The Car Thread ... !

[D.T.]

*boom* Another sponsorship, looks like I'll have some new wheels in the very near future
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Also has anyone seen the new Camry? Yuck. The sport model even has quad-exhausts...

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2018-toyota-camry-first-drive-review

Jeebus, it looks like they knocked off the new Nissan Maxima design!?

 

[quagmire]

The 2018 Camry is them pretty much going backwards. They took the 2007 era Camry's headlamps with the 2013 era grille throw in some design tweaks to it and put them together......

 

[jca24]

Just thought I'd give the regulars in this thread an update on our Equinox order!

Should be here within the next 6-8 weeks. Apparently the VW scandal has delayed all EPA certifications. ugh. Our dealership has been great. We were able to get them to throw in some all-weather mats for free due to the delay.

In other news, I recently got to drive a new 2017 Malibu Premier. What a handful car IRL. I love the clean design. The rear-end design reminds me of an Audi. The interior is even nicer than my friend's 2016 Lexus IS350! Better infotainment system too.

[doublepost=1498431433][/doublepost]Also has anyone seen the new Camry? Yuck. The sport model even has quad-exhausts...

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2018-toyota-camry-first-drive-review

The malibu does seem to be a decent car, but nobody buys them, they are very very cheap right now and will
continue to get cheaper. As for the camry, yuk. Can't wait to see the new accord later this year.

 

[quagmire]

The malibu does seem to be a decent car, but nobody buys them, they are very very cheap right now and will
continue to get cheaper. As for the camry, yuk. Can't wait to see the new accord later this year.

Nobody is buying cars period today with these low gas prices. SUV's and crossovers are back in fashion.

 

[AustinIllini]

Nobody is buying cars period today with these low gas prices. SUV's and crossovers are back in fashion.

I have floated the idea in the past of replacing the A4 with an SUV at the end of the lease, but my wife doesn't see the point. We have dogs but no kids so we have a dog car and the people go out to dinner car which is only for two of us.

 

[iLog.Genius]

After months of negotiating and trying to find the right build time, I'm finally going to pull the trigger on a 2018 G30 540 xDrive.

With the E90 aging (though still drives like new), it was time for a new BMW - a 440 Gran Coupe or 540. After driving both extensively, the 540 was the choice considering all factors. Now the hard part begins! Finalizing the specs, sending it to get built and play the waiting game.

 

[0388631]

Nissan copied the Lexus design language, and managed to make it more awful. The Toyota seems to be based off the ES's design. The new engine options and interior go forward but the design is... Let me put it this way. It's not a timeless design. It's a design that you can look at and distinguish the generation. Honda did right by the Civic and has made the last three generations almost seamless in many areas of the car. Toyota is trying to entice younger buyers and shake off the Camry's stigma of being an older person's car.

The Camry's V6 should be more powerful, as should the I4 turbo powerplant they've got in mind. I don't mind the dual exhaust on the V6. It adds some balls to an otherwise boring car. The exterior design needs to be redone. Less Japanese Transformers, and more refined lines. I'm not a fan of the high cut floating roof, either. Needs to be lower and sleeker.

The FR-S/GT86 was/is a good car on paper. It lacks power, though. Otherwise, for that price bracket and looks, it's a very nice weekend car. I've seen a few bone stock models and they always look far more exotic than what you'd imagine a Toyota looking like. Drop the IS200t engine in it.

After months of negotiating and trying to find the right build time, I'm finally going to pull the trigger on a 2018 G30 540 xDrive.

With the E90 aging (though still drives like new), it was time for a new BMW - a 440 Gran Coupe or 540. After driving both extensively, the 540 was the choice considering all factors. Now the hard part begins! Finalizing the specs, sending it to get built and play the waiting game.

Fantastic! Congratulations! What color and interior did you decide on? The new 5er is doing very well sales wise here. Not so much the 7er. The new S is far more prevalent. Curious to see how the D5 A8 will perform here. The A4 and A5 are poor performers, with the A6 being the most sold, S4 and S5 excluded. I did spot an Audi Allroad two or three weeks ago while at WF across the street at an intersection. Hard to miss a unique looking car like it.

