Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Kingcreek on April 28, 2023, 09:51:44 AM
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Wow has new car shopping ever changed!
Our primary transportation is a 2014 Ford Fusion. It was our last new car purchase. It been great, wife loves it, but it’s got about 114k miles on it and we plan on retiring next year. Decided we should maybe go into retirement with a vehicle we can travel in comfortably and economically under a warranty for some years.
We thought we would like to move back into a crossover/SUV but have come to like the 30mpg (34 highway) and my wife like the size of her fusion for parking etc.
I think we considered almost everything out there and kept coming back to the KIA sportage AWD hybrid. Unfortunately one of the most sought after vehicles out there. Build to order only at this time. There are a handful of used ones out there priced higher than the MSRP for new. We have one ordered with no markup over MSRP but we won’t see it until some time after the first of the year and it will be a 2024 even though our order is currently for a 2023.
We were able to sit in one. No opportunity to actually drive one. Pretty amazing technology available and a 10 year/100kmile warranty, 38 mpg. We are getting the luxury package.
Already have 2 people that want to buy our Fusion.
I bought my first new car in 1975. A Chevy Camaro LT loaded for $5105 out the door.
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I'm seeing the same thing with 4Runners - either "on order" or "in build phase" or some other thing other than on the lot, and the local dealer never has more than 4-5 available (again, not on the lot).
My 4Runner only has 75k on it now, so I could easily drive it for another 75-100k. The only reason I'm looking is that either next year or the year after, they are killing off the 5th gen 4Runners and coming out with gen6. Everyone is excited about that, because it will be a new, smaller turbocharged engine, 1428 speed transmission, and all the latest toyo electronics in the cab.
However, the 5th gen engine and tranny combo is probably the most bulletproof that Toyota has ever produced. They just go and there are just very few problems over like a 12 year history. People say the engine is anemic compared to current stuff, and sure, my F150 Ecoboost leaves the 4Runner at the starting line, but I've found the engine has more than enough power for me. So the idea was to trade mine in for the last of the 5th gens and kinda "reset the clock", giving me a good 15 or more years with a bulletproof platform that I like.
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We considered the RAV4, the Honda, Mazda, Subaru etc. tried to like something Ford with our local dealer but the edge didn’t offer a hybrid and the escape is too small and both just felt cheap, more hard plastic and just nothing to get excited about.
The KIA had some features that set it apart esp in the AWD hybrid like a locking center diff and traditional transmission. the other hybrids use various power distribution systems or split electric only rear.
It will be interesting to see what the insurance rates are like with all the safety tech, blind spot cameras, collision avoidance stuff and almost self driving. The auto parking and 360 surround birdseye view is pretty cool.
By the time we get it we will have forgotten what we ordered.
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KC - I pity the decision you have to make but I can sympathize too.
I just found out that State Farm is apparently planning on totaling my 2008 Ford Ranger. A young man (25) was driving in a yellow-striped turn lane (illegal) as I was turning left. He ended up bending my frame a little and, despite the body shop saying it is repairable, they want to total it. The truck may be 15 years old BUT it has less than 9,400 miles on it! The only things that have been changed on this truck are fluids, filters, and wipers! The tires are original too. Body man said there was slight evidence of dry rot in the sidewall of one tire but the treads were still good.
I'm beginning to dislike State Farm - - a LOT !! :mad:
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KC - I pity the decision you have to make but I can sympathize too.
I just found out that State Farm is apparently planning on totaling my 2008 Ford Ranger. A young man (25) was driving in a yellow-striped turn lane (illegal) as I was turning left. He ended up bending my frame a little and, despite the body shop saying it is repairable, they want to total it. The truck may be 15 years old BUT it has less than 9,400 miles on it! The only things that have been changed on this truck are fluids, filters, and wipers! The tires are original too. Body man said there was slight evidence of dry rot in the sidewall of one tire but the treads were still good.
I'm beginning to dislike State Farm - - a LOT !! :mad:
Don’t know if they still do it but insurance companies used to offer to settle and let you keep a vehicle with a reissued salvage title so they are off the hook for any future claims. Good luck
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I'm trying to sell a minivan and can't get any buyers on craigslist. What's the best way to advertise a used car?
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I'm trying to sell a minivan and can't get any buyers on craigslist. What's the best way to advertise a used car?
Try Facebook marketplace. This is a good time to sell a vehicle like that (not trying to stereotype) because some people are getting tax refunds and shopping.
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Well, you know my answer. I love my Subarus.
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I'm trying to sell a minivan and can't get any buyers on craigslist.
Are you selling it to get a pickup?
=D =D =D
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Have you tried Ebay Motors?
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I'm seeing the same thing with 4Runners - either "on order" or "in build phase" or some other thing other than on the lot, and the local dealer never has more than 4-5 available (again, not on the lot).
My 4Runner only has 75k on it now, so I could easily drive it for another 75-100k. The only reason I'm looking is that either next year or the year after, they are killing off the 5th gen 4Runners and coming out with gen6. Everyone is excited about that, because it will be a new, smaller turbocharged engine, 1428 speed transmission, and all the latest toyo electronics in the cab.
