The General Car Thread.

[Petrolheadia]

I love Toyota, they have an incredible ability to make fun cars despite being a mostly bland brand. The AE86, the MR2, the GT86... all cool stuff

Pretty much every big car corporation has at least once allowed its engineers to build something cool.

Well, maybe except the Chinese. They're in making profits, not cars.

[Petrolheadia]

Imagine it's 1970. You are a 23-year-old fertilizer factory worker from Tennessee, an owner of a 2-door 270+ HP 1955 Chevrolet 210 and a 1954 Chevrolet 3100, and you have a now-pregnant wife. She is planning to be a stay-at-home mom, as per family tradition. With what's happening, you've both decided to sell the 210 and get something more family-friendly (e.g. 4-door). The options in the budget are:
- 1956 354 ci automatic Imperial Sedan,
- 1962 394 ci automatic Oldsmobile 88 Fiesta wagon,
- 1961 292 ci automatic Ford Country Squire wagon,
- 1962 215 ci automatic Pontiac Tempest sedan,
- 1961 364 ci automatic Buick LeSabre sedan,
- 1962 327 ci automatic Chevrolet Impala sedan,
- 1961 327 ci automatic Rambler Ambassador sedan,
- 1961 389 ci manual Pontiac Bonneville sedan.

Which one would you choose? I think I'd end up buying the Bonneville, even despite the manual.

[Auzkhia]

Not craigslist, but still delusional nonetheless.

[Aboveland]

Not craigslist, but still delusional nonetheless.

What are they thinking?!

In other news I compared what 500 GBP would get you in Argentina and in the UK in the used car market. In the UK you could get a late 1990s to early 2000s MG ZR in perfect condition. In Argentina you could get a Renault Fuego, paint chipped and engine block cracked, or a running, but severely burnt, 2005 Focus sedan.

[The Two Jerseys]

Not craigslist, but still delusional nonetheless.

That's a typo, right?

That's gotta be a typo.

There's no way that it can't be a typo...

[Petrolheadia]

Not craigslist, but still delusional nonetheless.

What are they thinking?!

In other news I compared what 500 GBP would get you in Argentina and in the UK in the used car market. In the UK you could get a late 1990s to early 2000s MG ZR in perfect condition. In Argentina you could get a Renault Fuego, paint chipped and engine block cracked, or a running, but severely burnt, 2005 Focus sedan.

Around Puławy, Poland.

A diesel 2000 Volvo V70 wagon.

[Petrolheadia]

Have you ever had a dream with a car that doesn't really exist?

Last night, I had a ream that involved cheap car dirt racing.

My car was a 90s minivan that was an amalgamation of cheap minivans I see on the streets: mainly based on the 1st gen Opel Zafira, but with a 1st gen Honda Shuttle (Odyssey stateside) front, a side profile inspired by the Zafira, Shuttle and Mitsubishi Space Star and 1st gen Peugeot Partner rear barn doors.

I can't remember much about my rivals, but one had an 80s/90s subcompact hatchback based on the Peugeot 205, but with some VW Golf Mk2 (rear) and Ford Fiesta Mk3 (door shape) influences, another had an early 60s executive sedan based on a Rover P5 Coupe, with Austin A99 Westminster lights and '57 Chevy roofline and tailfins, and another had an 80s Japanese sporty coupe (Supra Mk3 + 1st gen Nissan 300ZX + Mitsubishi Starion).

[Auzkhia]

Have you ever had a dream with a car that doesn't really exist?

Last night, I had a ream that involved cheap car dirt racing.

My car was a 90s minivan that was an amalgamation of cheap minivans I see on the streets: mainly based on the 1st gen Opel Zafira, but with a 1st gen Honda Shuttle (Odyssey stateside) front, a side profile inspired by the Zafira, Shuttle and Mitsubishi Space Star and 1st gen Peugeot Partner rear barn doors.

I can't remember much about my rivals, but one had an 80s/90s subcompact hatchback based on the Peugeot 205, but with some VW Golf Mk2 (rear) and Ford Fiesta Mk3 (door shape) influences, another had an early 60s executive sedan based on a Rover P5 Coupe, with Austin A99 Westminster lights and '57 Chevy roofline and tailfins, and another had an 80s Japanese sporty coupe (Supra Mk3 + 1st gen Nissan 300ZX + Mitsubishi Starion).

Some retro looking cars with super long hoods but also rocket engines, and it was in the future.

