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#141
Gaolee said:
Dunno when you left, but it has only gotten worse. I like it here, but I sure don't enjoy driving at all. My wife's Prius C is just about the perfect car for this place. It does what it does and no more. But in traffic, it's never challenged. If Toyota made a Prius that could pull a trailer full of PA equipment and had enough room for an upright, drum kit, and Acoustic 360, and four other band members, I would be all over it. Unfortunately, the only vehicle that answers that description is a full sized van. Maybe a Mercedes Matris, but those are expensive and there aren't cheap used ones around yet.

The SUV discussion amuses me. As a person who grew up driving British roadsters, I think low mass is its own reward if you want to enjoy driving. I don't any more, because there's nowhere to really drive. So, I switched to motorcycles.

And as a person who has had pickups and vans for professional reasons, I understand what makes a vehicle useful and what doesn't. I had a station wagon for a while for the same reason. An SUV generally doesn't do very well in any of those categories. It takes up too much room and is too tall, unlike a station wagon. It has a long snout, unlike a van. You have to crouch and load it from the back like a van. It doesn't have the payload of either a van or a pickup. So, it combines the disadvantages of just about everything with the advantages of nothing. Sure, you can get AWD. That's just a way to burn more fuel, because the few times you actually need AWD, tire chains will probably do better for you. Or you are driving on the beach and part time four wheel drive is a better option. So, all the disadvantages, and absolutely no redeeming qualities. But they are popular. I don't get it. I'm also a crank. So take this for what it's worth. For another cup of coffee, I'll give you my opinion on something else.
Click to expand...
Wow! You and I are identical in our opinions of this stuff, right down to the details.

BTW, I contracted in IT and rode a motorcycle from Renton to Blue Cross in the north end every day. It was to use the HOV lane (no such thing in kY.:)). When I contracted in downtown Seattle, Safeco (U-District) and Bellevue, I bicycle commuted. I lived a couple of blocks from Paul Allen on Mercer Island when I worked at Safeco. I'd get there 10 minutes faster than the bus. What an awesome ride...

I quit bike commuting when texting made it too dangerous.

I now commute 150 miles a day to louisville in a manual transmission FR-S. 2/3 of it is on kentucky twisties and it is like racing to work every day. Been doing it now for 160k miles.

And about the prius. I rented one last time we went to seattle. What amazing off the line torque. I really enjoyed it. They are worthless here, but if I lived in an urban area like Seattle with lots of hills and stop and go, it is what i'd drive. No brainer.

I confess that I think the "coolest" cargo type vehicle to me is definitely the Dodge Magnum. They still have a stealthy CIA type of look. But for practicality, I still use my 1st gen manual Scion xBox as my main gigmobile. It's at 200k and I hope to reach 400. I creamed a deer with it, so it's no longer pretty, but it oddly adds to its charm, though my wife refuses to drive it (embarrassment factor).
 
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#142
fingerguy said:
To the OP and anyone else. I have driven on and off for years standard. IMHO it's overrated and only fun when the car is fast (WRX). I did it on a 84 Blazer, 98 Wrangler, 99 CRV, another CRV in the 2000's, and my WRX plus other people's cars I had to drive.

Why would a standard be this important to you being that the focus is not a sports car? Also note I heard serious off-roaders especially Wranglers from what I heard prefer automatic.
Click to expand...
I can give you one really good reason for a standard transmission; The car is gutless. I was warned, when I bought my first gen Scion xB, that it feels gutless with the auto. i test drove the auto and the stick. I bought a stick. The difference was dramatic. The direct control FEELS more powerful and you can more precisely use the power curve. The auto's gas pedal felt like mush.

That said, I LOVE the manual on my FR-S on all those kentucky twisties. it's a joy I have yet to tire of, after 120k miles. If I was commuting in Seattle I'd drive a Prius with auto.
 
