Hubby's new car

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01-29-2010, 11:00 PM
Beach bomb

 "Adam, I don't know what you're hauling over there in Texas"
Mexicans? <img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/roll.gif"> (I know I'm gonna catch some $%it for this one) Tim
01-30-2010, 02:45 AM
NITROJOHNNY

Maribell ( hubby too ), I'd like ya's to meet "PinBall" thee "Amazing squirrel Car" ... <img src="http://nitrojohnny.smugmug.com/Hobbies/toy-conventions-get-togethers/sudz-city-gathering-07-28-07/1008790/178046800_Ko8wK-M.jpg" alt="image"> <img src="http://nitrojohnny.smugmug.com/Cars/pinball/1007516/104243128_bHBsi-M.jpg" alt="image"> <img src="http://nitrojohnny.smugmug.com/Cars/pinball/1007530/104243144_ZKD5n-M.jpg" alt="image"> ... this construction working stiff went green for the pocket book. Now these cars can't match sex, but hell-yeah-yeah with a little effort/time they are a fun-hard-on to drive, lol . The trick w/ these cars is coast by learning to feather the gas peddle, like sex you will remember your 1st try, lol . & after a while it's just like the ahh shucks of sex if you can't hit that sweet spot everytime, lol . <img src="http://nitrojohnny.smugmug.com/Hobbies/toy-conventions-get-togethers/sudz-city-gathering-07-28-07/1008797/178046810_abawh-M.jpg" alt="image"> __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ As the weekend is here, here is a couple must do's w/ your new set of wheels ... <img src="http://nitrojohnny.smugmug.com/Cars/pinball/1007564/104618784_bviex-M.jpg" alt="image"> <img src="http://nitrojohnny.smugmug.com/Cars/pinball/1007549/104618074_L74nR-M.jpg" alt="image"> <img src="http://nitrojohnny.smugmug.com/Cars/pinball/1007565/104618900_2j9C6-M.jpg" alt="image"> ... besides oil changes @ about 10,000 mile my carpet cutting has been my best preventive maintenance. Honda has done it homework with this 2nd. gen. ( all but the dunlop tires, lol, that's another story ) hybrid. The od is pushing "125,000 absolutely-trouble-free Miles" & "The mpg. avg. hangs about 51.0 per Gallon". 90% highway miles & cruise controll 90% of time in harsher than the norm weather conditions of So. Minn. <img src="http://nitrojohnny.smugmug.com/Cars/pinball/1007782/127126122_C8JKq-M.jpg" alt="image"> ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ "I could go into details on the highs of this for the working dude Cruiser ... Thee mostly notely to note though is you will notice as time goes on your mpg. avg. will increase as the car breaks in more & more. As an example, just this week ( as luck would have it for 4 days anyway, lol ) on my 75 mile trip into MLPS/ St. Paul for work the mpg. avg. for the trip was 39.6 mpg. It may seem low & is compared to good weather driving conditions, but this avg. was done driving against a 10-15 mph cross wind & temps outside hoovering around -5 degrees. I may have pushed 34-36 mpg @ times the last couple winters with those kind of weather conditions. As for summer weather with temps between 76-78 degrees ( thee optimum ) 58-60 mpg & then some some depending on that sex like sweet spot ( lol ) have been the common, with my highest avg. 67.2 per gallon. Just wait 'till ya's clip the 50 mpg. mark ( lol ), there is no turning back . Also to note that as the car continues to break in I have increased my speeds. Where as I do used to drive 60-63 mph. to get those 50++ per avg. tank fulls, I'm now pushing past 65 mph on a more regular basis with the same if not better result. I could go on & on, my phone is below give a call I can fill ya's in. ... 300-500 lbs. of tools would in time imho break a Privus" John 1-507-213-1513 p.s. Another reason I bought the Civic ... "Dick the Brusier" only hauls a light coat of wax ... lol !!! <img src="http://nitrojohnny.smugmug.com/Cars/dick-the-brusier/Picture-148/24073471_yK4p8-M.jpg" alt="image">
01-30-2010, 10:36 AM
rdln66

