The Car Thread ... !

[44267547]

Sorry, I hadn't noticed your post. That sounds awesome. Yes, some cars from the factory respond really well to an aftermarket ECU tune and other goodies, and often you really have to change very little hardware to compensation for the power increase. Most cars will **** the bucket, though.

The only real performance mods I plan on adding this year will be the upgraded throttlebody, suspension and perhaps some fuel Enhancements (Looking into that.) I would rather be more conservative with the modifications and I have a really good performance shop I frequent that is highly experienced in aftermarket/tuning.

But I am changing out the hood and front grill, suspension, which will be pricey.

Will have plenty of pictures to follow once these projects are completed and are in progress.

 

[2298754]

Has anyone seen the new Silverado? Looks so aggressive and sporty!

https://www.autoblog.com/2018/01/13/2019-chevy-silverado-1500-100-years-old-and-all-new/

This truck might surpass the F150 as best-in-class.

2018 is going to be a big year for Chevrolet. To help kick off the 100th anniversary of GM trucks, the automaker revealed the full details of the all new 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500 just ahead of the Detroit Auto Show. The Silverado is all new inside and out and promises to be more powerful and more fuel efficient than ever before, thanks to a new diesel inline-six engine and revised gasoline V8s. The use of aluminum and high-strength steel means it's lighter than before, too.

Chevy's drawing on its 100-year experience building more than 85 million pickups. But it also asked the customer what he or she wants in a truck — Chevy asked 7,000 of them, actually, in what the automaker says is its biggest-ever piece of customer research. The competition from Ford and Ram is incredibly good, so Chevy can't afford to have a misstep with its best-selling model.

We first saw the truck last month in Texas in the new LT Trail Boss trim, but it was only a teaser of things to come. The exterior design is all new and a huge break from the blocky styling of the past few generations. The lines are softer and the wheel wells round, yet the truck still retains a distinctly masculine appearance. The thin LED headlights give the Silverado 1500 a bit of an angry face with furrowed brows. Out back, the new power-lifting aluminum tailgate gets Chevrolet embossed in huge letters across the width, bookended by new LED taillights. Chevy now offers a trapezoidal dual exhaust system on many of the trims, although the LT on stage had a more traditional side-exit single pipe.

 

[D.T.]

Has anyone seen the new Silverado? Looks so aggressive and sporty!

https://www.autoblog.com/2018/01/13/2019-chevy-silverado-1500-100-years-old-and-all-new/

This truck might surpass the F150 as best-in-class.

I did! Hahaha, is it bizzare - well, maybe not so much given my location - that I want a big, aggressive sport truck like this?

I asked the wife if she'd be OK driving a Raptor

Oh speaking of, found a fun video ... just a sec.

 

[2298754]

I asked the wife if she'd be OK driving a Raptor

I kinda sorta want a Raptor too..

Realistically maybe one of these?

 

[D.T.]

The Raptor is a hoot in this video, just seems to defy physics

 

[A.Goldberg]

Has anyone seen the new Silverado? Looks so aggressive and sporty!

https://www.autoblog.com/2018/01/13/2019-chevy-silverado-1500-100-years-old-and-all-new/

This truck might surpass the F150 as best-in-class.

Woah... for a second I confused that with an Audi or Mercedes. I wouldn’t have known unless I looked closely to see the Chevy badge. That looks like a $80,000 car.

I’ll stop mocking their advertising but I’m pretty sure the Chevy engineers got together and asked themselves “how can we make the grill even bigger?!”

 

[D.T.]

I kinda sorta want a Raptor too..

Realistically maybe one of these?

Guy right down the street has one, it's the TRD beige/tan color, looks like a desert combat vehicle

 

[0388631]

Hard to tell when AU is serious or joking. Though that Taco looks really nice. What struck me was that the Chevy's wheel well looks more rounded than any other truck in recent history. The majority of loaded Silverados, Raptors or similar trucks that can shoot up in price are usually in pristine condition. This is probably a common occurrence elsewhere, too.
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Guy right down the street has one, it's the TRD beige/tan color, looks like a desert combat vehicle

Sounds sweet. Kind of wish Toyota would redo their homage to the old J body Land Cruisers. The FJ was a sad, pathetic, lumpy attempt and was an insult to the classics. I think Toyota got the message some time ago and they're putting out newer, exciting cars. If you count the new Camry with the best driving dynamics the model has ever had as exciting...

The old J40 was... looked like the lovechild between a Land Rover and a CJ, but it wasn't awful. It was sexy. It still is. It's a real looker, especially in a sea of blobs posing as cars.

