From Darryl Starbird’s National Rod & Custom Car Hall of Fame Museum in Oklahoma.
To me, cars are a major component of freedom. So I made this post to let people talk about cars and freedom, etc… Also I am including a couple of links to cars I like, and car sites I like.
- The Autopian: This is a brand new site! Started by authors from Jalopnik who jumped ship. David Tracy and Jason Torchinsky, specifically joined by Beau Boeckmann. And it’s great. Astounding amount of comments from people saying “Hallelujah, I don’t have to go to Jalopnik anymore!”
- Darryl Starbird’s National Rod & Custom Car Hall of Fame Museum: Darryl has an incredible history you can read about in the link. I visited last year during the summer heat and I can say you do need to be Southern to deal with that indoor heat and humidity. Maybe go during the fall. Really a nice museum, out in the deep country on Darryl’s property.
If I had to get an electric vehicle, it would be for fun. In real life I need a car that goes long distances, tows, and doesn’t take long to refill. So electric is still no go for me right now. But I like these, and they would be a fun second car, should I have the money:
- Electric Moke: They even know you might want one that looks exactly like the Prisoner Moke. A nice step up from a golf cart.
- Giant Electric RC Vehicle: This is a hobbyist project in that it comes with a basic engine and battery set. It could be hot rodded considerably over time. It’s a giant electric RC Grasshopper! Can’t beat that.
Some dream cars for me:
- Dodge Ram Charger: Damn, I love those. Give me a bordello red interior and 4×4. I can fix it if it breaks. Which it will.
- Polaris Slingshot: Are these awesome? Yes. Could this be a daily driver? Probably not. I was in Marble Falls, TX and saw over a dozen in the parking lot of the BlueBonnet Cafe, it was a group doing a weekend drive. That would be great.
I currently drive a Grand Cherokee L – I just traded the venerable Mighty Canyonero (a Dodge Durango) for it. Previously I had a Challenger. What do you all like? I know we have some Ram/Dodge fans out there. Got some of those fancy Euro-peen car lovers out there too. What else? Does anyone like road trips? Diesel vs. Gasoline? Car or Bike? It’s a new topic, let’s see if this takes off.
Astounding amount of comments from people saying “Hallelujah, I don’t have to go to Jalopnik anymore!”
Thanks, I’ll check it out.
Yes. The two most respected writers at Jalopnik leave and make their own site. You can almost hear the sucking sound from Jalopnik’s site visits. Really great articles.
These are great:
https://twitter.com/iowahawkblog/
http://dcids.substack.com/
Also this: https://bringatrailer.com/
I am also hoping this could be a shared column-for example, Yusef could post about his Kia woes and give pictures. It’s great if people can also come up with self help services. Ron’s truck rebuild also fits into this theme.
Click and Clunk?
To me, cars are a major component of freedom.
🙂
Current daily driver: Hyundai Genesis.
Fun car: 2021 Mustang.
I have considered getting a Dodge Hellcat before Dodge kills off the Charger. I am saving for something classic and British, preferably a TR-6.
Be sure and save up for all that replacement British wire smoke if you get the TR6.
https://mgb1967.com/replacement-lucas-wiring-harness-smoke/
I had a TR7 at one point. Fun to drive. Maintenance disaster.
I knew I liked you!
I had a 1976 Triumph Spitfire and a 1958 MGA coupe. I shouldn’t have sold either one.
A Big Healy would also work for me.
I had a 1976 Triumph Spitfire and a 1958 MGA coupe.
🙂
I shouldn’t have sold either one.
🙁
When I was in Florida for the Tom Woods 2000th show event, the friend I stayed with and I went over to a car show near where he lives. There was a 50s MG for sale. I can’t remember the year. T-Type, but I don’t remember which one of the T-types. I was tempted.
My current car wish list
Land rover Wolf
M35A3
Nissan Figaro
kei truck with dump
The 4 series convertible I had as a rental once was fun.
Nissan Figaro! There’s one at the Lane Automobile Museum. I hope to visit there next year. Looks very hands on an exciting.
https://www.lanemotormuseum.org/
https://youtu.be/8a1Kr_J_2Gc
Definitely needs to come with the CDs
I’ve been there. I recommend it.
If you ever get to Oklahoma, I’d meet you at Darryl’s.
It could happen. I’m road tripping to Freedom Fest which is in Vegas in July.
When I start planning, I’ll put messages about meet-ups.
Excellent. You’ll lose five pounds in the stifling heat. But it’s amazing. I will do a separate post with my pictures.
I could stand to lose some weight.
Great topic RJ. Kind of a focused open post.
I love cars and motorcycles. I have a daily driver that’s practical. I long to make my dream resto mod. First the Garage is needed.
I’m going to try to document a bit about the building and out fitting of a automotive centered garage for the hobbyist.
Tonio I’ll try to write an article or two about it.
My short term goal is to build a place to store my 1940 Chevy, bikes, and do basic service.
My long term goal is to modernize the drive train of the Chevy so I can drive it without worrying about it starting, dying, or paying out the nose for maintaining it.
Enjoy that Chevy. Would you just update brakes, ignition and intake? Or shove a small block in it?
I will update the suspension, trans and rear brakes, and put a small block in it.
My goal is a driver that sounds and rides well. Not a drag racer.
The skills and experience will allow me to go on to a more modern car like a 70’s or 80’s car with actual performance.
The Bee nails CNN+!
The flatulence you produce could be harvested to power your duel fuel truck!
Current vehicles:
2006 Nissan 350Z (130k miles)
2014 Nissan Xterra (130k miles)
2017 Nissan Titan (43k miles) newest addition to the collection
Wife drives 2019 Nissan Rogue (38k miles)
My goal is to never buy another vehicle.
Nice! Hoping that is at least 20 more years?
I just turned 65. My mother just turned 87. Dad is a spry 86 1/2.
