Car Thread

[mohawk1367]

Almost 40, and have still never owned a vehicle despite desperately wanting one, being super into cars, and having my life made actively worse by public transit.
It's like a universal joke at this point. How does everyone have/afford a car but me? I just don't understand.

my first car was a 800 euros Citroen BX that i paid about 300 too much for and worked 2 months to afford, the one that i crashed a few months back actually, and my 2nd car is the 1st car of many cousins and my sister and was given to me as long as i fixed it because they all rather wanted to keep their 1st car close-ish then getting money from it
so all and all if you are not too picky getting a car is not the hard part, it is the fuel and insurance the more expensive (i only paid the BX about 7 times in insurance over the 5 years i have owned it...)
at least in france those old cars are still rather cheap to buy and maintain, and very little tend to go wrong on them, maybe because there is pretty much nothing on them (although if you do not want to play repair lottery do keep away from old hydro-pneumatic citroens, rolls-royces and mercedeses, quite a few parts in those systems are unobtenium by now, but they are the most comfortable ride money can buy)
and i found some selling one of my ultimate dream cars for cheap, but it is not in france, i have no clues on how to import an old car, and not really enough space for it...

Citroën DS is in my Dream Car Garage list. If Leno says it is the smoothest ride he's ever driven, you know that thing has got to glide like silk in a waxed butthole.

What is everyone's Dream Car list? Like, if you could own anything and have them free roam on your open property like beautiful steel cattle.
My top 3 most loved cars have * but the rest are in no particular order. There's only one on the list I could ever afford, and that's the Sera which is basically a Tercel with butterfly doors and a crazy '90s interior.

*1970 Mazda Cosmo Sport Series II L10B
*Ferrari F40
*Lancia Stratos
Renault Alpine A110 1600
Lamborghini Diablo SV
Lancia Delta Integrale
DeTomaso Pantera
Plymouth Superbird
Lincoln Mark V Designer Series
Citroën DS
Aston Martin DB11 AMR
Toyota 2000GT
Mazda RX-7 FD
Eagle E-Type
Mitsubishi Starion
Toyota Sera
Toyota Land Cruiser
Mercedes AMG E 63 S Wagon

Mercedes-AMG GT C (#1 dream car)

Aston Martin DBS

Bentley Continental GT

Rolls-Royce Wraith

Mercedes-Maybach S Class

Rolls-Royce Wraith

Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R

Ferrari SF90 Spider

Bugatti Chiron

If you could not tell I like luxurious flashy cars

[Pretendo]

The "love at first sight" moment for me was when I climbed into the driver's seat of my first Honda Odyssey. I was immediately smitten with the feeling of "everything is here, just where it should be" (in spite of the fact that the right edges of the sound and temperature controls were slightly more of a reach than I would have wanted) because the configuration and spacing for all the controls was appropriate and comfortable.

ps - I grew up in the 1950s-1960s when dashboards were metal and bristled with all manner of pokers and stabbers, and seat belts (including shoulder belts) were not mandatory in the US until 1968 - although most cars had front seat lap belts by the early 1960s

I've come to appreciate normal cars a lot more in the recent past. I particularly have grown to like cars that age well. Cloth seats and simple design, hard plastics that don't age, scratch easily, or creak.

For me, the car that scratched the itch for a "fun but simple" project was a first gen Miata. It's a very overplayed answer in the car world, not powerful at all and the styling is... divisive, but man are they fun to drive and work on. If you keep them mostly stock and can find one without much rust, they're cheap thrills.

You can do most of their engine maintenance with basic hand tools. Mazda is still producing parts for them OEM despite it being a 33 year old platform.  The aftermarket and forum support for them is huge. They're as basic as any car made in the last 40 years could ever come: most of the interior parts are hard wearing cloth and plastic, the vast majority have a manual transmission, and the most technologically advanced thing in them is the radio (and they were built so simply that the base models didn't even get one of those.)

[noisyturtle]

I absolutely love the look of the upcoming Hyundai N Vision 74. We need more of this boxy angular '80s style in modern vehicles, everything looks so similar these days.

[Rhienfo]

I absolutely love the look of the upcoming Hyundai N Vision 74. We need more of this boxy angular '80s style in modern vehicles, everything looks so similar these days.
(Attachment Link)

Not a big car guy but they way under the headlights angles down like that is really cool, adding the 74 there is a nice touch.