However, the 5th gen engine and tranny combo is probably the most bulletproof that Toyota has ever produced. They just go and there are just very few problems over like a 12 year history. People say the engine is anemic compared to current stuff, and sure, my F150 Ecoboost leaves the 4Runner at the starting line, but I've found the engine has more than enough power for me. So the idea was to trade mine in for the last of the 5th gens and kinda "reset the clock", giving me a good 15 or more years with a bulletproof platform that I like.
My Tacoma is a 2018 and paid for. I have toyed with the idea of trading up to a new one, but I hate to take on that $15K or so the difference would cost. The truck is doing well so far so I would rather hang on to it.
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Well, you know my answer. I love my Subarus.
My sister has one and loves it also. but the only hybrid they offer is the Crosstrek which is too small for us. We considered some gas only vehicles (like the ford Edge) but didn't find the right combination of what we wanted.
Hybrids get interesting because every mfg has their own sometimes very different power and delivery system. The Kia has a 1.6l turbo and runs on gas, electric, or both depending on conditions and is reputed to offer a very sporty driving experience.
I'm not a fan of buying a car without first driving it (or one like it). I guess we were lucky to just be able to sit in one.
We are saving hard so we won't have a car payment by the time it gets here.
The car people I've talked to say that the old days of being able to walk out on the lot and look at new vehicles available for sale with choices of options and colors are gone.
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"but the only hybrid they offer is the Crosstrek"
Ah... I thought the Ascent was now hybrid optional.
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My Tacoma is a 2018 and paid for.
My 4Runner is a 2014. If it was a 2018, I too, would probably not be thinking about trading. Between it hitting the ten year mark and the end of the 5th gens, it has me thinking though. If they wouldn't be ending the 5th gens, I wouldn't be considering trading right now and would for sure be keeping it at least another five years.
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KC - I pity the decision you have to make but I can sympathize too.
I just found out that State Farm is apparently planning on totaling my 2008 Ford Ranger. A young man (25) was driving in a yellow-striped turn lane (illegal) as I was turning left. He ended up bending my frame a little and, despite the body shop saying it is repairable, they want to total it. The truck may be 15 years old BUT it has less than 9,400 miles on it! The only things that have been changed on this truck are fluids, filters, and wipers! The tires are original too. Body man said there was slight evidence of dry rot in the sidewall of one tire but the treads were still good.
I'm beginning to dislike State Farm - - a LOT !! :mad:
My parents were always State Farm, so I was too . . . until about 10 years ago when I switched to MetLife for home and auto, and saved a lot for coverage that was actually a hair better than State Farm's. Since then I've had one claim (for a hail-damaged roof) and that went smoothly. Now MetLife sold their home & auto business to Farmer's . . . so far it seems to be about the same.
So . . . once you get your current issue sorted out, I suggest you check around with other major insurers, maybe you'll get a better deal.
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Don’t know if they still do it but insurance companies used to offer to settle and let you keep a vehicle with a reissued salvage title so they are off the hook for any future claims. Good luck.
Thanks.
From what I've been told, a salvage title isn't required in IL-ANNOY. SF is cutting me a check and snail-mailing it to me.
This is the second truck of mine that has been hit and suffered a bent frame. I had a 1982 Toyota SR5 longbed 4WD that a "female PoC" ran a red light and hit me almost head on. She nosed under my truck, pushing the driver's corner of her car back and down and bending my frame. The front axle was a solid one, not "independent" and, when they straightened the frame, the alignment was still OK. It didn't even damage the AC or radiator. What pissed me off was that the truck was only a few months old ! :facepalm:
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My parents were always State Farm, so I was too . . . until about 10 years ago when I switched to MetLife for home and auto, and saved a lot for coverage that was actually a hair better than State Farm's. Since then I've had one claim (for a hail-damaged roof) and that went smoothly. Now MetLife sold their home & auto business to Farmer's . . . so far it seems to be about the same.
So . . . once you get your current issue sorted out, I suggest you check around with other major insurers, maybe you'll get a better deal.
My Dad used to work for SF and I've been with them for about 40 years now.
Two insurance companies whose commercials I can't stand are Progressive and Liberty Mutual. When I was in college and just insuring my motorcycle, I had Progressive. That memory does NOT help my memories of them.
Another company I dislike for a different reason is Farmer's Insurance Group. I do like their initials as I don't give a "FIG" for Farmer's.
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Well after almost 1 year of waiting…
We got notice that it’s inbound.
I have 2 people in line to buy our ford fusion. It’s been great but now hs 128k mikes on it. Still in great shape with no issues and less than 10k on the tires.
Also found out that the new one will come with 10 year/200k miles power train warranty. Pretty sweet for going into retirement and planning some travel.
The salesman asked me if I was excited. I told him I bought my first new car in 1975. I don’t get excited anymore. He seemed disappointed.
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Jesus that's a long time to wait for a new car!
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Jesus that's a long time to wait for a new car!
I agree but it works out ok. We didn’t desperately need a vehicle, we got a year newer model year, the dealership was sold and the new owner upped the warranty at no extra charge. The 2024 will be about $1100 more than the 2023 agreed price.
