So, we’ve recently returned from a trip back to Phoenix to retrieve the rest of our belongings. Because said belongings occupied about 22 cases (plus shelving), we rented a larger vehicle than either of the ones we own.
It happened to be a Ford Expedition. Large enough and comfortable enough. Until.
With just about 15,000 miles on it, the check engine light came on. OK, no big deal. Sure, we were still 10 hours from home, but, hey, no problem. It was an orange ight, after all, not red.
Then, ominously, the check engine light started flashing. While the entire vehicle proceeded to shake violently. This flashing and shaking proved to be intermittent, only happening every 8 minutes or so, for a duration of 2-5 minutes, but the check engine light never went off after that.
However, it was a rental, and we really, really needed to not be stuck alongside the road someplace in the snowy Midwest with 22 cases of temperature-sensitive belongings. So, since the vehicle was not actually totally disabled, we boldly proceeded on, figuring that calling the rental agency would result in a disastrously long delay.
The following 10 hours were hellish. and involved not just the vehicle problems, but also driving through a lake effect snowstorm in the dark. (And yes, somehow, we made it home and are still married.)
The tow truck came and picked up the rental vehicle from our driveway a mere 26 hours after I called the rental agency for “Emergency Roadside Assistance.”
So, this brings me to the question for tonight’s poll. Do you purchase foreign vehicles or American pieces of shit like the Ford Expedition?
Discuss!
For the last 20-something years, I’ve only bought vehicles made by Axis powers.
Is that how we bought an enduring peace?
Yes, it was a bold move.
Foreign. American cars in Europe are nit worth it.
A former employer had a Russian wife that told me “American cars are for people who don’t respect themselves.”
I honestly don’t much like the design and maybe not so much today but a while back US engines were murder on taxes. in 2010 a mustang was like 35keuros but it cost 3k a year in taxes with that > 3000 cc engine. when mustang cam with a 2.3 liter engine it got more affordable but some said that is not a real mustang without the huge American engine
Yeah, I have no idea what cars the Big Three export overseas/make there. If it’s mostly Festivas and Chevettes…
A friend bought this… stupid purchase
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vpNxWYsDm2KbYdoz6sz3xJg1YjTBWJzY/view?usp=drivesdk
Do the chicks dig it?
There was a great episode on recently of 3rd rock from the sun.
Sally was trying to figure out how women were choosing their men.
Eventually, it came out – the car.
Heh. I noticed that when I told women I had bought a new Mustang, the women became very flirtatious.
My first “aha” moment after buying the bimmer came when I pulled up to a Circuit City (or someplace similar where salesweasels work on comission) and they came out of the store to meet me.
Won’t buy another Chrysler product after that disastrous minivan.
Won’t buy another Dodge Dakota after replacing the heater core 3 times, the entire AC system once.
Won’t buy another Ford F150 after replacing the motor just after the warranty, replacing the clutch packs in the rear differential 3 times
I guess my next truck will be a Toyota.
I have a 2008 4Runner with just under 200,000 miles on it. Still runs great, and never had to put in anything other than typical maintenance/wear and tear. Just bought a 2018 4Runner, which I expect to have for a very long time.
Foreign.
For reasons I’ve never fully grokked, the Spousal Unit had fantasized for years after we were first married about getting a red Toyota RAV4, so when the Passat started going in for service four times a year (with each service resulting in an invoice containing a dollar figure with a comma in it), we said goodbye to Volksy and hello to Toyota, and yes, she got her red RAV4.
It’s an okay vehicle, quite reliable, and as far as I know Toyota’s the only major vehicle manufacturer that uses a timing chain rather than a timing belt, so I expect the reliability to continue, but it’s never had quite the same emotional appeal to us that the Passat had.
Foreigners. Who knew?
the Spousal Unit had fantasized for years after we were first married about getting a red Toyota RAV4
Gay.
She hides it well. One might even say, “enthusiastically.” ;-)
If she starts hankering for a Subaru Forester, you may need to be concerned.
He wasn’t talkin’ about her.
Sadly for y’all, I’m in sweet, sweet denial (“Ride me! RIDE ME LIKE WE’S GOIN’ SOMEWHERE!”).
I have always had Japanese cars (Honda/Mazda/Toyota). And my lawn mower has a Honda motor.
Sounds like an exciting trip, SP!
And yes, somehow, we made it home and are still married.
Life does have its’ challenges.
We are a four-Hyundai family, oldest is the 2008 Entourage Minivan with ~140K miles on it, handed down to my college junior son. He likes it so much that he will buy a minivan himself when the time comes. I’m afraid to ask why he would prefer a minivan to the usual young male sports car fare – something about folding down the rear seats, I think.
I had no issues with my Mexican made Ford Focus, but keep having repeated electricl issues with the Detroit Made Ford C-Max. I couldn’t stand the Japan-made Nissan Armada (I had to check where they actually built the thing).
Oh, and I don’t know where they made it, but my Honda Civic was the worst piece of rustbucket crap I’ve ever had to misfortune to try to drive. It loved to stall, it would stall when you braked, stall when you tried to shift from first to second, and so on. It was almost as if the clutch was a stall button. It also ate starter motors.
Never had a problem with the ’98 Civic I had in college. No problems with the 2015 I have now. I just change the oil and do other regular maintenance.
Mrs. Animal has a 2017 Ford Expedition. It’s been utterly reliable and we love it. It pulled our 5×8 trailer across the Al-Can in March without a hiccup. Her last truck was an ’06 Explorer, we got over a quarter-million miles out of it. Loyal sidekick Rat still has my old Rojito, a 99 Ranger 4×4, and has had no trouble with it. I had it for 17 years and other than routine maintenance, only had one issue, a plugged fuel filter. We’ve always had great luck with Fords. We maintain them scrupulously and drive them until the wheels fall off.
I’ve been driving Fords for 45 years now. I’ll stick with them. Don’t care what anyone else drives, don’t care what anyone else thinks about what I drive. You know – like a libertarian.
I had a 2000 Ford Expedition that I bought new and owned until 2018. I had very little trouble with that vehicle. Had to replace the rear windshield wiper motor, and then at one point I had an odd electrical issue that caused the air conditioning fan and some other electric systems to stay on when the car was off.
Learned from a forum that F150s and Expeditions (same thing basically) of that vintage had a known issue where rain could enter through the bottom of the windshield seam and leak into an important electronics box and cause the issues I was seeing. So I had the windshield replaced and never had the problem again.
That Expedition was a reliable workhorse and I wouldn’t hesitate to get another if I didn’t have such a long commute (it was a gas guzzler).
Other nice thing about Ford 150 and Expeditions is that they are very popular so it’s fast and cheap to get parts and service. This might have changed when they were forced to switch to aluminum—I don’t know.
Now of course I have a Tesla (which are American made), but if I lived in the upper Midwest again, I’d be looking at an Expedition or Explorer.
Both, but never new. We have a Camry that I really like and I have an older GMC Sierra WT that is simple and easy to work on that I plan on hanging on to.
My favorite cars I have owned are a Honda CRX, an Audi A6 and a Pontiac Aztek.
I loved my CRX hatchback. It had been mistreated in a previous life and had to have lots of maintenance, but I still loved driving that little thing.
I found one for sale recently that was a 1989 one owner car with about 160k for $6,000. My wife thought that was way too much money so that didn’t go anywhere. Unfortunately it was in Tennessee so about 400 miles away. I think it’s sold now.
Your wife was right. No matter how much I loved it, I wouldn’t pay that.
“…Honda CRX, an Audi A6 and a Pontiac Aztek…”
One of these things is not like the others!
Unless Breaking Bad lied to me, that last one is surprisingly tough.
