Car talk

[Jason Menard]

Taking a break from the more weighty issues being discussed...
What are you all driving, or for that matter, what would you rather be driving? Pimped-out babe-magnet? POS car (reference to Adam Sandler song)? Sensible family oriented vehicle? Let's hear the details. Year, make, model, color, options, pictures if possible!
On a similar note... Anyone here into detailing their ride? What kind of products are you using? I just picked up a German product called Klasse All-In-One for my finish, but haven't used it yet. Anyone familiar with this product or using anything similar that they like?
[ January 10, 2003: Message edited by: Jason Menard ]

[Jim Yingst]

1998 Honda Civic DX 4-door.
All my previous cars (usually Honda Civic or Accord) were white. In Arizona this is a sensible color for reflecting sunlight rather than absorbing it. Unfortunately I discovered that in any given supermarket parking lot, there were usually several other cars looking nearly identical. So this last time, I got dark green for variety. After which I promptly accepted a contract in Silicon Valley. Where it turns out dark green Civics are as common as white Civics in Arizona. So I bought a Yakima roof rack and Rocketbox for extra storage, which also helps distinguish the car in a parking lot. Now I'm back in AZ where green is not so ubiquitous - but there are so many SUV's out there I often can't see the car at all, even with the rack on top. So I just leave my mountain bike up there, even when I'm not planning on using it any time soon - it sticks up enough that I can usually find it easily. I just have to be careful in parking garages with low clearance...
[ January 08, 2003: Message edited by: Jim Yingst ]

[Jason Menard]

Originally posted by Jim Yingst:
1998 Honda Civic DX 4-door.

Kind of like this?

[Balaji Loganathan]

In India - Tata Indigo http://indigo.telcoindia.com/website/indexnew.htm
I never drove this car before because its going hits the street only by mid jan, but started watching this car in net right before 3 months, comparitively its cheap and best(4.5lacs-rupees).. Is there any indians(residing in India) going to buy this car ??
Ravish you once said u r in b'lore now ? do you like this model ?, does any of your friends booked this car ??
Rgds
Balaji

[Michael Matola]

2003 Pontiac Vibe in Neptune (blue, two-tone).
[ January 08, 2003: Message edited by: Michael Matola ]

[Eric Fletcher]

Right now I'm driving a 2003 Subaru Forester, silver, unfortunately not the sport model. I got it recently, had to get rid of my 2000 Exterra cause I bought a new house and the damn thing was too tall to fit in my garage.
I like the Subaru, but I miss my Exterra...

[Jessica Sant]

Originally posted by Jim Yingst:
So I just leave my mountain bike up there, even when I'm not planning on using it any time soon - it sticks up enough that I can usually find it easily. I just have to be careful in parking garages with low clearance...

All that just to find your car in a parking lot? Why not just right a lil java program that remembers the location and homes in on it whenever you leave the car ? lol
Here's my lil car -- his name is Scout.
2002 MINI Cooper S:
1.6 L, Supercharged, 6-speed, 180hp
Sports package: Xenon headlamps, Dynamic Stability Control, 17" run-flat tires, Front Fog lamps.


[ January 08, 2003: Message edited by: Jessica Sant ]

[Cindy Glass]

1991 Chevy Astro Mini-Van 273,000 miles and going strong .
Course that is nothing compared to my husband who drives a 1992 GMC Sierra 1/2 ton pickup. 323,000 and still looks new .

[Simon Brown]

Nice photo, nice car - shame they put the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car!

[Rufus BugleWeed]

Here's what I'm driving

[Jessica Sant]

Originally posted by Simon Brown:
Nice photo, nice car - shame they put the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car!

... and no Simon the steering is on correct side of the car!... It's very inconvenient though that the latch for the hood (aka bonnet) is on the right (passenger) side ....
hee hee -- its funny though -- the engine space is so small up front that my battery is in the trunk.

[Jim Yingst]

[JM]: Kind of like this?
Yup. But without the white pinstripe. And with a mountain bike on top.
[JS]: All that just to find your car in a parking lot?
Well the bike and storage box do occasionally have other uses. And it gave me a common theme for my answers to the questions about color and additional equipment.