[Petrolheadia]

Imagine it's 1976. You're a married 30-year-old Tennessee fertilizer factory worker with 2 sons, a 6-year-old and a 2-year-old, and an infant daughter. Your family car is a '65 Chevrolet Impala sedan, but it's getting a little worn, so you're looking for a replacement. It needs to be practical, reliable and relatively fast. You don't care about the fuel crisis, as you think it's temporary and "the work of some dumb towelheads". The options in your budget are:
- 1968 240 ci Ford Custom 500 sedan,
- 1967 390 ci Ford Country Squire wagon,
- 1964 383 ci Chrysler 300 sedan,
- 1966 383 ci Chrysler Newport wagon,
- 1966 330 ci 3-spd automatic Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser wagon,
- 1967 318 ci Dodge Polara wagon,
- 1968 307 ci Chevrolet Biscayne wagon,

Which one would you buy?

I think I'd go for the Polara.

[Petrolheadia]

What are the lowest-tier cars where you live?

By "lowest-tier", I mean cars that are cheap, if not the cheapest, to buy, own and repair, and are owned by people who can barely afford anything better than the bus, or don't wanna spend anything above the minimal amount on their car.

In Puławy, Poland, such cars are Fiat Cinquecentos/Seicentos/Unos/early Puntos, 1.2 Renault Twingos, Mk1/2 Clios and Mk1 Kangoos, 1.0 Opel Corsa Bs, Daewoo Matizes, 1.0 VW Polo Mk2/3s and Peugeot 106s/206s (base engines).

And what about your area?

[Hamilpore]

I would like to just have a car. Thank god for public transportation.

[Major-Tom]

I would like to just have a car. Thank god for public transportation.

Do you live in a bigger city? If so, no need for a car.

[Petrolheadia]

I would like to just have a car. Thank god for public transportation.

Do you live in a bigger city? If so, no need for a car.

Often it's convenient. Depends on the city.

For example, Warsaw is a good city to own a car in, because it had a car-centric post-WWII (ca. 75% of all buildings were destroyed, plus the damaged ones) rebuild in the 50s and 70s, so there is a lot of parking spots and freeways.

But someplace like central London or Paris? Not so much.

[Major-Tom]

Do you live in a bigger city? If so, no need for a car.

Often it's convenient. Depends on the city.

For example, Warsaw is a good city to own a car in, because it had a car-centric post-WWII (ca. 75% of all buildings were destroyed, plus the damaged ones) rebuild in the 50s and 70s, so there is a lot of parking spots and freeways.

But someplace like central London or Paris? Not so much.

I mean, yeah, there are exceptions (forgot you were Polish, too, things are different in the former Eastern Bloc).

Even in some smaller university towns, cars aren't necessary at all. But, back when I lived in Phoenix (4.5 million metro pop), having a car was crucial.

[Petrolheadia]

Often it's convenient. Depends on the city.

For example, Warsaw is a good city to own a car in, because it had a car-centric post-WWII (ca. 75% of all buildings were destroyed, plus the damaged ones) rebuild in the 50s and 70s, so there is a lot of parking spots and freeways.

But someplace like central London or Paris? Not so much.

I mean, yeah, there are exceptions (forgot you were Polish, too, things are different in the former Eastern Bloc).

Even in some smaller university towns, cars aren't necessary at all. But, back when I lived in Phoenix (4.5 million metro pop), having a car was crucial.

It's probably like Warsaw - most stuff built when "2 cars in every garage" was pretty much considered a future human right.

[Major-Tom]

I mean, yeah, there are exceptions (forgot you were Polish, too, things are different in the former Eastern Bloc).

Even in some smaller university towns, cars aren't necessary at all. But, back when I lived in Phoenix (4.5 million metro pop), having a car was crucial.

It's probably like Warsaw - most stuff built when "2 cars in every garage" was pretty much considered a future human right.

Yup. Urban sprawl at its unbridled peak in PHX.

[Auzkhia]

What are the lowest-tier cars where you live?

By "lowest-tier", I mean cars that are cheap, if not the cheapest, to buy, own and repair, and are owned by people who can barely afford anything better than the bus, or don't wanna spend anything above the minimal amount on their car.

In Puławy, Poland, such cars are Fiat Cinquecentos/Seicentos/Unos/early Puntos, 1.2 Renault Twingos, Mk1/2 Clios and Mk1 Kangoos, 1.0 Opel Corsa Bs, Daewoo Matizes, 1.0 VW Polo Mk2/3s and Peugeot 106s/206s (base engines).

And what about your area?

Cheap small cars from the 90s and 2000s, such as Dodge Neon, Chevy Cavalier, Pontiac Sunfire, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Escort, Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, and anything from Geo.

If you see anyone over 25, maybe 26, driving these sort of cars in condition, it's a low tier car for sure, because students will have cars like these, but after they get their first few paychecks from their real jobs, they will upgrade to something nicer and newer. My Dad ditched his beat up 1985 Pontiac Grand Am for a brand new 1992 Plymouth Lazer.