 

[0388631]

Confession time: There's some FCA vehicles I like and want.

 

[quagmire]

Confession time: There's some FCA vehicles I like and want.

Same here. Well mostly the Alfa's and Jeep's catch my attention. Not interested in anything else. But of course it's the quality issue that would forever hold me back....

 

[0388631]

Same here. Well mostly the Alfa's and Jeep's catch my attention. Not interested in anything else. But of course it's the quality issue that would forever hold me back....

I've been wanting a CJ/Wrangler for close to 30 years. So you can imagine the look I had one my face when I learned the cheapest basic Wrangler going for mid 300s. Alfa wise, I do like a few ones on sale now and a few from the mid 2000s. I hold the 8C in the same light as the 355. Stunning, unique, an attention grabber and that glorious sound. Outside of Concours shows here, I've never seen nor heard of a US based buyer who got one, and if they did, they're mum about it.

I like the old CJs more, though. I've bought and sold cars that gained a lot of value in circles. Takes a few months for me to forgive myself for being an idiot to have sold. **** happens. A lot of it is undue valuation but people love hyping old stuff up on the internet and prices soar.

I like to compare it to book collecting. Prior to YouTube and the internet as you younger guys know it, it was really difficult to learn about certain things unless you spoke to an aficionado or expert, better yet, worked with or for someone who did and taught you. It used to be easy to stroll through a flea market and seek out books and figure out they were worth way more than the $5 tag on them.

That said, I haven't bought an old car in a long time. Though I've been trying to find an unmolested, mint condition, low mileage, pristine IS F for about a year now.

When the IS F came out, I was looking for a Lexus. But I held off buying waiting for competitors to come out with something good. Our dealer had 2 or 3 of them. They were the original models that hadn't been bought. Silly me figured it would be a waste of money and that they were still there because they sucked, despite doing well in reviews.

Well, silly me has now realized nearly 10 years later that a good one barely depreciates and they're probably future classics. If you can call it that.

 

[44267547]

I’ll stop mocking their advertising but I’m pretty sure the Chevy engineers got together and asked themselves “how can we make the grill even bigger?!”

Looking at that specific truck, it's called the "Trail-boss", appears to be Chevys "Off road" Silverado. It has the Z71 package and a two inch lift kit. I'm assuming it will compete with the Raptor for a similar price point around $50,000. I'm not much of a truck enthusiast, but if I were to purchase a truck, I'm attracted to the all black grill and minimal chrome. To me, trucks that have these large chrome grills are tacky and seem very old man like (No offense to any old guys here). Trucks like the Ford Raptor and Chevy Trail Boss seem to want to exemplify that 'Sport rugged look'. But I'm still partial to the Raptor with the TT Ecoboost.

 

[0388631]

Safety regulations force engineers to come up with a middle ground of what customers like and what the government is fine with. For the most part, chrome is plastic nowadays and sometimes it gets tinted during he manufacturer process. Kind of like on the new Accords. Theoretically, you could run over a pedestrian in a 50s Chevy truck and it'd barely put a dent in the front end. Today, the slob who couldn't use the walkway would probably destroy your front end. Not to mention today's behemoths make it easier to slap on bigger wheels and tires, set up a winch, excess lights, etc.

But, like I said, most of the fancy trucks are pristine and will never see mud.

 

[heehee]

Am I crazy for wanting this colour that’s $3,300 (if I can get it)?

 

[D.T.]

Am I crazy for wanting this colour that’s $3,300 (if I can get it)?

View attachment 749731

In the grand scheme of things, that cost is probably a small percentage of the overall price, so I say go for it.

The only thing I'd caution - and it might not be the case with this particular color - but some special colors can be tough to match if you ever have to have paint work done. I had a Z06 in a yellow that used a 3-stage paint including a tinted clearcoat, never needed work, but had some aftermarket parts that were super hard to get a good match.

 

[0388631]

That's Nardo Gray, if I'm not mistaken. It's a peculiar color. It looks good here, but under sunlight it looks like primer. The nearest Audi dealership has about a dozen PTS Audis. Great colors, but people gravitate towards white, black and various shades of silver. Color choice is an issue if you're buying and intent on selling private party. But if you're selling back to the dealer, then it's not an issue. On the other hand, if you pick something up CPO, then it'll be cheaper. Like a brown 911 with Bordeaux/black interior or full Bordeaux. Hideous combination, but slap a $5,000 wrap on it and you're good to go.

