Automobiles

[Dave Thompson]

Seen for sale here in Spokane.

[robin3mj]

These kei vans and trucks seem to be having a moment. Our best local bike shop had a RHD van painted bright green. Always fun to see it tooting around town.

[robin3mj]

This isn't horrible. I saw one in Hudson NY. Obviously a new one, because the guy who owned it put himself between my car and his truck when I parallel-parked, which seemed silly. I mean if I hit him, he'd just have bled all over his new car. It is both smaller and lower than nearly any other truck. But they only offer it with 4 doors. I'm not interested in a 4 door pickup truck. I actually want to put stuff in the bed. And probably get dents and scratches and possibly blood on it. Supposedly gets 40mpg combined gas/electric.

When I worked for the Public Works dept in late 90s we had a plethora of Dodge trucks- mostly full size pickups and Rams with a dump truck bed attached. But me and the other seasonal kids often got “Truck oh six” which was a bare bones Dakota with just enough space behind the rear seats to stash your lunch cooler. Fill the bed with misc tools and pothole patching equipment. Reminds me a lot of the Maverick.

Anyway, first road trip with the Jeep today. NJ and back on my own due to one of the kids having Covid. Good opportunity to crank the sound system and test out the active cruise control

[robin3mj]

It's new car time in the Bobonli household. I've been an unnecessarily loyal Honda customer for 9 cars between my and the missus. They're nice enough and reliable but the last 3 leased vehicles have been identical except for the payments! I'm ready for something different.

I have my eyes on a 23 VW Atlas. This would be my first "German" car. Regular driving around hauling bikes on the trailer hitch (standard!) and a kayak. Occasional trips into snow country to ski. I'm not rock crawling or overloading! It gets good-enough reviews and appears to match my needs.

Anything I should know about VW performance, durability etc?

Late to this but as a multiple VW owner, I would say once you get above Jetta level you’re probably better off looking elsewhere. Electronic gremlins etc are not worth the price of entry. The nice thing about VW is you get that nice Teutonic quality (heavier doors etc) at a lower price point, but at the Atlas level I’d be looking at the Honda/Toyota equivalents. The new Pilot is really nice looking and the three row Highlander coming out soon is kinda uninspiring looking but I’m sure will never leave you lacking. Kia/Hyundai equivalents are really stylish but have heard mixed things on reliability.

[ides1056]

Vans in Petaluma.
The Westy is Subaru powered.
The Sprinter is driven by a gravel racer named Yuri.
The cross is mounted on the roof, not the van.

[ides1056]

Never seen one of these. Thought it was a Lotus.

[vertical_doug]

Is that the old roadster or the new roadster?

~ answered own question: Gen 1.

Gen2 is not out until later this year or next.
and is a 2+2

[j44ke]

Is that the old roadster or the new roadster?

~ answered own question: Gen 1.

Gen2 is not out until later this year or next.
and is a 2+2

Wasn't there a reclamation by the Tesla on these? I am trying to remember. Not a recall, but like a lease and at the end they took them back. Something different I kinda sorta remember, but my brain works in mysterious ways.

Edit - no, I checked. It was in the buying process where pre-buyers with deposits were told they had to re-authorize their purchase or some such and the price went up several thousand dollars.

[robin3mj]

Those Teslas were rebadged Lotuses, right? Used to see a couple up on Sheridan Road in my Chicago days.

Always thought a Lotus Elise in bright orange or hunter green would be a sweet little car to drive.

[Saab2000]

Those Teslas were rebadged Lotuses, right? Used to see a couple up on Sheridan Road in my Chicago days.

Always thought a Lotus Elise in bright orange or hunter green would be a sweet little car to drive.

From what I understand, heavily re-engineered Lotus Elises.

I’ve also heard that Tesla would like them back because it’s apparently quite expensive to maintain a stock of electrical components like the battery pack and motors that are unique to the Roadster and I believe they’re legally required to support the remaining fleet for a period of time, though I don’t know how long that is.

[sk_tle]

[rwsaunders]

Dan..did you drive to work today?

[72gmc]

Fish don’t fear me.

[bertiewhang]

We bought a 2013 Honda Jazz a few weeks ago. Can't believe how great it is and should've bought one years ago. I absolutely love it. Once I get rid of the shit tyres on it it'll be perfection..

[rec head]

I had to look up the Jazz. It looks like our Fit which we got in 08. It will hit 45,000 miles soon.

[rmplum]

Your own pre-bumper sticker customized HiAce is mere clicks away....

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3gN...-grand-cabin-g

[bigbill]

My son will head to Pensacola in late March for flight school. He drives a 2018 Ford Escape that is registered to me. Later this summer he will buy a newer vehicle with more room for his bikes and quite frankly, a vehicle more fitting for a Marine. Fortunately, he's not hung up on a big truck and will likely get a Chevy Colorado or similar. I'm sure it will be red. I will help him with the down payment and take the Escape back. The Escape has spent much of it's like in a parking lot for weeks at a time and only has 60K miles. It had new tires and brakes at 44K. My wife will be the primary driver so we can stop putting miles on the Chevy 2500 diesel to run errands. Since I retired, I get a month or more from a tank of fuel in my diesel F250. Her truck pulls a gooseneck horse trailer and my truck pulls a big travel trailer.

If I didn't have the Escape coming, I'd consider a Maverick. We have a soap business and need to make runs to Phoenix every few weeks to buy supplies. Oils come in 5 gallon buckets and we could fill the bed with those. The high end Maverick is basically an Escape Titanium drive train and chassis with a "truck" body.

[72gmc]

Seeing more and more Mavericks in the PNW. I’d be more interested if there was a hybrid + AWD option.

[bertiewhang]

I had to look up the Jazz. It looks like our Fit which we got in 08. It will hit 45,000 miles soon.

Mine at 82000. Runs like a dream.

[sk_tle]

I had to look up the Jazz. It looks like our Fit which we got in 08. It will hit 45,000 miles soon.

Jazz is the european name for the Honda Fit. Exact same car.

I am not a big fan of the third and fourth gen aesthetic, I liked the second gen more. Simpler, less aggressive. Why do all modern cars have to look so aggressively. Probably because that is their owners want to kill people?