What do you drive?

[Donkey]

So, assuming you have a car, what is it, and what factors did you consider when buying it?

I drive a 1995 Toyota corolla. I think it's got 168k miles on it, so it's just getting broken in. I'm pretty happy with the purchase; I've had it for about a year and a half. Stickshift, of course, and a 4-banger, so on good days I can get up to 40 mpg highway! For a sixteen year old vehicle, I can't possibly complain. I'd like to take it up to 200k under my care, but the AC compressor took a shit and fixing it wouldn't make any sense in terms of the value of the car. I'm sticking it out this summer (and the heat blows fine in the winter), but come next summer sometime I may consider upgrading to a slightly newer vehicle. My reasons for buying it were entirely practical: I wanted a quality care that would stand up to being beat around in, and a car that would get excellent mileage. I'm entirely satisfied with both. I also didn't want to pay as much insurance and like being able to put people in it, so a four door was essential.

How 'bout you?

[NickKIELCEPoland]

Nothing - I don't have a driving licence.
May get one sometime though :)

[MeMyselfAndI]

I am a patriot. I drive a Lada Kalina
http://s4.images.drive2.ru/user.blog.photos/x2/4400/000/000/06f/e89/88cd2c7df7489e0f-large.jpg
Taken in Kazan, Tatarstan during our trip there a year ago. Karina in the passenger seat, Kazan Kremlin wall and the Kul Sharif mosque in the background. Yes, I know how to take pictures lol

Actually, contrary to the myth, it's performed very well so far. I mean, it was a week of driving, with stops in Suzdal, Vladimir, etc, along the Golden Ring and elsewhere. The Kalina took it all just fine. Good car.

[NickKIELCEPoland]

You were right about your wife :) Very pretty.

[Donkey]

Sensible looking car. Reminds me of the VW Golf.

[MeMyselfAndI]

You were right about your wife :) Very pretty.

I have taste. In women, cars, etc. Unlike a lot of my friends :rolleyes:

Sensible looking car. Reminds me of the VW Golf.

That was the idea behind it. A fuel-saving car for Russians. Because particularly male drivers here buy huge SUVs, it is a status symbol. Men would compare the sixe of their cars as they would the size of their reproductive organ. Well, now in Moscow and several other cities, drivers who choose smaller, less gas-eating vehicles recieve a special 'red card' that allows you to pump gasoline for free for a year at all stations in your city. I have one, its great. :D

[NickKIELCEPoland]

Well, now in Moscow and several other cities, drivers who choose smaller, less gas-eating vehicles recieve a special 'red card' that allows you to pump gasoline for free for a year at all stations in your city. I have one, its great. :D
That sounds uncharacteristically sensible for Russians ;)

[The Drunk Girl]

I drive a '93 Camry. Only car I have ever had. 240+ miles on the ol girl. No air conditioning, missing a hubcap, yadda yadda. I can still get over 400 miles on the highway though

[dilettante]

So, assuming you have a car, what is it, and what factors did you consider when buying it?


'97 Toyota Avalon.
It's coming up on 200k miles, has taken me (and occasionally a bunch of other people) across the country some half-dozen times, and has never needed major repairs. We got it in 2000 and its been an awesome car ever since. :)

[Donkey]

Here's the old girl, btw.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b145/camilosmurf/Mobile%20Uploads/0716011701.jpg

[MeMyselfAndI]

Here's the old girl, btw.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b145/camilosmurf/Mobile%20Uploads/0716011701.jpg

Ah, your Toyota has the normal steering wheel, on the left. We have so many right-wheelers here. Some guys go to Japan, buy lots of used Toyotas, right-wheel all of them, and bring them back on a ferry and sell them for twice what they bought them for. Before, it was fine, lots of people would choose used Japanese over new Russian... But today, a. it could be 'soaked', meaning it may have been flooded during the tsunami, which may well have damaged internal parts, you never know. But worse, b. it could be radioactive... I am good with my Kalina, I think.

[Donkey]

I didn't know Japan drives on the left side of the road! Huh. Learn something every day.

[NickKIELCEPoland]

I didn't know Japan drives on the left side of the road! Huh. Learn something every day.
Only islands do it these days.

[Zarquon]

I have taste. In women, cars, etc. Unlike a lot of my friends :rolleyes:



That was the idea behind it. A fuel-saving car for Russians. Because particularly male drivers here buy huge SUVs, it is a status symbol. Men would compare the sixe of their cars as they would the size of their reproductive organ. Well, now in Moscow and several other cities, drivers who choose smaller, less gas-eating vehicles recieve a special 'red card' that allows you to pump gasoline for free for a year at all stations in your city. I have one, its great. :D
But if you think about it, if more people then bought these small cars and got free gas, and taking advantage of that, would probably end up using more gas than before the government incentive.
A gasoline tax would be better for conservation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons_paradox).

[Non Sequitur]

I have a 2003 Chrysler 300-m. The only decision fact was that it was a present :lol: Gas is not that great actually.

[Zarquon]

I have a 2003 Chrysler 300-m. The only decision fact was that it was a present :lol: Gas is not that great actually.
That's got to have been a good day for you.

[Non Sequitur]

That's got to have been a good day for you.

