Car shopping

[Vaughn]

60 Minutes and Audi - I remember that show. Pedal misapplication,
family members being crushed in their own garages. Consumers
swearing they were pushing that brakepedal to the floor after squashing little Molly.

KenC, gotta disagree. I loved Chrysler's '64 exhibit. And those deep cutaways on Turbine's ass end, too. But I do like your barfing Smiley! Ford had a ride (in latest models) on a track through dinosaurland.

Only had the pleasure of sitting in a Roadrunner one time, 1968.

[Louie]

If I remember correctly it was the Audi 4000, I have been in the car business for more thar 23 years, mechanic, service writer, service manager, I had a 67" cuda with a 273 v-8 man that was a little screamer, the funnest car I ever had (I know that aint a word) was a 68' Olds Toronado Grand Sport, it had a 455 cid with tri-power (3 2 barrels for you laymen) and it was front wheel drive, I could do 50 mph burn outs, and it look like a luxury vette, the back seat was as big as a chase lounge, spent some time back there too.

[I/O]

the back seat was as big as a chase lounge, spent some time back there too.

Hope you didn't use Monica's laundry man.

[KenC]

Every year there is a "Woodward Dream Cruise" in suburban Detroit where all the motorheads and collectors bring out their toy cars.  A little back story here.  Woodward Avenue is one of the main surface roads out of downtown Detroit to the burbs.  It has 8 lanes, a boulevard in the center and was a main stay for drag racing and trolling for chicks in the 50's (and still remains a good place for the youngins to hook up).  Friday and Saturday night on Woodward was the place to be and be seen.

This event started rather small has turned into a huge summer attraction.  They have attracted over 1 million people to it over the last 5 or 6 years and had 1.7 million this last year.  If you really want to see some fine ass old hot cars and men reliving their youth, it is the place to be.

To tie this make to RW, I took Lena to this event while we were still in MI.  She was bored to tears, but endured because she saw the excitement in my eyes.
KenC
http://www.woodwarddreamcruise.com

[I/O]

To tie this make to RW, I took Lena to this event while we were still in MI.  She was bored to tears, but endured because she saw the excitement in my eyes.
KenC

Ken, I almost spat my coffee across the keyboard when I read this.....!!! How true....!!!  How normal...!!!  anyway, you guys do have some seriously nice cars over there, we are stuck very much with the Euro/Japaneese products here and it is somewhat unimaginitive at times.

I/O who is still laughing, trying to picture poor Lena......!!!

[Stirlitz]

Stirlitz, nice photos of those old great looking cars.  Why don't American car companies wake up and just make the old car bodies that everybody loves but with new updated engines and interiors / air conditioning, electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, 4 WD etc.

That puzzles me too. I bet a car from 1950’s fit with all the modern gadgets inside would be a hit. In fact, I am somehow sure those old cars can do nearly as good as some modern cars at least in some respects. Just look at their V8 engines with an ENORMOUS torque and break horse power. Well, fuel consumption is their weakness, but we know that it is electronics that can take care of that.

However, probably demand for such cars would not exceed that for modern cars. Just my guess. I think that people responsible for marketing and sales in car companies know better. Or don’t they. Anyone’s guess. I wish they could think differently though.

[Bruce]

Stirlitz, thats why GM and Ford for two are in severe financial straits ie. they just do not get what the car customer wants (besides the labor unions they have to cater to along with a health care drag that increases the price of every automobile they manufacture astronomically).  My FIL just loves American cars and American roads now that he has been in the US for the first time.  Chrysler cars are by far the ones that stand out the most to him.  He already can pick out every Chyrsler and is fast becomming an expert on all the stylish models that he has not seen in Russia.  I have to take him to visit some Chevie Corvette's because he has not seen one yet.  He is ready to figure out how to get the cars (Chrysler / Dodge) into Russia..................but I have a feeling that is probably some sort of option only available to the superconnected .

[SANDRO43]

I bet a car from 1950’s fit with all the modern gadgets inside would be a hit.