[Jason Menard]

Congrats on the new car Michael (2003, I'm assuming it's fairly new). And Jessica, that's quite the ride you've got. Very nice! Didn't the Mini just get some kind of "car of the year" award?
I'm driving a 2003 Infiniti G35C (Diamond Graphite exterior, charcoal leather interior, Premium pkg, Nav). I don't have a picture of mine, but I found this guy who has a gallery of his car, which is exactly like mine (same model, same colors, same options). His looks pretty good with window tint, so that might be next up.
Exterior
Interior

[ January 09, 2003: Message edited by: Jason Menard ]

[John Dale]

92 Escort hatchback. Not sure what to get next. I'm hoping that by the time it wears out, someone will make a good hatchback of similar size.
Jessica: The Mini looks neat on paper, and in your picture. Can you tell me how big a box it will carry? Maybe someone makes a mini-trailer for it.

[Bert Bates]

Jessica -
What? You have a mini ? I'm stunned !! You could have knocked me over with a feather !!
Wow - do you ever keep your light under a basket !

-Bert
p.s. Subaru's are basically the only cars allowed here in 'ski country'...

[Barry Gaunt]

'snot a real Mini, sob, sob...
like this is.

[Mani Ram]

I own a Maruthi Zen in India. A small car which gives me lot of freedom in Bangalore Traffic.
Here in Germany, I drive my friend's Audi TT Roadster Convertible.

Great fun when driving in the Autobahn with open roof

Sad that I couldn't do it nowadays (damn winter!)
[ January 09, 2003: Message edited by: R Manivannan ]

[Jason Menard]

Originally posted by John Dale:
92 Escort hatchback. Not sure what to get next. I'm hoping that by the time it wears out, someone will make a good hatchback of similar size.

Have you seen the Subaru Impreza WRX Sport Wagon?

[Eric Fletcher]

Originally posted by Jason Menard:

Have you seen the Subaru Impreza WRX Sport Wagon?

I would highly recommend this one, I test-drove one when I was looking at my Forester, but my wife wouldn't even let me talk about it with the salesman. She said she thought it was too small and too much money, but I don't think she liked the look in my eye after I drove it!
Very, very fun to drive, 225bhp turbo, all wheel drive, handled like it was on rails.

[Sam Dalton]

I currently drive an MG-F
18 months Old
1.8 Variable Valve Control, 150 BHP
Platinum Silver


(Not mine but identical)
Next I am going to get a Lotus Elise

[ January 09, 2003: Message edited by: Sam Dalton ]
[ January 09, 2003: Message edited by: Sam Dalton ]

[Sam Dalton]

Oh eyeah, I also love the Mini Jessica I am very green with envy
S

[Michael Matola]

Originally posted by Jason Menard:
Congrats on the new car Michael (2003, I'm assuming it's fairly new).

Yep, just over two months (and 4500 miles). But all Vibes so far have been 2003 models and they came out sometime early last year (spring? summer?).
John Dale:
...good hatchback of similar size...
I think the Vibe is pretty cool in a funky sort of way. It all depends on taste, of course.
For those serious about car design, take a look at Car Design News.

[Jessica Sant]

[JM] And Jessica, that's quite the ride you've got. Very nice! Didn't the Mini just get some kind of "car of the year" award?
Yup, North America Car of the Year
[JD]Jessica: The Mini looks neat on paper, and in your picture. Can you tell me how big a box it will carry? Maybe someone makes a mini-trailer for it.
the "trunk" itself is dang tiny -- 5.3 cubic feet but both of the back seats fold down flat and then you get a lot of room.. Dunno the exact size. But for such a small car you dont feel claustrophobic at all.
[BB]What? You have a mini ? I'm stunned !! You could have knocked me over with a feather !!
Wow - do you ever keep your light under a basket !
I know... who'd a thunk it with that signature of mine...
[BG]'snot a real Mini, sob, sob...
like this is.
I drove next to a old original MINI a few months ago -- Dang that car is small. My MINI is about twice that size. I love Mr. Bean.
[RM]
I love the TT.

[Jason Menard]

If anybody here is into giving their car the proper TLC it deserves, http://www.autopia.org/ and http://www.properautocare.com are two sites definitely worth checking out.

[Jamie Robertson]

1991 Nissan Sentra:
85 bhp ( 87 after an oil change and fuel injector cleaner )
shiny new exhaust ( after market )
shiny new brakes and rotors ( front and back )
shiny new governor switch
shiny new transmission ( first 2 calfed )
shiny new fuel pump
new tires
new rust coloured skirt around the bottom perimeter of car ( or should I say a 'new skirt of rust'! )
and she still leaks oil!
Welcome to the microcosm of my life all you new car, Lexus driving, high rollers
Jamie
p.s. that is the actual list of major repairs in the last 3 years ( that I remember )

[Tony Alicea]

Anybody has experience doing business with CarMax?

