Recent posts

#11
General Automotive / Re: Cars named after places wh...
Last post by Madman - March 26, 2024, 09:44:35 AM




Part 19: Oldsmobile Firenza


Built from 1982-88, the Oldsmobile Firenza was one of about a bazillion variants of GM's J-car architecture.  Its name is derived from Firenze,  known as Florence in English, and also renowned for it's architecture.  The city it a bit older than the car, obviously, having been established by the Romans in 59 BC.

The city of Firenze  is widely regarded as the birthplace of the Renaissance.  The Oldsmobile Firenza was the result of decisions made by the suits at GM's Renaissance Center headquarters in Detroit.

Firenze  was home to the Medici family.  The Firenza carried American families in a variety of body configurations; a four door sedan, a two-door coupe, a three-door fastback hatch, and a five-door station wagon.

Alas, despite all of the apparent similarities, Firenze  and the Firenza never met.  As any tourist can attest, the Italian peninsula is somewhat lacking in Oldsmobiles.  However, Italy did get a cousin of the Firenza, the Opel Ascona C.  The Ascona, of course, being yet another J-car variant.


#12
⚡ Electric Power ⚡ / Re: EVs
Last post by CaminoRacer - March 25, 2024, 04:01:50 PM
Quote from: MrH on March 25, 2024, 02:48:04 PMYep.  The mileage I put on my daily alone is too much to ever consider a lease.  I don't think I like the idea of driving for a couple of years knowing I'm going to buy it out at the end.  I think I'd rather just lease it, then immediately buy it out.  There are some methods for doing this is if you're insistent on getting the tax credit

Most Hyundai/Kia dealers are doing $7500 off anyway, so it probably isn't necessary to lease just to get the tax credit. BMW might be the one I'd have to do that with, if they won't do $7500 off an i4.
#13
⚡ Electric Power ⚡ / Re: EVs
Last post by MrH - March 25, 2024, 02:48:04 PM
Quote from: CaminoRacer on March 25, 2024, 02:45:07 PMIoniq 6 lease deals through the end of this month are pretty tempting. Compared to the expected depreciation of my 330i, the SEL trim is probably the same 24 month cost to lease, and cheaper when you account for gas & oil changes.

I only have one slight issue - I'm on track to drive 15-20k miles/year with my current commute. I'd probably need to buyout any lease to get the $7500 tax credit without mileage limits.

Yep.  The mileage I put on my daily alone is too much to ever consider a lease.  I don't think I like the idea of driving for a couple of years knowing I'm going to buy it out at the end.  I think I'd rather just lease it, then immediately buy it out.  There are some methods for doing this is if you're insistent on getting the tax credit
#14
⚡ Electric Power ⚡ / Re: EVs
Last post by CaminoRacer - March 25, 2024, 02:45:07 PM
Ioniq 6 lease deals through the end of this month are pretty tempting. Compared to the expected depreciation of my 330i, the SEL trim is probably the same 24 month cost to lease, and cheaper when you account for gas & oil changes.

I only have one slight issue - I'm on track to drive 15-20k miles/year with my current commute. I'd probably need to buyout any lease to get the $7500 tax credit without mileage limits.
#15
General Automotive / Re: Car Chat
Last post by AutobahnSHO - March 25, 2024, 10:07:03 AM
Quote from: FoMoJo on March 23, 2024, 01:16:15 PMI'm not sure over how many days these videos were taken, but even over the period of a season it seems like a lot of accidents and mostly because of poor driving.

You pay a few bucks to drive the track- probably thousands drive it every weekend.

Quote from: veeman on March 23, 2024, 08:44:16 AMAre these all professional/sponsored drivers?  Why do all the cars have advertisements all over them? 

You can rent cars (specifically for that location), you can pay to have someone who knows how to drive drive you (like a thrill ride), lots of business there.
#16
Head to Head / Re: Looking for a new car
Last post by Lebowski - March 24, 2024, 01:02:48 PM
Civic Si is not bad looking, and not as boy racerish as the R.
#17
General Automotive / Re: Automakers Are Sharing Con...
Last post by Morris Minor - March 24, 2024, 09:17:20 AM
Tesla's eased up a little bit on the nighttime driving dings.
Side note: I remember a cop once telling me that nothing good ever happens after 11:00 PM. 

https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-safety-score-late-night-driving-revision/
#18
General Automotive / Re: Marcello Gandini 1938–2024
Last post by veeman - March 24, 2024, 07:33:07 AM
The movie Cannonball Run was my first introduction to the Lamborghini Countach. The two hot women driving it further solidified in my mind that this was the greatest car ever built.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=evA3_NV7cPM&pp=ygUeY2Fubm9uYmFsbCBydW4gY291bnRhY2ggc2NlbmUg
#19
General Automotive / Re: Car Chat
Last post by FoMoJo - March 23, 2024, 01:16:15 PM
Quote from: AutobahnSHO on March 21, 2024, 02:41:30 PMThere are a bazillion BMWs there. There are way more decent drivers, but obviously they're not exciting to put onto Youtube.
I'm not sure over how many days these videos were taken, but even over the period of a season it seems like a lot of accidents and mostly because of poor driving.
#20
General Automotive / Marcello Gandini 1938–2024
Last post by Madman - March 23, 2024, 08:44:41 AM


One of the world's most influential automotive designers and the man who designed what is arguably the world's first supercar passed away last week.

Marcello Gandini, who penned the Lamborghini Miura and Countach, the Alfa Romeo Montreal, Maserati Khamsin, and my very own former Fiat X-1/9 plus many, many others will forever be remembered as one of the most innovative designers in automotive history.

Not only did he give Lamborghini its scissor doors, but he could also lend his talents to styling practical mass market cars, too.  The Volkswagen Polo Mk I, Citroën BX, Fiat 132, Autobianchi A112, and Renault 5 Supercinq proved sensible cars didn't have to look boring.

Thank You, Marcello, for making the automotive world a more beautiful and interesting place!


https://www.motortrend.com/features/memoriam-marcello-gandini-obituary/