Author Topic: The Garage (Read 118362 times)

Nathan · « **on:** January 25, 2010, 12:35:58 am »

I figured maybe we could use a place to talk cars (and trucks). Stuff like what you drive, auto news, new models, questions, tips, etc.

I'll start off with my current car. I drive a 2007 Mazda 3s touring hatchback. I think it's a great car. The 2.3 litre 4 cylinder is plenty peppy with decent mileage. I also opted for a row-your-own gearbox with 3 pedals, the way it should be IMO

Minty Fresh · « **Reply #1 on:** January 25, 2010, 07:59:39 am »

I thought this would be a thread about the great bar in the Dupont Circle area called "The Garage." I saw one of my favorite Jazz bands there with only about 150 people. Royal Crown Revue. Great concert and got to chill with the band after the show where my drunk-ass wife made a fool of herself trying to flirt with the drummer.

The Chief · « **Reply #2 on:** January 25, 2010, 09:02:55 am »

I drive an ice cream truck

blue911 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 25, 2010, 09:09:40 am »

Minty Fresh · « **Reply #4 on:** January 25, 2010, 09:19:47 am »

2007 Saturn Aura.

Extremely disappointed that GM is dumping the Saturn brand. I got a letter in the mail asking to stay with GM when it comes time to buy a new one. Considering looking elsewhere based on principle.

I absolutely love the car.

Nathan · « **Reply #5 on:** January 25, 2010, 10:28:17 am »

GM and Ford finally got the right idea. Bring us the well engineered stuff you sell in Europe instead of the junk you think we want.

Saturn was doing that for GM, with the Astra being pretty much a straight rebadge of the Opel Astra, and the Aura a slightly tweeked version of the Opel Insignia. Here is the 2010 Insignia, and thus what a new Aura would have looked like:

You can still get the car, as the new Buick Regal though.

4 cylinder only engine lineup, including the GM 2.0 turbo with 260 hp and perhaps a hottened up model called the GS. GNX reborn?

Ali the Baseball Cat · « **Reply #6 on:** January 25, 2010, 10:29:16 am »

'97 Toyota Rav4...going on 300,000 km on the odometer (it has a metric odometer, since it was bought in Canada). Great car in deep snow (Engineer Pass in Colorado in a blizzard was a piece of cake), and ghetto enough so it's never been broken into in the city. Gonna drive it until it croaks, hopefully 10 years from now.

DPMOmaha · « **Reply #7 on:** January 25, 2010, 10:58:30 am »

99 Mazda Protege DX. As basic as it gets but it's never given me any problems. Had to work on the brakes a bit but otherwise is in great shape...or so I'm told by people who know cars. I've litterally driven that thing all over the country with no cruise control.

sportsfan882 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 25, 2010, 01:06:11 pm »

1999 Chevy Trail Blazer. Have had it for 5 years and never a problem (not even a flat tire).

Leather interior. 4WD. I love SUVs. I hate being cramped in tiny cars.

DPMOmaha · « **Reply #9 on:** January 25, 2010, 01:14:27 pm »

I'm probably going SUV with my next vehicle, but that's about 3 or 4 years down the road probably. Hopefully they'll be a bit more efficient by then.

tomterp · « **Reply #10 on:** January 25, 2010, 02:12:40 pm »

2000 BMW 323i w/sport suspension, 5-speed.

Bought it used in 2005 with 61k, now have over 153k on it. Damned expensive to fix, but runs great and a real joy to drive twisting roads. Right now, the driver side window mechanism is broken, it's going to cost me over $400 to repair it. I know because I've replaced all 4 window mechanisms once already.

DPMOmaha · « **Reply #11 on:** January 25, 2010, 02:18:36 pm »

I'd suck it up, if it were me, there are a lot of things I'd rather spend $400 on. Either that or tell the dog he can't sit in my lap and stick his head out the window anymore.

The Chief · « **Reply #12 on:** January 25, 2010, 02:22:48 pm »

The interior door handle housings in my old car were cracked and nearly broken to the point of not working anymore (nearly) but they cost $100 apiece to replace, so I just left them that way

saltydad · « **Reply #13 on:** January 25, 2010, 02:43:57 pm »

1993 Geo Prizm (same as Toyota Corolla). Beginning to finally show its age. Will probably have to replace it next year. Prior cars- 84 and 93 Subaru wagons. Loved 'em! When I was young, had a 56 Chevy and a 63 TR3A.

