Automobile Thread

[Trombonista]

Discuss cars here.

The Chicago Auto Show starts tomorrow. The Trib detailed some of the more interesting models, including a Cadillac EV, a four-door Fiat 500, a Kia luxury sedan, and a more fuel-efficient Corvette.

I have work tomorrow and Sunday (and probably Monday too), as well as a busy Tuesday morning, so I doubt I'll be able to go to the auto show. Still, I'd love to read more about the vehicles exhibited!

 

[The Hunter]

Oooooh, you're the last person I expected to start this thread.

This was technically the first truck I ever owned.

A beautiful 1997 Suburban that we got for $1,200. The engine was actually in pretty good shape except for the fuel pump, as the previous owner had it sitting in a garage for 3 months. The main concern aside from that was the transmission which began to go out half a year after we got it. Before we could get it fixed, my asshole brother burned out the engine on his way to school. It was almost a year ago (it happened near the end of March, and the whole situation had me on edge for quite some time). The truck I got after that (and which is in my possession right now) is my grandfather's '93 Silverado.

No plates for maximum efficiency.

Then there's my grandfather's '81 Suburban. Drove it a few times and considered purchasing it off of him, but it's been declared a hazard and is the definitive "screeching metal deathtrap" people hear so much about.

No airbags for maximum efficiency.

Okay, in all fairness, the white truck doesn't have airbags either.

I have a lot more pictures of the brown suburban and the white truck, but I'm gonna leave those out lest I flood this thread with pictures of my trucks. Right now I drive a 2003 Hyundai Elantra which is falling apart. Still apparently not as dangerous to drive as the white truck or the old suburban, but still ready to break apart at any given moment.

 

[KatsuKitty]

I drive an 01 S80 with about 203,000 miles. It's not really falling apart or ready to die though, as I've taken spotless (and expensive) care of it. The interior is a bit cracked and ripped, and there's some dents, that's about it.

 

[Stratochu]

You all know this by now, but I drive a '72 Chevy van in roughly the same shape as someguywithnoname's grandpa's Suburban.

 

[Grand Number of Pounds]

I drive an '04 sport red Grand Am.

The fuel pump went out on it a few months ago. Other than that, I've had no real problems with it.

 

[Saney]

I have a Toyota Hilux. The air conditioning doesn't work, one of the seat belts is way too loose and the other one jams.

 

[The Hunter]

Any Prius owners here (or anyone who's ever set foot in one)? My dad's friend owns one, and we took it to the movies last summer. I gotta admit, it looked real fancy and all, but I could not possibly fit in that thing comfortably. Although I wouldn't mind owning one as a daily driver (as long as I get to keep my truck for the weekends).

 

[Grand Number of Pounds]

A guy I know from Toastmasters owns a Prius. I didn't ask him for a ride, though. He's an Indian guy who was almost in an arranged marriage, so he's a pretty interesting guy.

He said there are warnings on the dashboard to remind the driver that the car makes no noise below 5 mph.

 

[The Hunter]

Yeah, I swear, you won't even notice the things turn over, they're so quiet. It's a shame they start at $24,000. The reason I love my big noisy trucks is because I got them all used at such low prices. (one of which was free). Although I'd much rather pay $24,000 for a car that uses hardly any gas at all than a new truck for $28,000 that uses five times as much. :/ But in the near future should I get a job, I'm just gonna get a beater piece of shit for myself and save the rest for food and tuition.

 

[cypocryphy]

I stomp on '58 Corvettes and I don't even care.

Spoiler

 

[GFYS]

My biggest client has a fleet of Prius... Priuses? Prii? Whatever, you know what I mean.

I want to hate it, but it's really not too lousy. It handles well in the snow, has decent pickup, is a modestly comfortable ride for a Toyota (not a fan in general), but all that nice polite shit goes flying out the window the minute anything needs servicing. Excluding really simple stuff, almost every other repair is absurdly expensive - even with a fleet discount. The fleet gets smaller every 6 months. We've just started replacing them with Hyundai Sonata Hybrids. I haven't driven 'em, but I've felt their lineup since 2010 has been pretty good. I rode in a Hyundai Equus, during an overseas trip, and it was pretty pimp.

Personally, I have a fondness for German and Swedish (RIP Saab) cars.

 

[The Hunter]

My biggest client has a fleet of Prius... Priuses? Prii? Whatever, you know what I mean.

I want to hate it, but it's really not too lousy. It handles well in the snow, has decent pickup, is a modestly comfortable ride for a Toyota (not a fan in general), but all that nice polite shit goes flying out the window the minute anything needs servicing. Excluding really simple stuff, almost every other repair is absurdly expensive - even with a fleet discount. The fleet gets smaller every 6 months. We've just started replacing them with Hyundai Sonata Hybrids. I haven't driven 'em, but I've felt their lineup since 2010 has been pretty good. I rode in a Hyundai Equus, during an overseas trip, and it was pretty pimp.

