Starting to look at new car options (1:1)

[jayjay283]

Originally Posted by lincpimp

Auuug, VW were designed by meth addicts and assembled by double jointed monkeys!!!

If there was one mfg that I would never buy it would be VW, nothing lasts on those cars, worse than saturn from what I have worked on. Parts are expensive, and in limited supply as well. The new beetle is possibly the worst car I have ever ridden in, and that is saying something...

LOL DICK




my car wonder if theres any meth lost in there

[rootar]

Originally Posted by jayjay283

LOL DICK




my car wonder if theres any meth lost in there

I love it! Now that i got my insurance check back from my nissan i am in the market for a type4 Jetta 01-04 diesel at there going price around here i should have a good 2-3g left to dump under the hood turn the little 90hp 212ft/lb of tq into and 250hp 400+ ft/lbs of tq (at 1900 rpm btw) MONSTER.... if youve never rode in a really hopped up older diesel jetta you have no idea how much fun they are and you can still get 40-50mpg

as for the new car i would look into the new mini-s or w/e they are FUN to drive, kinda like an over sized gokart on crack....

[shaunjohnson]

Originally Posted by lincpimp

Auuug, VW were designed by meth addicts and assembled by double jointed monkeys!!!

If there was one mfg that I would never buy it would be VW, nothing lasts on those cars, worse than saturn from what I have worked on. Parts are expensive, and in limited supply as well. The new beetle is possibly the worst car I have ever ridden in, and that is saying something...

wait on...my dream car happens to be a 1972 VW beetle.
the thing was so well put together it floats!! piece of pie to work on and very simple!!
need i mention it was also the first car made with the aid of a wind tunnel.
sure, the man who demanded them to be made was a little whacked, but the car itself is pure genius! IMO

the newer VW's are the same as the rest of modern cars IMO. not much unique about them.
at least you can fix a beetle, rather than being forced for fork out um-deen-dozen $$$ for a new black box!!

[gixxer]

Originally Posted by BrianG

1: I definitely don't want a truck or a conventional wagon. I don't consider a hatchback a "wagon" even though it is basically the same when you get down to it.

2: I would like a decent amount of power. Something along the lines of 200+ HP and equal torque in a mid-size sedan or sport compact. Turbo is nice because I can get decent mileage as long as I am gentle on the pedal, yet have the power when I want it. However, I am a little leary about the added complexity and increased material stresses that forced induction produces. I'd like longevity. This is probably the main reason why I would not choose the Speed3.

I like the speed 3 but if you need something a little bigger you might want to check out a dodge caliber.

[Metallover]

Of the two cars, I'd go for the mazda. It seems like everyone likes their mazda.

[shaunjohnson]

1987 nissan vanette like mine
full on 67 BHP diesel
40mpg
top speed of 77mph


oooohhhh yeah!!

and i also HATE off-road cars with 20" rims...WHO THE HELL IS GOING TO NEED A HUMMER'S TORSEN DIFFS IN THE CITY!!???

i also hate modern utes (SUV, you know...small, not highlift trucks) you put half a tonn in them and they look like they are carying 3!!
my van towed 2 tonn on rock on a trailer and it hardly knew it was there!
who in the world wants a ute that can do 200mph!!!
as the the F series of trucks...there isnt much the average F250 in our little town can do that my crap box van cant...i mean what the hell!

the world has gone mad when it comes to cars IMO

but i like the mazda (not that weve ever had one)...we are shopping for a new small car at the moment, toyota never lets us down, but the mazda was so much smoother. drive by wire is a let down though.

[PBO]

Originally Posted by shaunjohnson

who in the world wants a ute that can do 200mph!!!

I do...

[shaunjohnson]

Originally Posted by PBO

I do...

why?
arnt you form aus too? we can use that kind of speed anywhere legaly anyway (it would be kinda cool if we could)


OH OH OH!!! GET AN ORIGINAL MINI COOPER!!!!
i got to drive one of them on hoon night here (friday night)
sooo funny to watch the people who own pimped out holden commodores go reound corners...they have to slow down...but the mini can stay at the speed limit while taking the turn, it's like trying to push over a brick from the bottom edge

my dad build a new diff for his mini, so 1st gear was same as 2nd used to be, 3rd little lower than 4th used to be, effectively giving him a whole extra gear, then he re-built the engine to suit it. high torque cam, not any of this high reving stuff.

end result, after a few 300psi compression ratio problems (piston muck up, silly thing fired on the compression gague and blew it up!), was a mini cooper that could cruise at 100kph while just doing a tick over 2500rpm so it'd hum along quite nicely.