It’s a 5y/60k full warranty on everything and a 10y/200k power train warranty with no requirements on dealer service etc. I’ll probably use this dealer for service as long as we live here. We’ll see.
If we decided we didn’t like the vehicle, we could probably sell it at a profit. Not as much as a year ago because supply is increasing.
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I feel like since the "supply chain issues" of 2020-2021, if you order a new car from the factory as opposed to buying off the lot, 9 months to a year is pretty standard.
I know when I looked at buying a Bronco in '22 they were telling me 18-ish months from order to delivery.
Congrats on the new Kia Kingscreek. They do pack a lot of safety and comfort tech into those things.
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Jesus that's a long time to wait for a new car!
Yeah, this, but good you got the vehicle you wanted.
Brad
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I feel like since the "supply chain issues" of 2020-2021, if you order a new car from the factory as opposed to buying off the lot, 9 months to a year is pretty standard.
I know when I looked at buying a Bronco in '22 they were telling me 18-ish months from order to delivery.
Congrats on the new Kia Kingscreek. They do pack a lot of safety and comfort tech into those things.
Friends of mine ordered a Bronco when Ford started taking orders.
From the time actual production of Broncos started to the time of delivery it was about two months shy of 3 years.
Their car’s production slot was bumped back something like four times.
One of their concerns was taking delivery before the three year mark was up due to their pre-order pricing was locked in until that 36 month mark. Personally I thought Ford was trying to wait them out in hopes they would cancel the slot.
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Congrats, Kingcreek! Enjoy that new car smell! =)
Going on the tangent: I am curious. When you custom order a vehicle and it's going to take a year or more to get it, at what point does it switch to the new model year? I'm making the assumption that if you order a 2024 in AUG24, the assembly lines will be setup for the 2025 model year (and any new model year built-ins) by the time your vehicle comes up for build. It seems like there's a possibility that an option you ordered (like paint color, or a moonroof) might not be available in the next model year.
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I know a guy that ordered a new telluride. When it was inbound the dealer called and told him they could sell it for $5-6k over invoice if he wanted to give it up. He did and ordered another one just like it. They sent him a check for $4k. He sold the second one same way and got $2k. I think he is still waiting on #3 but he is $6k to the better.
Lower trim models get built faster. They won’t build one until they have every component.
For awhile they couldn’t get the heated windshields. Then it was the premium Harmon karden sound system. And they said the heated and cooled contrast leather seats were an automatic 3 month delay on top of everything else.
I’m having second thoughts about getting the heated windshield. I hope it doesn’t push insurance rates a lot higher. It’s $3k to replace it if a rock hits it.
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Ben, they announce a shutoff date when they stop taking orders. Yes, some options and pricing can change. For awhile they were dropping the heated windshields because they couldn’t get them but then I hear they are available again in some markets. They added a couple minor new options.
I was hoping they would get the auto fold side mirrors like the telluride but I’m told not.
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I’m having second thoughts about getting the heated windshield. I hope it doesn’t push insurance rates a lot higher. It’s $3k to replace it if a rock hits it.
My 4Runner's heated windshield got cracked during covid, and I was lucky to find even a non-heated windshield, but that one is still on the vehicle today. Even in Idaho, I haven't seen any big difference between the old heated one and this one (admittedly, the 4Runner is garaged). I would have to flip a coin if I needed a new one today, on if I went for heated or standard.
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I bought my first new vehicle in 1975. I was a junior in high school and I paid it off 2 weeks after graduation. This will be my 8th new vehicle and 4th one built to order.
My ‘75 Camaro LT was $5105 out the door
This new vehicle is 8x that amount.
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I realize this is a little late, but in case you didn't know, Kia has been having timing belt issues with the current generation Sportage. In some cases there is a waiting list for replacement engines, and they are also apparently easily stolen.
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I realize this is a little late, but in case you didn't know, Kia has been having timing belt issues with the current generation Sportage. In some cases there is a waiting list for replacement engines, and they are also apparently easily stolen.
We need to change your username to Buzzkill. :rofl:
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My 4Runner's heated windshield got cracked during covid, and I was lucky to find even a non-heated windshield, but that one is still on the vehicle today. Even in Idaho, I haven't seen any big difference between the old heated one and this one (admittedly, the 4Runner is garaged). I would have to flip a coin if I needed a new one today, on if I went for heated or standard.
My Tacoma is 6 years old now. I need to replace my windshield due to too many cracks. Lots of big trucks in the area throwing rocks. That and the cloth seats are trying to get a hole on the driver's side. It is about time I got the leather seat covers.
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I realize this is a little late, but in case you didn't know, Kia has been having timing belt issues with the current generation Sportage. In some cases there is a waiting list for replacement engines, and they are also apparently easily stolen.
I think the theft issues have been solved in the newer ones. I’m not aware of engine issues in the 1.6L hybrid. There have been some problems with the 2.0L gas only but I don’t know if they have resolved those. With a 10y/200k warranty I’m not too worried.
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My wife just went thru the shopping fiasco after her 2016 Ford Explorer electronic steering started to fail. Dealer quoted $2900 and 3 weeks to fix since the Explorer (and other Fords using electronic steering) are having supply issues. So we sold the car to CarMax and went shopping.
