Car Talk

[SmartAleq]

Originally Posted by AuntiePam

My '99 Camry with 235K miles just lost another water pump. Wouldn't be so bad, but a week ago we put on four new tires.

Sigh. Maybe it's time to go crawling to the bank.

This was supposed to be my last car (bought it new), but Ron's getting tired of trying to keep it running.

I love this car.

Since the water pump is in the same place as the oil pump and timing belt on most of those suckers, pay a couple extra bucks and get them all done at once--the money is in the labor on that, not the parts. Ask me how I know.

[Random Precision]

Originally Posted by SmartAleq

Since the water pump is in the same place as the oil pump and timing belt on most of those suckers, pay a couple extra bucks and get them all done at once--the money is in the labor on that, not the parts. Ask me how I know.

Agreed. That bit of maintenance alone may keep it going for the life of the new tires. Don't sell it until you at least get your money's worth out of them.

[Anacanapuna]

Originally Posted by McNutty

I still like the M Roadster better. The roadster is getting up there in years, being a '99, but it's torquey and fun and basically impossible to keep all four tires planted (because it's too fun not to, not because it's such a beast it can't be controlled). I had to drive it to the smog place on expired plates on Saturday so I knew I should be driving conservatively, but I just couldn't help myself.

It's not your fault. When you have a BMW M Roadster, the normal traffic laws don't apply. Doesn't it say that in your owner's manual?

[McNutty]

Originally Posted by Anacanapuna

It's not your fault. When you have a BMW M Roadster, the normal traffic laws don't apply. Doesn't it say that in your owner's manual?

Somehow I've never managed to get pulled over by a cop that knew about this loophole. Then again, the only thing I've ever gotten pulled over for is an expired registration, so maybe they're looking the other way while I'm hooning it up.

[AuntiePam]

Originally Posted by SmartAleq

Since the water pump is in the same place as the oil pump and timing belt on most of those suckers, pay a couple extra bucks and get them all done at once--the money is in the labor on that, not the parts. Ask me how I know.

That's what we did last time. I think it cost about $1K.

I'm resigned to trading, but I'm leery of used cars. Ron buys used and never keeps anything more than a couple years. Things start to go wrong so he trades, and he always has a loan payment, or a repair bill.

I'm old enough that a new car will definitely be my last.

[Jaglavak]

Get a car that takes the same size tires, and swap the new tires to the new car.

[Lucifer]

I have a 2013 Jeep Wrangler (Sport) (2-door) that I bought new in February 2013. It's my 4th Jeep Wrangler. I call it "Big Red", not because I'm into naming my cars but because, well, it's big and red. LOL

It's without a doubt my favorite Jeep so far. I've been driving them long enough that I know exactly what I want to option and what I can live without. I've got a hard top for the winter and a soft top for the summer, and I bought fabric doors last spring to go with the soft top. This one is a 6-speed stick shift. I'm not really crazy about the clutch feel, and I've never really gotten the hang of it for some reason. It's not for lack of trying or experience, though. Two of my other Jeeps were stick shifts and I had no trouble with them, and at least two or three of the other vehicles I've owned were sticks and similarly never had any trouble with them, either. I also drove trucks for a living for about 8 years, and operated a variety of equipment with stick shifts and (again) no troubles. I spent some time online to find out if I am not the only one that has trouble with the clutch on the '13 JK, and I am not. Seems like my complaint is a fairly common one, and the source of difficulty is the Drive-By-Wire technology used with the gas pedal - there's no mechanical connection to the throttle and there's just not quite the right touch. I found a recommendation to improve things is to disable the traction control, and it definitely helps. I learned I could also reprogram the chip(s) to get better throttle feel, but I'm afraid I'd lobotomize my beloved Wrangler, so I've learned to live with it.

I also have A/C, which you might think is stupid in an open/convertible Jeep, but it's really, really awesome to have. There are only a couple circumstances that I typically use the A/C is when I've got the family with me and we need to drive for a long haul (my wife doesn't really dig the whole sun-in-your-face, wind-in-your-hair driving experience. The other time I use the A/C is when it's how and raining. There's nothing worse than sweltering in a hot, humid car in the pouring rain with no A/C.

The fabric doors are awesome, by the way. The fit isn't great, so they flap at highway speeds but since I changed jobs and only work 3.5 miles from my office in the suburbs, that's not a problem anymore. I could spend the time to re-fit them, I suppose, but it's close enough for me.

Wranglers aren't for everyone, but I really love them.

[Jaglavak]

I agree, the Wrangler is the best Jeep so far. After 60 years, Chrysler engineers finally figured out how to make a short bouncy rig track straight at highway speed. While keeping the super-simple bombproof construction, aside from the electronics. I could wish for better mileage, but there's just no way to make that happen without totally changing the size. The thing pushes as much air as a full size pickup and that is that. It is still IMHO the most capable new 4x4 available today.

