Automobiles

[j44ke]

This was hanging around the Car Store for a couple days. Not sure of the story behind it but I can find out if someone was interested.

3 door, 1967 or 68 I think. Everyone gets in on the passenger side. My father was assisting on a bird census at the Bay Back NWR south of Sandbridge, VA, and he and the Fish & Wildlife biologist would ride down the beach in one of these to reach an area that was otherwise inaccessible over land. Seemed like a lot of the Suburbans then only had 2WD, but this was a 4WD and was painted flat forest green with FWS medallions on the doors. I went along a couple times, and for some reason remember locking the hubs and lowering the tire pressure before going on the beach more than any other detail. And that all the paneling inside was sheet metal. No padding anywhere except the seats. Definitely a truck, not a rolling barcalounger like they are now.

Edit: this was in 1974 I think. SUV's were Oldsmobile VistaCruisers. We had a Plymouth Valiant. That was a compact car.

[Too Tall]

On mud days 4WD Suburbans were the thing to be in at the coal mine unless you could finagle a articulated log skidder. The weight is very balanced. We would clean them out by opening the doors and using a high pressure washer. I'd imagine they were not long for this world with that sort of treatment.

[randonneur]

Those Alpha car concepts look so good! I'd be all over something like that. Although, at this point they're completely vapourware, and I have my doubts about it actually becoming something tangible, especially after reading this article which randomly popped up in my news reader the other day.

Alpha Motor Corporation hasn't yet shown evidence of the kind of corporate footprint necessary—hundreds if not thousands of employees—to develop and deliver a vehicle in just over two years.
...
Alpha lists its corporate address as a co-working space adjacent to the Spectrum Mall in Irvine. That's not a likely place where it would be able to do its top-secret vehicle development work and build its IP.
...
That said...the address is exactly the same one, down to the suite, as what was formerly listed by the U.S. arm of Neuron EV, a here-and-gone company that was reportedly based both in Shanghai and Los Angeles.

[htwoopup]

Rode up this morning to pick up the little car from the guy in Westchester who brought it back to wonderful condition mechanically.



For perspective vs my 532 TT Crumpton…



So that is, in one picture, two items you VSalon folks have been enablers about.

[robin3mj]

Anyone driven the hardtop/targa Miata? It would need to be a 60% daily driver and would 100% be stick.

Sorta noodling between replacing our Jetta wagon with a four door bronco or buying a Miata as a third car. ( The minivan is sacrosanct).

Once things return to normal I’ll be traveling 3x per month so a third car is useful though not mandatory.

Jetta wagon is the wife’s car and she’ll probably work from home two days a week going forward. I work from home but for traveling three weeks out of four each month.

[Mabouya]

We had a Plymouth Valiant.

My father had one of those. Push-button automatic transmission and fake "spare tire" shape formed into the trunk lid.

[j44ke]

Anyone driven the hardtop/targa Miata? It would need to be a 60% daily driver and would 100% be stick.

Sorta noodling between replacing our Jetta wagon with a four door bronco or buying a Miata as a third car. ( The minivan is sacrosanct).

Once things return to normal I’ll be traveling 3x per month so a third car is useful though not mandatory.

Jetta wagon is the wife’s car and she’ll probably work from home two days a week going forward. I work from home but for traveling three weeks out of four each month.

Guessing, but from a distance you guys sound like prime candidates for a Tesla.

[rwsaunders]

Anyone driven the hardtop/targa Miata? It would need to be a 60% daily driver and would 100% be stick.

Sorta noodling between replacing our Jetta wagon with a four door bronco or buying a Miata as a third car. ( The minivan is sacrosanct).

Once things return to normal I’ll be traveling 3x per month so a third car is useful though not mandatory.

Jetta wagon is the wife’s car and she’ll probably work from home two days a week going forward. I work from home but for traveling three weeks out of four each month.

This dealer keeps calling me and it’s near you…one-owner Bimmer 3-series ragtop would fit the bill nicely as a 3rd car…holds more people too. Every time that I get the Miata itch, I see one parked next to an SUV and the itch goes away…crazy small.

https://www.bmwofsilverspring.com/us...28df571f01.htm

[j44ke]

My father had one of those. Push-button automatic transmission and fake "spare tire" shape formed into the trunk lid.

Those are great. The first one my father had must have been a 1965. It died due to a cracked block. Looked like this one.



The second basically looked like what happens when a car and a briefcase have a baby. It got compressed into a subcompact by a teenage driver who was doing her makeup. Remember it being brown tan something.



The third one was a Plymouth Scamp. My father owned that one until one day pulling into the driveway the rear springs/shocks came up through the trunk due to rust.

[robin3mj]

Guessing, but from a distance you guys sound like prime candidates for a Tesla.

I like them but I personally find Musk to be a detestable human being. Though I guess Henry Ford was worse.