 

[iLog.Genius]

Fantastic! Congratulations! What color and interior did you decide on? The new 5er is doing very well sales wise here. Not so much the 7er. The new S is far more prevalent. Curious to see how the D5 A8 will perform here. The A4 and A5 are poor performers, with the A6 being the most sold, S4 and S5 excluded. I did spot an Audi Allroad two or three weeks ago while at WF across the street at an intersection. Hard to miss a unique looking car like it.

Carbon Black with Ivory interior with Fineline Ridge Wood trim. That might change after seeing Cove wood in person. There's nothing that beats a wood trim without the gloss coat. Ivory may be a bold choice but after years of owning cars with dark interiors, thought it was time to switch it up a bit.

 

[AustinIllini]

Speaking of poor performers, the Giulia is flopping big time.

http://jalopnik.com/no-one-wants-to-buy-an-alfa-romeo-giulia-1796219373

 

[D.T.]

*boom* Another sponsorship, looks like I'll have some new wheels in the very near future ?

Yes! Done. I'll be moving to a 20x10, 20x11, 265-275 / 295-305 mix

 

[0388631]

Carbon Black with Ivory interior with Fineline Ridge Wood trim. That might change after seeing Cove wood in person. There's nothing that beats a wood trim without the gloss coat. Ivory may be a bold choice but after years of owning cars with dark interiors, thought it was time to switch it up a bit.

View attachment 705964

Fantastic. The Ivory interior is beautiful on BMWs, but it does require upkeep. It's also, IMO, less durable in the long run compared to the other interiors. One thing that annoyed me with the G30 is that you cannot get Cognac in Nappa, but it is a standard choice in the 7er, and Dakota in the 5er. Mocha isn't offered either. Beige and black will be the common interior choices, with the adventurous person buying it with the blue interior which looks disgusting.

Speaking of poor performers, the Giulia is flopping big time.

http://jalopnik.com/no-one-wants-to-buy-an-alfa-romeo-giulia-1796219373

Not surprising. I've seen enough comments online in the past four or five months of people justifying the vehicle and the various engine options, and also stating that FCA and Chrysler vehicles pre-merger were and are just as good as their competitors. And that people ding them for minor issues. I too would love to live in a magical world as those people. Alfa would make better headway by offering 12-24 month leases and aggressive discounting. I expect the upcoming "F90" M5 to eat up what little sales Alfa has.

 

[quagmire]

So this happened.... Can't wash it until Friday.... So freaking screwed.

 

[A.Goldberg]

So this happened.... Can't wash it until Friday.... So freaking screwed.

It's ruined!

 

[D.T.]

So this happened.... Can't wash it until Friday.... So freaking screwed.

I can't even tell what the heck is going on? Is that egg?!?!

 

[quagmire]

I can't even tell what the heck is going on? Is that egg?!?!

Yes it's egg. Driving to work at 4 am, drove under a tree and saw something falling from it. Didnt know what it was until I got to the airport.

Doing research, I'm toast. Probably going to have to get it repainted.

 

[bunnspecial]

Just take your water hose and spray it off or go to a self-service car wash and hit it with the pressure washer.

Even if you can't do a proper full wash, doing something NOW to get it off will leave you in better shape than letting it bake on for the rest of the week.

 

[jaduff46]

I used to love Chevys and owned several new models from 1993 on. I owned:

1993 Cavalier
1994 Beretta
1995 Camaro
2003 Cavalier
2005 Cobalt
2006 Cobalt SS Supercharged
2008 Cobalt LT

Starting with the Camaro, the Camaro needed a fuel pump a month after driving it off the lot. By the time the car had 75,000 miles on it, it needed a new transmission.
The 2005 Cobalts drivers side door handle had the chrome peeling off it. It also started dying when I would start slowing down at stop lights/signs. Traded it for the 2006 Cobalt. Turn signal indicator also quit canceling after completing turns so I always had to return it to the off position.

