What'd you rent? What do you want to rent? What rental stories do you have to share?
All y'all's moms they gotta lotta miles but the ride is still smoove nomsayin
Got a Camry SE for this trip. Initial impressions are quite positive. One of the least offensive cars I've driven for a while. A heck of a lot less floaty than the 08 I rented before. Transmission is smooth and the overdrive gear feels utterly frictionless. Seats are comfy. Braindump over
The SE isn't even the sport trim anymore either
In the last gen it was
Golf TSI is still reigning king of rentals I've had which include
F30 328i
Current Accord
Current Fit
Current 3i
Last Elantra
Last Sonata
Last and current Soul (both terrible)
Last Focus
Last Corolla
Next time demon Civic goes in for service I'm gonna try to get a Civic Hatch
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on February 28, 2017, 04:33:49 AM
In the last gen it was
Which is why I posted that, assuming that Kevin, like most people forget the XSE exists for the current gen. I was merely sharing more information and low-key giving kudos to the car and Toyota for actually making improvements.
Honestly on the rare occasions I get a rental car I usually just get a cheap basic car that fits my needs. I normally don't do a whole lot of driving in a rental car and it's just a few days, plus even most of the nicer rental cars aren't anything particularly fun so I'd rather just get something cheap.
If I'm just going from airport to hotel and a little bit else I'll Uber to avoid rental cars.
Surprise rental of the century: Nissan Cube. Strange, strange car but kind of endearing. Tons of space. There's shag carpet on the dash. I have so many questions.
2003 Flew to SLC, home in WY is about an hour and a half from the airport. Reserved a small car, hoping we could fit 2 adults, 2 carseats and older son, and bags.
Showed up and they were out, "all they had" was an AWD Toyota minivan. Asked if that was ok. SWEET! Nicest large vehicle I'd driven to that point. Go start it up, bring it to curb, load kids and bags and go to start again and battery is dead. Totally dead, after sitting with interior lights on for a couple minutes. They said they had another, but they'd have to wait to get someone to move the ski rack from ours to the new one. We didn't care, hopped in and had a great week.
In Germany, drove family in a rental 12passenger van through snowstorm in Austrian alps to Venice. Then back through Switzerland. Diesel with manual, lots of fun!!
They have lots of minivans in the Emerald Aisle at National. Same price as a midsize.
Since I don't travel for business, I get whatever is cheapest when I travel for pleasure. Some quick reviews:
Chevy Aveo - Utter garbage. I feel sorry for anyone who owned one.
Toyota Corolla - Just meh, not impressed
Chevy Cruze - Just meh, not impressed
Chevy Sonic - Peppier than I expected w/ the 1.4L Turbo
Nissan Versa - Felt like a toy car, but 40 mpg to and from LA made it worth it
Dodge Caravan - Why do people hate minivans, this was the PERFECT roadtrip ride. Seats were bomb, lots of legroom and space for luggage, drove alright.
It's fun to rent V6 pony cars, show up to Autox events, and beat the guys who own the V8 version.
Had a Chevy Cruze a while ago, which is what I think the current Jetta should have been. Slow, but a great car. Rented a Ford Focus titanium in CA a few months back. Again, way nicer than I expected, and it was fun too. Didn't love the transmission and it was slow (which I expected), but def thumbs up.
Quote from: CaminoRacer on February 28, 2017, 12:10:42 PM
It's fun to rent V6 pony cars, show up to Autox events, and beat the guys who own the V8 version.
You seriously do this? lol
Quote from: CALL_911 on February 28, 2017, 12:29:50 PM
Had a Chevy Cruze a while ago, which is what I think the current Jetta should have been. Slow, but a great car. Rented a Ford Focus titanium in CA a few months back. Again, way nicer than I expected, and it was fun too. Didn't love the transmission and it was slow (which I expected), but def thumbs up.
Cruze was one of the pleasant surprises I've experienced, but IMO doesn't come close to the Jetta. I rented a Jetta SE (turbo!) and that thing was pretty amazing. Well built, great chassis, great engine, great fuel economy. Best rental car value I've experienced.
Mazda2 was a lot of fun. Just floor it all over town and chuck it around the twisties. A blast for a tall shitbox.
Quote from: Laconian on February 28, 2017, 02:59:51 PM
You seriously do this? lol
Many times.
Challengers are the easiest prey.
Quote from: Laconian on February 28, 2017, 03:02:08 PM
Cruze was one of the pleasant surprises I've experienced, but IMO doesn't come close to the Jetta. I rented a Jetta SE (turbo!) and that thing was pretty amazing. Well built, great chassis, great engine, great fuel economy. Best rental car value I've experienced.
Mazda2 was a lot of fun. Just floor it all over town and chuck it around the twisties. A blast for a tall shitbox.
I haven't driven a Jetta, but all of what you just said is why I love my GTI.
Quote from: 68_427 on February 28, 2017, 01:24:33 AM
The SE isn't even the sport trim anymore either
It is; the XSE is more about extra features than extra sport. SE is the sport LE; XSE is the sport XLE.
Quote from: ifcar on February 28, 2017, 04:25:57 PM
It is; the XSE is more about extra features than extra sport. SE is the sport LE; XSE is the sport XLE.
What
You mean it doesn't stand for XTRA sport or XTREME sport?
Fuck you Toyota and your grounded to the ground bullshit FYA
A couple of weeks ago I rented a Mustang V6 coupe in a one day trip to Leon por $65. I liked it. Nothing extraordinary but great value for money IMO.
Feels huge.
It was that or a bare bones 320i for the same price. I figured I'd go with not a BMW.
I've never rented a car. But I've driven a bazillion different cars.
Quote from: MexicoCityM3 on February 28, 2017, 05:53:28 PM
A couple of weeks ago I rented a Mustang V6 coupe in a one day trip to Leon por $65. I liked it. Nothing extraordinary but great value for money IMO.
Feels huge.
It was that or a bare bones 320i for the same price. I figured I'd go with not a BMW.
V6 Mustangs have a bit too much of a glug-glug-glug forced retro feel on light throttle.
Camry SE is getting a whoppying 19.8MPG over the past three days. On the four cylinder, of course. Unacceptable. Garbage.
In a Jetta TSI.... not quite as magical as the Golf, just realizing why. Has the 1.4T, not the 1.8T. Definitely feels a little laggier, you never quite get the same response from the engine when you dip your foot in it. Cheap tires and squishy suspension make it feel pretty ponderous too. Great daily driver though, got 28 MPG on all back roads and surface streets driving like I do
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on March 08, 2017, 04:00:00 PM
In a Jetta TSI.... not quite as magical as the Golf, just realizing why. Has the 1.4T, not the 1.8T. Definitely feels a little laggier, you never quite get the same response from the engine when you dip your foot in it. Cheap tires and squishy suspension make it feel pretty ponderous too. Great daily driver though, got 28 MPG on all back roads and surface streets driving like I do
I got like 35mpg with my rental TSI. Same conditions that yielded 20mpg in the Camry. :-O
Quote from: Laconian on February 28, 2017, 03:02:08 PM
Cruze was one of the pleasant surprises I've experienced, but IMO doesn't come close to the Jetta. I rented a Jetta SE (turbo!) and that thing was pretty amazing. Well built, great chassis, great engine, great fuel economy. Best rental car value I've experienced.
I had a Jetta last week in Atlanta. Definitely a nice rental. I'm not sure I can agree with the great fuel economy part, but I tend to drive the living shit out of rental cars. :lol:
Quote from: Laconian on March 08, 2017, 04:17:51 PM
I got like 35mpg with my rental TSI. Same conditions that yielded 20mpg in the Camry. :-O
I was at Fort Meade, Maryland back in 2006 and the unit had so many people no-show to training that the trainer wouldn't let us go there. I had to commute up to Aberdeen Proving Grounds for a couple weeks for a class. We were given a small Chevy (last year of the cavalier?) and drove that for a week, had to fill up every 2.5 times up and back. Guy I was traveling with hated the car and talked the fleet manager into giving us something bigger, we got a Dodge Stratus. Had to fill up every 1.5 times up and back.
Got a Maxima to go get the Civic
Really interesting car. Good car, really good at what it does. The engine is pretty effing glorious and matches well with the CVT. The stereo took me back to my 2 12s in the trunk days. Interior is OK; def feels more like a gussied up Altima than a legit luxury car.... noise isolation is excellent though
But I feel like this thing would do and be better as a crossover. A "Murano coupe" if you will. The actual Murano is probably not bad, but the combo of ~10% more weight and 20% less power probably take a good bit of what little dynamic edge it has off. This thing would look better as a crossover and not give up much dynamically.... the low speed damping is pretty wobbly and the steering is as limp as a weak handshake. Will be nice to commute in with tomorrow
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on March 12, 2017, 12:21:14 PM
Got a Maxima to go get the Civic
Really interesting car. Good car, really good at what it does. The engine is pretty effing glorious and matches well with the CVT. The stereo took me back to my 2 12s in the trunk days. Interior is OK; def feels more like a gussied up Altima than a legit luxury car.... noise isolation is excellent though
But I feel like this thing would do and be better as a crossover. A "Murano coupe" if you will. The actual Murano is probably not bad, but the combo of ~10% more weight and 20% less power probably take a good bit of what little dynamic edge it has off. This thing would look better as a crossover and not give up much dynamically.... the low speed damping is pretty wobbly and the steering is as limp as a weak handshake. Will be nice to commute in with tomorrow
In your vision of the world, is every car just a crossover? :tounge:
Seriously though, it seems like in every thread you're like "Ferrari Superfast? They should have made a CUV called the Supercomfortable instead. Seats 7 comfortably, weighs 1,850 pounds, naturally aspirated 7.0L V12, $45K."
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on March 12, 2017, 12:21:14 PM
Got a Maxima to go get the Civic
Really interesting car. Good car, really good at what it does. The engine is pretty effing glorious and matches well with the CVT. The stereo took me back to my 2 12s in the trunk days. Interior is OK; def feels more like a gussied up Altima than a legit luxury car.... noise isolation is excellent though
But I feel like this thing would do and be better as a crossover. A "Murano coupe" if you will. The actual Murano is probably not bad, but the combo of ~10% more weight and 20% less power probably take a good bit of what little dynamic edge it has off. This thing would look better as a crossover and not give up much dynamically.... the low speed damping is pretty wobbly and the steering is as limp as a weak handshake. Will be nice to commute in with tomorrow
The Murano is already Nissan's big crossover for style over functionality -- basically the Pathfinder coupe, to use that parlance. What would the Murano coupe be, besides -- just like the Murano already -- a Maxima that gives up some dynamics for some height?
I don't travel much, so don't have a ton of rental experience. Over the past ~10 years or so I've had:
Mid-2000s Stratus - Thoroughly mediocre. Steering rack was so slow I actually got kind of tired sawing at the wheel navigating the aisles of a parking lot.
2007-ish Chevy Cobalt - Would have been a lot better minus the unpredictable and inconsistent EPAS. One time you take a corner and the thing is so over-boosted that you can steer with your little finger. Take the same corner at the same speed another time and it's like there's no power assist at all. And half the time the wheel wouldn't naturally unwind if you let go after taking a corner. You actually had to steer back to straight.
2009-ish Mitsu Endeavor - This thing had obviously had a hard life, so I don't know how critical I want to be of it. Alignment was off, may have had a wheel bearing failing, and lots of rattles. Definitely felt a generation older than it was based on aesthetics and quality of materials. Reminded me of something you might get from Pontiac in the early 2000s.
2012 Impala - Solid powertrain. Suspension/Chassis was spooky, though. Had to take some mild evasive maneuvers on the interstate and thought I was going to lose it. Really floaty and not confidence inspiring at all I understand why people who drive these things slow down for winding roads.
Gen 1 Kia Soul - Surprisingly OK. Roomy, good outward visibility, and reasonably peppy. Not a bad runabout for the limited time I had it. For someone who wants the tall seating position and space of a crossover but doesn't need AWD, seems a decent option.
2015 Ford Edge - Really quick steering for a midsize SUV. Like Mazdaspeed3 quick. Lots of road noise. 2.0T did not feel overwhelmed by a vehicle of that size and heft.
2016 Kia Forte Sedan - Didn't seem to track very well on the highway. Needed a lot of corrections to keep it in the lane. Powertrain was OK. Had enough oomph to keep up with traffic. Trip computer seemed a little optimistic. Based on the readout, I should have been averaging over 40 mpg when I filled up the tank, but actually was only in the low to mid 30s (which still wasn't bad). Rearview camera was really only good at seeing what was immediately (like within 5 feet) of the back of the car, so not as useful as in other cars I've been in with that feature where the camera can effectively replace the need to use the mirror.
Quote from: Raza on March 13, 2017, 09:54:47 AM
In your vision of the world, is every car just a crossover? :tounge:
Seriously though, it seems like in every thread you're like "Ferrari Superfast? They should have made a CUV called the Supercomfortable instead. Seats 7 comfortably, weighs 1,850 pounds, naturally aspirated 7.0L V12, $45K."
Naw, full on coupes make sense. It's this in between wishy washy stuff that's so-so. What does the Maxima want to be? More time with it has made it more clear and I tone back my earlier statements. It probably would have worked best as a hatchback and I'm glad that's catching on (Stinger GT, Arteon, Audi Sportbacks)
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on March 13, 2017, 08:34:00 PM
Naw, full on coupes make sense. It's this in between wishy washy stuff that's so-so. What does the Maxima want to be? More time with it has made it more clear and I tone back my earlier statements. It probably would have worked best as a hatchback and I'm glad that's catching on (Stinger GT, Arteon, Audi Sportbacks)
Got you.
My brother is looking into the S5 Sportback to replace his S4. I think it's a good fit.
Except the new A/S5 is UGGOOOO
U G L Y
G
L
Y
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on March 13, 2017, 08:34:00 PM
Naw, full on coupes make sense. It's this in between wishy washy stuff that's so-so. What does the Maxima want to be? More time with it has made it more clear and I tone back my earlier statements. It probably would have worked best as a hatchback and I'm glad that's catching on (Stinger GT, Arteon, Audi Sportbacks)
A Maxima is wishy washy and confuses you on what it wants to be? Holy shit, man, it's a 4-door sedan. y u complicate. It's not a CrossTour.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on March 13, 2017, 08:34:00 PM
Naw, full on coupes make sense.
lol
Mid-size and full-size coupes are the most pointless style of car. Size and weight advantages are tiny over their sedan counterparts, but the loss in practicality is huge. The only advantage is that they sometimes look better.
Quote from: MX793 on March 13, 2017, 08:29:58 PM
2016 Kia Forte Sedan - Didn't seem to track very well on the highway. Needed a lot of corrections to keep it in the lane. Powertrain was OK. Had enough oomph to keep up with traffic. Trip computer seemed a little optimistic. Based on the readout, I should have been averaging over 40 mpg when I filled up the tank, but actually was only in the low to mid 30s (which still wasn't bad). Rearview camera was really only good at seeing what was immediately (like within 5 feet) of the back of the car, so not as useful as in other cars I've been in with that feature where the camera can effectively replace the need to use the mirror.
I don't know what it is with Hyundai/Kia, but they have sketchy freeway handling. I drove an Elantra from SLC to Vegas and same thing - lots of corrections needed to stay on course, plus it felt super tippy. I didn't enjoy it at all.
Quote from: Raza on March 13, 2017, 09:19:20 PM
Got you.
My brother is looking into the S5 Sportback to replace his S4. I think it's a good fit.
That is a good look. If the Stinger GT works I'd like to have one in the future.
Quote from: 68_427 on March 14, 2017, 02:14:40 PM
Except the new A/S5 is UGGOOOO
U G L Y
G
L
Y
You like the Lexus LS. 'Nuff said.
Booked a challenger or similar for the rental I'll have waiting for my Miata to arrive. We'll see how she do
my dad had a 2017 R/T rental last month. He didn't even make it out of the rental garage before bringing it back. Said he couldn't see out of it, the seats weren't comfortable and the stereo sucked. He wanted out so fast he left his luggage in the trunk :lol:
Haha. I'm sure this thing will be a V6 or if it's a mustang, a 4cyl
speaking of I had this Yukon in Florida. Had every option you can get without getting a Denali besides sunroof. MPG was about 20mpg mixed (hand calculated) and was generally fucking awesome. The auto high beams worked phenomenally as did Android Auto and the top of the line stereo actually kicks ass. The heated/cooled seats were super comfortable and I really had no complaints. The Denali would be worth it for the 6.2L I think.
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3672/32843345454_02f94910b2_b.jpg)
Toyota Sienna. Base model. A minivan that got people and things from one place to another. Smooth ride, lots of room, rear door windows rolled down.
Went with the cheap car rental place...probably not gonna do that again if I can avoid it. I've never rented a car before and the people at the desk weren't very nice. Sorry that I'm handing you $500 and I have a few questions.
Which rental agency was it?
Quote from: 68_427 on March 28, 2017, 01:34:39 AM
Which rental agency was it?
https://www.foxrentacar.com/en.html
Booked it through Orbitz. The one in Orlando has like a 2 star rating. But we made it alive with no real issues.
Ah. We got lucky with my dad's corporate account that Yukon cost him $16/day and they didn't charge us for forgetting to re-fill with fuel. I'm so jealous I can't wait till I turn 25 so I can use his account :lol:
Quote from: 68_427 on March 28, 2017, 03:51:09 AM
Ah. We got lucky with my dad's corporate account that Yukon cost him $16/day and they didn't charge us for forgetting to re-fill with fuel. I'm so jealous I can't wait till I turn 25 so I can use his account :lol:
Damn, yeah, that's cheap. What rental company?
National
I seldom rent cars, since I don't travel for business and my vacation travel is either in my own car or doesn't involve driving.
But I did rent a car for a week in 2015 when my car was having work done. I rented a Ford Mustang and I really liked it. It was like a throwback to the throaty V-8 days, and the general type of car I had in my very early years of driving.
Quote from: giant_mtb on March 28, 2017, 01:17:03 AM
Toyota Sienna. Base model. A minivan that got people and things from one place to another. Smooth ride, lots of room, rear door windows rolled down.
Went with the cheap car rental place...probably not gonna do that again if I can avoid it. I've never rented a car before and the people at the desk weren't very nice. Sorry that I'm handing you $500 and I have a few questions.
I will absolutely never rent from Thifty (or Dollar - same corporate umbrella) again in my life. When I went to Coachella a few years back, I literally waited in line for over 4 hours to get to the rental counter, and then they tried to tell me that they didn't have a minivan available (or any other suitably large car). Uh no - we're going to a fucking music festival with 6 people, and I made the reservation like 2 months ago. Find me a damn minivan (which they eventually did).
Quote from: BimmerM3 on March 28, 2017, 08:26:46 AM
I will absolutely never rent from Thifty (or Dollar - same corporate umbrella) again in my life. When I went to Coachella a few years back, I literally waited in line for over 4 hours to get to the rental counter, and then they tried to tell me that they didn't have a minivan available (or any other suitably large car). Uh no - we're going to a fucking music festival with 6 people, and I made the reservation like 2 months ago. Find me a damn minivan (which they eventually did).
That sucks. Luckily we didn't run into any issues of vehicle choice. There were at least 4 vans to choose from. I don't know how a rental company with known inventory and scheduled uses (just like a hotel) can fuck up their logistics like that.
Rental car people suck in general. National and Hertz are usually the best, but every once in a while you get a jackknob at the desk.
The amount of extra fees and charges is also ridiculous and dishonest.
Quote from: CaminoRacer on March 28, 2017, 08:32:29 AM
Rental car people suck in general. National and Hertz are usually the best, but every once in a while you get a jackknob at the desk.
The amount of extra fees and charges is also ridiculous and dishonest.
I like Hertz because I don't have to deal with the jackknobs at the desk. Now the Atlanta location just has "choose your own car" aisle for rewards members, and even before that, they'd send me a text message with the stall number of my car. Walk over, throw luggage in the trunk, hop in, and drive off. The only interaction is the person at the gate who checks your ID and scans the bar code on the windshield.
Meanwhile Enterprise went the opposite direction. They have annoying people with iPads to great you and escort you to your car, while attempting to make friendly conversation so that I might remember their name and give them a positive review online. I get that some people appreciate that kind of service, but I'm more of a "get out of my way" kinda guy.
Yeah it's really worth while to be a member of their rewards programs.
National's "emerald aisle" service is nice. I can find a car I like without interrogating the person behind the desk.
"Uhh, a Chrysler 200? Do you, like, have anything else...?"
"Why?"
"*Sigh*... rantrantrant"
I recently got the "executive" membership status which gives me a free upgrade to the Executive aisle. I think that means I can rent Buick Regals for the price of Camrys.
Quote from: Laconian on March 28, 2017, 12:47:43 PM
National's "emerald aisle" service is nice. I can find a car I like without interrogating the person behind the desk.
"Uhh, a Chrysler 200? Do you, like, have anything else...?"
"Why?"
"*Sigh*... rantrantrant"
I recently got the "executive" membership status which gives me a free upgrade to the Executive aisle. I think that means I can rent Buick Regals for the price of Camrys.
You can pick anything in the executive isle for the price of a midsize car. That includes any Regal/300/Yukon/Tahoe/Suburban/1/2 truck etc. My dad is Executive Elite and damn it's super awesome and painless.
Except my dad still asks 4-5 people in the lot which car he can take :lol:
"Except my dad still asks 4-5 people in the lot which car he can take :lol:"
Sounds like my dad. :lol:
We were driving the Yukon out of the lot and he rolled the window down while CONTINUING TO DRIVE by an employee and yelled "Is it ok if I take this one?!"
:lol:
LOL
You'd think that he'd be used to this by now, given that he's rented enough to have "Elite" status.
Quote from: 68_427 on March 28, 2017, 01:52:29 PM
We were driving the Yukon out of the lot and he rolled the window down while CONTINUING TO DRIVE by an employee and yelled "Is it ok if I take this one?!"
:lol:
Dad joke or serious question? Maybe he's just trying to get on your nerves. :lol:
I would get along well with Cale's dad.
Quote from: BimmerM3 on March 28, 2017, 02:06:48 PM
Dad joke or serious question? Maybe he's just trying to get on your nerves. :lol:
At this point it may have been intentional :lol:
Then again it's just as likely he was serious.
I rent cars probably 5 or so times a year. Usually whenever I fly because I don't like to inconvenience others for rides and I like to be in control of where and when I'm going somewhere. I usually book through Priceline from airports and usually get a compact or midsize for less than $20 a day although that doesn't take into account fees. Sometimes at the counter I'll splurge and upgrade to a full size SUV if I'm with my family or a sporty coupe if I'm by myself but only if it's reasonable. Never get any supplemental insurance because my own auto insurance will cover me as long as I'm not in an international location. I've never had a serious issue with the counter folk.
The most pleasant surprise I've ever rented was a Chrysler 300. V6. I didn't expect it to drive so nice and quiet. Shittiest car which I've had twice was a Nissan Versa. I know it's an econobox and for it's price it's probably fine.
Quote from: 68_427 on March 28, 2017, 03:51:09 AM
Ah. We got lucky with my dad's corporate account that Yukon cost him $16/day and they didn't charge us for forgetting to re-fill with fuel. I'm so jealous I can't wait till I turn 25 so I can use his account :lol:
You're not 25 yet!?
Quote from: Raza on March 29, 2017, 05:05:02 AM
You're not 25 yet!?
A little over a year to go. The last time I rented a car the insurance cost TWICE what the entire rental did
Quote from: 68_427 on March 29, 2017, 05:38:00 AM
A little over a year to go. The last time I rented a car the insurance cost TWICE what the entire rental did
Damn, son. How old were you when you joined this forum? 10?
Quote from: Raza on March 29, 2017, 05:38:53 AM
Damn, son. How old were you when you joined this forum? 10?
Pretty fuckin close :lol:
I'm driving a Grand Cherokee on a family vacation right now. I like it -- decently roomy, good powertrain (Pentastar + 8-speed), and solid chassis.
Rented a Rav4 last night (selected"ford escape or similar" but got a RAV4) for our Tahoe-Sacramento trip. Haven't driven it much but so far it's meh, I guess I would have expected it to be more of a mini/4Runner.
Quote from: Lebowski on April 11, 2017, 10:12:13 AM
Rented a Rav4 last night (selected"ford escape or similar" but got a RAV4) for our Tahoe-Sacramento trip. Haven't driven it much but so far it's meh, I guess I would have expected it to be more of a mini/4Runner.
Eh... it's a suburban runabout.
Too bad you didn't get the Escape. They have really nice seats.
Quote from: afty on April 10, 2017, 11:53:07 PM
I'm driving a Grand Cherokee on a family vacation right now. I like it -- decently roomy, good powertrain (Pentastar + 8-speed), and solid chassis.
They drive pretty well, but they're too small interior wise for me.
Quote from: Lebowski on April 11, 2017, 10:12:13 AM
Rented a Rav4 last night (selected"ford escape or similar" but got a RAV4) for our Tahoe-Sacramento trip. Haven't driven it much but so far it's meh, I guess I would have expected it to be more of a mini/4Runner.
I've driven that whole class of crossovers a ton of times. Very different feel from the 4Runner. Sight lines and driving position are just a lot different. They're all pretty boring but efficient and comfortable so they sell.
Yeah, as far as rental cars go, I didn't hate the RAV4. It served it's purpose without being terrible.
The Elantra I have right now isn't bad other than the steering. No feedback whatsoever. I basically have to guess-and-check my steering inputs - make a small adjustment, see where the car goes, adjust from there, etc. It's a brand new car though, which is pretty cool. 900ish miles when I picked it up - still has the temp tag and everything. :lol:
Sounds like Hyundai steering. I noticed the same thing with the Tucson.
Quote from: Lebowski on April 11, 2017, 10:12:13 AM
Rented a Rav4 last night (selected"ford escape or similar" but got a RAV4) for our Tahoe-Sacramento trip. Haven't driven it much but so far it's meh, I guess I would have expected it to be more of a mini/4Runner.
There is a Mini 4Runner type concept vehicle debuting today
Renegade sized but with Mechanical four-wheel drive and selectable low-range.
Quote from: 68_427 on April 11, 2017, 11:04:49 PM
There is a Mini 4Runner type concept vehicle debuting today
Renegade sized but with Mechanical four-wheel drive and selectable low-range.
This intrigues me.
Haven't driven much of that class, but I liked the Escape I've had a rental.
Quote from: BimmerM3 on April 11, 2017, 11:18:16 PM
This intrigues me.
I'll make the thread I guess lol
Quote from: Laconian on April 11, 2017, 09:48:15 PM
Sounds like Hyundai steering. I noticed the same thing with the Tucson.
I was so scared the Genesis would have typical Hyundai steering. I came away relieved. I'm still curious about the new Elantra sport though.
Quote from: Laconian on April 11, 2017, 09:48:15 PM
Sounds like Hyundai steering. I noticed the same thing with the Tucson.
Yup, our Kia Sorento has that same dead steering.
Quote from: afty on April 12, 2017, 02:37:42 PM
Yup, our Kia Sorento has that same dead steering.
I can't speak for the Sorento, I don't remember the Kia Souls that I've had to be nearly as bad as the Elantra.
My dad texted me this morning and said he has a Hemi Challenger for the week. Also said it does good burnouts. :lol:
Was in Palm Springs for a week. Rented an economy car and at the counter asked if they had any specials on coups like a Camaro or Mustang. Hertz guy said they were out but they do have a MB SLK convertible. I said nahhh, that'll be too much. He said to hold on and I may be surprised. $75 extra total for 4 days. Hot damn! So I took it.
This is my favorite rental car ever. Putting it in Sport mode, I don't miss a manual transmission. Power is immediate and plenty. Low parking lot speeds, Sport mode makes the car very jumpy but once on the open road, it's a blast. Looks great, canyon carver (relative to anything I've ever owned), slick top operation, not very fuel thirsty.
I want this car. Too bad Northeastern US roads are not like in Palm Springs. I haven't seen a single pot hole yet here. Also I need a backseat at home. Fun fun week though here.
Quote from: BimmerM3 on April 12, 2017, 07:30:39 PM
I can't speak for the Sorento, I don't remember the Kia Souls that I've had to be nearly as bad as the Elantra.
I had a Soul as a rental a couple of years ago and I don't remember it being as bad as the Forte. Very well may have been alignment. The Forte was in Detroit, where the roads are quite pitted, and the Soul was in Florida, where you're hard pressed to find a pothole.
Quote from: veeman on April 27, 2017, 07:30:19 PM
Was in Palm Springs for a week. Rented an economy car and at the counter asked if they had any specials on coups like a Camaro or Mustang. Hertz guy said they were out but they do have a MB SLK convertible. I said nahhh, that'll be too much. He said to hold on and I may be surprised. $75 extra total for 4 days. Hot damn! So I took it.
This is my favorite rental car ever. Putting it in Sport mode, I don't miss a manual transmission. Power is immediate and plenty. Low parking lot speeds, Sport mode makes the car very jumpy but once on the open road, it's a blast. Looks great, canyon carver (relative to anything I've ever owned), slick top operation, not very fuel thirsty.
I want this car. Too bad Northeastern US roads are not like in Palm Springs. I haven't seen a single pot hole yet here. Also I need a backseat at home. Fun fun week though here.
:rockon:
Quote from: CaminoRacer on April 28, 2017, 01:21:44 AM
:rockon:
Yes. Totally. True first sports car experience. Drove about 1200 miles in 4 days, back and forth to San Diego and LA where I have some cousins and friends. Most fun car I've ever driven, bar none. On my way home from the airport in NYC today while driving my new Crosstrek, I was thinking... if only this car was lower, better handling, faster, had a shaded glass top button operated convertible roof, and better looking it would be great :lol: Then I hit my first pot hole of the day...
Was it white? Every one I've seen has been white.
Quote from: FoMoJo on April 28, 2017, 09:26:40 AM
Was it white? Every one I've seen has been white.
Yes, white. Beautiful car. Inside dashboard looked and felt very average. Shaded glass convertible top was awesome. Even in the direct sun, the only glare came from the front windshield.
Not exactly a rental car for me, but one in general... lil bro in law's Versa Note; somehow everyone felt I would be the better driver after 22 hours awake for travel than my MIL. With MIL, wifey, luggage and A/C the lack of power was alarming. Basically made haste via momentum and God's grace. The Fit CVT rental I had put this thing to shame.
Rode in a rented Sentra yesterday. Decent plebian transportation. Friend renting it is in town for work, was originally given a Versa. He said it pulled really hard to the right if you weren't manhandling it to center so he took it back. Said Versas are horrible power-wise too.
He travels a lot for business- says the Corollas, Sonatas, Sentras he's rented are all decent. He liked the Impreza, few months ago and it was snowing bad that week. His first time driving on snow. And one time he opted up for the Fusion Hybrid and really liked it. (He owns a '15 Cherokee for reference.)
I have a 2016 Camaro V6 8AT for a month
Structure is hnnggggg
Engine note is hngggggggg
Ergonomics are good
Steering is so numb but accurate
Rear 3/4 Blind spots are putrid
The V6 sounds pretty sweet, doesn't it??
The Camaro I rented was a convertible, and oh boy, the blindspots with the top up are even worse than the soft top. The car is really flexy too, with bits of the interior plastic crackling and popping like a deflated plastic water bottle being manhandled.
Quote from: veeman on April 27, 2017, 07:30:19 PM
Was in Palm Springs for a week. Rented an economy car and at the counter asked if they had any specials on coups like a Camaro or Mustang. Hertz guy said they were out but they do have a MB SLK convertible. I said nahhh, that'll be too much. He said to hold on and I may be surprised. $75 extra total for 4 days. Hot damn! So I took it.
This is my favorite rental car ever. Putting it in Sport mode, I don't miss a manual transmission. Power is immediate and plenty. Low parking lot speeds, Sport mode makes the car very jumpy but once on the open road, it's a blast. Looks great, canyon carver (relative to anything I've ever owned), slick top operation, not very fuel thirsty.
I want this car. Too bad Northeastern US roads are not like in Palm Springs. I haven't seen a single pot hole yet here. Also I need a backseat at home. Fun fun week though here.
That's a dream car for a rental. Last time I rented a car, I got a Mustang. Nice car that I really enjoyed driving, like an old fashioned muscle car. Totally different from my own car, but fun.
Quote from: AutobahnSHO on April 30, 2017, 06:40:08 PM
Rode in a rented Sentra yesterday. Decent plebian transportation. Friend renting it is in town for work, was originally given a Versa. He said it pulled really hard to the right if you weren't manhandling it to center so he took it back. Said Versas are horrible power-wise too.
The last rental car I drove was a Sentra. While it did absolutely nothing wrong (it was actually quite roomy and fuel efficient), man was it a depressing car to drive. This was during a vacation on the stunning island of Maui, and the car still made me think of rat-race commutes to cubicle jobs in offices with fluorescent lighting. I guess it's motivation to pursue something other than the rat race.
Quote from: Vinsanity on May 14, 2017, 11:37:44 PM
The last rental car I drove was a Sentra. While it did absolutely nothing wrong (it was actually quite roomy and fuel efficient), man was it a depressing car to drive. This was during a vacation on the stunning island of Maui, and the car still made me think of rat-race commutes to cubicle jobs in offices with fluorescent lighting. I guess it's motivation to pursue something other than the rat race.
coulda had something like this
https://turo.com/rentals/cars/hi/paia/mercedes-benz-380sl/268206?s=ruPw05jF
We're actually booking cars for our honeymoon now. I should look into Turo.
Quote from: MrH on May 15, 2017, 06:55:47 AM
We're actually booking cars for our honeymoon now. I should look into Turo.
I've only heard positive reviews
Me and my parents are in the UK and we rented a new Passat diesel wagon. It's a terrific car.
It does have this strange feature where it restarts itself when it stalls, and the auto hold feature is a bit overzealous. It's a great high speed cruiser, the diesel motor has a ton of midrange, and it has a really nice interior
I'm going to rent an EXECUTIVE(TM) car from National next week!
What will it be? A Buick? A Chrysler 300? (swoon)
Quote from: Laconian on May 16, 2017, 03:17:12 PM
I'm going to rent an EXECUTIVE(TM) car from National next week!
What will it be? A Buick? A Chrysler 300? (swoon)
You get to walk the isle and choose. Don't let us down. Ecoboost F150
Quote from: CALL_911 on May 16, 2017, 03:17:09 PM
It does have this strange feature where it restarts itself when it stalls, and the auto hold feature is a bit overzealous. It's a great high speed cruiser, the diesel motor has a ton of midrange, and it has a really nice interior
Is that not the STOP/START feature? The engine shuts down when you stop and restarts when you release the brake.
Quote from: FoMoJo on May 16, 2017, 05:07:56 PM
Is that not the STOP/START feature? The engine shuts down when you stop and restarts when you release the brake.
Probably. My car has that but I overrode it. It drives me crazy.
Quote from: Laconian on May 16, 2017, 03:17:12 PM
I'm going to rent an EXECUTIVE(TM) car from National next week!
What will it be? A Buick? A Chrysler 300? (swoon)
Is this your vacation or a business trip?
Business. Strip mall runabout, basically.
Quote from: Laconian on May 16, 2017, 05:22:29 PM
Business. Strip mall runabout, basically.
Where are you going?
Quote from: FoMoJo on May 16, 2017, 05:07:56 PM
Is that not the STOP/START feature? The engine shuts down when you stop and restarts when you release the brake.
:hesaid:
Every Euro car I've driven in the past 5 years has that feature. It's an easy way to cut emissions. Diesel idling is hell on cities, so much soot.
Quote from: Laconian on May 16, 2017, 05:23:32 PM
:hesaid:
Every Euro car I've driven in the past 5 years has that feature. It's an easy way to cut emissions. Diesel idling is hell on cities, so much soot.
Our new car has that feature. I don't like it but, fortunately, there's a button that deactivates it.
Are you rewarded with a big ol' "START STOP DISABLED" idiot light in your face?
Quote from: Laconian on May 16, 2017, 05:33:44 PM
Are you rewarded with a big ol' "START STOP DISABLED" idiot light in your face?
No, there is just a discreet mention and then it disappears. Very hush-hush.
Quote from: dazzleman on May 16, 2017, 05:18:10 PM
Probably. My car has that but I overrode it. It drives me crazy.
Does it come back on when you restart the car? Or does it stay off?
Quote from: 68_427 on May 15, 2017, 02:39:23 AM
coulda had something like this
https://turo.com/rentals/cars/hi/paia/mercedes-benz-380sl/268206?s=ruPw05jF
That would've been lovely for the drive along the Hana Highway. Though I would be nervous as fuck driving someone else's classic car on that narrow ass road.
Quote from: FoMoJo on May 16, 2017, 05:07:56 PM
Is that not the STOP/START feature? The engine shuts down when you stop and restarts when you release the brake.
It is, but if I stall the car (I learned you can't launch this thing in second gear), it'll automatically restart it for me.
My mom's 3-series has it and I absolutely hate the feature. I always turn it off.
Quote from: Vinsanity on May 16, 2017, 08:54:49 PM
Does it come back on when you restart the car? Or does it stay off?
It stays off.
This engine tho.
Man if I could get this V6 in an ATS with a stick, I'd be running around town with cash in my hand trying to buy one.
Quote from: dazzleman on May 17, 2017, 03:56:47 AM
It stays off.
Well that's good. Unfortunately, mine defaults to active everytime the car restarts. At this point, I'd rather deal with it than have to press the button every time. I'm especially annoyed, though, when it shuts off for a brief second after I stop at a red light and the light turns green again immediately after.
Quote from: Vinsanity on May 17, 2017, 07:09:52 PM
Well that's good. Unfortunately, mine defaults to active everytime the car restarts. At this point, I'd rather deal with it than have to press the button every time. I'm especially annoyed, though, when it shuts off for a brief second after I stop at a red light and the light turns green again immediately after.
I'm in the habit of pushing 2 buttons when I start my car; the 2nd one turns off the STOP/START feature. It's so automatic now, that I don't even think about it.
Quote from: CALL_911 on May 17, 2017, 02:58:00 AM
It is, but if I stall the car (I learned you can't launch this thing in second gear), it'll automatically restart it for me.
My mom's 3-series has it and I absolutely hate the feature. I always turn it off.
The Passat Diesel wagon your family has rented is a manual transmission? That's cool.
Quote from: dazzleman on May 16, 2017, 05:18:10 PM
Probably. My car has that but I overrode it. It drives me crazy.
Is there a trick to getting it to stay turned off in Audis? My dad doesn't like it on his new A4, and there's a button to turn it off, but it automatically turns back on the next time you drive the car.
I don't like the auto stop/start thing at all. Thankfully none of my cars have it. The only thing more annoying is eco mode in any non-hybrid car which is also often default on start up.
Quote from: CALL_911 on May 17, 2017, 02:58:00 AM
It is, but if I stall the car (I learned you can't launch this thing in second gear), it'll automatically restart it for me.
My mom's 3-series has it and I absolutely hate the feature. I always turn it off.
A torquey diesel can't launch in 2nd? Lame.
Even brap truck could do that
What did the EXECUTIVE CLUB bring me?
...an Impala LT V6! I gotta say, GM did a pretty damn good job on this car. The engine sounds fantastic and pulls hard, the suspension is magic over potholes, the audio system is fantastic and there's very little road noise to muddy it up. It was either this or a Challenger, and I'm happy I picked the boat I did. I already drove a Challenger in 2007, that was enough!
My big beef with the Impala is the lifeless steering. No feedback or feel whatsoever. It's hard to do U-turns smoothly because the self-centering feels so synthetic.
This is my first time using any car with Android Auto. Interesting...
I liked Android Auto in the Yukon we had, but there were some things that were a major pain in the ass. Still better than using the GM nav and such
Quote from: Laconian on May 22, 2017, 09:24:21 PM
What did the EXECUTIVE CLUB bring me?
...an Impala LT V6! I gotta say, GM did a pretty damn good job on this car. The engine sounds fantastic and pulls hard, the suspension is magic over potholes, the audio system is fantastic and there's very little road noise to muddy it up. It was either this or a Challenger, and I'm happy I picked the boat I did. I already drove a Challenger in 2007, that was enough!
My big beef with the Impala is the lifeless steering. No feedback or feel whatsoever. It's hard to do U-turns smoothly because the self-centering feels so synthetic.
This is my first time using any car with Android Auto. Interesting...
How severely have you tested the acceleration and handling? You've got to take it out for a real run and put it to the test, man.
I love the new Impalas. Just a bit too big for my tastes.
I had some good times with the V6 later in the evening, blasting through the scrubby/scenic foothills of the Santa Clara mountains. It pulls hard (with torque steer omg) and sounds fantastic. The gearbox is a bit reluctant to double-downshift. There's a two or three second lag as if the car is saying
WASTE GAS? (Y/N) Y
WASTE GAS? (Y/N) Y
WASTE GAS? (Y/N) Y
WASTE GAS? (Y/N) Y
...
OK, WASTE GAS ENABLED
And then it goes like a rocket. I really like GM's V6.