[Petrolheadia]

What are the lowest-tier cars where you live?

By "lowest-tier", I mean cars that are cheap, if not the cheapest, to buy, own and repair, and are owned by people who can barely afford anything better than the bus, or don't wanna spend anything above the minimal amount on their car.

In Puławy, Poland, such cars are Fiat Cinquecentos/Seicentos/Unos/early Puntos, 1.2 Renault Twingos, Mk1/2 Clios and Mk1 Kangoos, 1.0 Opel Corsa Bs, Daewoo Matizes, 1.0 VW Polo Mk2/3s and Peugeot 106s/206s (base engines).

And what about your area?

Cheap small cars from the 90s and 2000s, such as Dodge Neon, Chevy Cavalier, Pontiac Sunfire, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Escort, Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, and anything from Geo.

If you see anyone over 25, maybe 26, driving these sort of cars in condition, it's a low tier car for sure, because students will have cars like these, but after they get their first few paychecks from their real jobs, they will upgrade to something nicer and newer. My Dad ditched his beat up 1985 Pontiac Grand Am for a brand new 1992 Plymouth Lazer.

His 7-year-old car was a beater?

"The past is a foreign country. They do things differently there."

[Petrolheadia]

It's probably like Warsaw - most stuff built when "2 cars in every garage" was pretty much considered a future human right.

Yup. Urban sprawl at its unbridled peak in PHX.

In Poland, even a walkable, urbanized place like my town of Puławy (5k rich people's getaway turned into a 50k blue-collars' home in the 60s by building the nitrogen works in '62) is very car-friendly.

Parking is not an issue. In fact, there probably are more parking spots than cars - my grandparents don't have a car (free bus rides for retirees), but have 3 parking spots: one on the old lot, one on the new lot and one in the community garages.
The only occupied one is the garage, because that's where my uncle's Honda stays.

[Auzkhia]

I would like to just have a car. Thank god for public transportation.

I need a car. I'm from an exburb area in Pennsylvania, I could take SEPTA into Philly, but I'd have to drive to West Chester or Wilmington, Delaware to take a bus or train. It's just many small towns and suburban developments.

To get to my university from home, which is in a rural area. The college town is over 5000 people, but it's the biggest town in its county. I can only drive, Harrisburg is accessible via transit, but again I'd have to drive to nearest train station, I can't walk or use a bus. I need to drive or have some drive me.

Cheap small cars from the 90s and 2000s, such as Dodge Neon, Chevy Cavalier, Pontiac Sunfire, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Escort, Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, and anything from Geo.

If you see anyone over 25, maybe 26, driving these sort of cars in condition, it's a low tier car for sure, because students will have cars like these, but after they get their first few paychecks from their real jobs, they will upgrade to something nicer and newer. My Dad ditched his beat up 1985 Pontiac Grand Am for a brand new 1992 Plymouth Lazer.

His 7-year-old car was a beater?

"The past is a foreign country. They do things differently there."

He got in 1987 for very cheap, used cars in 1980s America were a bit cheaper, because most cars were less durable, (it was still a big deal to get past 100,000 miles without a major repair) his Dad, my grandfather, got it for him for a low price. Maybe it was a salvage, but I forgot some details, I think mentioned something like that, it wasn't his first car, though, that was a 1972 Ford Torino sedan, which was a hand me down, but the first vehicle he drove was a 1970s Dodge Ram Powerwagon, my grandpa's farm truck.

[Petrolheadia]

I would like to just have a car. Thank god for public transportation.

I need a car. I'm from an exburb area in Pennsylvania, I could take SEPTA into Philly, but I'd have to drive to West Chester or Wilmington, Delaware to take a bus or train. It's just many small towns and suburban developments.

To get to my university from home, which is in a rural area. The college town is over 5000 people, but it's the biggest town in its county. I can only drive, Harrisburg is accessible via transit, but again I'd have to drive to nearest train station, I can't walk or use a bus. I need to drive or have some drive me.

His 7-year-old car was a beater?

"The past is a foreign country. They do things differently there."

He got in 1987 for very cheap, used cars in 1980s America were a bit cheaper, because most cars were less durable, (it was still a big deal to get past 100,000 miles without a major repair) his Dad, my grandfather, got it for him for a low price. Maybe it was a salvage, but I forgot some details, I think mentioned something like that, it wasn't his first car, though, that was a 1972 Ford Torino sedan, which was a hand me down, but the first vehicle he drove was a 1970s Dodge Ram Powerwagon, my grandpa's farm truck.

