The Car Thread ... !

[Nütztjanix]

One more vintage photo of another car I loved, it too died from cancer of the frame. I loved the car but got taken by the used car dealer, after trying to get into Canada after live back the USA for I while, I learned about it's history being imported to the US from Germany. It had air bag suspension that leaked air slowly, so I always carried a brick to stick under front frame to keep it from going completely to the ground! Great ride, always rode the same no matter how many people in the car. Always felt good to see that star on the hood, now my ML350 just has a badge. View attachment 1749300

W109?

One of the constant debates on the MG forum is that MGBs shipped with a nice woven asbestos mat under the carpet around the gearstick/over the transmission tunnel. Many people find it pulling the carpet up or even just poking around under the gaiter boot. I've seen more than a few loose their heads over a 2'x2' piece of asbestos blanket. Personally, I leave it be-I've never seen one that was anything close to degrading, and it sure helps the heat in that area.

Now the MGA guys at least usually line things with a material called Hushmat, which is a thin silvery(mylar?) insulation. It's supposed to do wonders for both heat and sound and not weigh very much, but it's also expensive.

British cars are fun when you really get into the service manuals, and you can at times almost need a dictionary to make sense of them. What is the old saying about two countries separated by a common language?

I guess the excess heat was very welcome in their home country, where it's apparently constantly cold, windy and rainy! 😜

 

[Allyance]

W109?


I guess the excess heat was very welcome in their home country, where it's apparently constantly cold, windy and rainy! 😜

1971 300SEL

 

[Nütztjanix]

1971 300SEL

Absolutely no fan of the newer Mercedes, but the old ones (W109, W114/115, W116, W123 etc.) were great cars.

 

[Apple fanboy]

W109?


I guess the excess heat was very welcome in their home country, where it's apparently constantly cold, windy and rainy! 😜

Indeed it is. Had all 3 today!

 

[Apple fanboy]

One of the constant debates on the MG forum is that MGBs shipped with a nice woven asbestos mat under the carpet around the gearstick/over the transmission tunnel. Many people find it pulling the carpet up or even just poking around under the gaiter boot. I've seen more than a few loose their heads over a 2'x2' piece of asbestos blanket. Personally, I leave it be-I've never seen one that was anything close to degrading, and it sure helps the heat in that area.

Now the MGA guys at least usually line things with a material called Hushmat, which is a thin silvery(mylar?) insulation. It's supposed to do wonders for both heat and sound and not weigh very much, but it's also expensive.

British cars are fun when you really get into the service manuals, and you can at times almost need a dictionary to make sense of them. What is the old saying about two countries separated by a common language?

We speak it properly. It’s your lot that make a mess of it!

 

[Nütztjanix]

We speak it properly. It’s your lot that make a mess of it!

Bonnet! Lever! Boot!

 

[bunnspecial]

Just be sure you use the correct type of torch when looking down your gas filler or examining your fuel pump.

 

[Nütztjanix]

 

[44267547]

The first Vin number for the 2022 Cadillac Blackwing sold for ~$225,000 entirely for charity at Barrett-Jackson. Probably one of my favorite cars I touched on the bottom month or so ago. It was the fastest selling car at their auction, and sold under 6 1/2 minutes. Crazy money dropped quick.

2022 CADILLAC CT5-V BLACKWING VIN 001 - Vehicle | Barrett-Jackson Auction Company - World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions

www.barrett-jackson.com

 

[Huntn]

The other shoe drops...
A good lesson for anyone buying 40 year old hobby cars:

At the time the seller purchased the car, he drove the car, he inspected it and was satisfied with it’s condition. I had expressed my concern that the alternator was not working and advised him that it had been replaced by a nearby auto repair shop about 7 years ago when the car was first brought to Texas.

Suspecting or knowing the alternator was not working, we agreed to a purchase price in as-is condition. There was no body rust evident at the time of sale. He and I both acknowledged that this was a hobby/project car that would require work to restore.

During the week I made arrangements with the buyer to come over on the Saturday (today) to pick up extra car seat hinges, a drive train part, and a Valve Adjustment Tool.

When he arrived today he told he that he was having difficulty, had spent two days trying to remove the alternator on the car. He said whoever had installed the alternator, had forced a pin that holds the alternator into a piece of the engine body (that he had with him to show me) and that he had broken off the bolt/pin on the end of it in the process of removing the alternator from the engine. My impression is that the pin/bolt that was broken that had the nut on it is what holds the alternator in place. He may need to find this piece off a junked Fiat engine if he can't get the pin out. That is the issue with this age of a car, especially a foreign import. You have to find a replacement part or have one made, if that is possible.