Quote from: Laconian on May 23, 2017, 12:25:07 PM
I had some good times with the V6 later in the evening, blasting through the scrubby/scenic foothills of the Santa Clara mountains. It pulls hard (with torque steer omg) and sounds fantastic. The gearbox is a bit reluctant to double-downshift. There's a two or three second lag as if the car is saying
WASTE GAS? (Y/N) Y
WASTE GAS? (Y/N) Y
WASTE GAS? (Y/N) Y
WASTE GAS? (Y/N) Y
...
OK, WASTE GAS ENABLED
And then it goes like a rocket. I really like GM's V6.
BAD ASS.... :evildude:
I'm in a new Sonata this week. In the past it's mostly been Elantras, Souls, Versas, etc., so I'm pretty happy with it as far as rental cars go. When Hertz implemented the "Choose Your Own Car" thing at the Atlanta airport, I think they started bumping me up a class of cars as well (i.e. I get to choose from the Gold aisle instead of the Class C aisle).
Still has vague steering, gutless engine, and slow-to-react transmission, though all a little better than the Elantra I had last time.
The aisle was mostly empty though, since I got in on a Thursday night and they hadn't had a chance to turn-over all of the business trip rentals that get returned earlier that night. Hopefully next time I'll have a bit of a better selection to choose from. I know I saw a Fusion in the Gold aisle once a few months ago, and I'd like to try out either a Malibu or an Impala.
Quote from: BimmerM3 on May 23, 2017, 08:49:19 PM
I'm in a new Sonata this week. In the past it's mostly been Elantras, Souls, Versas, etc., so I'm pretty happy with it as far as rental cars go. When Hertz implemented the "Choose Your Own Car" thing at the Atlanta airport, I think they started bumping me up a class of cars as well (i.e. I get to choose from the Gold aisle instead of the Class C aisle).
Still has vague steering, gutless engine, and slow-to-react transmission, though all a little better than the Elantra I had last time.
The aisle was mostly empty though, since I got in on a Thursday night and they hadn't had a chance to turn-over all of the business trip rentals that get returned earlier that night. Hopefully next time I'll have a bit of a better selection to choose from. I know I saw a Fusion in the Gold aisle once a few months ago, and I'd like to try out either a Malibu or an Impala.
Refresh my memory - what do you drive at home?
Quote from: dazzleman on May 23, 2017, 08:56:53 PM
Refresh my memory - what do you drive at home?
You must have sigs turned off. :lol:
2008 Honda S2000 and 2006 Ford Explorer
(http://i.imgur.com/wESe95s.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/oDsKt0Z.jpg)
Quote from: BimmerM3 on May 23, 2017, 09:31:39 PM
You must have sigs turned off. :lol:
2008 Honda S2000 and 2006 Ford Explorer
(http://i.imgur.com/wESe95s.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/oDsKt0Z.jpg)
Duh... :lol:
My dad sent me a picture of his rental this week - Camaro SS.
It has a great exhaust note, almost as good as the Hemi Challenger he had a week or two ago. Fun fact: apparently the 2SS trim includes a track-ready set of brake cooling thingys in the trunk, ready to replace the stock rotor dust shields. He says it also has a great LSD and does very long burnouts. :lol:
I finally got wifey's car to the shop... they gave me a '16 Civic.
Things I like about it are the chassis- Honda still gets it perfect out of the box- and the CVT. Interior is pretty nice for the price and road noise is low for a Honda. Fuel economy is impressive too; 35 MPG on my drive on with my heavy foot.
Only gripes... steering has no feel, and the engine could def use more power. I imagine the 1.5T versions being really good, like a Honda version of the Golf TSI. I'm a big fan of CVTs for the street
The CVT is good? Interesting
Quote from: CaminoRacer on May 24, 2017, 11:21:15 AM
The CVT is good? Interesting
I've driven modern Honda CVT autos, they are really good.
I need to drive a non-Nissan CVT.
Quote from: BimmerM3 on May 24, 2017, 11:26:41 AM
I need to drive a non-Nissan CVT.
I think Nissan CVT's are better with the bigger engines. The 1.6L and 1.8L and 2.5L in the Versa, Sentra, Altima are dour units and they feel like ass when you have to wind them up. And the 1.6 and 1.8L are so slow, that you're doing it all the time.
I quite like the CVT auto combo with the V6 motors.
Quote from: 2o6 on May 24, 2017, 11:29:52 AM
I think Nissan CVT's are better with the bigger engines. The 1.6L and 1.8L and 2.5L in the Versa, Sentra, Altima are dour units and they feel like ass when you have to wind them up. And the 1.6 and 1.8L are so slow, that you're doing it all the time.
I quite like the CVT auto combo with the V6 motors.
Agree that the CVT is quite good in the Maxima (at least previous generation). The Honda CVT is exceptional though.
CVTs are great... with enough power for the application. That is why they are so shite in small cars. I prefer the Maxima CVT to the 7AT in the G.... not once did I feel like I ever needed paddles or w/e in the Max, and in sport mode the transmission + throttle curve was almost too aggressive. That CVT juiced the hell out of that motor and got decent gas mileage too.
Has anyone had any experience with Turo? I just discovered it and figured it would be a great way to test out possible new car choices. For those that don't know, it's like Uber for car rentals; you rent out private cars. Anyway, first rental was a 2003 S2000.
This is my affordable dream car, so I was afraid I would end up being dissapointed. I was worried for nothing. The steering is fantastic, no slack anywhere. This was an AP1, so it was undertired and oversteered on command. The transmission took a bit of getting used to since the engagement point is right at the beginning but it has so much travel, but it became second nature in an instant. Then there's the engine. It's not underpowered at all and no mater how much you ring it, there's always another 3000 RPM to play with. I can't tell you the number of times I thought I was approaching redline only look down and see I'm only at like 6500. Plus I finally get convertibles. The S2000 is a permanent fixture on the car search going forward.
I'm planning on renting a few C7s I see on there next.
I've never heard anyone have a bad experience using Turo
Quote from: Xer0 on May 26, 2017, 10:24:54 AM
Has anyone had any experience with Turo? I just discovered it and figured it would be a great way to test out possible new car choices. For those that don't know, it's like Uber for car rentals; you rent out private cars. Anyway, first rental was a 2003 S2000.
This is my affordable dream car, so I was afraid I would end up being dissapointed. I was worried for nothing. The steering is fantastic, no slack anywhere. This was an AP1, so it was undertired and oversteered on command. The transmission took a bit of getting used to since the engagement point is right at the beginning but it has so much travel, but it became second nature in an instant. Then there's the engine. It's not underpowered at all and no mater how much you ring it, there's always another 3000 RPM to play with. I can't tell you the number of times I thought I was approaching redline only look down and see I'm only at like 6500. Plus I finally get convertibles. The S2000 is a permanent fixture on the car search going forward.
I'm planning on renting a few C7s I see on there next.
S2000 world take over! :rockon:
Quote from: Xer0 on May 26, 2017, 10:24:54 AM
Plus I finally get convertibles.
:rockon:
Safer than motorcycle, and no helmet needed! :mrcool:
I've only experienced a convertible like...once? I think? 350Z, I do believe it was. I was like 14. Never driven one. I bet it's magical, though. I know how awesome open air feels.
Yeah, it's pretty great. But then I drive a go kart, and it's even better. I really want an exocet.
Quote from: giant_mtb on May 29, 2017, 05:53:41 PM
I've only experienced a convertible like...once? I think? 350Z, I do believe it was. I was like 14. Never driven one. I bet it's magical, though. I know how awesome open air feels.
This is why I motorcycle... can't get more open air than that
Besides being completely covered in gear lol
Steering on the new Civic is sublime. Why can't Honda build a damn RWD sedan
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on May 31, 2017, 08:05:05 AM
Steering on the new Civic is sublime. Why can't Honda build a damn RWD sedan
Did you just go drive a civic?
I have a Mazda3 this week. Nice to have a rental with some amount of steering feel.
Buuuut, fuck them for removing radio preset buttons. And what's the point of a wireless key fob that can start the car, but can't lock/unlock the doors without hitting a button on the remote? If there's a way to lock/unlock from the car door itself, it's not at all obvious.
Quote from: BimmerM3 on June 12, 2017, 07:25:00 AM
I have a Mazda3 this week. Nice to have a rental with some amount of steering feel.
Buuuut, fuck them for removing radio preset buttons. And what's the point of a wireless key fob that can start the car, but can't lock/unlock the doors without hitting a button on the remote? If there's a way to lock/unlock from the car door itself, it's not at all obvious.
I think it was just a cost-saving/up-selling decision -- they don't design two ignition switches or manufacture two types of keys, but base models don't get an unlocking button on the door handle. Same with the Mazda-built Toyota Yaris iA.
Quote from: ifcar on June 12, 2017, 07:36:21 AM
I think it was just a cost-saving/up-selling decision -- they don't design two ignition switches or manufacture two types of keys, but base models don't get an unlocking button on the door handle. Same with the Mazda-built Toyota Yaris iA.
Makes sense, I guess. It also has a "Nav" button that just brings up a screen with a compass that says "You don't have nav, but you can buy it from your local Mazda dealership!"
It does have the best transmission of the rentals I've driven in recent memory. Plus it actually has a place where I can put my phone where I can see navigation and it won't slide around!
Quote from: BimmerM3 on June 12, 2017, 07:25:00 AM
And what's the point of a wireless key fob that can start the car, but can't lock/unlock the doors without hitting a button on the remote? If there's a way to lock/unlock from the car door itself, it's not at all obvious.
You should be able to change it in the 'infotainment' system settings menu, such that the doors lock automatically when you walk away.
Quote from: BimmerM3 on June 12, 2017, 07:25:00 AM
I have a Mazda3 this week. Nice to have a rental with some amount of steering feel.
Buuuut, fuck them for removing radio preset buttons. And what's the point of a wireless key fob that can start the car, but can't lock/unlock the doors without hitting a button on the remote? If there's a way to lock/unlock from the car door itself, it's not at all obvious.
You can "favorite" the stations you like. Yeah, it's dumb.
Quote from: Laconian on June 12, 2017, 12:01:07 PM
You can "favorite" the stations you like. Yeah, it's dumb.
Yeah I figured that out. Like you said, dumb.
Another family vacation. We have a Ford Edge Titanium. It's pretty nice, especially the panoramic sunroof. Not very exciting to drive, but cars in this class usually aren't.
Quote from: afty on June 12, 2017, 01:59:22 PM
Another family vacation. We have a Ford Edge Titanium. It's pretty nice, especially the panoramic sunroof. Not very exciting to drive, but cars in this class usually aren't.
In-laws have a Sorento with giant sunroof. I love it but they probably always leave it closed.
Got a CC as a loaner while my car was getting serviced. It's exactly what I expected, great highway cruiser, light steering, roller than the GTI. I like them and I liked this one, but it stickered for like $35k which is insanity.
Booked a car with Enterprise in SLC because the National branch looked super crappy there. Lots of complaints on online reviews, no Emerald Aisle, with a crummy selection being the cherry on top.
Seat comfort (b/c long rides) and forced induction (b/c altitude) will be my priorities.
Quote from: Laconian on June 23, 2017, 07:55:36 PM
Booked a car with Enterprise in SLC because the National branch looked super crappy there. Lots of complaints on online reviews, no Emerald Aisle, with a crummy selection being the cherry on top.
Seat comfort (b/c long rides) and forced induction (b/c altitude) will be my priorities.
I'll buy you lunch if you stop in Provo.
(Dollar menu @ McD's :lol: )
I'm visiting Provo later in the week, maybe I should take you up on that offer. ;)
Buick LaCrosse. Great road tripper. Nice suspension and SO QUIET
Quote from: Laconian on June 24, 2017, 04:38:18 PM
Buick LaCrosse. Great road tripper. Nice suspension and SO QUIET
The new one?
They really are great mile munchers. Shit, even a 2005 Buick LeSabre will get you around in supreme comfort and serenity.
Quote from: Laconian on June 23, 2017, 09:51:42 PM
I'm visiting Provo later in the week, maybe I should take you up on that offer. ;)
You might enjoy the authentic taco stand more :lol:
Quote from: 68_427 on June 25, 2017, 03:28:16 PM
The new one?
Yeah, 2017, 5k miles on it. So comfortable. Fully adjustable passenger seat too. Whisper quiet. Best "full size" rental I've had, only about $1/day more expensive than a midsize.
The GM
High Feature 3.6 V6 continues to be magical. It pulls hard, sounds great, and still scores about 33mpg with mostly highway driving at 4k+ ft elevations. It idles so smoothly that I sometimes question if the engine's even running.
It works with Android Auto too :rockon:
Quote from: Laconian on June 25, 2017, 09:19:43 PM
Yeah, 2017, 5k miles on it. So comfortable. Fully adjustable passenger seat too. Whisper quiet. Best "full size" rental I've had, only about $1/day more expensive than a midsize.
The GM High Feature 3.6 V6 continues to be magical. It pulls hard, sounds great, and still scores about 33mpg with mostly highway driving at 4k+ ft elevations. It idles so smoothly that I sometimes question if the engine's even running.
It works with Android Auto too :rockon:
Good to hear
I think it might make me an unenthusiast, but I have rented both a new gen Impala and a CC and the Impala was the clear winner for me. If it was socially acceptable, I would seriously think about a Lacrosse (whenever I actually buy a new car). I rented a previous gen Impala and the new gen back to back, I don't think a car has ever improved so much from generation to generation. And it wasn't about the powertrain either, because the new one had the I4.
My latest rental, though, was a mint green Fiat 500. Slow as shit, and pretty much as gay as possible, but reasonably fun on the country roads. Although I would have enjoyed it more, but the roads are so fucking narrow over here. and I was paranoid as shit after my saga with Amex / Hertz*. Weird renting a car with a stick. The wrong side of the road deal really wasn't a struggle, since I am not really used to either side at this point (hadn't driven for over 6 months).
*Very very long story short kind of short: 1) Amex told me my corporate Amex had rental car coverage. It did not. 2) Hertz NZ dinged me for some incredibly minor and preexisting damage. 3) Hertz USA took over a month to explain the $2000 in charges. 4) I argued with Amex for over a year that they should stand by what they told me, but the original call happened to not be randomly recorded so they wiggled out of it (In fact, in the final call, suggested that even if they had a recording it probably wouldn't have mattered because the card sponsor, not them, is the final authority on benefits) 5) I gave up, after being promised at least twice that the money would be credited to my account within 2 days. 6) I canceled my remaining Amex card (when traveling, I put $500-$1000 per week on that card) and shifted my corporate travel to Avis ($200-300 per week and my personal to the lowest bidder). #ChaseforLife
Bah. The Lacrosse is excellent, even better than the Impala. Screw the haters. The Impala and the Lacrosse were both High Feature V6es. Great engines.
The Lacrosse is a really good looking car too.
Yeah, it is! I can't believe I actually like a Buick, but there ya go.
In Yellowstone/Grand Tetons and got a Ford Explorer. Fully loaded with luggage and passengers much of the time. Dang, I'm impressed with this car. Plenty of power for RV passing maneuvers, very quiet except for wide open throttle, very smooth and comfortable ride. I could drive this beast all day long. Also this generation front grill treatment looks very good. 3rd row is good enough for two kids.
They do ride really nice. And quiet.
Only thing I don't like about them is how tub-like they are...like the footwells are really deep and it's almost like stepping over to get into a tub. Makes the doors look goofy when opened...they extend so far beyond the interior panel. The bottom of the door is about where the floor is.
(http://a4.jcprod.jazel.net//media/14018/Ford_Explorer_Base_InteriorDoorPanelDriverSide.jpg)
Minor complaint, just goofy.
Quote from: giant_mtb on August 08, 2017, 10:23:10 AM
They do ride really nice. And quiet.
Only thing I don't like about them is how tub-like they are...like the footwells are really deep and it's almost like stepping over to get into a tub. Makes the doors look goofy when opened...they extend so far beyond the interior panel. The bottom of the door is about where the floor is.
(http://a4.jcprod.jazel.net//media/14018/Ford_Explorer_Base_InteriorDoorPanelDriverSide.jpg)
Minor complaint, just goofy.
Didn't notice that. I'll check it out in a few minutes. My sister and her family who we're traveling with has a rental new Jeep Grand Cherokee. Sharp sharp looking SUV. Better looking than the Explorer for sure but not really that comparable as the Explorer is significantly larger with the 3rd row. Probably not nearly as cush a ride but I haven't been in it. My brother in law did some light illegal off-roading in the Jeep outside the park yesterday. I didn't have the guts to in the Explorer mostly because it was my rental and I didn't want to chance anything.
Newer Explorers aren't really that great off road. First and foremost, their front lip clearance is atrocious.
My parents had a 2011, which I believe was one of the first of the latest-generation Exploders. Totally different experience compared to older models (my parents also had a 2002, 1998, and 1993 throughout my life) as they ride and drive much more car-like and don't exude any real feeling of "tough" outside of their looks. Great cruiser, great people carrier...but certainly not all that worthy off-road like the Explorers of yore.
Not a rental car but we are out on the west coast... made a stop to see a couple we are super close with, naturally they got a new white on red M235i. What a cool car. Leather makes it feel worth the money over the fake shit and even with my friend, wife, myself and our luggage it hauled the mail and handled. Hoping I get a chance to drive it alone. Complete 180 from that 328i rental
(http://i.imgur.com/vKUYaV3m.jpg)
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on August 12, 2017, 08:14:10 AM
Not a rental car but we are out on the west coast... made a stop to see a couple we are super close with, naturally they got a new white on red M235i. What a cool car. Leather makes it feel worth the money over the fake shit and even with my friend, wife, myself and our luggage it hauled the mail and handled. Hoping I get a chance to drive it alone. Complete 180 from that 328i rental
Real leather, or leatherette?
Another family trip. We have a Ford Expedition this time. It's monstrous. It's got an Ecoboost 3.5 which feels pretty strong.
(http://i.imgur.com/ek889mN.jpg)
Riding in the back seat of a rental Pathfinder. This thing is kind of crappy. Very plasticky, the seat cushions are too short (illusion of legroom!) The instrument cluster is literally the exact same as my 2009 Infiniti. GM is better than this. Jeez.
I rented a 2005 Corolla S (manual transmission) on Turo. Gonna pick it up Monday night and drive to the salt flats Tuesday morning. Not gonna mention that to the renter though. :lol: I'll stop by a car wash on the way home.
Quote from: Laconian on August 12, 2017, 12:31:41 PM
Riding in the back seat of a rental Pathfinder. This thing is kind of crappy. Very plasticky, the seat cushions are too short (illusion of legroom!) The instrument cluster is literally the exact same as my 2009 Infiniti. GM is better than this. Jeez.
Nissan hasn't made a car I would buy in a very long time, with the possible exception of the GTR.
I liked the 2nd gen pathfinders ok in their time.
Apologies, it is a 228i. Hauling around ~800-900lb of adult, it still got the job done. Really impressed. Cramped though. Looks like BMWs vary wildly based on how they are equipped. Perhaps there is hope for a 335i with leather and the sport package.
Quote from: Lebowski on August 12, 2017, 05:38:08 PM
Nissan hasn't made a car I would buy in a very long time, with the possible exception of the GTR.
I liked the 2nd gen pathfinders ok in their time.
The Pathfinder has changed so much from generation to generation.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on August 12, 2017, 06:48:24 PM
Apologies, it is a 228i. Hauling around ~800-900lb of adult, it still got the job done. Really impressed. Cramped though. Looks like BMWs vary wildly based on how they are equipped. Perhaps there is hope for a 335i with leather and the sport package.
Just wait for a 340i when it's time.
Got a Ford Focus rental. Engine is disappointing in its gutlessness, but it seems like they sorted out the transmission. Feels like a regular automatic.
Does seem to have lost a bit of its dynamic charm though. Diesel wagon we had in France seemed more playful. Definitely time for an update.
I will say this- the stereo is pretty good. Almost on the level of that in the G.
2005 Corolla stickshift isn't terrible, but it's way too hard to go from 4th to 5th. I think it's because there's no reverse lockout, so 5th is stuck with the same spring pressure that is designed for reverse.
Quote from: CaminoRacer on August 16, 2017, 01:29:13 PM
2005 Corolla stickshift isn't terrible, but it's way too hard to go from 4th to 5th. I think it's because there's no reverse lockout, so 5th is stuck with the same spring pressure that is designed for reverse.
Maybe you just don't know how to drive a manual with more than 4 speeds. :devil:
Quote from: CaminoRacer on August 16, 2017, 01:29:13 PM
2005 Corolla stickshift isn't terrible, but it's way too hard to go from 4th to 5th. I think it's because there's no reverse lockout, so 5th is stuck with the same spring pressure that is designed for reverse.
Those gearboxes are notorious for being overall shitty. It may be on its way out.
Quote from: Cookie Monster on August 16, 2017, 01:32:51 PM
Maybe you just don't know how to drive a manual with more than 4 speeds. :devil:
That too.
I have a Chrysler 200
With the fantastic dial-o-matic transmission? Does it at least have a backup camera? The trunk is so goddamn high that it's impossible to drive it safely in reverse without one.
Quote from: Laconian on August 17, 2017, 11:50:17 AM
With the fantastic dial-o-matic transmission? Does it at least have a backup camera? The trunk is so goddamn high that it's impossible to drive it safely in reverse without one.
Yes and yes. Miles
I don't think visibility is too bad.
I'm more concerned that enterprise gave me a car with nearly 60k miles
I didn't have much trouble reversing the 200 I detailed. ...though it did have a backup cam. Which a lot of my customers vehicles have but I never look at because I can back out of just about anything with my eyes closed. That's one thing I love about getting to drive/detail so many different cars...I'm comfortable driving anything and everything.
Ford Transit 250.... low key, this thing is pretty fun unladen. From like 0-40 it feels a good clip faster than the Civic. Also steering technology has come super far.... this thing actually has decent responsiveness and feedback through the wheel. I was loathing this drive but now it actually seems like it will be OK. Just maybe 90 minutes each way.
Alfa Giuletta, looks like this:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/2013_Alfa_Romeo_Giulietta_%28940_MY13%29_Distinctive_hatchback_%282015-07-09%29.jpg/1024px-2013_Alfa_Romeo_Giulietta_%28940_MY13%29_Distinctive_hatchback_%282015-07-09%29.jpg)
Don't know what the engine displacement is.
Pros:
+ Love the looks.
+ The steering is great. It offers a good compromise of effort, feedback, and isolation against imperfections.
+ The "DNA" selector in "D" (Dynamic) increases the steering effort and (IIRC) tightens the steering ratio.
+ Engine has good low end torque in "D".
+ Comfortable, well bolstered seats.
Cons:
- Engine periodically makes weird grinding/gargling sounds when running continuously at low or idle speeds. Urea injection, perhaps?
- Big blind spots.
- UConnect is crap.
- Emergency brake lives underneath the armrest, so messing with the brake usually means you'll be banging your hand into the armrest.
- Engine is gutless in "N" (Natural), which is on by default. So the car feels gutless most of the time unless you remember to adjust the economy setting. BMW does this too IIRC.
Do diesel cars have synchronized first gears? I've had to shift into first from second quite a few times because Sorrento traffic is so G.D. slow. The 2->1 shift seems a lot smoother than it would've been in any of our gasoline cars.
man that's one thing I like about my Outback. Downshifts into 1st like butter then does some nice crackles.
If 1st and 2nd are closer together it might be easier to shift down into 1st.
Had this little guy for a day in France/Belgium. Renault Clio with the 0.9L 3-cyl gas turbo.
(https://s26.postimg.org/bczl92609/clio.jpg)
Pros:
- Didn't realize it had such a tiny motor as it had no problem accelerating or keeping up with freeway speeds
- Stop-start tech was handy around town. Didn't know anyone offered it w/ a manual transmission
- Did 790 km on one tank of gas, meaning we averaged around 50 mpg. That's insane.
Cons:
- Didn't know it was a turbo until I looked it up when I got home. Wouldn't have minded some turbo noise to liven up the dull driving experience
- Meh steering, brakes, shifter, and interior
- Non-intuitive touchscreen, we never figured out how to turn off the radio
Seems like most modern turbos are pretty neutered on the noise levels. Par for the course these days.
Turbos can either give you fun sounds or 50MPG. I don't think there's any car that can do both.
Good to hear though. Next time we are in Europe I will try to grab one of these. I really love the way they look too. Renault has always had great looking B and C segment cars.
I saw a few in red and they were quite sharp.
My brother has a 1.0L ecoboost Fiesta and says the same thing about turbo sounds. He gets super excited when he thinks he hears one 😂
I enjoyed the level of turbo sounds in the A4. With the windows up, you could hear it if you knew what to listen for, and in the summer with the sunroof open it was perfect for fun drives, although the wind pretty much took over after 40-45mph or so. These days they're pretty much silent, though I did notice it more in an Ecoboost F150 than I did a turbo Escape, which basically had zero turbr0w noise (to be expected).
My parents go on several cruises a year. They always go with several other couples who are all in their mid to late 70s. When they stop in Europe they've been renting cars. So they get off the boat in the morning, rent a few cars or one big van, and then come back by 5:00 p.m. to the boat. My Dad told me this is the last year they'll be able to rent a car because none of the rental agencies rent to anyone over age 75.
I had no idea there were age limits to renting anywhere?
75 seems like a ridiculously low age limit.
Quote from: Lebowski on September 24, 2017, 07:06:46 AM
75 seems like a ridiculously low age limit.
Perhaps it's a license recertification issue? The EU has ample reason to not implicitly trust US driver licensing for seniors.
By googling it seems it's very country specific. In Ireland, the last place they were at, its age 75.
In San Diego for a conference. Did my usual thing and Pricelined a compact and then at the counter see what kind of deals they can get me for a better car. Usually I try to get a sporty coupe. They offered me an Avalon for an extra $15 a day, a convertible Mustang for an extra $20 a day, and a Chrysler 300 for an extra $25 a day. My Priceline rate was a compact for $22 a day. I picked the 300 and got them to go down to an extra $20 a day. Not a great deal but OK. I rented a 300 before and really liked it.
V6, black, leather interior. 20 thousand miles on the odometer. Dang. This car is so nice. Quiet, soft ride, nice interior, looks really good. Although a big car, it's easy to park, and most newish cars have a backup camera.
I think this car is kinda overlooked in the automotive press. Maybe because it's an FCA product or because it hasn't been redesigned in a while. I didn't expect these to be so quiet and cush on the road.
I have a Versa Note as a rental in SF.
I don't understand how the Versa Note is so much nicer to drive than the Versa Sedan. Like, if I could have my exact rental, (SV with cruise and PL,PW and other goodies) I prolly would have bought one over my Sonic.
Quote from: 2o6 on October 27, 2017, 10:31:30 AM
I have a Versa Note as a rental in SF.
I don't understand how the Versa Note is so much nicer to drive than the Versa Sedan. Like, if I could have my exact rental, (SV with cruise and PL,PW and other goodies) I prolly would have bought one over my Sonic.
That's interesting because Car and Driver and Edmunds both kind of slammed it. They called it slow either with a sloppy 5 speed or lifeless CVT and just overall not a very good car compared with it's competition.
My guess is that if you drive it really hard, especially in track testing, its weak points stand out even more. But I found it quite pleasant to drive on normal streets. I'd still call it a great car for the money — tons of space, excellent mileage, crazy cheap.
Quote from: ifcar on October 30, 2017, 11:22:30 AM
My guess is that if you drive it really hard, especially in track testing, its weak points stand out even more. But I found it quite pleasant to drive on normal streets. I'd still call it a great car for the money — tons of space, excellent mileage, crazy cheap.
Actually, when I got home and went for a drive in my Sonic, I realized how razor-sharp by comparison the Sonic is.
The Versa note wasn't bad, though. I can see why so many people buy them. My fuel economy was pretty good, the 1.6L and CVT auto combo aren't really the most responsive things out there, but for the price and economy it was fine. The car felt mostly fine on the freeway. The car was totally acceptable.
Quote from: veeman on September 24, 2017, 09:53:10 AM
By googling it seems it's very country specific. In Ireland, the last place they were at, its age 75.
There's a big bump-up in crash rates that starts at around age 80. At 85 the plot on the graph goes up like a ski-jump.
Hmm, a positive correlation between wraparound sunglasses and car crashes. Maybe they should prescribe more stylish sunglasses?
Just a thought.
I don't know what age the woman who damn near ran me off the road was a day ago, but after I brought my blood pressure down I saw how terrified she was. Sorry Raza, self driving cars can't come soon enough. This woman is going to kill someone along with herself
Visiting the Bay Area in a couple weeks. Arriving at 5PM on a Monday. I'm going to get the dregs of the Emerald Aisle, I just know it. Nissan NV200?
Quote from: Laconian on November 04, 2017, 07:50:33 PM
Visiting the Bay Area in a couple weeks. Arriving at 5PM on a Monday. I'm going to get the dregs of the Emerald Aisle, I just know it. Nissan NV200?
#The fullsize Nissan vans can drift though you'll probably have decent stuff. Grab a Yukon or fullsize truck if you can they usually are pretty highly optioned in my experience.
Drifting in a tippy van sounds like a bad idea.
Quote from: 68_427 on November 05, 2017, 11:00:28 AM
#The fullsize Nissan vans can drift though you'll probably have decent stuff. Grab a Yukon or fullsize truck if you can they usually are pretty highly optioned in my experience.
NV200's are FWD.
You're thinking of the NV2500
Quote from: 2o6 on November 05, 2017, 01:09:35 PM
NV200's are FWD.
You're thinking of the NV2500
Yeah I know but those are more likely to be in the emerald isle imo
Malibu LT. I must be a pretty low ranking Executive. :cry:
Quote from: Laconian on November 13, 2017, 07:48:40 PM
Malibu LT. I must be a pretty low ranking Executive. :cry:
2017?
Yeah
I have an Elantra for the night (I hope that's all). I took the VW in for its annual NYS inspection and they found that it needed brakes and apparently both rear springs were broken (POS, only has 73K miles, wtf?). I can't wait to get rid of this heap... (the VW, not the Elantra).
Damn thats crazy. Only ~6K miles/year as well, damn that's nuts.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on November 17, 2017, 04:45:51 PM
Damn thats crazy. Only ~6K miles/year as well, damn that's nuts.
I've only put 6500 miles on the car since I bought 3 years ago. The thing is a POS. Multiple electrical Gremlins. Headliner is falling down. All of the enamel on the buttons had blistered and flaked off before I bought it. Now broken springs. Issues aside, it's mediocre at best as a car. Doesn't handle especially well. Steering is completely numb yet also high effort. Brakes are spongy. It gets V6 fuel economy paired with 4 cylinder performance. Apparently, none of this is unique to my car (the issues or the driving experience). I don't get the love for these cars.
The 4th (1999-2006) and 5th (2005-2011) generation Jettas looked good and the 5th generation Jetta had a real nice interior. The 5th generation Jetta looked and felt like a more expensive car than the Civic, Corolla, and Focus. Reliability wise they mostly sucked though.
Then VW really messed up the Jetta with the current 6th generation. They made it a fat pig, decontented everything, and cheapened the price. Sold a lot but whatever charm the 5th generation had as a premium small car disappeared.
Hit and run driver smashed into the back of my Crosstrek a week ago. I was at a stoplight and hit the guy stopped in front of me. It was night and pouring rain. I was checking on my kids in the backseat and the guy/gal who hit me in a white SUV or pickup takes off. I was bummed I didn't have the wherewithal to quickly snap a pic of the car's license plate although I would have had to exit the car and walk back there within 30 seconds of being hit to have been able to do that since it was night and raining. Anyways, got a police report and insurance made it a "no fault" but I still have to pay deductible. Initial estimate is around $4000 repair bill.
Got a Chevy Cruze. Nice car. My parents have the exact same model but my parent's car looks a lot better as it has black sporty treatment on the windowsills, grill, bowtie emblem, and wheels and they have larger wheels. Anyways what I notice now is how really loud my Crosstrek is at highway speed. The new generation Crosstrek is said to have much better insulation but mine sucks. That with the low gearing of the manual transmission causes it to be real noisy. The tire/road noise doesn't bother me. It's the engine whine. When I get the Crosstrek back, I think I might get some aftermarket sound insulation done in the engine bay.
Quote from: veeman on November 18, 2017, 05:19:31 AM
The 4th (1999-2006) and 5th (2005-2011) generation Jettas looked good and the 5th generation Jetta had a real nice interior. The 5th generation Jetta looked and felt like a more expensive car than the Civic, Corolla, and Focus. Reliability wise they mostly sucked though.
Then VW really messed up the Jetta with the current 6th generation. They made it a fat pig, decontented everything, and cheapened the price. Sold a lot but whatever charm the 5th generation had as a premium small car disappeared.
I have a 5th gen. The interior may have looked higher end when new, but 10 years on, it looks worse than my Mazda did at the same age. And it's not from hard use (I'm not talking about scratches or stains). People who love these things either don't keep them more than 3 years and/or have never actually owned a good car.
Just got a call from the shop. Needs 2 rear calipers as well. This is going to be like a $1500 bill when all is said and done...
Quote from: MX793 on November 18, 2017, 06:29:40 AM
I have a 5th gen. The interior may have looked higher end when new, but 10 years on, it looks worse than my Mazda did at the same age. And it's not from hard use (I'm not talking about scratches or stains). People who love these things either don't keep them more than 3 years and/or have never actually owned a good car.
Just got a call from the shop. Needs 2 rear calipers as well. This is going to be like a $1500 bill when all is said and done...
Dump it. I think Kevin said he would never flip another Jetta. Garbage car. Is it your winter beater?
Jetta IV's are garbage.
I'd touch a Jetta V.
Quote from: veeman on November 18, 2017, 05:37:37 AM
Hit and run driver smashed into the back of my Crosstrek a week ago.
Bummer d00d
Anyway, my impressions of the Elantra for the limited time I had it (all of like 25 miles).
I liked the transmission. Clicked off shifts quickly, yet smoothly, with little of the "slushy" feeling that my VW has. As with most autos, it could get a little befuddled if you lift off the throttle and then re-apply to accelerate (like if you're approaching a red light that turns green before you stop), but no worse than any other auto I've driven. Didn't try the manual mode. Engine was smooth and quiet, at least when warm. Some DI clatter when cold. Power seemed adequate for commuter duty. Probably wouldn't be executing any overtakes in a short passing window on a 2-lane, but it would keep up with traffic pretty easily without having to floor it.
Steering was laughably over-boosted at low speed. Backed out of a parked space and when to turn the wheel from hard left to hard right and it felt like if I just have it a good twirl, it would free spin until it hit the stop. Weight was better on the road at speed, but still quite light. Seemed accurate.
Brake pedal was acceptably tight and easy to modulate. If anything, it was a little springy as opposed to spongy feeling.
Ride quality was towards the comfort end of the spectrum. Given that'd we'd gotten hit with half a foot of snow the day I had it, I wasn't chucking it into any corners anyway.
Sight lines were good. Interestingly, despite being a 2017 model, there wasn't a backup camera. I thought all cars in this segment came with them as standard these days. The Kia Forte rental I had earlier this year had one. Not that I felt I needed one, just surprised it didn't have one (or backup sensors).
This car had about 50K miles on it and everything seemed pretty tight and in good shape. Didn't notice any rattles. No obvious wear points in the interior that I noticed. Materials weren't extravagant, but OK for an econo-car.
Had to go pick up a freezer so I got a Uhaul truck. Newish GMC Sierra RCLB.
I kinda liked it. Had decent.... pickup. Exhaust note was awesome even stock. Interior materials were better than I thought they would be. Steering was decent. View out was nice. With the 6.2 it would be a guilty pleasure for sure.
Hyundai still hasn't figured out variable boost steering yet? It was bad when we drove a Tucson and a Kia Sportage in 2011.
The Geneses I test drove were OK. The Kia Soul rental I exchanged the same day was not. It sounds like they finally got it all together across the lineup.
Got it together? Was not OK? Does not compute
Quote from: Laconian on November 24, 2017, 08:08:42 PM
Got it together? Was not OK? Does not compute
Sporty logic is kind of fuzzy. A completely black box algorithm. Tough to model.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on November 24, 2017, 07:25:31 PM
Had to go pick up a freezer so I got a Uhaul truck. Newish GMC Sierra RCLB.
I kinda liked it. Had decent.... pickup. Exhaust note was awesome even stock. Interior materials were better than I thought they would be. Steering was decent. View out was nice. With the 6.2 it would be a guilty pleasure for sure.
6.2s pull hard, man.
Quote from: Laconian on November 24, 2017, 08:08:42 PM
Got it together? Was not OK? Does not compute
Sorry there was missing info there. The little Elantra sport is sorted so I imagine the rest of the fwd cars will or have followed. But Hyundai demonstrated the capacity to do good steering a decade ago
Quote from: giant_mtb on November 24, 2017, 11:20:14 PM
6.2s pull hard, man.
I can imagine. Brakes were tight too. Whole thing was surprisingly solid and it was rental spec
The Chevy Vans are better than the old Econoline, but the new Transit outclasses them now.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on November 25, 2017, 05:49:28 AM
I can imagine. Brakes were tight too. Whole thing was surprisingly solid and it was rental spec
Ha, I drove a UHaul GMC van box truck with a V8 from Long Island to Pittsburgh. I felt the same way- surprisingly good vehicle.
I have been driven a Dodge Caravan (newish...20k miles) since last Friday. I had a group of accountants/auditors visiting from Japan and needed something to haul them around in.
Overall its a decent vehicle for its purpose. lots of space inside, interior is decent, and it drives smoothly. Definitely makes me think people driving around their families in SUVs are doing it wrong. Minivans are just so damn practical when you need to carry a lot of people and stuff.
That being said it has some flaws. The transmission is very inconsistent and can be jerky sometimes. Admittedly I don't drive automatics that often but even the 4-speed in the Dodge Ram I used to own (engine blew a few months ago, by the way) shifted smoother. The engines pulls OK but it drinks gas like crazy. Used over half a tank in less than a hundred miles.
That's surprising given Japs are the size of toddlers?
Quote from: SJ_GTI on December 06, 2017, 07:34:12 AM
Overall its a decent vehicle for its purpose. lots of space inside, interior is decent, and it drives smoothly. Definitely makes me think people driving around their families in SUVs are doing it wrong. Minivans are just so damn practical when you need to carry a lot of people and stuff.
I rented and drove a previous-gen Caravan to Vegas and back w/ five millennial friends. By the end we were smitten and called it the ultimate roadtrip vehicle. Reclining seats, leather, mood lighting, tons of storage, magic doors, and it was a quiet ride. It was only missing some TVs. Minivan haters are dumb, it was a bomb ride.
Quote from: giant_mtb on December 07, 2017, 09:10:01 AM
That's surprising given Japs are the size of toddlers?
To be honest they probably would have fit in my car (4 of them, and the two younger guys probably weighed 100 lbs each)...but no way would I have been able to fit their luggage.
So it's true?? :lol:
Quote from: Laconian on December 07, 2017, 11:40:32 AM
Were you born between 1910-1945? :lol:
Figured if I was going to make a Japanese stereotype joke, I might as well go all out. :praise:
It's not racist to acknowledge the fact that Japanese folks are a few inches shorter and a _hell_ of a lot lighter than Americans.
Minivans are pretty great.
I want a racing minivan. Manual transmission. AWD. Racing stripes :rockon:
I have a Juke right now... not a bad car at all. I didn't appreciate how small they are though. A little crazy you can spend almost $30k on one.
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited in the basest of base trims. A POS, truly. Got it because it was the only SUV option available at National. At least I didn't have to pay extra for it
Other than the ride, crappy on pavement handling, road noise, and poor headlights what didn't you like about it :lol:
I almost bought a Wrangler Unlimited before deciding on the Crosstrek. I couldn't deal with the highway road manners of it though. Around town, I would love driving a manual one. I see a lot of Dads driving these around where I live.
Wranglers are like redneck CR-Vs.... I really don't understand it. They are truly awful
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on March 01, 2018, 05:45:35 AM
Wranglers are like redneck CR-Vs.... I really don't understand it. They are truly awful
Image + easy credit.
Wranglers are the off-road equivalent of a high-po street car or street legal track car.
Wranglers are cool in their own way, but I think they would tire me out daily driving one.
I had a Versa sedan when I was in San Diego. Depressing car, but whatever it was $17/day so who cares.
Oooh I don't like Versas. Whenever the rental car agent can't get me a good deal on an upgrade (I usually Priceline an econobox and at the counter see what deals they're offering on better cars), I've often ended up with a Versa. It reminds me of yesteryears Toyota Echo, although I've never sat in one. Let's take a really crappy engine and chassis and wrap a spacious ugly body around it.
Nick is gonna kill y'all for talking crap about Versas.
Quote from: veeman on March 01, 2018, 08:48:24 AM
Oooh I don't like Versas. Whenever the rental car agent can't get me a good deal on an upgrade (I usually Priceline an econobox and at the counter see what deals they're offering on better cars), I've often ended up with a Versa. It reminds me of yesteryears Toyota Echo, although I've never sat in one. Let's take a really crappy engine and chassis and wrap a spacious ugly body around it.