I am shooting for 30 years without buying another car.
I sense a pattern…
He likes to use parentheses?
1998 Nissan 200SX. It had 150k miles on it and was running great until I hit two deer on the freeway in Jan 2006
1999 Nissan Altima. It was traded in for a 2002 Nissan Xterra.
2002 Nissan Xterra. I gave the 2002 Xterra to my daughter in 2014 when I bought a new one in 2014. The 2002 had 170 miles on it when it was destroyed in the 2020 derecho.
2006 Nissan 350Z. Replaced the 200SX with something a bit zippier. Still have it.
2006 Nissan Sentra. Wife drove it for three year but never liked it. It was replaced with a 2009 Forrester.
2014 Nissan Xterra. Daughter’s car blew up. Gave her the old Xterra and bought another one.
2019 Nissan Rogue. This replaced the Forrester. The newer Forrester’s sucked. Subaru was having quality problems due to rapid sales growth.
2017 Nissan Titan. Purchased used. The new ones are overloaded with electronic horseshit, and I won’t own one.
TL/DR. Purchased 8 Nissan over a 24 year period. All performed exceptionally well. Still own four of those eight. I know other people are loyal to Toyota and Honda. The kicker for us has been an outstanding local dealership. Although after 24 years, they are under new management and no longer as trustworthy as they used to be.
My truck was the only non-Subaru Forester in my family of 5.
We had multiple Subarus before I bought the Nissan 200SX. The late 90s were not good to Nissan, so they were running really, really good deals at a time when I needed another car. I loved the 200SX. I’ve been buying Nissan ever since.
A Datsun man?
I have in my shop right now a brand spanking new reman HT383 and custom tranny for my Suburban. I am going to pimp the ever living shit out of that gas guzzler and embarrass my children and future grandchildren with it.
And thank you for the link to the not Jalopnik
Enjoy! I am pleased with it.
I’d really like to build a hot rod at some point as well. Something stupidly dangerous with a five figure Edelbrock intake, just because.
Just make sure the Tranny doesn’t molest your trash can.
Oh, wait, its an SBC.
Thx for the first link. I dumped Jalopnik when they got TDS, but I was just wondering about Tracy and Torch- I miss them.
Now for the rest.
David Tracy has just bought a shit box Ute in Australia and is preparing to fly there, fix it up and drive across Australia. Torchy, God bless him, is masturbating over taillights. It’s great! Lots of others joined, engineers, air force officers, all contributing worthwhile reading.
For a split second, I thought this post was going to be about the 1977 movie The Car.
I might be getting excited for tomorrow night.
Heh heh. Nice one. I might do that someday. I have Aquabats tomorrow, then an almost new film after that, ‘Comrade Dracula.’
Cool.
I actually have tomorrow evening off, so I’m hoping to catch your post when it drops, rather than hours later.
I’ve seen that movie.
I liked the bit about the teacher and the student’s drawing of her.
Now that the garage should be warming up I can finally get the stupid pre -loaded wheel bearings on the Healey shimmed correctly and get to drive the beast.
A Healy! Very cool. I harbor a crazy urge for a Crosley. I would look like a performing circus bear in a toy car but I would enjoy myself.
I am an un-handy car aficionada. An Alfa Spider is not ideal for a second (college-age) car, but I lived. I parked cars in Beverly Hills my last year of school; that was both fun and educational.
Handy is all relative. And nobody is popped out of the womb with a wrench. I would say that enjoying cars also does not need to involve wrenching. I personally enjoy really long road trips in stable, comfortable vehicles. I enjoy cool cars from afar at my age.
I am a stereotypical woman, GHM. I have only so much innate torque. My cheapo Honda is my luxury vehicle.
I could reminisce about 30+-year-old cars though. Dear old eccentric Saabs, diesel Benzes. Told ya I love ’em.
How YOU doin’?
Which makes? As mentioned above, I am a stereotypical woman; I know only how they drive, and paint colors. Mmm, paint.
Seafoam green?
Seafoam green Alfa, yes, if you meant me.
Charlie Babbitt…
Ma’am, your precious.
you’re…don’t want you to think I’m un-cultured (I am.)
I rode the school bus with a severely autistic dude. He could tell you the year, make, model, and details of any oncoming car from the 50’s to the late 80’s.
One of my brothers is like that. Memories of same during that era when I was little in the 70s/80s.
Ugh, flairt.
Nice.
I was a lot guy at a high end Euro dealership. I drove everything under the sun. They also sent me all over the country to drive cars back.
Heaven. Except for 80s Alfas. Those were a goddamn nightmare
Prettiest car ever made: https://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/1968_alfa_romeo_gtv_154048159308495d565e1968-Alfa-Romeo-GTV-2.jpg?fit=940%2C627
(my college girlfriends dad drove an early eighties Alfa. Kinda cool for a Pastor.
Sorry to hear that, Tundra. I miss the Spider, when it worked.
Cars I never should have sold:
1958 MGA Coupe
1976 Triumph Spitfire
1976 Landcruiser
Cars I never should have bought:
1998 Chrysler Town and Country minivan (2 transmissions)
2001 Dodge Dakota 4 door (total A/C replacement, 4 different blower motors, sticky gear shift)
2011 Ford F150 (current ride, engine blew up 1,000 miles after the drivetrain warranty expired)
Best Bang for the Buck:
1976 Ford Pinto in Safety Orange. I bought it from Grandma for $400 and made her teach me how to drive stick. I had a bumper sticker that said “This vehicle explodes on impact.”
1994 Yamaha Seca II 600cc motorcycle. I bought it for just over $1,000 and put over 16,000 miles on it.
Vehicles I Want to Buy:
A 3.0 liter BMW Z4
A Land Rover Defender
An Austin Healy
A Porsche 356
A Factory5 Cobra kit car
A Yamaha FJ-09 or FJR 1300 Sport Touring motorcycle
A center cockpit ketch (minimum 40′) with a bowsprit
A 1969-72 Chevy C10 Shortbox Stepside should also be on the Want to Buy list. Orange or Blue with an oak bed, I’m not picky.