The 2006 Cobalt has the chrome peeling off the drivers side door handle. Traded it for the new 2017 Accord a few weeks ago, the Cobalt SS Supercharged had 54,000 miles and I bought it new in 2006. Might have had more problems had I driven it more. Timing chain had to be replaced at 35,000 miles.

2008 Cobalt had the chrome peeling off the drivers side door handle within 6 months.

I also hated that I could look over to the passenger side door and see whatever the paint color was on any of these Chevys and see that color on the inside of the door. Chevy failed to see that maybe it was a good idea to design the inside door panel so it would cover the entire inside door instead of leaving a 1" gap. For instance, the 2003 Cavalier was orange, I could see a 1" strip of orange paint surrounding the entire inside door. Chevy also quit including lights in the glove box and trunk compartments. I just kind of got tired of the Chevy build quality and bought my first Accord in the early 2010s. Don't think I'll ever own another Chevy.

I wish I would have gotten into Hondas a lot sooner. Sure there are even better built cars then Honda but I love my new Accord. It feels right for me. It feels great to drive. I took it out on the highway last Saturday to the mountains and it it felt amazing to drive not to mention it has Car Play and I can also plug in my 160GB iPod Classic and have everything playing display on the cars screen.

Thanks for reading.

Hondas and Toyotas have been good to us. Wife had a 2001 Lexus ES 100 that was still going strong in 2014 when she switched to an Accord. Daughter has a 2006 Accord with 165K miles on it.

I have a 2007 Highlander with 155K miles on it that only suffers from a couple of surface dings but runs perfectly. Hope to get it to 200K then go for a new Pilot. The new Highlander is just too big for me, whereas the 2007 Pilot was too big and boxy when I bought the Highlander!

John

 

[AustinIllini]

Just take your water hose and spray it off or go to a self-service car wash and hit it with the pressure washer.

Even if you can't do a proper full wash, doing something NOW to get it off will leave you in better shape than letting it bake on for the rest of the week.

This! Paint is much more resilient than what you'll read online. Do what you can but don't do anything too aggressive. You'll be fine.
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Hondas and Toyotas have been good to us. Wife had a 2001 Lexus ES 100 that was still going strong in 2014 when she switched to an Accord. Daughter has a 2006 Accord with 165K miles on it.

I have a 2007 Highlander with 155K miles on it that only suffers from a couple of surface dings but runs perfectly. Hope to get it to 200K then go for a new Pilot. The new Highlander is just too big for me, whereas the 2007 Pilot was too big and boxy when I bought the Highlander!

John

Toyotas and Hondas are just solid. When I compare my A4 to my wife's CR-V, almost everything about my wife's CR-V is more reliable. Same with her old Rav4. Those things just work.

 

[A.Goldberg]

If you wash it off quickly it really should not be a problem.

 

[D.T.]

Yes! Done. I'll be moving to a 20x10, 20x11, 265-275 / 295-305 mix View attachment 705967

Hehehehe, from my sponsor ... "How do you feel about red?"

Just take your water hose and spray it off or go to a self-service car wash and hit it with the pressure washer.

Even if you can't do a proper full wash, doing something NOW to get it off will leave you in better shape than letting it bake on for the rest of the week.

This! Paint is much more resilient than what you'll read online. Do what you can but don't do anything too aggressive. You'll be fine.

Yep, no need for some kind of exotic prefoam, multi-bucket cleansing using holy water, the most important thing is quick removal.

I keep a small microfiber towel and some quick detailer (per bunnspecial) in my trunk, good for emergency "Oh ****, I have some kind of crap on my paint", like him, the issue is usually bird poop

 

[Apple fanboy]

Hehehehe, from my sponsor ... "How do you feel about red?"







Yep, no need for some kind of exotic prefoam, multi-bucket cleansing using holy water, the most important thing is quick removal.

