The Automobile Thread

I bought a 1978 Camaro Z-28, off the showroom floor and in 1 year I put in a 500hp 383 stroker motor and a M22 4 speed.....talk about a blast to drive.
The only automatic cars I didn't change was my 1969 Z11 and 1970 Mach 1.

 

I hope they bring back the Astro Van. That was a versatile platform.

 

Spoken like a man with kids....
Welcome back!

 

I always had sticks and loved them, until traffic in so cal got to a point I didn't want to deal with it for two hours in stop and go traffic. My leg would get tired!
So now I have a dual clutch trans and am happy as a clam. But who knows if clams are actually happy...

 

Isn't that just an auto transmission?

I don't drive enough for it to bother me having a 6-speed. But, my wife does want me to get an automatic next time so we can switch cars when needed.

 

What dat? Want!

#wagonlife

 

Friends, where wagons are concerned, this is it. Nothing tops the '68 mercury Commuter. Roomy, powerful, extremely comfy ride.

 

This is what we had when I was growing up. '57 Ford Country sedan

 

My first wagon, 1974 Triumph mk2 estate, pretty much the same as this bad boy just on different wheels. Quite a rare thing in little old NZ as they were coachbuilt off the sedan variant in Coventry UK and shipped worldwide. The sedans were assembled in NZ.

 

That was the best van ever produced. Many folks miss it, especially the contractors.

 

She's a beauty mate! I'd take yours for cruising about. I'd take my Commuter for everything else, including off-roading.

 

Kinda of like saying a Lamborghini is just a car. A true statement it is.

 

My BIL the electrician uses an Astro... works perfect for him!

 

Hey there, anyone know anyone that could repaint clearcoat? It's peeling off my front bumper (might just buy a painted ebay one) and the rear spoiler. So spoiler for sure... I can pull it off the car, just need someone that can prep and spray in SoCal.

 

Loved this VW Passat VR6!

 

I can, but my daughters car needs a little bit of work first.......the insurance company will not fix the car with over 300k miles. If I get the parts cheap enough I will fix it and repaint it the blue on the new Hondas.
I'm hoping she will buy another car and stop using mine.

 

Very true. Both about the "SUV" and the vans. I would add 4-Runner to the SUV list. They have stayed true to off-road intentions.

"Back in the day" I used to like to take my SUVs over some jeep roads in CO, like Imogene Pass and a whole host of 4wd-required trails. At that time I had a Nissan 4x4 truck, which I traded for another, then a Pathfinder, then another, then an X-Terra, then another. All of those vehicles got some pine tree pin striping and low-range crawling. Nothing of the sort in the video above, but enough to make me feel superior to all those who never saw dirt.

I did take a home-equity-fueled detour into a Porsche Cayenne around 2004. It had dual range transmission and 5-level air suspension, so I took it off road near Buena Vista, CO. That was hilarious! There was so much automatic traction control, steering control, auto-leveling and other weird Sh!t going on that is sounded like some sci-fi garbage processor while trying to drive on rutted, off camber dirt. It was embarrassing and stupid. Luckily, there was no one around to see and hear my adventure.

My current definition of SUV is that it has to have 4wd, a functional roof and trailer hitch rack for transporting "adventure" sporting equipment (bikes, surfboards, kayaks, skis/snowboards - not golf clubs and little league equipment) and it has to venture off road (and/or significant snow) a few times a year. The SUV itself doesn't have to be the sport, but if so, that seals the deal.

Then there's the new breed of yuppie adventurer. Gotta have the pop-up tent, snorkel, hi-lift jack, shovel and spare water/fuel cans on your "rig" at all times. I think they call themselves "Overlanders."

Side note: we need a new derogatory term for older people who have yuppie tendencies - and I put myself in that category. And pretty much all of you too, since you are mostly all geezers who mt bike.

 

Overlanding...

 

If it works out, save a little for me!

 

The lady who lead the group last weekend had these:

 

In case your Matchbook Jeep gets stuck?

 

"It's a Jeep thing; you wouldn't understand."

I'm in the process of inheriting an early 2010s Ford E-350 Wagon van and there are traction boards in the back. They've been used offroad. With the van. A 6,300lb 2WD van that's almost 19ft long.

 

No clue what those items are. But the plate, maybe Blue JL?

 

The blue bumpy thing zip-tied on is a miniature traction board. It took me a second.

 

This too, just in case.

 

That's a mighty tiny hi-lift!

 

ours didn't....

I think all V6 come with it.. the 2.o turbo SE with technology did not.

 

Aren't the overlanders just the middle aged versions of the bros who had the noisy muffler and big spoiler on their civics 20 years ago?

 

Lol…. That’s so true.

 

Waaaaaay different demographic. Not even close.