I’m pretty sure I was conceived in the back seat of a late 60’s Barracuda.
The late 60s Barracudas are still relatively cheap.
“So Elaine Robinson got started in a Ford!”
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061722/quotes
The one vehicle I had the chance to buy and didn’t, and still regret it… 1965(and a half) Ford Mustang. It was a collectible and I needed a driveable.
“2011 Ford F150 (current ride, engine blew up 1,000 miles after the drivetrain warranty expired)”
That is impressive engineering.
I drive a 2015 Caprice PPV with a 355 hp LS motor. I also have an ’02 Z28 with an LS1, an ’08 Saab-ro-let with the Atlas DOHC 6 cylinder, the turbo Saturn Sky and a 1962 C10 with some hot-rodding.
In the past I’ve had a long list of classic Chevies. Particularly ’66 and ’67 Chevelles, a bunch of Nova’s, and ’60-’66 and Advance design trucks. I mean, a whole lot of them. Oh, and a 1956 Suburban that I loved. A bunch of el Camino’s also. Don’t get me started on my motorcycle problem. I have about ten Harley’s presently, along with a massive amount of parts.
The best advice I can give someone about car repair, that I can think of quickly, is to buy your own parts and bring them to the shop. Most shop mark up parts by about double. AND, they use middle quality. You can buy high quality and still save money. I used to hate it at my bike shop, but I allowed it.
Another piece of advice, become friends with your mechanic. Bring donuts and make conversation. Make him happy to see you when you go there. It will help you in ways you may never even know.
Buy parts and bring them? One can do that? Good to know.
I suspect my newest (indy) mechanic is autistic. No shuttle, no transpo inquiries. “You’ll have had your tea.”
I’m out for the night. Gotta be up extra early tomorrow.
Me too. Long day tomorrow. Glad everyone likes this topic! Make some posts and let’s fill Wednesdays with vehicular posts.
Jeez, cut and run…
Currently being driven:
2015 Challenger R/T
2006 Silverado 2500HD Duramax (with 6″ lift of course)
We had a 2003 Silverado 2500HD with the 6L gas V8 – what a great truck. Only thing against it was we upsized to a trailer just a little too heavy for it. So we got the 2017 RAM 2500HD Cummins and love it.
The other car is a [shudder] Subaru CrosTrek.
I like not having a touchscreen in my truck.
Currently not on the road:
1968 Coronet 383 2 door sedan
1969 Coronet 383 Coupe, Hemi Orange with Superbee stripe
1972 Landrover 88 Series 3
1974 Chevy 3/4 ton 454
My first car was a 68 Coronet 500 with a 383. I’m still looking for one. My good friend has a GTX from the same year. Every time I ride in it or drive it it’s like going back to high school.
I bought an ’06 Silverado with the Duramax engine two years ago, but it’s a 3500 with a 12′ dump box. I live in an area with a lot of steep hills, and that Duramax just glides up the hills, even with a full load. I love it despite the fact it cost me 250 bucks to fill it up a couple days ago.
I bought that truck to replace a ’74 Chevy C/R 30 (?) with a 350 engine and a grain box dump bed. It only had about 45,000 miles on it and that engine still purred like brand new. I got lots of compliments on that truck. It was still in great shape, but needed too many repairs to pass the DOT inspection every year.
I used to subscribe to a magazine called Grassroots Motorsports (https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/). They got much more flashy, but in the early days they were all about buying a $1,000 POS and rally crossing it. That was my bag.
I have several books and CAD drawerings showing how to make a LoCost (https://www.locostusa.com/) Lotus 7 replica.
I dig this guys youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/JunkyardDigs/videos). He’s all about buying cheap POS and getting them to run.
I’ve been to the Blue Bonnet Cafe twice in the past ten years. What a great spot…
3 Hyundais and a Dodge Ram in my driveway. Thinking about making the drive out to Abilene to go cross stitch fabric shopping, but I look at gas prices and think, “Nah, bruh, that’s 2 tanks of gas.”
3 Hyundais. Heh, I have a 2019 Tuscan Ultimate, loaded, bought it brand new, and the fucking variable speed windshield wipers don’t work on it, never have. I mean it’s a nice car, but WTF? Thier local service department is staffed with idiots. I got pissed at them and now they keep sending me emails asking me to bring it in and promise to fix it and I just ignore them. I may never buy another Hyundai becase of this.
Seriously, I took it in and the guy in the service dept tells me, I got it to work. And I’m like how?, I’ve tried it several times sitting in a downpour and they will not come on, same with my wife. I let my son-in-law drive it and he says ‘Hey man, the variable speed wipers will not come on’, lol. So service idiot tells me I just turned on the washers and it worked! I’m like ‘where the fuck am I? Of course it worked, did you try spraying some water on it or driving it through the car wash?’. So he’s like no, it’s cold outside!’. Motherfuckers, excuse my English.
2 Sonatas and an Azera. The one I drive was my mom’s (bought from Enterprise) and she said it’s the best car she ever owned. She bought a new Sonata to replace it.
Then there’s Granny, who is not a Hyundai.
Yeah, I’m not saying that they are not nice cars. I’m saying their service might just suck, I mean mine is under warrantly, I just made it to a 2nd oil change, so like 7k miles.
Where’d you get that cover picture, RJ? Or did you photoshop that? That is cool as hell, if it’s real, what is that?
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Damnit I forgot the 2 links rule.
I used to subscribe to a magazine called Grassroots Motorsports (https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/). They got much more flashy, but in the early days they were all about buying a $1,000 POS and rally crossing it. That was my bag.