[Jason Menard]

Originally posted by Tony Alicea:
Anybody has experience doing business with CarMax?

While I don't have very much experience with them personally, one knock I hear on them is that their sales staff aren't really all that knowledgable. There's also that whole refusal to bargain thing that I personally don't care for, but others don't mind.
Here are a couple articles at epinions.
http://www.epinions.com/content_1826594948
http://www.epinions.com/auto-review-6C36-83915A8-393FF1A1-prod4
[ January 10, 2003: Message edited by: Jason Menard ]

[Jessica Sant]

Originally posted by Jason Menard:
On a similar note... Anyone here into detailing their ride? What kind of products are you using? I just picked up a German product called Klasse All-In-One for my finish, but haven't used it yet. Anyone familiar with this product or using anything similar that they like?

My husband is a bit of a car geek and washes the car's every week (mine too such a wonderful husband) He uses Mothers products a lot.... I think

[Tony Alicea]

Thanks Jason...

[Angela Margot]

My husband and I bought both of our cars at CarMax. We have two CarMax dealerships nearby and went to both. I can speak to both the new and used sales - we bought one of each.
Their prices were fair enough - even with the "bargaining" room at typical dealerships. You can't expect their sales people to know everything about every type of car on the lot - that's a LOT of cars.
Our sales guy was nice, we came in and told him we were "just looking". After we made some tenative decisions we called him back for some test drives. He was very helpful in finding the type of vehicles we were interested in.
We had to test quite a few cars --my husband is 6'6" and used to play defense in football. So the car had to fit him...but it couldn't be too big for me ( at 5'2" ).
The neatest part of CarMax is being able to look at several makes and models of cars. They also offer an extended warranty (good thing to get if buying used) - and they actually back it up.
When we need another couple of cars we'll be back to our local CarMax dealers... a very nice, pleasant experience!

[Jason Menard]

Originally posted by Jason Menard:
I just picked up a German product called Klasse All-In-One for my finish, but haven't used it yet.

I finally used this on my car this weekend. Nice product! Wipe on, wipe off. Very simple, great results. And I probably only used about 1oz of the product to do the entire car!

[Ashok Mash]

Okay, now this is what I drive.

Err, that less spoiler, stickers and all those rally fittings. But I can never drive above 70 miles though - this country has more speed traps than cattle!! Also my insurance is exactly the same amount as the worth of the car. :roll:

[Michael Ernest]

98 Ford Ranger, Emerald Green, 5-speed, cracked windshield, 98000 miles. Shift knob comes off in your hand if you don't grab it right. Perfect vehicle for week-long getaways to a romantic long-term parking lot.
The rain washes it more often than I do.

[Jim Yingst]

The rain washes it more often than I do.
This is what always irritated me about the Bay area. It rains reasonably often, but seldom stong enough to actually wash the dirt away. (With some notable exceptions this last year, some of which I was around for - but I'm talking in general.) If anything the Bay area drizzles just add more droplet marks. In Arizona when it does get around to raining, you can at least be pretty sure your car will be cleaner afterwards. Just don't try to drive through a wash unless you're sure you know how deep it currently is.

[Shura Balaganov]

'97 Acura Integra LS, Silver, 4 door, no gadgets, 95% mabufactured in Japan.

Jason, awesome car there, G35! I am looking to buy it myself, especially since BMW are so ridiculously overpriced in the States...
Shura

[Jason Menard]

Originally posted by Shura Balaganov:
Jason, awesome car there, G35! I am looking to buy it myself, especially since BMW are so ridiculously overpriced in the States...
Shura

Thanks, Shura! I absolutely love it. Now if only the weather would stay dry enough for me to keep it clean.

[Ashok Mash]

Slightly off topic, I am afraid. Or is it?
The Air Cars

[Jim Yingst]

Ashok - interesting. But when you said "air car" I was imagining something much cooler.

[ersin eser]

[Ashok Mash]

Originally posted by Jim Yingst:
.. when you said "air car" I was imagining something much cooler.

The man who has no imagination has no wings.
--Muhammad Ali

And you are flying already!