Random Thoughts... [Automotive Edition]

93Flareside said:
Because the clutch is of a wet design. The one in my inlaw's Focus was the dry clutch design. Seals failed, fluid got on the clutch and caused a lovely juttering.
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That’s what they claim to have fixed now.

Still wouldn’t buy one though. 😂
 
There are indeed two types of Powershift gearboxes: a dry one and a wet one, generally anything with a 2liter or bigger engine has a wet one and everything with an engine with less than 2000cc has a dry one. The dry ones usually had/have more problems than the wet ones where the wet ones mostly fail due to cheaping out on maintenance and/or abuse.
They are used in a lot of different Fords and Volvo's with many of them doing +250k km without any issues, but once they fail they fail hard and expensively. But then again, auto gearbox repairs rarely are cheap :ROFLMAO:

The biggest problem is that Ford knew those gearboxes had problems, but never wanted to admit it even when lots of them came in under warranty. I think in relative numbers there are at least just as many problems with the VAG DSG boxes.

The sale of the Caddy to my brother is officially off the table, so I think I'll first get some small but very noticeable scratches fixed (some will buff out, one will definitely require spotrepair) and get the interior thoroughly cleaned so I can make a decent add to sell it. I'll probably end up getting more money for it than what I agreed with my brother in law, but I'll get a lot of hassle in return.
 
After my roadtrip to Wales the other night I had dropped my friend off and was heading back home, listening to 80s style synth while driving the back roads in the MX-5. It was great, but it didn't feel like the right car for that music. I've been wondering what the correct car would be. I came up with two, high and low price.

High - 1988 De Tomaso Pantera GT5-S Targa
Low - 1986 Toyota MR2 AW11 supercharged with T-tops

Ideally both in white, but red would work too. Pop-up headlights of both being important. The Pantera is a better car than the Countach any day.
 
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I want a convertible with a throaty motor again.....

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CraigB said:
Smart Cabriolet? (With a Busa engine.)

What are you considering?
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None yet, I don’t know atm. Just that I want a removable roof again.

The Merc has a sunroof, and it’s nice, but…. I want more, also more power, but I don’t want to get rid of the E-class…
 
CraigB said:
Smart Cabriolet? (With a Busa engine.)
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I approve.

Volvo C70, it can be had with a turbo 5 which would have a nice growl.

Edit: C70 not V70.
 
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I saw an E39 saloon in really nice shape ruined by a silly boot spoiler. I was miffed about that for a while until I saw an iX and then an X6 with a matte olive green wrap. Turns out the E39 wasn’t so bad after all.
 
93Flareside said:
None yet, I don’t know atm. Just that I want a removable roof again.

The Merc has a sunroof, and it’s nice, but…. I want more, also more power, but I don’t want to get rid of the E-class…
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The coming months are actually the best time to start looking for a convertible, although not the months you'll enjoy having one the most. Combination of people who held/hold on to their car until summer is over and the perspective of worse weather in autumn and winter usually result in higher supply and/or lower prices.

I second @Matt2000 on the C70, would be my first choice but I do have a little Volvo soft spot (even though I haven't owned one for 7-8years).
 
I actually forgot that @93Flareside has previous with a 5-banger turbo Volvo, so a topless C70 is a no brainer here.

As much as I love my MX-5, I don't think it's the answer to this question. I saw the nose-damage S2000 today though and it sounded nice.
 
Matt2000 said:
I actually forgot that @93Flareside has previous with a 5-banger turbo Volvo, so a topless C70 is a no brainer here.

As much as I love my MX-5, I don't think it's the answer to this question. I saw the nose-damage S2000 today though and it sounded nice.
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Having driven @loose_unit's and ridden in @DanRoM's I like them both, but the engines don't make the noise I'm looking for. I like their size, but don't mind if the car is a bit bigger. I've thought of Sport/Street Ka's just so I can lay claim to owning one, but that's all I see with those. The true hero of the Ka ownership is the Lufthansa edition model.

The C70 looks like a great option and basically has the same profile as the Mustang I had, but with a more usable trunk/boot. Since these can be also had in manuell that's a good thing too. Plus, this is also before the 160kmh limitation as well. <3
 
Do note that the 2nd-gen hardtop C70 is a really heavy car, so it's definitely more of a cruiser than a sports car. Also that means it chews through bushings and other suspension bits more quickly.
 
The only real gripe I have with the "new" C70 is that it isn't a 70 series car. It's a S40/V50, on the Ford Focus platform. Not that that necessarily is a bad thing.

The old C70 is on the Volvo 850 platform so it dates back to the Clinton administration.
 
I still want a V50 AWD R-Line. Damn thing has aged really well.
 
Where is the resident Volvo guy? @_HighVoltage_ , you are welcome to join in.
 
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So I’ve been thinking of getting a Subaru Crosstrek. I love my Mazda 3, but I’ve been finding it too low/stuff for the local parking lots. I keep rubbing the front chin on the tallest curbs in the known universe they keep installing in front of parking stalls, and the speed bump situation is out of control in my area.
Another reason is that my parents aren’t getting any younger and the 3 is kind of low for them to get in the back whenever they visit.

I like the size of the 3 and this feels like it’s about the same footprint since it’s basically just a raised Impreza.
I’ve looked a bit into it and it seems quite capable for what it is. It’s no rock crawler but it should be able to get us to some trails and campsite that the 3 wouldn’t be able to.

I’m trying to book a test drive to see if I hate the CVT or if I can live with it.

Any thoughts?
 
killpanda said:
So I’ve been thinking of getting a Subaru Crosstrek. I love my Mazda 3, but I’ve been finding it too low/stuff for the local parking lots. I keep rubbing the front chin on the tallest curbs in the known universe they keep installing in front of parking stalls, and the speed bump situation is out of control in my area.
Another reason is that my parents aren’t getting any younger and the 3 is kind of low for them to get in the back whenever they visit.

I like the size of the 3 and this feels like it’s about the same footprint since it’s basically just a raised Impreza.
I’ve looked a bit into it and it seems quite capable for what it is. It’s no rock crawler but it should be able to get us to some trails and campsite that the 3 wouldn’t be able to.

I’m trying to book a test drive to see if I hate the CVT or if I can live with it.

Any thoughts?
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Subaru CVTs drive more like a "normal" transmission. They simulate discrete gears so it seems like it is shifting "normally" so as to keep the rubber-banding haters happy. I actually wish ours (we have an Outback) would behave more consistently like you'd expect a CVT to and hold peak power (and constant RPM) in certain situations like onramps or passing, but it generally works pretty well and is pretty unintrusive.
 
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