Cars: Search & Destroy

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Actually, I want one of these...

http://www.portholeauthority.com/thenewtbird/2004/photos/04iceblue7.jpg

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 21:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Would people who know about cars recommend a 2-door or a 4-door Golf for me, considering aesthetics first, and convenience second?

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 21:22 (twenty-one years ago)

I love the Golf! Note, the subtly updated body style should be around soon in the US.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 21:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Search: Japanese cars

Destroy: my p.o.s. Ford Taurus. please.

(though i do have a weakness for cars that are shaped like this, usually 80's buicks)
http://home.nordnet.fr/~mvanseveren/bitume/img/ref/buick_1.jpg

― Amon (eman), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 21:47 (twenty-one years ago)

if you get the 2 door just get a GTI and race people in it after adding an after-market cooling intake and a slightly larger exhaust to drop the backpressure. You should also invest in some of those fancy sparkplugs that add 2 or 3 hp each and look into acquiring crossdrilled discs plus a set of low profile michelins and possibly a more rigid suspension but from my experience the golf ride can be pretty stiff to begin with. Stock is for chumps though.

I would suggest the 4 door.

― TOMBOT, Wednesday, 20 April 2005 21:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Eek, I better get it before they come out with the New Golf and ruin everything. Now, who wants to buy it for me? They don't have the cream interior, so I guess it is grey--cloth.

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 22:01 (twenty-one years ago)

The new Golf is nice. Nothing drastic.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 22:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't like it! It's too space-age and blobby, and I hate the headlights. Why do they have to ruin everything?

Maybe I should just go for a Toyota Corolla that will turn on a dime, fit easily into parking spaces, run forever, and not feel the need to make any design statements.

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 22:09 (twenty-one years ago)

hold out for the Golf Punk

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 22:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Nate P HASN'T posted to this thread?!?!

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 22:58 (twenty-one years ago)

It's not *that* different!

http://www.vwvortex.com/gallery/generated//Volkswagen/Golf%20-%20GTI%20-%20Rabbit/Golf%20V/Generations/066__scaled_600.jpg

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 23:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Used to have a 1975 Toyota Corona wagon, until a friend wrote it off.

Nothing at the moment, but looked at one of these yesterday (w/o the paintjob & fancy addons):
http://www.chrysler.gil.com.au/DrfVnHgn.jpg
Probably will get something similar, but a Ford or Holden version. Anything between 1972-1979

Would love one of these: http://www.allpar.com/model/images/charger/1969-dodge.jpg
or these:
http://www.uniqueautoart.com/vhcharger01.jpg

Mad Max, Italian Job, Gone in 60 Seconds (original), Death Race 2000... the list could go for ages.

PS. Fuck you to anyone wanting an SUV or similar. Hope you die in a rollover.

― Sasha (sgh), Thursday, 21 April 2005 00:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Like the three you posted get any better gas mileage!

― nickn (nickn), Thursday, 21 April 2005 06:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Really? The lights look freaky to me. Lights should look like this

http://graffik.pl/galeria/Mercedes-Benz_olive.jpg

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 21 April 2005 06:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Also, you forgot Vanishing Point, Sasha.

― nickn (nickn), Thursday, 21 April 2005 06:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Like the three you posted get any better gas mileage!
-- nickn (nickn62...), April 21st, 2005 5:01 PM. (later)

You're not 2600% more likely to be killed or injured if you have a collision with them though.

The missing pic is a '69 Dodge Charger. Like Dennis Hopper's in 'Blue Velvet'

― Sasha (sgh), Thursday, 21 April 2005 08:27 (twenty-one years ago)

The mini is fairly quick in standard form, 10.9s to 60mph which is no slouch and the Copper S version is 7.9s to 60mph, which is pocket rocket territory.

My pick of the golf is the GT TDI. Good acceleration. good fuel economy. the 4Motion version would be good if you could afford it. The S TDI is a good seond option.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 21 April 2005 08:52 (twenty-one years ago)

And besides most cars have the ability to accelerate far faster than people do accelerate.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 21 April 2005 09:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, I doubt that late-60s vehicles are much safer than today's SUVs, but maybe this horse has been beaten enough.

I have a '66 Barracuda (not running now), and I really wouldn't want to get hit in that. The gas filler tube goes through the passenger compartment because of the big fastback window, so any disruption there would likely spray gas gasoline all over the compartment.

― nickn (nickn), Thursday, 21 April 2005 19:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Of course the Golf GT TDI is not available in the states, it appears. Diesel cars don't seem to be a thing in the US and performance diesels are a non-starter.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 21 April 2005 19:20 (twenty-one years ago)

We used to have a Diesel car. It was difficult going up hills.

Is the UK all-Diesel?

I pointed out the Golf to my mom today and she confirmed my worst suspicions: "It looks like a small station wagon." :(

Maybe I should just pretend to care about the environment and get a Prius. But can't environmentally safe cars come in boxy packages?

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 21 April 2005 20:17 (twenty-one years ago)

UK is far form all diesel. They are much more popular on the continent. They get good fuel economy. It used to be the case that they were inferior performers compared with petrol equivalents but this is no longer the case. The Prius is good environmentally but the best diesels are only just behind environmentally and much cheaper to buy.

