Car Enthusiast Thread

[lithy]

No cars in this photo sorry


Two stroke diesel engine


Gas pump


This one wasn't running but a bunch of them were, took several videos. Fun seeing stuff in action.

 

[madmanjock]

My new German barge. It’s like steering a boat, and moves about as slowly as one too with its 1.8 litre engine. Comfy though.

 

[Syn]

Speaking of boats, mine's ready for next week's Woodward Dream Cruise. Washed, waxed, interior cleaned, just need to vacuum.

 

[lithy]

I downsized from the stock 20" wheels to an 18" wheel from 2018-2023 Mustang for a nicer ride, cheaper tires, and I never liked the look of the stock wheels. Have already heard from some folks that I made the wrong decision though so tell me if you hate them. Living in a world where 18" tires are considered small, lol.



Before


After

 

[NeoSneth]

The extra rubber alone makes the switch worth it. You can barely notice in the picture, but I bet you'll notice it on the road.

 

[Neodogg]

Wanna be a baller, shot caller
Eighteen inch blades on the Flex
Call her, gettin' laid tonight

 

[lithy]

Wanna be a baller, shot caller
Eighteen inch blades on the Flex
Call her, gettin' laid tonight

Ford even had an optional 22 on the Edge Sport that is a straight swap into the Flex.

I'm remembering all those hustlers working hard in fast food to make payments on big rims in high school to be the hardest G in suburbia just for Ford to slap some stock 22s on a grocery getter. lol

 

[Lastblade]

I have always liked the Flex, but wife doesn't so minivan it is. 20" is too big for a car like that, no one thinks you are in Fast n Furious anyway and more rubber is much better for crappy roads.

 

[promking]

Engine bay on my 1986 Volkswagen Scirocco
1984 Rabbit LS
1061 AMC rambler
1971 Porsche 914
1987 Volkswagen Cabriolet

More scirocco pics

 

[wataru330]

I don’t know what these wheels are called, but I wanna put a set on my Flex if they fit.
My mom’s VW Bug had them when I was little.

Seen em on everything from Datsun Sundowner Trucks to Pintos in the late 70s/early 80s

 

[Neodogg]

Those are only 4 lug…maybe there is an updated with 6?
They kind of look like the rims on my hay elevator.

 

[madmanjock]

My car updates are that I sold my 911/996 a couple of months ago and picked up a Gen 1 Hyundai Coupe. Also, my Proton MPi has a buyer lined up for the end of this month so that’s going soon.

Means my mini fleet will now consist of: 1985 Porsche 924, 1996 Mercedes W202 C180, 1999 Hyundai Coupe SE (Tiburon outside the UK).







I find going on roadtrips in these old pieces of shit so much more fun than 80s/90s videogames these days. I might sell alot of my retro gaming stuff next year. Who knows.

 

[lithy]

I don’t know what these wheels are called, but I wanna put a set on my Flex if they fit.
My mom’s VW Bug had them when I was little.

Seen em on everything from Datsun Sundowner Trucks to Pintos in the late 70s/early 80s
View attachment 68512

Flex is 5x114.3 (also called 5x4.5) lug pattern. Stock +39 offset, came in various 17-20" wheel sizes although the base model 17"s won't clear the HD brakes of the higher trims.

I'm not sure if that style has a name, but I feel like it's a pretty common style from the 60s/70s I have to imagine someone makes something that could work for the look.

For example here is a wheel Indy U101 from US Mags that comes in a 17", 5x139.7 bolt. Would probably need adapters and spacers and even then like I said, 17" is only going to clear the base brakes but just to show options seems to be out there might just be finding the right manufacturer. I'll poke around a little more for an 18".

INDY

Whether you drive a muscle car, classic or modern street truck, there’s a US Mags wheel for your custom ride. Cast or forged, we can customize your wheels to truly reflect your vision. No one can offer so many styles, fitments and finish options.

www.us-mags.com

Those are only 4 lug…maybe there is an updated with 6?
They kind of look like the rims on my hay elevator.

Flex got the 5 lug pattern shared with the more midsize line Taurus, Edge, Explorer, Mustang. As opposed to the 6 lugs on the Expedition or F-series.

 

[city41]

I'm looking for a reliable sedan. Likely new, but also considering certified. Considering Camry, Civic and Mazda 3. I would consider the Accord but it won't fit in my garage (which is just insanely stupid, why are cars so damn big???). The Lexus ES also won't fit in my garage. I love the IS, but out of my price range.