They actually have incredibly high customer satisfaction ratings. They were ugly, but not poorly-built.
Hyundai family here (except for the Ram, which is a service vehicle). My mother bought one from Enterprise, said it was the best car she’d ever had, and now I drive it. She got a new Hyundai. My husband has a Hyundai. My daughter has a Hyundai. I wouldn’t say I’m brand-loyal, exactly, but you stick with what works, right?
This, Hyundai value cannot be beat.
I have a Hyundai Genesis and a Ford Mustang.
The Hyundai has unreliable electronics but mechanically has been fine.
The Ford is supposed to go into the dealer because I think the synchronizers are bad.
I’ve driven a lot of Ford family products over the years. I really liked my Crown Victorias. They were good solid cars.
I really liked my Crown Victorias.
Nice DEG. Or should I say OFFICER DEG?
OT: Mostly Toyota’s for me. Very fond my 4-runner. Has Saturn for a while (first new car) and that was a good vehicle. In my younger years, the long long ago, a series fo VW bugs. Nice to have a vehicle 2 people can pull the engine out of!
It’s DOCTOR DEG.
I mean, he’s as much of a doctor as Jill Biden is.
Now turn your head and cough?
Hey, I only finished a Master’s. I think DOCTOR Jill Biden actually finished a Ph.D.
RE: the Crown Victorias: Yeah, I had many people slow down when they saw my car.
She’s got an EdD, thus “Doctor Jill” ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Or learn how to use a clutch…
I’m kidding of course. Getting a dealer to fix a car that balks going into gear is a royal PITA. They always blame the driver. I’ve only had a 50% success rate.
Interesting…. the dealer called me to cancel the appointment to drop off the Mustang. The reason? Two of their technicians tested positive for Covid, so they’re going through a “cleaning and disinfection”. Combine that with their short-staffed status, they aren’t sure when they are going to be able to look at the car. They said they would call when they have a better handle on the situation. I haven’t made a decision about when I will call them back to find out what is going on.
2018 hyundai elantra gt sport w/ 6sp has been flawless since new. 70k miles right now.
Before that, purchased a 98 civic with 100k. two days later the speedo and odometer stopped working. Drove it for the next 12 years probably 20k miles a month. Gave it away because I got tired of fixing the brakes and the pains in my back… other than that, it still started an purred.
Picking up a 92 Daihatsu Rocky today that I’m super excited about.
Also have a 2014 CR-V that’s never let us down, but is has this weird transmission shudder at around 20-25mph that no one has been willing or able to fix despite being a known issue.
Dad had a 2003 CR-V that had 400k miles on it before he totaled it. nothing but oil changes, brakes and tires.
I made the transition from American cars (including an AMC) to “foreign” via my previous car, a Pontiac Vibe, which was a Toyota Matrix under the skin. Now I adore my Subaru, “horror theater” and sexual preference stereotypes notwithstanding.
Well, I have three Fords that have been trouble-free with routine maintenance (I’ll give you a guess what one of them is). Just always owned Fords and never had an issue.
I don’t get into brand wars though. My parents have had Hyundais that lasted significantly longer than I would have ever thought. Korean and Japanese cars always seem like a good choice.
I wouldn’t touch a European car. They all seem like they’re built to be as complicated and unreliable. Just my experience.
Not looking forward to the day the Chinese start exporting though…
My Mini has been fairly reliable. Having work done on it is expensive and not the easiest to find someone willing to work on it.
How many time have you had to have the intake cleaned?
Never had to request it, so if it wasn’t part of the standard maintenance, then never (that I remember at least). Mine is just the regular model, so no turbo.
This is on the second generation.
https://baautocare.com/2015/03/05/car-repair-education-and-info-intake-valve-carbon-build-up-direct-injection-engines-mini-coopers/
Only VW (2) or Audi (6) since ’99.
Audi took back my TT. Don’t be a beta tester.
Audi took back my TT
Lol, when was this? A London colleague bought one of those in 2000, and his trials and tribulations with that POS were a running joke for the better part of a year. Great looking car, but spent more time in the shop than on the road.
2000.
I got it mid ’99 as one of the first ones available. Only FWD on the market at the time, quattros hadn’t been delivered anywhere yet. It had the twitchy control arms that were later redesigned cuz the ass end would get squirrely. The retrofitted read deck wing helped with that too.
Yuppers. They took mine back and slipped me into the S4.
We’ve had VWs from every decade since the 70s. Never had a major problem with any of them. Well, maybe a few with the the 74 Super Beetle. Does random loss of braking constitute a major problem?
1974 Super Beatle
1985 Scirocco
1989 Cabriolet
1998 Passat
2005 New Beetle (bad car, but not unreliable)
2007 Jetta
2015 Passat
Nothing from the 2020s yet, but I really like the GTI.
Love mine.
The Mk6 didn’t do it for me, but they really hit it out of the park with the Mk7.5.
Meh, I’ve had cars from Sweden, Germany, Mexico, Japan and the US. Any new car is vastly superior in many ways to the older ones. Except for repair and longevity. People love technology, governments love BS regulation and the cars reflect this. Fucking touch screens that cost thousands to replace, overly complex transmissions
I currently have a 2018 F-150 that may be the nicest vehicle I’ve ever driven. I know, however, that I will need to bail on it at 120K miles before the wonder-motor and fancy transmission decide to puke.
My 2003 Tahoe had a quarter million miles on the original motor/tranny. They quite literally don’t make them like they use to.
First car was an ’87 Acura hatchback I bought in ’03.
2nd car was a new 2008 Rav4. Drove it till I was rear-ended in 2015 and declared totaled.
3rd car – certified pre-owned 2012 Rav4. Currently 140k miles and counting.
Although…I’m not really sure about options for the next car – I really like the external spare tire – just convenient in general (mental peace of mind).
Definitely looking at a truck once I get to the middle of nowhere (almost certainly Toyota) – but if I need one sooner…
One of the things I like about the FJs is the external, full size, spare.
Mrs. Dean’s FJ is about to roll over 200K ‘Murcan miles. Mine is about to roll over 100K. Almost zero non-scheduled maintenance on either one. Not even a rattle, really.
We have two Toyota FJ Cruisers.
Our last American cars were:
A Dodge Magnum, which was pretty much a lemon backed up with horrible warranty services from the dealerships. No more Dodge. Traded in for FJ number 1. In the winter in Texas, because the effing AC didn’t work and never had.
A Chevy pickup (hand-me-down from Pater Dean), which gave no problems at all and was traded in for the AMG E63 of fond memory. The AMG is probably the only one in history that was traded in for an FJ (number 2).
I swore after the Obama bailout I would never buy another GM or Dodge. Ever. Because we both hate all the electronic crap on newer cars with the heat of a thousand suns , the current plan is to keep the FJs until we die.
We have two Toyota FJ Cruisers.
Lezzie.
How can anyone confuse “Toyota” with “Subaru”?
AMG E63
You had the wagon, yes?
Very much an object of lust for me, just a little too spendy new (and hard to find used – people who like them _really_ like them).
No. Mrs. Dean would leave me face down in a ditch to get an AMG wagon, but in our experience they are close to unavailable in this country. And damned spendy.
Nearly everyone who gets an AMG leases it, so ours was a lease turn-in. If an AMG wagon that was a turn-in popped up on her radar, well . . . .
The AMG wagon (and maybe the regular wagon?) are special-order only now at Mercedes US dealers.
In recent years, the Audi RS 6 Avant has competed for my affection – also eye-wateringly expensive.
And the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo.