And this is coming from someone who wouldn't mind an emerald green metallic vehicle with saddle or brown leather interior.
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In the grand scheme of things, that cost is probably a small percentage of the overall price, so I say go for it.

The only thing I'd caution - and it might not be the case with this particular color - but some special colors can be tough to match if you ever have to have paint work done. I had a Z06 in a yellow that used a 3-stage paint including a tinted clearcoat, never needed work, but had some aftermarket parts that were super hard to get a good match.

Bingo. Some bodyshops can do the work and have the skill. Most do not. Lexus paints are very hard to reproduce. In most cases, a dealer may opt for ordering panels from the factory. Which is what our Lexus dealer does when it comes to their difficult paints. The wait is longer, but insurance is happier to pay more for OEM and the customer isn't bitching up and down the street for weeks because their car looks like it has a giant zit on it.

 

[44267547]

And this is coming from someone who wouldn't mind an emerald green metallic vehicle with saddle or brown leather interior.

I like your preference in color. Here is a picture of a color no longer produced by Ford for the SHO, it's called "Dark side." (No option for brown leather unfortunately). It has that metallic green, Which in person looks sharp . What I like about it, is it's chameleon like, if it's cloudy or dark outside, it looks "Black". On a day where the Sun is in full view, it has the green emerald tone to it. It almost looks like the 2019 Bullitt "Highland green." There is something very mature about this color that stands out to me, although probably not preferred by many as an option. I believe it was limited a color.

Appeal In brighter conditions:

Appeal under clouds/darker conditions:

 

[Alphazoid]

The new A Class...i dont like it. Interior is nice but exterior is so boringly german.

 

[D.T.]

JFC, those Air Vents ...

 

[heehee]

That's Nardo Gray, if I'm not mistaken. It's a peculiar color. It looks good here, but under sunlight it looks like primer. The nearest Audi dealership has about a dozen PTS Audis. Great colors, but people gravitate towards white, black and various shades of silver. Color choice is an issue if you're buying and intent on selling private party. But if you're selling back to the dealer, then it's not an issue. On the other hand, if you pick something up CPO, then it'll be cheaper. Like a brown 911 with Bordeaux/black interior or full Bordeaux. Hideous combination, but slap a $5,000 wrap on it and you're good to go.

I’ve never seen it in the wild, only in showroom. It looks very good in person but I don’t know how to justify it. I’m leasing so it’s not exactly $3,300.
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The new A Class...i dont like it. Interior is nice but exterior is so boringly german.

I’m glad the fixed the screen but it’s still no where near as nice as Audi’s virtual cockpit. This is coming from a guy who owns a C-Class.

 

[Apple fanboy]

The new A Class...i dont like it. Interior is nice but exterior is so boringly german.

Funny I prefer the exterior to the interior.

 

[quagmire]

Bingo. Some bodyshops can do the work and have the skill. Most do not. Lexus paints are very hard to reproduce. In most cases, a dealer may opt for ordering panels from the factory. Which is what our Lexus dealer does when it comes to their difficult paints. The wait is longer, but insurance is happier to pay more for OEM and the customer isn't bitching up and down the street for weeks because their car looks like it has a giant zit on it.

Insurance happy to pay more for OEM?

I have heard more stories of people having to fight their insurance company( mainly Geico) to get OEM parts because the insurance company wants to put Chinese crap replacement parts to reduce costs. Heck you have to pay more in your premium with Nationwide if you want OEM parts.

 

[44267547]

If the vehicle is in need repair with parts like headlights, bumpers, mirrors, etc, My Insurance Company will use OEM salvaged parts if available first, then Third party, then OEM if neither salvaged or third party is NOT available. Although the caveat to third party parts is you can make requests to the Collision center (If approved by your insurance company) who they choose for part vendors if you have a preference, which they can submit to the insurance Company for approval. Insurance companies want your money, but seemingly want to be frugal as possible during the repair process.

 

[iLog.Genius]

Insurance rules may be different in the States, but do you guys not have bodyshops that are affiliated with dealerships that are insurance company approved? I would assume those body shops would only use OEM parts because of their affiliation and I don't think the insurance company can force the body shop to go buy third party? Unless I'm wrong here.

 

[quagmire]

Insurance rules may be different in the States, but do you guys not have bodyshops that are affiliated with dealerships that are insurance company approved? I would assume those body shops would only use OEM parts because of their affiliation and I don't think the insurance company can force the body shop to go buy third party? Unless I'm wrong here.

Some dealers have their own body shops, but the quality of them is hit or miss.