She initially thought of a sedan for a daily commuter and to get better gas mileage. Drove plenty of sedans, trucks and SUV’s after she decided a sedan wasn’t what she wanted. After several test drives she liked the Chevy Colorado, but ended up with a Toyota Highlander in the end. Came out to a little more than she wanted to spend ($40K limit ended up financing $47K) but she definitely likes her decision.
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Well I have the ford fusion sold as soon as the new vehicle arrives (this week?).
The lifeguard where I swim laps is graduating from high school and going to college. He has been desperately trying to find something he could afford (6 siblings with only one parent earning income). I offered it to him at a price that is fair both ways and said I would have it serviced and inspected tomorrow.
He and his parents looked at it and drove it today and they are thrilled. Didn’t hurt that I washed it and detailed it yesterday- waxed it a couple weeks ago and it looks like new for being 10 years old with 128k miles on it.
I could have easily made another $500 on it but I wanted to help this kid out.
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Well finally.
355 days of waiting. The new vehicle is in the garage. My wife drove it and I followed her home with hail and tornado warnings and lightning strikes on both sides of the road.
I drove it out of the garage (after the storm passed) while programming the homelink garage door openers and the seat memory positions and the phone pairing.
Freaking amazing tech. I can check the app and get battery life of the hybrid system or even the key fob batteries, a 360 degree view on demand around where it is currently parked, door lock and window status, interior camera views, everything.
I have 2:18 hours of instructional videos to watch just to learn the vehicle controls and features.
I did pay a little extra ($2k over 3 years) for some warranty extensions on electronics when I found out the “infotainment” head can run close to $15k but I now have have 6 years/100k bumper to bumper everything warranty and 10 year/200k power train.
I won’t be driving it for a few days but it seems pretty nice. If the wife like it (so far 🤞) we’ll be good for 100,000 miles no worries.
My wife is almost 70 and I’m 66. She kind of withdrew and wasn’t part of the decision stuff. We have been married 33 years. I didn’t realize she had never bought a car, never.
KIA is not a luxury brand but this top trim level has a ton of luxury features, warranty is to the horizon, tech is incredible. She loves the size, ride, and handling.
I backed it out of the garage and pulled it back in.
One thing I noticed is the Harmon Kardon sound system sounds really, really good, transition from gas to electric is seamless and nearly silent.
Can’t wait to drive it more than 12 feet.
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Can’t wait to drive it more than 12 feet.
At least then, you'll be "going places". =D
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KIA is not a luxury brand but this top trim level has a ton of luxury features, warranty is to the horizon, tech is incredible.
Luxury features have trickled down to mass market brands such that the only reason to buy most luxury marques is to say / show that you have one. At least when I was a kid, when features considered luxurious at the time made their way into Chevys and Fords, the likes of Mercedes and BMW could still claim with authority that their cars were more solidly-built. That doesn't seem to be true any more.
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Luxury features have trickled down to mass market brands such that the only reason to buy most luxury marques is to say / show that you have one. At least when I was a kid, when features considered luxurious at the time made their way into Chevys and Fords, the likes of Mercedes and BMW could still claim with authority that their cars were more solidly-built. That doesn't seem to be true any more.
The luxury brands are by and large junk
The everyday brands are usually much more reliable
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I look at most of the features that come on a "luxury" vehicle and ask myself... why would I want that?
The only features I TRULY want on a vehicle are heated seats, heated mirrors, and fog lights.
Unfortunately, I also prefer standard transmissions, which anymore means that vehicles so equipped are generally bottom of the line.
Subaru went that route a few years ago. You want a standard transmission? Nope, you can't get heated seats, heated mirrors, fog lights, an engine or doors.
REALLY annoying. My first Outback, a 1997 model, had heated seats, fog lights, and heated mirrors with a standard.
My second Outback had climate control, leather seats, heated seats and mirrors and fog ligths and a standard.
My first Forester, a 2012, was an automatic, but it was more baseline.
The 2015 Forester I got back in 2020 has a 6 speed manual, but by then you couldn't get any upgrades on it. If you wanted heated seats/mirrors, you had to go up to Subaru's soul-crushing mind numbing CVT transmission.
I paid $500 to get the dealership to add fog lights, but there was no way for them to add heated mirrors or heated seats because the wiring harness for the base model didn't support those connections.
I REALLY miss the heated mirrors. Heated seats are nice, but heated mirrors I really see as a necessity.
I hate to say it, but if I ever replace this Subaru, if they don't have a manual transmission model available I'll likely go to another manufacturer. And I've been a loyal Scooby person for the past 20 years.
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I look at most of the features that come on a "luxury" vehicle and ask myself... why would I want that?
The only features I TRULY want on a vehicle are heated seats, heated mirrors, and fog lights.
Unfortunately, I also prefer standard transmissions, which anymore means that vehicles so equipped are generally bottom of the line.
Subaru went that route a few years ago. You want a standard transmission? Nope, you can't get heated seats, heated mirrors, fog lights, an engine or doors.