Here's a kicker. He told me there was a pin that was missing that holds the alternator pulley wheel to the alternator rotor that was missing, and there was a possibility that the alternator had been working, but the pulley wheel had been free turning. But he had destroyed the alternator trying to take it off. Now I don't understand why that happened, anyway...

He also said when he put it up on jacks there was a lot of rust on the underside and felt that he would be lucky to get his money back out of the car. Well there is going to be rust, but as I said, there is no visible body rust on this car. He wanted to know if I would buy it back from him for $4000. (sold it to him for $5k). That would be $1000 profit for me. I told him, no, that when I sold the car I had decided I did not want to invest any more more money into it and that he had broken a part on the car. It was too late to take it back. We left it on civil terms.

The buyer of my 1982 Fiat Spider has gotten over his buyer’s remorse and is busy restoring it, alternator he broke is fixed, he’s removing pieces and sand blasting them, most of the underside rust is gone, it’s looking good.

 

[Apple fanboy]

The buyer of my 1982 Fiat Spider has gotten over his buyer’s remorse and is busy restoring it, alternator he broke is fixed, he’s removing pieces and sand blasting them, most of the underside rust is gone, it’s looking good.

When it’s done will you have sellers remorse?

 

[Huntn]

When it’s done will you have sellers remorse?

Nope... now if I had been 30 years younger I might have had the energy. While there is a certain sentimental attachment, I’ve developed a new sentimental attachment with, although it is vastly more complex of a machine, and therefore lacks the appeal of simplicity the older car had:

​

 

[Mac... nificent]

View attachment 1750189​

Wow, what a beautiful candy red 👍

 

[quagmire]

Just outwardly thinking here..... I just curiously went on Carmax.com just to see what they would offer me for my Camaro. Evaluating it honestly I think it is in good condition( though I am sure they will try to knock it down to average once verifying) and for that they would offer me $36,000. Well I guess I shouldn't have done that because it has gotten me thinking. I love the Camaro. I love the V8, love how it drives, etc. I have always recognized that it isn't the most practical vehicle. For my needs now it is fine and thought I would just buy a second more practical vehicle once the time comes. But I have lately pondered whether the cost of owning and maintaining two vehicles is something I want to do. The high trade in offer has increased those thoughts and whether I should capitalize on the market right now. I plan to have the Camaro paid off by July. I am still eyeing something performance oriented, but more practical. The more and more I look at Tesla's, the more I like them. I would specifically looking at the Model Y Long Range. Still plenty fast, practical, and the drawbacks to charging is getting less and less.

Though obviously once I get out of a V8 powered car, there probably won't be going back with several automakers already stating they are no longer developing new ICE's, fact that the new Caddy's use largely carry over powerplants, etc. But EV's are dang attractive and Tesla is the only one making one that is worth looking at in my price range. Chances of actually pulling the trigger is low, but need to get it off the chest sort of speak.

 

[Allyance]

You ought to live out here in the East Bay, Teslas are a dime a dozen.

 

[Apple fanboy]

But internally Tesla’s are so dame ugly. When you think of the price they are not cheap. For that sort of money there are a lot nicer cars out there.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

But internally Tesla’s are so dame ugly. When you think of the price they are not cheap. For that sort of money there are a lot nicer cars out there.

Yeah they are not my taste either to be honest. I’ve seen 2 of them today in car parks in West Wales and they stand out for how bland they look compared to the likes of Mercedes, Audi etc which are also similar money. A good friend of mine has one and I’ve not been too impressed with the range or build quality of them either.

 

[A.Goldberg]

2022 Jeep Wagoneer [Offered also in a ‘Grand’ variant]

2022 Jeep Wagoneer is here: gigantic, luxurious and packing big V8 power

Close to 60 years since the original was launched and 30 years since the last one was sold, the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are finally back. As

www.autoblog.com

Wagoneer model receives a 5.7l (392HP/404Tq) & Grand Wagoneer receives 6.4L (471HP/455Tq). Both have 8-speed auto.

Base Wagoneer-$60,000-$80,00

Grand Wagoneer-$89,000-$111,000

The ‘Grand’ Wagoneer is the luxury version of the standard Wagoneer, but they both share the same wheelbase.
View attachment 1743131

View attachment 1743117 View attachment 1743119 View attachment 1743120 View attachment 1743121
View attachment 1743123
View attachment 1743122

An abomination and bastardization of the Grand Wagoneer badge. Surprisingly Fiat-Chrysler managed to not screw up the Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, but the Wagoneer is just atrocious. For a name that used to be compatible to Range Rover, this is a huge disappointment.

My father had a JGW when I was little. I still remember the distinct interior smell.

