Posted by Samurai it gets old having to listen to assholes that really don't know a whole fuck of a lot about cars tell me that GM sucks. Real fucking old.

GM doesn't really suck... they just haven't had much of a vision lately (besides pumping out gas guzzling SUVs), but then I haven't really become fond of any car to come out in the last 7 years anyways.

If all our domestic car companies could get their shit together and realize that we don't want these plastic, computer controlled, pieces of crap, I would be a lot happier. Shit, even some of the nicer japanese cars I would turn my nose at (with the exception of the mk IV supra or 90's wrx sti and a few others). European car makers are the only ones who seem to be heading in the right direction and even they are starting to lose focus.

Posted by Samurai maybe before you reply on this forum, you should learn proper spelling and maybe some punctuation. That said, congratulations on illustrating what a fanboy you are... All rice, all the time. Maybe when you actually have been around the block a couple of times, have worked on all of them and really actually know what you're talking about, well maybe then you can post something relevant. Until then, I think you should stay out of this one forum. You see, i've worked on most of them, driven a lot of them and seen the rest... There isn't one brand out there that is any better than the rest. Regardless of what has been forced down your throat and programmed into your tiny little mind, Hondas are not 15 feet tall and bulletproof. They have never impressed me... you want a bulletproof import? Buy a fucking old Volvo 240. or a Nissan Sentra Or a goddamn Subaru DL/Legacy Or a Toyota Tercel. fucking Hondas... overpriced and overadvertised. it's guys like you I look forward to annihilating at the track! Until then, shut the fuck up. Thank in advance. Buh-bye. Samurai

rice WTF?

does this look rice? a car that has been on some interesting adventures in its life...




mountain stream in guatemala


no i don't want a 240 i want a mint 72 145

but when it comes down to cars they're all worth the same at the scrap yard...

gm has not realy put anything out that interests me... if i was looking for a car to get me from point a to b and did not care probably be a gm over the stuff ford is puting out in north amarica... both companies have some neat vehicles elswere in the world witch sucks

Posted by Samurai They have never impressed me... you want a bulletproof import? Buy a fucking old Volvo 240. or a Nissan Sentra Or a goddamn Subaru DL/Legacy Or a Toyota Tercel.

Thanks for tossing that last one in

Posted by Sinister Crayon GM doesn't really suck... they just haven't had much of a vision lately (besides pumping out gas guzzling SUVs), but then I haven't really become fond of any car to come out in the last 7 years anyways.

I'm with you on that, with the exception of a couple. The Porsche Cayman... ideally, in my mind, it's the perfect car. Also, the Honda S2000. I'm not even a Honda guy. It's just an awesome looking, driving and performing little car, and it fits me like a glove.

edit: and from what I've heard, a lot of the Honda crowd doesn't like the S2000, because "the engine turns the wrong way."

Well, kids...

If all our domestic car companies could get their shit together and realize that we don't want these plastic, computer controlled, pieces of crap,

Ummm... computer controlled is here to stay, domestic or import, like it or not, it makes shit a hell of a lot easier to diagnose, keeps stuff running efficiently, and well, can pose issues with modifications, but meh, most real cars have chips available.


As for the plastic cars... point taken. The Chevy Avalanche looks like a Playmobil toy on steroids.

Posted by bandi but meh, most real cars have chips available.

With the advent of OBDII, chipset modifications to computers is a thing of the past. Now, computers rely on 'flash' memory for their computers.

As for the plastic cars... point taken. The Chevy Avalanche looks like a Playmobil toy on steroids.

and what does it tell you that they (Chevrolet) sold every fucking one of them...

By the way, the Tercel thing was a nod in your direction, Bandi. Yours is an impressive little car in a sea of import mediocrity.

a little off topic, but still me ranting/venting...

What kills me is that all this little fanboys slam the Cobalt/Ion/G5 when they have no idea what they're talking about. Domestic-blah-blah-blah... I hate to burst their bubble, but the A-body/Delta chassis was first built in Europe... it's a European car. It was called Opel/Vauxhall Astra... Gee whiz. Imagine that.
In Australia, it was sold as a Holden Astra and this year [2008], it's coming to Saturn dealers as the Astra to replace the somewhat fugly and slow-selling Ion... and it's going to be an animal as the SRi trim will be available... Two-liters of turbo-charged Ecotec goodness in a slick sick hatchback shell... I may trade my SS for it...

Samurai

Posted by Samurai and what does it tell you that they (Chevrolet) sold every fucking one of them...

I'm just saying I don't personally like them... I also think the Nissan X-Terra looks about the same. I know, the Avalanche sold well, and it's a GREAT truck to drive. I just DESPISE the plastic body cladding.

By the way, the Tercel thing was a nod in your direction, Bandi. Yours is an impressive little car in a sea of import mediocrity.