REALLY annoying. My first Outback, a 1997 model, had heated seats, fog lights, and heated mirrors with a standard.
My second Outback had climate control, leather seats, heated seats and mirrors and fog ligths and a standard.
My first Forester, a 2012, was an automatic, but it was more baseline.
The 2015 Forester I got back in 2020 has a 6 speed manual, but by then you couldn't get any upgrades on it. If you wanted heated seats/mirrors, you had to go up to Subaru's soul-crushing mind numbing CVT transmission.
I paid $500 to get the dealership to add fog lights, but there was no way for them to add heated mirrors or heated seats because the wiring harness for the base model didn't support those connections.
I REALLY miss the heated mirrors. Heated seats are nice, but heated mirrors I really see as a necessity.
I hate to say it, but if I ever replace this Subaru, if they don't have a manual transmission model available I'll likely go to another manufacturer. And I've been a loyal Scooby person for the past 20 years.
Come on, deep down you really need to have your vehicle beep at you when you get to close too the edge of the lane. And when you are coming up on another vehicle a bit too fast. And when you seatbelt sensor is a little off and not seeing the seatbelt clicked in. =)
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Luxury features have trickled down to mass market brands such that the only reason to buy most luxury marques is to say / show that you have one. At least when I was a kid, when features considered luxurious at the time made their way into Chevys and Fords, the likes of Mercedes and BMW could still claim with authority that their cars were more solidly-built. That doesn't seem to be true any more.
The luxury brands are by and large junk
The everyday brands are usually much more reliable
My 2014 3 series was supremely reliable. Only need oil changes and tires, and the tires were kinda my fault.
In comparison I've seen some *Very* shitty reliability out of "regular" cars. My Aunt's Dodge Journey is a rolling POS. Chrysler as a whole got MORE reliable when it merged with Fiat, which is not a good thing. The wife had a cavalier and then a camaro that were both cheaply made crap. Even my F150 (which I like) has needed some pretty expensive manifolds and turbos, plus it cracked transmission cooler lines and left me stranded.
Meanwhile every time I go to Africa and Asia I see 3 and 5 series and C classes with 500,000 miles on them still chugging along running goat-piss bio-diesel or whatever 15 octane gas they can find.
In the "Luxury brands are cantankorus" column I did have a 2018 Alfa Romeo for a while that was ....not reliable. ANd expensive and time consuming to fix.
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Even my F150 (which I like) has needed some pretty expensive manifolds and turbos, plus it cracked transmission cooler lines and left me stranded.
I was actually surprised at the quality of my 2016 F150. I have had zero issues with it (Don't jinx yourself Ben!), and it has felt well put together, which I wouldn't necessarily expect from something built by hillbillies in Kentucky.
Though I can certainly tell a difference between it and my 4Runner, which while not a luxury vehicle, was built in Japan by a culture with a high work ethic.
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"In the "Luxury brands are cantankorus" column I did have a 2018 Alfa Romeo for a while that was ....not reliable. ANd expensive and time consuming to fix."
I SO love the Alfa Romeo Giulia's looks. It just hits all of the marks for me for how a 4-door sport sedan should look, and the interior is VERY nice, as well.
I've been severely tempted to buy one several times... but then the reality of how unreliable they can be hits me in the face and I regain my senses.
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"In the "Luxury brands are cantankorus" column I did have a 2018 Alfa Romeo for a while that was ....not reliable. ANd expensive and time consuming to fix."
I SO love the Alfa Romeo Giulia's looks. It just hits all of the marks for me for how a 4-door sport sedan should look, and the interior is VERY nice, as well.
I've been severely tempted to buy one several times... but then the reality of how unreliable they can be hits me in the face and I regain my senses.
Yeah, we had a Stelvio, which while not as gorgeous as the Giulia, is pretty nice for a Soccer Mom Crossover. Interior was great. It drove and handled amazingly as well. Quick, nimble, fun to drive. But holy cow it needed parts almost as often as it needed gas, and it wasn't uncommon for the parts to have a 6ish week lead time from Italy. Aftermarket parts were non existent. It was a shame, because when it ran, it was a great car.
I honestly wish I still had my 335i. That was a great car.
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I learned how to drive on my folk's 1972 Mercedes 280 SEL 4.5. It drove nicely and - once - I got it up to a speed which would have placed me in the passing lane of an Autobahn. (There were no consequences, but I thought long and hard about what could have happened if something had gone wrong - and never drove on a public road THAT fast again. Ever.) But the car needed a LOT of maintenance - lots of stuff kept going wrong. My Dad said it was "Over engineered and under executed." No more Eurotrash for me.
Nowadays I'm not interested in a car I have to tinker with incessantly - car repair isn't my hobby. Ideally, normal maintenance is all that should be required. (I DO maintain my cars!) I just sold a Pathfinder I'd had for 18 years because it was going to require some major $ervice soon and I was getting some intermittent issues that undermined my confidence in the vehicle, so I bought a 2024 4Runner, based on reviews and recommendations - but I'm still going to keep my fingers crossed. (Lots of nice tech features - I hope those are as reliable as the drivetrain is reputed to be.)
Prices are up, but dealers ARE negotiating prices. At least, more than they were during the Covid supply chain shortages.
