Car advice. New long commute

[sdrealtor]

You are judging as yourself at your current position in life not the parent of a newborn with another to follow and two grandparents. My mother had no issue getting in and out if we put her in back row but we also had one of th eparents in row 3 with grannie in front. The math is quite different in that situation. Minivan is what works best and why most parents of young kids get them

[sdrealtor]

I’ve got a friend that has hip issues and has them replaced. He’s over 65 and has driven mini vans for the last 15 years because of the lower step in and maneuverability once inside. It’s easy to think an suv is comparable if you don’t have mobility issues. They aren’t

[spdrun]

It sounds like you’re comparing a 2-row SUV with a 3-row minivan or SUV. In both types of vehicle, the 2nd row is easy to access, but the 3rd row isn’t. The difference is that minivan seats are more easily removable or fold flat. The solution is to just use the van as a 2-row vehicle (with more cargo room, better efficiency, and lower cargo floor than an SUV), or only keep rows 1+3, which gives you basically infinite legroom.

[svelte]

[quote=sdrealtor]Minivan is what works best and why most parents of young kids get them[/quote]

Scaredy has young kids? I must have missed that part.

I though his children were grown.

[Coronita]

[quote=svelte][quote=sdrealtor]Minivan is what works best and why most parents of young kids get them[/quote]

Scaredy has young kids? I must have missed that part.

I though his children were grown.[/quote]

No no no. We’re mixing up gzz and scardey here.

1. Gzz should get a Toyota Sienna because he has young kids, older parents, and needs to be soccer dad eventually.

Gzz, go get your Toyota Sienna hybrid and call it a day.

2. Scardey is an old fart going through mid life crisis… He should get a McLaren Artura and call it a day…It will satisfy his mid life crisis ole fart syndrome. And since it’s a hybrid, he can say he’s mildy going green…sort of… Plus, it’s an automatic, so rowing manual gearbox not required at old fart age, where the hand-eye coordination just isn’t quite there anymore….
Check it out.. https://cars.mclaren.com/us-en/artura

“The next-generation supercar offers next-level driver engagement. The innovative cockpit design brings powertrain and handling control switches within fingertip reach. Keeping your hands on the wheel, and eyes on the road. Electro-hydraulic steering provides optimum feedback.

The E-Motor’s instant torque enables throttle response that’s twice as fast as our pure petrol cars – seamlessly transitioning to the V6 engine to deliver a torrent of power from standstill. Infotainment and connectivity deepen your engagement too – including new HD touchscreens, Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ capability.”

Scardey, go get your McLaren Artura… It’s not that bad. Starts around $238k, which isn’t insane for a supercar. Consider the Ferrari SF90 for example starts at $516k, and there’s a premium such that preowned ones are around $800k, and you can’t simply just walk into a Ferrari dealer and order one. As the saying goes. You don’t pick ferrari…ferrari picks you….

McLaren isn’t as anal retentive. You want, you order, you get. It’s as simple as that. Pay no attention to the fact that McLaren is in financial trouble… With your help, you’ll help them stay alive.

[scaredyclassic]

Not bad. It is making the Leaf seem free by comparison.

[spdrun]

Scaredy should get a motorbike — SV650 gets 50 mpg highway or a 90s Miata and plop a turbo in it. Already gets 30 mpg, some people say that the turbo slightly improves fuel economy.

[Coronita]

[quote=scaredyclassic]Not bad. It is making the Leaf seem free by comparison.[/quote]

That’s what my significant other does. She makes me wait in line to look a the Channel purse that’s like $5000… Then she goes to Tory Burch and shows me the $500 purse she really likes. I’m like, whoa what a steal!

That’s ok I do the same thing…. I take her to go show the latest and great ratchet set from Snap-On that are a few thousand….And then I go to Amazon and show her the ratchet set and impact driver from Makita, and she’s like “whoa, what a steal”….