I have several books and CAD drawerings showing how to make a LoCost (https://www.locostusa.com/) Lotus 7 replica.
I dig this guys youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/JunkyardDigs/videos). He’s all about buying cheap POS and getting them to run.
Current car: 2010 Nissan Versa hatch
Dream car: some kind of rough-and-ready Jeep Wrangler with all the bells & whistles
Trying to figure out how to document my RV adventure. My dad takes possession Friday, and I will have to get down to SC ASAP to register it (and set foot on it for the first time!)
I have an ’85 Mazda 626 with collector plates. Bought it for my wife new for a Christmas present, in ’84. Been under a blanket cover in my garage for 25 years, 100K , was running fine when I drove it in.
The missus quit driving, too small for me, I drive an ’04 F150 that I bought new, 100 K, looks new when it gets a bath. Maybe my last car/truck. The Mazda, who knows?
Is it tan? Maybe you got my mom’s car. Though I think ours was a bit older. ’85 was when she was driving it and it was kind of falling apart.
Coffee brown, I haven’t looked at it since I covered it up about ’95, could be the squirrels, mice and chipmunks have made it into a motel.
I did a (short) paper in college about this place: https://www.petersen.org
I always knew I loved cars, but thanks for the reminder, RJ.
We go to the Petersen quite a lot since my son’s always been interested in machines (and the spouse is a sort of casual car guy). They did a good renovation a few years ago to strip out the remainder of the department store it used to be.
The Bond in Motion exhibit the museum has right now is pretty fun if you’re into movies/cars/Bond at all.
No matter what I drive, I have the ultimate super power. I arrive wherever I intended to go First.
Current Car: 2016 Ford C-Max.
Dream Car: I have no idea.
I might just see how long I can keep the C-Max running, because it’s such an uncommon car.
Thinking about it, I’ve always wanted a Crown Victoria for some reason. I can’t articulate why.
Because you are boring and you suck and I hate you.
I’m glad.
Your approval would fill me with shame.
Solid cars, good driving dynamics for a barge, V8 torque. Do yourself a favor and get a Mercury Grand Marquis. Same car, a little more plush. Or even better, get an early aughts Mercury Marauder. It’s a low production Grand Marquis hot rod.
I like Mustangs. Go figure.
I like Fords in general and own three of them. No real particular reason and I won’t defend their honor or anything. It started back with the bailouts and just went from there.
I like most muscle cars, especially the vintage Trans Am era cars. Mmmmm, Trans Am era. I agree about cars and freedom. The Trans Am cars are what I envision when we talk about freedom. Just pure, unadulterated American (and sometimes Aussie) awesome.
I’ve taken my 07 Mustang GT on six different tracks for a total of about 18 track days. I could probably write something about those adventures.
If someone were to offer me a ride in a Ford GT of any year, but especially the newest ones, I would probably cry. I’m not exaggerating. I don’t doubt I would break down and weep with joy and envy.
For you.
That’s why I had to keep specifying Trans Am ERA…
My ’66 Mustang conv cost me $250 in about ’73, came out of WI with lots of rust and a 6 cyl. I drove it 40K and sold it for $600. Solid transportation.
There’s a 72 for sale down the street from me right now. I’m very tempted. White with blue racing stripes.
I work with a very smart guy who is 6′-4″. He drives either a clapped out Toyota MR2 (when it is running) or a recently purchased Lotus Elise.
It is fun to watch him enter or exit said vehicles.
Yes! we have a 6’3 friend who had a GEO METRO. it was like a clown car watching him get out, so funny – but he loved that car.
“Clown Car” is what my wife calls my Fiesta ST. I’m a bit over 6’ and I’m told that watching me getting in or out of it is amusing.
My wife’s ride is a 2012 Chevy Silverado 1500 with around 175K miles
My ride is a 2009 Chevy Silverado 1500 Z71 with around 250K miles on it.
Both run great. I like Chevy trucks, but wouldn’t be against getting Ford one day.
I just don’t like Ford interior designs
Not a fan either, but if I had to pick between Dodge and Ford I think I’d go Ford.
ALTHOUGH…my data points are kind of old. I haven’t actually compared all three current interiors. All I know is I like Chevy and getting as many miles as I have, very nearly trouble-free (knocks on wood), makes me want another Chevy.
Vehicles I have owned:
1965 Buick Skylark
1972 Chevy Malibu
1980 Chevy Luv pickup
1987 Jeep Comanche
1993 Toyota 4Runner
1976 VW Fusca (Brazilian Bug)
1988 Honda Accord
1995 Skoda
1975 Honda 400/4
1989 Dodge Ram van
1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2007 GMC Savanna van
1953 Willys M38 A1
2015 Nissan Pathfinder 4WD
2021 Toyota Tacoma 4WD
I like autos, motorcycles and trucks a whole lot. And yes, private vehicles are a key component of freedom.
I almost bought a ’65 Skylark back in high school. Got the Roadster instead.
I bought mine in high school for $600. It was a sweet deal as the car was in very good shape. I sold it two years later for $1500 to a guy who lived in the ghetto. It was a pretty ghetto fabulous car. It got stolen two weeks later and totaled. Loved that thing.
My dream car is a 1976 electric blue Stingray.
Make it a 1962 Corvette with the exhausts that exit through the bumper…Blue with white coves, please!
1970 Chevelle SS with the 454 LS6 engine.
Blue with white racing stripes. Cowl induction hood, of course.
I’ve forgotten more about Firsting than the average Glib knows about anything. Maybe I’ll write an article or two about it.
I’m a Westside LA soccer mom so I have a 2018 Audi Q5. I enjoy it – its well-made and for its size, it’s peppy. I’m a little afraid of what’s going to happen when it starts to need maintenance. We’ll probably have to get rid of it when it gets to be more trouble than it’s worth.
