OT: Talking Cars Tuesday - Overkill
Cars today sure can be great. So many of them are so darn capable! That said... many of us are guilty of overbuying.
Maybe you've got a 3rd row that you never use. A pickup truck that's never towed. A fast car that's always traffic/safety limited. An SUV that mall-crawls and never sees even a dirt road
What's your over-capacity vehicle? Have you ever used it for its full intention? Was it awesome?
Urge...
My GTI theoretically has a top speed of 155MPH. I've autocrossed it, but not for years and the Chicago course never lets you get out of 2nd gear. It's way faster than it needs to be. But also fun when merging.
Have you chipped it?
Nope, just stock. Debated going Stage 1 but I figured I'm going to replace it soon, so no reason to do more.
I have two children and a Chrysler Pacifica minivan; we almost never set up the third row. 95% of the time, a two-row vehicle would be more than enough. But my god, having that much trunk space is absolutely fantastic.
I have no kids and a Pacifica, the second row is hardly ever used. But yes, having that space is indeed fantastic and it is truly outstanding for the couple times a year it's called on for a four person road trip.
Earlier this year, I hauled an entire bedroom set* plus assorted baggage after dropping the second row and playing some light furniture Tetris.
*The set included a dresser, side table, twin bed with a headboard, footboard, and slat board, underbed trundle, and trundle mattress.
Remind me to never play against you in this game:
I don't have this problem because I've always driven clunkers until I bought my first new car in 2015 (which I'm gonna drive until it dies).
But, for some reason, I've always had the urge to get an old El Camino. I'm not sure why I would want a car with a box in the back? If I need a box, which I really do, why the hell wouldn't I buy a truck? But the El Camino keeps calling my name...
And I thought only Archer liked El Caminos. Mind blown.
You should get one like Cleetus has. Steve Morris 9.3L big block V8 with twin turbos:
I had a really nice fast car with a stick about 10 years ago. But, honestly, how much fun is throwing when your can get to Oklahoma highway speeds about the time you hit 3rd. Been keeping me from buying another stick since.
I think part of the fun of owning a stick in the 1980s was trying to coax the most out of a car with 80 hp.
I have a 6 1/2 foot bed on my pickup and I've definitely used all of it on several occasions. I live out a ways and delivery is hit or miss for sure. Maybe only use it once a year, but totally worth having it.
Slow car fast! An axiom because it's true. "It's more fun to drive a slow car at 9/10ths than a fast car at 1/10th of it's capabilities"
Get yourself a Miata and have tons of fun at legal speeds :-)
I can't do a Miata. I have "reasons" that are entirely in my mind, but have zero chance of changing.
Civic Sport might do the trick. Nice car, and only158 hp might be exactly what I'm looking for. Under 30k too.
How about a BRZ/FR-S/GT-86?
I have a 2021 Civic Sport hatchback with the standard 6 speed. Mine has the upgraded 1.5T engine making 180-hp. Pulls pretty good at lower revs for everyday driving, but really sings north of 3500rpm. Lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control are standard. I average ~33mpg in mostly city driving. It's a glorious machine, highly recommend.
Miata Is Always The Answer
Don't even need a Miata for that. I've got a Honda CR-Z with a 6-speed - why they made a hybrid with 3 pedals is beyond me. It's got all of 120hp (same as the NA Miata), struggles to continue accelerating once you hit 70mph, and is FWD. Yet, when I find myself on some mountain roads in Oregon, it's surprisingly fun to pretend I'm driving fast.
thought you preferred motorcycles?
I do! But this thread is about vehicles that are overkill.
its wednesday....psyche.
on the farm every animal and piece of machinery has a job, no wasted capacity. that said, we are getting to the end of any need for our 4x4 15 passenger van. the 4 youngest are teenagers, 3 of ours are college or post-college, and that van is not long for the farm. is a great rig though. shows a bit of rust now but runs like a champ. and as dear wife says, it is the envy of teenage boys everywhere.
Hotel on wheels!
Neighbors HS senior daughter dated a "good christian boy" she met at church and I said that's great until said neighbor mentioned the kid drove his parents full size van on their dates and I made the above comment to his knowing sardonic grin.
He was a good kid and all was well until college separated the relationship I am told.