There are only a few good things about it - lots of leg and trunk room and real good gas mileage. That's about it though haha
You can get some good deals if you use a discount code of some kind. I booked with Avis via USAA's portal and chose the free upgrade. So I plumped for "mid-sized sedan" or some such and got a Dodge Journey - not sure that particular fall of the dice constituted an "upgrade" - but it had plenty of elbow room & was fine for tooling around Orange County.
(PS the CA gas pumps with the vapor recovery bellows were a nightmare. Was I missing something? I needed to lean hard on the thing to get it in the filler before it would pump anything at all.)
Yes, the CA pumps are annoying. I'm worried they won't work on my El Camino with its custom capless filler neck.
Renting a Civic type R from Turo next week. Can't believe someone is actually putting their type R up, but good for me!
Whoaa
Civic Type R:
Hookay, here we go! This car has balls. 3rd gear, 4th gear, 5th gear, fuck it, even 6th gear this engine will just pull. There is always power available literally everywhere; this thing is never out of breath and it is glorious. There is some torque steer and a bit of turbo lag, but its not the annoying stuff, its just enough to make the car fun and exciting. The car has three settings; R, Sport, and Comfort. Comfort is noticeably more comfortable and absorbs the Chicago shitty roads with easy. It rides infinitely better than my Si. Even R, which is pretty stiff, is a better ride than the Si. The steering is lifeless as you'd expect, but rock solid with none of that super light on center slop that some cars have. I didn't push the handling as hard but the car stayed flat and stable through 80+ mph turning on-ramps with no under-steer or tire squeal at all.
The interior of the car is nice and comfortable, but its nothing more than normal Civic with red trim here and there. Going into the car I assumed that that obnoxious rear wing would obstruct visibility but its honestly not in the way at all. The rear hatch is also pretty roomy and tons of room for groceries or luggage or whatever you want to put back there. Honestly, I really see myself trading in the Si for a Type R when you can get them at MSRP. 35K is great for this car, 60K is way too much. There is word on a cheaper, non touring version coming out sometime in 2018 which sounds perfect.
60k? They're selling for that much??
Quote from: Laconian on March 10, 2018, 03:40:18 PM
60k? They're selling for that much??
35K plus "fair market adjustment". 60K is the highest I've seen, but 10-15K over MSRP is normal. My dad bought a new Accord recently and I asked the finance guy about it. They had sold two Type R's and both were sold for 10K over MSRP.
Once the hype subsides they should be more reasonable.
I imagine the FK9 or whatever the chassis code is has a *significantly* stiffer chassis than your FBx (6?), which does wonders for ride quality.
If someone made a body kit that covered up all its gaping wounds and orfices, and I could get all the red trim painted to body/interior color, I'd give this thing a strong look. There is no questioning its driver's car cred, but going from the G to that aesthetically... my god. Why did you do that Honda
Returned the Jeep today. I'm looking forward to driving the Miata when I get home. It'll be a handling revelation.
I would've been happier with a more conventional CUV like an Escape or a CX5. I can see how the Jeep has potential but the steering and handling are almost nautical, what with the input delay and the body roll. On the positive side, it tracks well and has a smooth ride, probably thanks to the LWB.
Had a new(ish) Impala the last week. Great power (impressive FWD posi burnouts), looks good in/out and good ride/NVH but terrible on center handling + steering (wobbly), torque steer (esp. w/downshifts), so-so AT (responsive and smooth but terrible WOT shifts) and not-so-good space utilization (giant car, not-giant interior or trunk). Fairly disappointed. Oh, and to add to the proverbial injury, the AC was dead, and it got hot (whined a bit and got a 50% discount).
Did you use that ridiculous phone cubby located behind the motorized head unit?
Nope - didn't know such a thing exists...
My friend had a Stelvio in Toronto from Hertz. Coming from his Golf R he said it's actually surprisingly fun to drive and he would consider it if he hadn't just ordered a 330i m sport wagon
Took the G in to Nissan to get all my fluids changed for this upcoming #TrackDay at the Charlotte Speedway Roval
They gave me a Nissan Sentra :cry:
It's every bit as bad as I imagined, and further confirms that the average American must truly despise driving.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on April 02, 2018, 10:25:57 AM
Took the G in to Nissan to get all my fluids changed for this upcoming #TrackDay at the Charlotte Speedway Roval
They gave me a Nissan Sentra :cry:
It's every bit as bad as I imagined, and further confirms that the average American must truly despise driving.
It's got a big back seat tho!
But yes, the rest of that car is truly insipid.
Interior feels about the same size as the G, but taller. Seating position feels like a crossover. Rental clerk apologized profusely. Hopefully it's just for one night.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on April 02, 2018, 11:43:55 AM
Interior feels about the same size as the G, but taller. Seating position feels like a crossover. Rental clerk apologized profusely. Hopefully it's just for one night.
Sentras are the cars of registered nurses who go wayy too fast in the wrong lane. If someone's driving badly, 9/10 times it's some girl in a Sentra.
A buddy who does a lot of rentals cuz work travel said the Versa is way worse than the Sentra though. :confused:
It has to be; I cannot imagine this thing with ~15% less power and even less tire + sound insulation. A Civic or Golf are so much more car for about the same money. Hell, a Fit is a better car than this.
Does a Sentra really go for as much money as a Civic or Golf in the States? Here the latter two are quite a bit more expensive (~10-20%), especially the Golf. The Canadian Nissan lineup consists mostly of cheap tin cans: Micra, Versa Note, Sentra. (Altima too, maybe...)
EDIT: Huh, Nissan makes a Sentra with a terbow now. Who knew? Great googly moogly, they want $28,244 (CAD) for a Sentra SR Turbo with a CVT. Nissan, WTF is wrong with you?
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on April 02, 2018, 05:31:26 PM
It has to be; I cannot imagine this thing with ~15% less power and even less tire + sound insulation. A Civic or Golf are so much more car for about the same money. Hell, a Fit is a better car than this.
Nah, the Versa is at least honest. And I think the 1.6 and CVT work better together than the 1.8 and CVT.
They're all shit, tho
Funny how things worked out. Nissan has traded places with GM as Rental Cars You Must Refuse. Not as bad as Chrysler/Dodge product though.
Don't think I've driven a Sentra before. The people that own them must be too cheap to get them detailed. :lol:
Quote from: Laconian on April 02, 2018, 05:53:55 PM
Funny how things worked out. Nissan has traded places with GM as Rental Cars You Must Refuse. Not as bad as Chrysler/Dodge product though.
Eh, the only Chrysler products I see at the rental stands are the Charger and 300, which I'd gladly take over something like a Chebby Malibu or whatever.
I'm starting to see lots of Hyundais—Elantras and Sonatas—used as rentals these days. Lots of compact SUVs too; Ford Escapes, Hyundai Tucsons, Kia... Sportage (is that what the small Kia SUV is still called?), Toyota RAV4.
Quote from: giant_mtb on April 02, 2018, 05:56:45 PM
Don't think I've driven a Sentra before. The people that own them must be too cheap to get them detailed. :lol:
I rarely even see new Sentras at all. Anecdotally they're not very popular here; according to goodcarbadcar.net (http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2011/01/nissan-sentra-sales-figures/) the Sentra is about half as popular (per capita) in Canada as it is in the States. 13,883 units sold last year put it as the 9th highest selling compact, behind: Civic (69,030), Corolla (50,332), Elantra (46,112), Mazda 3 (27,862; yikes, they used to be 45,000-50,000!), Cruze (27,520), Golf (24,604), Jetta (17,483) and Forte (16,388).
Yeah I honestly don't see many. Vast majority of Nissan sedans I see are Altimas or Maxis.
Quote from: 93JC on April 02, 2018, 05:58:05 PM
Eh, the only Chrysler products I see at the rental stands are the Charger and 300, which I'd gladly take over something like a Chebby Malibu or whatever.
I'm starting to see lots of Hyundais—Elantras and Sonatas—used as rentals these days. Lots of compact SUVs too; Ford Escapes, Hyundai Tucsons, Kia... Sportage (is that what the small Kia SUV is still called?), Toyota RAV4.
Nah, the Malibu is aces. The Charger and 300 are nasty by comparison.
:hesaid:
I love renting the Chrysler 300. I've rented it twice and actually ask if any are available. V6 RWD in warm weather climates. Super quiet, excellent cush ride, decent handling, great seats, decent interior quality, good power... I like how it looks and although the styling is really old, it hasn't aged bad.
Maybe with miles piled on it starts creaking and falling apart but for low mile rental spec, I think it's great.
Quote from: 93JC on April 02, 2018, 06:18:26 PM
I rarely even see new Sentras at all. Anecdotally they're not very popular here; according to goodcarbadcar.net (http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2011/01/nissan-sentra-sales-figures/) the Sentra is about half as popular (per capita) in Canada as it is in the States. 13,883 units sold last year put it as the 9th highest selling compact, behind: Civic (69,030), Corolla (50,332), Elantra (46,112), Mazda 3 (27,862; yikes, they used to be 45,000-50,000!), Cruze (27,520), Golf (24,604), Jetta (17,483) and Forte (16,388).
Maybe Mitsubishi of Canada is the Nissan of the USA.
Mitsubishi is weird. They have very little new product to offer, and anything that is newer is 'meh', but last year was actually their best ever year in Canada. (A few hundred units shy of 23,000 sales.) Granted, they didn't come to Canada until 2004...
Quote from: 93JC on April 03, 2018, 06:03:36 PM
Mitsubishi is weird. They have very little new product to offer, and anything that is newer is 'meh', but last year was actually their best ever year in Canada. (A few hundred units shy of 23,000 sales.) Granted, they didn't come to Canada until 2004...
Wait, Mitsubishi didn't come to Canada until 2004??
Quick search says 2002, to be exact, but it's so weird to know you guys missed out on the good DSM cars and a few other interesting oddities.
My driving education school used a 2000 Galant.
2002, 2004; whatever, close enough. :tounge:
We got pretty much all the Mitsubishi products through Chrysler. We didn't get the Eclipse but we got the Talon and Plymouth Laser. We didn't get the Galant, but we got the Eagle/Dodge 2000GTX. Etc.
93JC tell us about your GLA rental.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on April 04, 2018, 07:12:10 AM
93JC tell us about your GLA rental.
I think he uses car 2 go a lot. The CLA and GLA are the big car rentals
I do use Car2Go a lot, and that's exactly how and why I've driven so many of them. As such it's not as though I'm forming opinions based on some closed-course event at a show, or some test drive with a sales prick: I've driven many different examples many times in real-world traffic in all conditions.
Here're my opinions on the B250, CLA250 and GLA250:
Quote from: 93JC on October 08, 2015, 09:34:18 AM
I drove a new Mercedes-Benz B250 last night. What a turd. Things I liked: the ride is okay, the interior is okay, and it's very quiet.
It has a 208 hp 2.0 L turbocharged four, and you wouldn't know it had any more than about 130 hp when driving about town. All of the blame can be laid at the feet of the atrocious 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Daimler can't design a good transaxle for transverse applications to save their lives. First gear is too short and the throttle response is terrible; you have to put your foot three quarters of the way to the floor to reasonably keep up with city traffic from a standstill, whereupon the transmission will do a herky-jerky dance into second gear at about 18 km/h. Once in second it starts to pick up some steam. As a result every single stoplight is a rope-a-dope attempt at building speed.
People who buys these things must be desperate to have a Mercedes-Benz badge on the hood of their car because anyone who cross-shopped it with anything else would be hard-pressed to justify spending money on one. For the $32,000+ this thing costs it ought to be "good", and the kindest judge would give this car a verdict of merely "okay" at best.
Quote from: 93JC on August 09, 2017, 06:36:53 PM
The problem I had with the B250's 7-speed dual-clutch was mostly first gear: it's too short, and the shift to second gear is jerky. The new Smart ForTwo's six-speed has the exact same problem. Once up to speed the shifts are okay, but getting off the line is terrible. I haven't had any seat time in a CLA or GLA yet (Car2Go just started offering them for rent about a week ago) but I suspect it's very much the same as the B-class.
Quote from: 93JC on August 17, 2017, 11:52:55 AM
Drove a CLA250 last night.
The driver's seat did have plenty of leg room, but getting in I bumped my head on the A-pillar, and leaning forward to find the steering wheel tilt-telescope release I bumped my head on the headliner. This car is preposterously short of practical head room; the entire roof line is a moronic concession to 'style' over substance. Rear seat room is, as Tave said, practically non-existent. This is a four-door car but in practice you wouldn't want to subject any adult passengers to the back seats.
Unlike the B-classes I've driven and Tave's assessment I found the 7-speed in this thing was actually pretty smooth. The problem is first is still far too short, and I found if I drove the car leisurely it would downshift to 2nd rather than all the way to 1st at stop lights. The programming is aggressively 'thrifty', upshifting whenever it can. I puttered along a stretch of 70 km/h (40 mph, fairly low-speed) freeway on my way home last night and the transmission went into 7th gear at around 65 km/h. When I started up a gentle slope, a gradual undulation in the road, it had to shift down to 6th to maintain speed and jumped back into 7th on the way down. The car has power but it does not want you to use it, and like the B250s I've driven it doesn't feel very swift at all.
I will give it props for being very quiet though.
Quote from: 93JC on August 31, 2017, 11:26:41 AM
Drove a GLA250 4Matic yesterday; pretty much exactly the same as the CLA, just more head room. Not terrible, but I couldn't imagine paying the $40,700 MSRP.
With respect to the GLA, it has more headroom than the CLA but not much. I drove another one to work this morning and 'measured' headroom at one or two fingers' worth, so... maybe an inch, inch-and-a-half. This is with the seat as low as it can go, mind you. It would probably improve dramatically if it didn't have a sunroof.
The CLA's suspension is pretty stiff, and the GLA's is even more so. It's mostly fine on good pavement, but crashes and bangs on choppier stuff.
Another thought I didn't touch on before: 4Matic is useless in these cars. I don't know how the system works, presumably a computer-controlled clutch of some sort sending power to the rear wheels. I've gotten stuck in the snow in a CLA250 4Matic; the rear wheels did nothing.
There are other niggling things I simply don't like about them, but they are things one might just put down to personal preference:
- I like that the front seats have an adjustment for thigh support, but the CLA doesn't have an adjustable head restraint. The GLA seats are more comfortable as such, but I dislike the (power) lumbar support on both. The back seats in the CLA really are pretty much totally useless when the front seats are adjusted for anyone over 5'-3"; they're pretty tight in the GLA too, probably about the same as my Mazda.
- I really don't like the HVAC controls—they're mounted too low and the push-buttons are more cumbersome to use than knobs. I don't like the radio/nav controls either, which rely entirely on the little knob joystick thingamajig in the centre console (where the gear shift ought to be, see below...) to adjust on the LCD display stuck to the dash.
- I don't like the Mercedes-Benz column shift at all: the stalk is the exact same size as the one on the left side of the column used for signal lights and wiper controls, and because I'm still used to driving my own car I've inadvertently pushed on the button on the end trying to get the windshield washers to spritz. (In the Mazda the right stalk controls wipers.) In the Benzes you push the button on the end to shift into Park... :mask: As such I'm lucky the electronics prevent you from shifting into Park at speed, otherwise I would have trashed a few transmissions over the last few months. An entirely avoidable scenario if they just used a conventional shifter.
Interior quality is okay. Not bad, but not great, just okay. Outward visibility is very much compromised. The CLA in particular would be almost dangerous to drive if not for the blindspot monitoring system and rear-view camera.
Well on the upside it is still technically a Mercedes
:evildude:
Was in Aruba earlier this week on vacation. Amazing island. Unlike most Caribbean islands, this one is mostly a desert with lots of cacti. It's a dry heat with lots of wind. Beautiful beaches and safe to travel by rental car as economically its doing quite well. Kind of weird knowing Venezuela is only 20 miles away. Went on an off-road trip by a company labeled Safari Jeep in which most of the cars were ancient Land Rover Defenders (painted with the words Safari Jeep, lol). That was a ton of fun.
As a rental I had a 3rd generation Suzuki Grand Vitara. It drove fine although the island is so small, there are no highways so I couldn't feel what it was like at high speeds. Few things I notice. The SUV is smaller than most two row SUVs sold in the U.S. but had good room in the front and backseats. Lack of back up camera sucks once you get used to it. It was also very annoying I couldn't open up the hatch without turning off the car, taking the key out of the ignition, and physically exiting the car and closing the driver's side door. All the SUVs I've had before or rented before, you could unlock the hatch as long as the car was in "Park" with the engine still running.
Rocking a Jeep Renegade. Definitely economy car, dressed up as a cool off-roader. It's got the trail badge. Kinda small, if they spent as much on the internals as the silly Jeep marks in the mirrors and 1941 on the radio etc... And it could be a decent car.
Husband is in Mountain View. Focus, Sentra, RAV4, Rogue.
WWJD?
Quote from: Laconian on May 01, 2018, 06:34:28 PM
Husband is in Mountain View. Focus, Sentra, RAV4, Rogue.
WWJD?
Focus. I quite like the current Focus.
Focus is the obvious choice. I've had a few, from US sedans to brown French wagons. Never disappointed.
Quote from: Laconian on May 01, 2018, 06:34:28 PM
Husband is in Mountain View. Focus, Sentra, RAV4, Rogue.
WWJD?
Walk or ride a bike.
Quote from: Xer0 on May 02, 2018, 02:58:19 PM
Walk or ride a bike.
That's what I tell him, but he likes sitting in traffic on "The 101", I guess. ;)
Also, he picked a RAV4. He says it's a good car, but a bit too floaty and the steering overboosted versus the Subie.
My sister called from Massachusetts
"I've got a very nice Maxima!"
I think there must be some new law dictating that all Nissans must be consigned to rental fleets.
To be fair, the Maxima is very nice. I'm hoping to get one for my long term rental.
2017 Caravan. No Bluetooth :facepalm:
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on May 03, 2018, 07:09:43 AM
2017 Caravan. No Bluetooth :facepalm:
Trade it for a truck. Be NC
Speaking of I'm going to Raleigh for memorial weekend. Thought about going to Charlotte for the race Sunday but nah. Might do a day trip anyways
Quote from: 68_427 on May 03, 2018, 08:14:03 AM
Speaking of I'm going to Raleigh for memorial weekend. Thought about going to Charlotte for the race Sunday but nah. Might do a day trip anyways
go see things on saturday. Less people, still get to do/see the exhibits set up, shorter race, cheaper, etc...
Quote from: Morris Minor on May 03, 2018, 04:56:37 AM
My sister called from Massachusetts
"I've got a very nice Maxima!"
I think there must be some new law dictating that all Nissans must be consigned to rental fleets.
Since GM has tried to scale back on fleet sales, Nissan and Hyundai/Kia have been duking it out for rental fleet dominance.
I had a Yaris in NC. I was betting on getting an upgrade to maybe a Corolla but alas...they didn't. TLDR: The Yaris is a POS clown car.
Tons of wind noise, a thrashy motor mated to a four-spd trans, and it would not track straight - wind and pavement grooves would throw it around in a lane. Plus no cruise control because FU you're poor. And I only got about 32 mpg fwy.
Then one side of the rear bumper cover came unclipped and flapped in the breeze until I taped it down, and a front wheel-well liner came unclipped (probably because I hit an animal in the dark) and got chewed up by the tire. Horrible little car, two thumbs down.
(https://s9.postimg.cc/63ldcw44f/clowns.jpg)
Quote from: Rich on May 03, 2018, 08:33:06 AM
go see things on saturday. Less people, still get to do/see the exhibits set up, shorter race, cheaper, etc...
The problem is the people I'm going down with aren't fans. I could have probably convinced them to try the all star race since it's short, and pit passes are cheap but it's the wrong weekend.
Another Maxima. Damn this thing is good. Kind of feeling the big quasi luxury barge thing.
Quote from: veeman on April 13, 2018, 09:50:25 AM
Was in Aruba earlier this week on vacation. Amazing island. Unlike most Caribbean islands, this one is mostly a desert with lots of cacti. It's a dry heat with lots of wind. Beautiful beaches and safe to travel by rental car as economically its doing quite well. Kind of weird knowing Venezuela is only 20 miles away. Went on an off-road trip by a company labeled Safari Jeep in which most of the cars were ancient Land Rover Defenders (painted with the words Safari Jeep, lol). That was a ton of fun.
As a rental I had a 3rd generation Suzuki Grand Vitara. It drove fine although the island is so small, there are no highways so I couldn't feel what it was like at high speeds. Few things I notice. The SUV is smaller than most two row SUVs sold in the U.S. but had good room in the front and backseats. Lack of back up camera sucks once you get used to it. It was also very annoying I couldn't open up the hatch without turning off the car, taking the key out of the ignition, and physically exiting the car and closing the driver's side door. All the SUVs I've had before or rented before, you could unlock the hatch as long as the car was in "Park" with the engine still running.
You still have to put the key in the ignition? I didn't think any cars like that were left. Glad you liked Aruba, man. I have never been there.
Quote from: 68_427 on May 03, 2018, 09:56:25 AM
The problem is the people I'm going down with aren't fans. I could have probably convinced them to try the all star race since it's short, and pit passes are cheap but it's the wrong weekend.
Did you ever make it to the auto show in April?
Quote from: Laconian on May 02, 2018, 03:03:24 PM
Also, he picked a RAV4. He says it's a good car, but a bit too floaty and the steering overboosted versus the Subie.
I'm looking into a rental car for when I come to Seattle in August. I'm going to be ataying at one of the hotels you recommended in Kirkland.
Quote from: Morris Minor on May 03, 2018, 04:56:37 AM
My sister called from Massachusetts
"I've got a very nice Maxima!"
I think there must be some new law dictating that all Nissans must be consigned to rental fleets.
I'm thinking I'll go for a Maxima when I do a car rental in Seattle in August.
Quote from: dazzleman on May 06, 2018, 04:58:36 PM
You still have to put the key in the ignition? I didn't think any cars like that were left. Glad you liked Aruba, man. I have never been there.
Aruba is dope. Super clear water, white sand, and it's always a perfect 82° F with no humidity.
I went the year before the natural bridge collapsed.
I'll be in Tokyo from 07/18-07/21. Among the many cool things to do in Japan, what I'm looking forward to the most is renting fun JDM cars that I can't get a hold of in the US. I have a request for a tour around Mt. Fuji right now in an R34, NA1 NSX, and 4th gen Supra. Its like a 6 hour thing with sight seeing and all that jazz. Pretty fucking excited.
Damn that sounds pretty sweet man. Sadly it takes about that many hours to get used to left hand shifting :lol:
Quote from: Xer0 on May 16, 2018, 10:33:35 AM
I'll be in Tokyo from 07/18-07/21. Among the many cool things to do in Japan, what I'm looking forward to the most is renting fun JDM cars that I can't get a hold of in the US. I have a request for a tour around Mt. Fuji right now in an R34, NA1 NSX, and 4th gen Supra. Its like a 6 hour thing with sight seeing and all that jazz. Pretty fucking excited.
Hell yeah. I'd be the most excited for the R34 honestly, even if the NSX is what I'd want in my own garage.
You can go for 240z and classic gtrs too I know someone who did it looked like fun you'll enjoy it.
Also make sure the R34 isn't some pussy-spec model that's more mundane than a '98 GS300
So just got my quote back. I'll be spending two hours in first gen NSX with the 3.0 and 5 spd than 4 hours with an R34. I hope in those two hours I acclimate to left hand shifting and right hand driving. From everything I've read, driving on the wrong side of the road takes more time to get used to.
Quote from: CALL_911 on May 16, 2018, 02:40:55 PM
Also make sure the R34 isn't some pussy-spec model that's more mundane than a '98 GS300
Do you mean like getting a Skyline vs the GTR? Or is there a wimpy GTR model of the R34? This would be the GTR with the "280hp" engine that I'd be driving. This is their fleet.
http://fun2drive-japan.com/fleet/
Yeah, I just meant Skyline vs. GTR- what they have listed is legit.
I found this helpful for driving on the other side. Align yourself with the line on the side of the road you are sitting (i.e. if you are sitting on the right of the car, align yourself with the road line marker on that side of the road). What I mean by this is, do not fear driving too far on that side- you almost certainly will not be. Try and stick closer to the line on your side than you think you should. In reality, you will be just right.
^I don't know if I'm making any sense, let me know if I should clarify.
Also shifting with your left hand isn't a big deal- you get used to it pretty quickly.
Quote from: CALL_911 on May 18, 2018, 09:41:57 AM
Also shifting with your left hand isn't a big deal- you get used to it pretty quickly.
I had a hard time with it, harder than adjusting to driving on the other side. It felt to me like the shift pattern should be mirrored, but it's not, so every shift I had to think about where the gear was that I was trying to change into.
Black 4door F150.
It's like sitting in a quiet cocoon of safety on top of a bouncy pogo stick.
Pick up trucks are like living rooms on wheels. For the average person I 100% get it.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on June 04, 2018, 04:18:14 PM
Pick up trucks are like living rooms on wheels. For the average person I 100% get it.
Yeah, it's huge. Gas mileage might cost more than the $25 I submitted for this trip though... :thumbsup:
They said they rented 400 cars today. Enterprise, and all the other major companies are here too.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on June 04, 2018, 04:18:14 PM
Pick up trucks are like living rooms on wheels. For the average person I 100% get it.
Only if you're a psychopath that doesn't care about massive blindspots.
I'm still pretty pissed about the fucker that casually ruined my Miata and nearly killed my husband.
Quote from: Laconian on June 04, 2018, 05:25:24 PM
Only if you're a psychopath that doesn't care about massive blindspots.
I'm still pretty pissed about the fucker that casually ruined my Miata and nearly killed my husband.
Oh, I must've missed that. What happened?
My NA was sideswiped into the median by a jacked up RAM. This was around 2013.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on June 04, 2018, 04:18:14 PM
Pick up trucks are like living rooms on wheels. For the average person I 100% get it.
Because the "average" person is a non validated, and driving a 5,500+ lb dreadnought is how many try to get there (and do the exact opposite, and end up looking like utter fools).
Quote from: Laconian on June 04, 2018, 05:25:24 PM
Only if you're a psychopath that doesn't care about massive blindspots.
I'm still pretty pissed about the fucker that casually ruined my Miata and nearly killed my husband.
Visibility is actually amazing. Lots of dummies drive trucks though.
I was almost killed the first week I owned a Miata by dummy pickup driver. I stopped for a red light, and saw him not slowing down still a block behind me. I had time to throw it in gear and get into the turn lane. He finally slammed on the brakes and skidded through the red light.
Quote from: Laconian on June 04, 2018, 05:25:24 PM
Only if you're a psychopath that doesn't care about massive blindspots.
I'm still pretty pissed about the fucker that casually ruined my Miata and nearly killed my husband.
Trucks have generally good blindspot visibility. Lots have dual/extended side mirrors, and lots of window. Of course, this can go right out the window if you've got it lifted 7' with 94" tires.
What if the windows are filled with vinyl silhouettes of skulls and assault rifles?
Quote from: Laconian on June 04, 2018, 09:37:47 PM
What if the windows are filled with vinyl silhouettes of skulls and assault rifles?
That should only affect directly behind, they don't usually clutter the side windows.
Most dummies drive with the mirror half taken up by the vehicle. But I feel the F150 mirrors cover better than my minivan.
You just have to not drive retarded.
Quote from: Laconian on June 04, 2018, 09:37:47 PM
What if the windows are filled with vinyl silhouettes of skulls and assault rifles?
88% of pickup trucks are not as such.
Quote from: GoCougs on June 04, 2018, 07:00:46 PM
Because the "average" person is a non validated, and driving a 5,500+ lb dreadnought is how many try to get there (and do the exact opposite, and end up looking like utter fools).
Hey, well that's just like your opinion man :lol:
This argument's logical conclusion would be for all of us to drive Mitsubishi Mirages. I can't judge an F150 driver and then look the other way at a Mustang or X5 driver. Excess is excess, and I'm proud to be a Mrcn :erjerbs: :neverforget:
Quote from: Laconian on June 04, 2018, 09:37:47 PM
What if the windows are filled with vinyl silhouettes of skulls and assault rifles?
And men urinating onto engine blocks.
Quote from: Submariner on June 05, 2018, 08:22:36 AM
And men urinating onto engine blocks.
Worked for BMW blocks for F1.
Flew to Seattle to attend a friend's wedding in Vancouver. Thought it would be a nice relaxing good scenery drive on a Friday evening but traffic sucked. I Pricelined a luxury car because it wasn't much more than a midsize and thought I would be able to switch to a coupe at the rental counter. Avis at the Seattle airport said the only luxury car they had was a Buick LaCrosse and they didn't have any coupes available.
I had never been in a Lacrosse so I didn't mind. Several years ago I rented a Lucerne.
Impressions: Man this car is huge. It's a great looking car in a Buick way. Classy. Interior is very comfortable and nicely styled, even a bit sporty. Trunk is small. I expected this car to drive better. It was fine but I expected it to be cocoon like quiet and it wasn't. The Chrysler 300 is much more spry and equally quiet. This thing felt ponderous although acceleration is fine. The Lexus ES has a better interior and also drives better. Anyways overall I like it but I wouldn't get it. It feels like a relic. Huge American land yacht which is real nicely styled and comfortable but also drives like a seafaring yacht.
Quote from: veeman on June 16, 2018, 09:24:02 AM
Flew to Seattle to attend a friend's wedding in Vancouver. Thought it would be a nice relaxing good scenery drive on a Friday evening but traffic sucked. I Pricelined a luxury car because it wasn't much more than a midsize and thought I would be able to switch to a coupe at the rental counter. Avis at the Seattle airport said the only luxury car they had was a Buick LaCrosse and they didn't have any coupes available.
I had never been in a Lacrosse so I didn't mind. Several years ago I rented a Lucerne.
Impressions: Man this car is huge. It's a great looking car in a Buick way. Classy. Interior is very comfortable and nicely styled, even a bit sporty. Trunk is small. I expected this car to drive better. It was fine but I expected it to be cocoon like quiet and it wasn't. The Chrysler 300 is much more spry and equally quiet. This thing felt ponderous although acceleration is fine. The Lexus ES has a better interior and also drives better. Anyways overall I like it but I wouldn't get it. It feels like a relic. Huge American land yacht which is real nicely styled and comfortable but also drives like a seafaring yacht.
I'm flying to Seattle in August and renting a car. I have to find out what it's going to be.
Quote from: veeman on June 16, 2018, 09:24:02 AM
Flew to Seattle to attend a friend's wedding in Vancouver. Thought it would be a nice relaxing good scenery drive on a Friday evening but traffic sucked. I Pricelined a luxury car because it wasn't much more than a midsize and thought I would be able to switch to a coupe at the rental counter. Avis at the Seattle airport said the only luxury car they had was a Buick LaCrosse and they didn't have any coupes available.
I had never been in a Lacrosse so I didn't mind. Several years ago I rented a Lucerne.
Impressions: Man this car is huge. It's a great looking car in a Buick way. Classy. Interior is very comfortable and nicely styled, even a bit sporty. Trunk is small. I expected this car to drive better. It was fine but I expected it to be cocoon like quiet and it wasn't. The Chrysler 300 is much more spry and equally quiet. This thing felt ponderous although acceleration is fine. The Lexus ES has a better interior and also drives better. Anyways overall I like it but I wouldn't get it. It feels like a relic. Huge American land yacht which is real nicely styled and comfortable but also drives like a seafaring yacht.
Your standards for cabin noise must be pretty high, because I was very impressed by the isolation when we rented a LaCrosse in Utah. It was shockingly easy to drive 100mph in that thing.
Yeah, our traffic is crap! Vancouver's is worse, I'd argue, since the main highway turns into a stoplight infested surface street going straight
through the city. :rolleyes:
For real. Buicks have just about always been coffin quiet.
Quote from: giant_mtb on June 16, 2018, 01:12:08 PM
For real. Buicks have just about always been coffin quiet.
There's a dual marketing opportunity there given the historic average age of their customer base.
Oh it's quiet enough. Just not more quiet than other cars in the same sorta class that I can remember. They're all really quiet. It's not coffin/tomb like. I'm nitpicking here.
I've driven it (the Lacrosse) all day today in congested Vancouver traffic. Nice city with a great vibe about it. The car is really great looking. I'd take it over a Lexus ES. I'd take a Chrysler 300 over it any day though even in V6 form. Maybe it's the RWD platform. I don't know. It drives better.
Quote from: veeman on June 16, 2018, 10:41:32 PM
Oh it's quiet enough. Just not more quiet than other cars in the same sorta class that I can remember. They're all really quiet. It's not coffin/tomb like. I'm nitpicking here.
I've driven it (the Lacrosse) all day today in congested Vancouver traffic. Nice city with a great vibe about it. The car is really great looking. I'd take it over a Lexus ES. I'd take a Chrysler 300 over it any day though even in V6 form. Maybe it's the RWD platform. I don't know. It drives better.
I'm glad that they reverted to using the Buick tri-coloured shield logo rather than the silhouette version.
Quote from: FoMoJo on June 17, 2018, 07:37:38 AM
I'm glad that they reverted to using the Buick tri-coloured shield logo rather than the silhouette version.
For sure. Next they need to get rid of the port holes. And bring back the LeSabre name.
Drove an Infiniti QX50 as a dealer loaner for a few days (my Infiniti QX56 was getting some emissions work done under warranty). Few things. Infiniti gets lost in the luxury marketplace. They have good looking cars (even the QX80 looks good now after the facelift). Their naming system totally sucks. They have a lot of different models and I have no idea what their individual cars are called. By changing everything to keep it under the first letter Q, the continuity of previous generations of the same model with the current generations is lost. This QX50 was formerly the EX35. For the upcoming 2019 model, they're completely redesigned it. I had the older model which still looks like the older EX35. This car was so fun to drive. Handled sharp, steering feel was great, fast. I loved it. Another bonus is you don't see many around.
Driving a Fiat Tipo as a rental for the second time.
This is a c segment bargain basement car, available new in Spain for as low as 10k€. With that in mind, it is a remarkably competent vehicle. Very roomy inside, decent ride and actually pretty quiet as well.
Good job, Fiat!
(https://www.fiat.es/content/dam/fiat/cross/models/tipo_family/family_page/gallery/01_gallery_A.jpg.transform/width-960/img.jpg)
I've been minivanning on family vacations the past few weeks. First we had a Kia Sedona. Very nice minivan, smooth ride and plenty of space for everyone. Next we had a high trim Dodge Caravan. The interior was nicer, but the ride was too firm especially in the back seat. The back seat was also less comfortable than the Sedona's.
Had the 300 hp 2018 Q50 3.0T AWD as a loaner for a few days.
The good:
1.) FINALLY, with the MY2018, Q50 has full exterior LED lighting. Looks much sharper.
2.) 7sp AT is much improved even vs. 2017 - quite responsive if left to its own devices and moderately responsive when shifted manually (infinitely improved vs. the G37).
3.) The mid range punch from the 3.0T is impressive. Feels far quicker than the G37 (but by the stats, at least from a standstill, not by much if at all).
4.) 3.0T is very refined (smooth).
5.) Q50 exterior has always looked very sharp to me - probably best of the poser class.
The bad:
1.) Infotainment is still a travesty (but they all are).
2.) When shifted manually the 7sp AT slams harshly in the lower gears (artificially trying to make it more sporty).
3.) As with all turbo motors, despite impressive mid range punch, the 3.0T dies off 1,000+ rpm before red line, there is lag, and there no mpg improvement.
4.) The chassis/drive setting (eco/normal/sport/etc.) resets each time the car is restarted (defaults to "standard") but there's little difference save for "eco" (blunts throttle response).
5.) Steering is comically light and feels weird (like it's got missing notches on the rack or something) when loaded up in turns.
All in all, the G37 is still the better driver's car - looks better, drives better, feels better. Infiniti had a class leading combo in the G37 - had they kept and upgraded the VQ, kept the steering, given it good transmissions, the Q50 would've also been a class leader.
I am surprised at how much behind the other luxury players are Infiniti seems to be on the infotainment front especially given how they probably appeal to a more younger demographic than Lexus, Mercedes, etc.
Quote from: veeman on July 06, 2018, 05:08:11 AM
Drove an Infiniti QX50 as a dealer loaner for a few days (my Infiniti QX56 was getting some emissions work done under warranty). Few things. Infiniti gets lost in the luxury marketplace. They have good looking cars (even the QX80 looks good now after the facelift). Their naming system totally sucks. They have a lot of different models and I have no idea what their individual cars are called. By changing everything to keep it under the first letter Q, the continuity of previous generations of the same model with the current generations is lost. This QX50 was formerly the EX35. For the upcoming 2019 model, they're completely redesigned it. I had the older model which still looks like the older EX35. This car was so fun to drive. Handled sharp, steering feel was great, fast. I loved it. Another bonus is you don't see many around.
I may consider Infiniti the next time around when I get a new car.
I have the current generation Rogue for a weekend in NYC. I can't stand it. The car is gutless and the engine has a terribly lumpy and loud idle. The infotainment is a mess with a very bad Bluetooth connection and a usb connection that I can't figure out. For a car with no sporting pretense it's not super comfortable with a decent amount of dumps and vibrations from the road hitting the cabin. Road noise is pretty good though and fuel economy is stellar. Stil, these things have to be selling at a deep discount vs the CRV cause I don't see a point at all.
Quote from: Xer0 on July 07, 2018, 01:03:45 PM
I have the current generation Rogue for a weekend in NYC. I can’t stand it. The car is gutless and the engine has a terribly lumpy and loud idle. The infotainment is a mess with a very bad Bluetooth connection and a usb connection that I can’t figure out. For a car with no sporting pretense it’s not super comfortable with a decent amount of dumps and vibrations from the road hitting the cabin. Road noise is pretty good though and fuel economy is stellar. Stil, these things have to be selling at a deep discount vs the CRV cause I don’t see a point at all.
Does it have an "E" button for economy or "S" button for sport or something like that. The car would probably not feel as gutless if it's out of economy mode. I drove my sister in law's Rogue a bit. It was nothing special but nothing bad. Although I haven't been in the new CRV, I agree the Nissan has to sell based on cost/financing factors. I like the styling of it though.
Quote from: veeman on July 08, 2018, 04:50:11 AM
Does it have an "E" button for economy or "S" button for sport or something like that. The car would probably not feel as gutless if it's out of economy mode. I drove my sister in law's Rogue a bit. It was nothing special but nothing bad. Although I haven't been in the new CRV, I agree the Nissan has to sell based on cost/financing factors. I like the styling of it though.
After you mentioned this I actually looked around for the sport setting. It's hidden under the steering wheel to the ieft but wow, makes a huge difference. Unfortunately it also comes with the draw back of more engine noise, but totally worth it.
Does it remember the Sport setting? Cars generally reset to Economy mode on every engine start, very annoying.
The four cylinder in the Altima I rented had remarkable fuel economy. Shame the drivetrain is so ugly sounding.
Didn't rent but friend needed to transport 3 cars from upstate NY to UT, so we drove their 2012 Murano w/AWD then flew back.
I forgot to ever look beneath at the suspension but EVERY bump seems like it would shift the car a little bit to the side. Apparently I got used to it after a week but it was very unsettling at first. Headroom getting into the front was minimal- I'm 5'9" and hit my head lightly a couple times. Wife at 5'4" also hit her head.
Love the sunroof although it's dumb that I just want to open the moonroof and it automatically tilts the sunroof every time. Have to close that manually and sometimes I pushed the 3 way button wrong and it would close the moonroof too.
Love auto dual climate control. Want. Not as good as the full auto climate as (2003) Odyssey.
Space wise it's "okay" but wife and I agree it would not be for us. Got "almost" 24mpg cruising at 70mph with cruise (23 at 80mph) (both less than Odyssey) and about what our minivan gets in the city. Very dismal, and that's even when she and I were competing with the fuel tracker big on the entertainment screen to get the best mpg so we weren't hot-rodding it.
Hood sight clearance is poor. Can't ever tell where the front corners are. Ever. Even sitting way up high while parking.
Backseat is decent enough but overall, I don't understand why people snatch these up. Sure minivan is harder to park (longer) and not as sexy but you get so much more vehicle with a minivan.
Quote from: GoCougs on July 06, 2018, 02:39:08 PM
Had the 300 hp 2018 Q50 3.0T AWD as a loaner for a few days.
The good:
1.) FINALLY, with the MY2018, Q50 has full exterior LED lighting. Looks much sharper.
2.) 7sp AT is much improved even vs. 2017 - quite responsive if left to its own devices and moderately responsive when shifted manually (infinitely improved vs. the G37).
3.) The mid range punch from the 3.0T is impressive. Feels far quicker than the G37 (but by the stats, at least from a standstill, not by much if at all).
4.) 3.0T is very refined (smooth).
5.) Q50 exterior has always looked very sharp to me - probably best of the poser class.
The bad:
1.) Infotainment is still a travesty (but they all are).