I assume I have CAFE standards to thank for the fact that the only wagons I want are from luxury brands – you’re already going to pay some sort of CAFE hit…
You sound like my brother. He is keeping his FJ until the end of the world. I went through everything. Hondas, Fords, General Motors… Finally at Mopar with Dodges and Jeeps. Very fond of the current crop of cars that have performed well with minimal issues (Dodge got chewed on by rats in Florida, Dodge fixed under warranty. Very nice).
The only American vehicle I currently own is my 2001 Dodge Ram, 2500 Cummins Diesel, with a manual 5 speed. America!
Built in Mexico.
My wife has an 09 Corolla, we bought brand new, with 218K that has had an alternator issue, but no complaints.
My 2005 Saab has been fairly reliable, 180K.
I intend to keep the truck until the wheels fall off (one did once), and any other vehicles, I always buy used, the Corolla being the lone exception..
I started my “automotive journey” in Limey shitboxes: MGs, Austin Healeys, (real) Minis. Nowhere to go but up. Graduated to a series of BMWs. I wish I still had the ’73 2002.
Americans: other than a succession of GM pickup trucks, an AMX. Serious fun, in a it’ll-kill-you-if you-don’t-pay-attention kind of way. I had a Ford Explorer, but that was mostly a Mazda, I think.
The daily driver is (and has been since about 2004) a 1990 Honda Civic station wagon. Porsche 914 for fucking around in nice weather.
You couldn’t give me a new car. It wouldn’t matter where it was made.
I went from driving a 1991 Geo Prizm to a ’98 BMW Z3. You may be able to guess when I got a real job.
My ex-wife’s ’97 Z3 was one of the nicest handling cars I have ever driven.
I loved mine. Put a quarter million miles on it. Then it was destroyed by a UT student.
Actually, it was hit 3 times, always from behind, always by UT students (though it was in three different cities). I’m guessing because it was low to the ground and silver they misjudged how far away it was? But the one that killed it drove straight into it while I was stopped for a cop. I’m pretty sure she got her license yanked over it.
My friend referred to her Z3 as ‘the Nazi rollerskate’. And yeah, great fun to drive.
I’m finishing up a ’69 AMX for sale right now. Very odd idea cutting a Javelin in half, but I think it worked out pretty great.
While in college in the 80s, my summer job was working at a GM production plant. I got see first hand how you produce complete shitboxes.
Since then we have owned lots of cars. The two most unreliable were a Mercury stationwagon I inherited and a BMW 3. Honda and Nissan were great and pretty much indestructible. Mazda a bit less so – particularly the AWD one.
The wagon has about 315k miles on it. I think it had about 170 on it when I got it.
I have had the motor out a couple of times, because I can. Next time it comes out, a 2 liter non Vtec will hopefully be taking its place.
MSDNC caught trying to dox the jurors…
Winning!
“Defense official reportedly says, if the Oklahoma National Guard doesn’t comply with COVID vaccine requirements, they will no longer be “maintaining national recognition,” thus, state will no longer have a Nat Guard, but rather a militia – VOA’s Pentagon correspondent”
https://mobile.twitter.com/TheInsiderPaper/status/1461031226043772939
“Sources familiar with the President’s mentality say…”
What do they have to do to get kicked out of the union altogether?
state will no longer have a Nat Guard, but rather a militia
Will they have the right to bear arms?
Japanese cars for work, British cars for play. Bikes, too.
Changed my perspective radically. Used to be US brands only until GM became government motors
Since then when it came time for vehicle changes, got some VWs, and then a Grand Caravan, and eventually a Subaru
Current fleet is a Model 3 for daily driving and road trips that don’t involve a tent/camper, and an F150 for pulling the camper.
From this point on I really only plan to ever buy electric vehicles.
We only use the F150 for 3-5k miles a year so I expect it to easily last long enough that future electrics will be able to tow the camper as well as the F150 does.
If I were to get a job outside the house, I might buy an old used Leaf to get around if that job is in town.
If Tesla makes a three-row SUV of some kind I’ll give it some serious consideration to replace my wife’s Escape.
They sorta do
If you want to call it an SUV, the Model Y has 7 passenger seat option (2 front, 3 middle, 2 very small rear)
The Model X also has 5,6, and 7 passenger options, but you’re looking at some big big then $$
Model Y is really tight. Would not want to use the third row regularly.
Also price just jumped again. Starts at $60k.
VWs – but they lied
I’d have probably kept my TDI when that happened had my vehicle not had a problem with the exhaust and (possibly) turbo develop right around the time they offered to buy them back.
The TDI became the Subaru that I probably should have just bought in the first place instead of the TDI.
The very old Touareg on the other hand, I was glad to see that thing turn into a minivan.
I’d give an electric serious consideration if anyone made one THAT WASN’T PACKED WITH ELECTRONIC GARBAGE AND A GIANT TV SCREEN ON THE DASH.
The use case for an electric wouldn’t be bad for a lot of our driving, but I won’t have a car that is PACKED WITH ELECTRONIC GARBAGE AND A GIANT TV SCREEN ON THE DASH.
You could probably give me a shiny new Lotus, if you were really nice about it.
How about this?
that fucking site wants me to enter a fucking zip code to see. fuck that
also alfo romeos suck. they look nice if you are a chick but no man should drive one.
Lol
One of my co-workers just bought a Lotus Elise.
He is 6′-5″ tall. It is hilarious to watch him contort himself into it.
It does look cool/makes a wonderful noise/scoots down the road with some zip
Loved my teen VWs. Well, Ghia was great, Bug was great, Rabbit sucked ass. I truly loved my last high school car, a 1973 AMC Ambassador Brougham Wagon, unstoppable beast. The only new car I’ve bought was a Ford Probe after I left Army. It was quite nice. Here in NYC, we’ve had 2 Honda Fits (great for Brooklyn), a Chrysler PT Cruiser (pure garbage), and currently a Nissan Rogue (a solid meh). If I had my wishes and druthers, I would have a WWII era Willys Jeep, or a late ’60s International Scout. Honorable mention to the Dodge Power Wagon w/ railroad tie front bumper from Simon & Simon.
Every UAW built car I’ve owned was unreliable crap that kept breaking down. Then I bought a Camry and had the epiphany – cars can be reliable.
Japanese or Korean cars for me from now on. German cars seem to invariably have seats that start hurting within 5 minutes or less, so not buying one of those.
Volvo has the best seats. But I won’t be buying their cars anymore.
Saab was even better. But you won’t be buying them either thanks to the assholes at GM.
My ’05 9-3 is still extremely comfortable.
My wife had an 06 sport-combi with a manual trans. I loved that car. It was destroyed in a highway pile-up and we couldn’t replace it with another Saab. 🙁
Mine has the manual 5 speed.
I put a new cam sensor, new struts and drive axles, and a new belt(Royal PITA).
Not a sports car, but it can get up and go real nice.
What I never liked about German cars are the huge humps in the middle of the floor. So if you’re sitting three people in the backseat, the middle person is fucked because they have to have their knees to their faces.
(I’m not a car guy so this might be because of engineering sort of thing.)
Transmission hump. Not there on FWD cars.
Back in the olden days of rear wheel drive ubiquity, all cars had a big hump down the middle.
There’s a Tres Cool joke in there screaming to get out.
Back in the olden days of bench seats, there was more humping as well.
For a Towing/hauling workhorse – Ford or Chevy, Dodge only if it has a Cummins. Preferably Diesel.
For a car – Foreign. Honda/Toyota/Kia all day long.
Minivan – Kia/Honda
SUV – Foreign. I’m leaning heavily on the Kia Telluride right now, but i do like their Carnival offering.
These modern diesel engines with the DEF, can they be converted to run without DEF or is it easier/cheaper to just find an older engine?