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"I got it up to a speed which would have placed me in the passing lane of an Autobahn. (There were no consequences, but I thought long and hard about what could have happened if something had gone wrong - and never drove on a public road THAT fast again. Ever.)"
I did that once with my friend's 1971 Corvette when I was visiting them in Iowa.
I was on a very nice, VERY straight Iowa back road, so I hopped on it. I had it up to 110 when I had a sudden realization...
It was autumn in Iowa, harvest time, and I was driving down a road with standing corn on both sides with ample evidence of farm machinery having recently been on the road (dirt tracked onto the road from the fields).
If something, or someone, suddenly came out of one of those fields, there wouldn't be enough left of either me OR the car to put in a coke bottle.
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Yeah, we had a Stelvio, which while not as gorgeous as the Giulia, is pretty nice for a Soccer Mom Crossover. Interior was great. It drove and handled amazingly as well. Quick, nimble, fun to drive. But holy cow it needed parts almost as often as it needed gas, and it wasn't uncommon for the parts to have a 6ish week lead time from Italy. Aftermarket parts were non existent. It was a shame, because when it ran, it was a great car.
I honestly wish I still had my 335i. That was a great car.
The frightening thing?
The Stelvio is considered to be significantly more reliable overall than the Giulia.
Again, thanks but no thanks.
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. . . I had it up to 110 when I had a sudden realization . . .
Slowpoke. ;)
My self-reflection afterwards wasn't terribly different from yours.
I sometimes have a moderately heavy foot on the open road, but I've since avoided triple digits or double the posted limit.
. . . The Stelvio is considered to be significantly more reliable overall than the Giulia . . .
A lot of automotive scribes were wondering if Alfas were going to be more reliable when they re-entered the US market after leaving it in 1995, when they had a TERRIBLE reputation for reliability. I guess now we know.
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Come on, deep down you really need to have your vehicle beep at you when you get to close too the edge of the lane. And when you are coming up on another vehicle a bit too fast. And when you seatbelt sensor is a little off and not seeing the seatbelt clicked in. =)
And to tell you if the status of the door locks or windows..... ;)
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Come on, deep down you really need to have your vehicle beep at you when you get to close too the edge of the lane. And when you are coming up on another vehicle a bit too fast. And when you seatbelt sensor is a little off and not seeing the seatbelt clicked in. =)
I really prefer passengers to fulfill that function for me.
OH MY *expletive deleted*ing GOD WHAT THE *expletive deleted*ck ARE YOU DOING WE'RE GOING TO DIE YOU ahole!!!!
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Slowpoke. ;)
My self-reflection afterwards wasn't terribly different from yours.
I sometimes have a moderately heavy foot on the open road, but I've since avoided triple digits or double the posted limit.
A lot of automotive scribes were wondering if Alfas were going to be more reliable when they re-entered the US market after leaving it in 1995, when they had a TERRIBLE reputation for reliability. I guess now we know.
Oh, I was fully intent on going a LOT faster until I realized what I was doing.
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"
Prices are up, but dealers ARE negotiating prices. At least, more than they were during the Covid supply chain shortages."
I think I mentioned what neighbors went through when they were looking to replace their one car in, IIRC, early 2022.
They went to either a Toyota or Honda dealership (they're like me, they go where the standard transmissions are).
Dealer essentially said "There's a $5,000 non negotiable upcharge on top of the MSRP window price, which is non-negotiable, you'll take what you get (as in, no package ordering and no guarantee that they would get a standard transmission or the color they wanted), you'll get it when you get it, we have no idea when that will be, and you have to pay for it up front, but since we don't know what will come off the truck, you'll have to pay for the most expensive version of the car you want."
They walked out, of course, went to the Subaru dealership where I got my current Forester.
No up charge, they ordered what they wanted, in the color they wanted, only had to leave a relatively marginal deposit, and it got there in, IIRC, less than 3 months.
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I sincerely envy you, friends. Almost nothing has changed in your driving life )))
Everything in our automotive life has changed absolutely dramatically! If until recently probably 80 percent of cars were European cars, now 80 percent of cars sold are Chinese cars, the names of which make your head spin.
I have already bought a Chinese car for my wife, and for now I drive a Mazda, but I feel that the next car will be Chinese.
Of course, I can buy any European (American, Japanese) car, but they will all be significantly more expensive (due to logistics) and they do not have a factory warranty.
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"Of course, I can buy any European (American, Japanese) car, but they will all be significantly more expensive (due to logistics) and they do not have a factory warranty."
Where do you live?
Here in the United States more and more cars are coming with warranties up to 10 years/100,000 miles.
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Where do you live?
Here in the United States more and more cars are coming with warranties up to 10 years/100,000 miles.
In Russia.
Surprisingly, many Chinese automobile factories now provide a fairly long warranty as well, for example, my wife’s car has a warranty of 8 years or 100,000 km.
In China itself, as far as I know, many manufacturers give a lifetime (infinite) guarantee to the first owner of the car. Theoretically, this is quite reasonable and gives a good marketing advantage, because in the modern world, most car owners use a new car for no longer than 5-6 years.
