The General Car Thread - The Facelift.

[Petrolheadia]

While neither would be my first choice, I understand the restraints you are under so I would go for the Cruze. A difference of around 10 MPG over the life of the car is a substantial savings in gas costs. Assuming the car reaches 150K you will have burned about 15,000 gallons less of gas. At $3.00/gal thats $45,000 you have saved.

I appreciate the input and the thought, but.... there's something very off about that math. Let's use the EPA combined numbers for the Cruze and ATS, 33 mpg and 23 mpg*. Driving the car over 150,000 miles, the Cruze will use 150,000/33 gallons of gas, or 4,550 gallons, about $13,600 of gas expenses over the car's life. The Cadillac would use 150,000/23 gallons, or 6,522 gallons, about $19,600 in gas expenses over the car's life. That's a difference of $6,000, not $45,000. Not insignificant, but still.

And heck, in my case, since I'm buying the cars for the purpose of having them under warranty, I'm only going to keep them for about 3 years/40,000 miles. That means the difference spent on gas over my ownership will only be $1500.

*I would usually assert they are biased in favor of the Cruze because EPA tests overestimate the gas savings from auto stop-start and turbocharged small displacement engines, but in this case I wanted to be as transparent as possible.

500 bucks a year... that can't even buy you a good cable package.Plus, you get a really nice chassis instead of a beigemobile.

My verdict - if you care at least a bit about cars, buy the Caddy.

[Patridam]

500 bucks a year... that can't even buy you a good cable package.Plus, you get a really nice chassis instead of a beigemobile.

Well, there would also be differences in insurance, obviously, and probably more trips to the shop for (warranty covered) repairs with the Cadillac, being more complex as well as used when I got it. What's more is that I haven't test driven either so I have no real idea about the dynamics or roominess of the cars. I'm a pretty big guy for compacts, and have been spoiled by nice riding cars that these might be a little harsh.

As a side not, you're right about the cable thing, because of prices today I think I'm not going to get cable tv for my apartment and just use Youtube/Netflix/Prime.

I might suggest a Buick Regal as a compromise between those two. The Buick Regal is FWD but a bit sporty and luxurious, better fuel economy than the ATS but worse than the Cruze.

I did consider the Regal - the new one for 2018, not the old one - especially the GS version with the V6 and ventilated seats. But that's more of a midsize car, and not an especially well received one at that. Kind of a ripoff new, even a cloth seat model is $30,000, so I'd get one used. But if we look at that used, we'll have to move the whole QOTD up a few years into the future, hypothetically buying these cars in 2021, and then who knows what will be available new then, how significant depreciation is, and how costly gas is. Plus if we're looking at the midsize regal I feel obligated to include the CTS and the Malibu.

[Petrolheadia]

Imagine it's 1997. You are a 24-year-old sergeant in the US Army in New Mexico, and, in addition to your 1975 Pontiac Firebird and 1987 Ford LTD Crown Vic, you want to get a classic car resto project/hot rod/rat rod project to replace your 1959 Chevy 3100 rat rod. You want to spend some $1250 at worst on your base. The options are:
- 1968 California Special Ford Mustang coupe (no motor, transmission or interior, spent a few years in storage; $1000)
- 1939 Chevrolet Master 206 ci pickup (dead motor, worn handling stuff, rusted paint, rotten homemade bed; $900),
- 1969 455 ci Buick Riviera (runs, drives, faded paint, $800),
- 1965 283 ci Chevrolet Chevelle coupe (runs, drives, $650),
- 1974 Jaguar XJ6 sedan (faded paint, worn, rebuilt title; $600),

Which one would you buy?
I was thinking of the Chevelle, and I think I'd buy it, though the California Special would be worth a lot in a few years.

[The Two Jerseys]

Imagine it's 1997. You are a 24-year-old corporal in the US Army in New Mexico, and, in addition to your 1975 Pontiac Firebird and 1987 Ford LTD Crown Vic, you want to get a classic car resto project/hot rod/rat rod project to replace your 1959 Chevy 3100 rat rod. You want to spend some $1250 at worst on your base. The options are:
- 1968 California Special Ford Mustang coupe (no motor, transmission or interior, spent a few years in storage; $1000)
- 1939 Chevrolet Master 206 ci pickup (dead motor, worn handling stuff, rusted paint, rotten homemade bed; $900),
- 1969 455 ci Buick Riviera (runs, drives, faded paint, $800),
- 1965 283 ci Chevrolet Chevelle coupe (runs, drives, $650),
- 1974 Jaguar XJ6 sedan (faded paint, worn, rebuilt title; $600),

Which one would you buy?
I was thinking of the Chevelle, and I think I'd buy it, though the California Special would be worth a lot in a few years.

