Cars

[DrDemento]

Re: Cars

Sleeper is good - that's why I love my Volvo V70R

Speaking of Swedish iron - this is for those of us who don't have supercar cash.

Steve: In 1972 had a SAAB 99E-with something called free wheeling so I only needed to clutch going into first and reverse. Incredible fun car in all sorts of conditions but had everything go wrong with that car mechanically I could think of. In spite of all of that-loved that baby especially in the ice and snow of Troy and Albany NY

 

[joecct]

Steve: In 1972 had a SAAB 99E-with something called free wheeling so I only needed to clutch going into first and reverse. Incredible fun car in all sorts of conditions but had everything go wrong with that car mechanically I could think of. In spite of all of that-loved that baby especially in the ice and snow of Troy and Albany NY

That was before global warming, right??

 

[DrDemento]

Re: Cars

That was before global warming, right??

For some reason I suspect even in 100 years when we have roasted this planet-the hills of Troy will still be ice covered in the winter.

 

[aparch]

Re: Cars

Welp, my 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix was on it's last legs. Had an oil leak from the front of the motor, a cracked wheel hub, cracked and/or broken power steering pump, phantom "low coolant" light, a slow coolant leak that never dripped, and severe underbody rust starting to set in. 198,900 miles.

Had a severe hail storm roll through three weeks ago. Figured what the hell, and let the insurance company take an estimate at repairing it. They stopped counting at $4,000 in repairs. Totaled it out, and offered me: A) to take the money they would offer and wish me the best of luck or B) take the money from them, less a $1,000 salvage fee, and get my car back without repairs.

I took the money, $2,650, and ran. After looking for a great deal used car like an Impala (2011-13, less than 30k miles, 14-16k price) and striking out, I stumbled upon a brand new 2014 Malibu LS. Sticker was $23,400, I walked out with the "out the door, tax, title, license included" for a hair over 20.

Payments are the same as I was making when I bought my Pontiac. I'm happy I lucked into it. Sure, it's just the LS level trim package, but it's about equal to what I had on the Pontiac.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: Cars

Payments are the same as I was making when I bought my Pontiac. I'm happy I lucked into it. Sure, it's just the LS level trim package, but it's about equal to what I had on the Pontiac.

Base trim these days includes so much more than when I bought my prior car back in 2000.

 

[aparch]

Re: Cars

Base trim these days includes so much more than when I bought my prior car back in 2000.

Yep. The only thing missing between my 02 GP and the 14 Malibu is a sunroof. And the OnStar on the Malibu isn't an analog signal that got turned off in 2008.

 

[bigmrg74]

Re: Cars

Welp, my 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix was on it's last legs. Had an oil leak from the front of the motor, a cracked wheel hub, cracked and/or broken power steering pump, phantom "low coolant" light, a slow coolant leak that never dripped, and severe underbody rust starting to set in. 198,900 miles.

Had a severe hail storm roll through three weeks ago. Figured what the hell, and let the insurance company take an estimate at repairing it. They stopped counting at $4,000 in repairs. Totaled it out, and offered me: A) to take the money they would offer and wish me the best of luck or B) take the money from them, less a $1,000 salvage fee, and get my car back without repairs.

I took the money, $2,650, and ran. After looking for a great deal used car like an Impala (2011-13, less than 30k miles, 14-16k price) and striking out, I stumbled upon a brand new 2014 Malibu LS. Sticker was $23,400, I walked out with the "out the door, tax, title, license included" for a hair over 20.

Payments are the same as I was making when I bought my Pontiac. I'm happy I lucked into it. Sure, it's just the LS level trim package, but it's about equal to what I had on the Pontiac.

Yeah, and you should have a little more head room than what the pontiac had as well. That always seemed to be an issue with me with Pontiac's, they never gave you enough head room if you're a big guy.

 

[MattS]

Re: Cars

Yeah, and you should have a little more head room than what the pontiac had as well. That always seemed to be an issue with me with Pontiac's, they never gave you enough head room if you're a big guy.

That's the truth! I have a '04 Pontiac GP and my head almost touches the roof and I'm only 6' tall.

 

[bigmrg74]

Re: Cars

That's the truth! I have a '04 Pontiac GP and my head almost touches the roof and I'm only 6' tall.

I'm 6'4", and I'm pretty sure Aparch is somewhere in the 6 foot range as well. can't remember off the top of my head right now.

 

[aparch]

I'm 6'4", and I'm pretty sure Aparch is somewhere in the 6 foot range as well. can't remember off the top of my head right now.

Yep, 6'2/6'3, depending on which convenience store I'm leaving.

I did have to have the GP's seats leaned back a smidge to fit, I just figured that was due to the sunroof. The Malibu does have more headroom though so I don't need a gangsta lean when driving.

The big thing was the redesign. Prior to 2013, the steering wheel was too low on the dash and I couldn't quite get into the **** thing no matter how I contorted. The 2014 (and maybe '13?) redesign fixed that.

I have the same problem with Nissan and Toyota rental cars as I did with the 02-12 Malibu's.