Oh yes! Many exhaust shops specialize in doing exactly that. The key is to leave everything on/mounted to the exhaust so an inspector can look and then go on his way.
God Bless America! Thanks, that really cheers me up.
They can be, but if you have emissions testing in your locale, it won’t pass.
Buying an older one is nice in theory, mine is very simple to work on, but the truck is 20 years old.
Engine runs amazing with 350K, but I’ve had to do a lot of work to keep the truck together, and that is a rust free one.
If you are talking about swapping an older engine into a newer truck, that can be difficult and you still have emissions to worry about.
Thanks. This is all theoretical for me. I’ve been watching a lot of fancy RV/motorcoach videos and the new models all seem to devote significant square footage to their (I assume FedGov mandated) 15 or 30 gallon DEF tanks. Those sorts of regulations chap my ass.
I really like the carnival. Quite a bit bigger than the Telluride. The wife saw one the other day and said “I love that one”. Then I told her it was the Carnival we test drove a couple of weeks ago. Suddenly she hated it.
When we test drove it her evaluation was ” it is a miniivan”.
An Alfalfa? No thanks.
I have a car that gets me everywhere First. But it’s less about the car and more about the driver.
I have a Ram Truck that I drive and got my wife a Honda Mini van. Both were bought used, truck very used and van had about 40k miles on it. No complaints about either.
Looks like more bad news about vaccines, but will anyone actually care? Seriously is all of this just going to be swept under the rug? What needs to happen for the media to actually take a look at this? I mean this is going into 5 year old kids.
https://alexberenson.substack.com/p/another-major-red-flag-about-covid?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjozMTYyNjE4MCwicG9zdF9pZCI6NDQyMzAyMzgsIl8iOiJqRFkzTCIsImlhdCI6MTYzNzI1NzA5OCwiZXhwIjoxNjM3MjYwNjk4LCJpc3MiOiJwdWItMzYzMDgwIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.94iAiSU1XelvDwjT6i6WOgdXvV3GLPxvYcEzimYuWhg
Yep. This “all-cause mortality” is a worrying trend. I’m gonna re-post my earlier post from the most-recently-deceased thread:
I hope this analysis is wrong, ’cause the Spousal Unit’s been vaccinated, and I love her.
This whole vaccine thing is perhaps the greatest example I can think of (in my lifetime) of human arrogance. The FDA, HHS, Fauci, the WHO, the federal government, the Karens, all of the supposed “experts” – hubris on a scale that would have made the ancient Greeks guffaw. We know almost nothing about how this all works, notwithstanding the claims about “teh science.” It’s all just arrogance at a heretofore unimaginable scale. “Teh science” is nothing more than a modern talisman with which the ignorant can beat their opponents over the head – backed by an incessant droning from the propaganda outlets for the lovely self-righteous feelz.
And a lot of the idiots are going to pay with their own and their kids’ health.
And a lot of the idiots are going to pay with their own and their kids’ health.
If idiots were the only victims, I would not lose sleep over it. Make your choice, deal with the consequences. But many more who were coerced by loss of employment, loss of access to retail establishments and entertainment venues will suffer as well.
I feel horrible for 5 year-olds, innocent children who love their parents and trust they would never hurt them. They could be sentenced to a lifetime of problems before even beginning elementary school, and it isn’t a choice they made for themselves.
If hubris is followed, as the Greeks said, by nemesis, then prepare yourself for Bad Things.
American — and Chevrolet in particular. I’ve apparently just had pretty good luck with my two Monte Carlos and my wife’s Impala then Equinox. But I tend to be pretty proactive on maintenance these days and know how to do some things (have an OBDC code reader, etc… just won’t do anything on the current Monte if I have to move the transverse mounted engine… that’s a painful mess to try to get back in place by yourself). Even the Equinox which is the newest isn’t bad, in my opinion. But yes, interior by Tupperware is GM’s standard and all.
interior by Tupperware is GM’s standard and all
No surprise, since GM has basically been a pension plan with a car building hobby for a long time now.
We are a mixed household: Ram 2500HD (Cummins) and Subaru CrossTrek (one of the last models still available with manual trans).
My last care was a 1998 4 door Tracker. Goy it at on of my wifes estate sales for $1500 bucks. Only had 25k miles. Some guy had been using it to go to the beach out in the Hamptons during the summer.
Only problem was that mice had made nests in the ac ducts and under some of the upholstery. Smelled awful but I drove that thing for years.
Car god damn it.
In civilized Europe we don’t need cars because we have good public transport
I imagine being able to transform into a bat is damned convenient also.
Nice one… I laughed.
I would probably enjoy having one of these – https://www.zeromotorcycles.com/fleet/military/
LOL:
https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/rittenhouse-case
“Judge bars MSNBC from entering Kenosha County Courthouse
Judge Bruce Schroeder has announced Thursday that staff from MSNBC will no longer be allowed inside the Kenosha County Courthouse following the incident in which a person was observed following a bus that the jury uses to get to and from the building. “
The man spotted following the bus identified himself as James J. Morrison
Partying with Lou Reed, no doubt.
Nuking accounts now.
Tough day for TMITE.
Something something Order to Show Cause something.
Heaven bless Amazon and the ability to find the most obscure replacement parts for just about anything. Pre-Amazon, I would never have found the thing I needed. It wouldn’t have existed at all but for the internet and people needing a thing, since I know that 2 years ago, the part didn’t exist. But now it does. And I have my beloved thing back in my office because it’s fixed.
Pics or we don’t believe you have a “thing.” ;-)
My Medusa lamp. It was so old the white plastic shades were crumbling, and now I have new shades. It’s the little things, yanno?
Holden Monaro HT: https://i1.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Holden-Monaro-HT.jpg
I have owned American, Japanese, and German cars, with general good luck. But I will never, ever own another steaming pile of shit named Honda ever again. The wife is forbidden from even mentioning that steaming pile of shit company and any of its products.
I have had good luck with my Honda snowblower so far 🙂
And I lurve the S2000.
From the dead thread discussion of a study that “found” that people of all races are abandoning Democrats:
https://theintercept.com/2021/11/15/democrats-voters-virginia-glenn-youngkin/
Key paragraph: “Consultant Danny Barefoot said that Anvil Strategies called roughly 30,000 people in Virginia. Most didn’t answer, but several hundred of them fit the criteria he was looking for: people who voted Democrat, Democrat, Republican in the last three elections. Those people were called back and offered a $100 gift card if they’d do a lunch-hour Zoom and talk about why they voted the way they did. Ninety-six women, a fifth of whom were not white, were broken into three different sessions”
If 99.7% of the people you call to participate in a survey hang up on you or are eliminated from consideration, you * might * have a bullshit study with a non-representative sample of people.
Perceptive.
Should have published : an extensive survey of over 30,000 people demonstrates that Virginians do not take surveys.
I’ve had good and shitty American and Foreign cars; I don’t know what that means.
I loved my ’06 Mustang and put 165K glorious miles on it, many of them in New England winters.
My daughter’s FJ has been amazing – especially considering we bought it with close to 100K miles 6-7 years ago.
My Infiniti was the shit. My wife talked me into a Dodge Ram (full-size bed) that was fantastic. I’ll likely trade in my current hoopdee (Audi A4 lawyer asshole-mobile) for a Dodge truck again.
And I replied to Drake or DEG on the deadthread – “The Spark” will have a dead-tree version as soon as it gets through Amazon’s process.
Probably a couple of days.
Thanks!