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #14 on:** January 25, 2010, 02:46:56 pm »

Quote from: saltydad on January 25, 2010, 02:43:57 pm

Geo Prizm (same as Toyota Corolla).

That was my first car. I will always have found memories of it plus thing wouldn't die. My wife's father is still using the one they bought for her older sister when she was in high school.

CJames0569 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 25, 2010, 04:38:44 pm »

1997 Chevy S-10 w/ 150k+ that finally met its end this past week when I was hit by a cop (his fault, he was turning left in front of me at a stop light and lost control and spun into me). Now I'm looking for a new car, something cheap and used since I just got out of college and money is tight.

tomterp · « **Reply #16 on:** January 25, 2010, 05:27:28 pm »

Quote from: DPMOmaha on January 25, 2010, 02:18:36 pm

I'd suck it up, if it were me, there are a lot of things I'd rather spend $400 on. Either that or tell the dog he can't sit in my lap and stick his head out the window anymore.

It would be nice to be able to roll down my window at a drive-in ATM now and then. Thank God for EZ-Pass.

PANatsFan · « **Reply #17 on:** January 25, 2010, 05:56:23 pm »

Quote from: DPMOmaha on January 25, 2010, 01:14:27 pm

I'm probably going SUV with my next vehicle, but that's about 3 or 4 years down the road probably. Hopefully they'll be a bit more efficient by then.

I hear hybrid Tahoes are fantastic. There's hybrid Highlanders and Escapes if you want to go smaller.

DPMOmaha · « **Reply #18 on:** January 25, 2010, 05:58:39 pm »

Quote from: tomterp on January 25, 2010, 05:27:28 pm

It would be nice to be able to roll down my window at a drive-in ATM now and then. Thank God for EZ-Pass.

Just punch it out and go with the trashbag or the Nascar style mesh thing. You should be able to take those up and down pretty easy when you go to the ATM or McDonalds.

DPMOmaha · « **Reply #19 on:** January 25, 2010, 05:59:24 pm »

Quote from: PANatsFan on January 25, 2010, 05:56:23 pm

I hear hybrid Tahoes are fantastic. There's hybrid Highlanders and Escapes if you want to go smaller.

I'd probably go mid-size. I'll start researching those when I get closer to the purchase, but I'll keep this in mind.

Nathan · « **Reply #20 on:** January 25, 2010, 06:00:00 pm »

Quote from: tomterp on January 25, 2010, 05:27:28 pm

It would be nice to be able to roll down my window at a drive-in ATM now and then. Thank God for EZ-Pass.

My old Cavalier had power windows. I could get them down but they wouldn't go back up, the motor would short out after they went up like an inch. Then I had to wait for a few minutes, get them to go up another inch, and repeat the process to get them the whole way back up.

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #21 on:** January 25, 2010, 06:00:43 pm »

Quote from: PANatsFan on January 25, 2010, 05:56:23 pm

I hear hybrid Tahoes are fantastic. There's hybrid Highlanders and Escapes if you want to go smaller.

they take a while to pay for themselves (8 to 301 years depending on price of gas and mileage)

http://hybridreview.blogspot.com/2008/03/how-long-does-it-take-to-make-up.html

terrible site (I read about the study when it came out and am too lazy to find something better)

UMDNats · « **Reply #22 on:** January 25, 2010, 06:01:12 pm »

When I'm not at school, a 2009 Ford Fusion.

Before that, I drove a 2007 Audi A4. That car was totaled in an accident 6 months ago (I wasn't driving or anything), though.

imref · « **Reply #23 on:** January 25, 2010, 06:01:51 pm »

Quote from: Nathan on January 25, 2010, 10:28:17 am

GM and Ford finally got the right idea. Bring us the well engineered stuff you sell in Europe instead of the junk you think we want.

Saturn was doing that for GM, with the Astra being pretty much a straight rebadge of the Opel Astra, and the Aura a slightly tweeked version of the Opel Insignia. Here is the 2010 Insignia, and thus what a new Aura would have looked like:

You can still get the car, as the new Buick Regal though.

4 cylinder only engine lineup, including the GM 2.0 turbo with 260 hp and perhaps a hottened up model called the GS. GNX reborn?

Are they continuing the Pontiac G6 under any other badge? That was my next car until they killed Pontiac.

The Chief · « **Reply #24 on:** January 25, 2010, 06:03:56 pm »

The windows in my old car all went down at different speeds. All the stereo speakers had dry-rotted, so I removed them. Probably helped prevent my car getting broken into when I lived in Baltimore since you could actually see through the windows that I had nothing worth stealing