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#143
Terribly narcissistic post, but this thread got me thinking, and I compiled a list of all the vehicles I've owned. It really adds up when you are old. :)

The ones in bold I bought new.

1963 Rambler classic

1972 Vega GT

1954 Chevy SW

1972 Opel GT

1970 Rambler Hornet

1978 Saab 99

1977 Subaru DL

1972 Dodge half ton PU

1980 Buick Skylark

1954 Ford half ton PU

1965 Rambler American SW

1976 Chevy half ton PU

1983 Plymouth reliant SW

1983 Dodge full sized van

1980 Dodge D50 PU (turned it into a convertible)

1966 Dodge Polaris SW

1980 Dodge D50 PU

1984 Mazda GLC 4 door

1995 Chevy Lumina

1987 Mazda 323 4 door

1984 Motor home (forget the brand)

1982 Honda V45

1978 Plymouth reliant

2001 Chrysler 300

1996 Chrysler LeBaron convertible

2006 Scion xB

1982 Honda V45 (second one)

2004 Silverado Z71 4x4 PU

2013 Scion FR-S

2016 Scion iA
 
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#144
You have me beat! I don't know if this is a complete list or not.
1954 Triumph TR-2
1966 VW Beetle
1972 Ford Country Squire
1968 Camaro Convertible (still have it)
1972 MGB GT
1966 GMC 3/4 ton pickup
1966 Mercedes 230S (my wife and I had two of them)
1966 Mercedes 250S
1980 Mercedes 230
1992 Honda Civic VX (only car bought new)
1995 Honda Civic EX coupe
1973 Chevy Beauville van
2002 Chevy Express van
2012 Prius C

Motorcycles:
1972 Yamaha 80cc Enduro (don't remember the model)
1979 Honda CB650
1996 Suzuki Bandit 600
2002 Triumph TT600
1999 Suzuki SV 650 (race bike)
2004 Suzuki GSXR 600 (race bike)
1991 Husqvarna 610 (street legal somehow)
2006 Triumph Daytona 675
2005 Suzuki DRZ 400

I have also driven and worked on a whole lot of other cars and bikes owned by my family, friends, and companies I worked for over the years including a variety of British sportscars and work trucks. It's a goofy combination to say the least.
 
#145
Gaolee said:
You have me beat! I don't know if this is a complete list or not.
1954 Triumph TR-2
1966 VW Beetle
1972 Ford Country Squire
1968 Camaro Convertible (still have it)
1972 MGB GT
1966 GMC 3/4 ton pickup
1966 Mercedes 230S (my wife and I had two of them)
1966 Mercedes 250S
1980 Mercedes 230
1992 Honda Civic VX (only car bought new)
1995 Honda Civic EX coupe
1973 Chevy Beauville van
2002 Chevy Express van
2012 Prius C

Motorcycles:
1972 Yamaha 80cc Enduro (don't remember the model)
1979 Honda CB650
1996 Suzuki Bandit 600
2002 Triumph TT600
1999 Suzuki SV 650 (race bike)
2004 Suzuki GSXR 600 (race bike)
1991 Husqvarna 610 (street legal somehow)
2006 Triumph Daytona 675
2005 Suzuki DRZ 400

I have also driven and worked on a whole lot of other cars and bikes owned by my family, friends, and companies I worked for over the years including a variety of British sportscars and work trucks. It's a goofy combination to say the least.
Click to expand...
A lot more european stuff on your list - and bikes. I'm also surprised at how many Ramblers I owned...

I used to work for a guy that had three peterbuilts. I did brake jobs and other odd maintenance on them. I put 7 (yes SEVEN) transmissions in my 1963 rambler classic. But back in those days you could get them from the junk yard for $30.
 
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#146
It's amusing to think about the national character stereotypes when working on machinery. The American stuff was bolted together with 9/16" fasteners. Not all, of course, but if you had a bolt and a 9/16" wrench, odds were that it would be the right one. The Japanese machinery was all 10mm. Same thing. Except with the Japanese, you could usually get to it in a way that you couldn't on a Chevy or Ford. Their design was meticulous in that way, with a few glaring examples of when it wasn't.

