The General Car Thread - The Facelift.

[Dresderstan]

Interiors have always been an issue for GM.

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Is Nissan OK?

When was the last time any company had a quarterly profit plunge of nearly 100%?

[Elwher]

If I ever get too old for my sports cars:

https://jalopnik.com/the-most-interesting-car-toyota-makes-is-too-luxurious-1836026347

You have 180 grand laying around?

Don't I wish. But, my credit is good and the credit union has little worry about the car losing value over time.

[Costa Fierro]

The truck guys actually like the new Chevy Silverado. A lot of the criticism of it by Jalopnik and their ilk can be summed up in Bob Dylan's words - "don't criticize what you can't understand"

The problem might actually be low-rent interiors.

Also, the V6 Charger is not a bad deal. Nearly 300 horsepower from a quite reliable engine, all for just shy of $30k (closer to $25k with incentives).

Interiors have always been an issue for GM.

---

Is Nissan OK?

I saw that mentioned this morning. Considering they nearly went bankrupt in the late 90's, perhaps there are some unresolved issues? Or is this fallout from the Carlos Ghosn scandal?

[The Two Jerseys]

Somebody made a two-door droptop Crown Vic.

I ain't even mad, that's actually pretty sweet.

[Auzkhia]

Somebody made a two-door droptop Crown Vic.

I ain't even mad, that's actually pretty sweet.

I WANT IT

They made two door ones back in the 80s, but were not convertibles.

[Patridam]

So my great aunt and uncle are looking to sell their W126 Mercedes - a mid-late 80s S class sedan. I know it wasn't a 560, I assume its just the regular 300SE. Black over black with IIRC under 100k miles. California car it's whole life.

I haven't seen the car in six years and am only gonna have a phone call with them today and ask a bit, thus the vague details. I don't know very about mercs; how reliable it would be or how/if I could fix anything, but I am intrigued. My town car is not enjoying Michigan roads or a daily commute, so I was going to buy an actual brand new car to replace it eventually, and I only have the one covered parking space, so idk how this would fit into my life precisely.

Thoughts? Might it be a good idea? What seems like a fair price (ik tough without miles and model).

[Cannot think of a name]

So my great aunt and uncle are looking to sell their W126 Mercedes - a mid-late 80s S class sedan. I know it wasn't a 560 but I forget if it was a 380SE or a 420SEL. Black over black with IIRC under 100k miles. California car it's whole life.

I haven't seen the car in six years and am only gonna have a phone call with them today and ask a bit, thus the vague details. I don't know very about mercs; how reliable it would be or how/if I could fix anything, but I am intrigued. My town car is not enjoying Michigan roads or a daily commute, so I was going to buy an actual brand new car to replace it eventually, and I only have the one covered parking space, so idk how this would fit into my life precisely.

Thoughts? Might it be a good idea? What seems like a fair price (ik tough without miles and model).

Mercedes can live long lives if they're taken care of, but if something goes south they can also be expensive to fix. The Benz my grandma bought new in the 80s is still pounding around I believe in the hands of a great grandchild at this point. Why that stayed in the family and not the Series III Land Rover 109 or the Barracuda Commando...well, isn't really a mystery, I just wish either of those cars were still around.

[Cannot think of a name]

This is certainly...a thing...

[Auzkhia]

So my great aunt and uncle are looking to sell their W126 Mercedes - a mid-late 80s S class sedan. I know it wasn't a 560, I assume its just the regular 300SE. Black over black with IIRC under 100k miles. California car it's whole life.

I haven't seen the car in six years and am only gonna have a phone call with them today and ask a bit, thus the vague details. I don't know very about mercs; how reliable it would be or how/if I could fix anything, but I am intrigued. My town car is not enjoying Michigan roads or a daily commute, so I was going to buy an actual brand new car to replace it eventually, and I only have the one covered parking space, so idk how this would fit into my life precisely.

Thoughts? Might it be a good idea? What seems like a fair price (ik tough without miles and model).

Go for it, I'd like to have one myself some day.

