Member vehicle thread

[aweston]

I didn't really know why they called cars "boats" until I drive it.

Yeah man. You feel no pain in that car (unless, of course, someone shoots at you). Get back into your daily driver and you're probably keenly aware of every crack in the pavement. I used to drive Cadillacs and it was the same thing. It was almost like they were floating on air. Go over a big bump and it was much akin to cresting a small wave in a yacht, that rise and fall as the entire car absorbs the bump.

I'd hate like hell to fuel it, but I'd love to take it down a highway in the summer time.

 

[coffee]

The Macdaddy of Grampa cars, the Lucerne. That's a great car. I love the engines in them and it's like driving your livingroom couch.

Yep. But there is a secret to owning one.

If you have grey hair like I do and drive a buick its almost impossible to get pulled over!

But Iam going to say this Lucerne doesnt beat my last car - 2002 Buick Century ! Now that was a ride and a half. Talk about the full custom couch it was great. Ran it to 317K Miles and the radiator finally died in it. Sold it cheap. It was just worn out.

coffee

 

[aweston]

Yep. But there is a secret to owning one.

If you have grey hair like I do and drive a buick its almost impossible to get pulled over!

But Iam going to say this Lucerne doesnt beat my last car - 2002 Buick Century ! Now that was a ride and a half. Talk about the full custom couch it was great. Ran it to 317K Miles and the radiator finally died in it. Sold it cheap. It was just worn out.

coffee

Totally! They're not a "cop magnet" and fly under the radar nicely. I owned a 2005 Buick Allure (LaCrosse in the USA) and never attracted attention. Very reliable, always started, and did a respectable 30MPG on the highway.

 

[acscva]

Here is my new ride for the nice weather days.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Needs some work but my ride is a 2000 Ford Taurus sedan. 176,000 miles but in decent shape. Going to probably put a receiver in it that has Bluetooth built in. It's paid off no complaints.

 

[coffee]

Totally! They're not a "cop magnet" and fly under the radar nicely. I owned a 2005 Buick Allure (LaCrosse in the USA) and never attracted attention. Very reliable, always started, and did a respectable 30MPG on the highway.

Found mine at a large dealer lot for a really low price. I looked it over and ran carfax on it - did everything I could think of. Then I haggled for a few hours and bought it. Then I found out that they had stuck a 30amp fuse in the fuse box because it kept blowing fuses. Caused the relay switch to really heat up and ruined the fusebox. So, I replaced the fuel pump, fuse box, relays/fuse and it runs great. However, My mileage does suck a bit. I get about 19/20 overall.

coffee

 

[Moltuae]

I see why you got such a good deal on it. Someone screwed up and put the steering wheel on the wrong side.

Haha.

Actually, it's on the right side. It's an easy to remember rule; right is right and what's left is wrong

Nice motor you got there.

Can't go wrong with German, although I'm not sure I'd wanna be driving a RWD in all that snow and ice.

 

[brandonkick]

Needs some work but my ride is a 2000 Ford Taurus sedan. 176,000 miles but in decent shape. Going to probably put a receiver in it that has Bluetooth built in. It's paid off no complaints.

This is the club that I'm in!

1999 Chevy Monte Carlo...

She has her problems including 173K miles, traces of antifreeze in the oil, paint work needing done here and there, a window track that needs replaced on the drivers side, could use a new driver seat and the A/C doesn't work.

Having said all that, if I can get the antifreeze issue solved and find a solid window track in a junkyard, then I'm going keep it till she kicks the bucket.
I paid $4000 for the car in 2006 and it has been paid off since 2008. I would like to get another 2-3 years out of it so that I can be in a position to get a nice vehicle without having to be killed with financing. The antifreeze issue will determine that...

 

[TenYardFight]

Here is my new ride for the nice weather days.

View attachment 3670

Looks like fun and great scenery.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Get it in sooner rather than later. Could be lower intake manifold gasket. I had to have the headgasket done on my car last summer.

Car needs tranny fluid changed, a pulley, AC recharge, probably some suspension work, but overall I'm pleased with it.

 

[aweston]

Haha.

Actually, it's on the right side. It's an easy to remember rule; right is right and what's left is wrong

Nice motor you got there.

Can't go wrong with German, although I'm not sure I'd wanna be driving a RWD in all that snow and ice.

Thanks!

I agree about RWD in the snow, that's why I bought the X-drive model as all wheel drive is the only thing that made sense to me. Add the heated seats, steering wheel and mirrors and it was actually quite pleasant to drive this winter. Getting it away from traffic I had a lot of fun with it in the snow. Drift around corners and then punch it to have it straighten itself out.

