The Automotive Thread

[jeb6294]

Kids are at grandparents/on vacay with mom so I took the RZR out on my own today. Not my first choice of places, little park called Haspin Acres in Indiana, but I just wanted to get it out somewhere besides driving circles around the yard. On one hand, it was really nice because there were only about a dozen people there. On the other hand, there were only about a dozen people there so there wasn’t much help around if you got in trouble. Since it was just me, I tried to take it pretty easy, but still had a ball.

I did get busted...stepson FaceTimed me mid-ride and wasn’t happy I went out when he wasn’t here.

This hill doesn’t look too bad in the video, but when you’re looking at sky when you get to the top, it’s steeper than it looks.

 

[envirotex]

Only got the audio.  Sounds fun, anyway...

 

[jeb6294]

 

[Flyer_PE]

Combination "After" and "Before" pics.  Bought this little beast 4 days out of college in 1990. 200 hp and 200 ft-lb of torque out of a 2.0L engine was pretty respectable back then.  Now, after 30 years of ownership and 103 k miles, I just put down a deposit on an upgrade to a newer generation engine and a boost to roughly 315 hp.  Wheels, tires, brakes, and a freshening up of the paint to follow.  Unlike the tractor project, I'm hiring out chunks of this one because I just want to drive the car.

 

[Road Guy]

So its the same car you have had all these years?

 

[Flyer_PE]

So its the same car you have had all these years?

Yep.  The very same car.  Came close to trading in in a couple of times but always ended up keeping it.  Not that many options out there for rwd mid-engine sports cars and I know how this one was treated from day one.

 

[Road Guy]

thats really cool, I have never had the space to keep something that long! 

 

[Flyer_PE]

^It helped a lot that my plane was a Cessna.  That car spent a lot of time parked under the right wing.

 

[Violator]

 

[Flyer_PE]

Finally, that last badge I need for the '84 Escort I've been restoring:

 

[MA_PE]

thats really cool, I have never had the space to keep something that long! 

I held onto my 76 trans am for ~32 years before I sold it ~6 years ago.  Car was in nice shape but needed to be dismantled, cleaned, and reassembled.  Didn’t have the time or energy ( or money) to undertake it so I bought a ‘02 trans am.  Yeah, the “new” one is now 18 years old.   :B

 

[Road Guy]

So the wife is buying a Tacoma (used) we always think about getting something new and then end up with the more sensible decision to save $15K (which seems to trickle down into insurance,  tag fees and such)

But I was impressed she has spent the week researching and getting quotes to get the "camper" top installed, Snug Top, Lear?,  power installed? Fan options?  Oh yeah she must have a ski rack installed too- But I guess her plan is to do the typical out West Tacoma conversion to a mini camper (not sure how my 74IN self sleeps in a 5 FT truck bed? Sort of funny she has been sending me these "Pinterst" ideas to build a deck in the truck bed for storage, etc... (sounds like work to me)

I didn't have the heart to tell her that if I dont end up getting some travel work soon I am calling this western venture quits next year and taking a job with my friend in Tampa who owns a small Construction Management firm.....  I guess I can haul my 40 FT Center Console Offshore boat with the Tacoma?

 

[MA_PE]

...  I guess I can haul my 40 FT Center Console Offshore boat with the Tacoma?

 

[kevo_55]

My parents just bought a Highlander.

I'm sure it's fully loaded but there is a camera that can look all around the car!

 

[Road Guy]

MA_PE - I said Center Console Boat!

We have a 09  Highlander now, its actually a really comfortable car.  Were giving it to the elder kid, it has the Full Time AWD and with his trips back and forth to South Dakota to school it will be better than the Rav4 he currently has ( junior RG gets the Rav4) - its a viscous cycle..

I was surprised how different the features are on the Highlander Vs the Tacoma, you really have to spend a lot more money on the Tacoma to get the same features as the highlander.  I don't really like the new mini van style of the highlander, but that seems to be the way most cars are going.

But the wife is very excited about getting her "truck" lol

 

[Dleg]

My daughter's moving back in with us now that she's graduated college. I need to get a car so she can look for a job / help out around the house etc. I'm thinking now that rather than buy some crappy used Corolla or whatever, I should buy something for myself and let her drive my 4Runner. 

I'm thinking about a Toyota 86. Similar (but not exactly) to @Flyer_PE, I got to drive a Celica for a while back in 1990 (I think it was an 88 or 89) and that was a really fun car. 

But I'll probably just get her a used Corolla or whatever because the only dent on my 4Runner was caused by her....  

 

[MA_PE]

Figured id post this in the automotive forum.  A guy on a car forum I frequent just posted that he bought all the parts to build a clone of he Corvette Summer movie car.  The front and rear clips are new fiberglass parts supposedly molded from the same molds that made the movie car.  :B

for the uninformed 

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/remember-mark-hamill-drove-corvette-summer/?galleryImageId=864061

 

[Flyer_PE]

Figured id post this in the automotive forum.  A guy on a car forum I frequent just posted that he bought all the parts to build a clone of he Corvette Summer movie car.  The front and rear clips are new fiberglass parts supposedly molded from the same molds that made the movie car.  :B

for the uninformed 

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/remember-mark-hamill-drove-corvette-summer/?galleryImageId=864061

While I admire his ambition and I'm not at all bothered by the demise of a post-72 C3 'Vette, I've always thought that car was ugly as hell.  Is he going to change it over to RHD while he's at it?  If it's a Corvette forum, I gotta think he's going to catch hell from purists.

 

[Flyer_PE]

My daughter's moving back in with us now that she's graduated college. I need to get a car so she can look for a job / help out around the house etc. I'm thinking now that rather than buy some crappy used Corolla or whatever, I should buy something for myself and let her drive my 4Runner. 

I'm thinking about a Toyota 86. Similar (but not exactly) to @Flyer_PE, I got to drive a Celica for a while back in 1990 (I think it was an 88 or 89) and that was a really fun car. 

But I'll probably just get her a used Corolla or whatever because the only dent on my 4Runner was caused by her....  

The old Celicas were fun cars.  I've always liked the boxy ones from the early '80s.  I think most of them rusted completely out by around '92 though.

 

[jeb6294]

While I admire his ambition and I'm not at all bothered by the demise of a post-72 C3 'Vette, I've always thought that car was ugly as hell.  Is he going to change it over to RHD while he's at it?  If it's a Corvette forum, I gotta think he's going to catch hell from purists.

 What he said....