 

[44267547]

An abomination and bastardization of the Grand Wagoneer badge. Surprisingly Fiat-Chrysler managed to not screw up the Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, but the Wagoneer is just atrocious. For a name that used to be compatible to Range Rover, this is a huge disappointment.

My father had a JGW when I was little. I still remember the distinct interior smell.

I Can’t say I fully understand the retro appeal that these manufacturers consistently try to revive like the Wagoneer, the Bronco, the Trailblazer, the list goes on. None of them are ‘true to there roots’, but then again, maybe that’s not what there after. Some of these vehicles I think are more modernized mixed with tech and luxury that only inflate the price more, which is what the Wagoneer seems to promote, but ultimately, are these price points really that attractive to the consumers starting at almost $70k for a base Wagoneer? I doubt it. The only people I see driving the Wagoneer would probably be someone in their 60s or older. There’s too many other lucrative options on the market that offers similar tech, convenience and leg space ranging from $45K to $55K.

 

[44267547]

2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness

There’s a lot of changes from the standard ‘Outback’, but the Wilderness has a higher ride height, bolstered suspension, tons of interior tweaks, wheel package, exclusive color, ect. Definitely geared towards more of the off-road experience, especially being that it sits at 9.5 inches.

2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness literally takes the wagon to new heights

The new 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness in the first of a new Wilderness sub-brand, with increased clearances, all-terrain tires and more rugged styling.

www.autoblog.com

 

[A.Goldberg]

I Can’t say I fully understand the retro appeal that these manufacturers consistently try to revive like the Wagoneer, the Bronco, the Trailblazer, the list goes on. None of them are ‘true to there roots’, but then again, maybe that’s not what there after. Some of these vehicles I think are more modernized mixed with tech and luxury that only inflate the price more, which is what the Wagoneer seems to promote, but ultimately, are these price points really that attractive to the consumers starting at almost $70k for a base Wagoneer? I doubt it. The only people I see driving the Wagoneer would probably be someone in their 60s or older. There’s too many other lucrative options on the market that offers similar tech, convenience and leg space ranging from $45K to $55K.

Well, SUV’s are a big market these days. It makes sense to capitalize on iconic name plates like the Bronco, Defender, etc. GM really messed IMO making the Blazer basically a generic family crossover rather than more of an off-road oriented vehicle.

The new JGW bears virtually no resemblance to the original which btw was produced with few changes for what- 3+ decades. The exterior is pretty generic for a full size SUV and doesn’t look particularly exclusive considering it’s lofty price tag. The interior doesn’t really stand out either.

I think it’s pretty hard to take a classic car as unique as the JGW and making a design that appears to evolve from the previous generation. I would have expected it to look much more like a full size Range Rover. I think the decision to make it a 7-passenger was a mistake too, further distancing it from the original and making it just another full size family SUV.

———

In other news my 2009 BMW 535i xDrive is getting old. I planned on replacing it years ago but she’s actually been quite reliable and she’s in very good condition. Besides some very minor scuffs and scratches (surprisingly minimal considering the age) on the bumper from living in Boston, there isn’t even a door ding. The last major repair I had were coil packs. The dealer wanted $2500, I did it myself for like $250 and an hour of my time, very easy. Now that the snow is gone I need to take the snow tires off, but the all-seasons I use in the summer will have to be replaced (I had them recycled when the snows got put on).

I’m not finding a ton of cars super compelling at the moment. I like the new Defender but it’s not worth $75-80k in my mind once you add in the options. Reliability is another concern. The most reasonable and persistent option I’ve liked is the XC60 T6 inscription. I need to do more research into the long term reliability of the engine though (4cyl turbo + supercharger)- seems overly complex.

My sister has a 2019 4dr Wrangler Sahara, which is a much nicer car than I expected considering how awful the older wrangler generations were. I suppose it’s the next best thing to a Defender. Here’s was $55k MSRP, which sounds a bit insane for what it is, but it’s really the cheapest car of (very slight) consideration. From a reliability standpoint, I’m not a fan that the V6 is now a mild hybrid and other option is a Fiat Turbo 4. The diesel is appealing but is $5-6k extra and seems to have some reliability issues, at least in the RAM trucks which probably operate under heavier loads on average.

The updated 2021 Jaguar F-Pace is pretty appealing. I looked at the F-Pace a few years ago but didn’t have a good experience with the dealer. It’s cousin the Range Rover Velar is also of interest. They’re both a little flashier than I’d prefer and as with the Defender, JLR’s reliability seems to be pretty poor these days. My dad has a new Range Rover TD6 which has experienced numerous little electrical issues in the <1 year he’s owned it.