2.) When shifted manually the 7sp AT slams harshly in the lower gears (artificially trying to make it more sporty).
3.) As with all turbo motors, despite impressive mid range punch, the 3.0T dies off 1,000+ rpm before red line, there is lag, and there no mpg improvement.
4.) The chassis/drive setting (eco/normal/sport/etc.) resets each time the car is restarted (defaults to "standard") but there's little difference save for "eco" (blunts throttle response).
5.) Steering is comically light and feels weird (like it's got missing notches on the rack or something) when loaded up in turns.
All in all, the G37 is still the better driver's car - looks better, drives better, feels better. Infiniti had a class leading combo in the G37 - had they kept and upgraded the VQ, kept the steering, given it good transmissions, the Q50 would've also been a class leader.
I still think the gem in the Q50 lineup is the hybrid
Not much heavier, but way faster AND more fuel efficient with the old VQ. I know they already sank $$$ into the new motors, but to me it would have made more sense to ditch all the non-hybrids and just slap the hybrid system on their new 2.0T for the base car
Quote from: dazzleman on July 07, 2018, 04:33:24 AM
I may consider Infiniti the next time around when I get a new car.
When was the last time you daily drove a non Audi?
Quote from: veeman on July 10, 2018, 02:17:57 AM
When was the last time you daily drove a non Audi?
I drove 2 different BMWs between 2001 and 2013. I got my Audi in December 2013.
Quote from: AutobahnSHO on July 08, 2018, 04:06:22 PM
I forgot to ever look beneath at the suspension but EVERY bump seems like it would shift the car a little bit to the side. Apparently I got used to it after a week but it was very unsettling at first. Headroom getting into the front was minimal- I'm 5'9" and hit my head lightly a couple times. Wife at 5'4" also hit her head.
I've noticed the rough ride on the Muranos I've driven/detailed. Feels like driving a truck, not something car based. Just feels needlessly stiff.
I would like to have tried the new QX50 with the weird variable compression ratio engine but the dealer didn't have one available. So my loaner is a 2018 Infiniti QX60.
Nice and quiet & comfortable, but there's a weird unsettled feeling with direction changes around the steering center. Also it's too porky for the 3.5 engine, which lacks the low-down torque you need for a 3-row SUV.
Lifted this from C&D. Says it all:
QX50 3,950 lb. 268 hp @ 5600 rpm. 280 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm
QX60 4,654 lb. 295 hp @ 6400 rpm. 270 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
I'm so used to the non-porky CR-V with its lovely little torque mill.
(reason I'm in a loaner is the odometer/trip meter in the G has packed up and the dealer's having a tough time tracing the cause.)
I've had the QX60 as a loaner too. Steering feels wobbly on center - noticed the same thing in the Impala I had a few months ago - as if though it's teetering. Terrible. IME the CVT is what kills the VQ in the QX60. I've had the FX/QX70 as a loaner too, and though the VQ had a bit more power, it felt much better, owing to the 7sp AT (itself not a great transmission).
RWD VQ35 has damn near 100 more HP.....
The 300HP Maxima felt great with the CVT.
Quote from: GoCougs on July 13, 2018, 10:56:33 PM
I've had the QX60 as a loaner too. Steering feels wobbly on center - noticed the same thing in the Impala I had a few months ago - as if though it's teetering. Terrible. IME the CVT is what kills the VQ in the QX60. I've had the FX/QX70 as a loaner too, and though the VQ had a bit more power, it felt much better, owing to the 7sp AT (itself not a great transmission).
The wobbly steering feel reminds me of my wife's old M-B CLK at one stage when it was suffering from shitty tires & bad front alignment.
Quote from: Xer0 on May 16, 2018, 10:33:35 AM
I'll be in Tokyo from 07/18-07/21. Among the many cool things to do in Japan, what I'm looking forward to the most is renting fun JDM cars that I can't get a hold of in the US. I have a request for a tour around Mt. Fuji right now in an R34, NA1 NSX, and 4th gen Supra. Its like a 6 hour thing with sight seeing and all that jazz. Pretty fucking excited.
Okay just came back from my trip to Japan and here are my thoughts on the cars. I only drove the NA1 NSX and R34 GTR since the Supra would have been another $150 and didn't think it was worth it honestly. Anyway, on to the cars:
NA1 NSX – I was scared of driving this one going in. Not because of the lack of nannies - it was a 91 so no ABS, EPS, or most other acronyms - but because this was my dream car growing up. I was so scared I would drive it and be infinitely disappointed. Nothing could be furthest from the truth. The car was low, wide, and looked like absolute sex. And then you turned it on. This engine sounds amazing at every point; initial ignition, idle, WOT, just normal acceleration, whatever. It's intoxicating. It's mated to a 5-spd that's not my favorite though. It feels a bit like the AP1 S2K I drove in that the clutch has a ton of travel and the engagement is somewhere in the middle, but the snap back to center isn't as quick making the shift to 3rd or down to 2nd a bit awkward. The gearing originally annoyed me too but hustling up and down the mountain roads were you can keep it mostly in 2nd the whole time made sense. I'd love to try the 6-spd in the 2nd gen car to compare.
Besides the small annoyance of the tranny, the rest of the car was great. The steering was light on center but got heavier as you went, like really heavy. It took a minute to transition my mind that using both hands and a lot of force was totally okay but after it was great and preferred. For the handling the car was rock solid, turn in was crisp, and any bumps didn't bother the car at all although the thought of the back end snapping out from under me was always in the back of my mind so I didn't push it as hard as I would like.
The car itself is very cramped though. I'm 5'10 and I'm not sure I could comfortably wear a helmet in this car. I was also constantly banging my knee into the steering wheel while shifting. No mater, I didn't care, I just wanted to keep driving. The sound alone was worth the rental, the rest was just gravy. I still very much want this card.
R34 GTR – I never cared for the GTR but always respected it. It was always the car I transitioned to in Gran Turismo when I didn't want to try but still wanted to win. Not sure what I was expecting from the car in real life, but it was very much a disappointment. This car was just plain boring. The engine doesn't really make any noise and is a turbo lagging mess. Seriously, this thing goes like stink but you have to wait 3 seconds for the turbo to spool up first. It was annoying vs the linear power of the NSX. In the mountain passes I'm pretty sure I was going faster than the NSX but I didn't care and felt like I was more along for the ride. Like the car didn't really care what you did; going in a turn too hot, braking mid corner, incorrectly downshifting, doesn't matter since the car will just figure it out and you'll come out the other end rocketing anyway. This was highlighted to me when I hit a bump mid corner and I felt the car get incredibly unsettled and the steering get really twitchy – that's the other thing about this car, it was very twitchy steering – but my actually line through the corner didn't really change. I didn't get it but there it was. Everything about this car is easy. Steering is light and easy. Handling is point and click. The transmission has very well defined gears and action is light (I liked this transmission more than the NSX for what it's worth). Just over all meh. If I could compare it to something it would the EVO X I've driven, and I wouldn't compare it favorably TBH. I imagine the R35 is much the same but I have no desire to drive that thing either.
The one thing that really surprised me about this car was the suspension. It was hard and much more uncomfortable than the NSX. You don't really notice it too much since the roads in Japan are all great, but when hitting bumps or coming up on broken pavement the whole car shakes and rattles and you can feel the suspension crashing on itself. The NSX was much more supple.
Anyway, final note on driving on the right hand side. Honestly, its not that big of a deal. The H pattern on the shifter is the same and the pedal placement is identical so all you need to keep an eye out for is on turns. Takes maybe 20 minutes to get adjusted and then you're golden.
I'll post some pictures later. I got some sick shots.
I wonder if some of the slop in that NSX tranny is just because it's a rental and gets used pretty heavily.
Quote from: giant_mtb on July 31, 2018, 10:50:19 AM
I wonder if some of the slop in that NSX tranny is just because it's a rental and gets used pretty heavily.
It's very possible, the car was a 91 so definitely not a spring chicken.
Here are some pictures. I didn't mention it but we drove through Fuji Speedway which was easily one of the coolest things on this trip and there were tons to see there. And hear, the sounds of the Huracans V10 echoing off the stands as it laps is absolutely amazing. An 86 silently lapping some 10 seconds after it just makes it all the more hilarious.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/m6_CnYGvIqQgGdR1cagLUz_gnKh2nmLU9apGd3QyZjpilESz-1vGrZRE9RHhA8GrEthwc3_A3yMbErlw2sj8Lix5ujxT1lfBsTI1nhOadQHB_hlkz8sZfjNfEygrzQ5AITci3JI_Zdev3ErdmKnUbH8bTSvrbrQfPY6Sh7A0bP939Pzm6u0o79gYYo96F4a_P1uo8fuge2Rd0isujz_ioPMI5bzzbZvOcyxeOQZ2iOTPe9maqtI1VY_IETOCF7iPtfoFUsRXTbGGzHocg0VhPnDG8TV_PT16wuRl_Utov1CwOhTAdZ3ZlJwwWtO89LGMvGJ8DusJ3ExuYJ7nJ_3NWteU1G-iEhY0pbHIdpRgqWXwJB930W_VH0aOeB6aYilZr2Gr5zHmBqCaU4G8vCkM512SwHM5Q-Vu6gghf5zPVieBLYm9LuJ41CPgxB7e4d0oHrRGdKdDoWPJeVN6EUpMoyWQIBS3v77DoU1T3bUspwbeCuOr799OdYnVkkYevWK3XcpxKC8GvK38irZgvxMHBS6D6jcq4fK6OZeOnAJ4O0ckU5uXF7bV0Vn38gqDQV_sgn7b19biV-H7bdbINObRAsx9kdqj3gqKahZ1_XU=w1745-h1309-no)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/5SN56L_5DQ1Lxlosb1NYaRPIGpvmRqGW05keUXKu0TFvD_v55ML_874HDYU70dBdhWLm1Ur5dBtVlra2XHuyybledPA-OSlOL-_syd9P27__zSfZ55bNWa4iu6pc9ntKYwe18PJeyepkEUn32pK2lGfAj5Vc4QYYwzyqd837xzWj_yzz6_cQP4_8F2uiWOm9780K7py0VqR8wh_y3rRvsICztL0CPwuoxFZ2BZV-1yzsYZNE2tU3SgHDj1CqoaMbir4WkWzs43J1qANkyPxIwhch-lZtxWMeVPJZEx_wIVjx874uNuFHp5nqDnFkn3npEKxN5TxA-Q4hYMvPVUryE4Kjd7RImgZp0QFmdf_9-BEzEopDcEG0Rs1wHIg-BYXhoRm0dcZr1vAOYkUZ5Yhwzp9uy3pZT69Xf5z7ypkJKq_QM3VGgJXDZrGPdBHlXTW3C-1pWdFSRiZO-6ikG9dA3ezae45eM2xSsDMh-kDP7-cEdeUmTaJfYYLu48qfyE0R5i-8xF5rI4m6EyxeqPbHNXyY07OrX6gsM2kn0BtFCim4TqLZPum5877EcnQf_dQ6ApCbM58AqeW5Ff7_35KQYLUc4rZ0FJBH5v9fA3M=w1745-h1309-no)
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(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1ZcjVh8PUrtsCwZ2DbffTAyd6UkkI5EmJoWBRJj7yUvmKSRRKTvvYIHnTuYNuOa4V9-QugKEGL3Gd3dcleult910Ez_OgHNJwhOTTQ8ABbMuHpX73Fss0J4hjCCh8xsD4qVplQH8KUWS-xjAkHh9II-6t0NQc1aIDvpVFVRYXcyCxk8iAlXyO5o3DED055QSx8MhyTF15kSXQggvq27eXfOn8Dp-H_6-6K9BBHvF4f2wlMqhQVEo1ckye-Z8OlVoF17A4HUbS4i-qOxq2n3p9a9E-y3psCjyYvDBLOhdP_DTGV3TXCZLc0nEGaoZtJSqGbFNAjtE0qyPiP26FbAu04R_5qQcJIiEQyCdhycsnYfQPBjjlZCEid_S1zOyChSojPCeriLIsNg7Od4rq5YbctvcDlA3wNJ4gjkR96hlrdUU_Vm18-8k_BTC__plFDU-wDwuD8KbDzismyul2x-cHBfSVLH1UXvlZnR78I_qVDwW4lE7ajba7NliHYBKQUI_w1zwXFrLwg4ux4JkriQwT3mOwKFp3-hfn_rD62SBXsUYVT9nxZ2pP8eRbAEb6sO_gTr_KoXM2PQ2p9gumhkFboAobHNL4LwvecQ9KgI=s1309-no)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/NTnZsaNjAB4BkpC1iq6LGdG_jT2DtTf0YEtf0XUXSdsZuIdtep2KaU9luuZj3CZ1nuCXJ1zAJ-yLLAX5Wr95CTEr50DTJGmiOTq09tJb7AeDPiLhyAkFnLNOXABPWPrlcqUwH8v8kZPt3gPpW6bE4QSEG1Ck6KWz20btxa5e4FhHx1josbz6UJeVFr1VsfO_ICanyk0XhZXMDqexgkYAJRlRJA0H-k175Far-9r3UdQ3wbkjtnUDr-e3leyP5jsAU_CxwlzJAvIppIsKb4AI8mis1PzdhqqWwWA7n07hdEKbv2bvN8soJjq-LlfoITumysBDqXjcT1aAGFnxrNTzuJpjf8IYVOi-vGezrATb6utFh6MSJQqUNI5kQ5fbQ-c28dQqnDb3hxmQOX1PkboOcD0J0Knb2Y47RepoAMRXiK7FF_q5AVH5vrFgmDEUA6rQwzM71ft_K4HczGS1ZQY797toVXA4usoVd-U0wDIsqkXiQvNSMPjEFSOph9nyBBBufmUG1FW44_UmvV74xNCInCBzhdjImirgihbNyy1bFggwr4PY8kIxeW-B2fvecX4aCAyg3K6vUFzZfMmBaxb4D0-HG33SaeKUcEV1yWI=w983-h1309-no)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/F_Ijlz1jSOH1hjX6-9YeeevtjqTKGeY9SKe150bVwlyuna4mFv-dIHwZUo4xLggSltJtMoaW8_tSJQGkVJqgq_g7ZQIvaWrumgkFgm2G73RsFeKtAlfexwRasudSsvB38--UjUCSSTWsU-h1Rb7JJbmeaQCc2GTdtcddD3RH__riswpNMD3c6XVg-5hgAWCPhlYWvCNbdqvPOxGXM1m2Fz_ItDDFowjpu9tG1abCdSckJFXzRxHHtf8lmKNTZxwjvZPOpbXEGYOOKEep5T3S4BUPHTZK-tjnpxOR716YRpp9ps-LNY9oF9Jk4t4-3L8GXy0n4y7tiPabez3z75rkZ6OoktnSP0INI2TbYQCnx9R1ZVTSQKVOaf59HSkSMztzj-W_FwSZr2wAAQ-NlVGwBPDPwpb6Db4yYUOup6k33S9OVhuxb6NR9RRTLHCORC_ShkyC7HiqMNG35I21A589lXi-eK24vw9zytQCdhMHb9ifcMvfm-4eoa7DYMCd7UyH67j4YRQzO1Zdu3xk0ZDJWopUDl28GPcKsd8YUxvRz5UlFp32QQh8siyRRFn9UFSSLLjzkssDbYG26mrmBjMM8zdoIEKRQtDr-uosP3g=w983-h1309-no)
Husband is going to a remote location with a few coworkers by car. One of them rented a Cadillac XTS. He's sending me effusive texts talking about how damn comfortable the car is for back seat passengers...
Has anyone here rented a specific car before? Like the Hertz "Adrenaline Collection" (https://www.hertz.ca/rentacar/vehicleguide/index.jsp?targetPage=vehicleGuideHomeView.jsp&countryCode=US&category=Adrenaline%20Collection)? I'm planning a trip to Phoenix in October, just wondering how it has worked out for anyone else...
Quote from: Laconian on August 15, 2018, 02:49:50 PM
Husband is going to a remote location with a few coworkers by car. One of them rented a Cadillac XTS. He's sending me effusive texts talking about how damn comfortable the car is for back seat passengers...
Nice. My rental car was B-O-R-I-N-G. Chevrolet Impala. It drove ok but had a funny hesitation in acceleration when getting on the highway. And with the constricted parking that I was dealing with (mainly garages), the size was a liability, especially since I could have easily used a smaller car.
Really? Four cylinder or V6? I rented a nicely-optioned V6 Impala and it was kind of a hoot for a GM barge...
Quote from: Laconian on August 15, 2018, 03:45:19 PM
Really? Four cylinder or V6? I rented a nicely-optioned V6 Impala and it was kind of a hoot for a GM barge...
I don't know. The hesitation was only really pronounced one time when I was getting on 520 west to drive into Seattle for the first time from the Kirkland/Bellevue entrance. I stepped on the gas to merge into the highway and nothing happened for a few seconds. I was worried that the car might stall. But then it kicked in and got up to highway speed. That was really my only complaint. The GPS worked well.
Quote from: 93JC on August 15, 2018, 03:23:12 PM
Has anyone here rented a specific car before? Like the Hertz "Adrenaline Collection" (https://www.hertz.ca/rentacar/vehicleguide/index.jsp?targetPage=vehicleGuideHomeView.jsp&countryCode=US&category=Adrenaline%20Collection)? I'm planning a trip to Phoenix in October, just wondering how it has worked out for anyone else...
My friend just rented a 2018 Mustang GT Performance Pack with Recaros and 10spd he fucking loved it.. He booked "Mustang GT"
Kia Sportage in Denver.
It had the most god awful seats I've ever experienced in a road vehicle. All four of us were complaining about how uncomfortable they were no later than half way between Denver and Colorado Springs. I had a shooting pain up my leg after only an hour and a half.
Also, the cruise control accelerated, uncommanded, on two occasions. Luckily the Kia's acceleration can be measured in epochs, so it wasn't a dangerous flaw, only a minor annoyance.
Quote from: 68_427 on August 15, 2018, 05:03:55 PM
My friend just rented a 2018 Mustang GT Performance Pack with Recaros and 10spd he fucking loved it.. He booked "Mustang GT"
I want to keep a boring car and rent those kinds of cars for like 2 weeks at a time just for the fuck of it.
Don't they have strict mileage limits? (renting Mustang GTs and the like). I don't think they're unlimited like most other rentals, especially from an airport.
I could drive my regular car to keep the miles off. Don't need to own a car to experience it. It's just too bad there aren't more choices to rent. I'd want to try something like a Miata or FR-S for a week or two. Maybe a month
Quote from: veeman on August 16, 2018, 05:55:43 AM
Don't they have strict mileage limits? (renting Mustang GTs and the like). I don't think they're unlimited like most other rentals, especially from an airport.
IIRC my friend had unlimited mileage.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on August 16, 2018, 06:30:39 AM
I could drive my regular car to keep the miles off. Don't need to own a car to experience it. It's just too bad there aren't more choices to rent. I'd want to try something like a Miata or FR-S for a week or two. Maybe a month
Turo
Nothing here....
Quote from: CaminoRacer on August 16, 2018, 10:55:50 AM
Turo
I love me some Turo. I'm eyeing a GT350 but not sure if I can justify 250 a day for one :violin:
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on August 16, 2018, 11:55:49 AM
Nothing here....
Bro a couple months ago there was a GT350 on Turo in Charlotte. It was black and for less than $300 a day
Flying into the Bay Area late on a Monday.
I will definitely be stuck with the dregs. Will they bump me up to a nicer car than I deserve, or will I be driving a creepy RAM VAN for the duration of my business trip?
Repeated from the Driven Today Thread: (why I posted it there instead of here... I don't know :facepalm:)
Not driven 'today', but driven every day for the past week: brand new Toyota 4Runner SR5. I had reserved a "Standard SUV (Ford Edge or similar)" to make it easier to haul some stuff around for my sister's wedding and to shuttle my parents and other relatives around the Washington, DC area. Instead I got the 4Runner, which was so tall it was much more impractical than a midsized sedan or something like that.
If your intended purpose is to do some mild offroading the 4Runner felt like it would be more than competent. For everything else it was 'okay': 'okay' ride and handling, 'okay' power, etc. The worst thing about it is how much of a pig on gas it is. I drove a couple hundred miles over the course of the week and went through about 5/8 of a tank.
Oh, and I'm in Phoenix now, and rented an Audi A4 S-line for 10 days. :lol:
Really nice car so far. Far, far better than a Mercedes-Benz CLA250 4Matic, which was on offer by one of the other rental agencies for about the same money.
An A4? How the fuck did you get that car? What company is this? How much are you paying?
https://www.silvercar.com/ :)
I'm paying about $59/day.
After taxes, or before? That is a bit more than I pay, so I guess that's why I'm in Malibus and you're in Audis.
Bah, no Silvercar at San Jose Airport.
Not worth it to deal with the SFO nightmare for an A4.
Before taxes. All told the 10-day cost is $800-850.
I have a new Impreza for $18 a day.
Full review soon.
I don't like it.
Quote from: 2o6 on October 12, 2018, 01:51:09 PM
I have a new Impreza for $18 a day.
Full review soon.
I don't like it.
From the outside, they look like they'd be offensively bland to drive
Your membership in the Gay Agenda is hereby revoked.
Please turn in your badge and your pink pistol.
Quote from: 93JC on October 12, 2018, 12:54:49 PM
Before taxes. All told the 10-day cost is $800-850.
Hope you got your money's worth.
Quote from: Laconian on October 12, 2018, 02:42:16 PM
Your membership in the Gay Agenda is hereby revoked.
Please turn in your badge and your pink pistol.
We've talked about this; Gays drive VW Jettas.
(glances at Subaru keyfob)
Lols.
I imagine unless you need better weather capability the Impreza is pretty bland compared to the cars you drive.
Most newer Subarus I've driven are indeed bland to drive. They're not really touted as drivers' cars besides the WRX or STi, so it's not that bigga deal. I'm generally okay with bland in a basic DD. I mean, I DD a Taco, so pretty much any car ends up feeling like a tight race car by comparison.
Quote from: FoMoJo on October 12, 2018, 02:44:39 PM
Hope you got your money's worth.
The comfort of knowing exactly what I'm getting is great, which as I said about my rental in DC earlier this week was a pain in the ass when I got something far bigger than I wanted.
The Audi also includes nav (which one usually had to pay extra for, of course) and a WiFi hotspot, which makes it very easy to get around. It's fully loaded; a very nice drive. If I needed a car seat or a ski rack they'd throw it in for no additional cost.
Oh and the cost for the 4Runner was about $470 (US) for a week.
My Impreza was $128 for four days. It was a goddamn STEAL. Especially since I fully expected to get stuck with a Mirage.
Quote from: 93JC on October 12, 2018, 12:28:34 PM
https://www.silvercar.com/ :)
I'm paying about $59/day.
I need a rental car on Monday, so I checked them out. It's pretty neat that I can pick up an A4/Q5 for the price of an economy car out of the Newark, NJ airport.
Unfortunately, I need a one-way rental, so I ended up booking a regular economy car. :(
My choices in the Executive aisle were a couple Camry, a bunch of XXL GM King Asshole SUVs, and a Beetle Turbo convertible. Of course I got the Beetle. This car's pretty fun! It doesn't corner nearly as well as my Miata, but wow, the turbo has some punch!
:rockon:
I quite like the newer body style, especially with some of those retro wheels.
(https://blogmedia.dealerfire.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/265/2017/12/2018-VW-Beetle-near-water_o.jpg)
Quote from: giant_mtb on October 16, 2018, 12:25:28 PM
I quite like the newer body style, especially with some of those retro wheels.
+1
I always thought the Turbos looked sharp in red
(https://i.postimg.cc/0Nqnc585/vw1.jpg)
Quote from: giant_mtb on October 16, 2018, 12:25:28 PM
I quite like the newer body style, especially with some of those retro wheels.
I agree, they are nice looking.
Nope, no fancy wheels on mine. Judging from my poverty grade 5" infotainment display, I think this is some kind of extra-value trim.
I prefer the king asshole trucks
68_427 do you still even have the Subaru lol.
I really liked the more aggressive greenhouse of the current Beetle but I had one as a rental and the Golf is basically better in every way. Better visibility, no less fun to drive, obviously way more practical etc.
Quote from: Speed_Racer on October 16, 2018, 01:56:15 PM
I always thought the Turbos looked sharp in red
(https://i.postimg.cc/0Nqnc585/vw1.jpg)
Hell yeah. They nailed it with this one.
The last generation was more...cute and bubbly. Not bad looking, but not exactly sharp, either.
Quote from: giant_mtb on October 16, 2018, 12:25:28 PM
I quite like the newer body style, especially with some of those retro wheels.
(https://blogmedia.dealerfire.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/265/2017/12/2018-VW-Beetle-near-water_o.jpg)
It's different looking. More than you can say for most cars.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on October 16, 2018, 03:33:14 PM
68_427 do you still even have the Subaru lol.
Yes but hopefully not for long. Guess I should change the sig huh
Yeah I loved the styling of my Beetle before dieselgste made me get rid of it. The hatchback config made the car very practical for someone who doesn't carry backseat passengers that often. My young kids learned to open the passenger front door themselves by leaning/jumping from the backseat into the passenger seat (young kids are so spry and flexible). The old school wheels were expensive (almost 2 grand). Too bad not many bought em because VW has or soon will discontinue the Beetle.
Quote from: 68_427 on October 16, 2018, 05:02:07 PM
Yes but hopefully not for long. Guess I should change the sig huh
That's better :neverforget:
Quote from: veeman on October 17, 2018, 12:47:44 AM
The old school wheels were expensive (almost 2 grand).
:o
Yeah man, those wheels were expensive! I got them installed at the dealer before driving off the lot. They gave me $100 for the stock wheels (what a joke) and looking at my old emails the wheels cost $1962.68. Each "heritage" wheel was three different parts. The wheel, a ring, and a center cap so you had to pay for three different things for each tire. I didn't want the car though without those old school wheels. When I turned the car in for dieselgate I was thinking about keeping the wheels and returning the car with steelies but because of inertia didn't bother.
Quote from: heelntoe on October 13, 2018, 09:54:31 AM
I need a rental car on Monday, so I checked them out. It's pretty neat that I can pick up an A4/Q5 for the price of an economy car out of the Newark, NJ airport.
Unfortunately, I need a one-way rental, so I ended up booking a regular economy car. :(
I just returned my rental. I'm honestly not sure I can go back to renting from the big agencies anymore. The process was a breeze and, although it's definitely not going to be the absolute cheapest option for a car, it felt well worth the price when including for the fact it had nav, satellite radio and it's own wifi hotspot. The regular rental companies make me feel like I'm getting nickle and dimed for everything.
Now I'm looking at ads for new and used A4s... :mask:
Ah, the trick worked! Just like how Mazda made me buy a MX5 when I drove it two laps around a track for free. They got their money's worth, dagnabbit...
I took back the Beetle on Thursday. My overall impressions are positive. The engine is a torquey little gem, which combines lots of squirt and easy 33mpg around town. The cabin was extremely basic, but there were some touches I appreciated, like a great sound system and USB ports that support rapid charging voltages. The convertible top moves quickly and silently, deploying fully in about 10 seconds.
I suppose the lowlights were cowl shake, soft suspension around corners, a basic cabin (but again: base trim), and some confusing stalk controls from my Japanese-biased POV.
Quote from: Laconian on October 20, 2018, 06:31:03 PM
Ah, the trick worked! Just like how Mazda made me buy a MX5 when I drove it two laps around a track for free. They got their money's worth, dagnabbit...
Ha ha, yeah, I suppose it has worked to a point. I don't think this'll get me to buy an Audi, but I think it is a factor in their running of the company. Much like Daimler-Benz and Car2Go, except in that case it backfired: I don't like the Smart Fortwo, CLA, GLA and B-class very much at all based on my experiences.
I'm in San Diego this week for a conference and upgraded to a Chrysler 300 for the third time in the last few years. Got a 300S which is their more sporty 6 cylinder version. I'm in love with this car, except for the leather seats which are too firm on my lower back. This car drives so quiet and looks real cool. 6 cylinder is plenty fast. I'm seriously considering trading in my Crosstrek for an AWD 6 cylinder Chrysler 300 when I get home. I can get one for around 28 thousand according to autotrader ads which is a lot off of MSRP (which I think is around 36 thousand).
I won't do it mostly because my wife wants a new car (she always wants a new car) even though we still have 2 years left financing on the Infiniti so that's not gonna happen as neither will my trade in.
I liked the 300 too when I had one as a rental. Solid car.
Quote from: veeman on October 26, 2018, 05:32:01 PM
I'm in San Diego this week for a conference and upgraded to a Chrysler 300 for the third time in the last few years. Got a 300S which is their more sporty 6 cylinder version. I'm in love with this car, except for the leather seats which are too firm on my lower back. This car drives so quiet and looks real cool. 6 cylinder is plenty fast. I'm seriously considering trading in my Crosstrek for an AWD 6 cylinder Chrysler 300 when I get home. I can get one for around 28 thousand according to autotrader ads which is a lot off of MSRP (which I think is around 36 thousand).
I won't do it mostly because my wife wants a new car (she always wants a new car) even though we still have 2 years left financing on the Infiniti so that's not gonna happen as neither will my trade in.
Is it blue?
Gonna drive to Florida next month with my dad and the dog. Hoping for a minivan, a Pacifica to be exact but the selection in the Executive Isle in Rochester is basically non existent.
Quote from: 68_427 on October 27, 2018, 04:28:08 PM
Is it blue?
Gonna drive to Florida next month with my dad and the dog. Hoping for a minivan, a Pacifica to be exact but the selection in the Executive Isle in Rochester is basically non existent.
The autotrader ad I saw was for a blue one.
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=477539361&zip=06883&referrer=%2Fcars-for-sale%2Fsearchresults.xhtml%3Fzip%3D06883%26listingTypes%3DNEW%26startYear%3D1981%26sortBy%3DderivedpriceASC%26incremental%3Dall%26firstRecord%3D0%26endYear%3D2019%26modelCodeList%3D300%26makeCodeList%3DCHRY%26searchRadius%3D50&listingTypes=NEW&startYear=1981&numRecords=25&firstRecord=0&endYear=2019&modelCodeList=300&makeCodeList=CHRY&searchRadius=50&makeCode1=CHRY&modelCode1=300&clickType=listing
I asked because my friend rented one identical to this out of SD last month.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/l9xDKMQuX0Q/maxresdefault.jpg)
He enjoyed it too
In San Diego I got the same model as your friend's (300S I'm assuming) except in silver. I loved the sporty big wheels but if I were to get one, I'd go for the more comfort and more pothole resistant tires on the base model. Also the leather seats in this model were more hard and bothered the small of my back even with playing with all the lumbar settings.
Having driven again my Crosstrek back and forth on my 100 mile daily commute (50 there/50 back) since I got back home, there's some definite pluses with a Crosstrek type of car. It's so easy to park in tight parking garages, the manual shift action is fun, and the car never bottoms out over curbs. As a highway cruiser the car definitely lacks. It's noisy and not super stable. That's what I miss. The serene big car ride without feeling overly floaty. The 300 feels totally different than my Camry which doesn't feel nearly as vault like. Plus I just think the 300 looks cool.
The 300 hasn't really changed for 15 years. It's the Crown Vic of 2018!
Infiniti QX56 is at the dealership getting some warranty work (catalytic converter). It's 5 yrs old now with 80 thousand miles. Got it certified 3 years ago. Very happy I got the extended Infiniti sponsored extended warranty as I've had warranty work done three times now in the last year. The dealership I got it from has been great. No problems scheduling and getting a loaner.
Got a new QX60 this time. It's got an upgraded engine this year with close to 300 hp. Looks decent. Not great but not bad. In sport mode this car has good acceleration. Flooring it on the highway got the fake shifts from the CVT transmission but even though they were fake, they felt good and sounded good. Car drives very soft and comfortable. I was surprised in base form, this car undercuts the Acura MDX and Buick Enclave in price. Load it up and it gets over 60 thousand :facepalm:
I wish the Murano got the 300HP engine, and maybe an Infiniti badge. Make it the QX70. Or we will just get a new MKX when the time comes. That 2.7TT is serious business.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on October 31, 2018, 07:34:16 AM
I wish the Murano got the 300HP engine, and maybe an Infiniti badge. Make it the QX70. Or we will just get a new MKX when the time comes. That 2.7TT is serious business.
Day Aviator tho
My most recent rental was a Fusion Hybrid. I liked it a surprisingly large amount.
I rented a GMC Terrain a couple of days ago in the Minneapolis airport. I was pleasantly surprised. It was an SLT trim which is supposed to come with a 1.5 turbo with 170hp. It felt stronger than that to me but I only had it for 24 hours and didn't get a chance to open the hood and see if it had the optional 2.0 turbo with 250hp. I had to keep an eye on the speedometer as it was easy to get above speed limit. The brakes were strong and the 9 speed transmission was pretty seamless. I got 25mpg over 135 miles of mixed freeway and back road driving. The Terrain had 5 miles on it when I picked it up.
The interior was comfortable with heated leather seats. It had Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but I didn't use the infotainment system much. It had a WiFi hotspot but it seemed to cut out frequently.
I wish I had more time to put the Terrain through its paces but I was on a business trip with another person and much of the driving was at night on rainy roads.
I had a loaner Infiniti QX50 for a day. It was nice, fast, but unmemorable - had a strong odor of plastic inside - the smell of new inflatable pool toys came to mind. I was also struck by the huge blind spot round the base of the A-pillars. Particularly noticeable when looking down across to the passenger side when looking to avoid curbs in parking lots. The pillar width, plus the bulk of the mirror was too much.
Was it brand new?
Quote from: Morris Minor on November 15, 2018, 07:12:47 PM
I had a loaner Infiniti QX50 for a day. It was nice, fast, but unmemorable - had a strong odor of plastic inside - the smell of new inflatable pool toys came to mind. I was also struck by the huge blind spot round the base of the A-pillars. Particularly noticeable when looking down across to the passenger side when looking to avoid curbs in parking lots. The pillar width, plus the bulk of the mirror was too much.
How was the engine? IIRC, the new QX50 has Nissan's brand new generation of turbo engines.
Quote from: giant_mtb on November 16, 2018, 08:52:33 AM
Was it brand new?
Yup brand new, the variable compression ratio one - 1,000 miles. The engine was nice, 4-banger sound but still very quiet - lots of torque and a decent discrete ratio slushbox simulation by the CVT.
Quote from: Morris Minor on November 16, 2018, 09:29:52 AM
Yup brand new, the variable compression ratio one - 1,000 miles. The engine was nice, 4-banger sound but still very quiet - lots of torque and a decent discrete ratio slushbox simulation by the CVT.
Gotcha. Probably explains the smell.
Those things look decent, but as you said, totally unmemorable. I can hardly differentiate between those and the GLA clone Infiniti sells.
Quote from: CALL_911 on November 16, 2018, 11:34:07 AM
Those things look decent, but as you said, totally unmemorable. I can hardly differentiate between those and the GLA clone Infiniti sells.
I was walking through the parking lot and saw the rear of another one two spaces away... sideways-on angle. Thought "Wow what a coincidence"
But it was a Lexus NX.
The Civic is in the shop for some not minor body damage so the insurance company gave me whatever rental I wanted as long as it wasn't more than $20.80 a day. At that price, I'm in a Corolla.
Man, I hate this thing. Like I was getting annoyed by my Civic but driving the Corolla really makes me appreciate the Civic again. Its a 2017 or 2018 LE, don't remember which, and the car is an under powered mess. It has the Toyota throttle that makes it seem like the car is pretty quick since you are flying at part throttle but you quickly realize that there's nothing else and all throttle inputs are pretty much the same. After you accept that the car is slow you are left with the noise of the engine that is loud and thrashy. In my Honda I have to mentally tune out the tire noise, in the Corolla I have to mentally tune out the engine noise. Controlling this engine is the steering which is slow and vague and anytime I have to turn into something I feel like I'm turning that wheel a million times over to get from lock to lock. The handling is, well, it turns when you want it to? I haven't even bothered to hustle this thing nor do I care to.
This car also has a backup camera that has to be running on like 360i or some garbage resolution, but to make it worse, its also stretched out for reasons that I can't understand and is painful to look at. My 5 year older Civic does this way better. Otherwise, the infotainment is okay and I don't hate it, it sounds better than the Civic too with clearer bluetooth.
I did want to mention the transmission though which I found to actually be pretty good. This is a CVT, which surprised me. It called no attention to itself and I never once found myself annoyed by it. I actually like it more than the CVT in my sisters Civic Turbo. I know Toyota is placing actual 1st gears in their new generation of CVTs and I don't know if this car has that, but it feels really good.
Still, overall I can't wait to get my Civic back.
I've always been surprised at how extra-bland Corollas are compared to other cars in its class. I guess they mostly get sold on Toyota's reputation.
Corolla wouldn't be bad with more power and some semblance of driving dynamics... but then they'd just be Civics
The new Corolla sounds like a quantum leap forward and looks very impressive.
New Corollas are really nice, inside and out.
Everywhere in South Africa with 10 people whenever we had a guided tour through cities we got into a Toyota Quantum which is a Toyota HiAce elsewhere in the world. Real shame they don't sell these in the U.S. RWD, 5 speed manual (although you can get it in automatic), small footprint for it's size and comfortable to ride in. They look pretty good even with the small tires and cheapo hubcaps. I think there were 4 rows, 3 persons to a row, behind the driver and front passenger seat with a walking aisle between the seats. High roof so can stand up inside. I didn't get a chance to drive one though.
(https://i.imgur.com/3rF7sV4.jpg)
Quote from: veeman on January 03, 2019, 08:40:07 AM
Everywhere in South Africa with 10 people whenever we had a guided tour through cities we got into a Toyota Quantum which is a Toyota HiAce elsewhere in the world. Real shame they don't sell these in the U.S. RWD, 5 speed manual (although you can get it in automatic), small footprint for it's size and comfortable to ride in. They look pretty good even with the small tires and cheapo hubcaps. I think there were 4 rows, 3 persons to a row, behind the driver and front passenger seat with a walking aisle between the seats. High roof so can stand up inside. I didn't get a chance to drive one though.
(https://i.imgur.com/3rF7sV4.jpg)
And they're probably crumple zone free!!!
Quote from: AutobahnSHO on January 03, 2019, 12:03:56 PM
And they're probably crumple zone free!!!
Ha! You would think. By googling they do OK on various crash tests. Not too bad. Not sure how it would compare with a Ford Transit or Sprinter. They're kinda similar to the previous US spec Toyota Previa.
A stickshift would not make that thing better
So, my MIL's Captur has a clutch engagement point that's really high. Does that mean that the clutch is used up, or are Renaults just weird?
There would be other symptoms if the clutch was really worn. Like difficult shifts, clunky engagement, and slippage.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on January 03, 2019, 01:39:46 PM
A stickshift would not make that thing better
I'm torn about that (it doesn't keep me up at night so torn is too strong a word :lol:). On my underpowered Crosstrek the stick shift makes it much more fun to drive and I like the old school process of doing it. This HiAce is underpowered (for American tastes) and so having the stick would be good but as a pure people mover and especially in daily traffic the stick would definitely be a grind. I didn't get a chance to drive it though (either version). One of my Dad's friends in the early 90s had a five speed first gen Toyota Previa and he loved that car.
Stick shift can somewhat makeup for low power because the transmission can't anticipate when you'll need the power like the driver can.
I HATE auto downshifting because I slow for turning a corner when I know I'm just going to be accelerating again.
I got so used to the Captur's weird clutch that I stalled my Miata twice this morning. After about 3 minutes the car was orgasmic to drive. Much, much more feel in the steering, the shifter, the brakes... everything! Ahhh, it's good to be home.
Quote from: Laconian on January 07, 2019, 09:19:17 AM
I got so used to the Captur's weird clutch that I stalled my Miata twice this morning. After about 3 minutes the car was orgasmic to drive. Much, much more feel in the steering, the shifter, the brakes... everything! Ahhh, it's good to be home.
Haha n00b
I want a Miata :cry:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hSFZD9tXfc&feature
Damn Elantra would only spin on ice. It wouldn't even chirp the tires on a redline neutral drop
Quote from: AutobahnSHO on January 04, 2019, 05:02:26 PM
Stick shift can somewhat makeup for low power because the transmission can't anticipate when you'll need the power like the driver can.
I HATE auto downshifting because I slow for turning a corner when I know I'm just going to be accelerating again.
Good transmission design and programming can overcome that. When I had a Honda Fit rental the engine was pretty gutless, but the CVT squeezed every last drop of power out when I asked for it
Quote from: 68_427 on January 09, 2019, 07:33:05 PM
<video>
Damn Elantra would only spin on ice. It wouldn't even chirp the tires on a redline neutral drop
Coincidentally I also rented a perfectly cromulent transportation appliance:
(https://i.imgur.com/XE5AU39.jpg)
Nothing remarkable about this car whatsoever. Reminds me a lot of my sister's Corolla. Adequate in all respects, not great in any one. The steering had a dead spot in the middle, and the ride was mediocre; they need to fine tune the springs and damping, as it was soft yet couldn't handle choppy pavement without rattling throughout the car.