Since you're in Ukraine, you could set up a dealership importing them from Cuba .

[jinx13]

 Ok, since we are talking cars I will post some of my pics from the International Auto Show in San Francisco. I went with Nataly last month, and she loved it.

 I was impressed with the Tesla, a high speed, fully electric sports car, the New Camaro looks very cool, but is still a couple years out. We couldn't believe Bentley's were so fast, they are huge cars, but get off the line quickly, and top out at near 200 mph! My favorite is Porsche,but I am biased because I own one, but they had a great display, I fell in love with the burgundy Carrera 4S. Nataly is a big fan of Corvette and Ferrari, the girl has expensive taste!    Here are the pics!

[jinx13]

  Stirlitz,

  At the Auto Show Chrysler had a prototype of a "Old" looking car with modern features, it reminded me of a Gangster car from the 40's and even had old style gauges on the dashboard, it was a VERY cool car, hopefully they will put it in production.

 Here are a few pics of my "olden" car, it's a 1961 AMC Rambler Classic, yep they named it a classic even when it was brand new! I know it's an old lady car, but it's unique, and has a very special feature...a push button transmission on the dash, you can see it in the last pic, on the far left side of the dashboard.

 

[TexasBoar]

Isn't the Rambler the car that had that "other" special feature? 

You know . . . put the front seat all the way up and all the way back and it made a bed?

You sly dog you. 

~Boar

[jinx13]

 yeah, the seats do turn into a bed, but one side is broken, so I never got the chance to try it out     The Rambler was the ultimate car for Drive In movies 

[Stirlitz]

Since you're in Ukraine, you could set up a dealership importing them from Cuba .

Do you know how much it will cost in customs and duties? It makes no sense.

Stirlitz, Here are a few pics of my "olden" car, it's a 1961 AMC Rambler Classic, yep they named it a classic even when it was brand new! I know it's an old lady car, but it's unique, and has a very special feature...a push button transmission on the dash, you can see it in the last pic, on the far left side of the dashboard.

Cool car!!

Isn't the Rambler the car that had that "other" special feature? 

You know . . . put the front seat all the way up and all the way back and it made a bed?

My car has that feature too, that is also why I like it so much.

[jinx13]

 My girlfiriends parents in Ukraine actually wanted her to look into shipping a car to them. We checked container prices, and obviously it isn't feasible. We got a price quote of about $2,000 to ship via the Black Sea, but I don't think that counted permits and whatever other legal documents neccessary to bring it into the country.

 I understand cars are more expensive in Eastern Europe than they are in the U.S. For example Nataly's used Toyota Corrola that she bought for $3,000 would sell in Ukraine for about $5,000

[Turboguy]

When I made my business trip to Baku in late spring the company I was visiting had many businesses.  I was visiting for their construction business.   They expressed some strong interest in having me buy high end, late model very expensive loaded slightly used luxury cars for them and shipping to them.   Money flows like water in Azerbaijan and they said the could sell them as fast as they could get them and make an extra 30 grand per car or so doing it that way.   

They would have basically handled the financing and I am not sure what my cut would have been but I am sure it would have been quite lucrative.   I just really didn't have the spare time that I wanted to get involved no matter how lucrative it would have been.

Perhaps if someone wants to try something like that the high end cars might be the way to go of course with all the oil money in Baku the market there is bigger for those.

[Stirlitz]

My girlfiriends parents in Ukraine actually wanted her to look into shipping a car to them. We checked container prices, and obviously it isn't feasible. We got a price quote of about $2,000 to ship via the Black Sea, but I don't think that counted permits and whatever other legal documents neccessary to bring it into the country.

Well, shipping is the easiest and cheapest part…

[Rumpy]

I think this may be the correct place to post this.
  I've casually been shopping for different car. My son bought an 03 Acura TL and loves it. Do any of you own or have you owned an Acura? What did you think? I test drove an 04 and found it very comfy, smooth in every way and sporty.
 Btw, what kind of ride do you have now? Do you like it? Would you buy another? Were there any problems or has it been trouble free?
  I have an 04 Monte Carlo now and like it very much but I put alot of miles on it. Since day one it gets about 30-31 mpg which really surprised me.
 I'd appreciate your thoughts and recommedations.

