OT: Talking Cars Tuesday - your favorite automotive picture
Well, the season is upon us next month, which means there's going to be plenty of real content and plenty of silly football-adjacent threads, so let's call this the last Talking Cars Tuesday until next off season. So, let's go visual for today. What's your favorite automotive picture? Could be some nostalgia, a picture of your family in the truckster on a vacation. Maybe it's a large pile of white powder on the spoiler of a Countach (Hatter...). Maybe it's that professional picture of your dream car, or the poster you had on your wall as a kid. Let's see the best automotive picture you've got and the story that goes with it!
September 22nd, 2020 at 10:05 AM ^
Here's a shot my wife took with my phone out the passenger window at the 2012 Dream Cruise. I wish I knew the owner of this car, because this is art. No filters, no digital wizardry, just a perfect day for a drive in the 'Vette. Was this thread an excuse to post this? Maybe. But I hope we get some other pretty shots.
September 22nd, 2020 at 12:10 PM ^
Not quite as cool as your Corvette but this photo of our buddy Terrelle and his Nissan is always a favorite of mine.
September 22nd, 2020 at 10:27 AM ^
Treadjack: wife wants a new SUV. She narrowed it down to Lexus, BMW, Mercedes and Volvo. Mid size of compact for each of these. The major needs are rear seat leg and head room, and acceleration. I plan to drive the wheels off it so longevity is important too.
the board didn’t steer me wrong last time, so I’m going to the well again.
September 22nd, 2020 at 10:32 AM ^
Am i incorrect in saying one of those don't belong? Its like saying who is the best among Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, Jim Brown and Dexter Bussey?
September 22nd, 2020 at 10:41 AM ^
If you're thinking Volvo doesn't belong, you're wrong. The new XC40 and XC60 are pretty great.
He is missing the AUdi Q5 from the typical cross shopping list though.
September 22nd, 2020 at 11:01 AM ^
I already drove the q5 and the back seat is too small. Right now the X5 is the leader but it’s at the high end of our price range, but I have not driven the others yet.
September 22nd, 2020 at 12:43 PM ^
As much as I love the Volvos (I have a Volvo V60 myself), the Sensu infotainment system is a real drag on what could be such a better car. Mine has already been bricked once by a navigation update and needed to be replaced (entire head unit) under warranty. A friend has an XC90 and it's been in and out of the dealer for various Sensus-related issues. We were driving west of Chicago once and navigation put us in the middle of Lake Michigan. Many similar issues on the Volvo forums.
If Sensus were more intuitive, more user-friendly (many options are pretty buried), and less buggy, I'd strongly recommend the Volvos. As it is, it's more of a "be aware of this when you look at Volvo" sort of situation.
Looking forward to seeing what the Android Automotive experience is like, TBH.
September 22nd, 2020 at 12:52 PM ^
Volvo is owned by a Chinese company now. In case that matters to you.
September 22nd, 2020 at 10:38 AM ^
Mercedes Benz GLE 63s AMG Coupe
September 22nd, 2020 at 11:02 AM ^
There is no world in which I am buying another coupe.
September 22nd, 2020 at 11:10 AM ^
Only coupe in name. They call it a coupe because the roof slopes down versus the traditional squared off back. Still four doors. They do make a traditional AMG SUV too, though.
The perk is going 0-60 in 3.7 seconds.
September 22nd, 2020 at 10:39 AM ^
Kia Telluride. Go test drive one
September 22nd, 2020 at 11:09 AM ^
Too slow.
September 22nd, 2020 at 10:51 AM ^
Acceleration? Probably the BMW X3 M40i, in the mid-size/compact space, would be the best bang for the buck without breaking the bank going down the Merc path.
September 22nd, 2020 at 11:09 AM ^
I recently purchased a 2020 BMW X3 M40i. It is reasonably quick at 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, handles, rides and brakes well and achieved 30 mpg in a recent 600 mile trip at speeds averaging more than 70 mph. There is sufficient cargo and passenger capacity for my two dog crates to fit in the back with the rear seat up while four people may ride in comfort.
September 22nd, 2020 at 11:32 AM ^
I would also recommend a BMW. They service plan is the best. Had various BMW models over the last 10 years and never had a problem.