My aunt and uncle live in an exurb of Warsaw, in the sort of place one would call a McMansion (basically a suburban home in 1.5:1 scale, with a small garden).

I can't comprehend how about 60-70 minutes are a somewhat short commute for them.

[NeoOasis]

What are the lowest-tier cars where you live?

Dunno if I'd use low tier to describe em, but the average kei-truck tends to be a fairly solid minium I see in Japan. They are a person's every car from farm, to store, to daily errands. Otherwise you'll see an occassional junker kei-car on it's last inspection sticker, but there's no specific model or brand. They're just an average kei-car that hasn't been well cared for. Probably a bit rough running, rust everywhere, and dented up.

By and large Japan's inspection maintenance complex keeps anything truly low-tier off the roads, and the lowest-tier you get is the kei car thanks to cheaper insurance, inspections, and running costs. So... yeah, I guess anything with a yellow plate would qualify for "lowest-tier."

[Aboveland]

What are the lowest-tier cars where you live?

By "lowest-tier", I mean cars that are cheap, if not the cheapest, to buy, own and repair, and are owned by people who can barely afford anything better than the bus, or don't wanna spend anything above the minimal amount on their car.

In Puławy, Poland, such cars are Fiat Cinquecentos/Seicentos/Unos/early Puntos, 1.2 Renault Twingos, Mk1/2 Clios and Mk1 Kangoos, 1.0 Opel Corsa Bs, Daewoo Matizes, 1.0 VW Polo Mk2/3s and Peugeot 106s/206s (base engines).

And what about your area?

In Argentina the cheapest car you can get is a Chinese Chery QQ, which is basically a piece of shit. You can get the old one or the new one brand new, both being essentially as sturdy as cans of tuna.

Second cheapest are the Lifan superminis whose model numbers I can't remember. Airbags are required by law here but I found not a mention of them on their webpage. Lifan doesn't sell their supermini here, presumably because of the lack of airbags.

The most affordable good new car is surprisingly the Volkswagen up!, just under the price of a brand new VW Gol.

As for used cars, older Gols and Chevrolet Corsas are abundant, with the fair share of Ford Kas, and Fiats (Palio and Siena) around. Older than that and you find Fiat Unos, Renaults from 12 to 21, and the occasional Rover!

I should also add that for the price of a new up! or a QQ you can get some very nice 2011 Seat Leons and Ibizas with between 50k to 100k kilometers.

[Auzkhia]

What are the lowest-tier cars where you live?

By "lowest-tier", I mean cars that are cheap, if not the cheapest, to buy, own and repair, and are owned by people who can barely afford anything better than the bus, or don't wanna spend anything above the minimal amount on their car.

In Puławy, Poland, such cars are Fiat Cinquecentos/Seicentos/Unos/early Puntos, 1.2 Renault Twingos, Mk1/2 Clios and Mk1 Kangoos, 1.0 Opel Corsa Bs, Daewoo Matizes, 1.0 VW Polo Mk2/3s and Peugeot 106s/206s (base engines).

And what about your area?

Cheap small cars from the 90s and 2000s, such as Dodge Neon, Chevy Cavalier, Pontiac Sunfire, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Escort, Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, and anything from Geo.

If you see anyone over 25, maybe 26, driving these sort of cars in condition, it's a low tier car for sure, because students will have cars like these, but after they get their first few paychecks from their real jobs, they will upgrade to something nicer and newer. My Dad ditched his beat up 1985 Pontiac Grand Am for a brand new 1992 Plymouth Lazer.

If you exclude used, and want to know the lowest tier new cars, it would be the Mitsubishi Mirage or the Nissan Versa, because they are so cheap (the cheapest new cars in the US market) and plus super easy financing. Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Chrysler dealers practically give away cars.

[Aboveland]

Cheap small cars from the 90s and 2000s, such as Dodge Neon, Chevy Cavalier, Pontiac Sunfire, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Escort, Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, and anything from Geo.

If you see anyone over 25, maybe 26, driving these sort of cars in condition, it's a low tier car for sure, because students will have cars like these, but after they get their first few paychecks from their real jobs, they will upgrade to something nicer and newer. My Dad ditched his beat up 1985 Pontiac Grand Am for a brand new 1992 Plymouth Lazer.

If you exclude used, and want to know the lowest tier new cars, it would be the Mitsubishi Mirage or the Nissan Versa, because they are so cheap (the cheapest new cars in the US market) and plus super easy financing. Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Chrysler dealers practically give away cars.

I have a super mushy spot in my heart for the Mirage. It just looks cute to me. Plus, you can get it in PINK! That's the ambition we've been missing in the monochrome sea of rush hour!