So what do you drive ?

[joeb]

I like the topper, and good lord, look at all that green grass!

[JHamilton]

.

[Adam43]

[joeb]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

.

I'll pack my mower for Petit.

[Ezzy]

Originally Posted by joeb

Just picked up a 2024 Ford Maverick for work. I don't get to drive it, but it seemed pretty nice on my trip back from the dealership with it!

Initially we wanted to get the hybrid version, but then found out you cannot get all-wheel drive with that. So it was a deal-breaker. Went with the regular gas powered model with all-wheel drive and a towing package. This has to be one of the most inexpensive vehicles for sale right now, sticker price was $23,000 before the added options. I know we got the base trim level, but it is interesting to see what things are included and what things aren't. For instance, nice touch screen and connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, but no power mirrors and no blind spot monitoring seems a little odd.

That’s sharp. That’s cactus grey right?

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Ezzy

That’s sharp. That’s cactus grey right?

Correct, and it seems to work so far. I haven't towed anything with it yet, but hauled a lot of stuff in the back and it is all good.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by joeb

I know we got the base trim level, but it is interesting to see what things are included and what things aren't. For instance, nice touch screen and connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, but no power mirrors and no blind spot monitoring seems a little odd.

This is almost the business model that Toyota and, as it was then, Datsun which is now Nissan, followed back in the 70s, or maybe even earlier.

Their car ranges came out of the factories with all the latest bits and pieces that most people would love to have but which only came as options on European and UK cars. This was why I purchased my first Toyota Crown, because there was only one spec in the range, and that was one with everything that I could possibly want or need. I had gone to Fords hoping to purchase a Granada estate (station wagon), but after over an hour in the showroom I was not finished listing all the things that I wanted; simple things like what seat covering, or what type of seat belt, what radio and what type of ariel to go with it. It was almost like ordering a kit car which had hundreds of components that could be supplied. Oh, and it wouldn't be available for at least 4 months because they had to build the car for me.

That same evening, I went into a Toyota dealership, saw the brand new car that I liked in the showroom, was given a test drive in it, and I collected it the following evening. And that's the way to be a successful business. And when I purchased my third one, about 8 years later, it was in another dealer's showroom up north, and my dealer arranged to take it off their hands and had it brought down on a transporter the next day. It all builds brand loyalty, which is something that is hard to achieve.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

This is almost the business model that Toyota and, as it was then, Datsun which is now Nissan, followed back in the 70s, or maybe even earlier.

Their car ranges came out of the factories with all the latest bits and pieces that most people would love to have but which only came as options on European and UK cars. This was why I purchased my first Toyota Crown, because there was only one spec in the range, and that was one with everything that I could possibly want or need. I had gone to Fords hoping to purchase a Granada estate (station wagon), but after over an hour in the showroom I was not finished listing all the things that I wanted; simple things like what seat covering, or what type of seat belt, what radio and what type of ariel to go with it. It was almost like ordering a kit car which had hundreds of components that could be supplied. Oh, and it wouldn't be available for at least 4 months because they had to build the car for me.

That same evening, I went into a Toyota dealership, saw the brand new car that I liked in the showroom, was given a test drive in it, and I collected it the following evening. And that's the way to be a successful business. And when I purchased my third one, about 8 years later, it was in another dealer's showroom up north, and my dealer arranged to take it off their hands and had it brought down on a transporter the next day. It all builds brand loyalty, which is something that is hard to achieve.

On one hand, I can see how a car company would think letting people customize every detail about their vehicle would be attractive to consumers, but like you say, it can be too much and take forever to finally build your vehicle.

That Maverick actually took 7 months to arrive once I ordered it. But that was more to do with high demand for the product, low parts supplies, and a strike at one point.

While we are talking options, my in-laws purchased a GM vehicle a couple of years ago with heated seats. Except they couldn't turn them on because GM didn't have the physical button/switch available to operate the heaters! So they drove this thing for almost 2 years before they finally got the part in at the dealership and installed it for them.

[JHamilton]

This may just be a truck thing but I hate how options are grouped in large packages. For example, I wanted adaptive cruise control (which is standard on a $40k Kia crossover) but it came as part of a safety package with lane keep assist and an LED rear view mirror for $2800. No thanks. Or I could have opted with the Level 2 equipment package for $4700 that included ACC but also a digital gauge cluster and ventilated reclining rear seats. No thanks. I'm looking at adding it as truck has everything it needs except a different ABS module, the buttons themselves, and the software to reflash which will cost around $1200 total.

Also, it is now cheaper for manufacturers to install screens that it is for hard buttons and gauges. That means that hard buttons, switches, and gauges are now the luxury items but I don't know if the public will ever realize it.