It was a college graduation/birthday present. It was very nice though.

[WFCY]

Do you guys think this looks better:

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/images/2009-StreetfighterS-001.jpg

or this one is better:

http://pitotok.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/2011-Yamaha-FZ8-Street-Sport-2.jpg

[Michael]

Two car household...

http://www.car-list.com/newcars/2006/image/2006_chevy_cobalt_ss_front_350.jpg
That's a 2006 Cobalt SS.

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2004/08/11/208664.1-lg.jpg
That's a 2004 Honda Civic SI Hatchback.

[The Drunk Guy]

2006 Nissan Frontier
http://images.thecarconnection.com/med/2006-nissan-frontier-xe_100031694_m.jpg

My last vehicle was also a Nissan....
http://usacars247.com/pictures/20047-0-1997-NISSAN-QUEST-GXE-for-sale-2011-04-05-16-55-24.jpg

I had the GXE which was the fancy production model. It came with an amped 8-speaker stereo system, but I upgraded with 12 in bass woofers with their own amp. Yes, it was a van, but it rocked. :D

[Donkey]

Do you guys think this looks better:

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/images/2009-StreetfighterS-001.jpg

or this one is better:

http://pitotok.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/2011-Yamaha-FZ8-Street-Sport-2.jpg
Hard to compare just based on aesthetics cause they are at different angles, but I like the one on the bottom better.
Two car household...

http://www.car-list.com/newcars/2006/image/2006_chevy_cobalt_ss_front_350.jpg
That's a 2006 Cobalt SS.

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2004/08/11/208664.1-lg.jpg
That's a 2004 Honda Civic SI Hatchback.

Love that Honda.

[Michael]

Love that Honda.
Yes, I really like the look of that car and Honda makes a wonderful car and its a pleasure to drive, no doubt about it - but compared to the Cobalt (2.4L), the Honda (1.7L) is gutless. On the highway, there is no comparison - I'll take the Cobalt.

But I'd really like to have the engine from the Cobalt in the Honda. Now that would be an awesome car. :D

Btw, both cars are 5-speed manuals. :)

[Donkey]

Btw, both cars are 5-speed manuals. :)

Is there any other kind of car? :angel:


I really want Rita to learn to drive stick. She can't drive my car at all, and it's inconvenient sometimes. She's a very nervous driver though, so adding the element of the clutch might be too much. She's kind of stubborn about learning. :sneaky:

[drgoodtrips]

I drive this:

http://images.safeform.com/stock/300/MAZDA/TRIBUTE/2004/5OD.JPG

2004 Mazda Tribute, with just under 90,000 miles.

I was going to buy a new car next month, but I recently sunk a bunch of money into repairing the transmission, so I'll probably keep it for another year or so.

The main factor in my decision for buying the car was the versatility. Gas mileage is comparable to a car, but it can haul a decent amount of stuff inside and on top. That's pretty important, given how much work I do on my place.

For my next car, I'll probably buy a larger SUV. I'm going to be moving to a bigger place in a few years and I'm also thinking about buying a fixer-upper summer home at that time, which would mean even more hauling of supplies and such.

[Donkey]

I drive this:

http://images.safeform.com/stock/300/MAZDA/TRIBUTE/2004/5OD.JPG

2004 Mazda Tribute, with just under 90,000 miles.

I was going to buy a new car next month, but I recently sunk a bunch of money into repairing the transmission, so I'll probably keep it for another year or so.

The main factor in my decision for buying the car was the versatility. Gas mileage is comparable to a car, but it can haul a decent amount of stuff inside and on top. That's pretty important, given how much work I do on my place.

For my next car, I'll probably buy a larger SUV. I'm going to be moving to a bigger place in a few years and I'm also thinking about buying a fixer-upper summer home at that time, which would mean even more hauling of supplies and such.

It might be worth your while to just get a cheap beater pickup truck. It wouldn't be that much more to pay a minimalist insurance on it, and then you wouldn't have to have your every day vehicle be bigger. That's would I would like to do eventually. Have a decent little car for my day to day, and then have like an old Tacoma to bang around in.

[drgoodtrips]

It might be worth your while to just get a cheap beater pickup truck. It wouldn't be that much more to pay a minimalist insurance on it, and then you wouldn't have to have your every day vehicle be bigger. That's would I would like to do eventually. Have a decent little car for my day to day, and then have like an old Tacoma to bang around in.

I've actually thought about just getting a pickup truck as my primary car and dismissed it because of the monstrosity and inability to easily ferry people around, but what you're saying makes sense. Only logistical problem is where I live currently, having an extra car would be a real headache - my driveway is only wide enough for one car and long enough for two, and street parking sucks. Luckily for me, my commute is very small and as I transition to more consulting oriented work, hopefully will start to become non existent.

Perhaps down the line I might go the route you're suggesting. It's been a long time since I contemplated having a coupe as an every day driver. I'm not really sure what I'd want. It'd probably be a war between economical gas mileage (Honda Civic or something) and fun to drive sporty car.

[Nineypsa]

78 camaro.

[Michael]

78 camaro.

That's practically vintage now! :lol:

[nabigo]

I want an Audi R8 but since times are tough, I'm content with my Honda Civic.