The New Car Fanatic Thread

[tbone_ 14436]

How many gold chains did he acquire?

However many he wants, knowing him.

[Chewbacca 7828]

21 hours ago, Gravy Train said:

Well, blacking EVERYTHING out doesn't exactly help to determine WTF model it is (or what the wheels look like) from a distance greater than 10'.  I like some contrasting features of my car.

You get your RSQ8 yet?

[Gravy Train 976]

4 hours ago, Mittens said:

Always get a chuckle out of y'all trying to clown Toyota owners because they aren't driving Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, etc, but Americans in general "don't actually care about cars". 

I'll continue to clown on them because the brand established its reliability reputation by rehashing old technology for decades... but I've beaten that topic to the ground in here before.  Now that they've been forced to modernize, let's see if that recognition remains.

The one halo car they built was delivered a full decade late and released at a time when it was compared to the Porsche Carerra GT.  A decade later, anything resembling "sports" from the brand was one they contracted through Subaru or BMW.  When every nameplate in their catalog is outperformed, better featured, or follows a more uniform design language, I'll say Toyota no longer builds cars for people who are passionate about them.

[Gravy Train 976]

3 hours ago, Chewbacca said:

You get your RSQ8 yet?

I bitched out and bought a Rivian R1T Quad instead.  With 835hp / 900ft-#, it's a hoot to drive, but I clearly did this backwards as I'm not yet in Colorado to enjoy the EV benefit.  

Still Colorado dreaming though, shitty as the RE market and 10-year treasury seems to be.  Jealous your project is likely underway.  Hope the SQ8 is treating you well, I still have my S6 and don't know what to do with it, but a part of me wants to replace that with a C7 GrandSport 7MT; the car we should have all picked up in 2019 when GM was hurting, slashing dealer incentives to $55K OTD with a 0% note.

[Gravy Train 976]

Speaking of Colorado and EVs, how about a nearly-free Fiat 500e lease?

https://www.lhmchryslerdodgeramfiatdenver.com/fiat-offer.htm

TFL did a video about it-- For CO residents, it's about $1,400 in taxes for a 27 month lease with a 10K/yr mile allowance.

2024 Fiat 500e$0 Down$0 per month 27-Month One Pay LeaseTaxes due at delivery. No other drive-off payment required!No Payments required during the full term of the lease!

 

Edited yesterday at 01:49 AM by Gravy Train

[CHIEF 5222]

On 12/18/2024 at 3:26 PM, Gravy Train said:

The only new Lexus models that retain their 5-liter, VVTi V8 are the LC500 and IS500.  Everything else is some combination of their 2.4L DI, turbo-4 and hybrid powertrain.  Further, Lexus is endorsing 7,500-10,000 mi oil change intervals (synthetic) on these engines.  I wouldn't feel comfortable about buying any used Lexus unless the owner was a fanatic about the car.
 

The only Lexus to get is the five liter. They are a dinosaur, which I love. The last N/A sport sedan built is the IS 500. I will own one till they don't make them anymore. When I bought the GS-F in 2019, I could have bought an M5 with about the same miles for a couple of grand cheaper. BUT, Edmund's has a feature that shows estimated repair bills, and estimated trade-in value at 100k miles. The Lexus was estimated to have almost $20k less of repair bills and a $20k difference to the positive on trade-in value. It is truly the most cost effective investment in a depreciating asset that I have ever owned.

Boring? Probably to some, but not to the other 90% that have never been in a sub five second zero to sixty, 150 mph+ automobile. Ours isn't a garage queen weekend warrior, it's our everyday family hauler, momma's work car, and the primary transportation, to Austin, for football games. So for us, it is practical and dependable.

CHIEF'

[Gravy Train 976]

It's still slow, but makes all the right noises and is easy to care for.  I can appreciate coveting one of the last GS-Fs (the last attractive sedan Lexus made), then moving on to the IS 500.  Analog experiences (with a warranty) are quickly becoming extinct.

[Chewbacca 7828]

I'll continue to clown on them because the brand established its reliability reputation by rehashing old technology for decades... but I've beaten that topic to the ground in here before.  Now that they've been forced to modernize, let's see if that recognition remains.

The one halo car they built was delivered a full decade late and released at a time when it was compared to the Porsche Carerra GT.  A decade later, anything resembling "sports" from the brand was one they contracted through Subaru or BMW.  When every nameplate in their catalog is outperformed, better featured, or follows a more uniform design language, I'll say Toyota no longer builds cars for people who are passionate about them.

Meh, my 2021 Landcruiser with us old tech has been flawless in the 50k miles since new. My SQ8 with 3k miles has thrown 2 CELs so far.

I like Audis a lot, but this new one is taking the shine off, for sure.

[Gravy Train 976]

Surprising-- what were the CELs for?  I'd like to think you previously logged 30K miles of aftermarket-tuned V8 power without a hiccup.

Hold on to that 2021 Landcruiser, it's the last of the solid and reliable Japan assembled examples.

[Chewbacca 7828]

Surprising-- what were the CELs for?  I'd like to think you previously logged 30K miles of aftermarket-tuned V8 power without a hiccup.
Hold on to that 2021 Landcruiser, it's the last of the solid and reliable Japan assembled examples.

They don't know. The car starts and immediately turns off. MMI takes a minute to reset and then when I restart, the gauge cluster lights up like a Christmas tree. They run codes and check things out and it all looks normal.

Has done this twice so far. Won't be keeping this very long off it keeps that up.

[Pescado_Rojo 19574]

11 hours ago, Chewbacca said:

They don't know. The car starts and immediately turns off. MMI takes a minute to reset and then when I restart, the gauge cluster lights up like a Christmas tree. They run codes and check things out and it all looks normal.

Has done this twice so far. Won't be keeping this very long off it keeps that up.

Can you make them buy it back under lemon laws? 

[Chewbacca 7828]

Can you make them buy it back under lemon laws? 

We are nowhere near that yet. It has started back up both times and the dealer has cleared codes right away. I'd like to know why it does this and get out fixed, though.

[Chewbacca 7828]

16 hours ago, Gravy Train said:

Speaking of Colorado and EVs, how about a nearly-free Fiat 500e lease?

https://www.lhmchryslerdodgeramfiatdenver.com/fiat-offer.htm

TFL did a video about it-- For CO residents, it's about $1,400 in taxes for a 27 month lease with a 10K/yr mile allowance.

2024 Fiat 500e$0 Down$0 per month 27-Month One Pay LeaseTaxes due at delivery. No other drive-off payment required!No Payments required during the full term of the lease!

 

It might be time for me to head down to the Fiat dealer.  My oldest needs a car and I've been putting off buying one.