[Patridam]

Go for it, I'd like to have one myself some day.

Could you... expand upon that a little bit? Do you think it'd be a suitable daily, even in winter? Will I adjust okay, from a town car? You are the merc enthusiast here.

[Elwher]

Just in case anyone has a spare 20 million or so:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-02/porsche-type-64-rm-sotheby-s-pebble-beach-auction-controversy?utm_source=digg&utm_medium=email

[NeoOasis]

Finally bought a new car. Toyota Corolla hatchback... with a manual. Damn pleased with myself.

[Petrolheadia]

Somebody made a two-door droptop Crown Vic.

I ain't even mad, that's actually pretty sweet.

Body-on-frame convertible... suddenly it's 1969!

[Petrolheadia]

So my great aunt and uncle are looking to sell their W126 Mercedes - a mid-late 80s S class sedan. I know it wasn't a 560, I assume its just the regular 300SE. Black over black with IIRC under 100k miles. California car it's whole life.

I haven't seen the car in six years and am only gonna have a phone call with them today and ask a bit, thus the vague details. I don't know very about mercs; how reliable it would be or how/if I could fix anything, but I am intrigued. My town car is not enjoying Michigan roads or a daily commute, so I was going to buy an actual brand new car to replace it eventually, and I only have the one covered parking space, so idk how this would fit into my life precisely.

Thoughts? Might it be a good idea? What seems like a fair price (ik tough without miles and model).

Craigslist wants a bit over $5k for one like that.

When it comes to ownership: yes, you can daily an old Merc, as many people do, and if you give it proper upkeep (probably more expensive in the States than in Poland), it would be reasonably reliable - probably a bit more than your Lincoln, given the cars' mileage. Apparently, the main problem areas are hoses and electrics.

The Merc would likely feel more composed and be better-handling, but the Lincoln is going to be more comfortable and better as a cruiser.

[Petrolheadia]

Finally bought a new car. Toyota Corolla hatchback... with a manual. Damn pleased with myself.

Do you have to move the shifter left and right to make sure it's in neutral, or is it just my old man's Corolla?

[Servilis]

So my Dad owns a Hyundai Trajet, it's about 8-11 years old, and the problem with it is that at random intervals it stops running. My Dad and I have probably accorded it to the battery usage.
Now I don't really care much for air conditioning, given I've spent a lot of time in the Sun so I'm pretty well adapted to heat, but that's just me, my Dad on the other hand, needs the AC to work, so...
The Battery is used by :

The necessary stuff required for the car to run.
The Radio
The AC

So, I'm just wondering, does anyone have an idea on how much watts in a battery we'd need for this thing to not stop everytime we're in traffic?

[Cannot think of a name]

So my Dad owns a Hyundai Trajet, it's about 8-11 years old, and the problem with it is that at random intervals it stops running. My Dad and I have probably accorded it to the battery usage.
Now I don't really care much for air conditioning, given I've spent a lot of time in the Sun so I'm pretty well adapted to heat, but that's just me, my Dad on the other hand, needs the AC to work, so...
The Battery is used by :

The necessary stuff required for the car to run.
The Radio
The AC

So, I'm just wondering, does anyone have an idea on how much watts in a battery we'd need for this thing to not stop everytime we're in traffic?

Your car should not be running off the battery if the engine is running, it should be running off the alternator. If the cells in your battery are bad, then the power might not pass through and you lose power to your car (or generally you battery just doesn't charge as you drive like it should). If your car is also struggling to start, than you need a new battery. If your car is starting right up like normal but then dying as you drive at random then it's a different problem. If, when it dies, it also stops responding all together then the problem is still electrical and might be in the voltage regulator that distributes the power in the right amounts from the alternator/battery to the rest of the car. If the car turns over but doesn't fire than it's a breathing/spark issue. If it's happening while it's hot, it might be something akin to vapor lock (I don't know how prevelent this is in modern cars) where the gas atomizes before the fuel injectors/carburetor so that when it mixes with the air in cylinder there's not enough gas in the mixture to fire the car. Other issues might be in the 'brain' if (and it's more than likely) you have a fuel injected car in that it will occasionally 'forget' to send gas or whatever signal it's supposed to and kill your car. Fuel pumps can start to go out and not pump the needed volumes.