September 22nd, 2020 at 5:37 PM ^
While I loved driving my BMW Z4 convertible, it was very fussy and the brakes shoes were seemingly made out of cotton candy -- replace every 15K miles -- and they were an expensive fix because the sensors had to be replaced too.
My regular mechanic loved the BMW too, and told me to buy a Lexus or Acura if I wanted to cut my repairs budget -- he rarely saw them in his higher-end foreign focused shop. I've soured on BMW, but really do like the aesthetic and the way they drive. Might be open though for my wife when we pass her Lexus 200CT (Prius with lipstick) down to our daughter.
I'm now in a Jag I-Pace (all electric) and it's an awesome car, but the range (240ish miles on good days, can be less than 200 if headed over mountain or with AC roaring) could be improved. It's very fast and efficient. Gets the heart beating in a hurry, both by its subtle very good looks and the way it feels behind the wheel.
September 22nd, 2020 at 11:55 AM ^
For the record - holy crap are our expectations off. 4.4 seconds 0-60 is "reasonably fast"?!?! That's DAMN fast. Horsepower has been so democratized...
September 22nd, 2020 at 1:23 PM ^
Everything is relative. The BMW X3 M Competition with 503 HP has been clocked at 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, 25% quicker than the M40i. This performance comes at a price with the MSRP for the X3 M Competition about $20K more than that of the X3 M40i. The EPA estimated fuel economy on the highway for the X3 M Competition is 19 mpg compared to 27 mpg for the X3 M40i. The X3 M suspension has also been characterized by some reviewers as uncomfortably firm for daily driving even in the "comfort" setting.
September 22nd, 2020 at 2:09 PM ^
I was thinking the same thing. I'll be happy with something on par with my Q40.
September 22nd, 2020 at 11:06 AM ^
In order,
BMW
Volvo
Mercedes
Lexus
September 22nd, 2020 at 12:01 PM ^
Man, what a fun line up to choose from. I haven't driven these, but am guessing the BMW will be the best to drive. Lexus will give you the best longevity and reliability, but would be lowest on the fun scale. Styling wise, I am really a fan of the Volvos. Just really clean looking cars.
Sorry, not much of a help, since I am not in that market (especially for those vehicles, out of price range), but have fun and post pictures with which one you chose and why in a follow up Talking Cars.
September 22nd, 2020 at 1:57 PM ^
When the wife and I last looked at new SUVs, we narrowed things down to the BMW X3 and the Cadillac XT5. I liked the X3 and it did drive well, but the XT5 was the perfect size for all the crap we haul around.
If you want to drive the car forever, then I'd go with a BMW. Their warranty and included service is well worth the money. I've owned several BMWs over the years and I still have a 2001 BMW Z3 that runs great and still feels solid. It does show a bit of wear and tear on the interior, but any car will after 19 years of use.
September 22nd, 2020 at 3:31 PM ^
Mrs. Foam has a Mecedes ML350. Mercedes makes it really hard to do anything to the vehicle not by the dealer. Among multiple examples I have discovered, it takes 0W-40 oil, which no one except the dealer and auto parts stores have, so you can go to the dealer or buy the oil yourself. I hate the information interface. It's not user friendly. The backup camera only works when the system is on, so if the radio is off, the camera is off. To get a remote starter was going to cost $700 from the dealer, or $700 from BestBuy, except sometimes non-Mercedes installs brick the computer. Wife has buyers remorse and I'll never buy another Mercedes.
September 22nd, 2020 at 10:46 AM ^
I'm mentioned my 95 Eagle Talon on here a handful of times. Was it the best car ever made? Nope not even close - damn thing broke all the time. But has a 17 year old kid it was the coolest thing in the world in 1997. Had it souped up a bit as well. Stock was 210 HP and I probably had it around 300 or so before I crashed it. That said, from a purely nostalgic standpoint, this stock photo of a 97/98 Talon conjours up all those fun memories
September 22nd, 2020 at 11:15 AM ^
Always loved the bump in the hood, what was that for, turbo clearance?