One more thing, GM is getting rid of Android Auto and Apple Carplay under the guise that they are unsafe. In reality, they are working on their own system that you will have to subscribe to and they can collect and sell your data instead of Apple/Google. What they don't realize is that I wont rent, much less buy, a new vehicle without Android Auto.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by joeb

While we are talking options, my in-laws purchased a GM vehicle a couple of years ago with heated seats. Except they couldn't turn them on because GM didn't have the physical button/switch available to operate the heaters! So they drove this thing for almost 2 years before they finally got the part in at the dealership and installed it for them.

I wouldn't buy a vehicle from 21/22 because they are guaranteed to be missing some odd stuff. There are a bunch of loaded up $70k+ Silverados from those years without cruise control or USB charging points.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

So after suffering through soulless vehicles because I have had to be a mostly single income person raising smaller humans, I've not had much to share. Still working on something more fun but this is my new daily. Needs a deep DEEP inside clean as the previous owner is contractor that does lots of his own work in Georgia Red Clay.....



2012 Diesel (cheater) 2.0, 6 Speed

Edit- I see we started with a TDi Jetta so we might as well close the thread

I meant to go and find this at the time you posted and I forgot... It is one of, if not the, most impactful car advertisement campaign of my lifetime. Right, wrong, or indifferent, it's what I think of VW to this day. "VeeDub in the house".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWMpHc77qNI

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

Right, wrong, or indifferent, it's what I think of VW to this day. "VeeDub in the house".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWMpHc77qNI

If only the nurse…

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

I meant to go and find this at the time you posted and I forgot... It is one of, if not the, most impactful car advertisement campaign of my lifetime. Right, wrong, or indifferent, it's what I think of VW to this day. "VeeDub in the house".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWMpHc77qNI

Oh snap!
Total Classics!!

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Proper color.



Can't wait to meet her. Gonna miss the old girl, but looking forward to meeting the new one and her 'adjustments'. Leveling kit step 1?

4 month, 7500mi check in. This is the shiniest I can make a vehicle, it's polished and ceramic coated. It's got Rough Country power side steps, wheel well liners, tow hooks, black badges, 24" Magnaflow muffler, resonator delete, 5" black exhaust tips, tinted front windows, and a Mopar tonneau thanks to broadrun. Phase 1 is complete. Phase 2 starts next spring, I already have the lift and tires picked out.

[Adam43]

That’s a truck

Originally Posted by JHamilton

This is the shiniest I can make a vehicle, .l.

The shiniest anyone can. That is a good job.

Does the coating last?

I took mine to the shop. Just for its safety inspection. On the way home I accelerated and the throttle seemed to get stuck on the way down. Weird. Next press did it again, but I pressed harder and I got full beans.

Got home. Opened the hood to just look round. They’d had to change the oil filter as there was a slight leak around it (must have been me as I’d only just changed it). Anyway, I found a breaker bar resting were the throttle cable goes!

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Adam43

That’s a truck
The shiniest anyone can. That is a good job.

Does the coating last?

I took mine to the shop. Just for its safety inspection. On the way home I accelerated and the throttle seemed to get stuck on the way down. Weird. Next press did it again, but I pressed harder and I got full beans.

Got home. Opened the hood to just look round. They’d had to change the oil filter as there was a slight leak around it (must have been me as I’d only just changed it). Anyway, I found a breaker bar resting were the throttle cable goes!

Well free tool, hopefully your shop buys Snap on and not Hobo Freight

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by Adam43

That’s a truck
The shiniest anyone can. That is a good job.

Does the coating last?

I took mine to the shop. Just for its safety inspection. On the way home I accelerated and the throttle seemed to get stuck on the way down. Weird. Next press did it again, but I pressed harder and I got full beans.

Got home. Opened the hood to just look round. They’d had to change the oil filter as there was a slight leak around it (must have been me as I’d only just changed it). Anyway, I found a breaker bar resting were the throttle cable goes!

Thank you for enabling my OCD. I'm a huge proponent that you can use your vehicle and keep it looking sharp.

I was hesitant about using a ceramic coating because the major downside is that if you have to do any paint correction, you first have to polish off the coating. I used Adam's regular ceramic coating on the paint and wheels and their spray coating on the black plastic, glass, wheel spats, tonneau, etc. The kit and spray was roughly $150 and is stated to last 9 years for the wipe-on and 3 years for the spray. I don't know about the durability yet but if it last 2-3 years, it is worth the cost and effort. It has cut my wash time in half. Everything including dirt and bugs just slide off, it's amazing. If you're a detailing enthusiast, you need to try it out.

Oh no! I'm assuming you're talking about the toy or did you buy a pickup when I wasn't looking? I came within a half a second of ruining the hood on my last truck once when I was closing the hood and I noticed a ratchet sitting on the fender seam. I stopped myself in time but would have been willing to sacrifice my arm to prevent that. I'm glad your problem resolved itself with no damage!