Acceptable as a rental car, but would loathe owning one.
Nissan Versas are the only rental car I've had worse than Hyundais.
Quote from: 93JC on February 01, 2019, 06:28:55 AM
Coincidentally I also rented a perfectly cromulent transportation appliance:
(https://i.imgur.com/XE5AU39.jpg)
Nothing remarkable about this car whatsoever. Reminds me a lot of my sister's Corolla. Adequate in all respects, not great in any one. The steering had a dead spot in the middle, and the ride was mediocre; they need to fine tune the springs and damping, as it was soft yet couldn't handle choppy pavement without rattling throughout the car.
Acceptable as a rental car, but would loathe owning one.
They're so cheap tho. Many local dealers will sell you one identical to that for like $15k USD.
The one I had was a "Preferred" trim that stickered for $20,449 (CAD). Dealers seem to want $22,000-$23,000 for them; I don't get it.
Rentals over the last few months:
A4 (S package)- My first experience using Silvercar. An unusual set-up that isn't really more convenient than the major rental companies (if you have good status with them/don't have to stop at the counter anyway), but the predictability is nice. I really liked the A4, the interior design is nice aside from the tacked on screen look (popular but I hate that look). Enjoyable to drive. Still though, the whole time I drove it I was having Passat maintenance flashbacks and thinking "no, Matt... she'll just hurt you."
Chevy Cruze - Decent if uninteresting. Drives acceptably. Interior isn't hideous aside from the weird fabric dash thing that looks dated already.
Chevy Malibu - This is probably most disappointing modern car I've driven. For all the hype Chevy pushes on it I was expecting it to be pretty nice... But it's worse than the new Camry, Optima, or Sonata (my standards of comparison) in basically every way I cared about. It's decently styled, but it's slow, handles poorly, the transmission never seems to know what gear it wants to be in, it doesn't have the standard tech or safety features of some of the others, and the interior is hideous and feels cheap. The fabric padded dash thing is my new most hated design idea.
Chevy Silverado 1500 - It's a good looking truck and the interior is basically the same as a base Tahoe. I'm a fan although I think the F150 is probably a better vehicle overall.
Chevy Tahoe - I've always had a soft spot for these. Although I learned quickly it's not a convenient commuting vehicle and it's a pain in the ass to drive/park downtown I still like it a lot.
Ford F150 - I like the Silverado styling better, but the interior on the Ford seemed a little nicer and it had more toys.
Kia Optima - Decent all around car. Decent looking, decent interior, decent to drive. Nothing exceptional but hard to be offended.
Kia Soul - I hate this thing. It's slow. It's inefficient. It's not nice inside. There must be better small SUV options available.
Hyundai Accent - This was literally all they had at the counter last minute. It's a cheap car that features a brake pedal and a volume pedal. (As far as I can tell anyway, because it did get louder but I didn't notice any change in velocity.)
Hyundai Elantra - Not a bad car. Reasonably nice interior for the price, good tech features, and it drove alright, if a bit floaty.
Nissan Sentra - I almost like this car for a cheaper small vehicle. Not a bad interior, drives acceptably and feels quicker than the Cruze although that may be an illusion.
Toyota Camry (new model) - I was pleasantly surprised by this car. The Camry has always been a good all around car but the last two generations weren't all that great in my opinion. The new one has stepped up its game significantly when it comes to interior quality and features. It also handled better than I'd expected for a base model. The transmission was slow to downshift when passing which was irritating but otherwise I really liked that car.
Quote from: thewizard16 on February 09, 2019, 12:18:56 PM
Rentals over the last few months:
A4 (S package)- My first experience using Silvercar. An unusual set-up that isn't really more convenient than the major rental companies (if you have good status with them/don't have to stop at the counter anyway), but the predictability is nice. I really liked the A4, the interior design is nice aside from the tacked on screen look (popular but I hate that look). Enjoyable to drive. Still though, the whole time I drove it I was having Passat maintenance flashbacks and thinking "no, Matt... she'll just hurt you."
Chevy Cruze - Decent if uninteresting. Drives acceptably. Interior isn't hideous aside from the weird fabric dash thing that looks dated already.
Chevy Malibu - This is probably most disappointing modern car I've driven. For all the hype Chevy pushes on it I was expecting it to be pretty nice... But it's worse than the new Camry, Optima, or Sonata (my standards of comparison) in basically every way I cared about. It's decently styled, but it's slow, handles poorly, the transmission never seems to know what gear it wants to be in, it doesn't have the standard tech or safety features of some of the others, and the interior is hideous and feels cheap. The fabric padded dash thing is my new most hated design idea.
Chevy Silverado 1500 - It's a good looking truck and the interior is basically the same as a base Tahoe. I'm a fan although I think the F150 is probably a better vehicle overall.
Chevy Tahoe - I've always had a soft spot for these. Although I learned quickly it's not a convenient commuting vehicle and it's a pain in the ass to drive/park downtown I still like it a lot.
Ford F150 - I like the Silverado styling better, but the interior on the Ford seemed a little nicer and it had more toys.
Kia Optima - Decent all around car. Decent looking, decent interior, decent to drive. Nothing exceptional but hard to be offended.
Kia Soul - I hate this thing. It's slow. It's inefficient. It's not nice inside. There must be better small SUV options available.
Hyundai Accent - This was literally all they had at the counter last minute. It's a cheap car that features a brake pedal and a volume pedal. (As far as I can tell anyway, because it did get louder but I didn't notice any change in velocity.)
Hyundai Elantra - Not a bad car. Reasonably nice interior for the price, good tech features, and it drove alright, if a bit floaty.
Nissan Sentra - I almost like this car for a cheaper small vehicle. Not a bad interior, drives acceptably and feels quicker than the Cruze although that may be an illusion.
Toyota Camry (new model) - I was pleasantly surprised by this car. The Camry has always been a good all around car but the last two generations weren't all that great in my opinion. The new one has stepped up its game significantly when it comes to interior quality and features. It also handled better than I'd expected for a base model. The transmission was slow to downshift when passing which was irritating but otherwise I really liked that car.
I haven't really had any maintenance issues with my Audi (A6) so far. I say go for it and get yourself an A4!
Quote from: dazzleman on February 09, 2019, 01:30:51 PM
I haven't really had any maintenance issues with my Audi (A6) so far. I say go for it and get yourself an A4!
I thought about a CPO Audi but the GS is an entirely different/nicer segment than the A4, and although I like the style of the A6 and the 3.0T was cheaper than the same year GS350, I'm just gonna need a little break from VW/Audi for at least a few years.
Quote from: thewizard16 on February 09, 2019, 01:36:03 PM
I thought about a CPO Audi but the GS is an entirely different/nicer segment than the A4, and although I like the style of the A6 and the 3.0T was cheaper than the same year GS350, I'm just gonna need a little break from VW/Audi for at least a few years.
Are you still a speed demon? :evildude: The GS350 looks pretty sweet and either one will probably be more than sufficiently responsive to your demanding right foot.
Quote from: dazzleman on February 09, 2019, 03:14:15 PM
Are you still a speed demon? :evildude: The GS350 looks pretty sweet and either one will probably be more than sufficiently responsive to your demanding right foot.
...I haven't gotten caught lately but I haven't slowed down any. If anything sitting an hour a day in traffic makes me want to speed whenever possible.
Quote from: thewizard16 on February 09, 2019, 03:34:43 PM
...I haven't gotten caught lately but I haven't slowed down any. If anything sitting an hour a day in traffic makes me want to speed whenever possible.
:lol: That's what I wanted to hear. Sitting in traffic has the same effect on me. It makes me want to speed all the more whenever I can.
The A6 is a great car for speeding. It has a great feel and is very responsive to my right foot, and handles very well. I love the feel of high speed in this car. I imagine the Lexus is similar, though the marketing is a bit different. I find lots of cars are great speeding vehicles, even if not marketed that way.
Last summer when I went to Seattle, I rented a Chevrolet Impala. That was emphatically NOT a good speeding vehicle, though maybe it could have been better if I had gotten more used to it. It was just too big, and with all the parking there being in cramped indoor/tiered lots, it was inconvenient. I would never rent a big car like that again for only 2 people.
Quote from: thewizard16 on February 09, 2019, 12:18:56 PM
Rentals over the last few months:
A4 (S package)- My first experience using Silvercar. An unusual set-up that isn't really more convenient than the major rental companies (if you have good status with them/don't have to stop at the counter anyway), but the predictability is nice. I really liked the A4, the interior design is nice aside from the tacked on screen look (popular but I hate that look). Enjoyable to drive. Still though, the whole time I drove it I was having Passat maintenance flashbacks and thinking "no, Matt... she'll just hurt you."
Chevy Cruze - Decent if uninteresting. Drives acceptably. Interior isn't hideous aside from the weird fabric dash thing that looks dated already.
Chevy Malibu - This is probably most disappointing modern car I've driven. For all the hype Chevy pushes on it I was expecting it to be pretty nice... But it's worse than the new Camry, Optima, or Sonata (my standards of comparison) in basically every way I cared about. It's decently styled, but it's slow, handles poorly, the transmission never seems to know what gear it wants to be in, it doesn't have the standard tech or safety features of some of the others, and the interior is hideous and feels cheap. The fabric padded dash thing is my new most hated design idea.
Chevy Silverado 1500 - It's a good looking truck and the interior is basically the same as a base Tahoe. I'm a fan although I think the F150 is probably a better vehicle overall.
Chevy Tahoe - I've always had a soft spot for these. Although I learned quickly it's not a convenient commuting vehicle and it's a pain in the ass to drive/park downtown I still like it a lot.
Ford F150 - I like the Silverado styling better, but the interior on the Ford seemed a little nicer and it had more toys.
Kia Optima - Decent all around car. Decent looking, decent interior, decent to drive. Nothing exceptional but hard to be offended.
Kia Soul - I hate this thing. It's slow. It's inefficient. It's not nice inside. There must be better small SUV options available.
Hyundai Accent - This was literally all they had at the counter last minute. It's a cheap car that features a brake pedal and a volume pedal. (As far as I can tell anyway, because it did get louder but I didn't notice any change in velocity.)
Hyundai Elantra - Not a bad car. Reasonably nice interior for the price, good tech features, and it drove alright, if a bit floaty.
Nissan Sentra - I almost like this car for a cheaper small vehicle. Not a bad interior, drives acceptably and feels quicker than the Cruze although that may be an illusion.
Toyota Camry (new model) - I was pleasantly surprised by this car. The Camry has always been a good all around car but the last two generations weren't all that great in my opinion. The new one has stepped up its game significantly when it comes to interior quality and features. It also handled better than I'd expected for a base model. The transmission was slow to downshift when passing which was irritating but otherwise I really liked that car.
Hey, don't hate on the Cruze fabric padded dash. That's what we could offer GM to make the interior a little nicer than just painted plastic :lol:
Had a Kia Optima this weekend. I really liked it. Compared to my 2004 Mazda6 it has a bit more power, a bit more backseat room, and rides better. Partially because the Mazda needs new front shocks. :lol: But it was very composed and could cruise down the highway at 90 with ease.
It had lane assist which was annoying the first day. It would bing when I'd go near the lines to avoid a pothole or semi-truck. But today I turned on active assist and had fun watching the wheel move itself. I turned it on and off throughout the day depending on road/traffic conditions. The emergency braking was on but obviously I didn't test that. I never turned the driver attention stuff on. It also had some annoying music when you got in the car, so I turned that off immediately.
The touchscreen was nice - easy to use and responsive. The aux cord was very quiet - I had to mess with the audio equalizer to hear podcasts. Bluetooth worked pretty well, except for the first phone call I attempted that was super choppy and I had to hang up. I turned off bluetooth on my phone and waited a few minutes to connect again and after that it was fine. I never messed with Android Auto. Can that work via Bluetooth? Last car I was in required a USB connection for Android Auto, so I wasn't sure and didn't have the car long enough to bother with it.
Interior materials were fine. Not luxurious, but not bad. I'm not picky when it comes to that. The design is very nice and BMW-like. My only complaint was the the steering wheel didn't telescope and the center stack dug into my knee a bit, so it took me a few minutes to adjust to the seating position and get comfortable. Higher trim levels might have a telescoping wheel which would be good for taller drivers. The switches on the wheel are cool.
I like the interior of mine. They spent the money in the right places for the market... the underpinnings are pure economy car for better or worse
Makes me appreciate Hondas more
Since I had the rental spec, it had more tire sidewall. I think I'd prefer that for a DD. It soaked up bumps super well.
Quote from: CaminoRacer on February 26, 2019, 08:10:14 PM
Since I had the rental spec, it had more tire sidewall. I think I'd prefer that for a DD. It soaked up bumps super well.
Bring back the sidewall!
15 inch wheels ftw!
Quote from: MrH on February 18, 2019, 12:34:15 PM
Hey, don't hate on the Cruze fabric padded dash. That's what we could offer GM to make the interior a little nicer than just painted plastic :lol:
:lol: Fair enough.
Had an IS300 AWD for about a week recently. Not a big fan. Admittedly it's a bit smaller car than I'm used to but the seats seemed especially cramped (and I am not a large person). Fit/finish/quality were fine but I expected a little bit better from a premium brand even if it is one of their cheaper models. No complaints about how it drove but it didn't seem exceptionally engaging for a supposed sports sedan.
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on February 26, 2019, 08:11:34 PM
Bring back the sidewall!
15 inch wheels ftw!
Dude for real though.
The 20" rims on the Honda Passport, a vehicle that's supposedly intended to be slightly more offroad friendly than the average CUV, made me :rolleyes: pretty hard.
I have a brand new Hyundai Santa Fe for a business trip tomorrow. So far in the scant few km I've driven it it's... okay. Steering feels light to me, it's not particularly quick (haven't peeked under the hood but I presume this is the 185 hp 2.4 L) and the interior design is nothing special, but it seems quiet and smooth so far.
The Santa Fe was thoroughly 'meh'. Seating position sucked though, so I'd never ever buy one (or rent another) for that reason alone. The car was designed for shorter drivers, so the steering wheel doesn't telescope out far enough to be comfortable for anyone 5'-10"ish or taller. The seat itself is also of the sort that has height adjustment, but only from the back, so it tilts forward as you jack the seat up. Problem with that is the seat is already leaning a little forward even at its lowest position. The lumbar support (non-adjustable in the trim I had) was also at the entirely wrong spot and was pushing too low: again, a symptom of being designed with a much shorter driver in mind.
The ride was fairly comfortable and the car was quiet, but it did have a tendency for the rear to come a little loose over mid-corner bumps. All cars will do this to some extent, but this was particularly noticeable to me. Probably would have been better if there was cargo and passengers in the back to weigh it down a bit more.
The 8-speed transmission was also very very economical-minded in its programming. Very, very quick to upshift. Thrown into manual mode it actually had decent get-up-and-go, but you really needed to put your foot into it.
I had that problem in the Optima I rented. It desperately needed a telescoping wheel.
Got a Jetta for the week. I mostly like it except the steering is... weird.
I think the problem is that it's really quick steering, but almost zero feedback. To my brain, almost zero feedback = Explorer, which definitely does not have quick steering. So I was super darty with lane changes when I first got in the car because I was trying to use Explorer steering inputs.
D'ohhhhh, I lost my free Executive upgrade benefit. Google's cheaping out on me :cry:
Quote from: BimmerM3 on April 13, 2019, 12:05:32 AM
Got a Jetta for the week. I mostly like it except the steering is... weird.
I think the problem is that it's really quick steering, but almost zero feedback. To my brain, almost zero feedback = Explorer, which definitely does not have quick steering. So I was super darty with lane changes when I first got in the car because I was trying to use Explorer steering inputs.
Not a great combination!
Had a new Wrangler with the family as a rental in Toronto for a day. Had reserved a full size sedan but the counter guy upgraded me. Very comfortable front seats. Dash is nice. The pitch and roll guage is cool although only works at low speeds I think. Hardly feel potholes. Also the ride is fairly quiet. I thought it would be much noisier. Needs constant course correction on the highway. Never tracks straight which gets old quick.
Currently in a Toyota Sequoia visiting Zion and Bryce Parks with the family in Utah. Reserved a Ford Explorer but Budget was out of them and they gave me a minivan. I complained but that's all they had (so they said). Then the minivan they assigned me was the wrong one and I had to go back to the counter. On the way back I spotted a Sequoia and asked if I could have that and the manager said that would be fine (even though that's a higher class of vehicle than I had reserved). Cool! Holy huge. Mostly it's the width especially with the side view mirrors that's a bit cumbersome in parking garages and lots. This one is a very base model so the interior decor is nothing great. But it's comfortable. Highway ride is very relaxed and smooth. Even at 85 or even 90 mph. Love the open roads of the Utah desert!
You taw is beauuuuutiful.
Have a Grand Cherokee for the next couple days on a business trip to the scenic, podunk hamlet of Grande Cache, Alberta. Feeling fortunate I have the Jeep, we ended up having to detour on a forestry road because of an overturned truck on the highway.
I'm driving a Ford Flex this week. Thing is a total landbarge
Quote from: CALL_911 on April 23, 2019, 09:22:58 PM
I'm driving a Ford Flex this week. Thing is a total landbarge
It must be having trouble meeting the demands of your right foot. :evildude:
Quote from: dazzleman on April 23, 2019, 10:57:55 PM
It must be having trouble meeting the demands of your right foot. :evildude:
The Ford V6 SUVs pull really well but they're floaty and feel biggggggg.
They do make one of those with the twin turbo V6. But yeah I can't see it feeling "sporty".
Quote from: Laconian on April 23, 2019, 11:09:56 PM
The Ford V6 SUVs pull really well but they're floaty and feel biggggggg.
I was going to say my wife's MKX's 4400lb curb weight is obscene but that seems to be the norm for the segment
It drives OK though; didn't miss my car much when we took it up to the mountains.
Quote from: 93JC on April 23, 2019, 04:00:01 PM
Have a Grand Cherokee for the next couple days on a business trip to the scenic, podunk hamlet of Grande Cache, Alberta. Feeling fortunate I have the Jeep, we ended up having to detour on a forestry road because of an overturned truck on the highway.
Have to give this thing back later today; so far it has been quite nice. Leans a lot in the corners which is an unusual feeling relative to my daily driver, but it has loads of power and the drive is very well composed otherwise. I can see why people like these and they sell well.
Quote from: BimmerM3 on April 13, 2019, 12:05:32 AM
Got a Jetta for the week. I mostly like it except the steering is... weird.
I think the problem is that it's really quick steering, but almost zero feedback. To my brain, almost zero feedback = Explorer, which definitely does not have quick steering. So I was super darty with lane changes when I first got in the car because I was trying to use Explorer steering inputs.
Follow up on this. The steering was fine after I got used to it, but I never got used to how the car gets on the power from a stand still. It felt like I was riding around with someone who was new at driving stick shift - there'd be a lot of slip in the torque converter and I wouldn't move much, then it would suddenly give me ALL THE POWER and fling the car forward.
The best solution I found was to leave it in "Eco" mode to cut down on throttle response, and it still wasn't great. :(
As a side note, the in-dash Android Auto was sweet. I use the app on my phone + bluetooth in the Explorer, but the clean look of a built in HU was nice, and the UI is a little better (in most ways). I will say that I wish there were physical buttons for switching between the main functions, particularly navigation and music since I was switching back and forth between those pretty frequently.
Quote from: BimmerM3 on April 25, 2019, 08:22:18 AM
Follow up on this. The steering was fine after I got used to it, but I never got used to how the car gets on the power from a stand still. It felt like I was riding around with someone who was new at driving stick shift - there'd be a lot of slip in the torque converter and I wouldn't move much, then it would suddenly give me ALL THE POWER and fling the car forward.
The best solution I found was to leave it in "Eco" mode to cut down on throttle response, and it still wasn't great. :(
As a side note, the in-dash Android Auto was sweet. I use the app on my phone + bluetooth in the Explorer, but the clean look of a built in HU was nice, and the UI is a little better (in most ways). I will say that I wish there were physical buttons for switching between the main functions, particularly navigation and music since I was switching back and forth between those pretty frequently.
Torque converter? I thought these things use DSG's?
Quote from: CALL_911 on April 23, 2019, 09:22:58 PM
I'm driving a Ford Flex this week. Thing is a total landbarge
I've never driven one of those but always wanted to. Is it more ponderous than a minivan or about the same?
Quote from: 2o6 on April 25, 2019, 09:41:48 AM
Torque converter? I thought these things use DSG's?
Maybe? It feels more like a clutch than a torque converter, but their website says "8-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic® and Sport mode".
Quote from: 93JC on April 23, 2019, 04:00:01 PM
Have a Grand Cherokee for the next couple days on a business trip to the scenic, podunk hamlet of Grande Cache, Alberta. Feeling fortunate I have the Jeep, we ended up having to detour on a forestry road because of an overturned truck on the highway.
Quote from: 93JC on April 25, 2019, 06:36:09 AM
Have to give this thing back later today; so far it has been quite nice. Leans a lot in the corners which is an unusual feeling relative to my daily driver, but it has loads of power and the drive is very well composed otherwise. I can see why people like these and they sell well.
Only big downside to the Grand Cherokee was the fuel economy. Only got 22 mpg while 95% of my driving was on the highway at 65ish mph. :mask:
Have a bright red V8 charger for this week. This thing is fast and loud but handles like a couch
Guess the past two weeks have been the ballad of the modern American motorized caricatures with this and the Flex
This thing is fucking awesome. I love it
Quote from: CALL_911 on April 27, 2019, 12:09:06 AM
Have a bright red V8 charger for this week. This thing is fast and loud but handles like a couch
Guess the past two weeks have been the ballad of the modern American motorized caricatures with this and the Flex
I wonder how they compare in driveability to the old muscle car Chargers from the early 1970s. I know a woman who owns one - She said she went to the dealer to get an SUV and walked out with the Charger. They're a pretty distinctive car. I would love to drive one.
Did you ever drive a Mustang? I had a Mustang rental a few years ago and it was pretty cool. Fast and noisy and with a totally different feel than my fast German car. It's like beauty - there are so many different kinds!
They handle WAY better than an old Charger, unless the old Charger has been upgraded with newer tires, alignment, and maybe increased spring rate & aftermarket shocks.
The newer Challengers and Chargers are tempting solely because of the exhaust note. :wub:
Chargers are common occurrences on https://www.reddit.com/r/JustBootThings/ .
Quote from: 2o6 on April 25, 2019, 09:41:48 AM
Torque converter? I thought these things use DSG's?
Quote from: BimmerM3 on April 25, 2019, 09:55:09 AM
Maybe? It feels more like a clutch than a torque converter, but their website says "8-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic® and Sport mode".
Looked into this further. The outgoing 2018 Jetta had a 6-speed DSG. The 2019 has an 8-speed auto w/ torque converter. My rental definitely had 8 gears. I don't know how they made a torque converter feel like a poorly programmed computerized clutch from a stand still, but it's not good.
I'm in Maine with my dad and have a 2018 Mazda3 as a rental. I really like it, except for its dimwitted gearbox. Also Mazdas infotainment is horrendous. Seriously prob the worst I've used.
Quote from: CALL_911 on May 14, 2019, 06:55:58 PM
I'm in Maine with my dad and have a 2018 Mazda3 as a rental. I really like it, except for its dimwitted gearbox. Also Mazdas infotainment is horrendous. Seriously prob the worst I've used.
Did.you drive the Mazda up there from New York?
Quote from: CALL_911 on May 14, 2019, 06:55:58 PM
I'm in Maine with my dad and have a 2018 Mazda3 as a rental. I really like it, except for its dimwitted gearbox. Also Mazdas infotainment is horrendous. Seriously prob the worst I've used.
Manual or auto and whats the problem with it?
Quote from: dazzleman on May 14, 2019, 07:20:43 PM
Did.you drive the Mazda up there from New York?
No sir. We flew into Portland and rented it there.
Quote from: FoMoJo on May 14, 2019, 07:36:41 PM
Manual or auto and whats the problem with it?
Auto. Slow to react, not terribly quick shifts
Quote from: CALL_911 on May 14, 2019, 07:41:05 PM
No sir. We flew into Portland and rented it there.
Auto. Slow to react, not terribly quick shifts
What are you seeing up in Maine? Any good fast driving opportunities where you are?
Quote from: dazzleman on May 14, 2019, 08:02:24 PM
What are you seeing up in Maine? Any good fast driving opportunities where you are?
Doing several days in Acadia with my dad. He had a couple free days in his schedule, but not enough to go too far so I figured this would make a good trip. Unfortunately the weather here is horrendous this week
Actually the back roads here have been terrific and highlights the good aspects of this Mazda3
Quote from: CALL_911 on May 14, 2019, 08:07:31 PM
Doing several days in Acadia with my dad. He had a couple free days in his schedule, but not enough to go too far so I figured this would make a good trip. Unfortunately the weather here is horrendous this week
Actually the back roads here have been terrific and highlights the good aspects of this Mazda3
I think I-95 is up to an 80 MPH limit north of ... Bangor? But the twisty roads are more fun.
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on May 14, 2019, 08:41:41 PM
I think I-95 is up to an 80 MPH limit north of ... Bangor? But the twisty roads are more fun.
Damn seriously? I didn't know 80 mph limits existed on the east coast. Yeah we took route 1 and similarly small roads to get to Bar Harbor.
Quote from: CALL_911 on May 14, 2019, 08:44:53 PM
Damn seriously? I didn't know 80 mph limits existed on the east coast. Yeah we took route 1 and similarly small roads to get to Bar Harbor.
You know what, it might be 75.
Quote from: CALL_911 on May 14, 2019, 08:07:31 PM
Doing several days in Acadia with my dad. He had a couple free days in his schedule, but not enough to go too far so I figured this would make a good trip. Unfortunately the weather here is horrendous this week
Actually the back roads here have been terrific and highlights the good aspects of this Mazda3
Have a great time, man! :rockon:
Quote from: dazzleman on April 27, 2019, 03:34:03 AM
I wonder how they compare in driveability to the old muscle car Chargers from the early 1970s. I know a woman who owns one - She said she went to the dealer to get an SUV and walked out with the Charger. They're a pretty distinctive car. I would love to drive one.
Did you ever drive a Mustang? I had a Mustang rental a few years ago and it was pretty cool. Fast and noisy and with a totally different feel than my fast German car. It's like beauty - there are so many different kinds!
Dave go drive a Charger Scat Pack. You'll love it and hopefully buy it.
Quote from: 68_427 on May 15, 2019, 04:14:17 PM
Dave go drive a Charger Scat Pack. You'll love it and hopefully buy it.
Except that it's called the Scat Pack ...
For scat packers only!
Quote from: 68_427 on May 15, 2019, 04:14:17 PM
Dave go drive a Charger Scat Pack. You'll love it and hopefully buy it.
Why not a Hellcat?
Quote from: FoMoJo on May 15, 2019, 04:45:40 PM
Why not a Hellcat?
You can buy a brand new Scat Pack for under $40k.
Quote from: 68_427 on May 15, 2019, 04:14:17 PM
Dave go drive a Charger Scat Pack. You'll love it and hopefully buy it.
I was looking at those last month (after renting a Charger RT) and they're an abs steal
Day 3 with the Mazda3. I take back my complaints about the gearbox- it must have been it's programming. It has been much better. Shifts aren't ZF8 fast but they're good enough. Car is seriously fun to drive, has great steering and v controlled body motions. Drives like something a lot more expensive.
Infotainment is total trash, and I find more flaws with it the more I use it This 2018 I'm driving doesn't have Carplay either. It's bad to the point where I'd think about looking elsewhere. But I'd probably buy this thing anyway. I'd totally buy one of these and imagine the new one is only better.
I'm honestly surprised you like it so much, I was really disappointed with my ~2016 rental. Transmission was good, body motions were well controlled.... but the steering and overall balance felt exactly the same as the Golf TSI I had, but with what felt like half the HP
My frame of reference at the time was my admittedly modded Civic.... which had phenomenal stock (hydraulic) steering and a much zippier (basically stock) engine. But that thing was loud and ancient and a worse DD
Quote from: CALL_911 on May 16, 2019, 03:47:47 AM
Day 3 with the Mazda3. I take back my complaints about the gearbox- it must have been it's programming. It has been much better. Shifts aren't ZF8 fast but they're good enough. Car is seriously fun to drive, has great steering and v controlled body motions. Drives like something a lot more expensive.
Infotainment is total trash, and I find more flaws with it the more I use it This 2018 I'm driving doesn't have Carplay either. It's bad to the point where I'd think about looking elsewhere. But I'd probably buy this thing anyway. I'd totally buy one of these and imagine the new one is only better.
I wonder if you have some kind of base trim spec infotainment unit or something? Do you have GPS on your car? I regard my MX-5's to be pretty darn good, more attractive and performant Subaru's, and extremely navigable with the i-Drive joystick thingy. Maybe you're spoiled by luxury marque infotainment, which I don't have much experience with. Wimmer's digital dash looks like it's from another planet.
My dad's 2018 Mazda3 has CarPlay. Your impressions of how it drives echo mine. Everything about the car feels very confident and buttoned-down, a bit like a budget BMW. My dad legitimately enjoys driving cars but he's too goddamn cheap to buy anything fun or fast. The 3 is a sports car hiding in an economy car Trojan horse. He bought it for its practical virtues, but now he won't stop raving about how fun it is to drive it on twisty roads. At last, he
finally has a car he enjoys. I'm proud of you, Dad!
You can add CarPlay to the old head units, too.
Quote from: 2o6 on May 16, 2019, 02:00:28 PM
You can add CarPlay to the old head units, too.
https://mazdatweaks.com/
You can do it with a thumb drive. The hardware can be left intact, if you're OK with the potential for battery drain - the regular USB ports don't provide much power.
Quote from: Laconian on May 16, 2019, 02:18:41 PM
https://mazdatweaks.com/
You can do it with a thumb drive. The hardware can be left intact, if you're OK with the potential for battery drain - the regular USB ports don't provide much power.
That's just begging for someone to build a cable that attaches to the headunit, spliced to a cigarette lighter wire for charging...
USB power injectors are a thing.
Quote from: Laconian on May 16, 2019, 02:18:41 PM
https://mazdatweaks.com/
You can do it with a thumb drive. The hardware can be left intact, if you're OK with the potential for battery drain - the regular USB ports don't provide much power.
I think the dealer can do it for $100.
Quote from: 2o6 on May 16, 2019, 11:41:49 PM
I think the dealer can do it for $100.
Parts and labor is closer to 400.
You can buy the higher powered USB port for $155 I think. The labor isn't that difficult. Just do it yourself.
Also, in regards to Scat Packs...you can get them really cheap off lease now. They weren't moving for awhile, and then they opened them up to FCA employees for company cars. They can't get any SRT vehicles, so this was like a budget SRT-8 for cheap, so they ordered a TON of them.
I remember planning the shocks for that car. I thought their system went haywire because the uptick was so massive. Nope, just all employee orders coming through :lol:
Rented a very base model Nissan Frontier in Hawaii. I feel like a landscaper in it.
Quote from: Laconian on May 19, 2019, 01:02:22 PM
Rented a very base model Nissan Frontier in Hawaii. I feel like a landscaper in it.
Nice. You should drive up to some crews and yell at them to work faster.
Quote from: Laconian on May 19, 2019, 01:02:22 PM
Rented a very base model Nissan Frontier in Hawaii. I feel like a landscaper in it.
Does it still have the VQ?
Quote from: CALL_911 on May 19, 2019, 09:37:50 PM
Does it still have the VQ?
It's exactly the same as it was in 2005 or so.
Quote from: 68_427 on May 20, 2019, 04:30:36 PM
It's exactly the same as it was in 2005 or so.
Nah I meant does the very base model have the VQ, but that was poorly written
It's a SV crew cab, so not very base, it turns out. Still feels chintzy. Oh well, it hauls dive gear like a champ.
Had an Elantra the last couple days. Still a perfectly cromulent transportation appliance, truly a Korean Corolla. The engine isn't particularly powerful and it needs a lot of "motivation" in highway passing manoeuvres. Handling is okay at city speeds but on the highway it felt a little "floaty" at higher speeds, particularly in corners which makes you feel very unsure about its limits. It felt like it was about to skip sideways. Comfortable enough interior with a fair amount of amenities.
I wouldn't buy one, but I can see why others might. It has great fuel economy and is a perfectly comfortable city runabout.
Being in Utah with wide-open roads, I feel like 180 hp is the lowest I'd want to go. Even in a small car.
Quote from: CaminoRacer on May 23, 2019, 10:09:21 AM
Being in Utah with wide-open roads, I feel like 180 hp is the lowest I'd want to go. Even in a small car.
Everyone in Utah should have at least 300 HP, or they will just hold up traffic.
Quote from: CaminoRacer on May 23, 2019, 10:09:21 AM
Being in Utah with wide-open roads, I feel like 180 hp is the lowest I'd want to go. Even in a small car.
Why? I'm guessing the flat parts are at low elevations. I had a little 70HP Fiat Panda doing 90 or so in Italy. Doesn't take much power to cruise
In Utah you can go 100 pretty easily. Speed limit is 80. Aero drag is substantial at those speeds.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on May 23, 2019, 12:06:02 PM
Why? I'm guessing the flat parts are at low elevations. I had a little 70HP Fiat Panda doing 90 or so in Italy. Doesn't take much power to cruise
90kph? Big numbers are less impressive in communist metric countries. :lol:
Maybe it was 90 meters per second
My Mazda6 with 160 hp could use a bit more oomph to get up to 70-80 mph on freeways in civilized areas, and it has to downshift into 3rd for some of the bigger freeway climbs when I drive to southern Utah.
180+ hp and a 6+ speed transmission would make it better.
90 MPH guys come on :lol:
My MIL's 90hp Captur maxes out at 160kph. Takes forever for the speed to climb after 110.
Also the flat parts here aren't necessarily low elevation. Most of the state is above 4,000 feet. The mean elevation is 6,100, which is the 3rd highest after Colorado and Wyoming.
So the new compacts with 150 turbocharged horsepower are probably better than the previous gens that had similar power but N/A.
Yeah, my 138HP car does great when I'm going thru the mountains. Gotta change gears, but it's all good.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on May 23, 2019, 12:06:02 PM
Why? I'm guessing the flat parts are at low elevations.
LOL, "the flat parts" of Utah are still ~5,000 ft.
The drive I did in the rental Elantra went from ~2,000 ft to 4,000 ft, and back again. It was a crappy old two-lane road, speed limit of 100 km/h (62 mph), I had the cruise set to 109, and it did fine on the open road. Where it struggled was passing, like I said. Lots of truck traffic on that highway and not a lot of passing zones, so I had to make them count and had to drop to 3rd gear to get any oomph out of it. It was acceptable, it obviously worked okay because I'm still alive to type about it, but it wasn't ideal.
Fuel economy was really, really good though. 6.07 L/100 km, or 38.7 mpUSg.
Quote from: 2o6 on May 23, 2019, 04:52:48 PM
Yeah, my 138HP car does great when I'm going thru the mountains. Gotta change gears, but it's all good.
Yeah, but turbo makes mountains irrelevant.
:hesaid:
....I was agreeing with Alex
Quote from: 2o6 on May 23, 2019, 06:53:38 PM
....I was agreeing with Alex
Yeah, but your car doesn't have 150 HP... :lol:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/x1LxxRaYenQDqmJR6
Truck hauls salty wet gear real good
Also, most rentals on Maui are Nissans now. Maybe we should short Nissan? This truck's interior is basically a time capsule from 2006
Quote from: 93JC on May 23, 2019, 04:53:12 PM
LOL, "the flat parts" of Utah are still ~5,000 ft.
The drive I did in the rental Elantra went from ~2,000 ft to 4,000 ft, and back again. It was a crappy old two-lane road, speed limit of 100 km/h (62 mph), I had the cruise set to 109, and it did fine on the open road. Where it struggled was passing, like I said. Lots of truck traffic on that highway and not a lot of passing zones, so I had to make them count and had to drop to 3rd gear to get any oomph out of it. It was acceptable, it obviously worked okay because I'm still alive to type about it, but it wasn't ideal.
Fuel economy was really, really good though. 6.07 L/100 km, or 38.7 mpUSg.
I mean...I probably don't HAVE to drop to 3rd gear to make passes in my car...but I do it anyway because that is the most fun way to do it. :lol:
Quote from: 93JC on May 23, 2019, 04:53:12 PM
LOL, "the flat parts" of Utah are still ~5,000 ft.
The drive I did in the rental Elantra went from ~2,000 ft to 4,000 ft, and back again. It was a crappy old two-lane road, speed limit of 100 km/h (62 mph), I had the cruise set to 109, and it did fine on the open road. Where it struggled was passing, like I said. Lots of truck traffic on that highway and not a lot of passing zones, so I had to make them count and had to drop to 3rd gear to get any oomph out of it. It was acceptable, it obviously worked okay because I'm still alive to type about it, but it wasn't ideal.
Fuel economy was really, really good though. 6.07 L/100 km, or 38.7 mpUSg.
This is why, for mainstreamers at least, we need to turbocharge all the things
The diesel version of that Panda I had made similar HP, but obviously with a snail the size of my daughter's fist. In the Tuscan mountains we spent most of our time driving that car in, the extra power at elevation would have been nice.
(https://i.imgur.com/QJ9d3yO.jpg)
:mrcool: :rockon:
Quote from: Laconian on May 24, 2019, 12:32:56 AM
Also, most rentals on Maui are Nissans now. Maybe we should short Nissan? This truck's interior is basically a time capsule from 2006
I calculated the fuel economy: 21mpg! Much better than my G37, which would seldom go above 18. :confused:
I drove from London to Dover yesterday so we rented a Golf TDI from Turo. The torquey engine was quite nice and made it easy to speed up on the freeway. There were lots of 50 mph zones, so going from 50 to 70 was speedy compared to most small hatchbacks. I was surprised at how wide the car is, though. It's a small car, but it's still very wide for British roads. Driving on the right side of the car wasn't a big deal, although I never quite got used to the rearview mirror location. Which was my one complaint about the car's interior - the interior was good quality except that mirror. Seemed very cheap. Wasn't necessarily a fan of the steering wheel material either. Steering feel seemed pretty good, maybe a bit light at times. The car had start-stop, which isn't a nice as GM's. Being a diesel means a bit more racket when it starts back up, too. There was one time I was in a parking lot area, going down hill, and the DCT transmission was holding a low gear to keep it from going too quickly, then I hit the brakes which were kinda touchy, then the damn engine shut off because the wheels stopped, and the entire ordeal was like riding a bucking bronco. I'm glad no cars were behind me because they'd think I either didn't have a driver's license or had too much to drink. Overall the DCT was fine, but I think I'd prefer a normal automatic.
MPG was excellent - 55-65 mpg is awesome. Don't know if that was Imperial gallons or US gallons, though. Overall, the diesel seems like a decent option. But I saw a few diesels spewing black smoke as we drove down the highway, which isn't cool. My current boss has a Volt and it's got a similar torquey drivetrain and you don't have to worry about the emissions.
After all of those complaints, I did like the car. I'd give it a B+
I don't know why, but those seemingly underpowered diesels work really well in Europe. Maybe everything is relative
Got a Holden Commodore aka Buick Regal rental in Australia. Not a bad car, but def has a few annoying qualities. I really hate the lane departure thing, the parking assist, and it has an awful start stop function.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on June 03, 2019, 05:35:55 AM
I don't know why, but those seemingly underpowered diesels work really well in Europe. Maybe everything is relative
IMO it's the roundabouts. Preserving your momentum is key. I get around fine in my MIL's 900cc Renault, which is really underpowered on paper and mildly underpowered in practice.
I don't think the Golf TDI is nearly as underpowered as some of the subcompact diesels
My former Beetle TDI turbodiesel with manual transmission with 140 hp didn't feel underpowered to me. Thankfully no start/stop bull crap. It actually felt like it had more oomph than my current gas 148 hp Subaru Crosstrek, especially mid range which I think the VW turbodiesel is known for. One of my complaints about my VW, other than the really crappy Bluetooth, was it felt like the engine was too heavy for the car. With only me as a passenger and nothing in the boot it would still feel like it was going to bottom out on small potholes and speed bumps.
Quote from: CaminoRacer on June 02, 2019, 04:16:19 PM
I drove from London to Dover yesterday so we rented a Golf TDI from Turo. The torquey engine was quite nice and made it easy to speed up on the freeway. There were lots of 50 mph zones, so going from 50 to 70 was speedy compared to most small hatchbacks. I was surprised at how wide the car is, though. It's a small car, but it's still very wide for British roads. Driving on the right side of the car wasn't a big deal, although I never quite got used to the rearview mirror location. Which was my one complaint about the car's interior - the interior was good quality except that mirror. Seemed very cheap. Wasn't necessarily a fan of the steering wheel material either. Steering feel seemed pretty good, maybe a bit light at times. The car had start-stop, which isn't a nice as GM's. Being a diesel means a bit more racket when it starts back up, too. There was one time I was in a parking lot area, going down hill, and the DCT transmission was holding a low gear to keep it from going too quickly, then I hit the brakes which were kinda touchy, then the damn engine shut off because the wheels stopped, and the entire ordeal was like riding a bucking bronco. I'm glad no cars were behind me because they'd think I either didn't have a driver's license or had too much to drink. Overall the DCT was fine, but I think I'd prefer a normal automatic.