 

[Moltuae]

Beamers with 4WD, eh ... whatever next!

I tend to assume RWD for Beamers, because of course that was always their thing. It's good to see they're catching up with Audi these days

Drift around corners and then punch it to have it straighten itself out.

Mine's the same in the snow; great fun! I actually look forward to winter now, though this year we didn't get any snow unfortunately. Phenomenal grip the rest of the time and you can barely tell a wet road from a dry one. After owning Quattro Audis for over 10 years now, I'd hate to go back to 2WD.

 

[aweston]

Beamers with 4WD, eh ... whatever next!

I tend to assume RWD for Beamers, because of course that was always their thing. It's good to see they're catching up with Audi these days



Mine's the same in the snow; great fun! I actually look forward to winter now, though this year we didn't get any snow unfortunately. Phenomenal grip the rest of the time and you can barely tell a wet road from a dry one. After owning Quattro Audis for over 10 years now, I'd hate to go back to 2WD.

Yeah, Beamers have always been known for their 2WD drive trains, although they've been making an Xdrive for several years now with rave reviews. I've never seen balance in a vehicle like this. They've executed it so perfectly right down to exact 50/50 weight distribution front to back. Remarkable engineering. I like the huge LED display for the Navi and what have you as well. It truly is a driving machine that brings a smile to my face when I get the rare opportunity to goof off with it a little bit. The 18" wheels help me be more connected with the asphalt. Yeah, I like it... a lot.

The Maxima I had before was quite good, just a whole different experience. They had the 2WD down pretty good with the auto adjusting on the rear brakes for stability and traction control. It was near impossible to get that thing to drift because the sensors were deadly accurate. It was loaded to the nines and fast as hell. Those were it's greatest strengths.

I haven't driven an Audi yet, but I sure as hell wouldn't turn down an R8 if it showed up in my driveway with a big red bow on it. My buddy has an S5 that makes me giddy every time I'm in it listening to that throaty growl out of the pipes.

 

[Moltuae]

I haven't driven an Audi yet, but I sure as hell wouldn't turn down an R8 if it showed up in my driveway with a big red bow on it. My buddy has an S5 that makes me giddy every time I'm in it listening to that throaty growl out of the pipes.

The R8 is pretty close to perfection in my book. There's not a lot that could tempt me away if I got my hands on one of those, 'cept maybe a Veyron or a Lambo.

The newer S5 is pretty sexy though, especially in coupé form, and it's not too small either. I like a big car, but I think I could be tempted away from my old S8 for an S5. I've considered buying one a few times in fact. The coupé weighs almost exactly the same as the older S8, despite being smaller (due to the S8 having an aluminium body) and the S5 has the same 4.2 V8 block (albeit in an updated FSI variety) so power-to-weight is very similar. I need to get a decent exhaust on my S8 though -- something to wake it up a little. It still has the original, stock exhaust which doesn't really do it justice. It does have that V8 roar, but you can't hear it much below about 6000rpm.

I do like Beamers, I must admit, and I'd certainly consider an Xdrive (wanna swap?). There's little to choose between Audi and BMW these days I find. BMW was always the driver's car, with its RWD, tight suspension and connected-to-the road feel -- great for driving quickly but not so great for cruising. Audi, on the other hand, was always the more comfortable, sure-footed, AWD car -- best for long distance driving, but could feel a little vague when driven enthusiastically. Such characteristics were traditionally always a compromise for vehicle manufacturers of course though, but with modern innovations such as electronically adjustable, split-ratio 4WD, technology has brought them much closer together.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I actually still prefer the RWD for sporting cars.
I learned to drive at age 12 on an Alfa Romeo GTV Spring Veloce...my dad was really into European sports cars, MG's, Austin Healeys, etc. My dads Alfa was still doing races up in Lime Rock last I knew.

Grew up around BMWs....going back to 2002, 2002tii, mid 70's 3.0SCi coupes, in, the 90's my dad retired with a rare Euro imported 735i....very rare in that it was one of a handful imported into the US with a 5spd...not a sludge-o-matic, and the Euro spec rev limited...155mph. But she kept pulling up to that.

Anywhoo....my preference is for RWD....steer with your right foot. Learned to drive in the old school sporting manners.

As for winter...well, us old school New Englanders learned to drive properly in the snow...grew up with big old clunky rear wheel drive American cars, learned how to drive right. Today...it's all "rush rush" and "me first" driving, no patience, and even with AWD and anti lock brakes and traction control people are idiots in the bad weather. I did just fine in the old days with RWD and a few bags of gravel in the trunk for weight.