The old British stuff was completely random. You just never knew what you were going to find or where you were going to find it. I'm exaggerating a little, but I was amazed at the randomness of fasteners in non-critical locations. Maybe it was just old and McGuyvered. I don't know. I forgot that I had a 1971 Norton as well. How do you forget a Norton? Good question. Anyway, its fasteners were the most random of the lot.

The German cars, especially the Mercedes Benzs and a 1998 BMW motorcycle that I had a part ownership in (forgot that one too) had a different fastener for every purpose. I'm completely sure they were all engineered to do exactly what they needed to do, no more and no less. From an engineering standpoint, it was elegant. From a working on it standpoint, it was a colossal pain in the butt. I could imagine some stiff German engineer calculating exactly where you were supposed to sit on the seat, and then making sure you had to be exactly there so the calculations based on that location would work as planned.

The anomalies are the recent Triuimph motorycles. They are a joy to work on. Everything is where you can get at it, with very few exceptions, and everything fits perfectly. There are little touches that make them easy to assemble and disassemble without fiddly parts that require three or four hands to put together. Their design got thought through in a way no other machine I have worked on ever was. I won't even look under the hood of the Prius, and I avoid looking under the hood of the van any more than I have to. But the Daytona is just a pleasure to work on, unlike anything else.

There's no way I would have put seven transmissions in anything, though. You are a glutton for punishment. Getting those in and out is a royal pain.
 
#147
Gaolee said:
There's no way I would have put seven transmissions in anything, though. You are a glutton for punishment. Getting those in and out is a royal pain.
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And it had an enclosed driveshaft. :)

Oh, and speaking of standard stuff, I had a very leaky top access plate on the fuel tank on my 1960 John Deere tractor. I pulled off the five screws and got me some cork, cut to fit, and it would not fit. It turned out the five screw holes were not in a precise pattern. i had to drop it on, turn it until all of the hole lined up, and then attach.

Things are much easier these days.

You're right about the 10MM. It seems pretty much everything is 10MM unless it just HAS to be bigger.
 
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#149
Robroy said:
Terribly narcissistic post, but this thread got me thinking, and I compiled a list of all the vehicles I've owned. It really adds up when you are old. :)

The ones in bold I bought new.

1963 Rambler classic

1972 Vega GT

1954 Chevy SW

1972 Opel GT

1970 Rambler Hornet

1978 Saab 99

1977 Subaru DL

1972 Dodge half ton PU

1980 Buick Skylark

1954 Ford half ton PU

1965 Rambler American SW

1976 Chevy half ton PU

1983 Plymouth reliant SW

1983 Dodge full sized van

1980 Dodge D50 PU (turned it into a convertible)

1966 Dodge Polaris SW

1980 Dodge D50 PU

1984 Mazda GLC 4 door

1995 Chevy Lumina

1987 Mazda 323 4 door

1984 Motor home (forget the brand)

1982 Honda V45

1978 Plymouth reliant

2001 Chrysler 300

1996 Chrysler LeBaron convertible

2006 Scion xB

1982 Honda V45 (second one)

2004 Silverado Z71 4x4 PU

2013 Scion FR-S

2016 Scion iA
Click to expand...

I could try to compile a list but this may take some time.... There will be nothing in bold because I've never bought new.