September 22nd, 2020 at 12:58 PM ^
Completely aesthetic, actually. Would've been pretty cool if it was really needed, though - ha!
September 22nd, 2020 at 3:43 PM ^
I had a '93 Talon TSi AWD turbo. It was fun, but shit broke all the time. The $800 I spent on the 7-year bumper-to-bumper extended warranty was the best investment I have ever made. And the paint just kind of melted away after about 5 years, exposing aluminum, which the dealership said was normal wear and tear.
September 22nd, 2020 at 4:48 PM ^
Ha! Yep. Similar experience. I went through (IIRC) 3-4 transfer cases because it was a weak link in the suspension and I launched extremely hard quite often. It's really too bad. Great looking cars and such a cool, ahead of it's time concept (AWD performance) but yeah, parts were expensive and it broke - a lot. By the time I crashed mine in late 2002 my warranty had just expired. I often wonder how long it would've lasted had I not wrapped it around a tree. Or a better question, how much money would I have sunk into it before I finally said enough was enough.
September 22nd, 2020 at 10:51 AM ^
Damn, that was close Ben. And I'll be spending the morning looking for that exact picture.
The cocaine was on a butthole, on the hood of a 1970 Cutlass Supreme.
Thank God digital cameras weren't a thing in the 90's.
September 22nd, 2020 at 11:47 AM ^
I figure the spoiler is the right height 
September 22nd, 2020 at 11:05 AM ^
Here's me racing Bruce Wayne!
September 22nd, 2020 at 11:07 AM ^
<insert comment about GM / Nikola deal>
September 22nd, 2020 at 11:14 AM ^
This is my 68 GTO. I know it's an odd pic with the trunk lid up but I love the exhaust pipes belching their pre-historic carbon filth into the air as it warms up (it was cold out when the pic was taken) and the general angle of the car in the picture.
September 22nd, 2020 at 1:30 PM ^
How long after this picture was taken did the flywheel explode?
September 22nd, 2020 at 11:18 AM ^
While not my favorite car photo, this one does have a nice memory. After years of trying to get my son into photography (he was more interested in video), he finally started experimenting a bit and asked his old man to bring the car and test some different effects. This was not the best shot of that day but it's the one I had handy and reminded me of that fun moment.
September 22nd, 2020 at 11:27 AM ^
Fun one...
September 22nd, 2020 at 11:39 AM ^
They got everything in this mall..
September 22nd, 2020 at 2:38 PM ^
"It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas."
September 22nd, 2020 at 11:39 AM ^
Singer Porsche 911 via Road and Track. Love everything Singer puts out.
September 22nd, 2020 at 11:40 AM ^
Also... driving my kids to school today on US-23 north, saw a real life, uncamo'd Bronco Sport on the highway next to me. Maroon color. Looks to be about the same size as my 2000 Jeep Cherokee in length, height, and width. I was excited.
September 22nd, 2020 at 1:00 PM ^
Kudos on the 2000 WJ - had one myself for many years. Loved it. I had a limited; those seats are, and probably will forever be, the most comfortable car seats I've ever experienced.
September 22nd, 2020 at 12:07 PM ^
I was always a porsche fan, and really loved (still do love) 911s, and had some pictures off them up. But my favorite picture was of a 356 C roadster painted navy blue. It just looked so awesome in the pic.
My grandparents had a 1963 356 C roadster that I was hoping to inherit, but it was way too much for me to afford when my grandmother passed away. Would have been so cool. Funny story, they went with the 95 hp engine because they thought it was rediculous that someone would need 115 hp.
September 22nd, 2020 at 12:09 PM ^
With the sexy bits rule in place, my first couple thousand choices were negated. So I'll play it safe with this one.
September 22nd, 2020 at 12:09 PM ^
Some combination of these ads:
I've never smoked in my life, by the way. But I did end up with this:
September 22nd, 2020 at 12:49 PM ^
I had a poster similar to this on my wall:
Also had a poster of a burgundy/reddish Porsche 959 on a frozen lake, but can't seem to find a similar picture anywhere.
Those were easily my two favorite cars at the time when I was in middle school circa 1986-89
And just because, here is my old car, a 1993 MR2 Turbo, from around 2004.