Oh dream car. Actually what I want to do is to go out to one of the speedways and do one of their courses on driving fast. I don’t need a car that can go fast all the time, but I would like to learn to drive Really Fast.
The husband however has a dream car which is a black Corvette (he used to own one back in the day) and then put the Batmobile (TV show version) red stripes on it.
Yes, yes I do.
https://www.ironbutt.org/
One of the Iron Butt challenges I did was to ride my motorcycle from Wichita , KS to Tucumcari, NM and back (over 1,000 miles) in less than 24 hours. We saw a burning RV on the roadside in NM. We got passed by everybody (even the NM state police) while we were doing 90 mph on the interstate highway. I had blisters in places that shouldn’t have blisters. Would do it again in a heartbeat!
Ex-wife and I flipped a coin at every intersection after a summer of working at a northern MN YMCA camp. We ended up in Canada (back when you didn’t need a passport to go to Canada). I said we should pick up an old man hitchhiker dressed in a suit. She declined. We ended up picking up the next guy (shirtless, tattooed, reeking of B.O., wanted to smoke weed in the car). At least he didn’t murder us, but I’m sure he was capable.
Heh, I just drove from Oregon to Brooklyn and back. Got back less than a week ago. Great trip, and I should write it up.
Yah, shure.
(Er: yes, please do.)
I did California to Maryland in four days. I don’t want to do that again.
UGH! Colorado Springs to Tallahassee, FL in 29 hours (stopping only for gas) and once on the I10 shoulder in Mississippi to allow Hurricane Andrew to pass over us. I said “NEVER AGAIN”. A couple years ago did Brooklyn to North Miami Beach in 22 hours, but I was a vomiting wreck by the time we got there.
Great new segment and will definitely have to check out the new not jalopnick web site. I tried reading Jalopnick, it was too woke before I knew/understood what woke was. I recently intentionally failed to renew my Car and Driver subscription I’ve had since I was 18. It was several different things over that last couple years, maybe it was the Nader apology they published or the increasingly frequent political comments they were starting to inject into their articles, but that was an outlet for me that was no more. Anywho, I like long roofs. My avatar is my current daily (’96 Buick Roadmonster) and rotate out with a Dodge SRT-8 Magnum wagon and an ’01 Audi S4 wagon. The Audi is a stick and I have proudly taught both my daughters how to drive a manual in that car. My youngest really likes it and is talking about getting a BRZ with a stick, so I know I’ve done something right. We have a bunch of other cars in the household, but those are the more interesting ones. Those and a ’78 Tran Am that has been awaiting attention at my buddy’s body shop for 3 years. I don’t know that I have a single dream car, I have several that I still want to get. I’m currently trying to decide between a 1987 Buick Grand National or a early/mid 90s Corvetter ZR-1.
[drools]
A guy I work with has one (with a babyseat). He says it is underpowered.
I like a long roofline as well.
Dream car candidates:
AMG E63 wagon?
RS6 Avant?
Volvo V70R
Manual.
How about a 1957 Chevy Nomad?
Wood.
They were running E63 wagon pace cars at one of the USGPs right after F1 switched to the turbo V6s. The E63s sounded louder/better than the F1 cars.
The F1 medical car is an AMG C63 wagon. I’m annoyed they don’t sell those in this country.
I love the F1 AMG GT safety car. What a beauty. This number with the green stripe is particularly fetching.
https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/vehicles/passenger-cars/amg-gt/mercedes-amg-gt-r-pro/
Always had a thing for wagons. Not much on new stuff, but Porsche has an electric wagon that they say you can drive off the pavement. All they torque on the miles of county roads around here would be cool. ‘Course it costs as much as house.
Nader apology? uck, never mind.
Yeah, it was very cringeworthy, along the lines of “look how many lives he saved, maybe he was right all along”. It was by one of their newer contributors. Safety ratings, yeah, that’s what car folks base their buying decisions on. There was another article that the premise was car dealers are racist and misogynist. As a white male, I can say emphatically car dealers take advantage of everybody regardless of color or creed.
Equal opportunity!
I drive a 2018 Frontier SV 4×4. The wife drives a ’15 Outback.
Classics I have owned: ’68 Datsun Roadster 2000, a ’63 Corvair (last good Chevy motor) ’78 BMW R100/7 and a true rarity, an ’86 Yamaha SRX600 (only imported for one year as an Sound of Singles homologation. It was basically Yamaha’s big dirt bike motor shoved in a tiny road race chassis)
Tundra and I were talking about this, how back in the day so many of us and our friends drove hunks of junk that are now worth a mint. Vintage mustangs, Land Cruisers, 2002’s, early Beetles, RX2’s, etc.
Thanks for reminding me about my ’64 1/2 Mustang convertible (candy apple red with black top) that I sold for $400 and my ’70 Malibu convertible (dark green with white top) that I got maybe $500 in on trade.
Lol.
No one thought about keeping them for a long time. I had a 1984 RX-7 GSL-SE that I sold to finish college. Fucking idiot.
But yeah, if any of us would have had a clue , we would have bought all those shitboxes, put them in a warehouse and then laughed at all the poor people!
Speaking of warehouses. In ’84 or ’85 I was in Burlington, IA to do internal audit. Part of the inventory was off-site, at some warehouse down by the river.
So the warehouse owner is showing me around, takes me to the second floor and whips the cover off his original Mustang convertible (white, black top). It has like 3 miles on the odo. He bought it at the local Ford dealer, drove it right to his warehouse, ramped it to the second floor. I asked him “why second floor?” He pointed in the Mississippi’s direction and said it floods the first floor every so often. I wonder how much he eventually got for that car?
What is the point?
Why own a car and stuff it in a warehouse never to put it on the road? That’s not car ownership, that’s commodity speculation.
You just answered your own question. Assets are assets, dude.
It’s not my thing, but I get it.
I don’t.
You’re wasting the car and how much are you losing in storage costs?