We have our usual tools for purse gift exchange…

[Coronita]

[quote=spdrun]Scaredy should get a motorbike — SV650 gets 50 mpg highway or a 90s Miata and plop a turbo in it. Already gets 30 mpg, some people say that the turbo slightly improves fuel economy.[/quote]

That certainly is false. Turbo/supercharger does not improve gas mileage in a miata. In fact, FFS supercharger made gas mileage on NA miata go from about 30 to about 18mpg. And Edelbrock supercharger made ND miata gas mileage go from 27 to about 21. Once you get a supercharger or turbo, you aren’t going to drive with mpg in mind.

Also, being that Scardey is probably going to remain in CA, the number of CARB legal options for a NA and ND miata is pretty limited.

ND, you pretty much limited to a BBR turbo or an Edelbrock Supercharger. NA, you’re pretty much limited to the Flyin Miata Turbo or the FFS Supercharger.

Also, Miatas are generally uncomfortable for anyone that is taller than 6 feet. The ND has even less room then the NA.

Also ND miatas are all special order now.
And the price of NA miatas are now gone up a bit, because NA miatas are no longer “cheap sporty cars”. They have moved into the “collectible” category according to Hagerty.
https://www.classic.com/m/mazda/mx-5-miata/

If you don’t have to live in CA, you could have bid on Flyin Miata’s one of a kind ND V8 that was auctioned off at Bring a Trailer.

2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Flyin’ Miata LS3 6-Speed

It sold for $99.7k, i believe the highest price paid for a miata.

Pretty much every miata cult member I knew bid on this.

[spdrun]

NB. The unloved late 90s ugly duckling. Seems to be quite a few of them for $5-7k at least in the East, and there’s something to be said for not having the flip-up lights. Z3s also go for under 10 grand.

Also, what about a motorcycle — as visceral as it gets and a hell of a lot of fun. Basically the “fuck you” to all of those who want everything on the roads to be safe and domesticated.

[Coronita]

[quote=spdrun]NB. The unloved late 90s ugly duckling. Seems to be quite a few of them for $5-7k at least in the East, and there’s something to be said for not having the flip-up lights. Z3s also go for under 10 grand.

Also, what about a motorcycle — as visceral as it gets and a hell of a lot of fun. Basically the “fuck you” to all of those who want everything on the roads to be safe and domesticated.[/quote]

It’s unlikely a $4000 NB miata is in decent shape, especially on the east coast. The subframe is probably covered in rust. Closer to $7000 for decent ones.

NBs are just fine. The might be slightly less desirable in CARB-nazi states like CA, because NB’s started to have 2 cats and OBD2 and finding CARB legal turbo/supercharger kits is even more difficult… but plenty of people have NBs. And CARB legal LS3 V8 swap is out of the question.

But they are still in pretty good demand. If I had the garage space, I’d pick up an NB and leave it stock with better suspension and nothing more.

The NC is probably the most tunable miata and most reliable. Easiest thing would be the Ford 2.5 engine swap. And then put a SC on that. The transmission on the NC is pretty solid, more so than the ND. Fiat was smart and used the NC transmission on the Fiat 124, which is why actually the Fiat 124 is more reliable than the ND Miata. I already broke the ND transmission twice in 22,000 miles, though it was partly used with a supercharger and raced, they probably took the gram strategy way too far and there’s probably enough driveline flex so that the shafts flex enough for the gears to well, you can imagine. If stiffer engine mounts and differential mounts don’t solve this, I’ll eventually do an NC transmission swap, though it will add about 50lbs to the the car. Other people already have.
https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=712509

Anyway, scardey is probably too tall for a miata. And he’s too old for a Toyota 86, which would be a good second option. Toyota Supra would not work, because basically it’s a BMW drivetrain, which Scardey does not want. He could wait for the Infiniti version of the 2023 Twin Turbo Z. It’s a little on the heavy side…

Still think the McLaren is the only answer.

[Coronita]

Oh wait scardey… If you like Honda’s, you can always go retro and get the 2023 Acura Integra.

I miss my old integra from high school days.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a41788950/2024-acura-integra-type-s-confirmed/

And it comes with a manual gearbox!