72 LeSabre
81 Camaro - Still own
74 Maverick
78 Blazer
68 SS396 ElCamino - Still own
79 Blazer - Still own
81 Camaro
79 Z/28 - Still own
79 Z/28
75 Royal Monaco
81 Aries
91 Cavalier
93 Cavalier
91 Cavalier
94 Cavalier
95 Cavalier
93 Cavalier
94 Cavalier
05 Cavalier
95 Lumina
86 Blazer
73 Blazer
74 Blazer
91 Blazer
89 Blazer
79 Blazer
69 Blazer
85 ElCamino
85 Monte Carlo
95 Cherokee
93 Grand Cherokee
84 K10
79 K20
80 K20
69 C10
04 Forester - Still own
13 Forester - Still own
04 Vibe
04 Saturn Vue
99 Grand Caravan
07 Cobalt - Still own
06 Cobalt
98 K1500 - Still own
98 Ram 1500 - Still own
94 Colt
01 Saturn SL
01 Exploder
79 Impala
86 Caprice
94 LeSabre


I'm sure there another 5 or so that I'm forgetting. I left motorcycles/sleds/ATV's and trailers off of the list.
 
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#151
Mike N said:
I could try to compile a list but this may take some time.... There will be nothing in bold because I've never bought new.

72 LeSabre
81 Camaro - Still own
74 Maverick
78 Blazer
68 SS396 ElCamino - Still own
79 Blazer - Still own
81 Camaro
79 Z/28 - Still own
79 Z/28
75 Royal Monaco
81 Aries
91 Cavalier
93 Cavalier
91 Cavalier
94 Cavalier
95 Cavalier
93 Cavalier
05 Cavalier
95 Lumina
86 Blazer
73 Blazer
74 Blazer
91 Blazer
89 Blazer
79 Blazer
69 Blazer
85 ElCamino
85 Monte Carlo
95 Cherokee
93 Grand Cherokee
84 K10
79 K20
80 K20
69 C10
04 Forester - Still own
13 Forester - Still own
04 Vibe
04 Saturn Vue
99 Grand Caravan
07 Cobalt - Still own
06 Cobalt
98 K1500 - Still own
98 Ram 1500 - Still own
94 Colt
01 Saturn SL
01 Exploder


I'm sure there another 5 or so that I'm forgetting. I left motorcycles/sleds/ATV's and trailers off of the list.
Click to expand...
Looks like a used car lot. :)
 
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#153
Oh crap, I thought I held the record! Let me try to remember every single one. In order.

  • 1962 Mercury Comet
  • 1969 VW Bug
  • 1972 Toyota Celica
  • 1975 Toyota Celica
  • 1977 Toyota Hilux Pickup
  • 1979 VW Scirocco
The 1980s are a little fuzzier
  • 1982 Toyota Pickup
  • 1985? Toyota Supra
  • 1987? BMW 325
  • 1988? Ford Bronco II
  • 1989? VW Jetta GLI
1990 to 2009 is a littler clearer
  • 1990 Ford Ranger
  • 1987 VW Vanagon
  • 1993 Nissan Pathfinder
  • 1997 Ford Ranger
  • 1999 Toyota 4-Runner
  • 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
  • 2007 Nissan Pathfinder
  • 2009 VW Jetta TDI
Now things get nuts. I have a problem.
  • 2010 VW Jetta Sportwagen
  • 2010 VW Sportwagen TDI
  • 2011 VW Tiguan
  • 2012 VW Touareg TDI
  • 2013 VW Touareg TDI
  • 2014 VW Touareg TDI
  • 2012 VW Golf R
  • 2015 VW Touareg TDI
  • 2015 VW Touareg gasser
  • 2015 VW GTI
  • 2016 VW Touareg TDI
And what I currently own:
  • 2017 VW GTI
  • 2017 VW Golf Alltrack
It's a sickness.
 
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#154
Alkali Ike said:
Oh crap, I thought I held the record! Let me try to remember every single one. In order.