I’m also looking to replace my Fiancee’s 2013 Volvo S60 T6 AWD. It’s been a great car, reliable, and only has about 60-65k, but it’s getting old. She’s finishing her residency very soon so I figured I’d buy her a new car for her new job. A new S60 is the obvious replacement but I’m exploring other options.

 

[quagmire]

So I went to test drive the Model Y yesterday. It was a blast. Well probably since it was the Performance model( I would get the Long Range). The biggest change and relearning sort of speak is single pedal driving. Quite a few times I would let off the gas to coast and get full regen braking instead. Something to get used to. Love the way it drove for the most part though obviously does not handle as well as my Camaro and obviously does not have the wonderful sound of a V8. The interior was comfy and I like the minimalist look. Though I didn't quite mind looking slightly right for my speed, I do miss the HUD. Autopilot is neat, but I would not spend the $10K for FSD. But would probably pay for the acceleration boost down the road( would spend the initial money on ceramic coating and Xpel).

Overall walked away very impressed and actually considering trading in the Camaro. Though grabbing quotes for insurance has left me confused and somewhat peeved. The Tesla would be about a $400 a year savings compared to the Camaro, but I was curious what a new quote on a '17 and even '21 Camaro SS would be. With everything the same in terms of coverage and driving records with my current insurer, adding a '17 Camaro SS right now is $800 a year cheaper than what I am currently paying them for my '17 Camaro SS. A brand new '21 Camaro SS would be $600 a year cheaper. Why in the bleep am I paying a crap ton more money to insure my Camaro than someone who is buying one right now used or new?

Though again searching for quotes, I went to look at what a '21 Volvo XC40 would cost to insure and it is a hell a lot less. Even the Mustang Mach E is a lot less to insure over the Tesla. Now I understand Tesla's are more expensive to insure due to Tesla only allowing their own dealers to work on them, but the XC40 and Mach E are just about even in insurance costs. It has me thinking is the Tesla still worth it in that regards. But the XC40 is quite a change from the Camaro and that is what I like about the Model Y as it is close to the Camaro's power while gaining a lot of utility and practicality.

 

[44267547]

In other news my 2009 BMW 535i xDrive is getting old. I planned on replacing it years ago but she’s actually been quite reliable and she’s in very good condition. Besides some very minor scuffs and scratches (surprisingly minimal considering the age) on the bumper from living in Boston, there isn’t even a door ding. The last major repair I had were coil packs. The dealer wanted $2500, I did it myself for like $250 and an hour of my time, very easy. Now that the snow is gone I need to take the snow tires off, but the all-seasons I use in the summer will have to be replaced (I had them recycled when the snows got put on).

2009 with no major issues? That’s excellent. Albeit, Probably a matter of time before you’re probably forced to trade in your BMW before something else goes wrong to the point where you’re not willing to stick that kind of money into it. On a side story, I have a long distance friend who purchased a 2016 M3 out of Miami, and had it shipped to his door (Of Course, no warranty). Everything was fine until an ECM module failed, and now he has to pay for the part/labor, which is around ~$6000 for everything. Kind of insane really. I’ve never owned a German car, but it seems once they reach a certain age or mileage, they become money pits. Especially given some third party dealerships won’t even touch German cars, which forces you either to find somebody that’s independent and has knowledge or direct to BMW them self. I’m sure you already are completely aware of all that.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Talking of German car issues my wing mirror glass fell of today. Even though they are heated, looks like a dead easy repair. Replacement will be here in a few days.

 

[Bug-Creator]

2016 M3 out of Miami,

I’ve never owned a German car, but it seems once they reach a certain age or mileage, they become money pits.

So you bought a performance car with high mileage and dubious (unknown) history and are now surprised that it will cost actual money to fix?

Just a few thought:
M?, S? or AMG??? are all cars where they put a highly tuned engine that barely fits into a car that was designed for a 4 or very small 6 cylinder. All so that you can hammer it on the Autobahn for <20000miles/year (everybody who drives more buys a diesel) while filling it up with premium fuel and having it maintained by people who know what they are doing.

Stateside you find them often running on "regular" and barely maintained with 3 or 4 times the mileage, hence the bad reputation.

Same goes the other way round, if I buy some tuned Camaro and go top speed for hours on end every day I will find out that they were just build to use all that power for a short drag race and that the few mechanics who know anything about them are asking insane rates (+ parts being super expensive and taking weeks to arrive).

Sorry for the rant, but the old myth of German cars being so unreliable is just getting on me.

Think about replacing that M3 with an Aston Martin or Maserati and noone would be bothered $6000 bills despite them being nothing but worse version of the same kind of car.