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I sincerely envy you, friends. Almost nothing has changed in your driving life )))
Everything in our automotive life has changed absolutely dramatically! If until recently probably 80 percent of cars were European cars, now 80 percent of cars sold are Chinese cars, the names of which make your head spin.
I have already bought a Chinese car for my wife, and for now I drive a Mazda, but I feel that the next car will be Chinese.
Of course, I can buy any European (American, Japanese) car, but they will all be significantly more expensive (due to logistics) and they do not have a factory warranty.
I'm curious about the higher end of the growing Chinese car manufacturing sector. The only Chinese cars I have personal experience with were complete *expletive deleted*it boxes, but they were also notably the cheap end of the range. The absolute cheapest American car is a shitbox as well. I wonder what the mid-range and higher CHinese cars are like.
You guys still build Лады? I drove one of those for two weeks on a trip in the early '90's.
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About 10 years ago Top Gear did an update on the state of the Chinese auto industry, and their prediction was that in something like 20 years China was going to be the world's dominant car manufacturer worldwide.
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I really prefer passengers to fulfill that function for me.
OH MY *expletive deleted*ing GOD WHAT THE *expletive deleted*ck ARE YOU DOING WE'RE GOING TO DIE YOU ahole!!!!
I can relate. I pulled out to pass a truck, and it turned out there was a long line of trucks to pass, so I pressed the pedal to the floor and went.
My passenger told me I was going awfully fast as I zipped past the first truck in line, and . . . well, I didn't look at the speedometer until I'd pulled back in line and it was going down past a number I won't repeat here. But she was right.
About 10 years ago Top Gear did an update on the state of the Chinese auto industry, and their prediction was that in something like 20 years China was going to be the world's dominant car manufacturer worldwide.
So maybe all those single male Chinese illegal aliens coming across the border from Mexico aren't actually spies and saboteurs, but a pre-positioned workforce for the Chinese car factories that will be built on our soil as soon as their Manchurian Candidate in the White House (that would be Joe Biden) arranges for US government subsidies?
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I'm curious about the higher end of the growing Chinese car manufacturing sector. The only Chinese cars I have personal experience with were complete *expletive deleted*it boxes, but they were also notably the cheap end of the range. The absolute cheapest American car is a shitbox as well. I wonder what the mid-range and higher CHinese cars are like.
You guys still build Лады? I drove one of those for two weeks on a trip in the early '90's.
Cars in the middle segment are quite well equipped. Usually even the most budget version has a full set, incl. for example, a heated windshield, sunroof, all-round cameras, radars, lane control, automatic stopping system, etc. For me, the very small engine size is very unusual and suspicious. As a rule, for gasoline and diesel engines it is no more than 2 liters of engine displacement, and more often - 1.5-1.6 liters.
As for the higher segment, either hybrids or fully electric cars are the most common. Most of them look very interesting and not as tacky as Chinese cars were 10 years ago.
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Somebody should market a new truck, call it the Geezer.
Straight 6 cyl with a carb and mech fuel pump, manual transmission with traditional clutch, hand crank windows, and a couple ball pivot outside mirrors.
They could sell them cheap and sell the heck out of them. But of course the gubmint wouldn’t allow that because fuel economy and gay planet crisis and safety etc.
Yesterday a guy told me he had to replace a headlight assembly on a ford escape. $1300 a headlight used to cost $17.
With all the electronics and cameras and sensors, I’m glad I bought the ext warranty. I’m covered 6 years and 100k on everything and 10 years/200k on power train. I’ve never bought an ext warranty on anything before.
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Somebody should market a new truck, call it the Geezer.
Straight 6 cyl with a carb and mech fuel pump, manual transmission with traditional clutch, hand crank windows, and a couple ball pivot outside mirrors.
They could sell them cheap and sell the heck out of them. But of course the gubmint wouldn’t allow that because fuel economy and gay planet crisis and safety etc.
Yesterday a guy told me he had to replace a headlight assembly on a ford escape. $1300 a headlight used to cost $17.
With all the electronics and cameras and sensors, I’m glad I bought the ext warranty. I’m covered 6 years and 100k on everything and 10 years/200k on power train. I’ve never bought an ext warranty on anything before.
You can get something like that by importing a kei car, which aside from the carburetor part are still built pretty much like that, and still wildly popular. The new ones are still illegal to import though because of the chicken tax.
When I first started driving I almost bought a base model S-10 with rubber floors and crank windows for 13,999 new.
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You know what I hate about "luxury" cars? Most of the owners.
Yeah, some folks buy them because they can afford them, and don't plan to keep them...
But at least once a week, I'll have someone walk in the front door at the store, and when I ask them how I can help them, they announce that they have a Mercedes Benz and have decided to lower themselves to speak to me. They need some of the proper car wax, whatever...
And it's a 2000 C230 or C300 or the lowest model hooptie, but it's a Benz, so they're SPECIAL people...
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You can get something like that by importing a kei car, which aside from the carburetor part are still built pretty much like that, and still wildly popular. The new ones are still illegal to import though because of the chicken tax.
When I first started driving I almost bought a base model S-10 with rubber floors and crank windows for 13,999 new.