[smarmar]

DAYUM! Seems like Hyundai are stepping up their game. I love the '80's styling A LOT!

That reminds me of the first time I ever saw a Lamborghini Countach in the wild. My friend stopped by my parents' house and we biked to an office park down the street. There she was, all white and sleek and shining. I think we stopped at the corner store for banana Slurpies and GPK cards. It was 1980-something, and life was good.

[Scrambler_S]

Haters gonna hate but am in line for Cybertruck, just gotta wait out Foundation Series to end. 

[fohat.digs]

Haters gonna hate but am in line for Cybertruck

I think that it is a very interesting design concept, and "could have been" an excellent product.

But it is excruciatingly ugly and, as I understand, has many production and quality problems.

[smarmar]

Haters gonna hate but am in line for Cybertruck

I think that it is a very interesting design concept, and "could have been" an excellent product.

But it is excruciatingly ugly and, as I understand, has many production and quality problems.

I love its styling. It's reminiscent of early 3D graphics when every polygon in an object was scrutinized to its bare minimum efficiency. I think they should all come standard with neon Tron-like lighting effects, to round out the futureRetro vibes.

[noisyturtle]

Cybertruck certinally is eyecatching when you see one. I'm always surprised they are bigger than they look in pics, but idk why it always surprises me.

[OrinNYC]

i used to but now i just roll around in my SRT

[noisyturtle]

Now that deregulation of automotive industry safety and standards is coming into effect, I would 100% avoid buying Tesla.
Unless you want to be locked in your vehicle with no way to escape while a faulty battery burns you alive. And your family will have no one to sue.
What a great road the US is going down.

[cndisk6]

2006 款 STI

[noisyturtle]

Reminiscing about the good 'ol days of super tuners with the R33 GTR Jun Super Lemon. It's sad tuners are essentially dead in the modern automotive scene due to everything being automatic and electronic.

[fohat.digs]

essentially dead in the modern automotive scene

The prevalence of replacing physical knobs and levers with touch screens terrifies me (still driving my trusty 2008 Odyssey but it won't last forever).

Want to listen to something else? Take your eyes off the road and focus on a touch screen.

Want to change the temperature a couple of degrees? Take your eyes off the road and focus on a touch screen.

AYFKM?

[smarmar]

essentially dead in the modern automotive scene

The prevalence of replacing physical knobs and levers with touch screens terrifies me (still driving my trusty 2008 Odyssey but it won't last forever).

Want to listen to something else? Take your eyes off the road and focus on a touch screen.

Want to change the temperature a couple of degrees? Take your eyes off the road and focus on a touch screen.

AYFKM?

This terrifies me a tad bit. I hope I kick the bucket before my 2011 Golf so I won't be able to witness a 'puter screen gizmo terminal glowing on my front dash.

[noisyturtle]

Ever since I was a kid I thought Porsche were ugly, and to this day I still find Porsche to be the ugliest non-SUV cars still being made (I hate ALL SUVs).
It is like their base design never really changed or updated, and they all look the same. I just do not get the visual appeal at all.

[smarmar]

Ever since I was a kid I thought Porsche were ugly, and to this day I still find Porsche to be the ugliest non-SUV cars still being made (I hate ALL SUVs).
It is like their base design never really changed or updated, and they all look the same. I just do not get the visual appeal at all.

I've always liked the Porsche styling, especially during the '70s when they all had frog faces. Probably why I like the Jaguar E-type from the same era.

There's nothing attractive about SUVs, even the more recent compact variety.

[fohat.digs]

Ever since I was a kid I thought Porsche were ugly

911 came out when I was a teenager, and I never really liked their appearance, but I think that the most recent iterations are getting much more attractive.

Being a big guy I was never comfortable in any sports car, and now that I am old and stiff - even small sedans are difficult.

[noisyturtle]

Ever since I was a kid I thought Porsche were ugly

911 came out when I was a teenager, and I never really liked their appearance, but I think that the most recent iterations are getting much more attractive.

Being a big guy I was never comfortable in any sports car, and now that I am old and stiff - even small sedans are difficult.

I'll give Porsche ergonomics. Those Germans can really make an amiable interior that is comfortable for both larger and older people. Hell, their engines and handling are amazing as well. Porsche make fantastic sports cars, I just find them to be not aesthetically pleasing at all.
It is difficult to describe, but I'll give it a go; Every Porsche looks like when you pet a dog super hard and it pulls their face back. Its like their signature look since forever.