  • 1962 Mercury Comet
  • 1969 VW Bug
  • 1972 Toyota Celica
  • 1975 Toyota Celica
  • 1977 Toyota Hilux Pickup
  • 1979 VW Scirocco
The 1980s are a little fuzzier
  • 1982 Toyota Pickup
  • 1985? Toyota Supra
  • 1987? BMW 325
  • 1988? Ford Bronco II
  • 1989? VW Jetta GLI
The 1990s are a littler clearer
  • 1990 Ford Ranger
  • 1987 VW Vanagon
  • 1993 Nissan Pathfinder
  • 1997 Ford Ranger
  • 1999 Toyota 4-Runner
  • 2001 Nissan Pathfinder
  • 2007 Nissan Pathfinder
  • 2009 VW Jetta TDI
Now things get nuts. I have a problem.
  • 2010 VW Jetta Sportwagen
  • 2010 VW Sportwagen TDI
  • 2011 VW Tiguan
  • 2012 VW Touareg TDI
  • 2013 VW Touareg TDI
  • 2014 VW Touareg TDI
  • 2012 VW Golf R
  • 2015 VW Touareg TDI
  • 2015 VW Touareg gasser
  • 2015 VW GTI
  • 2016 VW Touareg TDI
And what I currently own:
  • 2017 VW GTI
  • 2017 VW Golf Alltrack
It's a sickness.
Click to expand...

But there has to be a reason you are buying more than one a year.

Oh, I see you're problem: VW's ;)
 
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#156
Robroy said:
But there has to be a reason you are buying more than one a year.

Oh, I see you're problem: VW's ;)
Click to expand...

The '79 Scirocco burned oil and had fuel injection problems. The '89? Jetta's timing belt broke at 30K miles and ruined the engine. VW paid for most of the repair even though it was out of warranty.

The VWs from 2009 to now have been very good, mostly just a few annoyances. Nothing major. They're a blast to drive.
 
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#157
Robroy said:
But there has to be a reason you are buying more than one a year.

Oh, I see you're problem: VW's ;)
Click to expand...

Out of all the cars/trucks on my list, the most I ever paid for any of them was $4000..... the 81 Camaro I still own (purchased in 1985) and the 98 K1500 I still own (purchased in 2006). The rest were anywhere from free to $600 and some were carried home in boxes or dropped off by a flat bed.

You will note the lack of Euro cars on my list.
 
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#159
Mike N said:
I could try to compile a list but this may take some time.... There will be nothing in bold because I've never bought new.

72 LeSabre
81 Camaro - Still own
74 Maverick
78 Blazer
68 SS396 ElCamino - Still own
79 Blazer - Still own
81 Camaro
79 Z/28 - Still own
79 Z/28
75 Royal Monaco
81 Aries
91 Cavalier
93 Cavalier
91 Cavalier
94 Cavalier
95 Cavalier
93 Cavalier
05 Cavalier
95 Lumina
86 Blazer
73 Blazer
74 Blazer
91 Blazer
89 Blazer
79 Blazer
69 Blazer
85 ElCamino
85 Monte Carlo
95 Cherokee
93 Grand Cherokee
84 K10
79 K20
80 K20
69 C10
04 Forester - Still own
13 Forester - Still own
04 Vibe
04 Saturn Vue
99 Grand Caravan
07 Cobalt - Still own
06 Cobalt
98 K1500 - Still own
98 Ram 1500 - Still own
94 Colt
01 Saturn SL
01 Exploder
79 Impala
86 Caprice


I'm sure there another 5 or so that I'm forgetting. I left motorcycles/sleds/ATV's and trailers off of the list.
Click to expand...


The quantity of Cavaliers is a bit disturbing. I assume most of them were for parts. :D
 
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#160
hondo4life said:
The quantity of Cavaliers is a bit disturbing. I assume most of them were for parts. :D
Click to expand...

Most were el cheapo or free winter beaters, two on the list I bought to fix and resell (one of the 94's and the 05). I really liked the Cavalier and was sad when GM discontinued making them.

Of the 50 cars on my list (I just counted them) I registered and drove well over 40 of them....
the 69 Blazer, 74 Blazer and one of the 94 Cavaliers were the only parts cars.
 
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