Either way, it's not the wattage in your battery. Your battery will hold at 12 volts the entire time if the car is functioning properly. If you put in the wrong sized battery this problem would have manifest immediately (generally by not providing enough power to spin the starter.).

[Auzkhia]

Doug DeMuro takes on one of the most "we're with it" vehicles from General Motors: The Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid.

I did see one of these on US highway 1 today, in white. There were also GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade hybrids too. It's a terrible hybrid, trying to be a gas sipping SUV, getting modest MPG gains at best, crappy 2000s GM quality, and too expensive for a Chevy. However, I associate the Tahoe with my grandparents.

[Petrolheadia]

Doug DeMuro takes on one of the most "we're with it" vehicles from General Motors: The Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid.

I did see one of these on US highway 1 today, in white. There were also GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade hybrids too. It's a terrible hybrid, trying to be a gas sipping SUV, getting modest MPG gains at best, crappy 2000s GM quality, and too expensive for a Chevy. However, I associate the Tahoe with my grandparents.

Well, you try to load half a ton of cargo into a Prius and pull a trailer, and we'll see which hybrid is terrible.

[Auzkhia]

Doug DeMuro takes on one of the most "we're with it" vehicles from General Motors: The Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid.

I did see one of these on US highway 1 today, in white. There were also GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade hybrids too. It's a terrible hybrid, trying to be a gas sipping SUV, getting modest MPG gains at best, crappy 2000s GM quality, and too expensive for a Chevy. However, I associate the Tahoe with my grandparents.

Well, you try to load half a ton of cargo into a Prius and pull a trailer, and we'll see which hybrid is terrible.

Hey, try to get a car to do (thing it wasn't designed to do)!

[Lunyya]

Doug DeMuro takes on one of the most "we're with it" vehicles from General Motors: The Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid.

I did see one of these on US highway 1 today, in white. There were also GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade hybrids too. It's a terrible hybrid, trying to be a gas sipping SUV, getting modest MPG gains at best, crappy 2000s GM quality, and too expensive for a Chevy. However, I associate the Tahoe with my grandparents.

Well, you try to load half a ton of cargo into a Prius and pull a trailer, and we'll see which hybrid is terrible.

These days there are many CUVs that can tow as much as a tahoe hybird but with better MPG the Nissan Pathfinder is one

[NeoOasis]

Finally bought a new car. Toyota Corolla hatchback... with a manual. Damn pleased with myself.

Do you have to move the shifter left and right to make sure it's in neutral, or is it just my old man's Corolla?

It's pretty obvious when it's in neutral. Just 300 miles till the engine is broken in.

[Elwher]

Finally bought a new car. Toyota Corolla hatchback... with a manual. Damn pleased with myself.

Do you have to move the shifter left and right to make sure it's in neutral, or is it just my old man's Corolla?

It is not necessary on any car, but it is a good quick check as starting in gear is no fun at all.

[Auzkhia]

Well, you try to load half a ton of cargo into a Prius and pull a trailer, and we'll see which hybrid is terrible.

These days there are many CUVs that can tow as much as a tahoe hybird but with better MPG the Nissan Pathfinder is one

A hybrid version of the Chevrolet Traverse or GMC Acadia would make more sense, and those can seat 7 with some decent cargo room.

The Tahoe itself is short for a truck, my car is longer than it.

[The Two Jerseys]

These days there are many CUVs that can tow as much as a tahoe hybird but with better MPG the Nissan Pathfinder is one

A hybrid version of the Chevrolet Traverse or GMC Acadia would make more sense, and those can seat 7 with some decent cargo room.

The Tahoe itself is short for a truck, my car is longer than it.

It's basically the same length as a regular cab pickup with a short bed.