I test drove a Camry with the 4 cylinder and was impressed. It has plenty of power for the type of car it is. I even wonder what is the point of the v6? (Granted, I've never driven one...). I also drove a Corolla and for a very inexpensive car it wasn't bad at all.

 

[prof]

The daily drivers:
'21 Buick Enclave, the family truckster.

'18 Lincoln MKZ, the only good pic I have is from when I bought it at Carmax a few years ago. Love the bow. Ha!

And finally, my weekend, warm weather daddy fun time car.
Pic from a couple weeks ago at my parents' house. The Ford Flex peaking out of the garage is theirs, not mine. Sorry, lith.

'96 Chevrolet Corvette

I've been shopping around for new tires recently, and after posting a thread about it on one of the Corvette forums, a Discount Tire rep messaged me, and set me up with a discount. Apparently there are some nice perks to 'Vette ownership. So I'll be getting that done in the next few days. Otherwise, I'm just enjoying it as much as I can now, because I plan on putting it into storage for the winter. Only have a 2-car garage, and we get a ton of snow up here in West Michigan. Skate knows.

 

[lithy]

Yas green (read like 'yas queen').

 

[lithy]

This is actually the current state of things though...

Not as pretty.

 

[GohanX]

Been there, done that.

 

[lithy]

Been there, done that.

Here is what happened in my case, see that little bit of metal dowel poking through the timing cover and running into the spring clamp where the rubber tubing meets the metal pipe?



View from the inside



The source of my problems, something that came loose and shredded the belt, then had to figure out what it was to see if I had more problems.



Figured out that there is a locating dowel on the water pump housing for lining up the timing belt tensioner. Somehow that came out, then got dragged around inside the timing belt area until it got wedged and pushed through the timing/valve cover. No other concerns for the engine internals at least.

Below you can see from left to right a threaded bolt hole, the hole where the dowel should be and the little bracket that's off center from that hole is to align the tensioner (green pulley above). As well as plenty of fibrous bits of belt from the ensuing carnage.

 

[GohanX]

That's some Final Destination shit.

 

[city41]

Ended up going with a cx-30. What really stood out about this purchase is two of the three dealers we went to were chill as f. The other dealer was typical car dealer scum with pushy and annoying tactics.

Anyone else bought a car recently from a dealer? I wonder if their tactics are changing since boomers don't buy many cars anymore.

 

[NeoSneth]

congrats on the new ride.

as for dealership experience, i recently picked up a cSUV for trips and groceries. My salesman caught on pretty quickly that I wasn't shopping around, and I wanted what I wanted. I went in with money in the bank to buy it and financing if they preferred it. They don't really like cash, and they wouldn't let me drive it away that day unless I used their finance guy. He was the only dickhead in the building. Gave me an 8% loan when I have a credit score near 850. (paid it off without penalties in a month). My bank was 4% for reference. He also tried the warranty sale really hard. When i asked for the total price, it was 25% the value of the car! I'll just buy a new car if this one explodes. no thanks.

 

[lithy]

I think like Sneth, I'm just not compatible with dealer sales. The last two cars I bought in early 2019 and early 2020. I basically knew I wanted the car before I talked to anyone, so then it was just a matter of getting a price for the car. Walked in to both dealers with a price already sorted out by e-mail and still had to spend an entire day getting through their process.

Buying a house is less hassle than buying a car at a dealer.

 

[prof]

I haven't financed a car since 2011. No dealers I've dealt with have had any issue with me buying cash though. Be it new, from a major used dealer like Carmax, or even a hole-in-the-wall mom and pop place where I've gotten sub-10k cars for younger family members. Surprised you guys have been to dealers who force you to finance. That sucks actually, I would've just walked. There's no lack of competition in car dealerships.

 

[city41]

They don't really like cash, and they wouldn't let me drive it away that day unless I used their finance guy

This has been my experience too. I generally only buy cars with cash, but often finance and then pay it off right away because dealers are much more pleasant if you finance.

This time around the salesman was so laid back I figured he wouldn't care so I paid in cash. I was right, the check still hasn't even cleared (bought on Friday) yet we took the car home right away.

I would've just walked. There's no lack of competition in car dealerships

This is my first purchase in about 4 years or so. In the past my experience has been all dealers treat you bad with cash. Granted in the past my experience with dealers has never been pleasant unless it's a luxury dealer (and even then, only to an extent). I was really surprised how this purchase went. I usually dread buying a car.