Teuton's next car(s)

[Vinsanity]

Why are we egging on Toots to buy a 25-year-old Plasticar to supplement his 15-year-old one?


I personally like the Plasticar + Miata idea, but logic dictates driving Plasticar until it starts needing major repairs, and then replacing it with a shiny new(ish) econobox.

Come to think of it, I'm not even that familiar with our rules on bringing out-of-state cars here; will you be needing to get Plasticar smog-checked in order to register it here? How are you planning to rid yourself of it if that be the case?

[Secret Chimp]

If Tootawn gets a Miata, he'll get scared and stop driving it the first time someone yells a homosexual allegation at him.

[Vinsanity]

If Tootawn gets a Miata, he'll get scared and stop driving it the first time someone yells a homosexual allegation at him.

He's in L.A., not the I.E.; Toots is more likely for a tranny hooker to solicit him in that car than for a roid raging bro to yell a homosexual allegation at him.

[shp4man]

If the car doesn't have a catalyst, it ain't passin' smog. You can't sell/license it here without smog. You can put the cat back on or you can donate it to a worthy charity. Welcome to California.

[NomisR]

Get a Lotus Elise. 

[Raza]

With all of the MSCs, 1 Ms, and other new car shopping and planning going on around here, it got me thinking about the future of Teuton car shopping.

The PlastiCar isn't going to last forever, but it only has 125k miles on it. The unfortunate thing is, though, that without a catalytic converter, I cannot sell it in California. Also framing this predicament is that despite having a fulltime job, my top priority is going to be towards paying off my student loans. If I didn't have the debt load, I'd go out and buy a Fiesta today, but I do, so it gives me some room for some creativity. Here are my thoughts. Let me know what you think of them:

Scenario 1: Keep Saturn, get old Miata. It's pretty simple. It's pretty cheap. It'll suit my enthusiast needs and while some people have Camrys, it'll ensure I don't have one of the more mundane vehicles at work.

Scenario 2: Keep Saturn, get BMW 2002. I've wanted to have a 2002 for years now, but they've been a little on the expensive side. That said, I will have the income to support buying an $8,000 2002 fairly quickly. The big downside offsetting the coolness of the 2002 is that I will have two old, kinda flaky cars, one of which will be a little on the German and expensive side to repair.

Scenario 3: Get rid of Saturn, get Subaru WRX. Sure, the WRX would likely be a 2003 or 2004, but if it's a well-documented car, it'll be a deal. I'm not going to buy a piece of junk just to say I have a Subaru WRX, but I really do miss all-wheel drive and that boxer rumble. It's not really necessary in California, but nothing's necessary in California.

Scenario 4: Cheap, used, reliable. Most likely, that would entail a 2005ish Focus ZX3. Civics get stolen out here, and Corollas are boring as all heck. But if I go this route, fun, stick, and 30+ mpg are a must.

What say you?

AWD in Los Angeles is an absolute MUST.  It's the North Pole of the west coast. 

[Laconian]

AWD in Los Angeles is an absolute MUST.  It's the North Pole of the west coast. 

ROFL...

[Mustangfan2003]

Well AWD could be fun on trails in Death Valley

[the Teuton]

Why are we egging on Toots to buy a 25-year-old Plasticar to supplement his 15-year-old one?


I personally like the Plasticar + Miata idea, but logic dictates driving Plasticar until it starts needing major repairs, and then replacing it with a shiny new(ish) econobox.

Come to think of it, I'm not even that familiar with our rules on bringing out-of-state cars here; will you be needing to get Plasticar smog-checked in order to register it here? How are you planning to rid yourself of it if that be the case?

PlastiCar is staying an Ohioan. With 6 million people in the city, I figure if I don't cause a ruckus, PlastiCar will live a peaceful life in Kalifornia.

He's in L.A., not the I.E.; Toots is more likely for a tranny hooker to solicit him in that car than for a roid raging bro to yell a homosexual allegation at him.

California is a whole different ballgame (pun not intended) from Ohio. Here seems like a much better place to own one.

If the car doesn't have a catalyst, it ain't passin' smog. You can't sell/license it here without smog. You can put the cat back on or you can donate it to a worthy charity. Welcome to California.

Looks like I will be its last owner then. Bahaha!

Still like adhering to your communist laws. I would rather drive another car back from Ohio than register one here.

Get a Lotus Elise. 

Hmmm...

[Rupert]

CA will kick your ass if they figure out your OH scam.

[the Teuton]

CA will kick your ass if they figure out your OH scam.