"Another reason I bought the Civic ... "Dick the Brusier" only hauls a light coat of wax ... lol !!!" Heh..classic Nitro. Hey J, Ya think that Civc would fit in the box of The Bruiser?..lol. <img src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif"> Ya know this is what makes us great. We're very lucky to have a multitude of vehiclular choices, to best suit our wants and needs. Whether is's a Civic ,or a Ram,or anything in between. As they say,whatever floats yer boat. After the disaster our Windstar has been,I said I'd never buy another Ford. Guess what..lol. <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/rdln*66/DSCF4667.jpg" alt="image"> I farm,I need a truck. And this one can haul the 4 of us,plus the tonneu covers locks and covers whatever is in the box,plus I can haul a a hefty load with this baby as well. .........and the price was right. <img src="http://redlinesonlinemessageboard.yuku.com/domain/bypass/images/thumbsup.gif" width="25" height="18"> F. .
01-30-2010, 11:20 AM
arkmanxx

Maribell Congratulations and much good luck with your new Honda. We are very much alike... I had a '94 Toyota Camry XLE V6. The care served me very well for many, many years. This past summer, my Camry developed 2 problems at the same time. The 'check engine' light came on, and I needed a fan ass'y (the big fan behind the radiator. A replacement fan assy' from Toyota was not to be found, so I settled for a used one from the junk-yard. That worked fine but cost about $700 parts and labor. My mechanic told me the 'check engine' light came up on the computer as emission sensors, would cause no problems if driven, but would definitely not pass inspection. Another $700 would repair that. So for a '94 Camry with 150k miles, I felt $1400 in repairs was more than the car was worth. I sold my '94 to my mechanic for $1,250. I went out and bought a new 2009 Honda Civic SI sedan, Metallic Silver. <a target="_blank" href="http://automobiles.honda.com/civic-si-sedan/performance.aspx">http://automobiles.honda....i-sedan/performance.aspx</a> I get 29-30 mpg. It is very fast. McPherson strut front suspension, independent rear suspension, 17" low profile tires...the car handles like amazing. I think it's one of the 10 best kept secrets for cars. It actually does 0-60 in 6.2 seconds and tops out at 135mph. Not a rattle anywhere. The metallic silver is full of metal flake, the seats are extremely comfortable, and there's no problem with headroom. I love this car. You don't see many on the road, yet I think it is affordable. It comes virtually loaded. I opted not to get the navigation system ($2.000-)...I have a Garmin portable GPS that works just fine. Honda / Acura are about the finest cars made today Allan
01-30-2010, 11:43 AM
MINGOTOY

Nitrojohnny, so you're a tilesetter too as my hubby. He has every tool except the wet saw in the trunk. He never knows what tool he will need since he may have a different assignment every day. So you know why the PRIUS is useless if you need to carry these types of tools. By the way, I have always thrown my car's rugs in the washing machine. You put in 1 at a time with a pair of sneakers. (The sneakers will bang around and help clean the rug. Use hot water and a good detergent like TIDE. LET THEM AIR dry. I wash ONE rug at a time. There is also a product called BLUE CORAL. I buy it at a store like AID AUTO STORES. It's fantastic for taking out a stain from the rug or the cloth seats. It will dry quickly. No rinsing. No vacuuming needed. (oH yes, this product is also great for your sofa or rug and will remove pet stains too... ) Adam, see how many US cars were recalled this year. I bet it was more than 646,000. And Hyundais. Every car company has car recalls. Windstar. I rented one in Puerto Rico years ago. It had 7 miles on it. When ever I accelerated, I could hear sounds of clunking metal. I drove from the East coast of PR(San Juan) to the west coast (Aguadilla.) This was a distance of about 100 miles. I went straight to the other airport and returned the car . They couldn't believe when I told them the tranny was bad. They looked at the computer and said that the car had 7 miles plus whatever I drove (they didn't know it was about 100 miles distance) and they looked at me like I was crazy. They assumed that I was stupid or an idiot since I'm female. (They are really , really chauvinistic in PR.) Well , 5 minutes later after the guy checked it out, he was apologizing to me and looking in the computer to give me another car. The car did have a bad tranny. Anyway, yes , it's a great country where we can buy a Hummer or a Prius. Whatever floats your boat. But it could be a better country if the U.S. car companies delivered better cars at the competitive prices. They are getting there but the process has been slow. maribell
01-30-2010, 12:14 PM
NITROJOHNNY

