Talking Cars Tuesday Says Its Time For You to Pick a New Car
Mates,
With apologies for being a bossy boiler (Thomas the Tank Engine reference), you have been given sufficient budget to be used solely to purchase a new car or truck. Any vehicle you want. Today. And it will be delivered today, kind of like you strolled onto the car lot and 'bingo', there is that exact vehicle you want and they hand you the keys on the spot.
Simple questions today: What car or truck do you choose? Why that particular vehicle?
Have a great day,
XM
p.s. Bat light for Jeepin' Ben, you do this best of all of us.
April 23rd, 2024 at 11:36 AM ^
Disagree. Looks are a personal subject, so no negs, but I don't think the Rivian's look good, at all!
I'm still not a fan of the headlights, but I love the rest of the design. I could find flaws with every vehicle design ever except the Ford GT40. That thing is perfection.
Always look forward to seeing you and the family! Definitely let me know your schedule so we can plan something 👍
Changli Freeman for me:
https://jalopnik.com/the-worlds-cheapest-ev-is-genuinely-good-1847048450
April 23rd, 2024 at 10:47 AM ^
I'm not trying to spend out of your pocket. But, this seems doable. 🤷
I'm in this boat right now! I'll be looking to sell my '11 Ridgeline, which has been a great truck, into a larger pickup. I'm looking at a '19-'21 F150 crew cab, 4WD, 3.5 V6. Why, because I want to. I want something larger, interior wise, and the crew cab is really easy to travel with. Inside storage, convenience, take 2 more adults with you if needed. I still have a work trailer that I occasionally pull, so that is also a requirement. If any reader thinks they're interested in my Ridgeline, reach out to me. Happy motoring!
Probably getting a fun car this summer if work goes well enough.
April 23rd, 2024 at 10:17 AM ^
We have the 2.7L EcoBoost V-6 in our Bronco and I'm very impressed by it. It's a heavy vehicle with the Sasquatch package (big tires and beefier suspension) but I have never felt like the motor was underpowered.
Wellll.....I just bought a 1986 Ford F250 XL with the 6.9L Diesel, my 4th diesel and first 6.9, though I have much experience with them. The Bull-Nose, Tan and Brown, 115K miles, 1 owner who passed in 2019, been sitting in his son's garage since then, in Portland OR. Has been driven exactly 104 miles since 2017. Found on Auto Trader then EBay. I was top bidder, but did not meet reserve. Guy called me on March 16th, and after much vetting, and a deal made, I bought it and had it shipped here to Fort Wayne. For a 38 year old truck, it is in mint condition inside and out, not a speck of rust! Engine runs like a dream, gently bringing her back to life. She is a classic beauty. Truck guys know, and I get many approving thumbs-up driving that beauty harking back to my Navy years in CA. Old School, XM.
and wouldn't you know, when we lived in the UP i owned that nearly exact vehicle. an '88 F350 with added leaf springs (old logging truck, an absolute beast) making it a 450?, with a 4-speed manual, 6.9L IH diesel. rubber floor, plastic seats, creeper gear to go through the woods with, the ultimate hunting and work truck to which i immediately mounted a snow plow. sold it when we had to go back to socal to take care of my inlaws for a few years.
EDIT: and you won't be surprised to know that truck color was blue.
Huh, just pulled my '80 F-150 Flare Side out of storage to begin it's 'return to life'. Originally with a 351M and C6 it will now sport a 300/6 and AOD. 2WD and originally from Arizona so it only has a little rust-thru in the cab corners. The dark red paint has been sunburned to a silvery rose-gold on the horizontal surfaces and fades back to dark red at the lower edges of the vertical surfaces. It's not going to be restored, per se, but refurbished. I had a Marti Report run on it and it has/had some pretty cool options straight from the San Jose factory. No time frame but would like to have it running by next summer.
That is nice! This truck also has the C6 auto 3 speed. I forgot about the 3 speed. It's a fuel guzzler unless I keep it at 65mph or below. Anything above that......gotta open my check book. If this transmission ever goes out, I will do what you are doing if I can make it happen. I do love how it sounds at the higher RPM. Quite a Purr. Have fun with your truck Bronco!
I have a 2000 f250 that I’ve owned for years. 194k and the legendary, best diesel engine ever made, 7.3. It’s got the cancer bad! Ford could make a hell of an engine but their metal sucked from that era. I don’t drive this truck anymore and hate to sell it, but am going to. It sat all winter and I had to replace the front brake lines due to them collapsing from rust. It runs like a clock and everything works as it should, but it needs to be driven.