[scaredyclassic]

I did spend a couple of years commuting a fairly long distance on a mint green vespa 150 in 2004. Even went out to indio once on the 10 freeway, one of the dumber things I’ve ever done. The wind was brutal, and I felt like I was getting blown off the road.

No accidents or near accidents, but very little freeway driving. 150 just the lower limit for freeways.

Ultimately, service was way too expensive on the vespa Also, tire life way too short, inconvenient. Not great for the high mileage I was doing

Was always ATGATT. Looked pretty wild fully geared up on my tiny scooter. That stuff, which I never scrimped on, was really costly too . Full padded leathers, aerostich, massive boots, kevlar gloves, premium full face helmet. , Dainese Spine protector. Spandex hip and knee pads. Separate ventilated summer stuff.

Lane splitting is however attractive.

I still have a non running Honda ruckus in my garage. But maybe I need this

https://powersports.honda.com/motorcycle/scooter/adv150

Hard no on a heavier motorcycle. But I could see riding a nimble scooter again. Still have the motorcycle endorsement on my cdl. Guess I’ll have to buy this one again. Should’ve kept mine

https://www.aerostich.com/men-s-r-3-one-piece-suit.html

Maybe used on ebay

[Coronita]

[quote=scaredyclassic]I did spend a couple of years commuting a fairly long distance on a mint green vespa 150 in 2004. Even went out to indio once on the 10 freeway, one of the dumber things I’ve ever done. The wind was brutal, and I felt like I was getting blown off the road.

No accidents or near accidents, but very little freeway driving. 150 just the lower limit for freeways.

Ultimately, service was way too expensive on the vespa Also, tire life way too short, inconvenient. Not great for the high mileage I was doing

Was always ATGATT. Looked pretty wild fully geared up on my tiny scooter. That stuff, which I never scrimped on, was really costly too . Full padded leathers, aerostich, massive boots, kevlar gloves, premium full face helmet. , Dainese Spine protector. Spandex hip and knee pads. Separate ventilated summer stuff.

Lane splitting is however attractive.

I still have a non running Honda ruckus in my garage. But maybe I need this

https://powersports.honda.com/motorcycle/scooter/adv150

Hard no on a heavier motorcycle. But I could see riding a nimble scooter again. Still have the motorcycle endorsement on my cdl. Guess I’ll have to buy this one again. Should’ve kept mine

https://www.aerostich.com/men-s-r-3-one-piece-suit.html

Maybe used on ebay[/quote]

Ok, ok compromise.

Ariel Atom.
https://www.arielna.com/arielatom

As shown on Top Gear

It’s like a motorcycle, but 4 wheels.

[scaredyclassic]

[quote=Coronita][quote=scaredyclassic]I did spend a couple of years commuting a fairly long distance on a mint green vespa 150 in 2004. Even went out to indio once on the 10 freeway, one of the dumber things I’ve ever done. The wind was brutal, and I felt like I was getting blown off the road.

No accidents or near accidents, but very little freeway driving. 150 just the lower limit for freeways.

Ultimately, service was way too expensive on the vespa Also, tire life way too short, inconvenient. Not great for the high mileage I was doing

Was always ATGATT. Looked pretty wild fully geared up on my tiny scooter. That stuff, which I never scrimped on, was really costly too . Full padded leathers, aerostich, massive boots, kevlar gloves, premium full face helmet. , Dainese Spine protector. Spandex hip and knee pads. Separate ventilated summer stuff.

Lane splitting is however attractive.

I still have a non running Honda ruckus in my garage. But maybe I need this

https://powersports.honda.com/motorcycle/scooter/adv150

Hard no on a heavier motorcycle. But I could see riding a nimble scooter again. Still have the motorcycle endorsement on my cdl. Guess I’ll have to buy this one again. Should’ve kept mine

https://www.aerostich.com/men-s-r-3-one-piece-suit.html

Maybe used on ebay[/quote]

Ok, ok compromise.

Ariel Atom.
https://www.arielna.com/arielatom

As shown on Top Gear

It’s like a motorcycle, but 4 wheels.[/quote]

No lane splitting. So, no. Now I’m liking the super cub

[Author]

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