MPG was excellent - 55-65 mpg is awesome. Don't know if that was Imperial gallons or US gallons, though. Overall, the diesel seems like a decent option. But I saw a few diesels spewing black smoke as we drove down the highway, which isn't cool. My current boss has a Volt and it's got a similar torquey drivetrain and you don't have to worry about the emissions.
After all of those complaints, I did like the car. I'd give it a B+
I know what you mean about the Golf feeling wide on London roads. I had rented a Ford Mondeo in London a few years back and I thought I would end up curbing the thing every time I took the car out. I wasn't expecting that.
2019 Kia Sportage LX AWD.
This is the poverty-spec model: manual a/c, manual-adjust cloth seats, no sunroof, no frippery. What a lovely little reasonably-priced appliance vehicle. I enjoy it more than my loaded-with-everything 2018 CR-V.
The seats are are much more comfortable. The transmission is silky. The engine is quiet, relaxed and torquey. Panel lines are tight. It is solid and well-put together. It doesn't need noise cancellation to drown out resonant boom.
Judging by the goodness of the base model - Hyundai/Kia, swinging for the fences for a long time, are now hitting it out of the park.
Quote from: Morris Minor on June 19, 2019, 07:43:30 AM
2019 Kia Sportage LX AWD.
This is the poverty-spec model: manual a/c, manual-adjust cloth seats, no sunroof, no frippery. What a lovely little reasonably-priced appliance vehicle. I enjoy it more than my loaded-with-everything 2018 CR-V.
The seats are are much more comfortable. The transmission is silky. The engine is quiet, relaxed and torquey. Panel lines are tight. It is solid and well-put together. It doesn't need noise cancellation to drown out resonant boom.
Judging by the goodness of the base model - Hyundai/Kia, swinging for the fences for a long time, are now hitting it out of the park.
I agree. Hyundai/Kia have a lot of great models, well priced, recently coming out or about to come out. The Hyundai Palisade 3 row SUV and Kia version coming out this summer look really good. The Hyundai Kona has a legitimate electric version. Genesis has some really good models. Plus best new car warranty of any brand.
I changed the Sportage's clock to 24-hour time format. Leaving my mark on rental cars wherever I can.
Quote from: Morris Minor on June 22, 2019, 05:40:24 AM
I changed the Sportage's clock to 24-hour time format. Leaving my mark on rental cars wherever I can.
:thumbsup:
Quote from: Morris Minor on June 22, 2019, 05:40:24 AM
I changed the Sportage's clock to 24-hour time format. Leaving my mark on rental cars wherever I can.
Change your phone name to "ANDREW WUZ HERE", pair it with the car, and leave the pairing entry in the system for the next person to see.
The perfect crime!
Quote from: Morris Minor on June 22, 2019, 05:40:24 AM
I changed the Sportage's clock to 24-hour time format. Leaving my mark on rental cars wherever I can.
Do they have a metric setting for speed and distance? That might be fun for the next guy. "Hey, I'm doing 80 and everyone's still passing me."
I figured people who don't understand 24-hr time format would be too stupid to be able to change it back. Those that do understand will probably leave it there.
And I don't remember seeing the metric option. But I'll file that one away for future use. Crawling along at 55 km/h in a 55 mph zone, yes I like that.
Quote from: Morris Minor on June 22, 2019, 02:06:23 PM
I figured people who don't understand 24-hr time format would be too stupid to be able to change it back. Those that do understand will probably leave it there.
And I don't remember seeing the metric option. But I'll file that one away for future use. Crawling along at 55 km/h in a 55 mph zone, yes I like that.
i'll have to do both.. or all 3...
If you rent a Nissan, you can customize several maintenance reminders to go off at the mileage of your choosing. Set them all for the minimum so the warning lights and messages on for the next guy. If you rent a Ford, you can set the oil life percentage all the way down to 10%, I think. Do that so the oil change warning comes up way too soon. I also like to tune the stereo to zero bass and maximum treble, and leave tuned to AM radio.
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on June 22, 2019, 03:07:00 PM
If you rent a Nissan, you can customize several maintenance reminders to go off at the mileage of your choosing. Set them all for the minimum so the warning lights and messages on for the next guy. If you rent a Ford, you can set the oil life percentage all the way down to 10%, I think. Do that so the oil change warning comes up way too soon. I also like to tune the stereo to zero bass and maximum treble, and leave tuned to AM radio.
Leave a gift of a disgusting ASMR CD-R in each car you rent.
Quote from: Laconian on June 22, 2019, 03:07:54 PM
Leave a gift of a disgusting ASMR CD-R in each car you rent.
I have to make these now.
I'm gonna have fun in Japan when I rent a car..
Quote from: Morris Minor on June 22, 2019, 02:06:23 PM
I figured people who don't understand 24-hr time format would be too stupid to be able to change it back. Those that do understand will probably leave it there.
And I don't remember seeing the metric option. But I'll file that one away for future use. Crawling along at 55 km/h in a 55 mph zone, yes I like that.
99% of the vehicles I detail that have the clock on 24 hour time are ex-military.
I was recently in Greece for a week and decided to rent a car to see some of the historic sights on the mainland and went with the cheapest option I could get - a 75hp Hyundai I20 hatch. This thing was bare bones man; power windows on only the driver side, no bluetooth/backup cam, no power locks, and what felt like a single speaker for the audio. It was also painfully slow to a level I had never experienced before, I constantly had to downshift into 3rd just to maintain speed up the Greek mountains. The transmission for its part was okay, the throws were long and so was the clutch travel, but you couldn't stall this thing if you wanted to. Like seriously, there were times when I was getting used to it where I could have sworn the engine died on me but then just kicked back in. I think the car also had some kind of hill hold assist since the brakes stayed engaged on some hills until I hit the clutch. No idea how to activate the system but I felt it a few times.
Besides the lack of features and how painfully slow it was, and it was actually very loud the few times I got on broken pavement, it was a decent little hatch and actually kinda fun to toss around. I would never consider buying it, but I didn't hate it.
I have fond memories of the super barebones diesel C3 hatch I flogged around the Peloponnese. So goddamn slow but it still got us to interesting places.
When I was in Okinawa, I rented a Toyota Voxy GPS van/wagon thing. The thing was super boxy and upright but also roomy while a bit smaller than the minivans that we get. While it was super underpowered, it drove as well as it could. It's a challenge driving RHD simply because my mind needed to get used to it. I was constantly hitting the wiper switch when I'm doing lane changes. The cars I see in Japan though, Kevin would be in heavy surrounded by all those tiny cars.
Rented a Peugeot 208 for three weeks:
(https://d1ek71enupal89.cloudfront.net/images/blocks_png/PEUGEOT/208/5DR/19Peu208Tec5drBlaFR_800.jpg)
Got it brand new from the rental place (Centauro) with only 6 kms on the clock
+
Nice, well built interior (much better than the Bolt)
I like the Peugeot dash set up with a really small steering wheel
Infotainment has nothing except Android Auto/Apple Carplay = perfect
Really well packaged car. Even the rear seats has adequate room for most
Pretty agile, especially in city driving.
Not much engine vibration, especially for a three cylinder car.
-
82hp 1.2 = Really fucking slow
Only 5 speed m/t (!)
Too soft suspension.
I don't like the exterior. The new 208 is much better.
Engine sounded a bit thrashy at low speeds. Some ticking at times even on a brand new motor.
I kind of liked the car. With a better drivetrain and a sport suspension, I wouldn't mind owning one.. The upcoming electric version will be interesting.
(https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/24/590x/secondary/New-Peugeot-e-208-1754581.jpg?r=1551084448061)
5 speed manual might make the most sense in a car with low HP, actually. If you need to keep the revs up a bit on the highway to keep up with traffic, having 2 overdrive gears might be worthless. If the 5 speed weighs a bit less, costs a bit less, and performs just as well, then why not?
+1. Auto with no power is the worst.
Quote from: CaminoRacer on July 21, 2019, 12:10:58 PM
5 speed manual might make the most sense in a car with low HP, actually. If you need to keep the revs up a bit on the highway to keep up with traffic, having 2 overdrive gears might be worthless. If the 5 speed weighs a bit less, costs a bit less, and performs just as well, then why not?
Maybe you are right. Fifth gear was also pretty tall. Ø
I don't know how or why, but ~80HP in Europe didn't feel slow to me. And that was back when my only ride was a motorcycle with 10 less HP.
Small, light cars and manual transmission.
Quote from: mzziaz on July 22, 2019, 06:46:30 AM
Small, light cars and manual transmission.
I think its more that every other car is also equally slow and in general the streets are smaller, more narrow, and not as straight as the average street in the States. You bring the 75hp i20 I had into Chicago where everything on the road has at minimum twice the HP and it will totally feel slow.
2018 Honda Accord Sport 1.5T.
I had a 650 mile round trip journey to Detroit this weekend and since my dad was in Greece for the summer, I decided to take his Accord since it was larger, quieter, and much more fuel economical than my Si. So I guess not technically a rental but I had it long enough to make some opinions.
From the front facing angels, I think this thing looks fantastic and way better than in pictures. The long, wide, and low hood give it a decent presence that's both sporty and classy. Those ridiculous rims bring it all together to make the car look more upmarket than it actually is. From the front at least. No idea what happened with the rear but it looks so boring. Is it a hatch or isn't it? Why does it need massive, fake chrome exhausts? What's up with the lobster claw tail lights? The little lip spoiler is probably the only thing about the rear that I actually like.
Moving on to the interior and I have no issues with it. Its clean, its easy to use, and it looks good. There's this nice fake carbon fiber trim that accents the dashboard that doesn't look like ass, unlike in my Si. The seats are comfy with decent bolstering and are in this suede/leatherette material that looks super nice and feels good. Everything you touch is soft and padded with the hard plastic being reserved for areas that you normally wouldn't go to. The infotainment is easy to use and there are dials for everything so you're not menu hopping too much. Apple Car play is also awesome and I wish I had it. I didn't spend anytime in the backseat but I've been there before and its pretty comfy. Trunk is big too.
The performance of the car was pretty good. The main reason I took this thing instead of driving my Si was because of the fuel economy and I averaged a smidge under 38 using regular fuel so it saved me a lot of money. It was reasonably quick too with no real issues in acceleration or passing, although there was a bit of lag down low which I'm not sure if it's the engine or transmission but it was noticeable either way. Speaking of the transmission, it's a CVT and it was totally fine and it didn't make itself known most of the time anyway. I think I felt engine braking once which confused me but assumed it was all of the safety nannies so just went on with my life. Handling was also really good for a mainstream sedan and the car is pretty quiet for a Honda. This thing is the Sport model and it doesn't have adaptive dampers which honestly I'm not sure it needs, although there were a couple times where the suspension felt needlessly harsh and loud over some cracked pavement. It didn't happen often but when it did it was noticeable. Brakes kinda suck though, but that's a Honda thing at this point.
I briefly mentioned safety nannies earlier but this thing has active cruise control, lane keep assist, driver attention monitoring, Forward Collision Warning, Collision Mitigation Braking System, and probably a half dozen other random acronyms that do stuff. For the first 100 miles or so I had all of them on and was just annoyed by random beeps, pings, and slight tugs of the wheel. They aren't hard to find when you know what you're looking for, but if you don't all you see is ACC, LKAS, FCW, etc littered around the steering wheel and menus and have to guess at what does what. After I bit I started to turn the cruise control and lane keep assist on but kept the rest of the stuff off. On a two lane highway with little traffic, Active Cruise Control and Lane Keep Asist are amazing. Its freaky at first and a little scary, but having the car take care of the mundane task of keeping you in your lane while you're on mile 230 of a flat, mostly straight, and completely boring midwestern highway is great. You're not as tired and have time to open up bags of chips/jerky and drink whatever you have on hand. Do not recommend it when you start hitting big cities and traffic heats up though and I'm surprised there aren't any major lawsuits of accidents happening because people relied on these systems in heavy traffic.
Anyway, overall I can't imagine a better car for the money being sold in the States. Its big and roomy, but performs well and gets excellent fuel economy while still being comfy. Its no Mazda 6 in terms of styling, but it still looks great most of the time. The stupid wheel/tire package is a pain to replace, the OEM Goodyears are like $200 a tire, but it brings the whole thing together so its okay. Honestly, I imagine the 2.0T Accord makes base A4/320s kinda obsolete. The FWD A4 especially is probably DOA.
I really like the current Accord. Somehow it looks much better than it has any right to. The 2.0T with the manual seems like a great choice for a daily driver.
Yeah, it's seems like a fantastic roadtrip car.
Quote from: CaminoRacer on August 27, 2019, 02:26:33 PM
Yeah, it's seems like a fantastic roadtrip car.
So does a 1985 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham.
Good review
Waiting for Acura version with AWD and hopefully a 6 popper. But the Accord is amazing for what it is. Though on FB groups all the tech does seem a little problematic.
Quote from: Xer0 on August 27, 2019, 01:10:12 PM
2018 Honda Accord Sport 1.5T.
I had a 650 mile round trip journey to Detroit this weekend and since my dad was in Greece for the summer, I decided to take his Accord since it was larger, quieter, and much more fuel economical than my Si. So I guess not technically a rental but I had it long enough to make some opinions.
From the front facing angels, I think this thing looks fantastic and way better than in pictures. The long, wide, and low hood give it a decent presence that's both sporty and classy. Those ridiculous rims bring it all together to make the car look more upmarket than it actually is. From the front at least. No idea what happened with the rear but it looks so boring. Is it a hatch or isn't it? Why does it need massive, fake chrome exhausts? What's up with the lobster claw tail lights? The little lip spoiler is probably the only thing about the rear that I actually like.
Moving on to the interior and I have no issues with it. Its clean, its easy to use, and it looks good. There's this nice fake carbon fiber trim that accents the dashboard that doesn't look like ass, unlike in my Si. The seats are comfy with decent bolstering and are in this suede/leatherette material that looks super nice and feels good. Everything you touch is soft and padded with the hard plastic being reserved for areas that you normally wouldn't go to. The infotainment is easy to use and there are dials for everything so you're not menu hopping too much. Apple Car play is also awesome and I wish I had it. I didn't spend anytime in the backseat but I've been there before and its pretty comfy. Trunk is big too.
The performance of the car was pretty good. The main reason I took this thing instead of driving my Si was because of the fuel economy and I averaged a smidge under 38 using regular fuel so it saved me a lot of money. It was reasonably quick too with no real issues in acceleration or passing, although there was a bit of lag down low which I'm not sure if it's the engine or transmission but it was noticeable either way. Speaking of the transmission, it's a CVT and it was totally fine and it didn't make itself known most of the time anyway. I think I felt engine braking once which confused me but assumed it was all of the safety nannies so just went on with my life. Handling was also really good for a mainstream sedan and the car is pretty quiet for a Honda. This thing is the Sport model and it doesn't have adaptive dampers which honestly I'm not sure it needs, although there were a couple times where the suspension felt needlessly harsh and loud over some cracked pavement. It didn't happen often but when it did it was noticeable. Brakes kinda suck though, but that's a Honda thing at this point.
I briefly mentioned safety nannies earlier but this thing has active cruise control, lane keep assist, driver attention monitoring, Forward Collision Warning, Collision Mitigation Braking System, and probably a half dozen other random acronyms that do stuff. For the first 100 miles or so I had all of them on and was just annoyed by random beeps, pings, and slight tugs of the wheel. They aren't hard to find when you know what you're looking for, but if you don't all you see is ACC, LKAS, FCW, etc littered around the steering wheel and menus and have to guess at what does what. After I bit I started to turn the cruise control and lane keep assist on but kept the rest of the stuff off. On a two lane highway with little traffic, Active Cruise Control and Lane Keep Asist are amazing. Its freaky at first and a little scary, but having the car take care of the mundane task of keeping you in your lane while you're on mile 230 of a flat, mostly straight, and completely boring midwestern highway is great. You're not as tired and have time to open up bags of chips/jerky and drink whatever you have on hand. Do not recommend it when you start hitting big cities and traffic heats up though and I'm surprised there aren't any major lawsuits of accidents happening because people relied on these systems in heavy traffic.
Anyway, overall I can't imagine a better car for the money being sold in the States. Its big and roomy, but performs well and gets excellent fuel economy while still being comfy. Its no Mazda 6 in terms of styling, but it still looks great most of the time. The stupid wheel/tire package is a pain to replace, the OEM Goodyears are like $200 a tire, but it brings the whole thing together so its okay. Honestly, I imagine the 2.0T Accord makes base A4/320s kinda obsolete. The FWD A4 especially is probably DOA.
I'm surprised you like the seats. I've put almost 21k miles on mine, and still can't find a comfortable driving position. Other than that, the car is pretty awesome. 2.0t + 10 speed auto is serious performer.
Quote from: MrH on August 28, 2019, 09:36:59 AM
I'm surprised you like the seats. I've put almost 21k miles on mine, and still can't find a comfortable driving position. Other than that, the car is pretty awesome. 2.0t + 10 speed auto is serious performer.
Is there anything in particular that are wrong with the seats?
Low back pain, Mike?
Quote from: CaminoRacer on August 28, 2019, 10:49:59 AM
Is there anything in particular that are wrong with the seats?
Lumbar support is an issue. It's like the lumber pad isn't nearly big enough. Whole thing is a bit too soft and not enough support in the back.
The ergonomics are all weird though. If I set the seat what's comfortable for my legs, but arms are basically locked out in front of me and my shoulders start cramping after awhile from having my shoulder blades shifted so far forward. If I move the seat to where it's comfortable for reach, my legs are cramped up and nearly hitting the dash.
Whole thing is a driving position mess. The S2000 is much more comfortable to drive from that regard.
Rental car tomorrow. What will it be? Maybe I'll ask if they have any special dealz on luxury upgrades.
Quote from: Laconian on September 23, 2019, 09:51:08 PM
Rental car tomorrow. What will it be? Maybe I'll ask if they have any special dealz on luxury upgrades.
Can you upgrade to a Mustang or something sporty like that?
Quote from: Laconian on September 23, 2019, 09:51:08 PM
Rental car tomorrow. What will it be? Maybe I'll ask if they have any special dealz on luxury upgrades.
See if you can get a Doge Journey. Simply the best.
I think they are discontinuing them soon- get one before they're gone forever :(
Quote from: Xer0 on August 27, 2019, 01:10:12 PM
2018 Honda Accord Sport 1.5T.
I had a 650 mile round trip journey to Detroit this weekend and since my dad was in Greece for the summer, I decided to take his Accord since it was larger, quieter, and much more fuel economical than my Si. So I guess not technically a rental but I had it long enough to make some opinions.
From the front facing angels, I think this thing looks fantastic and way better than in pictures. The long, wide, and low hood give it a decent presence that's both sporty and classy. Those ridiculous rims bring it all together to make the car look more upmarket than it actually is. From the front at least. No idea what happened with the rear but it looks so boring. Is it a hatch or isn't it? Why does it need massive, fake chrome exhausts? What's up with the lobster claw tail lights? The little lip spoiler is probably the only thing about the rear that I actually like.
Moving on to the interior and I have no issues with it. Its clean, its easy to use, and it looks good. There's this nice fake carbon fiber trim that accents the dashboard that doesn't look like ass, unlike in my Si. The seats are comfy with decent bolstering and are in this suede/leatherette material that looks super nice and feels good. Everything you touch is soft and padded with the hard plastic being reserved for areas that you normally wouldn't go to. The infotainment is easy to use and there are dials for everything so you're not menu hopping too much. Apple Car play is also awesome and I wish I had it. I didn't spend anytime in the backseat but I've been there before and its pretty comfy. Trunk is big too.
The performance of the car was pretty good. The main reason I took this thing instead of driving my Si was because of the fuel economy and I averaged a smidge under 38 using regular fuel so it saved me a lot of money. It was reasonably quick too with no real issues in acceleration or passing, although there was a bit of lag down low which I'm not sure if it's the engine or transmission but it was noticeable either way. Speaking of the transmission, it's a CVT and it was totally fine and it didn't make itself known most of the time anyway. I think I felt engine braking once which confused me but assumed it was all of the safety nannies so just went on with my life. Handling was also really good for a mainstream sedan and the car is pretty quiet for a Honda. This thing is the Sport model and it doesn't have adaptive dampers which honestly I'm not sure it needs, although there were a couple times where the suspension felt needlessly harsh and loud over some cracked pavement. It didn't happen often but when it did it was noticeable. Brakes kinda suck though, but that's a Honda thing at this point.
I briefly mentioned safety nannies earlier but this thing has active cruise control, lane keep assist, driver attention monitoring, Forward Collision Warning, Collision Mitigation Braking System, and probably a half dozen other random acronyms that do stuff. For the first 100 miles or so I had all of them on and was just annoyed by random beeps, pings, and slight tugs of the wheel. They aren't hard to find when you know what you're looking for, but if you don't all you see is ACC, LKAS, FCW, etc littered around the steering wheel and menus and have to guess at what does what. After I bit I started to turn the cruise control and lane keep assist on but kept the rest of the stuff off. On a two lane highway with little traffic, Active Cruise Control and Lane Keep Asist are amazing. Its freaky at first and a little scary, but having the car take care of the mundane task of keeping you in your lane while you're on mile 230 of a flat, mostly straight, and completely boring midwestern highway is great. You're not as tired and have time to open up bags of chips/jerky and drink whatever you have on hand. Do not recommend it when you start hitting big cities and traffic heats up though and I'm surprised there aren't any major lawsuits of accidents happening because people relied on these systems in heavy traffic.
Anyway, overall I can't imagine a better car for the money being sold in the States. Its big and roomy, but performs well and gets excellent fuel economy while still being comfy. Its no Mazda 6 in terms of styling, but it still looks great most of the time. The stupid wheel/tire package is a pain to replace, the OEM Goodyears are like $200 a tire, but it brings the whole thing together so its okay. Honestly, I imagine the 2.0T Accord makes base A4/320s kinda obsolete. The FWD A4 especially is probably DOA.
Couple of things on the Honda.
On my CR-V the CVT pulls unevenly under brisk acceleration. If you've got your foot say 2/3rds down to merge onto a highway, you can feel slight dips and bumps in the acceleration rate.
Also - with the ACC. It uses the brakes way too much to maintain distance from the car in front. So the people behind see your brake lights going on & off the whole time. Which I know is very annoying. Constantly touching the brakes is a marker for driver incompetence and that you're following too close. Normal people know how to maintain distance by anticipating... and adjusting the throttle, and only braking when needed.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on September 24, 2019, 07:17:18 AM
I think they are discontinuing them soon- get one before they're gone forever :(
Yeah. +1!
I hope I get an EcoSport. India's finest. Err, I mean.. UHMERICA :neverforget:
Not a rental per se, but I've been using my parent's Tundra for the month while they're in town en route to AZ. I'm using it to get some house projects done that require transporting large or messy items.
Pros:
It's nice not having to dodge potholes anymore
Relaxing ride, smooth and quiet while cruising
Feels solid despite having spent nearly all of its 40k mile life towing a camper
Love having a bed. Large, messy, awkwardly sized? Just throw it in the back.
Cons:
Unnecessarily large to be an everyday vehicle for me. I would hate commuting in this.
Doesn't fit in the garage
I don't want to know the gas mileage
(https://i.postimg.cc/DyP7JyyF/towrig.jpg)
Wow that's really tall and not even lifted
I win. Model S 70D. Fuck this thing is fast.
Like, really really fast. Whiplash fast.
Quote from: Laconian on September 24, 2019, 07:30:26 PM
I win. Model S 70D. Fuck this thing is fast.
Like, really really fast. Whiplash fast.
That's a rental now?
Quote from: CaminoRacer on September 24, 2019, 03:54:17 PM
Wow that's really tall and not even lifted
It's a big boi for sure. It feels cartoonish when driving it - tall wide seats, big climate knobs, chunky door handles.
Quote from: Laconian on September 24, 2019, 07:30:26 PM
I win. Model S 70D. Fuck this thing is fast.
Like, really really fast. Whiplash fast.
Haha! You're going to end up buying a Model 3. It is your destiny.
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on September 24, 2019, 07:35:49 PM
That's a rental now?
Yes. Emerald Aisle only had cargo vans left so I asked for a deal on an upgrayedd. $50/day.
Quote from: Laconian on September 24, 2019, 10:49:58 PM
Yes. Emerald Aisle only had cargo vans left so I asked for a deal on an upgrayedd. $50/day.
Man, dude, I would have gone with the cargo van, and thrown a mattress in the back.
Your dreams can come true too, on the Emerald Aisle!
Quote from: Laconian on September 24, 2019, 07:30:26 PM
I win. Model S 70D. Fuck this thing is fast.
Like, really really fast. Whiplash fast.
Just the 70? You can't even take that piece of junk for a few hot laps on the 'Ring.
Quote from: CaminoRacer on September 24, 2019, 03:54:17 PM
Wow that's really tall and not even lifted
New trucks are insanely tall. It's at the point where using a step ladder is necessary for easy hood waxing.
Quote from: Xer0 on September 25, 2019, 10:50:21 AM
Just the 70? You can't even take that piece of junk for a few hot laps on the 'Ring.
Total POS!
It's the best driving car I've ever rented, that's for sure. Much better than the 5-series and 3-series, which felt spongy and remote and would always start in a fun-sucking eco-mode. The Model S is an unapologetic rocketship as soon as you put it in Drive. The steering and handling are totally dialed in with almost no body roll. The interior is better than my coworker's launch-year Model S, but admittedly it's not as good as it should be for the price. Still, the car gets an inordinate lot of hate from "enthusiasts" despite it being a fucking great driver's car.
Quote from: Laconian on September 25, 2019, 12:44:15 PM
Total POS!
It's the best driving car I've ever rented, that's for sure. Much better than the 5-series and 3-series, which felt spongy and remote and would always start in a fun-sucking eco-mode. The Model S is an unapologetic rocketship as soon as you put it in Drive. The steering and handling are totally dialed in with almost no body roll. The interior is better than my coworker's launch-year Model S, but admittedly it's not as good as it should be for the price. Still, the car gets an inordinate lot of hate from "enthusiasts" despite it being a fucking great driver's car.
It's a great driver's car and non-drivers car, and also for tech lovers. I think the hate is more coming from the "purists" than anything. I'm really not a fan of the giant screen though.
Quote from: Laconian on September 25, 2019, 12:44:15 PM
Total POS!
It's the best driving car I've ever rented, that's for sure. Much better than the 5-series and 3-series, which felt spongy and remote and would always start in a fun-sucking eco-mode. The Model S is an unapologetic rocketship as soon as you put it in Drive. The steering and handling are totally dialed in with almost no body roll. The interior is better than my coworker's launch-year Model S, but admittedly it's not as good as it should be for the price. Still, the car gets an inordinate lot of hate from "enthusiasts" despite it being a fucking great driver's car.
I think a lot of the hate that the Model S gets is because of Musk. For better or worse, the dude is good at getting people to love him and his companies and just as good or better at getting people to hate him and his companies. The car just gets unfairly hit with the fallout, like the recent 'Ring fiasco. I dig it personally.
I don't think any of the executive cars in 2019 pass the "purity" smell test anymore.
I've always said the cars themselves are excellent. It's Musk, the r0tors/MrHs, and the IMO inefficient use of batteries that bother me. Maybe one day if all decent ICE options go away I'd get an EV. But I'm looking to put it off as long as possible
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on September 25, 2019, 02:00:15 PM
I've always said the cars themselves are excellent. It's Musk, the r0tors/MrHs, and the IMO inefficient use of batteries that bother me. Maybe one day if all decent ICE options go away I'd get an EV. But I'm looking to put it off as long as possible
Bring on the simulated 6MT and I'm all for it. ;)
Quote from: Laconian on September 25, 2019, 12:44:15 PM
Total POS!
It's the best driving car I've ever rented, that's for sure. Much better than the 5-series and 3-series, which felt spongy and remote and would always start in a fun-sucking eco-mode. The Model S is an unapologetic rocketship as soon as you put it in Drive. The steering and handling are totally dialed in with almost no body roll. The interior is better than my coworker's launch-year Model S, but admittedly it's not as good as it should be for the price. Still, the car gets an inordinate lot of hate from "enthusiasts" despite it being a fucking great driver's car.
The issue is not the product at all. It's the business. I've always said that.
The only issue I have with the product itself is the quality problems, the costs required to make it, and the fraud required in order to keep producing them.
If Tesla's entirely lineup was produced by Toyota, and had Toyota levels of validation, reliability, fit and finish, and profitability, I would buy one in a heart beat.
Quote from: Laconian on September 25, 2019, 02:02:00 PM
Bring on the simulated 6MT and I'm all for it. ;)
Manual shifters will become like built in fidget spinners for bored, ADHD drivers. :lol:
Quote from: MrH on September 25, 2019, 02:09:52 PM
If Tesla's entirely lineup was produced by Toyota, and had Toyota levels of validation, reliability, fit and finish, and profitability, I would buy one in a heart beat.
And that's why I bought a Bolt. Maybe not quite as good as a Toyota, but still way more bulletproof than a Tesla. 5/5 reliability instead of 2/5
Quote from: CaminoRacer on September 25, 2019, 02:45:59 PM
And that's why I bought a Bolt. Maybe not quite as good as a Toyota, but still way more bulletproof than a Tesla. 5/5 reliability instead of 2/5
:hesaid:
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on September 25, 2019, 02:27:26 PM
Manual shifters will become like built in fidget spinners for bored, ADHD drivers. :lol:
They kind of are like that. Get rid of the shifter, now self-stimmers have to pull out their
phones
Quote from: CaminoRacer on September 25, 2019, 02:45:59 PM
And that's why I bought a Bolt. Maybe not quite as good as a Toyota, but still way more bulletproof than a Tesla. 5/5 reliability instead of 2/5
Oddly, I see a lot of Teslas on the road up here. Not sure about Bolts. Likely wouldn't recognize one.
Quote from: CaminoRacer on September 25, 2019, 02:45:59 PM
And that's why I bought a Bolt. Maybe not quite as good as a Toyota, but still way more bulletproof than a Tesla. 5/5 reliability instead of 2/5
If I had more garbage space and plans to stay in my house longer, I would have a Bolt right now.
Quote from: Laconian on September 25, 2019, 04:54:11 PM
They kind of are like that. Get rid of the shifter, now self-stimmers have to pull out their
phones
Shift knobs with built in touch screens!
Quote from: MrH on September 25, 2019, 05:02:28 PM
If I had more garbage space and plans to stay in my house longer, I would have a Bolt right now.
The landfill business isn't easy.
Lawl
Quote from: Laconian on September 24, 2019, 07:30:26 PM
I win. Model S 70D. Fuck this thing is fast.
Like, really really fast. Whiplash fast.
Wow! I am really jealous. I wish I had gotten that when I came to Kirkland rather than the stodgy Impala!
I can't take Seattle seriously when there's an area called Kirkland. All I can think of is Costco Land.
Quote from: MrH on September 25, 2019, 06:40:06 PM
I can't take Seattle seriously when there's an area called Kirkland. All I can think of is Costco Land.
Seattle as a city is meh. I was glad I took Kevin''s recommendation to stay in Kirkland. I stayed at a great place on Lake Washington. The region as a whole is beautiful. The Impala was big for the tiny parking spaces there. I would have preferred a smaller car.
Quote from: Speed_Racer on September 24, 2019, 12:51:17 PM
(https://i.postimg.cc/DyP7JyyF/towrig.jpg)
Quote from: CaminoRacer on September 24, 2019, 03:54:17 PM
Wow that's really tall and not even lifted
The top of the side mirror on those things is practically the top window line of Odyssey. And top of Miata is easily the top of the wheel well...
Quote from: AutobahnSHO on September 25, 2019, 07:07:37 PM
The top of the side mirror on those things is practically the top window line of Odyssey. And top of Miata is easily the top of the wheel well...
I've probably inadvertently run over a few Miatas already... :huh:
This is what they came from (also an SX4, even smaller):
(https://i.postimg.cc/SsbwMjsv/P1030428-tn.jpg)
Quote from: MrH on September 25, 2019, 06:40:06 PM
I can't take Seattle seriously when there's an area called Kirkland. All I can think of is Costco Land.
World's largest Costco
Welcome to Costco, I love you.
Quote from: MrH on September 25, 2019, 05:29:06 PM
Garage** damnit! :lol:
If its any consolation my garage is full of garbage, including the Kia I still have to sell :cry:
Quote from: dazzleman on September 25, 2019, 06:44:17 PM
Seattle as a city is meh. I was glad I took Kevin''s recommendation to stay in Kirkland. I stayed at a great place on Lake Washington. The region as a whole is beautiful. The Impala was big for the tiny parking spaces there. I would have preferred a smaller car.
Kirkland is a nicer place to be than Seattle, that's for sure!
Kirkland is the ancestral home of Costco, but it is headquartered in nearby Issaquah now. Seattle is home to an inordinate number of megacompanies for some reason
I spent about 45 minutes romping around twisty roads last night and another 30 just accelerating all-out on onramps. The motors consume up to 386kW at WOT. White knuckle shit. Eddie (afty) drove it and managed to induce torque steer on the car. God damn it is fast though. 60 to 90 in a blink of an eye. No hesitation, just a relentless and instantaneous surge.
The regenerative braking is actually quite a nice thing to have in the twisties. Lifting your foot off the pedal sheds enough speed that you can safely enter a hairpin turn. You barely have to touch the brakes.
I brought the battery from 50% to 80% at a Supercharger, it took around 10 minutes. $0.00.
Quote from: Laconian on September 26, 2019, 11:18:05 AM
I spent about 45 minutes romping around twisty roads last night and another 30 just accelerating all-out on onramps. The motors consume up to 386kW at WOT. White knuckle shit. Eddie (afty) drove it and managed to induce torque steer on the car. God damn it is fast though. 60 to 90 in a blink of an eye. No hesitation, just a relentless and instantaneous surge.
The regenerative braking is actually quite a nice thing to have in the twisties. Lifting your foot off the pedal sheds enough speed that you can safely enter a hairpin turn. You barely have to touch the brakes.
I brought the battery from 50% to 80% at a Supercharger, it took around 10 minutes. $0.00.
So, your next car?
Nah, but it bodes well for an exciting electric future.
Quote from: Laconian on September 26, 2019, 12:09:38 PM
Nah, but it bodes well for an exciting electric future.
It will only get better now that the main auto focus is on battery development. Should've been done a hundred years ago.
I like electric go karts
I've remarked before that people's Teslahate wanes greatly as soon as they actually experience one.
My non-car-loving, mild-mannered, used-Camry-driving, friend became a fervent evangelical Teslarista... as soon as he took delivery of his Model 3.
When he gave me a ride I was like "Fuckin' 'ell, this thing's great!"
Quote from: Laconian on September 26, 2019, 12:09:38 PM
Nah, but it bodes well for an exciting electric future.
Sadly, if you look at the "mainstream" offering of electric cars, they're all pretty meh. More of a Prius type electric economy cars rather than Tesla. Bolt is probably the best of the more mainstream offerings.
The low-effort EVs (Soul, 500e, Focus Electric) are indeed lame. EVs built from the ground up as EVs seem to be very good, though.
Quote from: NomisR on September 26, 2019, 03:29:43 PM
Sadly, if you look at the "mainstream" offering of electric cars, they're all pretty meh. More of a Prius type electric economy cars rather than Tesla. Bolt is probably the best of the more mainstream offerings.
The Taycan is a good indicator, though. If the high end brands start coming out with performance EVs, cheaper ones should hopefully trickle down.
Yeah, I did get to drive Kevin's Model S and it was surprisingly fast. It's not even the fast model! Also I liked the seats better than my Model 3. It's a much bigger car but didn't drive that big.
Hitting full throttle in these cars is just hilarious. I highly recommend trying it out.
Sounds too easy to get a ticket. Now that the maps all have speed limits, I want a mode that limits to 5mph over the limit. Then mash when possible.
Quote from: AutobahnSHO on September 26, 2019, 08:30:45 PM
Sounds too easy to get a ticket. Now that the maps all have speed limits, I want a mode that limits to 5mph over the limit. Then mash when possible.
Better make it 20, or you'll get run over.
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on September 26, 2019, 09:15:38 PM
Better make it 20, or you'll get run over.
fair enough, a user settable speed limiter.
Quote from: afty on September 26, 2019, 08:21:29 PM
Yeah, I did get to drive Kevin's Model S and it was surprisingly fast. It's not even the fast model! Also I liked the seats better than my Model 3. It's a much bigger car but didn't drive that big.
Hitting full throttle in these cars is just hilarious. I highly recommend trying it out.
I chauffeured my team in it and did WOT on an onramp. My manager yelled out and said that he feels so Californian because the car gave him a facelift.
Quote from: AutobahnSHO on September 26, 2019, 08:30:45 PM
Sounds too easy to get a ticket. Now that the maps all have speed limits, I want a mode that limits to 5mph over the limit. Then mash when possible.
One of my favorite features in the cars I drove in Europe. Set it to 9 over and let your right foot go wild. It was great.
Still no compelling EV options out there yet. Next car years out is gonna be a caveman ICE swan song. No less than 5L of chest hair growing glory. They should have the $40K A5SB EV I want by 2030 or w/e
(http://i.chattypics.com/files/IMG_20191016_070117_t6h7n90iem.jpg)
It's, uh, big.
I had a 2019 GMC Yukon 2WD w/5.3L in Hawaii for a week. Needed to safely carry/house a mountain bike for a week.
Didn't drive great - light/vague-ish steering, ponderous handling, mediocre space utilization - but a bit better than expected, esp. maneuverability in the super tight hotel's underground parking lot. How WtP came to buy these and trucks in volume is an interesting cultural study to say the least. It did do good burnouts what with limited slip rear though.
Haha they were out of sub compacts and gave me a 4door pickup for a rental a year or two ago. I wasn't paying gas or I would say no way.
Those things are so so big. Maneuvering a parking lot was so much worse than even our minivan.
We're in Hawaii for vacation this week and cruising around in a Fusion Hybrid. The car is in pretty sad shape. 38k miles, the steering wheel is not centered, bunch of creaks and rattles. The trunk is smaller than you'd think, the battery takes up a bunch of space. And at least at first it felt totally gutless. I eventually figured out that it was in Eco mode, and that taking it out of that mode really improves throttle response. Still, not a very exciting car.
Initially they tried to put me in a Malibu that had scratches on the rear bumper, stains on the seats, and carpet separating from the floor. So the Fusion is at least a step up from that.
Bummer!
Yeah Fusion Hybrids definitely aren't great for luggage-heavy trips.
We are having a Chrysler 300 for our trip in California. That is pretty much the perfect rental for a group of four with a bit of luggage.
Going to rent a car in Brussels. Last time we got a Jag XE. I hope we'll get something as plush this time.
Quote from: mzziaz on February 17, 2020, 07:46:28 AM
We are having a Chrysler 300 for our trip in California. That is pretty much the perfect rental for a group of four with a bit of luggage.
Yes! That's my go to rental car. Very underrated car probably because of it's Chrysler branding. Looks good, plenty of power even in rental spec V6 form, quiet, great ride, handles well for a big car. Other than the sport seats being a bit too hard for my taste, I love that car.
Quote from: afty on February 16, 2020, 11:57:32 AM
We're in Hawaii for vacation this week and cruising around in a Fusion Hybrid. The car is in pretty sad shape. 38k miles, the steering wheel is not centered, bunch of creaks and rattles. The trunk is smaller than you'd think, the battery takes up a bunch of space. And at least at first it felt totally gutless. I eventually figured out that it was in Eco mode, and that taking it out of that mode really improves throttle response. Still, not a very exciting car.
Initially they tried to put me in a Malibu that had scratches on the rear bumper, stains on the seats, and carpet separating from the floor. So the Fusion is at least a step up from that.
My parents' have a Fusion Hybrid 3 year lease. They're in it so far for one year and it's already been in the shop twice (both times with a loaner) for powertrain and/or battery issues. Maybe only Toyota knows how to make a good hybrid car.
Quote from: veeman on February 18, 2020, 09:11:06 AM
My parents' have a Fusion Hybrid 3 year lease. They're in it so far for one year and it's already been in the shop twice (both times with a loaner) for powertrain and/or battery issues. Maybe only Toyota knows how to make a good hybrid car.
I think Ford licenses Toyota's hybrid system. Or at least they used to
Quote from: veeman on February 18, 2020, 09:00:39 AM
Yes! That's my go to rental car. Very underrated car probably because of it's Chrysler branding. Looks good, plenty of power even in rental spec V6 form, quiet, great ride, handles well for a big car. Other than the sport seats being a bit too hard for my taste, I love that car.