What is wasting a car?
I love that people preserve old cars. There is nothing cooler than participating in classic car shows, The history, the variety, the love, the art.
Sometimes things can’t be reduced to spreadsheets.
It’s collecting. Just like stamps or baseball cards or art or what-the-hell-ever turns your crank.
You can preserve a car and drive it.
Leaving it in a box reduces it to nothing more than a line item on an inventory, It’s the collectors who reduce them to spreadsheets.
You can and many do. But there is something special about preserving history.
I saw the first Mini ever delivered to a dealership. It was in a museum in Scotland. One of coolest things I saw on that trip.
Personally, I am a drive the fucking thing kind of guy, but I love that people aren’t me.
I like that Adam Corolla spent about $4 million on a Paul Newman-owned Porsche and races it.
It’ll be the Ship of Theseus at some point, if it’s not already, but Corolla would still make a profit if he sold it.
The ’80’s. Man what a magical decade.
Right? The malaise days were over and car manufacturers we pulling their heads out of their asses and making cool stuff again.
Supras, Saab 900 Turbos, RX-7s, MR2s, the list goes on and on.
All of the cars today are superior, but none are better.
I liked the 80s because there was a lot of 60s Iron for cheap.
https://youtu.be/UIPr4UyiZGE
What a fantastic topic!
I no longer have a dream car. When I was really young I used to read the car mags at the barber shop while my dad and I got haircuts. Bernie’s. I’ve never found a barber shop that was even close.
I obsessed over cars forever. I’ve lost count on how many I’ve had. When I was young, I made owning a 911 my priority. Then when I finally could have one I lost interest.
For fun I bought the Spitfire and had a wonderful few years tweaking and enjoying that lovely little car. Mad Scientist knows what I mean. But then I moved to CO and sold it to a dude who loves it like I did. The guy has probably $300K in older vehicles and he still texts me to say how much he loves it. In my opinion, it’s one of the funnest old cars you can own.
If you asked me now what I would buy, I would probably pass. I like my truck and if I get to the point that I want a fun vehicle again it will probably be an early 70s Land Cruiser (hi DOOM).
Another fun topic could be the worst cars you’ve ever owned. i’d win, of course.
Thanks, RJ! This is a fun one!
Mais elle est mignonne, ta bagnole.
Delightful little thing! Brings a smile every time you look at it.
Not gonna lie – worked myself into a pretty comfortable buzz ar Half Door Brewing this evening.
Also came across a couple interesting threads
https://twitter.com/serpentza/status/1514402825693904905?t=BvRJ9URfdYLVgbeOkx_Klg&s=19
And 16 months old but still a great read – https://twitter.com/MorlockP/status/1351202070175637510?t=AsZMDu4cIjPlIdEkyrgXow&s=19
Re half door brewing- https://twitter.com/FishLikesFlicks/status/1514416879271440388?t=9t1kqA8EdpdJ_BXjAQpPRw&s=19
My current ride is a 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited in bright blue. I’ve been slowly upgrading it; lifted it slightly, added wheels and some other accessories. Need to replace the bumpers next.
My dream car is a mid 00s Lotus Exige. The Top Gear episode with one has had me wanting one ever since. Harder to find than Hen’s Teeth though.
The Elise, while inferior, is my groove. Cheap to buy, cheap to own, ungodly light and a fucking riot.
That isn’t a terrible idea either. The Elise is a blast to drive. I had a friend with one and it was, as you say, a fucking riot. Maybe I should start looking for one of them.
Easier to find, easier to work on and you won’t care if you scratch it! If you aren’t gonna race, I think it’s a better buy.
Not planning to race. I just want something to bomb around the backroads in.
By pure coincidence, I’m in South Carolina overnighting on a trip from Florida to Virginia International Raceway, using my Expedition to tow my new (to me) GT4. I have a few more track day weekends on schedule this spring, then I’m shipping the car up to New York for a couple of months to have this done to it.
If all goes according to plan, that’ll be it for me, track car-wise. I’ll have the performance of a GT3 Cup car with 1/3 of the spend.
Sweet. Tale pics.
Or, you know, take.
I currently have:
2001 Dodge Ram Diesel with a manual 5 speed for weekends and vacation trips. 352K miles
2005 Saab 9-3 Aero with a 5 speed manual for a daily driver. 184K miles
My wife has a 2009 Toyota Corolla that we bought brand new. 225K miles
I used to have my dream car, a 1973 Charger with a built 440. I ended up giving it to my nephew after a few years of not being able to afford to fix the tranny, kind of regret that now, but even now, I couldn’t afford to do that and my truck at the same time.
Also, my nephew is actually restoring it, so that makes me happy.
My family had a few AMCs back in the day (no – no Gremlins, Pacers, or Matadors,) and the first car I acquired on my own (as opposed to inheriting it from my parents) was a sunny yellow ’80 AMC Spirit. Eventually its hatchback was being propped up with an ancient ax handle (whose rusted head had become a bookend,) and I finally was forced to trade the car in when gas began leaking onto the muffler. ?
Missed the initial topic ;p
My first car was an 87 Acura Integra hatchback purchased in 03. Since then, both my cars have been RAV 4s (2008, 2012 models).
Both of them have handled multiple cross-country interstate drives.
Given my goals in moving to the middle of nowhere – next car will probably be a pickup – Tacoma/Tundra/etc…
Good luck. My son is looking for a Taco and it’s like finding a libertarian woman!
Well hopefully won’t need one in the next few yrs. Only 150k miles on my 2012 RAV4.
My 2018 Taco Off-Road is the first vehicle I ever bought new, my first non-Subaru vehicle (thank Enkidu I deprogrammed myself from *that* cult,) and the only vehicle I’ve ever had that I’ve had random unsolicited compliments on. I love it so much.
Damn. Tucker’s latest Today apparently kicked over a hornet’s nest.
