Car Chat

[FoMoJo]

This was after I left, but one of the most disastrous corporate rebrandings was when the UK's Royal Mail, after 350 years, changed to "Consignia."
It lasted 16 months.
"Stellantis" is right up there IMO. I suppose they couldn't use Peugeot because it's unpronounceable to 'murricans Pooh-joe.

So not Pee-you-gut?

[Soup DeVille]

How out of place a Dodge RAM looks in Munich traffic... 

Please tell me they're still called "Dodge" there.

[Raza]

Netflix undid the Flixster mistake.

Qwikster. 

[AutobahnSHO]

How out of place a Dodge RAM looks in Munich traffic... 

Haha my Ford Taurus barely fit on lots of streets and parking lots. Got really good at backing in because there just wasn't space to pull in front.

[TBR]

The execution was perhaps flawed, but the whole streaming / DVD divorce was the right call in the end.

And, actually, I don't know that we have data to know if the execution was even flawed or just the PR around it. It might have been that without the big effective price increase they wouldn't have had enough cash to invest in content the way they did which has given them an almost insurmountable lead.

[cawimmer430]

Please tell me they're still called "Dodge" there.

Some dealers sell them as Dodge and others as RAM. It's weird.

Haha my Ford Taurus barely fit on lots of streets and parking lots. Got really good at backing in because there just wasn't space to pull in front.

Did you wear the appropriate uniform, eh, I mean suit? 

[Raza]

My theory as to why they pick these anodyne names is to abstract the corporate identity from their product/service/workforce. Once they're decoupled, the company is freer to be abused, laden with debt, diversified into riskier assets, and resold to China once the CEOs have driven it into the ground.

I think you're thinking too hard about this. These are basically just a bunch of guys who think it sounds cool.

[TBR]

We only use the Outback when we need the extra cargo space versus the Jetta (camping, house crap). I could probably count on one hand the occasions where we have both needed to go somewhere at the same time in the last two years.

For the first 5 months of this year, I think I drove the Outback 50 miles. To be fair, for 2 of those months it had a dead battery, but obviously I didn't really rush to take care of it. Now that it is camping season use has ramped up a good bit.

At some point we need to replace it because I don't fully trust it, and it really struggles on I70 in the mountains, but it is just hard to justify given how little use it gets. Would have been nice if I had been able to convince Eric to get something more practical.

To this point, how bad of an idea is a previous gen Range Rover? Preferably one of the early, BMW-engined models (just think they look a lot better).

Assuming that's a really bad idea, how bad of an idea would a LR3 or LR4?

The right answer to this question (which is something along the lines of "what SUV should I buy that wouldn't be too expensive while still being cool (so I don't feel silly buying a 10+ year old SUV), have as much or more room than a 2004 Outback and have enough 00mph to comfortably get up mountain passes at 70+?") would seem to be a previous gen Land Cruiser but those are expensive af, especially post facelift. But, IDK, maybe a Land Cruiser with 200k miles is a better idea than a Range Rover with 100k miles.

[MrH]

maybe a Land Cruiser with 200k miles is a better idea than a Range Rover with 100k miles.

Yes.  Yes it is.

[Soup DeVille]

I've managed to break mine through sheer stupidity once, but otherwise I'm currently at 210,000 miles and going strong.

[MX793]

To this point, how bad of an idea is a previous gen Range Rover? Preferably one of the early, BMW-engined models (just think they look a lot better).

Assuming that's a really bad idea, how bad of an idea would a LR3 or LR4?

The right answer to this question (which is something along the lines of "what SUV should I buy that wouldn't be too expensive while still being cool (so I don't feel silly buying a 10+ year old SUV), have as much or more room than a 2004 Outback and have enough 00mph to comfortably get up mountain passes at 70+?") would seem to be a previous gen Land Cruiser but those are expensive af, especially post facelift. But, IDK, maybe a Land Cruiser with 200k miles is a better idea than a Range Rover with 100k miles.

Some years back, a long-time friend (known since 1st grade) was complaining to me about the POS Land Rover he bought for his wife.  "She HAD to have a Land Rover...  Most unreliable junk I've ever owned and everything that breaks is expensive."

[MrH]

They can't design anything durable to save their lives.  No way in hell would I get one.  Even with 10k miles.

[FoMoJo]

Going on 4 years with the Discovery Sport, nary a hiccup, even with the much maligned ZF 9.  The Land Rover spec'd Ecoboost has never missed a beat either.  Highly recommended if in the market for a mid-sized CUV/SUV.

[MX793]

Going on 4 years with the Discovery Sport, nary a hiccup, even with the much maligned ZF 9.  The Land Rover spec'd Ecoboost has never missed a beat either.  Highly recommended if in the market for a mid-sized CUV/SUV.

Ford-derived platform and power train.  The Range Rover is a different beast.

[FoMoJo]

Ford-derived platform and power train.  The Range Rover is a different beast.

I know, that's why I recommend it.  A tweeked CD4 (Volvo derived) platform.  It's basically an upscale Ford Edge, kinda like a Lincoln MKX.

[TBR]

Yeah, I  think we want something bigger than a Discovery Sport if it is going to solely be a secondary car.

IDK - not doing anything until probably next spring though.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I wonder how much a ratty Z3 Coupe shooting brake thing goes for these days. I would absolutely love one of those.

[AutobahnSHO]

I wonder how much a ratty Z3 Coupe shooting brake thing goes for these days. I would absolutely love one of those.

Probably lots!   Z3 verts are still pretty expensive in good condition, and prices seem to be climbing/ holding steady. The Shooting Brake was really rare so I can't see them being cheap.

[MrH]

Quite a bit.  Z3 and Z4 coupes still go for big dollars.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Well then fuck

[Eye of the Tiger]

The Ford 5.4 V8 is the shittiest pile of shit engine ever and it shouldnt exist.

[Galaxy]

The Ford 5.4 V8 is the shittiest pile of shit engine ever and it shouldnt exist.

https://youtu.be/xcN_WcGr4BU?t=161

Ahh, I see.

[TBR]

Soup - can you take out the third row in the Land Cruiser? Seems like it takes up a ton of room even when swung to the side.

[Soup DeVille]

Soup - can you take out the third row in the Land Cruiser? Seems like it takes up a ton of room even when swung to the side.

Yes.

I usually just keep one seat back there anyways, but both come out.

[TBR]

Not too difficult?

[Soup DeVille]

Not too difficult?

No tools required- the seats are a little heavy but not too bad.

There are little click-in covers on the seat bottoms that go in the spots where they connect on the floor too- so it looks pretty clean (if you don't lose the covers)

[TBR]

Oh cool, that's good to know.

[Soup DeVille]

You in the market for a 100 series?

[Eye of the Tiger]

You in the market for a 100 series?

Like a BMW, or a Land Cruiser?
I'd trade my Cherokee for a Land Cruiser, but not much else.

[Soup DeVille]

Like a BMW, or a Land Cruiser?
I'd trade my Cherokee for a Land Cruiser, but not much else.

Land Cruiser.