Random Thoughts... [Automotive Edition]

So what color will it be painted, or is it to remain in junkyard camouflage?

Sorry to disappoint public but when we sort out its issues (This being a Toyota, it shouldn't take nearly as long as with the mitsu) Junkyard livery is to be replaced with Dark red/Black.

Also, we're trying to find the inclinometer thing with no results so far.
tercel_clinometer.jpg


I....erm...like the Nissan Cube. :ph34r:

So do I, they tried to do something different in the sea of grey we have for a car market today
 
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Hey guys - should I get this?

It does seem to be quite reasonably priced. :D

No. My neighbor had one and it broke down all the time. One night it was observed to be on fire - they got a new car shortly thereafter.

Note that I'm not saying that the car was at fault for the fire...
 
Okay, you two - TopGear fan cards, hand them over!

An ice blue Suzuki Aerio sedan - or as its known in Europe, Suzuki Liana - doesn't ring any bells?
 
Doesn't make it a good car to own. Don't forget that even Top Gear replaced the Suzukis and only drags them out for F1 drivers these days.
 
That is true - and I wasn't serious about buying an Aerio. (Too small to carry me and my stuff across the country.)

I was just surprised to see a twin to the original "Reasonably Priced Car" for sale here in the US.
 
That is true - and I wasn't serious about buying an Aerio. (Too small to carry me and my stuff across the country.)

I was just surprised to see a twin to the original "Reasonably Priced Car" for sale here in the US.

Uh, they were practically giving them away for a while there. They were not competitive in the US market and didn't sell.
 
I thought the cars were expensive in Denmark, but I can see that a VW Passat in Sacramento is very expensive.
I bought this model 14 days ago and it cost ? 3666 which is about $ 5200.

I would not buy a Suzuki, they have some issues that you have to pay close attention to.

they rust like a Alfa Romeo
The motor is weak
The steering is like controlling an oil tanker.
 
Bad news everyone. I talked to my Dad and my Grandma and they are all like "NAAAAAH IT COSTS TOO MUCH to buy a new car we're just going to repair the (fail) car (of fail)." I told my Dad of the whole it costs a lot to buy the catalytic converters and he was like "Well I can just do that myself it's not that difficult blah blah." I'm questioning this though. Then he was all like well your grandma said she'd buy you a "good" used car after you graduate from your CSU. (Her definition of a good car is questionable. She thinks the Failsubishi is fine.)

I'm seriously having doubts this car is going to last another year and a half, seriously (I don't doubt I'm alone in this thinking). Even just today the car was giving me a weird issue. I went to turn it on and the engine revved extremely high and loud just turning it on. Then either the transmission or the engine were having issues accelerating for a bit after that (it wasn't accelerating properly and the transmission was having issues changing gears). It seemed to stop after a couple of minutes, but I haven't had that issue before. And no, I don't just go right as soon as I turn on the car. I usually wait 30 seconds to a minute or two after turning it on.
 
Apparently, women in their 40s go bonkers for the thing. The secondary demographic is women in their 20s.

Yup. A friend of mine, 27-years-old, bought one. I recommended the Ford Fusion, the Infiniti G35 sedan, even the Volvo S40...she went for a Nissan Cube...in white! It looks like a washing machine. It even drives like one. And sitting in it is totally weird - the windshield is like a mile in front of you.
 
I thought the cars were expensive in Denmark, but I can see that a VW Passat in Sacramento is very expensive.
I bought this model 14 days ago and it cost ? 3666 which is about $ 5200.

That's in California, which has an artificially limited used car market, plus its at a "bad credit" specialist dealership (automatic price hike to screw those with bad credit.)

Here are some more reasonably priced options:
http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/ctd/2563459977.html
http://dallas.craigslist.org/mdf/ctd/2540527416.html

Bad news everyone. I talked to my Dad and my Grandma and they are all like "NAAAAAH IT COSTS TOO MUCH to buy a new car we're just going to repair the (fail) car (of fail)." I told my Dad of the whole it costs a lot to buy the catalytic converters and he was like "Well I can just do that myself it's not that difficult blah blah." I'm questioning this though. Then he was all like well your grandma said she'd buy you a "good" used car after you graduate from your CSU. (Her definition of a good car is questionable. She thinks the Failsubishi is fine.)

I'm seriously having doubts this car is going to last another year and a half, seriously (I don't doubt I'm alone in this thinking). Even just today the car was giving me a weird issue. I went to turn it on and the engine revved extremely high and loud just turning it on. Then either the transmission or the engine were having issues accelerating for a bit after that (it wasn't accelerating properly and the transmission was having issues changing gears). It seemed to stop after a couple of minutes, but I haven't had that issue before. And no, I don't just go right as soon as I turn on the car. I usually wait 30 seconds to a minute or two after turning it on.