Point of order: the Chevy pickup has a 216, not a 206.

I want to go with the Chevelle, but at that price there's got to be a catch...

[Auzkhia]

500 bucks a year... that can't even buy you a good cable package.Plus, you get a really nice chassis instead of a beigemobile.

Well, there would also be differences in insurance, obviously, and probably more trips to the shop for (warranty covered) repairs with the Cadillac, being more complex as well as used when I got it. What's more is that I haven't test driven either so I have no real idea about the dynamics or roominess of the cars. I'm a pretty big guy for compacts, and have been spoiled by nice riding cars that these might be a little harsh.

As a side not, you're right about the cable thing, because of prices today I think I'm not going to get cable tv for my apartment and just use Youtube/Netflix/Prime.

I might suggest a Buick Regal as a compromise between those two. The Buick Regal is FWD but a bit sporty and luxurious, better fuel economy than the ATS but worse than the Cruze.

I did consider the Regal - the new one for 2018, not the old one - especially the GS version with the V6 and ventilated seats. But that's more of a midsize car, and not an especially well received one at that. Kind of a ripoff new, even a cloth seat model is $30,000, so I'd get one used. But if we look at that used, we'll have to move the whole QOTD up a few years into the future, hypothetically buying these cars in 2021, and then who knows what will be available new then, how significant depreciation is, and how costly gas is. Plus if we're looking at the midsize regal I feel obligated to include the CTS and the Malibu.

It's a bit out of the budget, it starts at $24k new. Regal and Malibu are the same platform now. Honestly the ATS looks like the best bet, unless you're buying a second car in which case the Chevy Cruze is just fine.

[Petrolheadia]

500 bucks a year... that can't even buy you a good cable package.Plus, you get a really nice chassis instead of a beigemobile.

Well, there would also be differences in insurance, obviously, and probably more trips to the shop for (warranty covered) repairs with the Cadillac, being more complex as well as used when I got it. What's more is that I haven't test driven either so I have no real idea about the dynamics or roominess of the cars. I'm a pretty big guy for compacts, and have been spoiled by nice riding cars that these might be a little harsh.

As a side not, you're right about the cable thing, because of prices today I think I'm not going to get cable tv for my apartment and just use Youtube/Netflix/Prime.

I might suggest a Buick Regal as a compromise between those two. The Buick Regal is FWD but a bit sporty and luxurious, better fuel economy than the ATS but worse than the Cruze.

I did consider the Regal - the new one for 2018, not the old one - especially the GS version with the V6 and ventilated seats. But that's more of a midsize car, and not an especially well received one at that. Kind of a ripoff new, even a cloth seat model is $30,000, so I'd get one used. But if we look at that used, we'll have to move the whole QOTD up a few years into the future, hypothetically buying these cars in 2021, and then who knows what will be available new then, how significant depreciation is, and how costly gas is. Plus if we're looking at the midsize regal I feel obligated to include the CTS and the Malibu.

Also, the Regal is rather mediocre - mediocre interior, mediocre reliability, mediocre handling.

In fact, the haute failure Maxima, the Renault Talisman, managed to beat its Euro version, the Opel Insignia, in a 1v1 Motor test.

[Petrolheadia]

Imagine it's 1997. You are a 24-year-old corporal in the US Army in New Mexico, and, in addition to your 1975 Pontiac Firebird and 1987 Ford LTD Crown Vic, you want to get a classic car resto project/hot rod/rat rod project to replace your 1959 Chevy 3100 rat rod. You want to spend some $1250 at worst on your base. The options are:
- 1968 California Special Ford Mustang coupe (no motor, transmission or interior, spent a few years in storage; $1000)
- 1939 Chevrolet Master 206 ci pickup (dead motor, worn handling stuff, rusted paint, rotten homemade bed; $900),
- 1969 455 ci Buick Riviera (runs, drives, faded paint, $800),
- 1965 283 ci Chevrolet Chevelle coupe (runs, drives, $650),
- 1974 Jaguar XJ6 sedan (faded paint, worn, rebuilt title; $600),

Which one would you buy?
I was thinking of the Chevelle, and I think I'd buy it, though the California Special would be worth a lot in a few years.

