About 4 hours away...... :yesg:
Printable View
About 4 hours away...... :yesg:
The Atom is supposed to be a great car, but it's essentially a track-day car, with no real-world usability. Might as well get a Radical! :eek:
Oh, btw, on the subject of power/weight, check THIS out:
http://www.freestreamcars.com/
Wait wait wait, I think the context here may be confused. I would like to keep the VX, if possible, I would just like a commuter car. If a new commuter will not allow me to have 2 cars, then I would probably be willing to let her go (well, I would say willing.... I will start kicking and shouting). I am hoping to keep it as a weekend car, as I think I stated before.... I dont feel like scrolling back. :p
Saturn Sky.... have yet to see one anywhere other than pics.
Scooby WRX.... I am selfish with this one. Wouldnt get one unless it was an older style STi. I dont like the new, rounded off contours. I have an internal fear that used STi have been ragged on HARSHLY.
Oh, I am not doing this for a "predominantly fuel efficient car".... I am only "considering" the options and I am not looking for 512 miles to the gallon. I could care less if it gets the BEST mpg, I just NEED better than what the VX gets. ;) SO, stick them Hybrids up ye bung.... until they look nicer, I wont even let a guest park one in my driveway. :p
Understand you as I've had "wandering car eye" quite a bit lately. My problem is, it's among my own "herd"! With two VX's in the family it was hard to make the decision to part with one, especiallly the first one that was bought new. I pay it off next week and that makes having it up for grabs even harder! :( But, if I ever want to do the turbo-diesel swap on the IronMan the funds have to be available. Good Isuzu diesels aren't cheap. There's a Cummins 4-cylinder that'll fit and mate to the stock transmission, but at 200+ HP and over 500 lbs. of torque I'm afraid the 4L30E won't last long.
In any case, you've got to determine what's going to be the best fit for your daily needs and still make you feel good driving it. Call that the "fun factor". I'm working on 3 replacements for the Dragon as a daily driver: 1982 Mercedes 300D, 1988 Merkur XR4Ti and a 1986 Toyota MR2. The 300D and XR4Ti will get done first since they've got the most space, as I can't fit a server and router, or big printer in the MR2 which is the kind of stuff I haul around for work. Since I've also got an antique semi my truckish hauling needs are already met, although I get funny looks at Home Depot when making a lumber run with a tandem-axle cab-over sleeper. :eek:
So if you have occasional needs where having large cargo area (not necessarily cavernous, but tall) is handy then probably the RAV4 is your car. Toyota quality and service goes a long way, not to mention the significant boosts the RAV4 platform has received during it's life. I've always liked the RAV4 for it's simplicity and balance of features, and enjoy the opportunity to drive one.
If economy is a goal, then take a look at the VW Jetta TDI. The new styling is very sharp and they're comfortable, plus the handling qualities have been reviewed very favoritively as sporty. The fold-down rear seats offer fair storage. The power is impressive (TORQUE!) and a friend with a new Golf TDI is getting near 40MPG in excessively aggressive driving. I followed him to lunch one day in the VX and had a hard time keeping up from stops.
As for rattles, sqeaks and general maintenance issues? Well, no vehicle will be without them. The sign that they annoy you belies another issue which is your subconcious desire to move on. Believe me, as a former automotive restorer you can find something wrong with any new vehicle if you look enough. When you're in one day-to-day things you initially didn't notice during the "honeymoon phase" become apparent and repetitive. Then you'll soon be where you are now. ;)
For what it's worth, my two centavos.
Sorry Gary, you posted this while I was typing my log-winded reply above. :rolleyes: Your call on the WRX is a bit mis-informed. I'm real involved with the Subaru community with rally and you'd be surprised how many grandmas are driving WRX's. Take a look at the earlier 2.5RS from around 95 or so. Basically a 2-door WRX and a true sleeper plus gobs of fun to drive. The nice thing about the Subarus is most stuff bolt-swaps between models. So you can get a basic Impreza and start slapping WRX stuff on it as you desire. In any case, there are a lot of good WRX's out there that haven't been jockeyed around hard. A good Subie resource (especially the forums) is here: www.nasioc.comQuote:
Originally Posted by WormGod
I loved my Mazda Miata, super handling, great engine and mpg, only problem was wimpy stock spark plug wires on early models and mechanics leaning on the headlamp doors. No nooks and crannys to wash.
If you need to haul more on a daily basis, Joe's Golf TDI is a good choice, I put KYB shocks on all four corners of my diesel Rabbit, and handling was great, 54 mpg, unreal amount of storage with the rear seat folded, great visability, new long blocks less than $1,000.