Is there a link accessible to mere mortals?
I don’t see one. His guest was Amy Wax.
Man, I’m way late to this party.
I started out with a whole string of Limey shitboxes (MG, Austin Healey, real minis, a jaguar), moved on to BMWs.
Current “fun car”- Porsche 914. It’s the only mid engine car I have ever owned, and you can really feel the difference in handling dynamics from a front engine, rear wheel drive car. I don’t drive it enough, but the weather is getting warmer, and I no longer live five miles up a dirt road…
What do I WANT? Give me a blank check, and I’ll go buy a Caterham. Naturally aspirated, five speed haitch-pattern gearbox. Fat, but not too fat to slide around, tires.
My second vehicle was/is a ’72 Land Rover. That taught me all I need to know about English vehicles, from Lucas electric to Whitworth threads.
My family had a few AMCs back in the day
’69 AMX, FTW! Diabolical handling, fun as all get-out.
My second vehicle was/is a ’72 Land Rover. That taught me all I need to know about English vehicles, from Lucas electric to Whitworth threads.
But that top speed! Peel the skin right off your face!
Whatever happened to green cars? Saw a Japanese-beetle green BMW last night: nom.
My current Tacoma is a lovely army green. The VW Fusca I owned in Brazil was that wonderful lime green color. Spotted her as we were test driving another Bug that broke down in the middle of price negotiations driving through a favela. There she was across the street in all her glory with a For Sale sign on. Bought her off a mechanic named Big Head and named her Beleza Brasileira (Brazilian Beauty). Frigging loved that car, had so much fun with her.
I had a friend in college whose girlfriend at the time hornswoggled him into driving her and her Land Rover from Massachusetts to Colorado Springs at the end of the summer break. He never wanted to see either one of them again by the time they arrived.
/PJ O’Rourke?
Well, it is a road trip classic.
That didn’t age too well. Funny, though.
Aforementioned (new) BMW was just the color of your avatar, Shpip.
I drove mine from Denver to Spokane. The Ford V6 and overdrive helped speed the trip. We towed it behind a U-haul from NH to Denver, lol.
A story I heard is that one of my neighbors bought one off the lot and after driving it a mile he got out to see if it had any springs.
/PJ O’Rourke?
Was that an appropriated memory? Or just a ’70s social trend?
I dunno, “He never wanted to see either one of them again….” sounds like something he would have written.
Dodge Challenger is the only modern I would fuck if I could….er I mean buy…
Babylon Bee is on our Zooms?
Daily Quordle 80
2️⃣3️⃣
7️⃣5️⃣
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Daily Quordle 80
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Daily Quordle 80
5️⃣4️⃣
7️⃣3️⃣
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8S0_DppB14
Let’s kick this shit off.
I’ve had faster, and/or slightly nicer rides, and of course worse, but my 2018 GTI still makes me happy every single day. It’s the perfect blend of everything for me.
Historically, I change cars every 3 years, or less. I am currently past that point, and still have a full warranty left.
One of the best/worst cars I had was an 86′ jetta GTI. When it ran like it was supposed to, which wasnt often, it was a blast to drive.
I never could get that K-jetronic FI sorted properly.
A manual-tranny GTI may be as close to the perfect do-everything car as there is.
https://news.yahoo.com/man-india-dies-self-immolation-022655058.html
Wait, what?
“A man in India has died by self-immolation after his boss reportedly demanded to have sex with his wife in exchange for a transfer.”
You’re supposed to set your boss on fire in that situation.
Watched a Netflix series(fictional) but, apparently these engineer type positions out in the countryside have a bit of power in India. Usually corrupt, which would explain why the police never bothered to do anything before.
Well, now that her husband made her a widow she’s fair game.
The traditional solution is for her brother-in-law to marry her.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5NZsCYOM4j0
Another one.
Long live the 90s.
https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/video/gamer-saved-by-headset-when-stray-bullet-flies-through-bedroom-window/
Huh.
okay, but did he finish his match or go AFK like a bitch?
Good morning. Or good afternoon. Or good evening. You know who you are.
Morning, prolific one. ? ?
You reminded me I have a pound of bacon I need to use up.
🙂
My go to.
suh’ fam
whats goody
Good morning, homey, TO’G, Sean, and Lack!
After a fair amount of rain last night, at last check there were no puddles in the basement! ::crosses fingers:: Guess maybe the ground is FINALLY thawed out.
I drank entirely too much (as usual) and slept through the entire event. Woke up and found myself 5 minutes late for Rumpke to collect my recycle.
I’m so glad today is a remote day… I just woke up. There’s no way I’d be able to commute physically in six minutes.
I just woke up
Me too. I’m off on Thursdays and Fridays for a while. Coffee maker just beeped. Covfefe!
I have to deliver updates to a project plan by friday, and I keep second-guessing the granularity required.
I hate it when I second guess myself it leads to inaction which is worse than an incorrect level of detail in this case.
Is this how you find out the answers to all our security questions?
I’ve only ever bought practical cars. Latest 2 are hyundais, got a 2012 accent w/10k miles in like 2013 for $10k. still driving it >100k miles later.
How do you make a hormone? Dont pay her.
Las Vegas police: Woman tries to kill man after he refuses to pay for sex
Here is a late night morning car question. How many of you want a manual transmission option in a car?
How many own such a car currently?
Not me! My driver’s ed teacher AND two husbands have all failed to teach me how to drive stick. ? [Note: NOT A EUPHEMISM!!!]
I would like toe opportunity to learn how to operate a manual transmission, but haven’t had the time and money to do so.
I briefly owned a Honda with a manual trans a few years ago. I tried to teach my daughter to drive it a half dozen times. I felt bad for her because she really wanted to drive it. It was a modified Si with a blow-off valve, cold air intake, and custom exhaust. She just could not get it. I don’t understand. Maybe it’s me. I didn’t yell at her, or make rude comments or anything. I was able to teach my wife in three sessions.