 

[bigmrg74]

Re: Cars

Yep, 6'2/6'3, depending on which convenience store I'm leaving.

I did have to have the GP's seats leaned back a smidge to fit, I just figured that was due to the sunroof. The Malibu does have more headroom though so I don't need a gangsta lean when driving.

The big thing was the redesign. Prior to 2013, the steering wheel was too low on the dash and I couldn't quite get into the **** thing no matter how I contorted. The 2014 (and maybe '13?) redesign fixed that.

I have the same problem with Nissan and Toyota rental cars as I did with the 02-12 Malibu's.

That's about what I was thinking it was.

I've never had a problem with the steering wheel on my malibu. And its an 05.

 

[SteveP]

Re: Cars

Payments are the same as I was making when I bought my Pontiac. I'm happy I lucked into it. Sure, it's just the LS level trim package, but it's about equal to what I had on the Pontiac.

Looks like you lucked into the Malibu not being one of GM's problem cars.

General Motors said on Monday that it will recall 3.16 million midsize and large cars to modify their ignition keys to prevent the problem that triggered a recall of 2.19 million U.S. small cars in February and March.

Separately, GM announced five other smaller recalls for various problems in a total of 165,770 U.S. vehicles.

That brings GM recalls to 44 this year for 17.73 million U.S. vehicles. Including those in Mexico, Canada and other countries, the total is 20 million vehicles.

 

[aparch]

Re: Cars

Looks like you lucked into the Malibu not being one of GM's problem cars.

Yeah. Saw that.


Doesn't seem to be a GM thing either, as I just read the Feds are investigating Jeep for similar key troubles.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Cars

On the way home from work tonight (Plymouth, MN for the locals), saw a gorgeous Lotus Elise. A light charcoal color, with all the black stripings. One of my favorite looking cars.

 

[LynahFan]

Re: Cars

On the way home from work tonight (Plymouth, MN for the locals), saw a gorgeous Lotus Elise. A light charcoal color, with all the black stripings. One of my favorite looking cars.

Seriously? That's a major ewww for me - there is no accounting for taste!

I much prefer long lines that run the length of the car, like Lamborghinis, Audi R8, Maserati Grantourismo, etc. Can't stand Porches for the same reason - just all knobby and bulgy. like they forgot they were going to put rear tires on the car and didn't leave room for them.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Cars

Seriously? That's a major ewww for me - there is no accounting for taste!

I much prefer long lines that run the length of the car, like Lamborghinis, Audi R8, Maserati Grantourismo, etc. Can't stand Porches for the same reason - just all knobby and bulgy. like they forgot they were going to put rear tires on the car and didn't leave room for them.

I liked the 911 (prefer whale tail) and the 959. Other than that? Meh. Lambos, yes. The others? Meh. Something about the Elise.....the Lotus...trash.

 

[SteveP]

Re: Cars

Is rare to see one, so seeing two Nissan GT-Rs parked side by side at the Penn State GC today was rather unique.

 

[Twitch Boy]

Re: Cars

Is rare to see one, so seeing two Nissan GT-Rs parked side by side at the Penn State GC today was rather unique.

I've seen a couple here in the dead of winter. Granted, it's fancy schmancy computer controlled AWD and it had Blizzaks, but it still takes balls of titanium to put that much power down on ice.

 

[RaceBoarder]

Re: Cars

Having a problem on my 2006 Chevy Colorado and not sure how to go about things... Main thing is that I'm not sure what terminology to use to Google the problem...

What's not working is the Fan Speed Switch on the console... The Temperature Switch and Vent Select Swtich work fine... The Speed Switch (0 = off to 4 = High) only works on "4"... 0, 1, 2, and 3 result in nothing... The problem is not constant however... It would work for a long time, then not work for a short time, then randomly start working again... This time, however, it's been out for about a day and a half... Usually it's been just a few minutes... Anyone ever have a similar problem?

From how it's functioning, it seeems that the Speed Switch is not a vacuum tube... So is this gonna result in a complete tear down of the dashboard in order to put a new switch in?

 

[St. Clown]

Re: Cars

Having a problem on my 2006 Chevy Colorado and not sure how to go about things... Main thing is that I'm not sure what terminology to use to Google the problem...

What's not working is the Fan Speed Switch on the console... The Temperature Switch and Vent Select Swtich work fine... The Speed Switch (0 = off to 4 = High) only works on "4"... 0, 1, 2, and 3 result in nothing... The problem is not constant however... It would work for a long time, then not work for a short time, then randomly start working again... This time, however, it's been out for about a day and a half... Usually it's been just a few minutes... Anyone ever have a similar problem?

From how it's functioning, it seeems that the Speed Switch is not a vacuum tube... So is this gonna result in a complete tear down of the dashboard in order to put a new switch in?

I would suggest either going into a parts store and describe your issue or just get one of these: http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/2006-Chevrolet-Colorado-4WD/Repair-Manual-Vehicle-Maintenance/_/N-jnwstZ8gec7?filterByKeyWord=haynes+manual&fromString=search