Every now and then I look at the export tiny cars and I find something like this:
https://www.mitsuicoltd.com/cars/for-sale-1992-suzuki-jimny-ja11-212854-japanese-keisuv-minisuv-4wd-suzuki-jimny-usa-uk/ and am tempted.
Then I think about buying a car that is minimum 25 years old, sight unseen, and bringing it to a country where they never had any parts for it, and I come to my senses.
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If these were available in the United States, I'd buy one for all of my work commuting miles or any time it's just me in the car running errands. Base model, manual transmission, crank windows, A/C.
https://www.dacia.co.uk/vehicles/sandero.html
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Would you though?
The Chevy Spark was very similar to that. And sold so poorly GM discontinued it in 2023. The Mitsubishi Mirage is sold here as well. Small hatchback, manual trans standard, pretty much same price. How many do you see on the road here?
The Nissan Versa and Kia Rio looks the hatchback for a sedan body, but the rest of the bones are there. Same price or cheaper than the Dacia.
Heck the Ford Fiesta was a direct competitor to that car that they TRIED to sell here, and it sold so poorly they cancelled it too.
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Would you though?
I'd at least test drive one! I looked into a new Versa about a year ago, and had trouble finding one with a manual transmission. There was one in Michigan (where I live) and one in Ohio, neither in the color I wanted. The Mirage is an ancient design, save for updated headlights and taillights. By all accounts it's an awful car, yet I see a surprising number of them in my area. The Rio is no longer available with a manual. The Dacia is much better looking than any of those models, IMO.
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All I know about the Dacia brand vehicles is that they were a running joke on Top Gear for many years.
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If I remember correctly, though, James May was always pretty impressed with the Dacias, especially the Sandero. He thought they were a very good car for the money.
And I have to admit, the current Sandero isn't a bad looking car. Definitely not a hot hatch, as they used to call them, but the styling isn't bad and even the baseline models seem to be pretty nicely equipped.
The base model comes with lane departure, traffic sign recognition, ABS, stability and traction control, automatic lights and wipers (not sure if that's rain sensing wipers and dark sensing lights or not), and LED headlights. That's not bad at all. AND it comes with a 5 speed manual as standard.
The one funny thing I just noticed is that the front windows are electric, but the rear windows are manual. I've not seen manual crank windows in a car since my 1991 Plymouth Sundance.
The one thing I just noticed though is that you can have your Sandero in any color you want, as long as it's white, gray, or black. And gray and black will cost you and extra $750.
And, if you want a spare tire (looks like a donut), it's an extra $400.
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. . . But at least once a week, I'll have someone walk in the front door at the store, and when I ask them how I can help them, they announce that they have a Mercedes Benz and have decided to lower themselves to speak to me. They need some of the proper car wax, whatever...
And it's a 2000 C230 or C300 or the lowest model hooptie, but it's a Benz, so they're SPECIAL people...
Ask them how they like driving a German taxicab. >:D
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/2013_Mercedes-Benz_E-Class_%28W212%29_taxicab.jpg/300px-2013_Mercedes-Benz_E-Class_%28W212%29_taxicab.jpg)
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Somebody should market a new truck, call it the Geezer.
Straight 6 cyl with a carb and mech fuel pump, manual transmission with traditional clutch, hand crank windows, and a couple ball pivot outside mirrors.
They could sell them cheap and sell the heck out of them. But of course the gubmint wouldn’t allow that because fuel economy and gay planet crisis and safety etc.
Yesterday a guy told me he had to replace a headlight assembly on a ford escape. $1300 a headlight used to cost $17.
With all the electronics and cameras and sensors, I’m glad I bought the ext warranty. I’m covered 6 years and 100k on everything and 10 years/200k on power train. I’ve never bought an ext warranty on anything before.
I could use a farm truck. 3/4 ton, 4wd, long bed, standard cab, bench seat, full manual controls, rubber mat instead of carpet, I'd prefer a small V8 over a straight six, and EFI is mature enough to be reliable. 5.3 iron block (no AFM/DOD), sm465, and NP205.
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I could use a farm truck. 3/4 ton, 4wd, long bed, standard cab, bench seat, full manual controls, rubber mat instead of carpet, I'd prefer a small V8 over a straight six, and EFI is mature enough to be reliable. 5.3 iron block (no AFM/DOD), sm465, and NP205.
Look in the commercial truck market for that.
https://www.commercialtrucktrader.com/listing/2015-FORD-F250-5023895631
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The popular farm trucks around here seem to be flatbeds. For the real farmers, not the halfass ones like me, though I see plenty of hobby farmers driving them.
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My friend Dave grew up on a farmette -- about 17 acres. They grew a lot of corn, but their big crops were peaches and apples and, in high school, cantaloupes. Dave largely put himself through college by growing and selling cantaloupes. Best damned cantaloupes I've ever had.
But, they had a 1953 Dodge B4D flatbed truck, one of these bad boys...
(https://barnfinds.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/left-7-e1453750624111.jpg)
If I remember correctly, it had a 3-speed on the column manual.
After his Dad died his Mom sold the truck and the tractor, a late 1940s Ford N series.