WDWFreak53, car discussion

[WDWFREAK53]

The R32 is far too much fun on the commute (like your Z was) ... I have no reason to ditch it yet.

Plus, on the odd weekend I stay in San Juan, or don't go to the rainforest (if I decide to do a quickie trip to the mountains to the west, for example), it's quite a fun car. Also, if SCCPR (local SCCA club) has an autocross day, I like taking it there.

Plus, with the heartache I went through buying the car in Miami and shipping it here to PR (not to mention the vehicle excise taxes and shipping costs, which alone are enough to buy an Aveo or Cobalt), I don't plan on getting rid of this car anytime soon.

Oh, I'm sure it is...but sometimes you have to push "fun" to the side if it means making room for "necessity."

(Why don't you think I still have the Z :lol: ) New house...which means many Home Depot trips. When the lease is up...we'll have another SUV in the house...so I can trade the Avalanche in for the "fun" car.

 

[mkt]

Oh, I'm sure it is...but sometimes you have to push "fun" to the side if it means making room for "necessity."

(Why don't you think I still have the Z :lol: ) New house...which means many Home Depot trips. When the lease is up...we'll have another SUV in the house...so I can trade the Avalanche in for the "fun" car.

lol.. it's the opposite for me in a way. They're both fun cars, just different flavors of fun. I just want something more frugal than the 4Runner, but I can likely wait before going that route.

Maybe after summer I'll think about it again.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

lol.. it's the opposite for me in a way. They're both fun cars, just different flavors of fun. I just want something more frugal than the 4Runner, but I can likely wait before going that route.

Maybe after summer I'll think about it again.

Looks like Tina is looking into the new Murano, 4Runner, and Highlander.

Any suggestions since you're an SUV guy?

We drive in New England weather...and it's a 45 minute commute each way. Gas will be paid for by our company so that's really not an issue as far as cleaning out our pockets goes. Hopefully there will be a child in the near future and we still have those two Boxers to drive around every once in a while.

She likes the Murano for styling and all around "fun."
She likes the Highlander because it's rather a good price with the options she wants and the fact that it has a 3rd row.
She's just always liked 4Runners.

 

[mkt]

Looks like Tina is looking into the new Murano, 4Runner, and Highlander.

Any suggestions since you're an SUV guy?

We drive in New England weather...and it's a 45 minute commute each way. Gas will be paid for by our company so that's really not an issue as far as cleaning out our pockets goes. Hopefully there will be a child in the near future and we still have those two Boxers to drive around every once in a while.

She likes the Murano for styling and all around "fun."
She likes the Highlander because it's rather a good price with the options she wants and the fact that it has a 3rd row.
She's just always liked 4Runners.

Personally, I'd go for the Murano out of those 3. My Highlander was a good vehicle, but the Murano has my heart. The 4Runner, only with the V8.

how am I an SUV guy though? The R32's a hatchback. Granted, an AWD 250BHP hatchback, but a hatcback nonetheless :lol:

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Personally, I'd go for the Murano out of those 3. My Highlander was a good vehicle, but the Murano has my heart. The 4Runner, only with the V8.

how am I an SUV guy though? The R32's a hatchback. Granted, an AWD 250BHP hatchback, but a hatcback nonetheless :lol:

Well, you've had at least one Montero, a Highlander, now the 4Runner...and I thought you were interested in them when you posted about seeing an H2 with a broken axle going over rather "easy" offroad terrain. (I believe it was the H2). :shrug:

 

[mkt]

Well, you've had at least one Montero, a Highlander, now the 4Runner...and I thought you were interested in them when you posted about seeing an H2 with a broken axle going over rather "easy" offroad terrain. (I believe it was the H2). :shrug:

Lol... I'm in to cars I like, regardless of how high up off the ground they are I've also had a Sentra SE-R Spec V (fun car!), Jetta GLI (drives nice... and not much else), an 86 BMW 635csi (sold within the family), and a Ford Focus (for $500, I drove it till it died)

But yeah, seeing the busted H2 put a smile on my day. There isn't vehicle on this earth I despise more than a Hummer H2... well maybe a Caddy Escalade or Lincoln Navigator.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Lol... I'm in to cars I like, regardless of how high up off the ground they are I've also had a Sentra SE-R Spec V (fun car!), Jetta GLI (drives nice... and not much else), an 86 BMW 635csi (sold within the family), and a Ford Focus (for $500, I drove it till it died)

But yeah, seeing the busted H2 put a smile on my day. There isn't vehicle on this earth I despise more than a Hummer H2... well maybe a Caddy Escalade or Lincoln Navigator.