Yes Sir! My third truck is the last of the legendary 7.3L Powerstroke Diesels as well. It was built in 2003, you will remember there are 2003 Powerstrokes that also have the DOG 6.0L engine. My neighbor actually worked at International Harvester in Indianapolis, he looked at my VIN and said it was one of the last 100 PSD engines off the assembly line. He said they treated every one of those engines with care and respect. She has 336,543 miles on her as of today, and she also has the cancer bad. The engine is faultless, just the truck is rusting out so bad. I have black duct tape over the fenders now and the rear doors will not open. Tailgate won't shut unless my bed cover is closed. But I love that truck. She has never, ever let me down. They sure don't build them like that anymore.
Does the funding include insurance? With car insurance rates doubling (at least for me, might even be worse for others) in the last 3 years down here in FL I'm inclined to keep my 10 year old Subaru even if I was offered the funds for a new car.
If it does, then I'd probably opt for a RWD Genesis G70 or G80 with the turbo V6. Great combination of tech, styling, comfort, reliability, and sportiness. Probably best bang for your buck in the sporty sedan market right now.
yes, insurance included.
My opinion would likely change near daily, currently I think I'd buy a 2024 Toyota Sequoia TRD. This would pull my camper just fine as well as be a nice comfortable vehicle for my family of 5 humans and 1 Golden Retriever.
Mustang Mach-E. Like the look of it, live 5 miles from work. Would only need gas for the wife's Mini Cooper for longer trips.
Mustang and mini Cooper should never be used in the same post lol.
April 23rd, 2024 at 10:23 AM ^
They have Mustang vs Mini races, which are amazing to watch. (classics)
April 23rd, 2024 at 11:30 AM ^
Definitely buy one, Mach-E! Current rebates on the '23s. Look at the GT edition, fun ride!
2025 Dodge Charger. 675 HP and styling reminiscent of the 69/70 Chargers PLUS they are finally offering a two door version. Scheduled to go into production late this year with vehicles showing up on the road early 2025.
Back in the day when you could upload pictures to this site I'd have shown you guys what one looks like (awesome) but that level of technological wizardry is WAY past anything Huel can deliver. Pictures on a web site......can you imagine?
still have the GTO? what a great car.
Yup. Pulled it out of storage this past weekend as a matter of fact.
<insert picture of 68 GTO>
Very nice. 400 or 455?
Owner of a ‘70 GTO here. I probably should have started it more this winter.
Considering a 4x4 Colorado or Canyon for more reasonable size and fuel economy. Hate that there is little price difference. Prefer lease to buy if I like it. Have three or more vehicles so do not have to exceed lease miles. GM cc money and retired GM father discount to use.
But for that I would look at a 4Runner. Need occasional v6 towing of boat, etc.
would you get a diesel in a colorado/canyon? looks enticing for a smaller truck and the resulting mpg's.
Likely not as my wife would wrinkle her nose and find it ucky...women...am I right?
dear wife has a diesel truck and likes it a lot. we share a diesel car and she likes that even more. she's a country mouse though, so maybe different than city mice?
Big difference. Picture the "Aunt problem" commercial. Expired...expired...quit slouching Ted...thank god for perfection drones. :)
They no longer make a diesel Colorado or Canyon. They're all 2.7L turbo 4cyl engines running on regular gas.
The last time they built a diesel engine in the Colorado/Canyon was 2021 I believe.
April 23rd, 2024 at 11:13 AM ^
IIRC you do or did work on the front end of a GM dealership. if i'm right, did you ever get a feel for whether that small diesel was reliable/dependable/worth getting?
April 23rd, 2024 at 12:01 PM ^
I still do.
It was very reliable and got fantastic fuel economy. Unfortunately the increased price of the truck and the high price of diesel fuel crippled the sales. That and there wasn't a lot of demand for it anyway. GM moved on from the engine after that.
It's a great truck if you tow often but not heavy loads. It's rated for 7700 pounds of towing.
April 23rd, 2024 at 12:20 PM ^
and diesel fuel got expensive because.....'we' decided to tax the snot out of it. makes zero sense.
diesel is easier and cheaper to make (we make it here on the farm), you can use much lower grade crude, provides more energy per gallon, and with the new technologies, burns very clean. still a big diesel fan.
Somebody downvoted you for asking a question. Sheesh. lol
Wrestling coach apparently off his meds today. He’s been quiet for months but apparently blew a gasket today. He’ll get over it.