This dealer keeps calling me and it’s near you…one-owner Bimmer 3-series ragtop would fit the bill nicely as a 3rd car…holds more people too. Every time that I get the Miata itch, I see one parked next to an SUV and the itch goes away…crazy small.

https://www.bmwofsilverspring.com/us...28df571f01.htm

Yeah, they are small

[nahtnoj]

Anyone driven the hardtop/targa Miata? It would need to be a 60% daily driver and would 100% be stick.

Auto journalists seem really impressed with the new Toyota 86 - have you thought about one of those?

[Saab2000]

Auto journalists seem really impressed with the new Toyota 86 - have you thought about one of those?

For a non-drop top that’d for sure be on my list.

The last few days I’ve been fantasizing about a Porsche 718T…. Either coupe or Boxster…. But it’s not a competitor of that Toyota or the Miata as it’s double the price…..

I want something manual to replace my now-sold GTI. The new GTI/Golf R gets some mixed reviews, at least as to how the driver interacts with the technology. I’d like a fun, manual daily driver that I can take to work and drive 9 months of the year. It’s also possible my next one will be a Model 3 Tesla. Different direction but that’s where we’re headed - electrified vehicles.

[Tom]

Out for the first time in a while I had to loop back and take a picture, I laughed because apparently what I traded in this spring for an XC40 is a classic-ish one? It certainly was a fun car to drive.

Little_Moose

[robin3mj]

Auto journalists seem really impressed with the new Toyota 86 - have you thought about one of those?

Certainly on my radar. I like the current/outgoing one better than the 2022, lookswise. But the Mazda's targa roof and 30 year track record are also strong points in its favor.

Out for the first time in a while I had to loop back and take a picture, I laughed because apparently what I traded in this spring for an XC40 is a classic-ish one? It certainly was a fun car to drive.

Little_Moose

I love the hatch on those Volvo's.
Looked for one when I ended up with my old 4Runner but never quite found one that fit the bill price/mileage.

[nahtnoj]

Certainly on my radar. I like the current/outgoing one better than the 2022, lookswise. But the Mazda's targa roof and 30 year track record are also strong points in its favor.

I have an S2000, a gas-guzzling SUV, and don't really want to sell either. But neither is a particularly good daily driver.

Cheap me wants to spend 3-4K on a mid-2000s Civic, but my "commute" 1-2x a week is about 130mi round trip.

Buying an automatic (I know, I know, but traffic) 86 with appropriate tires and alignment for adverse/winter weather seems like a not so terrible plan.

[rmplum]

Buying an automatic (I know, I know, but traffic) 86 with appropriate tires and alignment for adverse/winter weather seems like a not so terrible plan.

The automatic in that car is NOT terrible. Is it the manual? Nope - but it's still going to be all sorts of fun on cloverleafs, roundabouts and roads at sane speeds.

Also, don't park the thing in the winter Saab. A BRZ/86/FR-S with winter tires is more fun during those months than when the roads are dry and they aren't rare or precious, so not worth winter garaging imo.

[Saab2000]

The automatic in that car is NOT terrible. Is it the manual? Nope - but it's still going to be all sorts of fun on cloverleafs, roundabouts and roads at sane speeds.

Also, don't park the thing in the winter Saab. A BRZ/86/FR-S with winter tires is more fun during those months than when the roads are dry and they aren't rare or precious, so not worth winter garaging imo.

I’d drive the Toyota/Subaru all winter. Less inclined to drive a Porsche all winter, even though I’m sure it’d drive fine. It’s the salt on a Porsche I’d rather not have.

Clearly they’re different vehicles not really competing with each other.

The 86 doesn’t yet appear to be available. When it is I’ll have a peak in person.

[rmplum]

Also, a bike (or at least a 54cm ) fits in the 86/BRZ with the front wheel removed. That ain't happening in the Miata or 718.

That 2.5L variable geometry turbo engine in the 718 S is a monster though. Torque everywhere.

[rmplum]

Also, not a car - but anyone else enjoying this auction as much as I am?

legendary-1984-world-champion-apache-warpath-powerboat-still-dominates-like-no-other-169059-7.jpg

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...-boat-warpath/

I remember watching these things the few mid 80's summers they came to race Northport to Traverse City. Popeye's catamaran was the big dog back then IIRC. The vintage footage of this thing in biggish waters is pretty cool and the stories from these boats back in the day of Aronow and Kramer are intriguing.

Ryan

[Saab2000]

Also, a bike (or at least a 54cm ) fits in the 86/BRZ with the front wheel removed. That ain't happening in the Miata or 718.

That 2.5L variable geometry turbo engine in the 718 S is a monster though. Torque everywhere.

I gather from previous posts that you are either in the industry or report on it. Have you driven the new 86? It gets good reviews.