[Melanie68]

Thanks for the Barchetta info Scott - here I always thought it was a specific kind of car.

[Sage]

Originally Posted by SakSquash

The first car I ever had was a silver chevy Lumina. I got it up to 230,000 miles, then my muffler fell off and I sold it for $200. There was constantly a puddle on the floor in the back for some odd reason, and when it got cold it would freeze, giving me an ice rink.

That's weird, as there normally isn't anything at the rear of a car to leak water.

Originally Posted by SakSquash

Scott, since I'll be buying my first car in a few months, what do you recommend?

As you're a busy guy with no spare time to spend in garage waiting rooms and you have limited funds at present, a low-mileage Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic would be your best bets. There are other cars that are more stylish or more fun to drive, but they're not as reliable as these two benchmarks. The Civics are more sought-after and more prone to getting stolen, so the Corolla might be the better deal overall.

[SakSquash]

I'm not looking for fun or cool. I'm looking for 4 wheels and a cd player.

[Kolzig]

Originally Posted by Melanie68

One of my favorite Rush songs:

Red Barchetta

My uncle has a country place
That no one knows about
He says it used to be a farm
Before the Motor Law
And on Sundays I elude the eyes
And hop the Turbine Freight
To far outside the Wire
Where my white-haired uncle waits

Jump to the ground
As the Turbo slows to cross the borderline
Run like the wind
As excitement shivers up and down my spine
Down in his barn
My uncle preserved for me an old machine
For fifty odd years
To keep it as new has been his dearest dream

I strip away the old debris
That hides a shining car
A brilliant red Barchetta
From a better vanished time
I fire up the willing engine
Responding with a roar
Tires spitting gravel
I commit my weekly crime

Wind
In my hair
Shifting and drifting
Mechanical music
Adrenaline surge...

Well-weathered leather
Hot metal and oil
The scented country air
Sunlight on chrome
The blur of the landscape
Every nerve aware

Suddenly ahead of me
Across the mountainside
A gleaming alloy air car
Shoots towards me, two lanes wide
I spin around with shrieking tires
To run the deadly race
Go screaming through the valley
As another joins the chase

Drive like the wind
Straining the limits of machine and man
Laughing out loud with fear and hope
I've got a desperate plan
At the one-lane bridge
I leave the giants stranded at the riverside
Race back to the farm
To dream with my uncle at the fireside

That is actually one of my top 5 favourite Rush songs.

[Sage]

Alfa Romeo Montreal


Lamborghini Espada


Maserati Indy


I dunno, I was just feeling Italian this morning.

[jjacob]

Hubba hubba hubba Too bad they're probably just about as fast as a Golf and have awful handling and reliability - still I would probably trade in my Focus for that awesome mean looking Montreal

[lakerz]

I think any of these cars (with the possible exception of the TVR) are worth blowing one's retirement on.

[Sage]

Lakerz, I'm with you on the McLaren but the rest just aren't my style. I'm hopelessly oriented towards achievable goals.

'71 Ford LTD


'72 Dodge Coronet


'66 Pontiac Catalina 2+2

[Intrepid Homoludens]

Scotts, are there NO contemporary cars you like at all?

[Sage]

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

Scotts, are there NO contemporary cars you like at all?

A few:

Mazda 6


Ford Focus (German version)

[Intrepid Homoludens]

What's so special about those two? Are they fuel efficient? Hybrid? Economical? Massage your back as you drive?

[Sage]

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

What's so special about those two? Are they fuel efficient?

Reasonably so.

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

Hybrid?

No. Hybrids are fuel efficient, but they're unlikely to be money efficient down the line. How much are all those high-tech storage batteries likely to cost when they wear out in a few years? If you've ever had to buy a new battery for your laptop, then take that figure and multiply it by at least 100.

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

Economical?

Again, reasonably so.

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

Massage your back as you drive?

Hehe! Well, not that I'm aware of.

Both those cars are comfortable even for me, they both handle exceedingly well, and they're both wagons which is the most efficient use of a given platform.
On front wheel drive cars, the additional weight of a wagon body (100-200 pounds or so, usually) is over the rear wheels, which gives the car better overall balance.

[tabacco]

Essentially this is my car:



(Not my actual car, just an image I found on google because I'm too lazy to go out and take a photo)

It's an '01 Ford Taurus, dark blue. 3.0l v6, etc. Not really an exciting car, but it can carry an 80x36x1-3/8" door without having to move the seats up or drive with the trunk open. So there :p

My big irritation is that the body curvature always makes it look like it's dented right between the front wheel wells and the headlights (you can see it in that photo).

[Sage]

There's nothing at all wrong with Taurii. If I ran up on a good deal on one, I wouldn't mind having one at all. The middle front seat cushion that converts to a console/cupholder is a cool feature as well.

[em-deecee]

I drive a '94 Nissan Extend-cab truck that Scott found for me about 5 1/2 years ago. I intend to keep it until it falls apart or dies a horrible death in an accident.

[RLacey]

Originally Posted by Thrift Store Scott

There's nothing at all wrong with Taurii. If I ran up on a good deal on one, I wouldn't mind having one at all. The middle front seat cushion that converts to a console/cupholder is a cool feature as well.

I've always wondered who actually uses the cupholders...

[tabacco]

Originally Posted by RLacey

I've always wondered who actually uses the cupholders...

I use one as an ipod dock

[Erwin_Br]

Originally Posted by Thrift Store Scott

There's nothing at all wrong with Taurii. If I ran up on a good deal on one, I wouldn't mind having one at all. The middle front seat cushion that converts to a console/cupholder is a cool feature as well.

What about a Ford Probe, Scott? I have mine for a year now. You think it'll still run 4 years from now?

--Erwin

[Sage]

Originally Posted by Erwin_Br

What about a Ford Probe, Scott? I have mine for a year now. You think it'll still run 4 years from now?

--Erwin

Hmmm...that's a little hard to say.
American Ford Probes are Mazda 626s/Familias with different styling. As such they're pretty good cars, but parts are rather expensive.
I don't know if European Ford Probes are the same as American ones, or if they're a different beast entirely.
Ford products as a group have served me well and proven durable, so if you keep to your maintenance shedule and recommendations, the car should last well.

My Grandpappy get a new car about every month 'cause he doesn't know what to do with his money. This month, he got a Jimmy.