Point of order: the Chevy pickup has a 216, not a 206.

I want to go with the Chevelle, but at that price there's got to be a catch...

There is not much more to the Chevelle than running and driving.

Also, Wikipedia states 206 ci.

[Auzkhia]

PT Cruiser Convertible Build.

Turbo kit it (intercooler and intake manifold upgrades) and give it the same boost as the an SRT4 Neon and some suspension upgrades, better tires to boot. Imagine racing in autocrosses and even fighting Honda bros in a PT Cruiser Convertible.

[Petrolheadia]

So I've made a motoring-related starterpack.

[The Two Jerseys]

Point of order: the Chevy pickup has a 216, not a 206.

I want to go with the Chevelle, but at that price there's got to be a catch...

There is not much more to the Chevelle than running and driving.

Also, Wikipedia states 206 ci.

Wikipedia is wrong, check the article on the Chevy straight-6. 206 was discontinued after '36.

[Patridam]

Well, since my previous QOTD seemed somewhat interesting to you folks, I'll give another: what vehicle(s) would you consider buying (new, used, or CPO) if the constraints are a max budget of 25k and at minimum 3 years/36,000 miles of full warranty?

A suggestion from GM, if it hasn't been mentioned, is welcome, but any and all other companies are open.

[Petrolheadia]

Well, since my previous QOTD seemed somewhat interesting to you folks, I'll give another: what vehicle(s) would you consider buying (new, used, or CPO) if the constraints are a max budget of 25k and at minimum 3 years/36,000 miles of full warranty?

A suggestion from GM, if it hasn't been mentioned, is welcome, but any and all other companies are open.

You mean comprehensive?

I think the Cadillac CTS with a 3.6 V6 would be nice for you.

[Fartsniffage]

https://imgur.com/gallery/hEaDNb7

[Petrolheadia]

https://imgur.com/gallery/hEaDNb7

So a buncha meme cars, then?

[Cannot think of a name]

Well, since my previous QOTD seemed somewhat interesting to you folks, I'll give another: what vehicle(s) would you consider buying (new, used, or CPO) if the constraints are a max budget of 25k and at minimum 3 years/36,000 miles of full warranty?

A suggestion from GM, if it hasn't been mentioned, is welcome, but any and all other companies are open.

If I could find one with a waranty like that I'd go for a Fiat Spider, but that decision comes with its own baggage.

[Petrolheadia]

Well, since my previous QOTD seemed somewhat interesting to you folks, I'll give another: what vehicle(s) would you consider buying (new, used, or CPO) if the constraints are a max budget of 25k and at minimum 3 years/36,000 miles of full warranty?

A suggestion from GM, if it hasn't been mentioned, is welcome, but any and all other companies are open.

If I could find one with a waranty like that I'd go for a Fiat Spider, but that decision comes with its own baggage.

Having the unreliable MX-5?

[Cannot think of a name]

If I could find one with a waranty like that I'd go for a Fiat Spider, but that decision comes with its own baggage.

Having the unreliable MX-5?

Shush

[Fartsniffage]

https://imgur.com/gallery/hEaDNb7

So a buncha meme cars, then?

What's wrong with that?

[Cannot think of a name]

https://imgur.com/gallery/hEaDNb7

The guy in the flintsones car looks like he's questioning his decision to get on the freeway.

[Petrolheadia]

So a buncha meme cars, then?

What's wrong with that?

It's... rather low-effort.

[Cannot think of a name]

What's wrong with that?

It's... rather low-effort.

You can say a lot about the people who made those cars, but 'low effort' isn't one of them.

[Petrolheadia]

It's... rather low-effort.

You can say a lot about the people who made those cars, but 'low effort' isn't one of them.

Well, they're fine folks.

[The Two Jerseys]

https://imgur.com/gallery/hEaDNb7

So a buncha meme cars, then?

The first one is legit.

The rest are memes.

[Auzkhia]

So a buncha meme cars, then?

The first one is legit.

The rest are memes.

Remember the future? I remember the future.

[Cannot think of a name]

So a buncha meme cars, then?

The first one is legit.

The rest are memes.

Internet memes already abused the term 'meme', this latest evolution of the usage is just taking a giant shit on it in the hole the internet dug it into.