[Adam43]

That’s well worth it. I feel my paint ain’t quite good enough to make it worth while (yes the toy). Dad gets someone to do similar to his, although pays probably three times that. I’m tempted though. And it has a good name.

Still looking for a pickup. Need the right one (cheap enough) to come up when I’ve had enough beers and am on bringatrailer.

Free tool? I took it back! There was a Lotus Espirt outside the shop. And an ‘80s F150 with the two fuel fillers. Wasn’t for sale so still no pick up.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by Adam43

That’s well worth it. I feel my paint ain’t quite good enough to make it worth while (yes the toy). Dad gets someone to do similar to his, although pays probably three times that. I’m tempted though. And it has a good name.

Still looking for a pickup. Need the right one (cheap enough) to come up when I’ve had enough beers and am on bringatrailer.

Free tool? I took it back! There was a Lotus Espirt outside the shop. And an ‘80s F150 with the two fuel fillers. Wasn’t for sale so still no pick up.

That is your Britishness coming through. You are too nice!!! If a mechanic miraculously closes the hood with a breaker bar sitting on the engine, without damaging the hood... that's now your breaker bar. I don't make the rules.

I highly recommend an Aeronose Ford. If you get a '94, you get an airbag too. Otherwise, I'm partial to 2013+ 4th gen Rams with a Hemi. It's a well built truck and that ZF 8 speed might be the best slushbox ever made.

The Lotus Esprit, any iteration, is one of my favorite cars of all time. However, much like boats, I appreciate the Owners for letting me look and ride in it. But I want no part of owning one.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

That is your Britishness coming through. You are too nice!!! If a mechanic miraculously closes the hood with a breaker bar sitting on the engine, without damaging the hood... that's now your breaker bar. I don't make the rules.

It was a decent one, but small. Still, I’ll take the accusation of being nice, doesn’t always happen round here.

I highly recommend an Aeronose Ford. If you get a '94, you get an airbag too.

Do you need an airbag?

That possibly gets into my price range. It is just to experience it and actually don’t want anything too special.

I’m not buying it for proper reasons like you. So I worry I’m just a fraud and will be laughed at. Although it would get used. Basically it is so I can pretend to be American I recon it’s a 40% chance it happens. I enjoy looking. I’m ignorant and am also worried I lose the innocence. I might be oh that is an early series 1 with the 3.8 and flat floor, but here I’m just ooo, look a truck

Otherwise, I'm partial to 2013+ 4th gen Rams with a Hemi. It's a well built truck and that ZF 8 speed might be the best slushbox ever made.

I’d kinda just kept to F-150. Ignorance is bliss. This still looks old and fun. I might expand the search.

I don’t think the age is an issue. I’d wondered about putting it on vintage plates, but I’m partial to driving to work in it and using it more regularly so maybe I just go a little newer. As long as it still looks old ish.

The Lotus Esprit, any iteration, is one of my favorite cars of all time. However, much like boats, I appreciate the Owners for letting me look and ride in it. But I want no part of owning one.

That is a good philosophy.

I wonder if after all these years some examples are now fully sorted. All bits that brake have been replaced. Although quality of replacement parts on classics aren’t always up to scratch

[joeb]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

4 month, 7500mi check in. This is the shiniest I can make a vehicle, it's polished and ceramic coated. It's got Rough Country power side steps, wheel well liners, tow hooks, black badges, 24" Magnaflow muffler, resonator delete, 5" black exhaust tips, tinted front windows, and a Mopar tonneau thanks to broadrun. Phase 1 is complete. Phase 2 starts next spring, I already have the lift and tires picked out.

7500 miles in 4 months???

I am almost to 20k in 31 months!

[Adam43]

It’s all so confusing.

Obviously I don’t want a V6 from these vintages.

And I won’t be doing 7,500 miles in 4 months in it.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by joeb

7500 miles in 4 months???

I am almost to 20k in 31 months!

Mine went over 1500 today, picked up June 30 2023 so I'm gonna set a mileage record for a Ram

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Adam43

It’s all so confusing.

Obviously I don’t want a V6 from these vintages.

And I won’t be doing 7,500 miles in 4 months in it.

I could actually use a truck too, but my wife is not going to be happy if I come home with one. I bought my last car without her knowledge and it was fine, but another vehicle on insurance could bankrupt us, especially with son about to reach driving age!

[Adam43]

Mine would roll her eyes, but I’d cover it with it’s an investment talk. Obviously that wouldn’t fool her, but the second roll eyes would win awards. Then one day I’ll move something big and I’ll be a hero. I’ll say that I am and the rolling of eyes will cause a natural disaster.