What vehicle would you get if you had to

[Justin B.]

Yeah, that'd really confuse 'em...  

[montmil]

Hope this doesn't start some sorta enviro tree-hugger go-green flame war but I recently bought my wife a new car for Christmas. A Northstar-powered Cadillac Deville Touring Sedan. With 315 HP on tap with regular gas and 24/26 mpg on the highway. It's her third Northstar and I don't believe she would drive anything else. She has allowed me to drive it only once since purchased... to an Italian dinner on Valentine's Day. I paid, of course.

My daily driver for the past 10+ years has been my 1986 VW Cabriolet. One of those love-hate vehicles, I'm constantly doing some sorta maintenance issue with it; it's old like me, but I plan to keep it for a long time.

[Justin B.]

I have the same relationship with my Brick - '93 Volvo 244.  I sometimes wonder why I put up with it...

[MrRiden]

Gotta love a Boxer engine and my wifelings Subaru Forrester has been quite a nice car. I'm thinking of replacing my commuter car and lately I'm giving some used Isuzu Pick ups a look. I generally hate trucks, not because of any "enviro tree-hugger go-green" sentiment but because I've made my living out of all kinds of trucks [lorry to some] for 25 years. The last gaul durn thing I want to get into at the end of the day is another damn truck! But wait. I'm starting to see the practicality of a small 4 banger with a full bed. I'm seeing it as a cheap commuter and a rescue vehicle for when one of my classic [old] bikes peters out on the road somewhere. Build in a ramp and tie downs and I'm insured. 'Honey could you bring the truck out to the Gila River on the Indian reservation, I've got a flat'. Yes I like the sound of that. A cheap commuter / recovery vehicle, I even have a custom license plate frame thought out for it: "no, you can't call me when you need to move".
rich

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

You have the luxury of the option of a small, light in the rear pickup truck.  
I would love one, and could get my bro-in-laws for a song - but I have snow to put up with!
It will never be anything other than a small, front wheel drive car, for me.

[Motu]

I'm putting the 4th cyl head on my 1989 Pajero - thought I may as well change the head seeing as I was pulling the alt out for the 3rd time.I'm having to use my 1990 Lada 2104 while the Pajero is off the road.One of them will have to go....I'm having trouble deciding which.

What to replace them with??...?? Something broken down and not economical to repair,for a give away price.I stay in the 3 figure bracket with cars....moving into the 4 figure bracket is not value for money as far as I'm concerned.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Thousand dollar car it ain't worth nothin'
Thousand dollar car it ain't worth sh!t.
Might as well take your $1000,
and set fire to it.
$1000 car ain't worth a dime,
You lose your $1000 every time.
Oh why did I ever buy,
a $1000 car.
$1000 car is gonna let you down,
More than it's ever gonna get you around.
Replace your gaskets and paint over your rust,
You'll still end up with something that you'll never trust.
$1000 car's life was through,
'bought 50,000 miles 'fore it got to you.
Oh why did I ever buy,
a $1000 car.
A $1000 car ain't even gonna roll,
til you throw at least another thousand in the hole.
Sink your money in it, and there you are
the owner of a 2,000 dollar 1,000 dollar car.
(guitar solo)
If you've only got a $1000.
You ought to just buy a good guitar.
Learn how to play it it'll take you farther,
than any old $1000 car.
If a $1000 car was truly worth a damn,
then why would anybody ever spend ten grand.
Oh why did I ever buy,
a thousand dollar car.


-The Bottle Rockets

[DeeG]

I just heard that the Fed. gov't is going to let you deduct the sales tax on any new car bought before some date.
I'm bettin' that is 'merican cars, only...


Oh, and the last mechanic that worked on my '96 Mazda 626 informed me my engine is a Ford product!!!  

 


 

Nope, you can buy any new car, light truck or motorcycle.  And the time frame for purchase is within one year of the day Obama signed the stimulus package.  Listening to NPR this afternoon, the guy said that the 'rebate' for say the 15% tax bracket folks (me), would top out at about $150.00. I believe it was 5% of the total tax paid on a vehicle with a purchase price up to $42,000. ANd you could buy more than one vehicle as long as the total wasn't more than the 42K. (Don't quote me on the numbers, I wasn't paying that close attention to him)  He said it wasn't much incentive to run out and buy a new car.   I'm not interested in a new car, but a pair of Guzzi V7 Classic's and another Honda CRF230L.......or perhaps a Super Sherpa.....or maybe a TW200........ hehehehehe

And you'd be surprised at who makes what.   Caravans used to have Mistubishi engines in them, the British car called the Sterling had an engine and drivetrain by Honda, Chev Colorado p/u is mostly an Isuzu and some Fords were made by Mazda, too.  

[Ed Miller]

You have the luxury of the option of a small, light in the rear pickup truck.  
I would love one, and could get my bro-in-laws for a song - but I have snow to put up with!
It will never be anything other than a small, front wheel drive car, for me.

Subaru used to make those cute little pickups; I think they were 4WD.  Brats.  No idea of their fuel economy.

My CRX with 4 studded tires (yeah, not legal in most states) does great in the snow, so long as it's not over 4" deep.  

[MrRiden]

Subaru still makes 'em, not 'nuff bed on 'em tho. GM still produces an El Camino type vehicle but I think it's only in OZ. Think it's called a Holden.
rich

[Semper Gumby]

Can't get a new vehicle because the 1985 Buick Century keeps going. 2.5 liter Iron Duke 4.  Turns out it gets the same mileage as the new Camry's and Regals and I can fit 5 pax plus me. (22 mpg town and 33 highway) What have the car manufacturers been doing for the last 24 years???

I don't get it.

[montmil]

Pick'em Up Trucks ain't nothing but sports cars with BIG TRUNKS

My Ford F150 300 c.i. straight six with a Mazda-sourced 5-speed, purchased new in March of 1995, is the most reliable and dependable vehicle I've ever owned. Fourteen years and runs like it's new.

Have not been without a pickup truck for the last 37 years. Couldn't get along without one.  [smiley=thumbup.gif]

Monte

[interiorak]

How come most riders here drive older higher mileage cagers?  Something to do with older higher milage bikes ?  which comes first?  I drive 1992 honda civic sedan.  Odometer broke at 250000.  Last time i did a serious check ... fill up fairbanks ... 370 mile to Anchorage ... fileup again ... calculates to 44.6 mpg ... and that's 1990 technology ! Where did we go so wrong in the last 16 years ... we can't do better ?   Oh yeah when serious winter sets in here with deep snow and -50 to -65 F  temps i drive a 1989 Jeep Cherokee with 320000 miles on it ... lucky to get 20 mpg ... alot worse if left in 4x4 all the time.  I did take the 1986 R65 on the Dalton Hiway this December ... till i scared myself.  Turned around after an hour ride.  Had to tow it back up my driveway ... the fresh snow was too deep.  Not likely to do that again !

[MrRiden]

How come most riders here drive older higher mileage cagers?  !

Must be somthin' in the water. But really one thing that sets us apart is that we all werk on our own machines. Have a glance at other groups on the internets. Posts are full of "my vehicle is in the shop" baloney. It's nice that the less able send their machines to the shop, it keeps the shop doors open so we all have a place to order parts! Pat yourself on the back for being able to run and maintain elderly vehicles.
rich