Starz ,

Let me just start by telling you that A Acura is just a upgraded Honda ,It speaks for themselves (great cars)but,Ken'c idea is a very good one .If your kids mileage is not going to be high your best bet is a lease at present time from the big (GM,Ford,Dodge)
The prices that they are offering and the rebates is just ridiculous

There are a few rules of thumb in the automotive industry. I'm gonna try and open some peoples eyes to a few of them

1. Careful buying a first year model unless there are just minor interior changes

2. If it is a first year model check the manufactured date inside the driver door on the 
sticker ..In this I am meaning ,,,they are still figuring out seal leaks ,electrical issues, squeaks and rattles ...Make sure this vehicle was made later in the year or at least 5 months into the production
.
3. Never ever buy a vehicle that has a complete new Drivetrain in it(motor,trans) make sure it is in another model first or has been in the vehicle that you are purchasing for over 2 years

4. Never purchase a vehicle that has a manufactured date of the last 2 day's of work before a holiday weekend.....Cindy has to run down the line to give jimmy her phone number...John has a pint hid on the work bench and there taking Christmas shots...Kevens wife brought in cookies or cake for everyone ,,,Believe me parts get F'ed-up

6. If you want to save money and your not picky,always wait until at least August to buy and then buy one off the lot,,that is when they usually start the rebate process because the new year model will be coming out in September

5. I'm gonna fight Ken on this one """""Make sure you do allot of shopping before you buy the vehicle that you just had a lease on""" that price is usually determined by the manufacturer (or use to be) and the price was a couple thousand more that if you picked another car just like it somewhere else.


By the way that 94'Monte is a great car (bad brakes) great overall car

[Michelangelo]

Do you know how much it will cost in customs and duties? It makes no sense.
Cool car!!
My car has that feature too, that is also why I like it so much.

Ah, now I know the truth about you!  My wife is reading this and she tells me that "Stirlitz" was in reality a Russian spy in Germany during the second world war!

So now we know, you my friend, are a spy!  LOL

[catzenmouse]

 

My wife is reading this

Is there something that you should tell us???

[Michelangelo]

Is there something that you should tell us???

Nah, she's not that interested in this.  Just looks over my shoulder from time to time and looks more at the icons than anything.

The name "Stirlitz" caught her attention; seems like he was a Russian spy embedded in Germany (SS) before and during the war.  They killed another Russian spy who helped him to see if he would protest and prove he was a spy.  He could do nothing.

Later, there was a movie about him; in the best soviet tradition~25-40 parts!  The actor who played Stirliz became the first sex symbol of the USSR; all woman fall in love with him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back on topic:  She is VERY interesed in cars and driving.  I am teaching her now.  Seems like she want a VW bug.

[catzenmouse]

No, I meant the "wife" part? Did you? Are you? Or is this just more of your teasing us...  Inquiring minds want to know....

[Michelangelo]

No, I meant the "wife" part? Did you? Are you? Or is this just more of your teasing us...  Inquiring minds want to know....

Ah, I see.  She is wearing my ring and me hers.  We feel like we are married and everyone here assumes we are. But we have not done the "official thing" yet.....trying to decide if we will go back to Ukraine to do it or simply go to Vegas.

Back on topic:  If we can survive me teaching her to drive, we'll likely be able to survive marriage :-)  LOL

[Stirlitz]

So now we know, you my friend, are a spy!  LOL

Did I ever try to cover that? Read http://www.igorkalinin.com/stirlitz/who.en.html

[Michelangelo]

Thanks, Stirlitz...it took me living with a russian girl for me to come to know the legend behind your name.

Now your gun makes sense    LOL

[Stirlitz]

I have changed my salutation respectively