Car Enthusiast Thread

[theMot]

Have you considered the 360? Yes it’s an early 00s not a 90s car, but maintenance is apparently fairly sane. I think they look good.

I read that the later Ferrari Mondials aren’t as expensive to service as the earlier ones, but they are still slow AF.

I was goobing over this Masarati Coupe as well at the car show. They are cheap to buy, have a Ferrari V8, but still have Ferrari level running costs.

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Never liked the 360. The last Ferrari I love is the 550 Maranello. That’s still a late 90’s model but has its problems too. What can I say, I love beautiful rubbish lol.

That‘s just how Ferrari were back in the day. It wasn’t until the other guys got their acts together that they had to start taking stuff like reliability seriously. Before that they were getting by just on their looks. Kind of like a beautiful high maintenance woman that puts in a strong performance from time to time.

 

[NeoSneth]

I was at a car show last weekend, here’s some car… photos.

How challenging is it to keep these cars running? That's all i can think about looking at European cars.
What's the parts market like for UK vehicles?

 

[Moob Butter]

How challenging is it to keep these cars running? That's all i can think about looking at European cars.
What's the parts market like for UK vehicles?

There’s alot of boomers with passion for these cars so it’s not too bad right now to own an old MG, Triumph or Morris from what I understand. None of these cars are daily drivers anymore so when a car does ‘die’ usually due to extreme body corrosion they are efficiently cannibalised for parts. There’s also men in sheds making bits and pieces or retrofitting parts when needed.

You definitely want to join a car club thought to have access to the parts and knowledge.

I’m not sure how easy it will be in another 20 years when the boomers die off - I don’t think the younger crowd are into anything pre 90s or 80s at a push.

 

[prof]

There was a little car show at our campground yesterday. Here are a few that stood out to me...

'62 Corvette


Dodge Ramcharger


Olds 442


This fella had a 92 and a 17 Dodge Viper, the 1st and last production years.

 

[city41]

I'll bet that ramcharger is fun.

 

[prof]

Had the Corvette in the garage because we had a tree service on the property, and I wanted to keep it out of harm's way. Unfortunately, it was out of the frying pan and into the fire, as my daughter's bike fell over and scratched it at some point.

Does anyone have any experience touching up a deep scratch like this? I can match the paint with the GM code, but I've never gone through the process. Seems silly to have a body shop do it for a scratch that's only a couple of inches, but I don't know. Any tips or comments are welcome.

 

[GohanX]

It mostly depends on how nice you want it to look. If you want it to look like it was never touched, take it to the body shop. If you want to just make it presentable there are things you can do yourself but you'll always be able to tell there was damage there unless you get extreme.

 

[deez_nutz]

Oof sorry prof

On an unrelated note - what is with manufacturers making light-up emblems and badges now. Seen it on Mercedes and VWs recently, though others may do it as well. Looks horrible and tacky AF.

 

[Neodogg]

#bike issues

 

[prof]

Good news, fellas. Upon closer inspection, the long scratch was paint transfer from the bike. I squirted a rubbing compound gel on a rag, and it came off. There's that small chip still, but the worst of it wasn't what I had initially feared. So feel free to call me names, I deserve it. Ha!

 

[deez_nutz]

And another thing - why do manufacturers feel compelled to put a giant iPad in dashboards to do something as simple as climate control.

Hate it.

Looking at screens all day, last thing I want is a giant iPad in my face while driving.

 

[GohanX]

And another thing - why do manufacturers feel compelled to put a giant iPad in dashboards to do something as simple as climate control.

Hate it.

Looking at screens all day, last thing I want is a giant iPad in my face while driving.

A single tablet screen is probably cheaper that an array of knobs and switches.

I hate it.

 

[promking]

And another thing - why do manufacturers feel compelled to put a giant iPad in dashboards to do something as simple as climate control.

Hate it.

Looking at screens all day, last thing I want is a giant iPad in my face while driving.

That's why we picked a 2019 Highlander over a 2020.
The new design has a floating screen in the middle of the dash, and I HATE IT.

 

[StevenK]

Am I banned from this thread now?

 

[promking]

Had the Corvette in the garage because we had a tree service on the property, and I wanted to keep it out of harm's way. Unfortunately, it was out of the frying pan and into the fire, as my daughter's bike fell over and scratched it at some point.

Does anyone have any experience touching up a deep scratch like this? I can match the paint with the GM code, but I've never gone through the process. Seems silly to have a body shop do it for a scratch that's only a couple of inches, but I don't know. Any tips or comments are welcome.

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You have two options here.
A basic touch up, where... you fill in the deep scratch and make it basically a ten footer. Just color in between the lines

Or the more involved way.
Between the materials you'll need to buy, tools, and time involved it might cost you more money than to have a professional do it.
Bumper needs to be removed, and then stripped of all components... Then cleaned with wax and grease remover.
Once it's clean you can begin repairs, with sanding, then fill with bodyfiller, then sand again, prime, then you can begin the painting process.
I can help you if you need advice etc.

 

[city41]

why do manufacturers feel compelled to put a giant iPad in dashboards to do something as simple as climate control

Because it's cheaper. The only reason, sadly.

Manufacturers are getting some push back on this, like Volkswagen, so hoping this trend dies down.

 

[prof]

For the Smokey and the Bandit fans...

 

[promking]

Finished painting my Scirocco.
Starting to assemble the black one.
Next is polishing, then new headliner ( tidy up the interior) and then I'll start assembling it.

 

[SouthtownKid]

A two decade-old thread. First page has soul thug, a member who was literally too young to drive in 2005.

Now in 2024, we are probably less than two decades away from some member here becoming too old to drive a car.

Marone.

 

[clithy]

I got closer to an Ineos than @neo_mao will ever get.

 

[clithy]

Top Gear royalty, courtesy of the Lane Motor Museum at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix.

 

[theMot]

Still looking at buying something fun for a weekend and track car. I really like the NISMO Z but they are not offering it in a manual. Apparently the auto is very good and quicker than the manual but still I would rather a stick for something like this only getting occasional spirited use.

 

[deez_nutz]

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I got closer to an Ineos than @neo_mao will ever get.

What do you think? Is it capable of getting me to the train station AND back home again?

 

[clithy]

What do you think? Is it capable of getting me to the train station AND back home again?

I'd have more faith buying a 50 year old Defender for that purpose than something that's probably stuffed full of all of the same sorts of bits that make new Land Rovers unreliable heaps.

 

[deez_nutz]

I'd have more faith buying a 50 year old Defender for that purpose than something that's probably stuffed full of all of the same sorts of bits that make new Land Rovers unreliable heaps.

That’s fair but I’d guess a 50 year old Defender costs a good amount more than a Grenadier