Hehe, I do like the Escalade.

I forgot that the Chevy Trailblazer is also on her list.

 

[mkt]

Hehe, I do like the Escalade.

I forgot that the Chevy Trailblazer is also on her list.

I don't care for the Escalade... too opulent for me. I drove one a few weeks back and I have never been so embarrassed of being seen in a car.

For me, I'd skip the Trailblazer. However, you drive a Chevy, so your view is likely not the same as mine

Personally, the only GM vehicles I can stomach are A- the Corvette, B- the CTS/CTS-V, C- Pontiac GTO/G8, and D- Saturn/Chevy/Vauxhall Astra. The Buick Enclave is nice looking, but it's tantamount to putting a dress on a pig.

 

[mkt]

 

[WDWFREAK53]

I don't care for the Escalade... too opulent for me. I drove one a few weeks back and I have never been so embarrassed of being seen in a car.

For me, I'd skip the Trailblazer. However, you drive a Chevy, so your view is likely not the same as mine

Personally, the only GM vehicles I can stomach are A- the Corvette, B- the CTS/CTS-V, C- Pontiac GTO/G8, and D- Saturn/Chevy/Vauxhall Astra. The Buick Enclave is nice looking, but it's tantamount to putting a dress on a pig.

I love the Enclave for looks...but again, that is all.

My Avalanche is basically the Escalade without the pearls. It is the smoothest riding "truck" I've ever driven and if I had my way, I'd keep her and have Tina get the Camaro...timing is the problem though. I can't go for more than a year with only one vehicle.

 

[garyhoov]

I'm not sure if this is old news, but here's confirmation that the V8 Camaro will have active fuel management:

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2008/03/2010-camaro.html#more

I don't think I'd consider it otherwise, but if they can use AFM to get a decent combination of power and mileage that might make it feel like less of an wasteful indulgence.

That and a reasonable weight (say under 3700 lb.) could get me to consider it.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

I'm not sure if this is old news, but here's confirmation that the V8 Camaro will have active fuel management:

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2008/03/2010-camaro.html#more

I don't think I'd consider it otherwise, but if they can use AFM to get a decent combination of power and mileage that might make it feel like less of an wasteful indulgence.

That and a reasonable weight (say under 3700 lb.) could get me to consider it.

I think you're out of luck on the "UNDER" part of that...you may find it right AT that though.

(Did you know that there is a $2100 "Gas Guzzler Tax" with every Challenger?!?!?!?)

The Camaro should come in around 26mpg.

 

[garyhoov]

I think you're out of luck on the "UNDER" part of that...you may find it right AT that though.

(Did you know that there is a $2100 "Gas Guzzler Tax" with every Challenger?!?!?!?)

The Camaro should come in around 26mpg.

I didn't specifically know it about the Challenger, but I would have expected it. The Charger (and I think everyone's assuming they'll do something very similar with the Challenger) has the lower power "R/T" V-8 that uses Dodge's version of cylinder cut-off . . . but then you're buying the lower output engine in a "muscle-car" and that's got a little of a "kissing your sister" feel to it.

I'm hoping the top end of the Camaro has AFM and, from that article, it sounds like that's what they'll do.

The gas-guzzler tax is what really turned me off from the MZ4.

. . . not because I was particularly concerned with paying the extra $2000 for the tax or the extra money for the gas, but, philosophically, it just bothers me to be driving a car labeled a "gas-guzzler" . . . particularly now.

. . . it just seems sort of selfish and irresponsible.

I'm interested to see the specs on the Camaro, but realistically, it will probably come in at too heavy and too much of a gas-guzzler for my tastes.

. . . but it's good to know they're at least addressing it with AFM.

Do we know what show the final version will be revealed at?

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the Solstice targa and/or coupe this week in New York.

. . . and as much as I'm interested in finding out more about the Camaro, it will probably never be as close to my theoretical ideal car as the Solstice.