Whenever you sell that thing you’re going to have a line of buyers.
this is not it (SRJK has seen it), but other than color this is basically identical:
Would make a great camper van i bet if one of your kids was so inclined to put the love and sweat into a conversion.
True. Would be good idea. But I doubt my crew would be interested enough in that particular endeavor, or have the time.
When OP posted it was Wednesday in New Zealand, Australia and Japan at least.
This week is flying by.
I found a 328I Hard Top Convertible that is only going out on weekends 8 months of the year here in Overland Park Kansas and my wife complains that it tosses her hair around.
Fun ride.
If that's the saddle brown seating, nice choice. I loved my 335i coupe, but it had to go when the third kid showed up.
YES on the saddle brown and matching interior.
BIG FAN
Dyed to never fade from sun exposure.
I baby that baby.
i got my dream car a couple years ago.
1996 Lincoln Town Car Cartier. sun roof, “mobile” phone in the armrest, everything in it works, even the air ride. it had 24,460 original miles on it. one owner, a local car collector. mint condition besides some surface rust on the frame. it now has 25,030 miles on it. i drive it here and there, but usually just to cruise to local car shows.
i guess i bought it to look at it?
My high school football coach had something like that. IIRC, it was white with blue cloth like substance on the top.
THIS ^ is a great ride.
I had one in the early 2000's and I could double park at the LIMO stand at KCI airport. I had many people ask if my service could take them somewhere.
Those air ride shocks SUCK to replace that's when I sold the car. Rides like butter! Not great in the snow.
Took me 12 years to find it. Happily spend the money to fix it
#B1GPimpin'
Spendin Gs
With the next-generation Ranger being released tomorrow and the next-gen Tacoma less than two weeks later, I was hoping today's topic would be mid-size trucks. Maybe next week or after the Tacoma is released on the 19th.
Related to topic, I had a 2011 Raptor for a few years. Took it on a dirt race track but that was about it. Traded it for a 2015 Yukon that was traded for a 2022 highlander.
I bought an F-250 Super Duty that can tow 21,000lbs for a 38 foot camper that is 13,000lbs completely loaded down because it just looked better. Bad part is because of the bed size I get a lot of requests from friends and family to move stuff around.
0-60 speed on the new ev is ridiculous. Fun, and i like it, but overkill. As is having a car that broadcasts wifi for passengers and can essentially drive for me.
Really want to buy a used Camaro SS this summer. Trying to wait it out to see if the itch goes away as it’s not entirely practical in MI as the weather will only allow for 6 months of use a year.
get some winter tires and youre good to go
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15091733/2016-chevrolet-camaro-ss-long-term-test-review/
If I may daydream a bit, I'd love something super practical like a Duesenberg or a Pierce-Arrow.
Our 'over' consumption is quantity rather than quality. The 2006 Buick Lucerne with 140K miles that we just inherited from my in-laws (who both passed in the last 2 years) puts us at a total of 4 vehicles (3 ICE's, 1 EV).
My wife and I never imagined owning so many cars but the 3 kids are essentially grown (youngest is a h.s. junior) and we each have different transportation needs. The oldest lives with us and works remotely and I'm retired now so she and I are local/low volume drivers. But my wife still drives to work, the middle kid goes to IU Bloomington and will be spending the fall semester in LA where he needs a car to get to school and his internship, and the youngest fell in love with the 'new' Buick and drives it to school.
Definitely overkill on volume but, like long lunch hours, the extended capacity gets used up, albeit somewhat inefficiently.
2006 C55 AMG. Do I need a 5.4l V8 in a compact sedan? Not at all, but it's glorious.
Perfect. For the same reason I'd buy a Cadillac CT4 if they dropped a NA V8 in it. No hesitation.
2003 SL55 AMG here. Do I need to drive 186 mph? Maybe…
I came here to read about all the Bronco/Wrangler owners and all of the kid hauling they do.
Full disclosure, I'm looking forward to jettisoning my ubiquitous 5-seat SUV - that rarely sees snow or dirt or back seat occupants - for one of these post-armageddon capable machines.
I keep shopping Broncos even though (a) it's not happening financially and (b) I don't have anywhere to park a second vehicle during the winter. Fun to dream though.