy negroes always park in handicapped spots--and in all my years, I've never seen a negro with handicapped tags on their car actually be handicapped--expectant mothers spots were created in some jurisdictions to throw the darkies off their game.
:lol: I wish they'd do something similar with 'Family Restrooms' at Reds games. Every goddamned time I would try to take my our to one & it was occupied, sho 'nuff out would walk some obese black chick in her late teens/early 20s. They spend ages in there, too.
What's more odd about that is that there are almost none of that demographic going to games these days. Yet they manage to monopolize the family restrooms.
Thankfully my kid's diaper days are long gone & he can pee in a urinal.
Quote from: OttoVonBismarck on August 19, 2011, 09:20:29 PM
2009 BMW M3 is my daily driver.
Wife drives a 2011 Audi TTS.
We have a 2007 Volvo V70 we drive most of the time we go out with our daughter.
I bought the M3 because I had just gotten a promotion and had always wanted a BMW. The other two cars were not my decision and I actively opposed the Audi. Before I bought the BMW almost every car we've had has been a Toyota.
Though you actively opposed the Audi before purchase... what is your opinion of it after owning it?
Quote from: CountDeMoney on August 19, 2011, 07:49:09 PM
Quote from: The Larch on August 19, 2011, 07:46:42 PM
Expectant mothers spot?
Since lazy negroes always park in handicapped spots--and in all my years, I've never seen a negro with handicapped tags on their car actually be handicapped--expectant mothers spots were created in some jurisdictions to throw the darkies off their game.
I used them whenever I could when Korea was around. WTF have they got, an ultrasound?
Quote from: OttoVonBismarck on August 19, 2011, 09:20:29 PM
2009 BMW M3 is my daily driver.
Now that's a nice car. :thumbsup:
Still have the same A4 I got....almost three years ago now, I guess. Just went over 33,800 miles yesterday.
I'm thinking about trading it in for something useful like a truck or large SUV or something, but I'd miss having something that isn't totally boring to drive. It's not particularly fast or anything like that, I just like driving around in it. It's....comfortable.
Edit: Oh, I bought it because the cost of gas in my old SUV was destroying my bank account (toward the end, I was only getting about 200 miles on a tank of gas in the thing). So, you know, I bought a heavy all wheel drive car with a rev happy turbocharged four-cylinder. :rolleyes:
Quote from: Zanza on August 20, 2011, 01:38:53 AM
Quote from: OttoVonBismarck on August 19, 2011, 09:20:29 PM
2009 BMW M3 is my daily driver.
Now that's a nice car. :thumbsup:
Aren't you going to get fired for saying things like that?
The C63 AMG Coupé is better of course. :P
But the M3 is undoubtly a fine car, much better than all the American and Japanese cars named in this thread.
I bought my 2008 Accord V6 brand new. First time I ever bought a new car (though Princesca bought her 2003 Civic brand new). Probably wouldn't do it again... I love my car and it was awesome to have a new one, but I just can't justify spending that much in my head. Was nice to do it once, though. :)
We're probably replacing her Accord with some sort of SUV (Honda Pilot seems likely) this fall, and it definitely won't be a new one.
These are the last days of me driving my 2007 BMW 530 XD station wagon, which is clocking at 206.000 kms. At the end of august I'll be changing it for a new Land Rover Discovery.
Next monday we'll pick my wife's new car up, a 2011 Volkswagen Touran.
Oh, and the Forrester is an excellent car :thumbsup:
L.
Quote from: PRC on August 19, 2011, 10:57:20 PM
Though you actively opposed the Audi before purchase... what is your opinion of it after owning it?
Still not a big fan of the Audi.
Reasons:
- It looks like a chick car, dunno why, it's just too rounded, too soft.
- It's theoretically a sports car, but the performance isn't amazing to me given its price. Why is it even considered to be a performance car? It's a 2L 4 cylinder. It's got some go to it for a 4 cylinder, but when I step out of my M3 with its 4 L V8 414 hp engine it feels like I'm driving a go-cart.
- Not sure about the 2012 models but the 2011 model my wife bought had no option for manual trans, only auto (or auto-manual which is still not a proper stick shift.) Again, why would a performance car not have a manual trans?
- The M3 isn't known for backseat space, but real human beings can ride in the back seat. Have you ever seen the backseat of the TT line? Any human being with legs would almost need to sit indian style to fit back there. It's realistically only usable as a bench for putting stuff on.
I actually like Volkswagen / Audi, but I just don't like the TT line and never have. I feel like it's an overpriced VW Golf (I actually love the look of the new Golf, and really like the VW GTI) with aesthetics that are less pleasing to me than the Golf/GTI and less passenger space. It's like you're paying a huge premium for rounded edges and AWD.
The only positive note for the TT in my opinion is that it is a hatchback so for a car with its size/profile it does have more trunk space than it seems.
Quote from: OttoVonBismarck on August 20, 2011, 08:37:47 AM
It looks like a chick car, dunno why, it's just too rounded, too soft.[/li][/list]
Audis tend to have styling that, to me, could best be described as boringly generic.
Mind you, that's not entirely a bad thing. Daring styling can backfire.