 

[flynnibus]

The gas guzzler tax the goverment can look at my middle finger over. It's purely a tax.. just like they tax your beer, or whatever. Cars like these end up polluting so much less then other cars simply because they aren't used as much. A MPG metric is not relevant to your true pollution - its just a normalizer. So don't feel bad about it

Adapt your lifestyle.. not your cars

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Do we know what show the final version will be revealed at?

I don't think it'll be at a car show at all. Rumor has it that it will debut at the Indianapolis Speedway at "Indy Bash 2008" in September. (It's basically a Camaro/Firebird enthusiast gathering for owners where they have different events and allow you to take your car out on the Indy Speedway. Production begins in October of 2008 so this seems like it would be right in line with it...time wise.

 

[DMC-12]

The gas guzzler tax the goverment can look at my middle finger over. It's purely a tax.. just like they tax your beer, or whatever. Cars like these end up polluting so much less then other cars simply because they aren't used as much. A MPG metric is not relevant to your true pollution - its just a normalizer. So don't feel bad about it

Adapt your lifestyle.. not your cars

I think the gas guzzler tax is appropriate.

Now, tell me that the 50 bajillion SUVs here in Illinois, hell in this country, pollute less than anything else. :lol:

 

[flynnibus]

I think the gas guzzler tax is appropriate.

Now, tell me that the 50 bajillion SUVs here in Illinois, hell in this country, pollute less than anything else. :lol:

My car gets 18mpg.. similar to a SUV - yet I've polluted way less then my neighbor who drives a Saturn.

Why? Because I've driven 45k miles in 5.5 years where he drives that much in 6 months. Why? because I chose to pay more to live closer to work where he chose to live far away from work and just drive.

Its not our car choices that are causing pollution.. its our lifestyles.

I walked to the grocery store today rather then driving the car..

Do I feel bad at all that my car gets 18mpg? Hell no.

The gas guzzler tax is purely a tax aimed to deter buyers because that is the only way government can influence buyers. It's not a penalty as much as the government trying to influence you.

But just like you can ignore the advice of the guy who says 'yeah, you should go buy that chevy!!' you can ignore the advice of the government as well and make your own decisions and pay as you see fit.


we'd be 10x more better off with sound urban planning and development then we would trying to trying to endlessly maximize the efficiency cycle of a combustion engine. Drive less... the returns are orders of magnitude better then an extra 10% in MPG.

 

[DMC-12]

we'd be 10x more better off with sound urban planning and development then we would trying to trying to endlessly maximize the efficiency cycle of a combustion engine. Drive less... the returns are orders of magnitude better then an extra 10% in MPG.

all I know is when gas hits over $5 a gal for 87 octane (at todays cost of living $$$).... I am trading in my CTS for a Segway. LOL.

I agree with your post above... somewhat, and while I could sit here and debate fuel economy, guzzler tax...etc..... I cant tonight.. too damned tired/sleep deprived. I'll check back tomorrow when I have a clear/rested mind. :lol::wave::snore::snore:

 

[WDWFREAK53]

'yeah, you should go buy that chevy!!'

I was never a HUGE Chevy guy but my first car was a Chevy (Beretta GTU)...(It was a quick little car and I never had a problem with it)...then I left Chevy...and went to a Jeep Wrangler. (Loved he vehicle, hated everything else about it...if that makes sense. Fun, but that's about it). Went to VW...don't even get me started. From VW I went to Mercury...again, very blah. From Mercury I went back to Chevy with a Silverado (LOVED that truck.). Left the Silverado for the 350Z (which, to this day is still the best vehicle I have owned aside from the damn CD player...). Now I'm in an Avalanche and I love everything about it.

Chevy: 3-0
Daimler/Chrysler: 0-1
Volkswagen: 0-1
Ford: 0-1
Nissan: 1-0

(And, our top cars right now are the Camaro and Murano...it pays to make your customers happy!)

As far as "Chevy" goes...I would go so far as to say that regarding fuel economy, GM is taking more strides than any other car manufacturer out there. You go to a car show and half of GM's display is based on fuel economy.

It may not be the answer...but it's a step in the right direction.

 

[mkt]

You go to a car show and half of GM's display is based on fuel economy.

It's called public relations, it's hardly a scientific affair