Thanks dude.

I love my little car.

Actually, it's funny... a friend of mine was bagging on Cobalts (They're slow, they're a copy of a Honda, blah, blah, blah) the other day, I put him in his place, and he had this look of shock on his face. (I also pointed out how NOT slow they are, using your car as an example.)

"You just defended a GM?" he said.

I'm not anti domestic. I just happen to own mostly imports, and I've had great luck with most of them. I've owned a lot of domestics, too... and I've had great luck with most of them as well.

Ok... so a good percentage of newer Ford products are laughable at best... but anyhow...

a little off topic, but still me ranting/venting... What kills me is that all this little fanboys slam the Cobalt/Ion/G5 when they have no idea what they're talking about. Domestic-blah-blah-blah... I hate to burst their bubble, but the A-body/Delta chassis was first built in Europe... it's a European car. It was called Opel/Vauxhall Astra... Gee whiz. Imagine that. In Australia, it was sold as a Holden Astra and this year [2008], it's coming to Saturn dealers as the Astra to replace the somewhat fugly and slow-selling Ion... and it's going to be an animal as the SRi trim will be available... Two-liters of turbo-charged Ecotec goodness in a slick sick hatchback shell... I may trade my SS for it... Samurai

What's fucking it up is Ford and D-C are building shit right now... I mean SHIT cars. Those new Calibers that replaced the Neon... they're falling apart right off the showroom floor. All sorts of wiring issues with the lighting, engine control issues. The Nitro? All sort of problems with the all-wheel drive... there is a reason that D-C added that lifetime powertrain warranty... it was the only reason to get people into their cars.

Ford... what happened here? Ford was at the top of their game at the middle of the 90's. They had cars that were selling, defined product core lines that moved volumes and then poof! the cars began to suck, their designs turned decidedly odd (remember the first time you saw the Whale Taurus?) and their fit and finish issues were plaguing the first couple years of the Focus.

In the past couple of years, Ford axed their best-selling nameplate and replaced it with the '500'... that sold nothing. The Focus keeps soldering on, but it looks like a dated design... they haven't really changed sheetmetal or powertrains since early 2000. The Fusion is aimed directly at the Camry and Accord, but their advertising makes them sound desperate. The only shining star in their lineup is the Mustang, but even that is a little overpriced in base trim.

Where did they all go wrong? And what's funny, looking at the 'imports' out there, when did they go so arrogant and so bizarre? Start with Honda... The Civic is fugly. It looks like a half-digested jellybean stuck in a windtunnel. The Accord sedan looks like it's suffering from an identity crisis like it wants to be an Acura or an Infinit, but comes up short. The Accord coupe looks it wants to be a Mercedes Benz coupe, but doesn't have the penis for it...

Toyota... their cars are fugly. The Camry used to look clean, eager to please, something nonthreatening, like a happy happy toaster. That's what Camry's and Corollas are... appliances. They are people-moving appliances... But now, i don't know what look they are going for. And Toyota is also finding out how fickle the truck market is, along with Nissan... American truck buyers aren't like car buyers. They won't take what you've got on the lot and like it! They want their 'own' pickup.

And those little Korean pieces of shit, don't get me started on them!
Eh, i'm ranting again. Goddamn it.

Posted by Samurai Start with Honda... The Civic is fugly. It looks like a half-digested jellybean stuck in a windtunnel.

I will remember that for the rest of my life. I have no choice, I almost peed I laughed so hard.

Toyota... their cars are fugly. The Camry used to look clean, eager to please, something nonthreatening, like a happy happy toaster. That's what Camry's and Corollas are... appliances. They are people-moving appliances... But now, i don't know what look they are going for.

Agreed... and I'm not just saying this because I love Tercels, but when Toyota scrapped the Tercel, which, although it may have needed a bit of a facelift, it was a hot seller, and it was normal looking... and they brought out the goofy looking Echo (And now the Yaris), I dunno what they were thinking. The new Camry has KIND of grown on me... but their designs are just too over the top these days. The Yaris is the clumsiest looking car out there.

I should add that I like what Volkswagen has for a lineup now. Okay, so they need to re-do the New Beetle, and make it look like a Beetle... but aside from that, they have some decent looking/performing cars. I love the new Rabbit.

ford has some good cars your just can't buy them in the us or canada... witch is stupid...

Posted by bandi I should add that I like what Volkswagen has for a lineup now. Okay, so they need to re-do the New Beetle, and make it look like a Beetle... but aside from that, they have some decent looking/performing cars. I love the new Rabbit.

i'm waiting for the new Scirocco. I was always a fan of the Corrado, but at that time it was available, i wasn't old enough or financially solvent enough to own it.
The new Scirocco really makes me think of the Corrado... but then again, the Corrado always reminded of the really hot looking first generation Scirocco.