Not me, too hard to balance the beer in your lap when you double-clutch.
If it doesn’t come with cupholders, make some out of duct tape, carboard, and red solo cups.
Bench seats were an adventure in the old off-road days.
Hey bro, heard your diagnosis last time, but didn’t get a chance to say that I hope you have a full recovery. Don’t give up hope.
Thanks, Friend. Still processing. It kind of changes everything. Work was weird in that I wanted to be there but at the same time I would rather have been home spoiling the pets and spending time with Judi. She’ll grow sick of me soon enough.
Ive always enjoyed a manual. This camaro has that gay ass select shift with the paddles on the wheel if I want to play race car.
I never use it.
I had a 2012 Challenger with the paddles. I never used them either. My 2015 with a manual has the stupid 1-4 shift solenoid anrd I’ve been too lazy to disconnect it.
I want the option of a MT in a car and the Challenger I drive now has one. My old truck had a manual transmission because I used it often on Forest Service roads in the back country.
I always choose the manual if that’s an option and they make even economy cars seem find of fun.
I wish I knew how to drive one, seems easy enough?
I had a ’89 Cavalier with the 2.0 and manual transmission. It was fun to drive and got 38MPG.
My first new car was ’87 Escort with a *giggles* 1.9L (hemi). It was fun. I guess Ford couldn’t use the term Hemi so called it ‘hi-swirl’ or some shit like that.
Yo!
DSG these days.
Previous:
85 Z28
87 Shadow
00 TT fwd
01 S4
04 A4 3.0
07 A4 3.2
A music selection to follow Sean.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=d8ErYWzJB7M
Why can’t there just be good news? Why does there have to be bad news too?
The hardware component we’ve been waiting on since last year has shipped earlier than the last estimate the manufacturer provided… but they sent it to the wrong address and now people are chasing the delivery company to try to get it rerouted.
“In life there are lots of things that you don’t want to fucking do. That’s what life is… one vile fucking task after another.” The Right Reverend Al Swearengen
Mornin’ Morning People!
Morning, F! ☕️
et alia! ?
Ugh.
I know the strategy to get Freddy Fatman off the news.
Apparently 10 days ago, a cop murdered a black guy. NPR ran the story twice in <10 min.
Ten days ago? That’s some proactive journalism right there…
It’s good to have something ready in reserve.
Current car: WRX STI
Dream car: Something stupid fast, controllable, convertible (M3/M6/Z8/AMG SLK etc.)
Oklahoma collectible car experiences:
I had a friend who’s father that was connected to the Lake Car Auction, so 14-year-old me got to drive some truly exotic cars (not very far). Got trapped in a Vector because nobody could figure out which of the eleventyhundred buttons on the doors opened them.
One of you fine folk linked this the other day, a fisking of the JFK assassination, and I finally slogged through all 2 1/2 hours. It was brilliant and I highly recommend it to anyone who is into the classic conspiracies. However, when he started talking about bullet construction and terminal ballistics though… What’s the thing called? Gell-Mann Amnesia? That’s what immediately happened. All his talk of frangible rounds and hit-men of the 1950s/’60s routinely drilling out bullets and filling them with mercury set off all kinds of bells and whistles in my noggin. It really seemed like a grade school understanding of firearms. Still a fun watch if you have time to spare.
https://youtu.be/0s-0ura05IU
Dream car – WWII or Korean War era Jeep
Worst car – toss up between 1982 VW Rabbit (electrical problems that would put the lads at Lucas to shame) and 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser (hand me down from FiL)
Current driver – 2015 Nissan Rogue (gas mileage almost as bad as that evil Chrysler it replaced)
Favorite owned car – tie between my 1st car, 1968 VW Ghia, and 3rd car, 1973 AMC Ambassador Brougham Wagon (an unstoppable battletank).
Ugh. A Honda Civic that we had that kept blowing the clutch and the timing belt. We were (are) poor so it was repair, not able to replace. At least my days of crawling in the gravel seem to be done. I still know how to do it but I won’t miss mid-winter travels under the chassis.
I didn’t realize there was a worst car line item.
Mine was a Honda Civic that loved to eat starter motors and stall between first and second gear.
1972 Ford LTD.
It was the 70s, what could you expect?
Leaded gas?
At least they had some style. 80’s car were mostly ugly and junk.
When I lost my job in ’94 I drove a ’73 Mercury Cougar for a while. 8 miles to the gallon!
I was told by my Japanese car specialist to stay away from Nissan and Subarus unless I wanted to fund his kids’ college expenses.
As I’ve said before, I’m done with Ford. The first one (Escort) was the least worst with power steering leaks. The three we’ve owned over the last 10 years are POS.
GF’s 2018 Escape needed a whole new motor @~30k.
Glad I didn’t get that 2018 Focus ST…
That’s odd. My experience with Fords is that the mechanicals have been solid but the periferal electronics were crap. (most difficulties with the sound system)
Mind you, because mine haven’t failed, I’ve only had two.
Yep. The Powershi(f)t transmission is an epic fail.
I won a lawsuit over it.
I had very good luck with Ford over the 2000’s. My luck ran out last week. My Edge Sport will be needing a new rear diff at 85K miles.
Current vehicles – 2008 Tacoma crew cab. Rock solid. Wife’s car – 2015 Nissan Juke. Problematic. She drives that thing to hell and back and puts it away wet. Brakes are wonky, blown serpentine belt, the list goes on and on. I hate that car and I really hate working on it.
This is too late so I will post again in linx if no responses – anyone have experience with Cayenne SUV? Looking at some older ones to get my daughter to school and back. I figure if I’m going to pay nearly the same amount for a pile of shit Jeep, I’d look at a high end older vehicle as long as it doesn’t have too many problems.