OT- Cars

[an]

When talking reliability, I think the Japanese (Honda, Toyota, Nissan) have the German beat. My 8 years old G35 is still running like a champ with almost 100k miles and a couple of track days. I don’t drive it like a granny either. It often see redline a few times a week.

Unfortunately for me, I’ve been power hungry for awhile. Every new (not brand new but next car) always have more power and better handling and my next one won’t be any different. Because of this, although I’d love to stay with Infiniti, since it has treated me well, I have to go German since Japanese have no real option for me. At least not yet.

[scaredyclassic]

Why is the replacement tire price painful but the sticker price exhilarating?

[Coronita]

[quote=squat250]Why is the replacement tire price painful but the sticker price exhilarating?[/quote]

Because first 4 years, you don’t need to deal with maintenance.

And when your car ends up being closer to 14 years, with a book value almost the cost of the tires, you begin to realize that all that engineering and complexity is worth less than rubber…Plus, my burn rate on tires is excessive. Some folks can get 4-5 years on tires. I never do…1.5 years is good for me. And I need to replace 4 at a time because of AWD.

For me, I can be just damn cheap when it comes to old stuff. And I’m a strong believer of once a car is old…less is definitely more, as long as it doesn’t compromise performance…

My headliner fabric just started peeling. I took the headliner material off so the bare metal is showing… Car is going to lose probably 10 lbs when I’m done with everything…. The sunroof is flaky. I’m going to be getting a carbon fiber blank insert to fill in the sunroof hole after I remove the roof and roof track, the electronics,etc. Probably saves another 5-10 lbs. The seats cracking are gonna be pitched soon for lighter seats. And while I’m at it, the carpets are coming out, all the sound deading material too is gonna be scraped off the floor, and only the bare metal will be there.. I might delete the rear seats too while I’m at it. Spare tire goes out (I have roadside service and won’t be taking this on a long trip unless it’s on a trailer hitched to my suv), and jack tools as well. I’d do 16 inch wheels to save on rolling weight and cost of track. But if probably wouldn’t be able to fit in bigger brakes.
If the AC goes, the compressor and piping everything comes out. If the radio flakes out, rip that out and put in some more useful things, like a boost gauge.

[svelte]

[quote=AN]When talking reliability, I think the Japanese (Honda, Toyota, Nissan) have the German beat. My 8 years old G35 is still running like a champ with almost 100k miles and a couple of track days. …[/quote]

True story! Happened not 30 min ago.

I was filling up with gas. At the pump behind me pulled up a Lexus RX300.

The mechanics at the station practically sprinted up to the woman who got out of the Lexus and started pumping gas.

Mechanic: “We like your car!”
Woman: “Thank you!”

Mechanic: “What year is it?”
Woman: “It’s a 2001.”

Mechanic: “Well we love those cars.”
Woman: “So do I! I recommend it to everyone. It has been sooo reliable. Well, I did have to replace the transmission, but the shop said that is a known problem area for these.”

Mechanic: “How many miles do you have on it?”
Woman: “I just turned over 100,000.”

[spdrun]

Pffffffft. My (only) car is almost 30 years old with 230k miles. Making it either a classic, or a piece of junque, depending on what day it is.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=spdrun]Pffffffft. My (only) car is almost 30 years old with 230k miles. Making it either a classic, or a piece of junque, depending on what day it is.[/quote]

Good for YOU, spdrun! That’s low mileage for that age of car. Would you drive it cross-country?

The smart money is paying low insurance premiums and registration fees, IMO.

[spdrun]

Good for YOU, spdrun! That’s low mileage for that age of car. Would you drive it cross-country?

Without so much as thinking twice.

[creechrr]

[quote=flu]

Because first 4 years, you don’t need to deal with maintenance.

And when your car ends up being closer to 14 years, with a book value almost the cost of the tires, you begin to realize that all that engineering and complexity is worth less than rubber…Plus, my burn rate on tires is excessive. Some folks can get 4-5 years on tires. I never do…1.5 years is good for me. And I need to replace 4 at a time because of AWD.