[fohat.digs]

ooks like when you pet a dog super hard and it pulls their face back

I can see that. The modern ones with the headlights leaning back and more flush with the rest of the front end helps that a lot.

[noisyturtle]

A local dealer has an absolutely beautiful RX-8 in Graphite Grey with the rotary trim kit and touring package for sale. I've been oogling it for like a week whenever I walk by, yesterday a salesman saw me, started her up and gave the engine a few revs for me. God I love the sound of a rotary engine! And that suicide door, idk how people don't love the RX-8. Sure its no RX-7, but that is near-perfection so it really isn't comparable. Also the RX-7 is like 5-6x more expensive.

[fohat.digs]

rotary trim kit and touring package

You should scrape together a few $K and get a good solid 10-year-old 4-cylinder Camry. Boring as hell but dependable - and - it gets you around and keeps you out of the rain. And heck, it is happy to cruise at 80 mph for hours out on the highway if you want to.

I speak from experience, I had 3 of them over the course of over 20 years and they served me very well.

[tp4tissue]

Cars like Computers, are the handcuffs to an unsustainable way of living.  It will all fade away quite soon as energy prices skyrocket.

One should be learning how to make barrels instead of coveting worthless futurism.

[noisyturtle]

rotary trim kit and touring package

You should scrape together a few $K and get a good solid 10-year-old 4-cylinder Camry. Boring as hell but dependable - and - it gets you around and keeps you out of the rain. And heck, it is happy to cruise at 80 mph for hours out on the highway if you want to.

I speak from experience, I had 3 of them over the course of over 20 years and they served me very well.

Camry has no uniqueness or personality. Ya know how you can look at a car and tell "I'm not that guy" how I feel when I see Mercedes, Audis, and Mustangs. I wouldn't feel comfortable or right in any of those vehicles.
And then you are just cruising under $10k cars and keep seeing the exact same Subarus and BMWs - page after page after page... until one uncommon car stops you and you feel it in your muscles and bones that it's like "This is your car"
That's how I feel when I scroll by an RX-8

The other sub-10K cars I was looking at was a >2010 Miata MX-5, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, and the Scion FR-S (specifically I want a 2-door RWD gas powered car, that's the bottom line)

but I'll probably have to settle for an Aprilia S50 scooter 

[fohat.digs]

"I'm not that guy"

My first car was very much like this one.   https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1968-mercury-cougar-8/

Since then I have pretty much always had boring cars. Today I drive a 10-year-old Honda Odyssey and it is stunning how common and boring those are.

You need dependable transportation, style is strictly optional. In my opinion.

[iri]

(specifically I want a 2-door RWD gas powered car, that's the bottom line)

Bad news: you can only afford this.

[Sniping]

rotary trim kit and touring package

You should scrape together a few $K and get a good solid 10-year-old 4-cylinder Camry. Boring as hell but dependable - and - it gets you around and keeps you out of the rain. And heck, it is happy to cruise at 80 mph for hours out on the highway if you want to.

I speak from experience, I had 3 of them over the course of over 20 years and they served me very well.

Camry has no uniqueness or personality. Ya know how you can look at a car and tell "I'm not that guy" how I feel when I see Mercedes, Audis, and Mustangs. I wouldn't feel comfortable or right in any of those vehicles.
And then you are just cruising under $10k cars and keep seeing the exact same Subarus and BMWs - page after page after page... until one uncommon car stops you and you feel it in your muscles and bones that it's like "This is your car"
That's how I feel when I scroll by an RX-8

The other sub-10K cars I was looking at was a >2010 Miata MX-5, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, and the Scion FR-S (specifically I want a 2-door RWD gas powered car, that's the bottom line)

but I'll probably have to settle for an Aprilia S50 scooter 

That's a pretty wide variation of cars. The Miata is truly limiting with its small size, so as an only car, it kind of sucks for that. The FR-S is a solid one, but you need to find a gently used FR-S. In the sub 10K range, FWD offerings are better if you ask me. 8th gen civic Si with factory HFP body kit are awesome, both the coupe and sedan. Fiesta ST is amazing and so fun. Honda Fit (1st/2nd gen sport) is probably the most realistic, practical and fun car out of the bunch, its realistically that's the best choice if you ask me if you want to have a reliable, fun car and own a good product. They've almost doubled in price past few years, but still under 10k.