[PBO]

Originally Posted by shaunjohnson

why?
arnt you form aus too? we can use that kind of speed anywhere legaly anyway (it would be kinda cool if we could)

Yeah, I am

Every car (except maybe your van! ) can exceed the speed limit, you've just gotta know where you can get away with it on the roads. I have a few favoured places where there's no traffic (single carriageway), no speed cameras or hidy holes for the wallopers to get you & hello 200-250kph

I'd love to have a rip in a Maloo...it'd suck to own one though, couldn't take the kids with me!!

[shaunjohnson]

man you havent felt speed/power till you have been in the MANette

yes against the law is all very well and can be fun. like the only straight 3km strip we have here in tas...permenant speed camera in the middle, but someone has ALWAYS painted over it's lenzes .

but one of those utes arnt much good for doing anything more than the grocery shopping or going fast.
what is the point in owning a car like that?

the trouble is...not-so-fast-cars follow the same principle as the fast ones, high revs, more HP, turbo's, high torque band.

i find it funny when a mates van (VW turbo diesel) has to rev in order to get the turbo spinning just to pull the rubber duckie up the boat ramp.
his engine is bigger, more pwerfull and has a turbo...
i can idle up the boat ramp with my crap box.
hell i hardly ever use 1st gear because it's easier to start off from a rest in second.

i still think engines have gone backwards...but dont worry...i designed a new engine that can take any fuel, from diesel to hydrogen and produce a better torque/power band, anyone wanna loan me a few thousand to help develop it?

[lincpimp]

They are nice cars, just do not ever try to take anything apart on them. I swear that vw designers were raised by wolves or something. You could take apart every other brand out there and you would be lost when it came time to get a vw door handle out. I have done it for close to 20 yrs, and it took me almost 2 hrs to get a new jetta door skin off, and it bolts on... They just seem very awkward in their designs, not very elegant. Maybe just me. I am sure if I raced a sti with a vw I would be able to see the merrit of owning one...

Keep looking for that meth JJ, god knows you need some!

[snellemin]

You will need to beat my nissan 720 pickup which had a mild engine rebuilt at 380K miles. I still have the truck, but don't drive it anymore. Waiting for Lutach massive brushless controller for a E-Nissan conversion.

[BrianG]

Bringing up this old thread to post my new baby (finally): 2011 Kia Optima SX T-GDi

I know what you're saying "Really?? Kia?". If you would have told me last week that I was going to get a Kia, I would have laughed in your face. I remember the days doing car audio and remote starter installations swearing when working on a Kia/Hyundai. They were cheaply built crap heaps.

Judging by the age of this thread, you can see I've been looking around for quite a while waiting until my current car ('05 Mazda 3) was paid off since I had to take a loan off it to replace flood-damaged appliances items last year. I've looked at lots of vehicles from the Smart ForTwo to a full-size truck, but couldn't find anything that really did it for me.

Then, last Friday, I took my step-son to his football practice and had some time to kill. So, hearing a radio commercial for Kia saying they are liquidating 2011 stock, I decided to take a look. As soon as a I saw this car, I was hooked. Then, the test drive made it a slam-dunk.

This is the fully loaded turbo version, with all the bells and whistles (proximity ignition, NAV, rear camera, power everything, heated and cooled seats, panoramic sunroof, HID headlights, LED taillights, traction control, bluetooth connectivity for calls and streaming music from your cell, etc, etc). The tiny 2.0L 4 banger does surprisingly well power-wise while getting 26-28mpg combined city/HW while being quiet, but for passing, that turbo kicks it up to 275HP/270ft-lbs torque; no problem off the line or passing! There's no discernible turbo lag and it shifts very smoothly. Not a 'Vette to be sure, but does nicely as a family car that's fun to drive.

I did my usual "kick-the-tires" routine and it passed everything: I can lean on the flatter parts of the metal and nothing flexes/dents (try it sometime; you'd be surprised), the gaps for all the seams are consistent (not 1mm gap at one end and 4mm gap at the other), everything is secure (no slop on any of the interior parts like seats, center console, etc when moved by hand), doors have that nice solid "thud" without any rattle, etc.

It came with the "high-end" Infinity sound system. It's "ok", but not high-end by my standards. Still, it sounds decent. Since the radio doubles as the interface for the reversing camera and navigation, I don't see myself upgrading. Besides, I'm over the time where I "needed" 1,000w sound system to satisfy me.

[snellemin]

Body style looks sporty/aggressive. Nothing like the old Hyundai crap.

[TexasSP]

I have been giving it up to Kia/Hyundai for a while. They used to be junk, that has changed. Their quality and ratings are at the top of the charts now.

It's funny, I heard a saying that if Toyota and Honda stay up at night worrying about anything, it's Kia/Hyundai.

Good looking car their Brian! Congrats!