To the European eye the golf looks like a mid sized hatchback, rather than a small estate. Do you get citroen? The 3 door C4 might be right up your street.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 21 April 2005 20:25 (twenty-one years ago)

See also BMW 1 series, Audi A3 and Mercedes C-Class compact, neither of which I like but are probably decent and at the top end of your search. Seat or Skoda (both VW brands) make it to the US?

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 21 April 2005 20:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Alfa Romeo 147?

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 21 April 2005 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, the compact BMW's and Mercedes are the exact shape I am looking for, but I cannot afford (mentally as well as fiscally) their brands.

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 21 April 2005 20:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Unsure of the price differential in the us but mid to high end golf in the UK is approx the same price of the BMW 1 and C-class compact.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 21 April 2005 20:49 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't think we get Citroen, but I just looked at a picture and it is too bubbly. I like boxy--no rounded edges.

I couldn't live with myself if I drove a BMW--it would be like renounding everything the 18-yr-old Mary stood for.

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 21 April 2005 20:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Then again, You Know Who drives a Beemer.

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 21 April 2005 20:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Likewise. Academically surely the C4 3 door is angular enough (5 door is rubbish).

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 21 April 2005 20:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Which European brands do you get , anyway?

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 21 April 2005 20:52 (twenty-one years ago)

You want a Hyundai Elantra.

http://www.autohaus.net/images/2497.jpg

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 21 April 2005 20:54 (twenty-one years ago)

That's not too bad Gabb.

We seem to get most of the Europeans except for the French.

We used to have a nice compact Merc circa 80s that my mom gave away a few years ago argh.

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 21 April 2005 20:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I think my problem is that I don't like the way new cars look.

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 21 April 2005 20:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Saab? Volvo?

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 21 April 2005 20:59 (twenty-one years ago)

the car guys' Elantra review is very positive, but note the poor crash rating

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 21 April 2005 21:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I couldn't drive a BMW because it's all my UVA freshman roommate ever talked about--getting the Beeeeeeemer and I would think of her every time.

Old Volvos are okay but they get a little rusty when you get them old enough to look good. New Vovos are too pedestrian. My mom's friend tried to sell me a white one 10 years ago and I nipped that in the bud.

Saab too swoopy and aspirational.

Basically, I think I want an Old Jetta. Maybe they call with Jetta Classic.

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 21 April 2005 21:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I need an extra safe car because I am an absent-minded driver.

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 21 April 2005 21:04 (twenty-one years ago)

right now I would take an old volvo 850 estate. But then, estate cars suit me.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 21 April 2005 21:05 (twenty-one years ago)

as far as safe cars go, import yourself one renault.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 21 April 2005 21:05 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.4x4offroads.com/image-files/4x4-on-road-in-usa-volvo-army-truck.jpg

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Thursday, 21 April 2005 21:06 (twenty-one years ago)

of course it's no good to you when you want the dents taken out but they do do best in the crash tests

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 21 April 2005 21:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Estate cars=station wagons? Ohhh no. The reason Renault's are safe is bc they don't run long enough to leave the driveway.

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 21 April 2005 21:10 (twenty-one years ago)

The Volvo S40 isn't too bad. And according to their website, it has "superfly styling."

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 21 April 2005 21:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Ed and Mary are talking past each other here, I think. Ed -- the US has German and Scandanavian brands, and some of the Saabs in the States are just rebadged Subarus -- none of the Fiat group (except Ferrari), nothing from the VW family except Audi and VW, no Peugeot or Citroen, no Renault except that there are some Nissan models that share some Renault components, the smaller VWs, MBs, and BMWs aren't available. Given the US obsession with driving vehicles that are basically miniature big rigs, you think there'd be a lot of diesels, but diesel fuel quality and availability are much lower in the States than in Europe so no go.

Mary: there's absolutely no comparison between the quality of today's Renaults and the ones from the 70s and 80s. New French cars are better made today than most new American cars -- it's the same with the Itlians. You should also consider a used C-class Mercedes -- they're terrific cars, and much less expensive than you'd imagine.

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Friday, 22 April 2005 08:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I saw a rover 75 in what appeared to be really good condition for 3500 quid yesterday. I guess the value of these machines is going to drop a lot. I do quite fancy one (the estate car/stn wgn version) i must admit.

Do you get the "SAABaru" in the states, then? IE the impreza wrx w/the saab-styled front end. I don't think they imported them into the uk.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Friday, 22 April 2005 09:09 (twenty-one years ago)

No,I'm pretty sure not. I found this picture though, of the next Saab/Subaru xover vehicle.

http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/tmb/7879_image.jpg

Sickening really!

― TOMBOT, Friday, 22 April 2005 15:07 (twenty-one years ago)

My mom has a Merc so that's what I drive when she let's me, but for me own car I need something more proletarian, with a dash of nice design. Something that says woman of the people, who just happens to appreciate design.

― Mary (Mary), Friday, 22 April 2005 16:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Mary, just go get a Golf already! You'll love it!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Friday, 22 April 2005 16:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Okay! Do you recommend leasing or buying?

― Mary (Mary), Friday, 22 April 2005 16:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Sorry, Tombot, but the 9-2X is a re-badged Impreza, and the 9-7X is a re-badged Chevy Blazer or some other US SUV -- and both are on sale in the States.

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Friday, 22 April 2005 16:56 (twenty-one years ago)

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