Drew Dowdell

Tata Nano

Smart FourTwo

no V8s

Rotary?

I honestly have no idea what your car tastes are...... I'm just bored and guessing.

smaRt - gtR

RL - Type R?

and the same low hanging, pot hole attracting, exhaust pipe on every Camry from 1991 forward.

updated

so wait... do American's work too hard or are they all about fast and cheap? and the Japanese won the TV war not because of superior product but because of dumping of cheap sets on our market..... remember, Americans are all about fast and cheap.

I don't know the exact color names, but it's a light yellow and black.

I'm not saying that BMWs aren't really good. Read and consider my whole post. Yes there are things BMW does better than anyone else. However, there are other areas where BMW is eclipsed by it's competitors. Note the dash layout that hasn't really changed all that much since about 1995. There is more to a car than the engine, steering, and brakes.

*right-click* *save image*

Self-fulfilling prophecy much? When all the comparisons go like "Can these other brands meet or beat the standards we think BMW has set?" then the comparison is not a Car1 v. Car2 v. Car3 v. Car4. The comparison becomes "How much like Car1 are Car2, Car3, and Car4?" All the brands are trying to be anointed King by the press. BMW is not a best seller because it's the "best" car. It's a best seller because people have been told it's the best car by the press for the past 20 years. The CTS, 3-series, 5-series, TL, IS, A4, C-Class, G35 all perform close enough that most of the differences come down to things only noticed on the track. The real differences are things like interior design and quality, fuel efficiency, room and utility, and over all fit and finish. The 3-Series may have the smoothest engine, but the interior is majorly outclassed by the CTS and A4. It's out done in terms of comfort by the TL and IS. The CTS, G35, and A4 all pull corners with Gs that meet or exceed the 3-series. The CTS is also one of the safest of the bunch. I'd also pick the CTS <from my own experience> and TL over the BMW in terms of reliability. Suzy McMansion wants a BMW because her husband read the latest BMWTrend and because it will annoy Tammy Trailerpark at work. So... No, it isn't clear that BMW is the ultimate driving machine..... however it's the ultimate PR machine.

Define "good". I wouldn't touch an out of warranty BMW with a 109 foot pole. I've been driving my BF's '04 Honda CRV around for a few days as the Cadillac isn't really appropriate to be hauling construction materials in. Apparently the check engine light has been on for weeks, it hasn't had an oil change, and he thought the air filter was for the climate control system <1/2 point for effort>. It still runs fairly smooth given all of that. I've been knocking out the little problems on the thing here and there. <Who puts the oil filter on the back wall of the engine!?! I mean really?>. It's held up fairly well considering the neglect it's had over it's life. However..... the doors feel light and tinny. I definately don't feel as safe as when I'm in the CTS or even Dominic's Alero. The rear gate closes like reg's "screen door on a southern tin shack" reference. The seats can best be described as "groomed mouse fur". The under seat storage bin fell out and I can't get it to sit quite right in the track. While the Honda might start every time regardless of how long it's been since an oil change, I really don't perceive it to be any better than an Equinox. In fact, the 'Nox feels more substantial just when slamming the door. We test drove an Astra 3-door over the weekend. It feels wwaaaayy higher quality than the CRV. He loved it and is seriously considering it.... but we need to wait to see what is happening with Germany. Maybe his Astra will say "Opel" on it instead of "Saturn". :AH-HA_wink: Back on point.... the age of the platform doesn't really matter much as long as the platform can be refined and kept up to date. Prior to the current generation of Camry, the Camry was on the same platform for nearly 15 years. Sure they updated it along the way and called it a new platform... but it really was the same thing. The only difference between the W-body and the Camry platforms over time was that the W-body was always just called W-body... the Camry platform got a new name when it was revised.

It's probably restorable. The engine runs from what I understand. What the picture doesn't show is the missing brake system and the fact that he's already raided the front ball joints which are a one year only part. The interior is a mess and there are windows broken. Here is an older camera phone pic of the running one.

Because GME the Verruca Salt of the automotive world..... and yes I know he's lurking.

Hey, whenever I post something, no one replies... and then someone else posts the same article 4 hours later and you all go into that topic!

Some of is is rust, some of it is me beating it with a hammer or twisting it with pliers to break away the rusted, stripped out bolts. The whole front end body of this car is getting replaced. The outer fenders were fine, but everything inside was rusted through. We're thinking the previous owner took the car out sailing in the Chesapeake. That's a 1957 Century parts car in the background. There is another one in full working order in the garage up the hill.

Some pics from tonight. Had to remove the core support and the right front fender. You'll see why.... with core support 1996 Buick Roadmaster - Now with less core support and sturdier plastics for a stiffer, safer chassie. 1996 Buick Roadmaster - Now with lighter, more flexible, and easily removable <with sawzaw and dremmel tool> core support. 1996 Buick Roadmaster - Now with fender portholes! 1996 Buick Roadmaster - Now with more compact front end for easier parking and better engine cooling efficiency.

fixed.

I've seen more new Accords than I have new Malibus.... but the Malibu definitely catches my attention more. The tail end has even grown on me. Odyssey is being eaten by Sedona and Entourage I bet. Guy at work just bought an Entourage for his brood... said they beat the price/features of the Odyssey and Chryslers<old ones> by a lot. RL was a mistake from day one. Sure it's a nice car, but it's not a 45k nice car. GS460 and 450h combined sold 325 units in December... definitely not the time for Acura to be getting in the V8 game. DTS sales were cut by 1/3, probably due to less fleeting.