Last 8 new car purchases
2019 Nissan Rogue (sitting in driveway — wife loves it; I hate it),
2014 Nissan Xterra (sitting in driveway),
2009 Subaru Forrester (traded in on 2019 Rogue),
2006 Nissan 350Z (sitting in garage),
2006 Nissan Sentra (traded in on 2009 Forester),
2002 Nissan Xterra (given to daughter in 2014, totaled in derecho 2020),
1999 Nissan (traded in on 2002 Xterra),
1998 Nissan 200SX (totaled by deer in 2006)
Time to go boil honey.
Switched from German and Japanese to American and haven’t looked back.
That said, Toyotas are amazing. They still believe in designing for service. You can actually replace a ball joint in the lower control for example.
For the German cars I got fed up with parts availability and prices.
My Tesla doesn’t count as American.
Tesla Driver Ticketed After Parking ‘Foreign Car in Domestic Lot’ at GM Factory
Funny. Tesla has the most American content of any vehicle sold in America. By far.
You open the hood and the california smug just oozes out?
You can do that? I figured it’d be sealed with a “No user serviceable parts inside” warning.
‘Opening this Product Voids the Warranty’
“Get the canopener.”
Under the hood is a frunk.
So in the UK, does that make it a foot?
Just don’t try to service the starter on a tundra. It’s under the intake manifold.
Plus he always wants you to wiggle your finger around.
I just recently learned that. WTF…
Same with the Maserati Biturbo series. Damn stupid idea.
I drove for the Lake Car Auction as a kid. I can still remember the Maserati that had the back body panels made of glass instead of steel so everyone could see your engine.
Maserati Khamsin?
Bora, I think.
Related-ish, I was taking a walk through a new McMansion neighborhood, and two of the houses had glass garage doors.
I guess so you can protect your cars from the elements and still show them off.
It lets the thieves window-shop.
Oh, duh. Khamsins are front engined.
If I care about it running – 00’s Toyota or 96 to 99 GM truck. Still driving my 02 Tundra and it runs great. Rebuilding a 96 Suburban with an HT383 and overspec’d transmission.
If I want to be seen, well there’s a whole range of that.
Japanese for new because they last forever (some more forever than others though). Well cared for other than Japanese because they lose value like mad and there are good deals to be had.
Other than Japanese for used I meant.
Holden Monaro HT
I can’t recall, or be bothered to look up, the model year(s) but GM brought a front engine, rear wheel drive, Holden over and slapped a Pontiac GTO badge on it for a while. From what I heard, they were a lot of fun.
Yup, my brother had two. Awesome cars. They did it three times actually, first the GTO, then the Pontiac G8, and then the Chevrolet SS. All Holdens.
2004-2006
2013-14, I think. Neat ride.
Nope, never mind, Raven Nation is right.
Nightrider’s car in Mad Max is an HQ: https://bestmoviecars.com/1979-mad-max-1972-holden-monaro-hq/
You people and your cars should bow before the mighty Opel Astra
I figured you for a Reliant Robin type of guy.
I rented a Saturn Aura back in the day, which was based on the Opel Vectra.
It was really nice, but came along too late to save Saturn.
We were an all-Toyota family for over twenty years. Dependable as all get out, but boring as hell.
I realized some time back that I was putting over 10K miles per year on my Boxster just driving to and from Track Day weekends, so I picked up a 2020 Expedition in February to use as a tow vehicle. Took it to the Outer Banks this summer — the thing’s a perfectly cromulent highway cruiser, even if it only gets about 24 MPG (which drops to 15 MPG with the Porsche in tow). It was a dealer loaner for a year, so it had 1600 miles on it. For that, the dealership knocked $18K off the price. No complaints yet, but then I’ve only driven the thing eight thousand miles.
Wife’s scoot-around-town car is actually a CUV, a Mercedes GLC 300. Her last was a GLK 250. Loved the torque and efficiency of the diesel, but at six years old, stuff started going wrong under the hood that was annoying and expensive to service. I tried to steer her toward a Lexus RX 350, but she was having none of it. She likes her German vehicles, and there’s no getting her out of one now.
I have had 3 Kia/Hyundai vehicles. They are fantastic, both in absolute terms and in value terms. Right now I have an Ioniq hybrid that famously got me 1,800 mikes from south Florida to Duluth MN on about $60 a couple of years ago. Got almost 65mpg on that trip.
Before that I had a fabulous BMW 328i. Awesome car. Sold it because after 65,000 miles things started breaking and got extremely expensive to keep. So German cars are a big no for me… Unless I was a “new car every 2 years” guy.
I had a string of cords and I hear good things about the new ones, but I have not had one in decades.
My lone GM was a Chevy Cavalier. Base model. $8,888, brand new. Great deal. First new car I ever bought, and only one until I bought an Accord for my fiance in 2005. The Cavalier was pretty good value and the drive train with a manual was rock solid. But the interior was absolute crap. Headliner fell. Heater core let go. Locks seized up. It just sucked from that point of view.
The Honda was Ok. Not nearly as impressive as the reputation. I would have put it on par with a Ford.
Then there is the Nissan. 2012 Quest minivan. Kind of amazing new. Drove like a Rolls limo. Super comfortable. Loaded. Transmission gave out in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere with no place to move away from the road and a load of kids. Finally died this year.
I say Kia/Hyundai is the best, no question. Huge 100k warranty. good value for money. Nice cars with great features.
Downside? They are getting $15,000 above invoice for a new Telluride.
Caveate: if I had the cash and it was was with in my requirements, I would get a Tesla.
We were all Ford for 6 or 7 years before buying the Chrysler this summer.
I have nothing against the foreign cars, but I feel their interiors aren’t as good. I can get closer to the package I want with American cars.
I haven’t had any real mechanical issues for the last 3 cars (granted, the Chrysler has less than 10k miles on it), but the electrical gremlins and software BS have been everpresent. Even the older cars’ mechanical problems were trivial. An idle air control valve that needed replaced. Vacuum lines that needed redone on a 15 year old car. Those types of things.
wait you got in debt to buy a fort? ewww
Not just one, two of them! We were almost $50k in car debt in 2015.
In 2021 that will get you 2 econoboxes or 1 well equipped full sized SUV.
Who else remembers when the first digit of a car on The Price is Right went from a 2 to a 3 during stagflation?
Whoah!!! 3 grand for a car? And that isn’t a Cadillac?
We paid $44k for the van this summer. Absurd pricing.
It appears I could sell my 2017 RAM for 90% or so of what I paid. Yeah, that’s kinda absurd.
My wife and I are Hyundai people. We have a 2014 Hyundai Sonata that has around 115k miles and it’s still going strong and we have a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. Once I can climb a couple of income ladders, I may buy a BMW but I’m a Hyundai guy.
My and hubby’s Hyundais are 2006. Daughter’s Hyundai is 2011.
When I bought my first Honda a few years ago they had a Stinger GT2 on the floor that they couldn’t move. Looked to dump it and offered $35. (I think it stickered around 50 or so. Maybe 45?). Still out of my range. Came down to $31k before I left. about 6 or 8 months later they started getting popular and you had to wait to get one.
Dang.
Coulda driven it for a year and still made money selling it. Idiot.
First Hyundai. Thanks for the autocorrect
‘Murican all my life. :spits: Been on a string of Fords lately that so far I have no reason to stop.
I wonder if this contributed to the problem more than the brand of the vehicle. Rentals get beat to shit.
Yeah… And sometimes stuff just breaks. Bad luck. If one out of 10,000 coil packs breaks and yours just happens to be one, are you impressed with the reliability?. Probably not.
I’ve only ever owned Chevys. As an
autistartist I do favor form over function. However the Dodge Challenger makes me feel like a Mechanophiliac. But that has been out of my price range since it came back.From the dead thread:
“If someone else was hosting the dinner, I’m sure the aunt and uncle wouldn’t think of forcing the host to make everyone be vaxxed. They’d just skip it themselves. I’m pretty sure they would also understand.