For me, I can be just damn cheap when it comes to old stuff. And I’m a strong believer of once a car is old…less is definitely more, as long as it doesn’t compromise performance…

My headliner fabric just started peeling. I took the headliner material off so the bare metal is showing… Car is going to lose probably 10 lbs when I’m done with everything…. The sunroof is flaky. I’m going to be getting a carbon fiber blank insert to fill in the sunroof hole after I remove the roof and roof track, the electronics,etc. Probably saves another 5-10 lbs. The seats cracking are gonna be pitched soon for lighter seats. And while I’m at it, the carpets are coming out, all the sound deading material too is gonna be scraped off the floor, and only the bare metal will be there.. I might delete the rear seats too while I’m at it. Spare tire goes out (I have roadside service and won’t be taking this on a long trip unless it’s on a trailer hitched to my suv), and jack tools as well. I’d do 16 inch wheels to save on rolling weight and cost of track. But if probably wouldn’t be able to fit in bigger brakes.
If the AC goes, the compressor and piping everything comes out. If the radio flakes out, rip that out and put in some more useful things, like a boost gauge.[/quote]

I thought I was the only one that felt this way. When gadgets that aren’t required for operation fail, they get chucked. Every car I’ve had ends up lighter than when I got ahold of it.

AWD? Scooby, Evo or Quattro?

[Coronita]

[quote=creechrr][quote=flu]

Because first 4 years, you don’t need to deal with maintenance.

And when your car ends up being closer to 14 years, with a book value almost the cost of the tires, you begin to realize that all that engineering and complexity is worth less than rubber…Plus, my burn rate on tires is excessive. Some folks can get 4-5 years on tires. I never do…1.5 years is good for me. And I need to replace 4 at a time because of AWD.

For me, I can be just damn cheap when it comes to old stuff. And I’m a strong believer of once a car is old…less is definitely more, as long as it doesn’t compromise performance…

My headliner fabric just started peeling. I took the headliner material off so the bare metal is showing… Car is going to lose probably 10 lbs when I’m done with everything…. The sunroof is flaky. I’m going to be getting a carbon fiber blank insert to fill in the sunroof hole after I remove the roof and roof track, the electronics,etc. Probably saves another 5-10 lbs. The seats cracking are gonna be pitched soon for lighter seats. And while I’m at it, the carpets are coming out, all the sound deading material too is gonna be scraped off the floor, and only the bare metal will be there.. I might delete the rear seats too while I’m at it. Spare tire goes out (I have roadside service and won’t be taking this on a long trip unless it’s on a trailer hitched to my suv), and jack tools as well. I’d do 16 inch wheels to save on rolling weight and cost of track. But if probably wouldn’t be able to fit in bigger brakes.
If the AC goes, the compressor and piping everything comes out. If the radio flakes out, rip that out and put in some more useful things, like a boost gauge.[/quote]

I thought I was the only one that felt this way. When gadgets that aren’t required for operation fail, they get chucked. Every car I’ve had ends up lighter than when I got ahold of it.

AWD? Scooby, Evo or Quattro?[/quote]

quattro.

Once a car gets to a certain age, I don’t believe in spending maintenance costs more than the car’s book value if that car is going to be driven on public roads. Because IF you happen to get into an accident that isn’t even your fault, the insurance company (your’s/ their’s doesn’t matter) most likely would end up totalling your car than actually pay for the repairs, especially because these days labor is so expensive and components of certain modern cars are expensive.

I’ll give you example. A lot of car’s have HID headlights these days. When these cars end up getting old, it is possible the car itself might be worth $2000-3000. But the HID headlights themselves purchased as a replacement cost would be close to $1000. So let’s just say one has a minor fenderbender and someone in an SUV accidentally backs into your car and crushes the front bumper, two HID headlights, and manages your hood. Although the damage itself isn’t really that extensive, parts/labor could easily run $2000-3000…Insurance would probably consider totally your car. That could leave you in an interesting predicament in which you paid X for repairs over the past few months but were only compensated Y for the value of the car…

[spdrun]

Don’t carry anything other than liability (to $500k) and medical. Problem solved. “Book value” may be low, but the devil you know is often better than the devil you don’t know.

I’m not big on safety — my ideal newer car would be a Tesla Roadster, Lotus Elise, or Fiat 500.

[Coronita]

[quote=spdrun]Don’t carry anything other than liability (to $500k) and medical. Problem solved. “Book value” may be low, but the devil you know is often better than the devil you don’t know.