Truth is, RWD/FWD is really only a serious conversation topic when driving cars hard, and driving cars hard is expensive. You basically have to treat cars as disposable/plan to spend 4 figures+ on random parts every year. Just get something that won't **** the bed and is fun enough on grocery runs.

[noisyturtle]

The 2018-2023 Fiesta ST is sweet, it does look fun to drive but their prices are creeping up these days

[tp4tissue]

RWD is really bad for daily driving.  You can far more easily spin it out and die on slippery roads, water or ice.

AWD or 4WD is the safest. FWD cheaper, so 2nd best.

[iri]

The 2018-2023 Fiesta ST is sweet, it does look fun to drive

I can confirm that it is indeed great fun to drive.

[Sniping]

The 2018-2023 Fiesta ST is sweet, it does look fun to drive but their prices are creeping up these days

doesn't have to be a particular year if you ask me, but I do agree the recaro seats make it look nicer. the biggest ownership issue is the timing belt that needs a replacement at around 100-120k miles. it's a catastrophic failure if the belt breaks so to me that is definitely a risk with a used one. the entire feels laughably cheap if you ask me, but incredible amount of space for its size. overall one of the most fun sub 10k cars for putting around the city if you ask me. worth the money at around 7-10k for a nice, factory, adult owned car. wouldn't touch any of the ones that have cobb accessports on them. terrible sign lol

[noisyturtle]

I know this is a car thread, but I thought this scooter was nice

[noisyturtle]

Yeah, looks like I'm gonna spring for an Aprilia SR-50 scooter. Don't need insurance for anything 50cc or less, and I'll only be using it to go on short neighborhood runs anyway.
Sure, I can absolutely get a car for around $3k, but honestly I'm kind of scared of owning and driving a car. A totally irrational fear fostered by my parents constantly reinforcing how dangerous driving is and how irresponsible I am from my youth. Carried all the way to my 40s, if anything it is much worse now. I'm terrified when I get behind the wheel of a car, but on a motorcycle or scooter I feel safer. Although it is surly the opposite in reality.

The Aprilia is the one though, so many 50cc scooters look really effeminate and kinda gay 

[fohat.digs]

I'll only be using it to go on short neighborhood runs anyway.

In order to be reasonably useful, you need to be able to comfortably get to the grocery store and a utility store of some sort, with a large enough basket to carry a decent load of groceries.

[noisyturtle]

MODS ARE ASLEEP: POST SCOOTERS

Aprilia SR GT Replica 200

[noisyturtle]

Contacting every motorsport importer under the US sun trying to get a-non homologated vehicle imported.
I refuse to give up. I always give up when my dreams get too difficult to achieve.
Someone, somewhere, somehow, has got to be able to deliver on the Aprilia I want.

Even the US Rep of Aprilia USA said it would be extremely difficult, and could not offer advice except ensuring me that I'd need to get it modified to meet emission standards.

Making me sad. I get obsessed with things I can't ever have.

[fohat.digs]

I refuse to give up.

Why do you torture yourself so?

In modern America you need a dependable set of wheels. Also, if you are poor you cannot obsess over looks!

[Sniping]

Contacting every motorsport importer under the US sun trying to get a-non homologated vehicle imported.
I refuse to give up. I always give up when my dreams get too difficult to achieve.
Someone, somewhere, somehow, has got to be able to deliver on the Aprilia I want.

Even the US Rep of Aprilia USA said it would be extremely difficult, and could not offer advice except ensuring me that I'd need to get it modified to meet emission standards.

Making me sad. I get obsessed with things I can't ever have.

so you have a motorcycle license or plan to get one as part of this? I'm not sure what your state laws are about license requirements for mopeds. you don't want to just get a normal motorcycle instead though? There's plenty of cool and usable motorcycles out there for practical daily use and commuting, so why go down a rabbit hole to get an unobtanium model when you can just get a US model aprilia bike for example? just you mentioning emissions standards sounds expensive. if you're set on a small bike, why not just buy a honda navi and go up from there? they're $2500 brand new and don't even require operating a clutch.

[iri]

I refuse to give up.

Why do you torture yourself so?

In modern America you need a dependable set of wheels. Also, if you are poor you cannot obsess over looks!

"non-homologated". He wants a racing motorcycle.