I also like the 300. Have had it as a rental car a couple times. It drives well, has plenty of power, and is pretty nice inside. A+++, would rent again.
We tried to reserve the most haute class of all of Sixt's fleet, but it turns out we flubbed the date on the reservation :P
So now I'm driving a BMW 1-series sedan. It's disappointing! The steering is thick and has a huge dead zone on center. I have to bounce around in the dead zone to stay straight on the freeway. I don't think it's damaged in any way, I just think it's a result of BMW trying to imbue an economy car with BMW AUTOBAHNFEELMATIK on the cheap.
The ergonomics of the controls are very poor too. Far too many buttons and switches lurking in clusters which are oftentimes obscured by the steering wheel. I think my Mazda has as many features as this 1er, but it's _so_ much easier to make use of all the features.
Finally, I took a corner hard under acceleration and got a front wheel to spin. Sigh, yep.. FWD
Quote from: Laconian on February 21, 2020, 02:25:54 AM
We tried to reserve the most haute class of all of Sixt's fleet, but it turns out we flubbed the date on the reservation :P
So now I'm driving a BMW 1-series sedan. It's disappointing! The steering is thick and has a huge dead zone on center. I have to bounce around in the dead zone to stay straight on the freeway. I don't think it's damaged in any way, I just think it's a result of BMW trying to imbue an economy car with BMW AUTOBAHNFEELMATIK on the cheap.
The ergonomics of the controls are very poor too. Far too many buttons and switches lurking in clusters which are oftentimes obscured by the steering wheel. I think my Mazda has as many features as this 1er, but it's _so_ much easier to make use of all the features.
Finally, I took a corner hard under acceleration and got a front wheel to spin. Sigh, yep.. FWD
A 1 series sedan? Are you in China? Or Mexico?
Did I say sedan? I meant hatch. :P
Quote from: CaminoRacer on February 18, 2020, 09:14:32 AM
I think Ford licenses Toyota's hybrid system. Or at least they used to
Did they? I remember that the first Escape hybrid had a very similar eCVT
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on February 22, 2020, 08:28:40 AM
Did they? I remember that the first Escape hybrid had a very similar eCVT
I believe they had to pay for fees a number of Toyota's patents when developing their Escape hybrid system, but also filed a number of patents. Now, it seems, they do license the Toyota system for their Fusion.
Quote from: veeman on February 18, 2020, 09:00:39 AM
Yes! That's my go to rental car. Very underrated car probably because of it's Chrysler branding. Looks good, plenty of power even in rental spec V6 form, quiet, great ride, handles well for a big car. Other than the sport seats being a bit too hard for my taste, I love that car.
Next time I rent a car, I will go for that if I can't get something more exotic. Your recommendation seals the deal. We have the same style of driving.
Quote from: dazzleman on February 22, 2020, 09:06:11 AM
Next time I rent a car, I will go for that if I can't get something more exotic. Your recommendation seals the deal. We have the same style of driving.
C'mon, a Mustang. Just make sure that it's a GT. :ohyeah:
Quote from: FoMoJo on February 22, 2020, 09:22:44 AM
C'mon, a Mustang. Just make sure that it's a GT. :ohyeah:
I would definitely favor a Mustang, but if only conventional rental cars are available, then I would have to go with veeman's recommendation because I respect his opinion and I know our driving styles, and what we like an value in a car, are very similar.
Quote from: FoMoJo on February 22, 2020, 09:22:44 AM
C'mon, a Mustang. Just make sure that it's a GT. :ohyeah:
Quote from: dazzleman on February 22, 2020, 09:58:54 AM
I would definitely favor a Mustang, but if only conventional rental cars are available, then I would have to go with veeman's recommendation because I respect his opinion and I know our driving styles, and what we like an value in a car, are very similar.
Thanks Dazzleman!
You'll really like the Chrysler 300 in V6 rental spec (particularly if it has the sport package/styling) which they often do. Its really a fantastic rental car. I've rented rental spec Mustangs many times too and while they're cool, I prefer the 300 as a rental automatic. I find the Mustang a bit too noisy in that pony car way.
OK, I drove the 118 about 2.5 hours from Belgium to France. I adjusted the mode to Comfort and most of my objections went away. It was a remarkably relaxing ride for a small car. I think it's the Sport mode that I found objectionable. In that mode it felt like engineers tried hard to achieve the BMW feel with digital post-processing trickery in the steering and throttle.
There's an ECO PRO mode which awards you stars for smooth and economical driving. 5/5 stars in anticipation and acceleration, baby. :mrcool: Total fuel consumption during the rental period was 6.9L/100km, which is 39mpg.
The car kept blaring out traffic updates on the radio every half hour. We spent a long time digging through menus and configuration screens on the infotainment system to try and disable that feature, but it's a dedicated button, and we only found it just before we returned the keys. :facepalm:
Some more thoughts on the Fusion Hybrid I had last week:
- Fuel economy was stellar at 38 mpg, including a drive up (and down) a 10k foot mountain.
- I hate automatic transmission creep. I really missed the brake auto hold feature from my Model 3.
- I wish regen were stronger. I missed one-foot driving. It was also not obvious when you were using regen or using the actual brakes. I think there is a "Brake Coach" display you can bring up that shows this, but I didn't try it.
- The car was slow and boring. I would never buy one.
- There were a lot of rental Fusion Hybrids driving around. I'll take that as a sign that no one else wants to buy them either.
I don't really rent cars much and most of them fall into the 'It drove and got me from point A to B' category. There's Corollas, Focuses, Fusions and Sonatas galore. The ones I remember were at least entertaining or really crappy.
Dodge Caliber X 3. I needed a cheap rental and I paid for it. 3 times over. They were perfect examples of why Chrysler headed through bankruptcy court. Slow, sucked gas for a 4-banger and had pillbox-like visibility. The staple of rental fleets everywhere. Best feature: They didn't break down.
Chevrolet Impala. The old W-body with the 3.6 DOHC V6 engine. You could blaze the front tires into the next century. More engine that chassis, but that's fun in a way. Small on the inside for such a boat.
Skoda Octavia. It was a diesel wagon and had a 6-speed. 'Nuff said. Awesome vehicle.
Nissan Frontier. Le gas guzzler. Never met a fuel pump it didn't like. When that's the last thing on the lot, that's what you get though. At least it was in Arizona, so gasoline was cheap. Needless to say, I'm not a truck person. On the bright side, the ground clearance came in handy when evading a discarded tire on the freeway.
Where did you drive the Skoda?
Quote from: Laconian on April 18, 2020, 05:42:41 PM
Where did you drive the Skoda?
Iceland. Did some touring of the country. The diesel was excellent fuel-economy wise, keeping it cheap-ish (for Iceland, that is).
Considering fuel is $7-8 USD per gallon, it was appreciated.
Quote from: 3.0L V6 on April 18, 2020, 07:56:42 PM
Iceland. Did some touring of the country. The diesel was excellent fuel-economy wise, keeping it cheap-ish (for Iceland, that is).
Considering fuel is $7-8 USD per gallon, it was appreciated.
Nice! The roads look like they get pretty windy there; you probably appreciated the VW tuning and ride.
$8 per gallon!!!
Chrysler 300 is a great rental.
Other poeitives have been Fiat 500l diesel, Honda Jazz, Citroen C3 Picasso,
Hyundai i30, Peugeot 208, 308, Renault Megane and Fiat Tipo have all been meh.
2019 (I think?) Chevy Malibu LT.
Rented this bad boy for the weekend and put about 500 miles on it.
The good.
-MASSIVE interior space. The front and rear seats on this thing are huge and it feels roomier than my dad's Accord. Trunk wasn't terrible but didn't seem as large. I rented the old gen Malibu a couple years ago and that thing had a comical amount of room in comparison.
-Great highway cruiser and tracked incredibly straight, no play in the wheel at all. Coming from Honda's, the lack of tire noise was a welcome one too :lol:
-Apple car play worked well and was super easy.
The average or no big deal.
-It drove okay, its a midsizer so not really important. A little bit of body roll and the steering felt slow but I'm not gonna knock it on that.
-Car had no problems getting up to speed.
-The interior was pretty easy to use and nothing was confusing. Maybe this should be a positive, but I prefer a simpler interior to one where I need to spend a day getting familiar with.
The bad.
-Holy-moly the amount of hard plastic in this thing is unreal. Literally everything you touch is hard plastic and it feels like there are 3 different versions of hard plastic on it. To try and spruce it up, they put this cloth material thing over some of the hard plastic but it was a flimsy barely there amount so it barely made it any softer and just looked ugly. Plus I'm sure it will stain, get dirty, and smell after a few years of use.
-I don't know if its the engine, the transmission, or both, but there was always turbo lag and a major hesitation to downshift at all times.
-The engine most of the time doesn't make itself known because the transmission never lets it go past 2K RPM before shifting, but when it does it is one loud, crappy sounding little guy.
-EPA estimates for this car peg it at 36mpg in the highway but we averaged just shy of 30mpg with almost exclusively highway driving.
Overall, I'd say if you need something spacious that's a good highway cruiser, this thing isn't terrible. That they don't make them anymore and with Hertz about to go belly up, I'm sure you can find a hell of a deal on it.
I rented this for 24 hours to move some large objects elsewhere. It seems like a truck will be what I replace the Kizashi with, so I'm also renting to narrow down available options. So far I've test-driven the Ridgeline, Ranger, F150, Frontier, Titan. I plan on renting a F150 to get more time with it, but I'd consider this the midsize frontrunner.
Pros:
It's just the right size for me inside and out. Quiet & smooth ride. Decent amount of standard features. Currently averaging 23 mpg in mixed driving.
Cons:
Uncomfortable front seats - no adjustable lumbar support. More diversity of interior trim material & color would be nice. Oddly stiff accelerator pedal. Dog wishes this trim had a sliding rear window.
(https://i.postimg.cc/90pVqF3t/20201001-165339-2.jpg)
The payload walls are so high, it's almost like a van with a hole cut out from the roof.
I like the Colorado, though. I did a bunch of research for my parents and found the Colorado to be a good "full size circa 2005" truck. Interior is good and the diesel option is really nice.
Quote from: Laconian on October 02, 2020, 10:03:42 AM
The payload walls are so high, it's almost like a van with a hole cut out from the roof.
The Ranger is the same way too, it's a little ridiculous. Those bumper steps came in handy several times though, a clever solution.
What'd you think about the Ridgeline?
Quote from: CaminoRacer on October 02, 2020, 12:30:43 PM
What'd you think about the Ridgeline?
Ugh I was disappointed because I wanted to like it the most. It has the most ingenious cargo solutions. I loved the bed trunk, the back row floor is flat and apparently will fit two mtn bikes, the seating position front & back is so far the most comfortable vs the other midsize trucks.
But the driving experience was the letdown. It had more engine, wind, and road noise than I expected at highway speeds. I drove it back to back with a Frontier SV and the Nissan felt more refined at 75mph. The transmission wasn't the quickest at picking the right gears especially when I needed a downshift. For the price they ask both new & used (Honda tax for real), it doesn't seem like a good deal.
Huh, I would have assumed the Ridgeline would have been the most refined and car like.
Wind noise isn't too surprising since other Honda's have that issue too. The transmission sounds disappointing though. Ridgelines do seem like the best type of truck for the majority of buyers. Except it doesn't look as tough, which I guess is 99% of the reason to buy a truck
Quote from: SJ_GTI on October 02, 2020, 04:32:51 PM
Huh, I would have assumed the Ridgeline would have been the most refined and car like.
It has the most carlike handling, I'll give it that. It felt light on its feet.
Quote from: Speed_Racer on October 02, 2020, 05:24:08 PM
It has the most carlike handling, I'll give it that. It felt light on its feet.
It's really not a truck, truck. More like a unibody SUV with the back of the roof cut off.
Quote from: FoMoJo on October 02, 2020, 05:33:30 PM
It's really not a truck, truck. More like a unibody SUV with the back of the roof cut off.
It's a truck that's based on an SUV that's based on a minivan that's based on a sedan.
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on October 02, 2020, 06:21:46 PM
It's a truck that's based on an SUV that's based on a minivan that's based on a sedan.
:wub:
Towing is a bit low though or it would be high on my list for some day.
Didn't rent a new Hyundai Kona but got one as a loaner from the dealer. When I had bought my used Veloster the dealer said they would schedule me to fix the scratches on or replace the rear bumper. So while they were doing that, I got the Kona for two days.
Dang, this is a nice small SUV. Hyundai/Kia seem to be making really good product with a price point a smidgen lower than competitors with a longer warranty. But more than that now, the quality and design is really good. This car had the uplevel turbo 4 cylinder engine and it was quick with a good ride. Although I haven't been in one, I'm sure the equivalent Mazda is a better driver and looks a bit better but this small SUV is still really good with a better warranty.
2020 Jeep Cherokee Latitude - 4x2.
Did about 340 miles (Bay Area to Yosemite & return).
- Simple intuitive controls.
- Lovely Uconnect interface.
- Nicely put together interior.
- Good panel fit & very good paintwork.
- Outstanding 9-speed transmission.
- Fuel economy in the low 30s (highway, rural roads.)
- A/C that withstood 100°F+ temperatures.
Overall I thought it was pretty competent.
Just had a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport while on vacation in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. It was... fine. Good cargo space given its small size. Drives OK but the engine is completely gutless — it may have been the slowest car I've ever driven. We were at nearly 8k feet, so maybe that's a bit harsh. The infotainment has Apple CarPlay which is great.
2020 Jeep Cherokee 4x4
The Good
- 2.0T is well beyond adequate for this thing. Always feels like it has power in reserve and still is getting upper 20 mpgs
- Chassis tuning is not bad. It's not a canyon carver by any stretch, but does a good job of being composed and compliant
- infotainment screen is seriously bright and looks good
- Good interior room and rear seat space for it's size
- Fairly quiet
The Meh...
- 9 speed auto never gets into 9th gear and instead of using turbo boost and huge torque curve it just is always downshifting.
- Seats are like a sofa
- Standard FCA switchgear... Nothing great but nothing bad with it
The bad
- Super jumpy throttle tip-in... I tried just being a little aggressive on an on-ramp and accidently triggered a massive throttle input + massive downshift + boost spike which spun the inside front wheel before traction control killed everything
- Why did I hit traction control in an AWD/4x4 SUV on dry pavement? Should it not shuffle power first?
- Steering is just terribly inconsistent and zero feedback.
- The steering wheel itself is really tilted. It makes it feel more like turning a wheel on a boat.
- Why is there stitching on a plastic dash?
- Android auto takes over the entire infotainment screen... Which means you can't access the infotainment menu to get to the climate controls... -sigh-
- Analog gauges look like they are from the 1970s and clash with the center info screen.
I'm assuming the Cherokee has a ZF-9 unit. If so, they give the transmission a bad rep.
There are just too many gears. Turbo engines don't need them.
Quote from: r0tor on July 27, 2021, 09:37:21 AM
There are just too many gears. Turbo engines don't need them.
It would be a transmission similar to what's in my Discovery Sport which works really well with the 2 litre turbo. Smooth as butter.
City driving, it manages to keep revs around 1500-1700, just before boost trickles in. Highways speeds it's in top gear at around 90-95kph (55-60 mph) with moderate acceleration. By 110kph (68 mph) revs are at about 1750 rpm.
Best mileage I've gotten so far is 6.6 litres per 100 kilometers (about 35 mpg).
From what I've read about some FCA products, they need to work on their mapping.
I rented a Sentra in San Francisco and was actually pretty impressed. Much better than what I expected from Nissan's current reputation. Decent power, steering was direct and had good weight, although not much feel. It drove well on the curvy mountain roads south/southwest of SF. Love the adaptive cruise control, but don't care much for the automatic braking or lane keep stuff. (At least it was just a warning beep for leaving your lane, no assist)
Android auto implementation was OK but it wouldn't connect if Google maps was already up and running with directions. Had to start fresh and search on the car screen, which is dumb.
I have a new G30 330xi right now as a loaner. I have to say, I like this thing. The steering still sucks, but it's better than the F30's. The infotainment is great (Carplay is fast, the screen is hi-res, it feels like a new computer), the powertrain is also excellent. I'm getting north of 33 mpg, and the thing pulls too. I like its interior, though its gauges are strange. I could see myself in an M340i.
I can't fathom why the Cherokee has a "sport" mode for the terrain response. There is absolutely nothing about the thing that would ever want me to drive it hard.
An "eco" mode would be better served.
Quote from: CALL_911 on July 27, 2021, 01:43:59 PM
I have a new G30 330xi right now as a loaner. I have to say, I like this thing. The steering still sucks, but it's better than the F30's. The infotainment is great (Carplay is fast, the screen is hi-res, it feels like a new computer), the powertrain is also excellent. I'm getting north of 33 mpg, and the thing pulls too. I like its interior, though its gauges are strange. I could see myself in an M340i.
Those gauges are unforgiveable.
Quote from: MrH on July 28, 2021, 10:05:39 AM
Those gauges are unforgiveable.
Yeah they're awful. I love the gauges in my car by comparison
I just booked a 2017 BMW 330i on Turo. I'll see how it compares to the 2000 328i that we used to have.
I was tempted to book a 2016 Tacoma for this drive down to Vegas, but I'm sure the BMW will drive much nicer on the highway at 80+ mph.
It's very well suited for that job
Quote from: CaminoRacer on September 23, 2021, 06:32:02 PM
I just booked a 2017 BMW 330i on Turo. I'll see how it compares to the 2000 328i that we used to have.
I was tempted to book a 2016 Tacoma for this drive down to Vegas, but I'm sure the BMW will drive much nicer on the highway at 80+ mph.
I've never used Turo. About half the time I go on a trip by airplane I rent a car at the airport by one of the big rental companies (usually using Priceline) and I sometimes rent a car locally from Enterprise if my car is at the autoshop/dealer getting some work done and I don't have a loaner or I need two cars.
I'm not interested in renting more higher end sporty cars or luxury cars. I like big coupes/sedans when I'm just by myself (like a Chrysler 300) and with the family I usually rent a small to midsize SUV (my wife likes the raised ride height). Maybe it's not worth it then for mainstreamer cars. I don't know. I like the unlimited mileage that come with renting mainstreamer brands from the airport and easy replacement of the car if there is some problem upon initially driving it.
I normally rent from rental companies if flying somewhere. This will be my 3rd Turo trip, and all 3 times I've gone with Turo due to the lack of convenience from normal rental car companies - I'd have to drive 50+ minutes to the airport to pick up or drop off my car, or they are closed at the times I want to pickup/drop off.
I've done Turo twice here in Utah and once in England. Always a good experience so far.
Never heard of Turo... Looks like there is an Alfa 4c nearby that got me excited to maybe rent for a day until I saw a mountain of disclaimers and fees if you drive it hard
The BMW was pretty good. Very similar to my E46 in a lot of ways.
Pros:
- Turbo 4 cylinder was torquey and quick, sounded decent too. (But that was probably fake engine noise? IDK)
- Both the handling and ride quality was good.
- Interior materials are nice, although I haven't been in a competitor from 2017 to know how it compares
Cons:
- Was a bit less stable at 90 mph going through southern/central Utah than I would have liked, but maybe that could be fixed with some alignment tweaks.
- The iDrive stuff was merely OK. I prefer the Miata's system, which is similar with the knob but with much better menus and options.
- The seat bottoms were a bit too narrow, so the bolsters dug into my thighs. Had to get out and walk around every 2 hours. My E46 had flatter bottom bolsters which I preferred.
Here's the driveway at our VRBO rental house we had for the week:
(https://i.imgur.com/BbnBLZr.jpg)
It looks like your companions also used Turo to get German sports sedans. A BMW, a Merc, and an Audi. Did you guys plan it that way? That's hilarious!
Based on this thread I was checking out Turo for a rental for my upcoming conference trip to San Diego in a few weeks. I usually rent Chrysler 300s but to rent one of those from the airport for 5 days will cost $450 whereas something like a Corolla would cost $300. By using Turo the car costs the same per day but you save on all the airport fees/taxes you don't have to pay which is significant savings. Renting a car from the airport is so easy however as it's either a short walk or a short shuttle ride. The cost savings of Turo is not worth it for me because of that convenience.
Turo for me would be great if I wanted a more high end sports car or sports sedan.
My co-workers own the Audi and Mercedes
I'm in San Diego for a week because of a conference. I love visiting this city and try to go to a conference once a year here. So anyways I reserve online a few months ago a rental car and pick the category where hopefully I'll get a Chrysler 300 which is my favorite rental.
Get to the counter (Thrifty) and they don't have any large premium cars (the category I reserved). I ask about sporty coupes (like a Challenger, Mustang, or Camaro) but apparently those are more expensive (which is weird because I don't remember V6 versions of these as rentals being more expensive in the past). She offers a Dodge Charger but I've had that in the past and didn't like it. You would think it would drive similar to a 300 but it's more noisy, didn't drive as soft, and I just didn't like it. She offers an Impala but I decline that as well. I tell her I also don't want an SUV. She offers an Infiniti Q something. It's more expensive than the category I selected but gives it to me for the same price. Haven't been in an Infiniti sedan in a while so looking forward to it.
I walk up to the spot and it's a QX50 (which is a compact sporty SUV) and I chuckle to myself. Even the counter people don't know whether the Infiniti they have in stock is a car or SUV. I've been in this car once or twice in the past as a loaner vehicle from the dealership I go to.
I've grown over the last week to really like this car. Looks good on the outside and interior is great (super comfortable seats and nice dash/screens). Quiet. In sport mode, really quick. Mag reviews have been middling because of so so fuel economy and loudish unpleasant engine noise under hard acceleration. To me fuel economy is a wash on all of these cars in this segment unless you get a hybrid. I'm averaging 20 mpg. The engine under hard acceleration doesn't sound bad to me. It's a bit harsh but it's muted and the ride is very good. I'd prefer this sound to fake speaker engine sounds anyways just based on principle. By doing some googling, this car in base or mid level trim is a pretty good price (high 30/low 40 thousand dollars). It feels much better than a mainstreamer brand SUV and undercuts the German brands in price.
Not a rental but I got a limo to take my wife & I from Heathrow to my brother's house in London: $450 total for the trip... & return 10-days later.
It was a new M-B E220D. The driver was a very nice guy, but not good at his craft and not a smooth driver... and we spent hours and bloody hours sitting in nightmare traffic and bumping over speed humps. We should have used the trains and dealt with lugging the bags.
I rented a Tacoma on Turo this weekend just for fun. We drove up to the Golden Spike National Historical Park today to see where the transcontinental railroad was finished. Then we drove 15 miles on a gravel road out to the edge of the Great Salt Lake to see the Spiral Jetty.
The truck has larger wheels/tires and I think it has a mild lift too. I think it'd be a lot better stock - the gearing is too high now so it's slow off the line and can't accelerate much in 5th/6th gear on the highway, has to downshift to 4th to really go anywhere. The gas pedal feels super mushy which is weird. Brakes are pretty bad too. Handling is okay.
The stereo is a JBL headunit but I guess it's stock. Not great for an OEM offering, looks like a slightly improved aftermarket stereo from 2010. Competitors have much nicer touchscreen menus and design.
Overall the truck gets us places but nothing about it is impressive. Everyone says they'll go 300k miles and more - that's a long time driving a rather average & not impressive truck. :lol:
(https://i.postimg.cc/rzzZ9mvh/26-BF3094-9-D03-4-CF8-8394-597059-C90-EFE.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/rzzZ9mvh)
Your final paragraph sums it up well. What did you think of the seating position? I've always thought it to be awkward for a truck
I don't mind the seats or seating position. A telescoping might be nice but I was fine without it. It is kinda funny to sit up high in a truck but only have an inch or two of headroom.
Are US rental rates still crazy inflated?
Quote from: mzziaz on February 20, 2022, 02:56:47 PM
Are US rental rates still crazy inflated?
Yeah it seems all over the place though. I just ran a quote at my local Enterprise, $80/day for a Mirage, $150/day for a pickup. But sometimes they have no inventory for weeks out.
Pre-pandemic I used to be able to get a compact for ~$20/day
I'm booking a spring break rental with Enterprise in Florida today. $83/day for a midsize sedan (which they say Corolla or similar). Double what I used to pay.
edit: the price dropped to $73.50/day after I played around with the pickup time and then went back to the original time I entered. Odd. But I'll take it!
Oh I guess I have a rental review.
I had this for a short week in Puerto Rico: the humble base trim Nissan Versa. Honestly this is my preferred compact rental because of its ample trunk and rear leg room.
Engine and CVT weren't great - underpowered but at least not buzzy. We averaged 30 mpg mixed. The car's skinny profile was nice for PR's narrow roads. Steering and ride were light. Interior looked and felt decent considering it's one of the cheapest cars you can buy right now. Would have liked Android Auto, but it did have keyless start, a bunch of USB ports, power windows and locks as standard.
It was nothing spectacular, but I respect its honesty. It isn't trying to be anything except an easy to drive, affordable car. The extra interior space is a bonus.
(https://i.postimg.cc/JtkgCM4V/20220211-124521.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/JtkgCM4V)
Quote from: Speed_Racer on February 21, 2022, 01:49:38 PM
Oh I guess I have a rental review.
I had this for a short week in Puerto Rico: the humble base trim Nissan Versa. Honestly this is my preferred compact rental because of its ample trunk and rear leg room.
Engine and CVT weren't great - underpowered but at least not buzzy. We averaged 30 mpg mixed. The car's skinny profile was nice for PR's narrow roads. Steering and ride were light. Interior looked and felt decent considering it's one of the cheapest cars you can buy right now. Would have liked Android Auto, but it did have keyless start, a bunch of USB ports, power windows and locks as standard.
It was nothing spectacular, but I respect its honesty. It isn't trying to be anything except an easy to drive, affordable car. The extra interior space is a bonus.
(https://i.postimg.cc/JtkgCM4V/20220211-124521.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/JtkgCM4V)
Recently Nissan has really upped their game regarding the design and interior quality of their cars. In the past I've gotten "stuck" a few times renting a Nissan Versa and hated it. It's roomy but everything else about it sucked. I haven't gotten into the 3rd generation one (2019) though but I'm assuming it's much better than the prior one.
Last week for the first time I used Turo. Figured I'd try it because airport rentals from the large rental companies are so expensive currently. Used it twice. In Las Vegas for a two day trip got a 2019 Mustang convertible (red with white vinyl stripes). Beautiful car. Unfortunately a bit too cold and windy for my parents who were with me for me to keep the top down while cruising the strip. Nightmare ongoing experience but that has nothing to do with the car and for a different thread. Also rented a 2019 BMW X3 for a ski trip with my fam near Salt Lake City. Surprised how roomy it is and how smooth and quiet a drive it is. I wasn't expecting it to drive like my mother in law's Lexus RX but it felt that smooth and quiet with better road feel. Damn, this is a nice SUV.
Quote from: Speed_Racer on February 21, 2022, 01:49:38 PM
Oh I guess I have a rental review.
I had this for a short week in Puerto Rico: the humble base trim Nissan Versa. Honestly this is my preferred compact rental because of its ample trunk and rear leg room.
Engine and CVT weren't great - underpowered but at least not buzzy. We averaged 30 mpg mixed. The car's skinny profile was nice for PR's narrow roads. Steering and ride were light. Interior looked and felt decent considering it's one of the cheapest cars you can buy right now. Would have liked Android Auto, but it did have keyless start, a bunch of USB ports, power windows and locks as standard.
It was nothing spectacular, but I respect its honesty. It isn't trying to be anything except an easy to drive, affordable car. The extra interior space is a bonus.
(https://i.postimg.cc/JtkgCM4V/20220211-124521.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/JtkgCM4V)
I liked the Sentra I rented in SF last summer. CVT was lame and the touchscreen could be finicky (especially switching back and forth between the backup camera), but I was impressed but the driving dynamics, interior materials, and features for a car I'd normally assume is cheap and boring.
I'm in Washington state this week, rental is a 2021 (last gen) Civic sport with the 2.0L NA 4-pot. I really, really like this thing. It's fun to drive, has a nice interior, CarPlay, I think it's good looking. This has me strongly thinking about getting the next gen CTR.
Quote from: CALL_911 on March 27, 2022, 05:08:23 PM
I'm in Washington state this week, rental is a 2021 (last gen) Civic sport with the 2.0L NA 4-pot. I really, really like this thing. It's fun to drive, has a nice interior, CarPlay, I think it's good looking. This has me strongly thinking about getting the next gen CTR.
As a daily? I wouldn't
I have a Corolla this week. Don't care for it. Brakes and gas are too touchy. Door panel design isn't great, and the USB placement for apple carplay is an afterthought. But at least it has CarPlay.
The infotainment software might be higher quality than the Sentra I rented last summer, but I definitely preferred the driving dynamics of the Sentra
Quote from: CaminoRacer on April 06, 2022, 12:14:01 PM
I have a Corolla this week. Don't care for it. Brakes and gas are too touchy. Door panel design isn't great, and the USB placement for apple carplay is an afterthought. But at least it has CarPlay.
The infotainment software might be higher quality than the Sentra I rented last summer, but I definitely preferred the driving dynamics of the Sentra
Driving dynamics .... Sentra? :confused:
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on April 06, 2022, 01:06:32 PM
Driving dynamics .... Sentra? :confused:
Only being compared because they're the same class and I've rented both in the past year
Quote from: CaminoRacer on April 06, 2022, 02:16:54 PM
Only being compared because they're the same class and I've rented both in the past year
The Corolla must be a total piece of garbage.
Apparently the Sentra really stepped it up a notch. GF's company car is a Corolla and it's a dog. We both hate driving it.
Going to California in a couple of weeks - have reserved a full-size SUV, "Tahoe or similar." Figured it would be interesting to experience what will probably be among the last of the full meal deal V8 American gas guzzlers. My wallet is limbering up for California gasoline prices.
Quote from: Morris Minor on April 07, 2022, 05:16:48 AM
Going to California in a couple of weeks - have reserved a full-size SUV, "Tahoe or similar." Figured it would be interesting to experience what will probably be among the last of the full meal deal V8 American gas guzzlers. My wallet is limbering up for California gasoline prices.
You're looking at high $5s for regular and if you're in more liberal cities, it'll probably be $6 min.
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on April 06, 2022, 02:19:19 PM
The Corolla must be a total piece of garbage.
It's fine, just not enthusiast or sporty at all. The dumb gas pedal surges when you take off from a stop. Very hard to take off smoothly unless you just want to commit and floor it
Tahoe with dugga-dugga-dugga awesome quad tailpipes. GM's greatest legacy will be its mellifluous V8 exhaust note. Here, in this Napa CA hotel parking lot, littered with EVs & hybrids, it juts proud toxic masculinity.
(https://i.postimg.cc/bJqBz91m/IMG-0524.jpg)
:lol:
Might end up using Turo again in London this summer. Enterprise has no cars available and Avis wants like 500 pounds for 2 days. Turo is a normal 30-50 pounds/day for a small car.
what about sixt? I loved their cars
Tolls are 'spensive if you're renting.
Total Toll Amount : $16.05
eToll Convenience Fee : $11.90
$5.95 per usage day, max $29.75 per rental
Total Charges : $27.95
Rental Agency : Avis
Tolling Summary
Golden Gate Bridge $9.05
Carquinez Bridge $7.00
Quote from: Rich on April 23, 2022, 04:46:36 AM
what about sixt? I loved their cars
They're around $195/day for June.
Quote from: Morris Minor on May 05, 2022, 12:40:33 PM
Tolls are 'spensive if you're renting.
Total Toll Amount : $16.05
eToll Convenience Fee : $11.90
$5.95 per usage day, max $29.75 per rental
Total Charges : $27.95
Rental Agency : Avis
Tolling Summary
Golden Gate Bridge $9.05
Carquinez Bridge $7.00
I think I paid the toll online for the GG Bridge instead of going through the rental car company. I paid Enterprise for the tolls around Miami, though. That cost me around $25-30 in the end too with all of the fees.
I've got a manual Citroen C3 Aircross or similar booked for London this summer. (Need a car to get to the Goodwood Festival of Speed)
Driving a stickshift with my left hand will be fun. :mask:
Lucky, I want to try RHD stickshift!
I drove a RHD stick Opel Astra in Ireland about 10 years ago. It was super weird, and even after a week it still didn't feel natural.
Any embarassing misshifts?
Quote from: afty on May 28, 2022, 05:12:21 PM
I drove a RHD stick Opel Astra in Ireland about 10 years ago. It was super weird, and even after a week it still didn't feel natural.
Using both your left hand and left foot seems unbalanced.
Quote from: CaminoRacer on May 28, 2022, 09:53:45 PM
Using both your left hand and left foot seems unbalanced.
Right foot on the wheel and right foot on the gas. It balances out.
Many years ago, decades, we rented a small Metro for a week to tour the country. I was concerned, but after a few stops and starts, it seemed pretty natural. My only real concern was the roundabouts. They've got some pretty tricky ones.
In CA with in-laws so they rented a van. Grand Caravan. Total piece of garbage. Least comfortable van seats I've ever sat in and horrible squeaking trim pieces,
Quote from: CaminoRacer on June 02, 2022, 08:11:35 PM
In CA with in-laws so they rented a van. Grand Caravan. Total piece of garbage. Least comfortable van seats I've ever sat in and horrible squeaking trim pieces,
Stow n Go seats make it all worth it!
Ended up with an MG hatchback in England instead of a Citroen. Decent little car. Stickshift with the left hand isn't too bad, nor is driving on the left.I had to pay more attention to keeping the car in the narrow lanes though, since I'm sitting in the other side so I have to hug the right lane marker instead of the left. (And the roads are narrow so you do literally hug the line)
All the roundabouts are very fun with a little stickshift hatchback
(https://i.postimg.cc/xkCnQWVq/EA9944-B5-943-F-43-D7-A8-AA-3-B4-C1-C88-D6-C7.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xkCnQWVq)
Quote from: CaminoRacer on June 27, 2022, 04:38:35 AM
All the roundabouts are very fun with a little stickshift hatchback
Roundabouts are wonderful. America's obsession with Stop signs is weird & unnatural.
I am soooooooo upset they replaced a roundabout here with a frakkin stoplight. Not once before did I have to stop....
On a family vacation and have a 2021 Sienna hybrid. It's not bad. I'm averaging 31 mpg in mixed driving. Also the radar cruise + lane keeping is surprisingly good, though not as good as Autopilot in my Model 3. It tends to ping pong around the lane and isn't great when there's any curve to the road. But it's still helpful on long drives.
That a 4,600 lb car with the shape of a refrigerator has better fuel economy than my 2800 lb compact hatchback...
In UK atm and got a Vauxhall (Opel) Grandland X. I don't like it. Flimsy, light steering, and below par build quality.
I find Opel after PSA turnover to be pretty boring stuff.
Also, first time driving on the left side of the road :mask:
Are they still using their same platforms from the GM days, or did they switch over to PSA underpinnings?
Quote from: veeman on August 04, 2022, 12:42:36 PM
That a 4,600 lb car with the shape of a refrigerator has better fuel economy than my 2800 lb compact hatchback...
The technology is amazing!
Quote from: CaminoRacer on August 04, 2022, 02:42:55 PM
Are they still using their same platforms from the GM days, or did they switch over to PSA underpinnings?
PSA (Peugeot) platforms
I spent a few days in NC visiting some extended family and found an A4 hiding between some generic sedans/CUVs in the Emerald Exec. lane at National. This one had <250 miles on it and still smelled like new car. It turned out to be a great choice for the highways & mountain roads I ended up taking. Surprisingly good gas mileage.
But it's disappointing that radar cruise & blind spot monitoring were absent. At least it had Android Auto.
(https://i.postimg.cc/TwC5nhzF/PXL-20220814-111954813.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/nhX8J5VD/PXL-20220814-113106794.jpg)
This is the first generation that really appeals to me more than the contemporary 3-series. These still look great, despite being a 5-6 year old design.
Spent nearly 1200 miles in a Tucson rented to tour New England during leaf season. The National emerald aisle was nearly empty when we arrived at BOS, it was this, a Mitsubishi Outlander, or a Toyota Highlander. GF doesn't like Toyotas, I have no opinion on Mitsubishis, so the Tuscon "won". It turned out to be a decent road-tripper.
Good: Good dimensions, quiet and smooth ride, came fully loaded (radar cruise, heated/vented seats, sunroof), and we averaged low to mid 30s MPG. Trunk automatically opens for you if you stand back there for ~5 seconds, no foot waving needed.
Bad: Snatchy throttle off idle, piano black trim looks bad, 8-spd transmission shifted up and down a lot, center stack had a weird mix of inputs: capacitive buttons, touchscreen, flippers, scrolly wheels. The car also liked to bing and bong at us for all sorts of reasons - buckle up, you shifted into reverse, matching the cruise to the speed limit, phone left in the charger, etc.
(https://i.postimg.cc/9fHQ6cT2/PXL-20221001-222745297.jpg)
Definitely a better choice than the Mitsubishi!
I recently rented a white 2022 Toyota Camry LE AWD for a trip in Minnesota. It had the 2.5L 4 cylinder engine and 8 speed transmission. The engine had reasonable power but it was kind of buzzy at lower speeds. The car was comfortable and roomy. At first it seemed like it had some odd steering issues until I realized that if I got close to the lane lines the car would try to steer itself back to the center of the lane. I got used to that without too much problem.
The most annoying thing about the car were the various beeps from the electronic nannies. The worst was the speed limit nanny. If you went over the speed limit by more than 5mph the car would beep at you. Driving on Minneapolis freeways that have ridiculously short on and of ramp merging lanes, traffic speed was constantly going above and below that 5mph over the speed limit barrier so the chime was frequently beeping. I tried to turn it off but all of the instructions that I found for turning it off involved going into the Navigation menu and the car didn't have navigation.
I really liked the radar cruise control. It was really nice on the longer drives that we took. It did a nice job of keeping a comfortable distance and would brake the car all of the way down to about 15mph before it would cut out.
The gas mileage was great. I didn't track it accurately but we put around 1000 miles on the car and only had to fill it up twice. It got around 35mpg.
The one thing that surprised me was how much wind gusts affected the car. It got pushed around in windy conditions more that I would have expected for a car with modern aerodynamics. The wind gusts would also make the hood visibly shake.
Quote from: RomanChariot on October 12, 2022, 09:46:28 AM
I recently rented a white 2022 Toyota Camry LE AWD for a trip in Minnesota. It had the 2.5L 4 cylinder engine and 8 speed transmission. The engine had reasonable power but it was kind of buzzy at lower speeds. The car was comfortable and roomy. At first it seemed like it had some odd steering issues until I realized that if I got close to the lane lines the car would try to steer itself back to the center of the lane. I got used to that without too much problem.
The most annoying thing about the car were the various beeps from the electronic nannies. The worst was the speed limit nanny. If you went over the speed limit by more than 5mph the car would beep at you. Driving on Minneapolis freeways that have ridiculously short on and of ramp merging lanes, traffic speed was constantly going above and below that 5mph over the speed limit barrier so the chime was frequently beeping. I tried to turn it off but all of the instructions that I found for turning it off involved going into the Navigation menu and the car didn't have navigation.
I really liked the radar cruise control. It was really nice on the longer drives that we took. It did a nice job of keeping a comfortable distance and would brake the car all of the way down to about 15mph before it would cut out.
The gas mileage was great. I didn't track it accurately but we put around 1000 miles on the car and only had to fill it up twice. It got around 35mpg.
The one thing that surprised me was how much wind gusts affected the car. It got pushed around in windy conditions more that I would have expected for a car with modern aerodynamics. The wind gusts would also make the hood visibly shake.
If my rental car had a speed nanny, I would return it and ask for a different car.
In San Diego for a conference. Rented a luxury car through Dollar. I'm always surprised that the cost difference between renting a compact economy car vs large car is usually a few dollars a day and a luxury car is usually not that much more, usually on par with a small or midsize SUV. My go to Chrysler 300 wasn't available but they had a Genesis G70. Sweet.
Base model 4 cylinder turbo. Nice looking car. Interior is very well put together and feels luxury. Put it in "sport" mode but not the most extreme sport mode (there was economy, comfort, sport, and extreme sport). Plenty fast. Good handling. What surprised me most is how well isolated the ride is. Don't really hear the 4 cylinder engine (which is a good thing) and it was easy for me to forget I was going 90 mph and had to slow down on the highway the car is so quiet. I think base model 4 cylinder engine which starts at around 40 grand is a very good deal especially with generous Genesis/Hyundai warranty. Trunk is on the smaller side.
Hyundai Sonata with 1.6T in San Francisco. I'm impressed - I see why Hyundai is doing so well. I need to tell Avis that attempting to wash their cars just by running them through a water shower does not work. Dried water spots covering the glass & mirrors impede visibility.
Quote from: Morris Minor on November 18, 2022, 03:39:45 PM
Hyundai Sonata with 1.6T in San Francisco. I'm impressed - I see why Hyundai is doing so well. I need to tell Avis that attempting to wash their cars just by running them through a water shower does not work. Dried water spots covering the glass & mirrors impede visibility.