With a good used car as a driver, you can always drive the VX when it's time for belts and hoses, or if you need to haul more.
I drove a monster truck for 30 years, but without these two drivers, I would have died from the gas pump, the savings on the rabbit, made it a FREE car!
You can even run on Bio-diesel! As a protest on Big Bush Oil.
Good luck on that F1 Radical, even Jay Leno would have a hard time Buying his way onto the waiting list. But to dream, Powerball?
I wouldnt go as far as "mis-informed", rather than "my" first hand experience, heh. I know quite a few STi (not just the WRX S)owners here, 2 of which are married and drive a his-and-hers, and 100% of them rag the living hell out of their rides. I am not saying ALL, just the ones I know. I would love to have one, I just wouldnt buy theirs, heh. So no, I am not speaking for the grandma's and the owners who "respect" their rides enough not to kill them off fast.... just the clowns I know.
For lunch today, I went and test drove another H3. I saw a green one and decided to stop to check it out. I drove one previously and thought it was just, average. For some reason, it felt better this time around. Maybe it's because I sorta knew what to expect, but regardless, it was not bad at all. But, it doesnt solve the "looking for better mileage than the VX" issue, heh. It is priced to sell though.
The search continues....
Just might check out some new STi's again for the hell of it. No work this weekend. We will see.
G35 coupe.
Damn seksy car.
let us know if the ebony becomes FOR SALE..........
I love the G35 coupe. My neighbor has one. Only downsides are no manual transmission :confused: and EVERYONE in Miami has one... I'd rather get a black 350z convertible with track pack. From behind, it looks almost like a Spyker C8 :drool:Quote:
Originally Posted by Maugan_VX
Maybe the new saturn sky?
Looks interesting.
Did I hear someone say WRX??
I loved mine, but I agree, the new Imprezas are ugly.
And the Impreza chassis was designed to be beat on, if it has been driven hard, it can definately take it. Weak spots are the transmission (on non-STI models), and the rear differential (on STIs). I've been out of the community for a year, so a few other things might have popped up.
As for reliability, the stock '02 WRX dynos @165whp, mine laid down 362whp, through the stock clutch and tranny for over 40k miles without a hiccup (until the day I sold it). I thank Shiv at Vishnu Tuning for that.
Handling is outstanding, once you have enough power to negate the understeer. I've tailed a buddy in his Superformance S1 through the Hocking Hills region (where C&D does its roadtests) without too much difficulty.
Bad roads are a non-issue with decent tires. 8 inches of wheel travel on a 99" wheel base = jumping machine. On icy roads you can generally boost with impunity, if you get sideways, a tap on the gas will straighten you right out.
Heck, I'm suddenly thinking about going back. At least the VX has the ground clearance that I need up here- in Maryland that may not be a requirement.
The older (Ver. 6) Imprezas were noticeably flexier than the V.7 and up Imprezas. The 4-door is stiffer and lighter, but the 2-door 2.5 RS looks better. I've seen half-a-dozen EJ20Ts (WRX motors) retrofitted into the older body Imprezas. Very hot, and semi-legal in most places.
The Subaru Impreza WRX is quite simply one of the greatest sports cars of our time. I'm sure that not everyone thinks so, but if they really look into it, their minds will change.
Well, I'm looking to get a VX, so I couldn't imagine what you're going through. However, if you're looking to get a comuter car, I'd suggest a Mazda6, or an Accord or something. A simple 4-door sedan will get pretty good gas mileage, and then keep the VX. I hate to hear that people are getting rid of them when I'm just falling in love with them.
Peace.
Quote:
Originally Posted by transio
Um, you can get a G coupe with a six speed. Several of my friends have them...
Just do an ebaymotors search on the G35...lots of hits with a standard.
Forget the Elise...wait a year or two for the Europa to come out and then just import it from Europe. Sooo hot.
SRCHN
taking a trip soon to see a Caterham CSR260 I've had a love affair, of sorts, with a VR for some time now.(and wifey thought a grown 6'4" man looked silly in a Miata...or rather, getting out of it) 260hp-1300 lbs....0-60...3.2sec. 155mph top speed, (plenty,I'm not as young and brash as before) formula car handling. Now THAT'S a gas saver. But then I wear prickly cactus underwear too. STI alternative- I've had access to a mitsi Evo RS for the last few weeks. Found it way more "dialed in" than any of the stocker WRX's I've ever driven...STI or no.I think it would be a dandy commuter. Disect traffic like a scalpel with room in back for the little primates in the family...sort of a home school physics lesson every day....but then that's me(see undergarment reference above)