I think all these stories about families imposing their own mandates are in no way connected to actual health concerns and are all about forcing family to tow the lion.”
^^^ This. My brother has cut off all contact and said I’m an immoral, evil person over our differences regarding masking. My two youngest kids are boycotting visiting me in person, allegedly because they believe they’re at risk from me being vaccinated. I offered my kids to take a test beforehand, and that got rejected out of hand. And they’re not responding to texts, either.
Last I checked, you can’t catch a virus via texting.
A good chunk of leftists have lost their damn minds.
I get that kids have a built in need to rebel against their parents, since otherwise they’re likely to get Failure to Launch syndrome, but the brainwashing is hard to take.
Text: “Kids, in an effort to keep you safe from all of my Covid contaminated wealth, you are now out of the will. You’re welcome. Be safe.”
Oh wow prolefeed, that’s horrendous. Sorry man….
Seconded. Really sorry, dude.
allegedly because they believe they’re at risk from me being vaccinated.
UNvaccinated?
I think most unvaccinated people are not afraid of the vaccinated even if I think at this point that the infected vaccinated people are more likely to spread the virus than the infected unvaccinated people.
Sorry prolefeed.
Sorry prole, that sounds awful.
I’ve got a ’64 Chevy Malibu, mostly for the trunk space.
“oah…you don’t want to look in there.”
I think we’re all asking the wrong questions here.
Car selection shouldn’t be about reliability, value, suitable options for your needs—it should be about which corporations have the most woke policies and the highest number of historically repressed persons on their governing boards. Having sweetheart deals with relevant politicians doesn’t hurt either.
Don’t you even drive for social justice, man?!
This is why I love you.
I drive Kia! and I put 57$ in the tank today, yikes!
If I ever have to put $57 in my Ionic’s 11 gallon tank, I am going postal on this mo-fo.
Are you asking if I drive at them?
That would be justifiable in many situations. Unless you are a wrong thinker,
In which case it’s the kangaroo court for you, Buddy!
My dad had one of those Jaguar something-or-others from when Ford owned them. I think it was all wheel drive, blown V8, et c.
Whatever else was good or bad about that car, the torque converter was fucking awesome. It locked up solid. If you wanted to go faster, you rolled on the throttle and it went faster. None of that infuriating “wait for the goddam transmission to decide what gear it would like to be in” crap you get in most new cars I have been in. And it didn’t incessantly hunt for a gear while you were driving around town at 40-45mph.
You’ve got to have at least 8 gears for emissions and CAFE standards. Plus auto stop/start. Driveability be damned!
Next let’s talk about evaporative emissions and the dozen ways to throw a check engine light that has nothing to do with the actual engine.
Just wait… Biden and crew snuck in DUI interlocks to new vehicle requirements in that infrastructure bill.
No chance those things are gonna break…..
Just so long as I can find a raccoon to squeeze into the breath sampler…
Eeew. How is that gonna work on rentals? No way am I going to put my mouth on the same mouthpiece used by all the previous renters! Same with valet parkers, etc.
Is this really part of the bill?!? Did exhume the bodies of his deceased family members to stand upon them as he made an emotional appeal?
WEAR A MASK FOREVER! Now, suck on this thing 100 people have put their mouth on and has never been cleaned.
Yes.
Most new cars have a steering angle sensor for cruise control and electric power steering. The bill of goods that our betters in DC was sold is that it will be “trivial” for manufacturers to implement as drunken steering inputs are like totes different from regular inputs. For example, your Tesla never phantom brakes at an overpass, right?
Nothing specific about what happens after the detection, but I’m sure DC will helpfully chime in that whatever actions you take after that as a manufacturer were inadequate.
Yeah, I’ve had phantom braking, particularly near sunrise and sunset when the light strikes the road at a shallow angle. Software improvements help, but it ain’t perfect and I would be pissed if that or if any evasive action I take got interpreted as “reckless” or “drunk”. (I wish Tesla hadn’t turned off the radars; radars don’t care about the sunlight).
This bill provision is not going to be good. How about not assuming we are all felons, and only putting DUI interlocks on cars of people who’ve been arrested and convicted of multiple DUIs?.
What are the chances a new manufacturer of DUI interlocks appears out of nowhere and the owners and board members are Biden donors and cronies?
*Solyndra owners wave hello while grinning like hell*
Excellent point.
After catastrophic failures of both a Dodge Durango and a Chevy Malibu, well before their time, I switched to Honda. Best car move I ever made.
Zero. Self. Awareness.
Today is the launch day for HOAX in paperback. It’s the final edition of a book I have been writing for years. You can order a copy at http://BuyHoax.com. But this is more than a promotional thread, I promise! This is the “story behind the story,” as I like to say on TV
The book title is “Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox News, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth”
Jeebus…if anyone has less credibility than the FBI it is Humpty Dumpty.
That anyone in the MSM would say something like that after the shameless fellating they have been engaged in with the American Commies for so many years is…well, I am just speechless.
I’ve got a ’64 Chevy Malibu, mostly for the trunk space.
Too bad it doesn’t have a/c.
You could get a/c in ’64. I have factory a/c in my 1966 olds.
220K on my 4-door Wrangler. Still runs like the day I bought it. Around 200K I had to have the thingy electronic connection in the steering column replaced. It is the connection that connects electronic control buttons on the steering wheel to their respective gadgets. I guess it is two rings that allow a connection while the wheel is turned. I will drive that jeep until the wheels fall off of one or the other of us.
Wife’s car is a Honda CR-X. It’s appearance is that of the most generic vehicle ever made but it drives very nice and is very reliable.
Clockspring. Common JK failure.
The book title is “Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox News, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth”
Find it in the “Gaslighting” section.
Currently drive a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt with ~170,000. Perfectly fine, although I’ve had to replace several sensors. Luckily every single one has been easily reachable for me.
I don’t buy cars built after 1990 or so (the cobalt is my Lady Z’s old one) – every single one has been used. Since that’s the case, I can’t really say one way or the other. My Dad’s Pontiac Solstice has been a horrible lemon, the Chevrolet shop truck (2008 I think) has been abused and keeps on ticking (I think it has 250k), the old shop HHR SS was fine except for the front control arm bushings.
Many of my friends are mechanics. The BMW mechanics will never buy a BMW.
My buddy finally gave up after many, many BMWs. He said they just kept coming up with more novel ways to fail.
When I was a kid I worked at a Volvo dealer. Most of the mechanics owned them.
Of course the 240 series Volvos were the best cars ever built.
I’ve been wanting a Volvo for a long time – when you still see 240’s from the 80’s still driving around stock, you know they might just be a solid car.
Cast iron block, no nonsense transmission and rear drive. Solid and reliable. I’ve had several over the years and while my 2001 XC was a ‘nicer’ car, it couldn’t hold a candle to the 240s. I used to buy them with 150-200K, drive them for a year or two and sell them for more than I paid. The weight distribution was perfect and, with decent snow tires, I could go pretty much anywhere.
I still keep an eye out on BaT for nice ones.
I had a Cobalt. I Knew we were thoulmates.
How does the hat reach the pedals?
With the Betht Motht Clathy Legth!
I wish I could convince my wife of that because reliability is her top concern. But she likes the looks of them. She also loves the look of Audi’s, despite swearing she would never buy a VW product again. Kill me now.
Kia, it’s right there^ in the name, all others pale in comparison,
FDA Asks Federal Judge to Grant it Until the Year 2076 to Fully Release Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine Data
https://aaronsiri.substack.com/p/fda-asks-federal-judge-to-grant-it
I’ll go ahead and pencil in my first covid shot for December 2076 so I have some time to analyze the data.