A couple weeks ago I was scheduled to detail the interior on this old timer's truck. When he dropped it off he asked if I could "give it a quick wash" as well and I said "I don't have time, that's an extra 1.5-2 hours and I have another interior to do this afternoon" and he said "no, no, just rinse it off." I flat-out refused...no way am I just spraying our shitty city water on your truck and leaving it there to dry. He couldn't comprehend the situation.
So Day Three with the Sonata & I'm still liking it. You can tell a lot of thought went into the aerodynamics. It's quiet & relaxed on freeways - slips through the air, plus I'm getting good gas mileage. Also lots of goodies... & the infotainment works well - I think this is one up from the base model.
(https://i.postimg.cc/wvy2Lwh6/60-F50-F66-7-BCE-421-A-BE2-B-ABF433087-A47-1-201-a.jpg)
Going to Florida next summer.
I noticed that rental car prices still are horribly inflated. Any tips for getting more reasonable rates?
Quote from: mzziaz on January 10, 2023, 02:22:11 AM
Going to Florida next summer.
I noticed that rental car prices still are horribly inflated. Any tips for getting more reasonable rates?
It's crazy. You can try one of the off-airport companies - like Enterprise - but inconvenient. I have an account with Avis & usually rent using a discount code from AAA or my bank. Maybe you can get a deal through your travel club or airline?
(Off topic but managing the rental through the Avis app works really well. Last time I was in California Avis, had allocated a pickup truck [Tacoma] for some reason - nice but
completely wrong for what we needed... realised it when we were waiting at baggage claim. I was able to change it in the app - super easy.)
Yeah, it is bad. I might try Kyte
Costco usually has good rental car rates. Check out costcotravel.com.
Quote from: Morris Minor on January 10, 2023, 05:33:05 AM
It's crazy. You can try one of the off-airport companies - like Enterprise - but inconvenient. I have an account with Avis & usually rent using a discount code from AAA or my bank. Maybe you can get a deal through your travel club or airline?
(Off topic but managing the rental through the Avis app works really well. Last time I was in California Avis, had allocated a pickup truck [Tacoma] for some reason - nice but completely wrong for what we needed... realised it when we were waiting at baggage claim. I was able to change it in the app - super easy.)
What was wrong with the Taco? Just needed a full-size pickup? Or something completely different like a van or Tahoe/Suburban/big SUV?
Weird. When it is like $400/week, it must be wildly profitable.
I'm trying Kyte. They came in at $600 for three weeks, with a $50 discount
Quote from: giant_mtb on January 10, 2023, 02:11:58 PM
What was wrong with the Taco? Just needed a full-size pickup? Or something completely different like a van or Tahoe/Suburban/big SUV?
We needed a boring sedan-type thingy with a lockable trunk and freeway aerodynamics.
Quote from: Morris Minor on January 15, 2023, 05:33:53 AM
We needed a boring sedan-type thingy with a lockable trunk and freeway aerodynamics.
Oh. Then, yeah, Taco isn't ideal at all. :lol:
Re: inflated rental prices
My credit card (Chase Sapphire Reserve) gives me Avis Preferred status which has consistently given me substantially better rates than anywhere else, including Costco.
I rented a Rav 4 hybrid on Turo for the weekend. We shall see how it does for a road trip through southern Utah. I expect it to perform perfectly for the task
Quote from: CaminoRacer on April 26, 2023, 09:06:42 PMI rented a Rav 4 hybrid on Turo for the weekend. We shall see how it does for a road trip through southern Utah. I expect it to perform perfectly for the task
It did indeed perform perfectly.
We drove to Cedar City for a graduation ceremony, and then took a long detour through Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and Capitol Reef National Park. I wanted to rent a Mazda CX-5 but couldn't find any on Turo that were close enough, so we picked one of the many RAV-4 Hybrids nearby. I wanted something with a bit of ground clearance for dirt trailhead roads, but didn't need real off-road capability. The hybrid worked out well, since it got like 38 MPG on the trip there and back. It's the first Toyota I've driven where I didn't hate the throttle response. Eco mode had very dull response but the normal mode was normal. I didn't bother with sport mode since I was happy enough with normal, and it's not a sports car and shouldn't bother trying. I did pop it into trail mode on the dirt, but I don't know what that does and I don't think it made any difference.
They're not quick vehicles, but it had just enough power when you floored it. It easily cruised at 80-90 mph on the highway and the CVT was pretty good. I'm a fan of good CVTs, they remind me of EVs that never have to shift.
It would switch into EV mode on its own every once in a while. I'm not sure what the conditions needed to be, but it was obvious that it had limited EV-only HP. If you pushed the gas more than a little bit, it would leave EV mode. There is a button in the console to manually enter EV mode, but I never bothered since it would do it automatically when it thought conditions were fit for it.
The handling was OK. Like I said, it's not a sports car and I didn't drive it like it was. Body roll isn't terrible but I didn't trust it in a moose test scenario, too tipsy to make more than 1 quick correction. It didn't help that it had a big thick steering wheel cover that I hated, but I left it on since it's a Turo rental and I only had the car for 2-3 days.
Overall I liked it a lot more than the Tacoma we rented last year. Not as capable off-road, but far better on-road. And just as practical, if not more, since the hatchback area is locked.
We got to the Enterprise car rental place in Manchester and there was a choice between a Renault Clio and a Vauxhall Corsa. I'd heard good things about the Renault so went for it. I like it - a nice B segment supermini: great handling, logical dash & switch layout and pleasant to drive. It's petrol but not sure which engine it has but it's good enough - not us to North Yorkshire with no problems. Weird to be driving on the left again.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Clio
Stick shift? I think that shifting with my left hand would be the weirdest part about driving in the UK.
No unfortunately its an auto. I'm glad I didn't get anything bigger - stone wall-lined single lane roads don't give much room to play with. In one place a guy in an Alfa had to backup about 20 yards to a passing place to let me through.
This is the road outside our hotel. It's a wide one, necessitating only that passing vehicles slow to walking pace to squeeze by each other.
(https://i.postimg.cc/PqpswYtW/IMG-2121.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/p9H6N95r)
Quote from: Laconian on May 07, 2023, 12:34:36 PMStick shift? I think that shifting with my left hand would be the weirdest part about driving in the UK.
It's actually not weird at all, the controls on right hand drive cars are all exactly the same as LHD.
Quote from: AutobahnSHO on May 08, 2023, 04:33:29 AMIt's actually not weird at all, the controls on right hand drive cars are all exactly the same as LHD.
I got used to it pretty quickly. I'm glad that the shift pattern is the same and not reversed. :lol:
Every time I drive out of a parking lot I repeat a "Drive on the Left" mantra as I get on the road.
Okay. On the train now to London, after a 3-hour drive down from NW England to Manchester City Centre, where I dropped off the car. Most of the driving was on the M6 which, in the area around Penrith & Carlisle & up towards Scotland, is a magnificent well-engineered 6-lane rural freeway, made all the better by disciplined courteous drivers who use turn signals, don't camp out in the fast lane, move over to make room for merging traffic etc. I love the USA, and have lived there for 30 years but, honestly, the standard of driving is much lower, "feral" as Cougs famously terms it.
The Renault was weird: e.g. an infotainment system that did Carplay & Android Auto, plus rear backup sensors... But no backup camera, or ambient temperature display. Plus the radio wouldn't shut off permanently - never figured that one out. It was a basic-spec car with manual-adjustment cloth seats etc. The decision process on features included vs omitted seemed bizarre.
Quote from: Morris Minor on May 10, 2023, 06:21:29 AMOkay. On the train now to London, after a 3-hour drive down from NW England to Manchester City Centre, where I dropped off the car. Most of the driving was on the M6 which, in the area around Penrith & Carlisle & up towards Scotland, is a magnificent well-engineered 6-lane rural freeway, made all the better by disciplined courteous drivers who use turn signals, don't camp out in the fast lane, move over to make room for merging traffic etc. I love the USA, and have lived there for 30 years but, honestly, the standard of driving is much lower, "feral" as Cougs famously terms it.
The Renault was weird: e.g. an infotainment system that did Carplay & Android Auto, plus rear backup sensors... But no backup camera, or ambient temperature display. Plus the radio wouldn't shut off permanently - never figured that one out. It was a basic-spec car with manual-adjustment cloth seats etc. The decision process on features included vs omitted seemed bizarre.
I visited London with the family 8 years ago and rented a Ford Mondeo. I needed to get to Watford which is where the Warner Bros studio is to take a Harry Potter studio tour (we're huge fans) and I avoid public transportation whenever feasible. I also wanted to drive in the evenings after rush hour to various restaurants. I'm glad I splurged for an automatic because of the opposite driving direction and it's just one less thing to worry about in an unfamiliar city. Like you I kept saying to myself "stay on the left, stay on the left, stay on the left". The Mondeo is by American standards an average sized car but it felt really wide in London. I had to concentrate to not curb the wheels in the city. I liked how the traffic lights were on poles on the side of the road instead of hanging on wires high up above an intersection like they have in America. Less visual pollution. I expected highway traffic to be faster than the U.S. but it was the same speed as here. Compared with NYC, drivers were much more courteous in London.
Quote from: veeman on May 10, 2023, 08:03:27 AMI visited London with the family 8 years ago and rented a Ford Mondeo. I needed to get to Watford which is where the Warner Bros studio is to take a Harry Potter studio tour (we're huge fans) and I avoid public transportation whenever feasible. I also wanted to drive in the evenings after rush hour to various restaurants. I'm glad I splurged for an automatic because of the opposite driving direction and it's just one less thing to worry about in an unfamiliar city. Like you I kept saying to myself "stay on the left, stay on the left, stay on the left". The Mondeo is by American standards an average sized car but it felt really wide in London. I had to concentrate to not curb the wheels in the city. I liked how the traffic lights were on poles on the side of the road instead of hanging on wires high up above an intersection like they have in America. Less visual pollution. I expected highway traffic to be faster than the U.S. but it was the same speed as here. Compared with NYC, drivers were much more courteous in London.
I took the train out to the Harry Potter studio. The train part was great, but the bus that the studio arranges to take you from the train station to the studio was terribly delayed. We were standing in a line of hundreds of people for over an hour and were worried we'd miss our ticket time slot. Driving probably would have been more enjoyable than that part.
I've rented a car there twice, once was an automatic Golf TDI to drive from London to Dover, the other was a yellow MG hatchback with a manual transmission to go from Heathrow to the Goodwood Festival of Speed down by Portsmouth. I was glad to have the automatic the first time I drove there, but the little stickshift hatchback was super fun to drive on the country lanes and toss through roundabouts.
Heh, I don't understand the only-mutable radio decision. My MIL's Renault is the same way. It's such a bizarre UI.
Reserved a hybrid Avis rental, & they allocated a Wrangler hybrid. Worthless for Bay Area driving.
So I switched to a 2023 CX-5 - it was convenient and at the top of the list in the app. It's a 2023 - non-turbo. Nice car with the minor gripes of my '21 fixed. Not as highly specced as mine but all I miss are the vented seats. The lack of turbo means it's more refined, quieter, and uses less gas. The lower power & torque numbers are only noticed on the freeway.
Based on this, if going for a CX-5, I'd choose whichever is the highest trim you can get with a naturally aspirated engine.
I'm in San Diego and reserved a Chrysler 300 as usual. In rental car speak, this falls under premium or luxury car. Avis offered a Cadillac CT5. Sweet. I've always wanted to drive a Cadillac sedan. The last one I did was in the late 1980s when I sometimes drove my uncle/aunt's Cadillac Seville.
This is a RWD Turbo 4 cylinder version.
Pros: Looks fantastic design wise. I find it a really good looking car and you don't see that many on the road. Sport mode is still a good ride and the enhanced engine sound is not overly intrusive. Handles well at normal speeds. Auto climate control works well and automatically heats or cools the seats for you. Can easily turn off auto start stop by a physical button. Has apple car play. Best heated and ventilated seats I've ever sat in. They're very comfortable and supportive.
Cons: It's not that fast off the line (but I have the base model engine). It's plenty fast enough for what I want. The interior, other than the seats, is nothing special. Kind of more mainstreamer brand grade. Doesn't have auto folding side view mirrors or surround vision camera which I would expect in a Cadillac, even base model (especially auto folding side view mirrors).
Overall I really like this car as a long distance cruiser. It looks really good and the seats are fantastic. It's also priced cheaper than the German luxury brands. I'd still choose a Chrysler 300 over it because I like bigger cars as long distance cruisers but this car did not disappoint.
Comparing apples to oranges, I like my Kia EV6 much better as a car to own for local travel. Can't compare with lack of NVH and instant torque of the Kia.
Quote from: veeman on November 01, 2023, 12:57:55 PMI'm in San Diego and reserved a Chrysler 300 as usual. In rental car speak, this falls under premium or luxury car. Avis offered a Cadillac CT5. Sweet. I've always wanted to drive a Cadillac sedan. The last one I did was in the late 1980s when I sometimes drove my uncle/aunt's Cadillac Seville.
This is a RWD Turbo 4 cylinder version.
Pros: Looks fantastic design wise. I find it a really good looking car and you don't see that many on the road. Sport mode is still a good ride and the enhanced engine sound is not overly intrusive. Handles well at normal speeds. Auto climate control works well and automatically heats or cools the seats for you. Can easily turn off auto start stop by a physical button. Has apple car play. Best heated and ventilated seats I've ever sat in. They're very comfortable and supportive.
Cons: It's not that fast off the line (but I have the base model engine). It's plenty fast enough for what I want. The interior, other than the seats, is nothing special. Kind of more mainstreamer brand grade. Doesn't have auto folding side view mirrors or surround vision camera which I would expect in a Cadillac, even base model (especially auto folding side view mirrors).
Overall I really like this car as a long distance cruiser. It looks really good and the seats are fantastic. It's also priced cheaper than the German luxury brands. I'd still choose a Chrysler 300 over it because I like bigger cars as long distance cruisers but this car did not disappoint.
Comparing apples to oranges, I like my Kia EV6 much better as a car to own for local travel. Can't compare with lack of NVH and instant torque of the Kia.
Is that the 2.7L?
Took the Cadillac CT5 rental from San Diego to Las Vegas Friday late afternoon. A lot of traffic and slow speeds for half the drive. Took 6 plus hours. I've changed my mind about the Cadillac. I like it better as a long distance cruiser than the Chrysler 300. The seats are the most comfortable and supportive I've ever sat in, the ride and handling at normal cruising speeds in sport mode is fantastic, and the adaptive cruise control works great. It didn't have GM's super cruise so the steering was only in my control but I didn't have to press the brakes much even in stop and go traffic. Only when a car or truck was trying to merge in front of me and was dithering half in my lane would the adaptive cruise control get confused and I'd have to manually hit the brakes. I also liked the warning low pitched buzzing on my backside the car gave me when my car was out of lane, I was going too fast and there was a stopped car in front of me, I was making a lane change with a car in my blind side, or if I was in reverse and there was a pedestrian or car behind me.
The turbo I4 doesn't sound buzzy at all. Online mag reviews complain about the power of the base turbo 4 engine. It was good enough for me.
While the CX-5 is in the body shop, this is the rental. Other end of the spectrum from the lively CUV. But I see the appeal.
It's the SR5 w/ cloth seats. Kinda miss a power liftgate and auto climate control but I could live with it.
Edit: this thing drinks lots of petrol.
This thing, 270 hp 4.0L, does not have enough torques: 278 lb-ft.
It cries for a diesel, a good fit for the rugged body-on frame 4Runner. Second choice would be a smaller displacement gasoline turbo.
(My little CX-5's 2.5 turbo has 256 hp & 320 torques on premium gas)
Ouch, at 4400+ lbs needs much motor....
Yeah the V6 in the Tacoma/4runner needs too much RPM to make power. And then at least in the Tacoma they pair it with long gearing which is the opposite of what it needs. If I bought a Taco, a shorter axle ratio would be mod #1.
Quote from: CaminoRacer on November 24, 2023, 11:08:04 AMYeah the V6 in the Tacoma/4runner needs too much RPM to make power. And then at least in the Tacoma they pair it with long gearing which is the opposite of what it needs. If I bought a Taco, a shorter axle ratio would be mod #1.
Can confirm.
Coupled with the cruise control programming that is (still) garbage...constantly hunting gears as it waits too long to downshift and then upshifts again too early. I'll put mine in 4th gear in manual mode for certain uphill sections so it just stays there and doesn't see-saw me between 5th and 4th. :lol:
Just get a 5.7L iForce V8. Everything you want, and more.
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on November 24, 2023, 01:21:58 PMJust get a 5.7L iForce V8. Everything you want, and more.
Yes, more gas. The quicker we use it up, the better for humanity.
Quote from: FoMoJo on November 24, 2023, 01:40:11 PMYes, more gas. The quicker we use it up, the better for humanity.
+1
Use it up in a V8. Don't waste it in a V6. :lol:
If I were to have one of these it would be the Lexus GX version with the V8 & more twiddly comfort bits. There will be some good deals as the Lexus stealerships offload them ready for the 3rd gen.
Quote from: Morris Minor on November 24, 2023, 02:22:09 PMIf I were to have one of these it would be the Lexus GX version with the V8 & more twiddly comfort bits. There will be some good deals as the Lexus stealerships offload them ready for the 3rd gen.
Sometimes, I wish TUNDRA was a GX. I am getting old and everything hurts. I need a plush ride and luxurious things.
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on November 24, 2023, 02:12:49 PM+1
Use it up in a V8. Don't waste it in a V6. :lol:
Honestly, I would love to have a V8, preferably a late '60s 289 HiPo. The one in my Tiger got 12 mpg no matter how I drove it; pretty sure even when it was just sitting idling. It made a lovely hissing/slurping sound through the carburetor.
Quote from: FoMoJo on November 24, 2023, 02:58:37 PMHonestly, I would love to have a V8, preferably a late '60s 289 HiPo. The one in my Tiger got 12 mpg no matter how I drove it; pretty sure even when it was just sitting idling. It made a lovely hissing/slurping sound through the carburetor.
MPG doesn't matter when you're awesome.
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on November 24, 2023, 05:22:52 PMMPG doesn't matter when you're awesome.
More
Pontiac
Excitement for the
Great ones
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on November 24, 2023, 05:22:52 PMMPG doesn't matter when you're awesome.
The 4Runner's wheezy V6 is getting around 13 mpg on these roads. I doubt the GX's V8 so much worse that it would actually matter.
The use case for this thing is for dirt and rough roads in 2nd & 3rd world countries. Or a farm or ranch in the USA. But for the US you'd be buying 'murrican - poverty spec Tahoe or something.
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on November 24, 2023, 05:22:52 PMMPG doesn't matter when you're awesome.
What transmission (how many speeds) doe the Tundra have?
Quote from: Morris Minor on November 25, 2023, 07:18:27 AMThe 4Runner's wheezy V6 is getting around 13 mpg on these roads. I doubt the GX's V8 so much worse that it would actually matter.
The use case for this thing is for dirt and rough roads in 2nd & 3rd world countries. Or a farm or ranch in the USA. But for the US you'd be buying 'murrican - poverty spec Tahoe or something.
Tundra gets 15-16 MPG in mixed driving.
Quote from: FoMoJo on November 25, 2023, 07:32:45 AMWhat transmission (how many speeds) doe the Tundra have?
6-speed auto, and whatever axle ratio comes with the TRD.
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on November 25, 2023, 07:48:30 AM6-speed auto, and whatever axle ratio comes with the TRD.
How many are overdrive?
Quote from: FoMoJo on November 25, 2023, 07:54:38 AMHow many are overdrive?
1: 3.333
2: 1.960
3: 1.353
4: 1.000
5: 0.728
6: 0.588
R: 2.070
axles are 4.30
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on November 25, 2023, 08:58:24 AM1: 3.333
2: 1.960
3: 1.353
4: 1.000
5: 0.728
6: 0.588
R: 2.070
axles are 4.30
Looks like a work truck. Bit of a "lurch" between 1st and 2nd, but cruising in 6th should be fairly economical, with a gentle foot.
4Runner for comparison.
1st: 3.52
2nd: 2.04
3rd: 1.40
4th: 1.00
5th: 0.72
R: 3.22
Axles: 3.73
Quote from: FoMoJo on November 25, 2023, 09:21:42 AMLooks like a work truck. Bit of a "lurch" between 1st and 2nd, but cruising in 6th should be fairly economical, with a gentle foot.
Oh yeah, 1st gear is also quite jumpy with between the truck gearing, truck torque, and on/off throttle response. Traction control to the rescue. Still 16 MPG.
I'm out in Phoenix for the week, just for vacation. Booked a small crossover at Enterprise. They offered me multiple Jeep Cherokees, but I declined until they finally offered a Mazda CX-30. It's a great little car.
Mazda is 100% right about infotainment. The screen is wide, and up in your line of sight. Rotary dial is the way, touch screens suck
Yeah I always liked Mazdas system. BMW is pretty similar. Some people complain about the knob for CarPlay but I think it works well for that too
Quote from: MrH on November 28, 2023, 06:30:57 PMI'm out in Phoenix for the week, just for vacation. Booked a small crossover at Enterprise. They offered me multiple Jeep Cherokees, but I declined until they finally offered a Mazda CX-30. It's a great little car.
Mazda is 100% right about infotainment. The screen is wide, and up in your line of sight. Rotary dial is the way, touch screens suck
Yeah they're great
Quote from: MrH on November 28, 2023, 06:30:57 PMMazda is 100% right about infotainment. The screen is wide, and up in your line of sight. Rotary dial is the way, touch screens suck
I came to this conclusion when I switched from my S4 (no touchscreen, just a rotary dial to scroll with) to my Golf R (touchscreen, but also with a scroll knob next to the screen). The only time the touchscreen is more convenient is if I want to type in an address while not actually moving. Otherwise everything else is easier with the scroll knob (which itself is small and less convenient than the rotary dial from the Audi). I don't even use the car's nav anymore, I just use apple carplay on the few occasions I have wanted to have navigation.
Quote from: MrH on November 28, 2023, 06:30:57 PMI'm out in Phoenix for the week, just for vacation. Booked a small crossover at Enterprise. They offered me multiple Jeep Cherokees, but I declined until they finally offered a Mazda CX-30. It's a great little car.
Mazda is 100% right about infotainment. The screen is wide, and up in your line of sight. Rotary dial is the way, touch screens suck
I like Enterprise - they have a good niche for when you're off-airport & need something in the neighborhood... pleasant staff etc. We often rent from them.
I'm not a fan of the rotary selector and am much more a fan of touchscreen.
With the rotary I need to look and see what's currently selected and then perform the correct number of turns or clicks to select what I want. With touchscreen I just poke what I want. I would like some haptic feedback on the touchscreen though, that would be nice.
Quote from: Rich on November 29, 2023, 10:37:43 AMI'm not a fan of the rotary selector and am much more a fan of touchscreen.
With the rotary I need to look and see what's currently selected and then perform the correct number of turns or clicks to select what I want. With touchscreen I just poke what I want. I would like some haptic feedback on the touchscreen though, that would be nice.
Agreed absolutely. The touchscreen on this rental 4Runner is a lot less work than the CX-5's deal with navigating to the item you want with the click wheel.
Quote from: Rich on November 29, 2023, 10:37:43 AMI'm not a fan of the rotary selector and am much more a fan of touchscreen.
With the rotary I need to look and see what's currently selected and then perform the correct number of turns or clicks to select what I want. With touchscreen I just poke what I want. I would like some haptic feedback on the touchscreen though, that would be nice.
Yes, touchscreens are much simpler for things like Nav or music selection, but dials and buttons are good for other controls such as temperature, etc. A combination of touchscreen and dials and buttons are best, imo.
Okay - I'm beginning to get the love for body-on-frame. The 4Runner sits up high (big step up into the cabin) and gives you a great view, but the best thing is the ride: 17-in rims w/ high aspect ratio tires, & the ladder frame construction preventing transmission of the bumps & thumps and the road noise.
This is why 50-year-old full size American cars are so much more relaxing than 95% of what's on the market now.
Quote from: Morris Minor on November 25, 2023, 07:18:27 AMThe 4Runner's wheezy V6 is getting around 13 mpg on these roads. I doubt the GX's V8 so much worse that it would actually matter.
The use case for this thing is for dirt and rough roads in 2nd & 3rd world countries. Or a farm or ranch in the USA. But for the US you'd be buying 'murrican - poverty spec Tahoe or something.
Proof that all large trucks and SUVs of this nature need to be diesel. A fuel-swilling gasoline truck makes no sense whatsoever. Diesel gives you economy and mountains of torque, which is exactly what something like this 4Runner needs.
I'm in Colorado and ended up piloting an Expedition. :mask: :lol:
I'm thankful most of the major controls are similar to Maverick- push button, transmission dial (vs the push buttons in the Suburban we also have), mirror switches, et.... It's pretty comfy although boring but useful.
It's BIG and compared to the Suburban, the differences seem pretty minor. They both do what big SUVs do.
Quote from: Madman on December 05, 2023, 08:11:26 AMProof that all large trucks and SUVs of this nature need to be diesel. A fuel-swilling gasoline truck makes no sense whatsoever. Diesel gives you economy and mountains of torque, which is exactly what something like this 4Runner needs.
As the owner of a fuel swilling gasoline truck I would love to have a diesel engine. The power and fuel economy would be great for the towing that I do. Unfortunately, their is a huge price premium for a diesel truck, both in purchase price and maintenance costs. Since I don't put a ton of miles on my truck, it just doesn't make sense to sink the extra money into upgrading to a diesel.
Quote from: RomanChariot on December 06, 2023, 09:12:38 AMAs the owner of a fuel swilling gasoline truck I would love to have a diesel engine. The power and fuel economy would be great for the towing that I do. Unfortunately, their is a huge price premium for a diesel truck, both in purchase price and maintenance costs. Since I don't put a ton of miles on my truck, it just doesn't make sense to sink the extra money into upgrading to a diesel.
Yeah, the price premium is rough. Even if the diesel engine lasts a lot longer, the initial cost difference would cover an engine rebuild or replacement for the gas truck.
Maintenance on diesels is quite a bit more money too, IIRC.
Quote from: Madman on December 05, 2023, 08:11:26 AMProof that all large trucks and SUVs of this nature need to be diesel. A fuel-swilling gasoline truck makes no sense whatsoever. Diesel gives you economy and mountains of torque, which is exactly what something like this 4Runner needs
Four years ago we were ferried around central Vietnam in a Toyota Fortuner. It's a body on frame SUV on the HiLux platform. It was weird to be in this pretty plush interior with the driver rowing through manual gears connected to a 2.8L diesel four. Not much power but more torque than the 4Runner's V6.
Quote from: Morris Minor on December 06, 2023, 11:26:35 AMFour years ago we were ferried around central Vietnam in a Toyota Fortuner. It's a body on frame SUV on the HiLux platform. It was weird to be in this pretty plush interior with the driver rowing through manual gears connected to a 2.8L diesel four. Not much power but more torque than the 4Runner's V6.
My first small diesel experience was in Italy when I was 18. At that point I had just learned how to shift gears for myself. I was riding in a Chrysler minivan with a 2.4L (I think) diesel four and the man driving it kept shifting before the RPMs even hit 2k. I thought "man, this guy really doesn't know how to shift, I thought they knew how to drive here? When's this thing going to stall?!"
Quote from: Morris Minor on December 05, 2023, 05:18:58 AMOkay - I'm beginning to get the love for body-on-frame. The 4Runner sits up high (big step up into the cabin) and gives you a great view, but the best thing is the ride: 17-in rims w/ high aspect ratio tires, & the ladder frame construction preventing transmission of the bumps & thumps and the road noise.
This is why 50-year-old full size American cars are so much more relaxing than 95% of what's on the market now.
Are you still in Silicon Valley? Have you been to the Computer History Museum yet?
Quote from: Laconian on December 06, 2023, 05:24:15 PMAre you still in Silicon Valley? Have you been to the Computer History Museum yet?
No I'm home in GA: we have the rental while Mazda is having the scratch buffed out. Thanks for the Museum tip. One I also want to see is in your neck of the woods, the Connections Museum (https://www.telcomhistory.org/connections-museum-seattle/) in Seattle. Interest in that was sparked by reading the history of Bell Labs.
Quote from: Morris Minor on December 06, 2023, 08:15:02 PMNo I'm home in GA: we have the rental while Mazda is having the scratch buffed out. Thanks for the Museum tip. One I also want to see is in your neck of the woods, the Connections Museum (https://www.telcomhistory.org/connections-museum-seattle/) in Seattle. Interest in that was sparked by reading the history of Bell Labs.
Yeah, I shared a link to their YouTube channel on the forum! I want to go there, but their hours are extremely limited.
We used to have the Living Computer Museum which was glorious. Sadly it was shut down, seemingly for good, when its benefactor Paul Allen died. It was awesome being able to TTY into actual running real-life big iron from the sixties and watch the tape reels spin. You could create accounts on their old VAXes and dial in from home via Telnet.
I'm in Houston. Rented a Corolla or similar. Got a RWD Genesis G80 with the 2.5T. It's a better Mercedes than any Mercedes I've driven. Reminds me of older Lexuses in character, which is a good thing. Very well built, quiet, comfortable, and it looks fantastic. My wife wants a GV80 to replace her old RDX next year, I see no reason why not.
Quote from: CALL_911 on December 15, 2023, 08:03:22 AMI'm in Houston. Rented a Corolla or similar. Got a RWD Genesis G80 with the 2.5T. It's a better Mercedes than any Mercedes I've driven. Reminds me of older Lexuses in character, which is a good thing. Very well built, quiet, comfortable, and it looks fantastic. My wife wants a GV80 to replace her old RDX next year, I see no reason why not.
I see a lot of Geneses around here; they've done a fantastic job stepping up to fill the niche handed to them by Infiniti. My information may be out of date but I'm a little surprised they're not doing the mild hybrid thing; that setup works well for peaceful luxurious driving.
I should be able to hand back the rental 4Runner next week. I see the attraction of body-on frame truckery; it has taught me how much, now I'm in my late 60s, I appreciate good ride quality.
Quote from: Morris Minor on December 16, 2023, 06:09:13 AMI see a lot of Geneses around here; they've done a fantastic job stepping up to fill the niche handed to them by Infiniti. My information may be out of date but I'm a little surprised they're not doing the mild hybrid thing; that setup works well for peaceful luxurious driving.
They seem nice, but wife has a co-worker who had to have transmission replaced at 500 miles...
In Amsterdam and had a Lync and Co 01 for a few days. Never heard of this brand before. It's a Chinese-Swedish brand co-owned by Geely and Volvo. It's a smallish SUV and the one I got is a hybrid. I like it. The car has its own wifi hotspot which is very cool.
I really like the Amsterdam/Netherlands driving and biking culture. Even in Amsterdam, people drive chill. Slow speed limits. You pump the fuel first and then pay for it later. Every road except on the highways seems to have an accompanying bike lane. Everyone bikes but interestingly I don't see any fancy bikes. They all seem to be < $1000 to my untrained eye. Also no one wears a bike helmet.
I got a finger wag by an old Dutch guy on a bike because I attempted to cross the street before the pedestrian green walk sign was lit. They take their crosswalk signs seriously here man.
Quote from: veeman on December 31, 2023, 01:48:50 AMIn Amsterdam and had a Lync and Co 01 for a few days. Never heard of this brand before. It's a Chinese-Swedish brand co-owned by Geely and Volvo. It's a smallish SUV and the one I got is a hybrid. I like it. The car has its own wifi hotspot which is very cool.
I really like the Amsterdam/Netherlands driving and biking culture. Even in Amsterdam, people drive chill. Slow speed limits. You pump the fuel first and then pay for it later. Every road except on the highways seems to have an accompanying bike lane. Everyone bikes but interestingly I don't see any fancy bikes. They all seem to be < $1000 to my untrained eye. Also no one wears a bike helmet.
I got a finger wag by an old Dutch guy on a bike because I attempted to cross the street before the pedestrian green walk sign was lit. They take their crosswalk signs seriously here man.
Sounds like a place I could live.
People in the Netherlands are tall: I'm 5' 11" and felt like a short-arse.
Dutch people nip bullshit in the bud. They are a live and let live people, so long as you're not a nuisance to others. The second you become one you will get a verbal barb from someone.
I got chewed out by a taxi driver because I got a ride to a hotel that was better served by the train. He lectured me that I was contributing to traffic needlessly. LOL
The commuter bikes in Amsterdam are crappy because the theft rate is really high. A lot of folks have nicer weekend bikes hung on pegs in their houses and apartments.
My previous boss was Dutch. He was pretty blunt. I liked working for him, but I think he pissed some people off.
Lots of EVs in Amsterdam. I used Uber quite a lot as well and many of the cars people use for Uber are EVs. Even with the govt push for EV, I don't see the Netherlands able to achieve their govt goal of 100% new passenger cars being EV in 2030 however. This article predicts 26%.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629623000282
Got a two month car Sixt rental booked for Europe. I thought I would opt for a diesel car since we're going to be driving quite a bit, but the "diesel preference" cost around six euros a day. I crunched the numbers and found I would have to drive a LOT more to break even over that premium. Kind of crazy!
Quote from: veeman on January 03, 2024, 08:40:25 AMLots of EVs in Amsterdam. I used Uber quite a lot as well and many of the cars people use for Uber are EVs. Even with the govt push for EV, I don't see the Netherlands able to achieve their govt goal of 100% new passenger cars being EV in 2030 however. This article predicts 26%.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629623000282
Have you noticed how quiet Amsterdam is? Given how populated it is, it's a surprisingly low stress city to walk around in. NYC is so much more aggravating by comparison.
It's all in how they handle the cars...
Quote from: Laconian on January 05, 2024, 12:22:02 PMGot a two month car Sixt rental booked for Europe. I thought I would opt for a diesel car since we're going to be driving quite a bit, but the "diesel preference" cost around six euros a day. I crunched the numbers and found I would have to drive a LOT more to break even over that premium. Kind of crazy!
I liked the diesel Golf I rented in London but I don't think I'd pay more for it. The torque was just nice on the highway
Quote from: CaminoRacer on January 05, 2024, 12:41:42 PMI liked the diesel Golf I rented in London but I don't think I'd pay more for it. The torque was just nice on the highway
Yeah diesel is good for cruising and the fuel economy would be nice given how expensive it is to fill up in France. But not six euros a day nice.
Quote from: Laconian on January 05, 2024, 12:23:43 PMHave you noticed how quiet Amsterdam is? Given how populated it is, it's a surprisingly low stress city to walk around in. NYC is so much more aggravating by comparison.
It's all in how they handle the cars...
I loved Amsterdam. I didn't find it a particularly low stress place to walk around in though. There's not a clear demarcation between bike lanes and pedestrian side walks in many areas and I constantly was on the look out to not get hit by a bicyclist. Also I didn't like how close the trams were to the pedestrian side walks. The girth of the tram would overhang onto the boundary of the sidewalk.
Quote from: Laconian on January 05, 2024, 12:43:34 PMYeah diesel is good for cruising and the fuel economy would be nice given how expensive it is to fill up in France. But not six euros a day nice.
Is there a way to specify you want a hybrid? I wonder what the surcharge on a hybrid would be.
I've found the price point difference when renting a car in Europe to be splurging for an automatic transmission. I always choose to do that now because I'd rather be concentrating on the unfamiliar roads, traffic signage, and driving customs than on getting the gear shifts right.
I've found the European car rental places to be weirdly strict about external damage. Before giving you the car they will point out and document every single body scratch including on the wheels and then look for additional body scratches when the car is returned to potentially charge you. For this reason I always get the rental agency supplemental insurance offered. When renting a car in the U.S., I never do that as my own auto insurance will cover rental cars and American car rental agencies don't care about small scratches on the wheels of returned cars.
I've got a five week driving tour of New Zealand coming up at the end of next month. This will give us lots of opportunity to brush up on our driving-on-the-left skills.
Quote from: veeman on January 06, 2024, 01:05:58 AMIs there a way to specify you want a hybrid? I wonder what the surcharge on a hybrid would be.
I've found the price point difference when renting a car in Europe to be splurging for an automatic transmission. I always choose to do that now because I'd rather be concentrating on the unfamiliar roads, traffic signage, and driving customs than on getting the gear shifts right.
I've found the European car rental places to be weirdly strict about external damage. Before giving you the car they will point out and document every single body scratch including on the wheels and then look for additional body scratches when the car is returned to potentially charge you. For this reason I always get the rental agency supplemental insurance offered. When renting a car in the U.S., I never do that as my own auto insurance will cover rental cars and American car rental agencies don't care about small scratches on the wheels of returned cars.
I looked at the scratch and dent insurance but the deductible was 1200 euros. My Visa card insurance might be enough for me: https://www.visa.com.tt/pay-with-visa/find-a-card/benefits/auto-rental-insurance.html
No way to check a hybrid box, though I'm not sure if a hybrid would be a huge help since we're going to be doing a lot of highway miles. My plan is to ask the person behind the counter what my options are and hoping for at least a diesel.
Quote from: Morris Minor on January 07, 2024, 08:29:38 AMI've got a five week driving tour of New Zealand coming up at the end of next month. This will give us lots of opportunity to brush up on our driving-on-the-left skills.
Is it like riding a bike?
Having the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car helps.
Everyone I knew in Germany that visited UK in their own car got into some kind of trouble or another.
Quote from: Laconian on January 08, 2024, 10:59:41 AMIs it like riding a bike?
It is. In the first few days there's a strong tendency to drift over too close to the left verge though, so you have to fight that. Last year, on a practically empty M6 in Lancashire, I found myself on the rumble strip a couple of times.
Quelle chance! My rental car in France for the next two months is a very handsome blue Audi A4 wagon. The price per day is around 33 euros after taxes and fees. Pas mal!
We are going to drive a lot during this trip and the car will be fantastic for the job. The engine is a modest 150hp four cylinder that gets 5.5L/100km, around 42mpg. Gas is expensive here so the efficiency is very welcome.
The car drives beautifully. I really enjoy how composed and quiet it is on the freeway. When I go through roundabouts I can really feel the balance and agility, too. The cruise control stalk is a major WTF though. I cannot figure that thing out. There are way too many hidden states in their design. And some traffic camera warnings would be welcome, too.
France has changed so much recently! It used to be that all the cars for sale or rent had diesel engines, but now diesel engines have almost entirely vanished. The price of diesel is about the same as the price of gasoline per liter, basically ending a longstanding subsidy on gazole cars, and the government is giving generous tax breaks to hybrids.
I'm not a fan of the diesel stink so this change is fine by me!
Nice
Das German wagens drive so well on ze Autobahn. But I hate working on them. :lol:
We had a 2021 Renault Clio (128 HP 1.3L) last year and did not feel deprived. It held its own on the motorway & country lanes and who cares anyway when you're sitting in city traffic.
(The only thing I missed was a backup camera - amazed that they're apparently not mandated.)
Hope you have a great time!
Americans are drunk on high horsepower cars. I've never had any difficulty merging onto a fast moving highway from a full stop in the "underpowered" cars I've owned (base model Hyundai Veloster, base model Subaru Crosstrek, diesel VW Beetle, 4 cylinder Toyota Camry, 4 cylinder Mazda 6, and Mazda Protege).
The only car I've driven a lot which I felt was too slow was my parents '84 Chevy Celebrity good for 90 hp with a 3 speed automatic. The car had difficulty maintaining speed on highways when going uphill.
Same.. The only car I've driven that was really hurting for power was a POS Chevy Spark with a 3cyl engine. It couldn't maintain autoroute speeds up hills. You could feel it wheeze. That sucks.
Also my first car, a '90 Toyota Camry, was dog slow too.
I used to be fine with 44hp in the Suzuki SJ410. Top speed, about 63. These days, I would instantly get run over by a Tesla.
Cars are heavier and more powerful than ever.
Uff.
SIXT sent me a damage invoice for the car that I am still renting.
And it looks like the mileage allowance I got is significantly less than what I was promised when I booked online.
JFC
How would they know it's damaged if you're still renting it?
It's obviously a clerical error.
very competent of them
We have a Ford Everest. Diesel Asia-Pacific market SUV.
Quote from: Morris Minor on March 02, 2024, 07:24:39 PMWe have a Ford Everest. Diesel Asia-Pacific market SUV.
Sounds quite truckish.
It's brand new. Underneath it's a truck on the Ford T6 platform shared with the US-market Ranger. It's got a nice 2L bi-turbo diesel, a 10-speed transmission selectable 4WD and lo-hi ratios. It uses DEF. Tons of torque. It is truckish, with a ride that goes with the territory - you can see the Watts linkage on the axle in one of the shots. I'm very impressed with Ford's SYNC infotainment - nice iPad touchscreen in the middle and works absolutely seamlessly with my iPhone.
(https://i.postimg.cc/h4dWJpRL/Everest-1.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/cCYVV4B9/Everest-2.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/tCG0FW9L/Everest-3.jpg)
Now I'm on the South Island in a never-been-plugged-in Kia Sorento PHEV. Lots of dead weight for a little 1600cc engine to lug around. Not as well made as the Ford.