Frank, Check out the "Fashion ( ball-lest hitch ) Statement" ... yepper I do need to get a life ... lol . John p.s. Maribell ( hubby too ) ... put me to work ... lol . "Old Box... <img src="http://nitrojohnny.smugmug.com/Cars/pinball/1007558/104618492_pyc6H-M.jpg" alt="image"> <img src="http://nitrojohnny.smugmug.com/Cars/pinball/1007536/104617556_aSnd8-M.jpg" alt="image"> <img src="http://nitrojohnny.smugmug.com/Cars/pinball/1007569/104618990_LKxxt-M.jpg" alt="image"> ... New Box"
01-30-2010, 12:54 PM
adamsredlines

<a target="_blank" href="http://carblog.classifieds1000.com/toyota_2009_recalls/20091230-185947-Toyota-Topped-2009-for-Recalls">http://carblog.classified...-Topped-2009-for-Recalls</a>
01-30-2010, 04:52 PM
sverrefehn

From the link Adam provided about Toyota topping the list of recalls: <blockquote> for the first time</blockquote>Not to defend Toyota, and they know they have problems to address, but the larger sampling of history is why Maribell makes the point she does. The statistics are out there......
01-30-2010, 05:32 PM
adamsredlines

I understand that but people don't give credit to where its due. Its always how American (that better, Greg?) cars suck and people are stuck comparing old American cars to new import cars, which is apples and oranges.
01-30-2010, 05:46 PM
sverrefehn

Some people do what you say for sure, but the statistics I'm talking about compare model year to model year - apples to apples - and those statistics show overwhelmingly that the American cars still lag behind the Japanese cars. The American cars are indeed getting better and more of them make Consumer Reports "recommended buy" list then in the past, but they have a long legacy to overcome. The Euro cars have a lot of problems too - many of them rank behind the American cars now. 
Some people generalize for sure, but don't take me wrong Adam - I root for the American car companies and desperately want them to be the best but when it's time to spend the hard earned dollars and to get the best value, I still choose Japanese cars. Ford is giving me a lot of hope now and my fingers are crossed. GM and Chrysler still have a long road ahead.
01-30-2010, 05:55 PM
adamsredlines

My last apples to oranges rant is the Civic is a compact car while the "more expensive" Fusion is a midsize car. 
Bigger car=higher price and lower fuel economy....but let's not look at this logically.
01-30-2010, 06:14 PM
MINGOTOY

Adam, I know that but apparently the Einsteins at Ford don't. There should be a U.S. small hybrid and there isn't . So when someone tries to buy American and goes to Ford/Mercury they will encounter this car Fusion or Milan hybrid and immediately will dash to the nearest Toyota or Honda dealership. The Accord hybrid was cancelled more than 2 years ago and the Camry hybrid doesn't sell that much. Ford should've put that technology on a smaller car. A new Focus is coming to the USA as well as the new Ford Festiva and the new Chevy Cruze. Why don't they also have a hybrid version of these cars if these are the cars so that they can compete with the Prius and the Civic Hybrid and the new Honda CR-Z . (Ok , I don't the mileage of this CR-z hybrid so don't rake me over the coals if the mileage stinks.) Hmm, maybe I should apply for a job at Ford or Chevy. maribell
01-30-2010, 06:27 PM
sverrefehn