Start saving for your own car now, then. As for the Sh**subishi, I think it's not going to be around a whole lot longer - sounds like the idle control motor/solenoid or related control might be having issues..
 
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I told my Dad of the whole it costs a lot to buy the catalytic converters and he was like "Well I can just do that myself it's not that difficult blah blah."
To be fair, universal catalytic converters with slip fittings are like $50-60 in a size suitable for most six-cylinder powerplants. It only gets rapey when you get picky and want a catalytic converter with all the plumbing specific to your car attached.
 
To be fair, universal catalytic converters with slip fittings are like $50-60 in a size suitable for most six-cylinder powerplants. It only gets rapey when you get picky and want a catalytic converter with all the plumbing specific to your car attached.

California banned all universal cats. You MUST buy ones specific to the car now, and it must be certified by the state.

The price is correspondingly high. Despite the fact that they won't work any better than a universal.
 
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CA has some newer laws as Spectre and the others have pointed out and you have to buy a specific converter for your car and it gets very pricey. (As they also noted).
My Dad was also demanding that I have to take a weekend off from work and drive to his house so he can take it to a mechanic and actually be there for getting it scanned and whatnot. I only know of one proper mechanic in that area that does a good job, but he's a very busy guy so I'm not sure that my Dad will be able to talk with the guy.

I told my Dad when he called me that I'm at the point where I'm just going to get a car loan so I can get a better car and he responded, "You aren't in any financial position to be able to afford one so don't even think about it."

I have a job that I don't think I'll be fired from anytime soon and I work a pretty good amount of hours. I also have some other cash from a blue chip investment that my Grandmother's been making since I was born for whatever I need it (it's worth a decent amount). Personally I'd also just like to drive a safer car that is more solidly built and doesn't feel like a rolling death trap.
 
I told my Dad when he called me that I'm at the point where I'm just going to get a car loan so I can get a better car and he responded, "You aren't in any financial position to be able to afford one so don't even think about it."

How old are you, again?

As for the car, you need not spend a lot or get a car loan to get something better, really. Not even in CA. There are also members here that would probably happily help you evaluate any potential candidates.

Something like these might not be a bad idea for you:
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/cto/2559868214.html
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/2555338026.html
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/cto/2564142003.html
 
I am turning 22 here shortly. I'm not exactly very young, like 18, or old, but I've never been in an accident and I don't run into things or anything. The car hasn't developed any more dents since I got it. It's actually pretty much in the same condition since I got it. (Absolutely filthy, no time to clean it/lack of motivation) And also, my car is usually insured as driven for work since that's a majority of what my driving is (besides taking small trips to visit my Dad/Grandmother/Boyfriend once every month or two). I think part of the whole reason why my Dad doesn't want me to take on any more debt is because he's afraid I'll not be able to pay it back or something (I'm already not doing that bad in terms of loans for school since I went to a CSU). He and his wife have that issue, but not car-wise.

Yeah I figured as much, I've been looking around in CL for quite a while at stuff within about 300 miles and I have seen some pretty decent cars come and go. (I'm closer to Sacramento/SF than LA.) The two major requirements I have for a car is that it needs Air Conditioning and it has to have some cushioning for sitting. I only have one of those currently, Air Con.
 
I live in Sacramento and I'm more than willing to help. Just give me an area (North/East Bay, etc) budget, and any make/model preferences and I'm sure I can find you something.
 
I am turning 22 here shortly. I'm not exactly very young, like 18, or old, but I've never been in an accident and I don't run into things or anything. The car hasn't developed any more dents since I got it. It's actually pretty much in the same condition since I got it. (Absolutely filthy, no time to clean it/lack of motivation) And also, my car is usually insured as driven for work since that's a majority of what my driving is (besides taking small trips to visit my Dad/Grandmother/Boyfriend once every month or two). I think part of the whole reason why my Dad doesn't want me to take on any more debt is because he's afraid I'll not be able to pay it back or something (I'm already not doing that bad in terms of loans for school since I went to a CSU). He and his wife have that issue, but not car-wise.

Yeah I figured as much, I've been looking around in CL for quite a while at stuff within about 300 miles and I have seen some pretty decent cars come and go. (I'm closer to Sacramento/SF than LA.) The two major requirements I have for a car is that it needs Air Conditioning and it has to have some cushioning for sitting. I only have one of those currently, Air Con.

In that case, start saving up. Won't take too much to get a better car with careful shopping. $3K is a good amount.
 
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