I keep a small microfiber towel and some quick detailer (per bunnspecial) in my trunk, good for emergency "Oh ****, I have some kind of crap on my paint", like him, the issue is usually bird poop

I use wet wipes on bird poo for inbeteen it's weekly wash.

 

[quagmire]

Just take your water hose and spray it off or go to a self-service car wash and hit it with the pressure washer.

Even if you can't do a proper full wash, doing something NOW to get it off will leave you in better shape than letting it bake on for the rest of the week.

This! Paint is much more resilient than what you'll read online. Do what you can but don't do anything too aggressive. You'll be fine.
[doublepost=1498584671][/doublepost]
Toyotas and Hondas are just solid. When I compare my A4 to my wife's CR-V, almost everything about my wife's CR-V is more reliable. Same with her old Rav4. Those things just work.

If you wash it off quickly it really should not be a problem.

Issue is my job of being a pilot. I'm on a 4 day trip. Now I do have a 5 hour sit back in base tomorrow and I'm hoping that doesn't change and can sneak back home to get it off. But if that does change, won't be able to do anything until Friday.

 

[Brandon123]

Issue is my job of being a pilot. I'm on a 4 day trip. Now I do have a 5 hour sit back in base tomorrow and I'm hoping that doesn't change and can sneak back home to get it off. But if that does change, won't be able to do anything until Friday.

Unfortunate situation the whole thing, let's hope the schedule doesn't change!

 

[bunnspecial]

My BIL is a pilot, and from what I've seen the intersection of car guy and pilot isn't that uncommon.

Do you have any friends there at the airport that could give you a hose down even while you're gone?

With that said, even if it does wait until Friday it's not the end of the world.

But it's also a good lesson to keep some Quick Detailer in your trunk. That's kind of a big job for quick detailer, but wipe off most while it's still wet with a damp paper towel then use a microfiber and quick detailer. In the absense of a paper towel, I'd go straight for microfiber to wipe the worst off and then the quick detailer. Microfiber towels are cheap enough these days that I don't think twice about tossing them if they get too nasty(although if they're not too bad just wash them without fabric softener).

 

[0388631]

I keep a quick detailer in our cars, too, but also carry an IPA solution in a big bottle, because you never know. I recently learned though my own testing that coconut oil, refined or not, works really well at softening up tree sap and bird gunk. It all falls off after your presoak.

I don't think anything will happen to the car in such a short time. Especially when you recently waxed it. The idea of eggs damaging car paint goes back to the days of single stage paint. Before washing it, I would spray it down with a few layers of a softening solution and then gently wash the dried stuff away.

Issue is my job of being a pilot. I'm on a 4 day trip. Now I do have a 5 hour sit back in base tomorrow and I'm hoping that doesn't change and can sneak back home to get it off. But if that does change, won't be able to do anything until Friday.

If you could get your father cleared to access the airport parking, he could take it home and do it for you.
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In the absense of a paper towel, I'd go straight for microfiber to wipe the worst off and then the quick detailer. Microfiber towels are cheap enough these days that I don't think twice about tossing them if they get too nasty(although if they're not too bad just wash them without fabric softener).

Good advice! I believe Bounty makes a line of automotive paper towels that are very thick and don't tear up easily and leave no lint. They're made for cleaning up grease, but I've found they're really good for removing nasty gunk here and there with a little quick detailer.

But as you said, microfiber is dirt cheap nowadays. It's very easy to stock up on them. I recommend buying good towels and ones you aren't worried about ruining. For the latter, I've found the Kirkland Eurow ones to be decent. Though they seem to sell a thicker version in the summer and fall. Regardless, microfiber makes cleaning and drying things fun. Otherwise car detailing sites, Amazon and their related sites, Jet, et al. run sales almost monthly on large bundles of microfibers.

Alternatively, if you're picky like me, you can grab a Metrovac Air Force Master Blaster or similar. Makes drying a car fun.