Personally, I have a fondness for German and Swedish (RIP Saab) cars.

Yeah, sizing issues aside, it wasn't that bad of a ride. But if you want to get into the mechanical stuff... yeah, no. I hear it's horrible with that kind of stuff. Hell, I remember my friend's father's friend had to go out of town to get his fixed because nobody in town knew how to work with the damn things.

If we're talking countries, I (obviously) prefer American cars (namely Chevrolet/GMC because trucks). German and Italian are nice too, but I never had a thing for Asian cars. Although I always did like that Toyota, who sells the Prius, also has the Tundra, a big bad pickup truck that gets on average 15 miles to the gallon.

 

[CatParty]

I haven't driven in over a year (DUI hit a cop car) what would be a good used car to consider?

 

[Stratochu]

Subaru Legacy, Outback or Impreza, Volvo 240 and 850, Volkswagen Passat, Honda Accord, Acura Legend, Nissan Maxima, Mazda Millenia, Toyota Camry and Lexus ES300 are all good choices, CatParty.

I'm looking at buying another classic van (1970 Ford Econoline short-wheelbase window van, light green with dark green vinyl front bucket seats and middle bench, V8/automatic), since my current van has no provisions for rear seating and is in comparable condition to The Hunter/someguywithnoname's grandpa's Suburban (possibly even as bad as Son-Chu), and I have 3 roommates now.

 

[darkhorse816]

In my Senior Year of high school, my Grandpa gave me his Toyota Avalon. It was a 96, I think. I nicknamed it Frankie, very few got the reference.

My dream car would have to be the Ferrari from Ferris Bueller's Day Off--only with automatic instead of stick.

 

[Horse Boots]

I drive a 2006 Honda Accord with around 110,000 miles on it. My parents both drive Hondas too. We switched after having really bad luck with American cars... I don't know if I'll ever buy an American car myself.

 

[TL 611]

I've just turned 17 and got my provisional license, and being a spoilt child my parents just bought me one of these as a starter car

Spoiler

A Suzuki Alto, its a a cheap piece of shit but at least it's not 10 years old its only got 7000 odd miles on it too
Other cars on my driveway (though not mine, my parents')

Spoiler

Our posh new car, the Mercedes SLK 250, in that colour too . Proper red convertible, black interior with red stitching... I fucking love that car so much).

Spoiler

Nowhere near as exotic or posh, but Cryslers are fucking comfy. The fact that i can lie down and chill along the back seat is fucking awesome. I could live in this beast

 

[The Hunter]

I've just turned 17 and got my provisional license, and being a spoilt child my parents just bought me one of these as a starter car

Spoiler

A Suzuki Alto, its a a cheap piece of shit but at least it's not 10 years old its only got 7000 odd miles on it too
Other cars on my driveway (though not mine, my parents')

Spoiler

Our posh new car, the Mercedes SLK 250, in that colour too . Proper red convertible, black interior with red stitching... I fucking love that car so much).

Spoiler

Nowhere near as exotic or posh, but Cryslers are fucking comfy. The fact that i can lie down and chill along the back seat is fucking awesome. I could live in this beast

Aaaaaaand just when I start thinking I'm becoming privileged...

We have three cars, but two are used pieces of shit, and one's always a lease (but I think my mom bought this last one, putting herself further into debt). I've already posted them in this thread, but I'll list them off again:

• 1993 Chevrolet Silverado that shuts off spontaneously while driving and more commonly when you put it in reverse for two seconds. I used to drive this thing every day.
• 2003 Hyundai Elantra with CV joints that will give out at any second. The steering is completely fucked, acceleration jerks around as well, causing the car to not move and then take off like a mother fucker, and the gas tank is damaged, so it takes roughly an hour to get $20 of gas in there. I drive this thing every day.
• 2011 Honda Accord that my mom bought as a present for herself when she finally got a stable job. I rarely drive this one, but mostly on coffee runs or when the Elantra or truck are blocked by it.

Fortunately, we still have enough money for school and food, and that's really what counts.

 

[Stratochu]

So there are 3 cars and a motorcycle here now (my '72 Chevy van, my sweetbolt's 1998 Chrysler Sebring coupe, and a 1999 Kia Sportage & older Yamaha Virago belonging to other roommates), looking to add a pickup truck now too. I'm thinking '71 Ford F250.

 

[The Hunter]

So there are 3 cars and a motorcycle here now (my '72 Chevy van, my sweetbolt's 1998 Chrysler Sebring coupe, and a 1999 Kia Sportage & older Yamaha Virago belonging to other roommates), looking to add a pickup truck now too. I'm thinking '71 Ford F250.

'70's were my favorite years for Ford. Suffice to say, I'd never set foot in any Ford made past '96. I'm drawn to older trucks, but I wouldn't mind owning a newer Chevy or Dodge (even if Dodge is just the worst).