[picunurse]

Originally Posted by SmartAleq

Rentals aren't known for being fun and peppy--if they are it leads to big trouble and expense for the rental company. Although Hertz had those drastically overpowered Shelby Mustangs with the black/gold paint schemes back in the day, I bet few of those made it out of the rental market unscathed.

There's a rental place not far from us that rents only very high end cars, like Bentleys and Rolls-Royce. They also have one Ferrari, an Aston-Martin, several I've never seen or heard of. They have several Mustangs and a couple Corvettes.

[AuntiePam]

The fix might not be too bad. Ron thinks it's just a fan. If the AC is on and the car isn't moving, just idling, it overheats.

If it's more than that, I'll be back for advice on a newer car that's just like a '99 Camry. Seriously, I love this car.

[Lucifer]

Originally Posted by Jaglavak

I agree, the Wrangler is the best Jeep so far. After 60 years, Chrysler engineers finally figured out how to make a short bouncy rig track straight at highway speed. While keeping the super-simple bombproof construction, aside from the electronics. I could wish for better mileage, but there's just no way to make that happen without totally changing the size. The thing pushes as much air as a full size pickup and that is that. It is still IMHO the most capable new 4x4 available today.

Supposedly there's a pretty significant redesign pending. Chrysler has been eating shit for years with overall economy and performance ratings, mainly due to the Wrangler. They've been taking baby steps toward reducing wind resistance and increasing fuel economy, and next gen is expected to be a big year.

I've had 2 YJs, a TJ and now my JK, and every single one has been "my favorite so far", so no matter what they do to it, I'll be buying another one in a few years and I'm sure I'll love it.

ETA: I do take a little bit of twisted pride when I'm with a group of people bragging about the fuel economy of their hybrids, and when my turn comes I say I get about 14 MPG in my cinder-block-mobile.

[Nonny J. Nonnington III]

In 2002 I bought a new Nissan Altima. It was a tossup between the Altima and a Camry, but I liked the styling of the Altima and it made some magazine's Car of the Year. It was bigger than I was used to - from 1978 to 2002 I had only driven VWs (1978 Rabbit, 1981 Rabbit, 1984 Jetta, 1996 Jetta). They were tons of fun to drive, and I could parallel park in incredibly tight spaces but I got fed up with their unreliability. Every one developed electrical problems, with only one of them inside the warranty.

So I got the 2002 Altima and was bored with its dependability and reliability. Strongly sensing (correctly) that I was going to get laid off in 2011, I chose to trade it in for a new model. It had over 180k, and was still running fine. I wanted to shoot for 200k, but I knew that if I got laid off I wouldn't be psychologically able to buy a new car. However, I knew that if I had car payments I would honor them. So, I went to the dealership and bought another Altima. I wish I hadn't. Sure, I took it for a test drive, but there are a lot of things that you don't pick up on until later. For one thing, I think that it is wider than the 2002. If it isn't, it feels like it is or maybe the wheelbase is bigger. For another, when I sit in the driver's seat I have only the vaguest idea of where the four corners of the car are. I really don't like backing up, and I always misjudge where my front or back bumpers are. It has a huge rear window, but it is at such an angle that the vertical distance is quite small. To be fair: Good points are the same reliability of the 2002 model, and the CVT is great.

The kicker? When I dropped it off for servicing, they gave me a Rogue as a loaner. As soon as I drove it home I knew that was the car I should have bought. It's built on the smaller Sentra frame, which put me back to the wheelbase I was used to. And I sat taller so I had a better idea of where my four corners were. Such regret; because it was based on a less expensive frame, I probably could have bought it for close to the same money.

[Glazer]

14 MPG my Sprinter gets better mileage than that. I don't trust Chrysler when it comes to Jeeps anymore. Not when they are branding front wheel drive vechicles as Jeep.

[Anacanapuna]

There's always the one that got away.

Back in the early '70s I owned a 1965 Mustang. Had to invest in a lot of repairs -- it was from Texas and my dad said he thought they'd run drugs or guns or both across the border with it. There was a lot of Bondo on it that hadn't been painted very well, bolts were missing from the front bumper, door panels had big speaker holes, turn signal didn't work. Over the two years I owned it, I put about $500 into it. Then I met my wife. She told me I could keep her or the car but not both. I sold the car to my brother for $100. A year later it was towed away -- transmission fell out of it.

Still, I looked fine in that 'Stang for a little while!

[Solfy]

I had a sunroof in the Mazda 5 - my first car with a sunroof. I didn't bother looking for one in its replacement. The only time I opened it was when I was letting the heat out after being parked in the sun.