The Audi styling was daring when they first started it about 12 years or so ago. And it looked really new and cool. But nowadays, all Audis look the same and I can barely tell whether it's an A1 or A8 behind me on the autobahn. They need something new and fresh in my opinion.
Then again, they are mega successful at the moment.
I like the Audi A4/A6/A8 and the S-line, and I think the R8 (I believe this was Tony Stark's car in Ironman) is actually amazing looking. It also costs like $150-180k so is totally outside the realm of normal human cars.
The TT and TTS I just do not like. I agree that most of the rest of the Audi line look pretty generic, but not in a way that offends me. The look of the TT just doesn't work for me.
I know the Audi is VW's "luxury" line, but in the few cases there is an overlap with a normal VW I actually think the VW is better. I think the VW CC is a better car than the A4, and they are pretty close in price (CC will be a tad cheaper.)
Quote from: OttoVonBismarck on August 20, 2011, 09:52:25 AM
The TT and TTS I just do not like. I agree that most of the rest of the Audi line look pretty generic, but not in a way that offends me. The look of the TT just doesn't work for me.
Looks like a sperm cell that lost its tail.
QuoteI know the Audi is VW's "luxury" line, but in the few cases there is an overlap with a normal VW I actually think the VW is better. I think the VW CC is a better car than the A4, and they are pretty close in price (CC will be a tad cheaper.)
From what I hear from my coworkers, you are absolutely correct; and the veedub's styling is substantially better looking than the Audi.
Honestly, I think if Audi could market just one vehicle named "Sedan" and only in black, I think they'd be happy.
The best looking Audi is still the old Quattro.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.der-autoteile-blog.de%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F12%2FAudi-Quattro.jpg&hash=d8fce6cad626f797c75bb5d9eed8d1f78c5e8e1d)
I have the sudden urge to put a flux capacitor in that thing.
I've also noticed my tastes have started changing in the last few years when it comes to cars. When I was growing up my grandfather drove nothing but Lincolns, ever. He probably bought 10 Lincoln Town Cars in the 25 years I knew him, trading one in every couple of years. My dad has always driven Caddy's, in my mind I always associated the big Lincolns and Cadillacs with old men, they were large American cars, boxy and uninspiring to me. Cadillacs also have the whole drug dealer / pimp association as well. Most of my life I've bought foreign cars, not out of any anti-Americanism (obviously), but just because I've always liked Toyotas a lot. I had a Toyota truck for years, have had several Camrys, and just think they're great reliable cars. I've always liked the look/handling of German cars but honestly until recently the maintenance issues and reliability issues with them always kept me from going in that direction, but I think that's an area all the major German automakers have really improved on in the last 4-5 years.
That being said my wife's dad bought a 2011 Town Car recently, and I drove it about 100 miles one day and I dunno, I really liked it. It has the handling of a yacht, or perhaps a barge, and it still looks pretty similar to the big boxy town cars of old...but I dunno, just the vast amounts of interior space, general comfort, and the fact that I felt I could ram a Ford Focus going 80 mph and come out without a scratch on me were really appealing.
I find myself thinking the newer model Cadillac sedan's look really sharp too. I'm not sure if it's just the updated styling or if I'm starting to adopt the tastes of an old man. :huh:
Quote from: OttoVonBismarck on August 20, 2011, 10:03:27 AM
I'm starting to adopt the tastes of an old man. :huh:
:yes:
I am getting older...but mind I haven't done anything crazy like buy a Caddy or Lincoln (or even something like a Toyota Avalon or one of the big Lexus sedans.) I guess maybe you start thinking "hey these don't look bad" in your 40s and then by the time you're in your late 50s you're driving a car that makes it look like you're a livery driver.
I like Audi A4 styling. I'd classify it as highly refined minimalist styling. In the age when every brand tries to out-funk each other with all the curviness and slipperiness, a minimalist approach looks fresh. Then again, I like the style of 1988 Chevy Caprice, so maybe I'm just weird.
I generally like Audi's interiors. They are usually were well-made both materials and the general layout.
Quote from: OttoVonBismarck on August 20, 2011, 10:03:27 AM
I find myself thinking the newer model Cadillac sedan's look really sharp too. I'm not sure if it's just the updated styling or if I'm starting to adopt the tastes of an old man. :huh:
There's nothing old man about a CTS-V coupe.
Quote from: OttoVonBismarck on August 20, 2011, 10:10:36 AM
I am getting older...but mind I haven't done anything crazy like buy a Caddy or Lincoln (or even something like a Toyota Avalon or one of the big Lexus sedans.) I guess maybe you start thinking "hey these don't look bad" in your 40s and then by the time you're in your late 50s you're driving a car that makes it look like you're a livery driver.
I thought everybody was going to give me shit about getting a new Caddy, until they started giving me shit about getting the Jeep.
Caddy = "How old
are you? 50?"
Jeep = "How old
are you? 20?"
Sometimes, you just can't win.
Cadillacs are nice. Whenever I drive into some impoverished drug-infested areas of Jersey City (usually due to funky GPS routing), seeing them brightens the landscape.