I’m not big on safety — my ideal newer car would be a Tesla Roadster, Lotus Elise, or Fiat 500.[/quote]

That’s another problem. Because then when you go off somewhere and rent a car, you get gouged by paying for car rental supplemental collision insurance. You can’t waive it if you don’t have collision coverage on any of your cars.

Versus if you actually own a beater, collision coverage is dirt cheap… My beater’s collision is $25 for 6 month, and it has no deductible, while my newer truck has a $500 deductible….

However when I rent a car, the better collision policy on either car applies to the rental (no deductible).

Also, comprehensive ends up being extremely cheap on a beater. I think a no-deductible comprhensive ends up being a few bucks too. That takes care of things like if you’re driving on the freeway and a rock hits your windshield and it cracks.

[spdrun]

That’s another problem. Because then when you go off somewhere and rent a car, you get gouged by paying for car rental supplemental collision insurance. You can’t waive it if you don’t have collision coverage on any of your cars.

Wrong-o.

I have liability only on my car (covers rentals as well) and I always waive supplemental collision. Credit card has collision damage coverage, and actually REQUIRES you to waive the rental company’s insurance.

BTW – not a single rental company has actually ever checked what coverage I have on my personal vehicle. Insurance companies are run by pigs and crooks. No way I’m paying a single cent more to them than I’m required to to protect myself from lawsuits. I’ve never paid more than a few thousand for a car, so cars can be replaced.

Last time, I had a car totaled, I simply went after the insurance of the teenage bint who was yappin’ on her cell phone and not paying attention to traffic lights. Or rather her daddy’s insurance. They ponied up for book value + rental reimbursement + 14 add’l days of rental within a few days. Book value, incidentally, was 2x what I had actually paid for the car! I told them that: they insisted in paying.

They took $250 off for scrap value, let me keep the car, and I sold it on Craigslist to someone who wanted to make a track car.

Guess they knew they couldn’t have won in court, and wanted to cut their losses.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=spdrun]…They ponied up for book value + rental reimbursement + 14 add’l days of rental within a few days. Book value, incidentally, was 2x what I had actually paid for the car! I told them that: they insisted in paying.

They took $250 off for scrap value, let me keep the car, and I sold it on Craigslist to someone who wanted to make a track car.

Guess they knew they couldn’t have won in court, and wanted to cut their losses.[/quote]

Actually, this has happened to me a few times as well. I always paid the salvage value ($250 or so) out of my “settlement” and found a “cheaper” way to fix the car. A little known fact about insurance companies is that they will pay for all the repairs and replacements that were made in the last 12 months (not counting oil changes, etc) on top of offering the blue book value of the vehicle, if their insured was at fault. The “victim” must present his/her receipts.

And I’ve always carried full coverage for the reason given above and to have UM and UIM (close proximity to Mexican drivers who carry $3K liability or none at all). I only pay $747 anually for an 19-yr old Lexus.

It’s ALWAYS wa-a-a-ay cheaper all around to drive older vehicles purchased from a private party. I’ve run the numbers back and forth, even taking into acct 0% (new) and 1.9% (used) mfr financing, cash rebates, discounts for cash and the fact that older cars often need major (over $1K) repairs.

My issue is that I got used to a lot of “bells and whistles” and the ride of a “luxury” car and could never afford to purchase anything like it even “near new.” My next one will be off Joe Sixpack’s driveway.

And spdrun is absolutely right. The “devil you know” is much preferred to the “devil you don’t know.”

[Akula1992]

I have a 2001 Saab nine-five with the turbo charged 4 cylinder engine and it has turned out to be a very good car for me. Inexpensive to run, good gas milage, airbags both front and side, ABS and very peppy with the turbo(ie. fun to drive). I can put three child car seats across the back seat and it is built like a tank.

True story. Several years ago my wife had the car parked in Boston. There was one of those green dumpsters on rollers that is about 8 feet square and 5 feet high in a parking lot across the street. For whatever reason, this dumpster was not tied down and rolled down the hill, out of the parking lot, across the street, into the next parking lot and ran into the front driver side of our car. The car stopped the dumpster dead and the only damage to our car was a crease in the bodywork about 4 inches long and 3/16 inch deep.

Great car and sorry to see the company out of business.

[Author]

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