It's not a scam. The car's registered in my father's name. While I paid/pay for it, it's legally his car. I'm borrowing it. He still lives in Ohio.

[ifcar]

In D.C., a car parked routinely overnight on public streets needs to be registered within 30 days or they boot it, enforced fairly strictly. There are a few exemptions, but the car being registered to a non-resident isn't one of them. (On the flip side, if you have off street parking, you have no obligation to register.)

Not sure what the California law is.

[the Teuton]

In D.C., a car parked routinely overnight on public streets needs to be registered within 30 days or they boot it, enforced fairly strictly. There are a few exemptions, but the car being registered to a non-resident isn't one of them. (On the flip side, if you have off street parking, you have no obligation to register.)

Not sure what the California law is.

I park behind my apartment on off-street parking. And as it is, you don't need a permit to park on my street. I'm as legally legal as I can be. Also, my roommates have Massachusetts and Michigan cars.

I don't play California Jedi mind deception games.

[280Z Turbo]

Why don't you pick up a Spitfire and daily drive it?

[the Teuton]

Why don't you pick up a Spitfire and daily drive it?

Reliability. Miata is looking swift right now. I want a convertible, but I need a practical car, too -- PlastiCar or a Focus.

[280Z Turbo]

Reliability. Miata is looking swift right now. I want a convertible, but I need a practical car, too -- PlastiCar or a Focus.

Oh come on. There's only like 10 wires in the whole car. You replace everything that says Lucas on it and it's more reliable than a Plasticar.

A Miata will do, I suppose. A bit ubiquitous, though. You can install a class I hitch on the Miata and buy a Harbor Freight trailer. Problem solved.

[the Teuton]

Hmmm....

[280Z Turbo]

I'm close to buying a class I hitch for the Focus, myself. It solves a lot of problems.

[Laconian]

Reliability. Miata is looking swift right now. I want a convertible, but I need a practical car, too -- PlastiCar or a Focus.

Swift is looking very Miata right now.

Swift. Three cylinders of fury.

[the Teuton]

Swift is looking very Miata right now.

Swift. Three cylinders of fury.

I'd rather have a Sprint Turbo.

[Rupert]

It's not a scam. The car's registered in my father's name. While I paid/pay for it, it's legally his car. I'm borrowing it. He still lives in Ohio.

So, you're an adult, living wholly on his own with a good job, you drive the car that you paid for with your own money, and maintain with your own time and money, every day to go to work in the state of California, where you are or will soon be a legal resident, but the car isn't registered in that state? I'm not saying that's completely immoral, but that's a scam.

[the Teuton]

So, you're an adult, living wholly on his own with a good job, you drive the car that you paid for with your own money, and maintain with your own time and money, every day to go to work in the state of California, where you are or will soon be a legal resident, but the car isn't registered in that state? I'm not saying that's completely immoral, but that's a scam.

I had an Ohio car for three years of driving in Pennsylvania, and I even parked it on the street...no problems. It's not legally my car, so I'm not going to worry about it.

[2o6]

If you get into an accident, that's going to ruin you and your parents.

[hotrodalex]

I had an Ohio car for three years of driving in Pennsylvania, and I even parked it on the street...no problems. It's not legally my car, so I'm not going to worry about it.

College =/= real life on your own.

[the Teuton]

If you get into an accident, that's going to ruin you and your parents.

Nope. Parents got all of the kinks worked out with our insurance agent. Next flame, please enter.

College =/= real life on your own.

It was at an off-campus apartment in the middle of Pittsburgh. Next...

[hotrodalex]

It was at an off-campus apartment in the middle of Pittsburgh. Next...

But if you ever got in trouble for it, you could have just said you were in college so it wasn't your "real" home. Can't really say that now.

[2o6]

You have to get it changed over soon, this isn't college.



LA people will get hip to a blue saturn driving around with out of state plates. OH police got hip to a burgandy Camry (sister-in-law's car when she moved here) with Wisconsin plates.

[Rupert]

I had an Ohio car for three years of driving in Pennsylvania, and I even parked it on the street...no problems. It's not legally my car, so I'm not going to worry about it.

You were in college. I don't think they are going to show up out of the blue with a ticket in hand, or even notice or care that much if you get pulled over for speeding or something, but they certainly will if you get into an accident, because you are required to have insurance for the state you live in (CA), which requires registration in that state. Do what you will, but know the consequences.

[the Teuton]

The address work has on file is in Ohio. Yes, really.

[Rupert]

Right, and you don't live there.