Is there any kind of precedent for that sort of delay?
That seems really odd. Why wait so long?
500 pages per week, X however many pages = 2076
seriously
Per month I thought.
It is. What they’re trying to do is delay, delay, delay putting out the info for the public to see what the FDA actually used to make its decision.
The proles might come to different (i.e. wrong) conclusions about their betters if they get to see the same info – and that is dangerous!
It’s the same exact phenomenon as the whole CRT-McAuliffe fiasco: “you parents aren’t qualified govt certified educators. You don’t need to have a say in what your kids are being taught. Just shut up and obey, serf.”
Two Toyotas (FJ and 4Runner) and two Mercedes (75 diesel and 99 ML 430) in my house. I’m in the RC Dean camp: They’re all ’07 or older, as I don’t want a bunch of electronic nonsense in my vehicles.
Hear hear! ’07 w/170k runs puuurfect,
ust don’t try to service the starter on a tundra. It’s under the intake manifold.
See, also: Cadillac Northstar
2009 Honda Fit
*smooths eyebrows* That’s right, ladies.
Was the Element too big and masculine?
(I acutally really wanted one. The target market was the young, but older people bought them instead because they were so practical. This made them completely uncool.)
The Fit came with the wife.
I, uh, have never actually owned a car.
My older brother really wanted an Element but the wife refused.
My brother had one. We just called it “box”.
Of course the 240 series Volvos were the best cars ever built.
I saw a 260 wagon the other day. I’d take one, if it had a manual transmission.
Way to be Transphobic.
That motor kind of sucked on that one. It was a Volvo/Renault partnership and also the motor that went into the Delorean.
You could easily drop in a small block V-8 though.
I had several 240 wagons. Incredible useful.
Yep. My brother was a Volvo mechanic. He said stay away from the Renault (mid-90s 740s and such).
Back in high school, I had a turd-brown 1984 Volvo 240 wagon.
Parents? Do NOT give your teenage son an old 240 wagon!
You may be thinking about how it’s slow, and safe, and reliable, and terminally uncool. But your son is thinking that he can fit a twin size air mattress in the back, with the seats folded down.
Some truly disgusting behavior went down in the back of the shaggin’ wagon…
*Laughs in ’72 Ford LTD and ’74 Chevy Caprice*
*misses the days before AIDS*
I feel sorry for all the parents who let their kids borrow the Nash…the seats folded down into a bed!
Hah!
1979 wagon in red for me! I took a lot of shit at first until the utility became readily apparent. Perfect for inappropriate behaviors of all kinds.
First Car: 89 Chevy G20 Custom Conversion Van – With the three piece bed, not two, so it was rather large. That thing was a party on wheels. “Big Sexy” was her name.
A body shop near me still uses it as a parts van. My dream is to have to the money to buy her back and restore her to her former glory.
I have a Kia Telluride and a Jeep Wrangler.
So South Korean and, ummm, Italian, I guess?
Photoshop I did for Cracked featuring a car.
Nice! I bet that went over like a wet fart at Cracked….
I’m finishing up a ’69 AMX for sale right now. Very odd idea cutting a Javelin in half, but I think it worked out pretty great.
SWEET. That shortened wheelbase might have helped at the drag strip, but handling on twisty roads was diabolical. It really wanted to swap ends. I found the best way to get through corners in hurry-up mode was to left foot brake it on the way in until about 80% of the car’s weight was on the outside front tire, then ease of the brake and onto the throttle at the same time, to control the weight transfer.
Why do you think Penske dropped the AMX in favor of the Javelin when he took over the Trans Am project?
I have a huge soft spot for AMC.
I know for some things they used parts from the big three, but how is AMC specific parts availability?
Not that bad really. The engines, both V8 and I6 were used up to…I think ’90? in Jeeps (and the Jeep 4.0 is closely related to the AMC 6. So closely that you can take the crankshaft from the AMC 4.2 and put it into the 4.0 to make a 4.5L). Mechanically you’ll be fine. It’s the trim that’s a bear, although the trim fasteners were all common use big three parts (I’m installing trim right now, that’s why its on my mind.) After ’70, they used Chrysler automatics, and their manuals were built by Borg Warner throughout. Rear axle is actually a Dana unit in the ’60s, so that’s not too hard either. As for brakes, they’re easy to find parts for, but not big three (I think).
So yeah, your biggest problems are interior, body, and trim. For instance, I can’t find a new dashboard cap for the ’69, which is cracked rn. Aside from that I could find new door panels, headliner, etc albeit pricy.
Not good. And repro market is thin. I seriously considered an AMC project car. Not a good idea unless it is all there, just looking for a refresh. Tail lights, fiddly bits, even some body work is hard to get.
I’ve bought two parts cars for trim and body stuff. I’m used to doing this kind of thing so maybe I’m not the best judge.
That’s a good plan if you are serious about it and have the room. I’d like to restore something fun yet uncommon, like a Gremlin.
Also, me too! They were so scrappy, managing to stay alive long after they shouldn’t have.
I got to see a tribute to one of those Penske Javelins at a local race track (Eagle’s Canyon). I don’t normally like the 71’+, but after seeing it in race trim, I completely understood the facelift and it became lustworthy.
My AMX was a ’69; 390, 4-speed.
The best kind! Mine was a 290 3spd auto. It’s now a 360 with a Chryco 727 auto. I had a Borg Warner T-10 for it, but since I’m selling it I decided to keep the trans.
Scan tools are cheap and can clear most codes that don’t auto clear after a drive cycle test. Or tell you what’s going on. Usually a flashing check engine light is a higher fault to signal not to keep driving.
Many go into limp mode at that point. I think they will go like 20 mph. Scary as shit on the interstate I’m told.
Yeah, my wife’s VW will do that and it’s a bit puckering.
Also, any chain auto store will read the code for free and most will clear or allow you to clear it as well.
I drive a 2018 ford focus sedan with a manual transmission. It’s ok, basic boring reliable but only has 18k miles. I still own a 1993 mazda miata with a manual transmission that lives in a remote garage and I intend to keep forever.
The M12 LRV. Also known as the Warthog.
how is AMC specific parts availability?
I have no idea. That was a long time ago. I think there are a few people out there who have NOS parts stockpiled. Good luck.
We’ve had GM’s, Fords, Chryslers. All started having mechanical and/or other issues long before they should have. Switched to KIA, and have been happy with them.
Always a great choice,
Totally OT, another one of those bizarre revolution eats its own: https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/59338118
Azeem Rafiq was born in Pakistan but family moved to UK when he was 10. He played cricket for Yorkshire and, over the last week or so, has testified before parliament about racist abuse he received while there (I can’t find any report that details the nature of the abuse). Well, today HE’S apologizing for anti-semitic messages he sent via Facebook about 10 years ago when he was 19.
What a fucking joke.
This will never end.
It’s pretty much a given that American statists, particularly of the progressive/woke variety, embrace the controls and class divisions brought about by COVID hysteria, including a complete wrecking of our economy and crushing of independent businesses.
But what is Europe’s angle on it? Are they fooled by the USA’s FDA, NIH, etc? Or do they also see this as an opportunity to crush any spirit of independence in their own populations?
Since freedom and liberty are not default settings for human civilizations, I think they are all taking advantage of it.
Boosters will save them.
My friend in Vienna just told me the lockdown will extend to all people throughout Austria on Monday.
Bound to work this time.
LOL! Fucking chumps thought the jab would save them…
Yikes.
Jab harder, Austria. You can whip this thing yet.
I went to gas up Kia, ouch! but I needed to go to the store and buy some lunch, onward through the driven snow, for 500 yards to Meijer, whereupon i commenced the pruchase of Stuffed chicken breast, Cordon Bleu style, and Kraft Mac and cheese, in White cheddar sauce, and a glass of milk.
