The cars and bikes thread!

[wschofield3]

Yes exactly that except the wheels. I like the standard wheels which are much easier to keep clean. Just can't carry a Kayak and a Paddle board on the roof, 50lbs dog food bags or trees and plants from the garden store. Not the vehicle I need.

What is this word "need" you speak of?

An SUV and a Vette is the perfect pairing.

[Samanator]

What is this word "need" you speak of?

An SUV and a Vette is the perfect pairing.

That is an "or "not an "and". The Bronco was the compromise.

[litlmn]

That is an "or "not an "and". The Bronco was the compromise.

I would image a compromise of an SUV and a Vette would be more like the Maserati Levante or a Cayenne.

You could always do this:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiabqjRIfck&t=382s

[happyscrappyheropup]

I would image a compromise of an SUV and a Vette would be more like the Maserati Levante or a Cayenne.

You could always do this:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiabqjRIfck&t=382s

I had a second gen Cayenne GTS with the 6spd manual trans.




It was sporty and fun to drive, but my E63 wagon and CTS-V wagon were better all arounders (except snow/off-road) in spite of the automatic transmissions (sorry @Raza). If looking today, I'd say the RS6 Avant or E63S wagon would be the best options for something performance oriented but still useful for hauling people, pets, and things.

[Samanator]

I would image a compromise of an SUV and a Vette would be more like the Maserati Levante or a Cayenne.

You could always do this:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiabqjRIfck&t=382s

Just no! Big no to the Maserati SUV. The Porsche is fine except I don't want Porsche service bills for something that will get 3000 miles max a year. I've been through that with the 9114S Cab. m. So no to the Porsche also and be for you go there also no to the Dodges and Jeeps with the Hellcat engines. Would consider a 383 Wrangler Unlimited if you could actually buy one right now without a markup. Still like the Bronco more than any Jeep, but I have not seen a new Grand Cherokee.

[happyscrappyheropup]

Just no! Big no to the Maserati SUV. The Porsche is fine except I don't want Porsche service bills for something that will get 3000 miles max a year. I've been through that with the 9114S Cab. m. So no to the Porsche also and be for you go there also no to the Dodges and Jeeps with the Hellcat engines. Would consider a 383 Wrangler Unlimited if you could actually buy one right now without a markup. Still like the Bronco more than any Jeep, but I have not seen a new Grand Cherokee.

My MIchigan dwelling brother in law's daily driver has been each generation of the SRT-8 Jeep Cherokees. This year he upgraded to the Trackhawk and really likes it. It's been reliable for him, but he's had it less than a year.

[Samanator]

I had a second gen Cayenne GTS with the 6spd manual trans.




It was sporty and fun to drive, but my E63 wagon and CTS-V wagon were better all arounders (except snow/off-road) in spite of the automatic transmissions (sorry @Raza). If looking today, I'd say the RS6 Avant or E63S wagon would be the best options for something performance oriented but still useful for hauling people, pets, and things.

I was about to buy the Cayenne when the Carrera 4S Cab came in. Personally I like the new Macan more since it looks very wide on the road and the Cayenne looks too much like the Audi it shares a chassis with. The Audi RS6 Avant got clobbered in the last reviews as not being developed enough. The Mercedes goes past the point I want to spend but maybe if there is a diesel option I might consider it. Then I know it will tow anything. Not seeing it on the MB site. In all honesty the Corvette is the only thing I'd be willing to go over $60K and be easy to maintain for since it will hold it's value over a long time and service cost (Except tires) are reasonable. Otherwise the little we drive does not justify going much over that.

On the SUV side options look to be needing some reasonable offroad capability so other than the G Wagon which is out (Something about those just seem wrong) the picks come from Toyota, Jeep, Lexus, Land Rover and Ford. The last two are the most interesting with the Defender being an option if we do buy a new place and it fits in the garage. If Toyota would bring their offerings to this decade and the same for the Lexus GX things would be better. I would buy Lexus GX in a heart beat after test driving it if it only did not have a 2007 display screen and would get apple car-play. It rides great and is the quietest thing I've ever been in. Oh and does a 305 HP V8 really require super unleaded gas? If so the HP figure should gain about 100 given the displacement.

[Raza]

When we moved into our condo from the house, the bride and I thought we could do with one car, so, I traded in my 5 series BMW and got her an Audi Q5.

That worked for a bit, but when I took the last job, I needed a car to get back and forth to the office a couple times per month - so, I bought a runabout VW Jetta - six speed manual and tiny motor, but it obviously was not a thrilling machine, nor did I need one, just wanted basic transportation.

That didn't work.

Yesterday, I bought the Jetta GLI with the dual clutch auto. I know, I wanted a manual, but this car, in this color, it's about as rare as a Daytona at an AD, plus, the DCT is two ticks faster.

Attachment 108983

Quite an upgrade - from 148 to 228 bhp and 184 to 258 pound feet of torque. Multi link suspension vs torsion bar rear suspension, it handles like a dream. Pulls almost a G on the skidpad on AS rubber, I might get summers, we'll see. .

I'll drive it for a couple of weeks, but then, it goes into the shop for an APR stage 2 ECU and TCU tune as well as replacing or adding the following;

Diverter valve upgrade
New ignition coils
New spark plugs
New down pipe
Not sure of the extent, but at least a cat back exhaust - might try to eliminate the cat - we'll see.
Cold air intake

All in all, I should be having this fairly close to 385bhp in no time.

Maybe some suspension mods, but it's already damned good - handles so well but compliant for the nasty roads around here too. I've never been one to "lower" the vehicle, I don't like the way it looks most of the time and this one rides low to begin with (.6" lower than the standard Jetta). Maybe corner braces and an engine brace - we will see.

Anyway, picking it up tomorrow - and even though it's not a BMW, Audi, Jaguar, or other great car, I believe I'll be quite happy running rings around them.

Shame about the DCT--after my S4 was essentially totaled because of a sensor fault in the DSG system that cost $8,000 to replace, I will never buy another DCT. Hopefully this one works out for you better.

Congratulations, though! I'm not a huge fan of the Jetta since they split it it off the Golf chassis, but that's an attractive car.

But 385HP in a front drive car? I think you'll be paying for your tire man's kid's college tuition with that.

[Raza]

What this?!

Attachment 109001

Yeah - buy that.

I keep forgetting they still make the Corvette--once they dropped the manual, I lost interest. I'd rather have a C7.

[geoffbot]

I genuinely feel I nerd a faster car. I'm paying a lot for it and it's not perfect so... Gonna test drive something, but there aren't many sub 35k manual drop tops...