Sure...4WD is great for snow....I know..I had (and customized) many Jeeps...old Jeeps, real Jeeps. And had a Scooby Impreza RS (well..my second wife did)....yeah AWD sporting driving is....not as fun for me.

 

[aweston]

I actually still prefer the RWD for sporting cars.
I learned to drive at age 12 on an Alfa Romeo GTV Spring Veloce...my dad was really into European sports cars, MG's, Austin Healeys, etc. My dads Alfa was still doing races up in Lime Rock last I knew.

Grew up around BMWs....going back to 2002, 2002tii, mid 70's 3.0SCi coupes, in, the 90's my dad retired with a rare Euro imported 735i....very rare in that it was one of a handful imported into the US with a 5spd...not a sludge-o-matic, and the Euro spec rev limited...155mph. But she kept pulling up to that.

Anywhoo....my preference is for RWD....steer with your right foot. Learned to drive in the old school sporting manners.

As for winter...well, us old school New Englanders learned to drive properly in the snow...grew up with big old clunky rear wheel drive American cars, learned how to drive right. Today...it's all "rush rush" and "me first" driving, no patience, and even with AWD and anti lock brakes and traction control people are idiots in the bad weather. I did just fine in the old days with RWD and a few bags of gravel in the trunk for weight.

Sure...4WD is great for snow....I know..I had (and customized) many Jeeps...old Jeeps, real Jeeps. And had a Scooby Impreza RS (well..my second wife did)....yeah AWD sporting driving is....not as fun for me.

I grew up with RWD myself (learned to drive in a really old Lada with a stick and doors that wouldn't close properly). However, as I grow older I'm quite alright with AWD. Of course if you think AWD is a substitute for driving properly and defensively, well, you're going to end up in a ditch. AWD is only good for take off, not stopping.

With that said it's a whole barrel of smiles on a back road somewhere with nobody else around for miles and miles. Then you can have some fun without putting anyone else at risk. Remember, rally cars are typically AWD.

For straight racing...well...you can't do that around here which makes the notion of a compromise that much more palatable. This is my daily driver so I decked it out the way I wanted and I'm quite happy with it. I've been a fan of BMW since the 80's so I really get a lot of joy from driving it. That 8 speed transmission with the manual and sport modes is just incredible.

AWD isn't a bad or inferior experience to RWD, it's just different.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Yeah it's a preference.....
For my wife....I will always have an AWD car for her. Want her home safe 'n sound every time.

BMW wise....huge HUGE fan back in the day...and I am going back to late 60's models and on up. Til...early 2000 models...when that Chris Bangel (or however you spell it) took over their design department. They got "porky", "bloated"..under his pen. One of the newish models that I do sport major sequoia sized wood for is the rare (and relatively unknown) Z-8 Roadster.

What BMW does maintain ...is one of the smoothest, silkiest...straight six engines, combined with a great manual tranny. And their drive trains/suspension are the dream of sporting drivers. It can really extend the "seat of your pants" so that you feel everything down there properly when you're driving it towards the limits. Love 'em love 'em love 'em.

I'll never forget when I was like 14 or so....a young guy down the street (at the time) that collected and restored BMWs...he did many great rebuilds...all near show condition. Had one particular 3.0CSi couple with triple Webers down the middle. OMG...my first ride in that...pushed your guts through back of the seat so hard! His father collected Porsches, his younger brother...old VW's. Yeah an all German family...my buddy currently lives over there now.

 

[SprinterTech-WI]

I don't have anything to write home about. .. 3 late 90s dodge grand caravans, a 97 gmc savannah 3500 service trick with generator, air compressors, and full service box. In the summer I like to run an older bike, on the lookout for a mid 80s goldwing to run.
Probably picking up a kia soul or the likes soon for a Better mpg car to wrap.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

In the summer I like to run an older bike,

What is this older bike of which ye speak?
Dig older bikes...no matter of they're US, metric, whatever.
Flip through the pics on this site to see some cool old bikes re-done up in a classic style.
http://www.wrenchmonkees.com/motorcycles

 

[SprinterTech-WI]

What is this older bike of which ye speak?
Dig older bikes...no matter of they're US, metric, whatever.
Flip through the pics on this site to see some cool old bikes re-done up in a classic style.
http://www.wrenchmonkees.com/motorcycles

A 72 Honda 450... A little under powered for long highway runs but a fun little bike... plus it was free!