The joys of food stamps,
Screw you Taxpayer!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWEnqC1uPu0&t=130s
Purchase, derrr,
Had nothing but Jeeps for 2 decades and never had any complaints.
Take that FWIW.
Seems legit.
Q: Why, when Americans are seeing higher prices, are Republicans united against a bill to lower core costs on prescription drugs, health care, child care, and elder care?
A: They’re rooting for inflation.
Four things I spend almost no money on vs getting raped at the gas station and the grocery store?
Fuck off, Strawberry.
And that’s granting the bill even does what PPP wants. Shoveling money at child care will doubtless bring down costs just like it has at the university level. :eyeroll:
Because you can’t legislate that you stupid twit.
Only Japanese here. Honda Pilot and Honda Accord. Toyota before that. The Pilot has been great, but the family is starting to outgrow it with 4 kids and 3 dogs. Sequoia might work, but I don’t think it’ll be large enough. Will need to go American at some point, probably the Suburban.
Ya definitely need to upgrade to a Mormonmobile.
Can’t you just put the dogs on the roof?
I’m starting to like this Sinema chick.
Creepy Joe can’t help himself.
Biden chatting with a child during bill signing “Meet me after this, I can show you around the White House.”
Jeebus. Now that is creepy. The stroking and petting? WTF?
That made my skin crawl.
This will not end well. Congratulations commies and TDS sufferers. Congratufuckinlations.
Seriously, that is not normal behavior. At all.
Well… just got the denial of my appeal. Anyone have recommendations for a good Employment lawyer in Ohio (preferably in the Cleveland area)?
Sorry.
Sorry Nephilium, I was keeping an eye on you, hoping for a good outcome. You and I are right in the same boat.
Sorry, to both of ya.
I should clarify, I see my statement desperately needs the edit fairy.
There hasn’t been any action from my company yet, but Neph and I have been going back and forth about this, it seems our HRs compare notes or something.
So I was invested in a happy ending for Neph…. Guess it still could be, but not the happiest….
Damn man. That is just terrible.
Morgan & Morgan. Maybe you slipped on a wet floor and hurt your back or something? Just sayin’.
File your discrimination claim.
That’s why I’m looking for lawyer suggestions. I’d like to retain consul, provide the materials I provided and what my work provided, and have everything laid out for when they decide to start the disciplinary process.
Oh… but my work is now asking if I’m willing to show %company% pride and purchase (PURCHASE) branded gear from a pop up store. It’ll be delivered in January 2022.
Now THAT’S…. what the kids call “some ballllz” right there.
Maybe the state will pass anti-mandate legislation before then… HA HA HA!!!! Just kidding. Is there anything more worthless than an Ohio Republican?
Sorry, Neph. My bro is in a similar place, it is infuriating.
Lol
I thought I heard he moved to West Virginia? I need to go check out his channel, haven’t watched in a while.
He’s visiting TX. Did a show with all of the Youtube wrongthinkers (Jones, Rogan, etc.) the other night.
I heard about this…. Hopefully he put some highlights on his channel — bet that was a hell of a show.
Thanks, I’m going watch it!
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/582202-ohio-house-approves-bill-allowing-concealed-carry-without-permit
Yay, Ohio.
The question is if DeWine will sign it if it gets to his desk. He’s been all about “common sense” gun control laws.
The R’s here pulled the same shit they always do, spineless shits that they are.
Put through a bill on constitutional carry they know wont be signed by our commie governor, then pretend they can’t put through another one despite having the house, senate and governorship.
On the federal level they used the same tactic with their oath to repeal the ACA. Jesus. I cant decide who I hate worse – the evil fucks that rammed it down our throats or the useless cowards that refused to repeal it.
I cant decide who I hate worse
Me neither.
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/hospitalizations-rising-fully-vaccinated-us-fauci-says-rcna5907
Emphasis added. That seems odd, doesn’t it?
Also, how recent is the latest data citing that 11 times greater claim?
Newest data is only approaching 3 months old for a virus that’s tracked down to the hour. Nothing odd about it, conspiracy theorist.
The MOST recent. It says so right in the tweet, duh.
And what is the risk? And by age? Comorbidities? Bueller? Bueller?
When even the MSM can’t ignore it, you know it’s got to be way worse.
Based on the Swedish study, people vaccinated before June are 50% or less likely to wind up hospitalized or dead (if memory serves). Vaccination started levelling off in May/June. The decline in protection really starts around the 3 month mark, so I would expect the relative risk numbers to start looking pretty ugly around, say, September. Right about the time the CDC stopped updating its data, oddly.
The relative risk number is probably more like “an unvaccinated person is at 2 times greater risk of dying from Covid than a vaccinated person”. Optimistically.
My newly be-carpeted, repainted, and professionally staged San Diego house just went on the market today.
Hopefully somebody wants into California as badly as I wanted out. I’m ready to be done paying the mortgage on that beast. (New employer is kindly reimbursing the mortgage interest as part of the relocation deal.)
If only San Diego wasn’t in California, and, you know, full of Californians, I’d live there in a heartbeat.
San Diego is hands-down the most sane of bug California cities. But even it was starting to accumulate more tent cities, and of course state taxes keep going up, up, up.
It is a beautiful place though.
Just a 5 hour car trip from here, so I could see the occasional 3 day weekend visit.
From what I’ve heard anecdotally, the San Diego market is still pretty hot.
I’m sure there are a bunch of illegal immigrants who want into California. But I don’t think they can afford that house.
Not until they cash their government checks anyways.
No kidding. A 450k payout PER FAMILY MEMBER would go a long way in the housing market.
I think even the Donks left that idea by the wayside.
https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/covid-risk-wisconsin-warns-deer-hunters-to-wear-a-mask-when-field-dressing-white-tail-deer/
We should be locking those deer down. They’re not vaccinated!
Oh, and LOL @ Wisconsin.
So I should mask up playing Disc? Are the park deer and squirrels gonna gimme the Covids?
AHHHHGHGHGH!!!
Hey, if they do give you the Covid and you get a positive test, maybe you can avoid the vaccine on those grounds, particularly since they are seeing that the vaccine efficacy wears off but apparently natural immunity does not.
TBH, I’m more worried about Lyme disease from the Deer ticks, I live in a hotspot for the buggers
/Tick Collars!
If I get a deer next week I’m planning on putting a mask on the deer to take a picture. Gotta stay safe
🙂
Awesome.
One more tragic Covid death to add to the toll…
I have no car allegiances anymore. I was a Chevy man until 2008. Now I won’t buy any GM product 2008 or later. I think most manufacturer’s are on par these days. You might get a lemon model here or there, but most are ok. Especially of it’s not a new model year or engine type.
I have a 2008 Cobalt SS, a 2013 Ford Focus, a 1974 MG B, and a 1972 Ford Ranchero.
If they still made the SS, I’d buy one in a heartbeat.
The focus is utilitarian. Boring and dependable. The 6 speed DCT has been recalled in a few times for reprogramming and module change, but no other problems.
The Ranchero needs a spear-gun mounted in the bed to be ready for the next Mad Max movie. But I’ve driven it across the country with no issues.
I bought the MG for the spousal unit, and she won’t drive it so now I need to sell. Runs like a top.
I think brand/country of origin is the wrong thing to look at, because every company makes good and bad cars.
If they still made the SS, I’d buy one in a heartbeat.
Mrs. Dean looked at the last gen of those. She walked out of the dealership when they told her it was over $1,000/month to lease.
every company makes good and bad cars
True, but some do one or the other pretty consistently.