Adam, you are now having a different conversation than me. 
But since you brought it up, yes the Fusion is 1 foot longer than the Civic. So a more apt comparison would be to the Camry. It's size is about the same as the Fusion, but the Fusion gets better gas mileage, but it is still more expensive than the Camry to the tune of $1800 for the base model. So you win on mileage. 
But let's say someone doesn't want to spend 26 to 28k on a base Camry or Fusion hybrid. Let's check on Ford's slightly smaller hybrid and compare that one to the Civic. Whoops, they don't have one. 
Logical enough for you?
01-30-2010, 06:37 PM
adamsredlines

If that was the initial comment made, then no beef from me...but that's not what was stated. 
And they probably don't (currently) make one for the same reason Honda doesn't make trucks, or Toyota/Nissan making HD trucks, that's not what their traditional customer base wants. 
Like I said before, times are changing. :)
01-30-2010, 06:43 PM
aranjaloca1

I probably don't need to say this, but I'm going to pipe up here anyway: Cars like Ford's new Fusion and Fusion Hybrid are going to save that company. In these parts, I actually see more of the latter version than the prior...
01-30-2010, 08:29 PM
sverrefehn

<blockquote>Cars like Ford's new Fusion and Fusion Hybrid are going to save that company.</blockquote>I would agree.
01-30-2010, 09:07 PM
MINGOTOY

I didn't say that it's a bad car but they should have that technology available to drop it in the new Focus and the new Festiva when they arrive. Toyota is still churning out at least 10,000 PRIUS's per month. Honda has the Civic and the Insight hybrids. Soon they will also have the FIT as a hybrid and the upcoming CR-Z. There might be another hybrid from Toyota through Scion. Whatever the Japanese car companies put out, the American car companies need to clone and throw it out there inorder to compete. maribell
01-30-2010, 09:29 PM
1Perry

No, they need to do as they once did and lead the technology.
01-30-2010, 09:52 PM
Phildirt

I first looked at this thread before it got any responses (it IS a nice, nice car), and have come back to it happily amazed at the discussion it sparked. First off, the hybrids are unquestionably leading the way with new technology. How can anybody not like seeing advancement? How can forward thinking NOT be good for a carmaker? (Excepting Chrysler's Airflow). My take on the debate of foreign versus domestic: What the heck is foreign anymore? Nissans, Toyotas, Hondas, BMWs and others being built right here in the USA, while GM and Ford build some vehicles and subassemblies in Mexico; my Buick and some other GM critters come from Canada. It may take some time after decades of dinosaur thinking but America's carmakers will rebound. And I'll betcha, they've already dissected countless Priuses already. They ARE watching and listening. Regarding quality, there's going to be good and bad of each, but more room for improvement with the domestics. Maybe we need a new union contract that involves tighter build standards. It also comes down to what most consumers WANT. Gas is high again, and SUV sales are down, but there's still plenty out there, still selling, often to single people without a family to haul around. America made lots of small economical cars in the '70s and '80s, but hardly anybody is buying them now. Whatever happened to mini-pickups and hatchbacks, anyway? Even the mini Toyotas (Echo, Yaris) are far fewer than their earlier Tercels, and I think that's true among the Honda and Nissan counterparts. The thing that mystifies me the most, though, is that Ford and the General build many economical cars that sell well around the globe, but aren't offered on this continent. Go to a well stocked newsstand and check the auto magazines published in faraway lands, and you'll see plenty of "why can't they sell those here?" vehicles. (Pre-emptive note: I do not bring up the following to agitate, but because it's appropriate to the thread) Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't the faulty Toyota gas pedals manufactured here in the U.S.? Hey, don't mind me. My dream car has hand crank windows and a bench seat.
01-30-2010, 10:02 PM
aranjaloca1