I think with Volkswagen, they need to tighten up their build quality. I hear way too many horror stories about their mysterious electrical problems and their less-than-helpful customer service.

Samurai

Posted by 1ajs ford has some good cars your just can't buy them in the us or canada... witch is stupid...

like what?
You do remember the whole Merkur debacle, no?

There's an XR4ti about 20 minutes from here for sale, with a wild, very 80's looking bodykit, and a claimed 300 horsepower. Actually, apparently the XR4ti shared some running gear with the Escort Cosworth. I know the rear brake rotors were the same, although we're running monster Wildood rear discs with 4 piston calipers now.

Posted by bandi There's an XR4ti about 20 minutes from here for sale, with a wild, very 80's looking bodykit, and a claimed 300 horsepower. Actually, apparently the XR4ti shared some running gear with the Escort Cosworth. I know the rear brake rotors were the same, although we're running monster Wildood rear discs with 4 piston calipers now.

300hp is mild for a built 2.3L OHC Turbo. It was the rare case of the American version of the car being hotter than the European. The European Sierra only had the Cologne V6 in it (2.8L/2.9L V6) and was somewhat pokey. Ford really misread the market with the car, though. For one, it was way overpriced for the market it was aimed at (the gap left behind by the Capri RS Turbo/5.0L) and the fact that the engineering wasn't all that sound. The decision to use the RAD-style Pinto box with a 5th gear stuffed into the case was definitely a mistake. I can see why they used it, though. T5's were in short supply in the mid-80's. Not only was Ford sourcing them for the 5-Liter Mustangs, SVO's, Turbo GT Mustangs, Thunderbird TurboCoupes and Cougar XR7 Turbo's, but GM was using them for the bobby-soxer Camaros with the 305 V8 in them... not enough transmissions to go around. As a result, the manual transmissions failed. My Merkur was unlucky enough to have the godawful C3 automatic in it... These were even more prone to failure than the manual transmission cars! Mine and my friend Rays' cars both suffered from the same thing... transmission failure.

The car was fast, but getting it rolling that first 100ft was an ordeal! But, on the road, these cars were better than sex. You couldn't shake the rear end free in the twisties, the front end stayed put, even on the horrible 15" wheels and tires. The interiors were all business, very European. Made you think of a BMW M3 when driving it.
Nowadays, though, they are an orphan car and a pain in the ass to get parts for, other than the engine and running gear. Companies like Rapido and Tiny Avenger Motorsports bought up most of Fords parts bins for this car and they charge a premium for most of these replacement parts. But, ask anyone who has an XR4Ti and they'll tell you that the cars are an obsession.
http://en.wikipedi.../wiki/Merkur_XR4Ti

Samurai

Isn't even Ford for North America using still the Mark I design of the Focus?

Posted by Agent Skelly Isn't even Ford for North America using still the Mark I design of the Focus?

yup.
the European Focus is a pretty nice looking car.

Samurai

Posted by bandi I'm with you on that, with the exception of a couple. The Porsche Cayman... ideally, in my mind, it's the perfect car. Also, the Honda S2000. I'm not even a Honda guy. It's just an awesome looking, driving and performing little car, and it fits me like a glove. edit: and from what I've heard, a lot of the Honda crowd doesn't like the S2000, because "the engine turns the wrong way." Well, kids...

The s2000 is one of the few Hondas I would consider as I can't stand the feel of FWD and I despise the idea of mounting the engine transversally.... my current car has both *shudders.*

Ummm... computer controlled is here to stay, domestic or import, like it or not, it makes shit a hell of a lot easier to diagnose, keeps stuff running efficiently, and well, can pose issues with modifications, but meh, most real cars have chips available.

I've come to terms with the fact that ECUs and OBD systems are beneficial in their own right, but it's these bullshit ideas like the cars that automatically brake if you get to close to the person in front of you (that means no drafting which can be the death sentence if you run low on gas) or can supposedly parallel park your car. There is no fucking way. If those computers fuck up, I end up pocketing the cost of their mistake for something I didn't do, or even tell them to do. And mandatory ABS and Airbags? WTF? (that's probably more government controlled, but still!)

As for the plastic cars... point taken. The Chevy Avalanche looks like a Playmobil toy on steroids.

I still cringe when I see one of those, And the element is pretty bad too. Looks like it's trying to be a hard-top jeep....

Posted by Sinister Crayon

In the cars I've seen with the auto-parallel park feature, the computer that controls that is linked similar to how cruise control works. So if fails, it just stops dead. A matter of fact, I believe they have to do this under NHTSA regulations for safety reasons.

I know of like 5 people who always buy cars without "any electronics" because they think the ECU/OBD systems fail as much as they change oil. They don't; they are well-designed embedded systems that have to meet all kinds of specifications for durability and what not.