My first car I bought new (the first car I bought, come to think of it) was a '99 Altima. This was before the embiggening in the early 2000s. It was indeed reliable and booooooring. I drove it for 10 years 150K miles. The AC died 3 years before the car did, and the rusted out exhaust was the final nail in the coffin.

Eldest is in love with Jeep Wranglers. Husband explained to her that they make poor first cars. She's got at least 4 years to go before that's a concern.

[Lucifer]

Originally Posted by Glazer

14 MPG my Sprinter gets better mileage than that. I don't trust Chrysler when it comes to Jeeps anymore. Not when they are branding front wheel drive vechicles as Jeep.

Right? My last one got 8-12 MPG, depending on tire pressure and where I was in my maintenance cycle. I was driving that one a few years ago when gas prices were close to $5/gal, and I was commuting 25 miles each way to my office.

When I first got this one, I was doing more highway driving and got 18-21 MPG, but now that I'm working in the 'burbs I spend all my time on secondary roads. A tank of gas lasts two weeks, though, instead of four days.

[BrickaBracka]

I love my Dodge Magnum. 5.7 Hemi, loads of space. Good stereo, reasonable MPG.

What I hate...is the squeaky low quality front suspension bushings.

I know that I can buy an aftermarket version that's better, but why should I have to? My 92 Corolla didn't have squeaky suspension. My 2000 Acura MDX doesn't have squeaky suspension. Why does my 07 Magnum have it?

It's not fair. I shall now pout in the corner.

[Khampelf]

I'm getting over thirty MPG with the Sprint, city driving. I did put my first scuff on it, scraped a fender backing into the car port. Makes me feel like it's mine now.

Baby blue bumper buggy.

[Jaglavak]

Originally Posted by BrickaBracka

What I hate...is the squeaky low quality front suspension bushings.

I've run into that before, typically with harder bushings like urathane. I'm guessing the Chrysler engineers were tuning the suspension with different bushings, ran into the squeaking problem, and then ran out of time. Spray lube helps sometimes although it's a bit messy. Otherwise the only real cure is to pull it apart.

[JackieLikesVariety]

I may have less interest in cars than anyone else ever.

[Jaglavak]

While most advantages of the hemi head tend to be more theoretical than practical, there's no denying the superiority of the centrally located spark plug for flame front management.

[BrickaBracka]

Originally Posted by Jaglavak

While most advantages of the hemi head tend to be more theoretical than practical, there's no denying the superiority of the centrally located spark plug for flame front management.

The advantages of the hemi head are noticed primarily on the marketing department of the chrysler offices.

Anyway, yeah the suspension has squeaky bushings. I'm considering replacing every single on with urethane high quality ones and properly greasing them upon installation, but I've yet to find that spare $500 and two day's time on a lift to get it done.

[Jaglavak]

The urethane ones have a big tendency to squeak too. If you go that route do yourself a favor and get the special bolts with grease fittings, if you can find them for your car.

[Jaglavak]

When you think about it, the Pantera was simply an excellent application of logic to the problem of a really fast car for a reasonable price.

[ryevermouthbitters]

Apropos the discussion which got this thread started, ten supercars slower off the line than a Taurus. And those don't even include the poorly-engineered post-emissions cars of the US.

[SmartAleq]

Let's be fair here, they're comparing a brand new top of the line Taurus with a 365hp V6 engine in it--fuel injected, turbocharged, yada yada--against a slew of cars the newest of which was manufactured in 1994. And note that the closer in model year they are the closer to the sprint time too. Being faster than 25-50 year old supercars isn't that much of an achievement. Even for a Taurus.

[ryevermouthbitters]

True, but that's kind of the point. These were cars that kids bought posters of -- that superstars bought. Now a 3.6 L engine on a four-door that's affordable for the average suburban dad blows their doors off.

[SmartAleq]

Thing is, though, that a standing quarter mile isn't the only measure of a car and no matter what kind of performance you can wring out of a Taurus ain't nobody ever gonna stand there and go "OOOOOhhh, a TAURUS!!!" as it goes by.

[McNutty]

Also, all those "slow" times are still a shitload better than a friggin' 9 second dodge omni.

[Anacanapuna]

Well, none of the cars shown were built to dominate in the quarter-mile or be quick off the line. They were designed to go fast over a race course and I'm guessing that if you put the hoity-toity new Taurus on the pole position at Le Mans, it would come in dead last -- assuming it lasted 24 hours.

Having said that, however, even the muscle cars of the late '60s and early '70s were "slow" by comparison, but at the time their speeds were the best ever achieved. My favorite, the 1965-68 Chevelle SS396 regularly posted quarter-mile speeds in excess of 100 mph and would hit 60 in 6.5 seconds. Of course, back then Jim Ryun ran a mile in under four minutes. Today he'd come in third in the Olympics.