 What a great question...I've been wondering the same thing for years. Whatever happened to small Toyota 4X4s - the Tacoma, which is a great truck, is huge. If I wanted to replace my 'wheeling '90 Toyota, with its short wheelbase, narrow track, manual tranny and auto-hubs, there is NOTHING new on the market today that I would consider. I'd probably import a Hilux that was never sold here...Alas...a divergence, and just venting aloud...<img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/ohwell.gif">...maybe I'm just cranky and need a beer. And, for some reason, the font changed and...good grief, things are getting worse...<img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/laugh.gif">
01-30-2010, 10:08 PM
1Perry

<blockquote>Hey, don't mind me. My dream car has hand crank windows and a bench seat. </blockquote> 
LOL, yeah, I'm driving a Pacer! Anybody have an AMC vacuum advance? Seems they are not available outside of a complete distributor any longer. LOL
01-30-2010, 10:27 PM
Striderxl

<blockquote>Phildirt wrote:
<hr>
My take on the debate of foreign versus domestic: What the heck is foreign anymore? Nissans, Toyotas, Hondas, BMWs and others being built right here in the USA, while GM and Ford build some vehicles and subassemblies in Mexico; my Buick and some other GM critters come from Canada. It may take some time after decades of dinosaur thinking but America's carmakers will rebound. And I'll betcha, they've already dissected countless Priuses already. They ARE watching and listening. Regarding quality, there's going to be good and bad of each, but more room for improvement with the domestics. Maybe we need a new union contract that involves tighter build standards. </blockquote>It all depends on where the money goes. All foreign car companies send the money back to their own countries and American car companies keep the money here. So when you buy a foreign car all profits go away. Now I own a Honda CRV and a Nissan Titan but the Titan was used and all money stayed here (at least I hope it did).
01-30-2010, 11:32 PM
sverrefehn

<blockquote>It all depends on where the money goes.</blockquote>That is the point that is always brought up and it makes me scratch my head a little. So American car companies make some cars abroad and it's OK because the profits come back here - but.......how does that help the American worker? They are out of a job. That hurts the economy. Foreign companies make cars here, profits go abroad, but.....American workers have jobs. Does it balance out? People on this board have complained a lot about the harm of US companies(in general, not auto companies) outsourcing work to places such as China and India where labor is cheap. Why? Because it takes jobs away from an economy that desperately needs them. Never in those discussions do I see anyone defending the practice because the profits come back here. So why is it OK when US car companies do it? Do the workers see any benefit from those profits? Or, is it only a matter of time until their job goes overseas? You can't have it both ways.
01-31-2010, 02:09 AM
NITROJOHNNY

In keeping with this thread's theme & a car going both ways ... <img src="http://nitrojohnny.smugmug.com/Cars/pinball/1007585/106024723_uhng8-M-1.jpg" alt="image"> 70% of the parts for the '06 Civic Hybrid came from N. America w/ most of them from the USA. 15% of the parts ( basicly the drive train ) came from Japan & the other 15% ??? All parts deliviered to Japan for assembly & then the car was exported back. <img src="http://nitrojohnny.smugmug.com/Cars/pinball/1007588/106024740_nEAFw-M-1.jpg" alt="image"> ... how Honda makes profit enough to warrant as such w/ a sticker @ $22,745.00 is beyond me. John
01-31-2010, 12:05 PM
MINGOTOY

The recalled Toyotas were all made here because that part was made here. My niece has a 2009 RAV-4 but hers was made in Japan was not part of the recall. maribell
01-31-2010, 12:11 PM
MINGOTOY

This thread is really , really expanding to other areas. I was reading in a newspaper that health insurance is NOT required in the USA but all car companies offer it. In many foreign countries, health insurance is NOT provided by the car company. The country provides the health insurance. So that car company can sell their cars cheaper because they don't provide the health insurance. That plus the fact that they pay their employees less. Anyway, it's obvious that the car companies pay their employees much more than the foreign car companies. That is also why US car companies are making their cars outside of the USA. Even Honda is now expanding to Mexico. The CR-V is now also made in Mexico and in Ohio. maribell

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