I just did this. Ended up with a Ram 1500 (5.7L hemi with eTorque). I chose the Ram mostly for the muscle to tow the RV.
I'm actually in the middle of figuring this out. Might actually do it in the fall but I want my mind made up. I'm looking at very different options. I'm currently driving a 2014 Chrysler 300 and it's been great. It's at 160k, bought it at 10k miles.
I'm intrigued by going electric with a bolt or volt but I'm also very very interested in the 20-22 Honda Ridgeline. Can't make up my mind. I have kids so I'm leaning Ridgeline. Any insight from anyone?
The Bolt/Volt are no longer in production if that sways your decision (Volt not since 2019 if I remember correctly). Chevy is sticking with their traditional models (Blazer/Equinox) and turning them into all-electric vehicles. We have a bunch of Blazer EVs on the lot right now and we'll be getting some Equinox EVs in a month or two.
Yes I was aware of that. Does that really matter? Are they replacing the bolt with something else? Their slow charging is a concern and space obviously. I love the volt concept. Too bad they stopped those too.
April 23rd, 2024 at 12:07 PM ^
The Volt was a great car. Shame the demand for it was so low.
It matters in 10 years when they stop making replacement parts for the Bolt. From what I've been told, if a vehicle goes out of production the manufacturer still has to make replacement parts for the next 8 to 10 years. The Volt is half way through that cycle. The Bolt just started.
Slow charging is a concern for all electric vehicles right now. Personally I don't think the technology is there yet, both in terms of range and charging speed. If I can't get 400 miles on a single charge I'm not interested in any EV. Also if I have to wait more than 30 to 45 minutes to go from empty to full charge I'm not interested. Road trips would take forever in an EV.
As I stated in my previous comment, Chevy is replacing the Bolt with the Equinox EV and the Blazer EV. Blazer EV is huge btw. Much bigger than the Bolt. Equinox EV would be much more comparable in size and price.
20,000 vehicles needing a charge in West Branch on holiday weekends. Shouldn't be a problem. Glad the service community has trained a requisite number of electricians at their higher labor rate to work on the safety roped off electric vehicles when necessary. Every youngsters dream to turn a wrench...err...multimeter.
Are my two kids still in daycare?
If not, and we are deciding to splurge, maybe an Audi Q7. My wife has been wanting an Audi for years, but its probably more likely that we end up with a Toyota Highlander or 4Runner. Something that's easy to pack the kids and two dogs in the back.
The Audi is probably getting saved for when both kids are out of the house. She's said either that or a Jeep Wrangler is probably going to be her "mid-life crisis" car.
As for me, I don't pay enough attention to know what kind of car I should really want. My parents never splurged on cars when I was growing up, despite probably being able to if they wanted. They drove around in Toyota Avalons, Sequoias and Nissan Pathfinders. Not bad cars by any stretch, but nothing I'd call luxurious. I'm a little bit of the same mindset. I don't want to drive a Taurus, but as long as it gets me from A to B, I'll be alright.
The only hard and fast rule we have in our house is absolutely no minivans. Not now, not ever.
The 2024 Chevy Traverse redesign looks great inside and out, while still being available <$50K. I have a 2022 Sierra, with the redesigned interior and I love what GM is doing with the large infotainment screen and presence of physical buttons. The electronic column shifter is way better than the dials and push buttons found in other vehicles. Segment leading cargo space. And for the ladies in the audience, 4 cupholders in the center console within reach of the driver seat!
The new 2024 Lexus GX.
It's awesome. Would note that the new Land Cruiser is cheaper with +6 mpg from the hybrid if you're willing to disconnect your stabilizer bar manually instead of having Lexus's KDSS system.
April 23rd, 2024 at 11:48 AM ^
I wish Toyota sold the 70 series land cruisers here in the States. Not the watered down land cruisers/Prados. I would have a manual diesel double cab truck in a heartbeat. Will probably end up buying one overseas or in central America some day and swapping vins on an old frame from here.
With an infinite budget...911 GT3 Touring or Mercedes EQG
Porsche Panamera 4. I always liked how they looked.
A Porsche 911 has always caught my eye and appealed to me.
We live in Chicago and our other cars are AWD. The Porsche would be a great alternative for the non-winter months.
If I could work out the charging situation, I'd look hard at a Rivian R1S or R1T.
Otherwise, probably a Bronco. I like the look of the 2dr much more than the 4dr, but if I'm getting whatever it'd probably be a 4dr raptor with the hard top.
More realistically in a few years when it's time to trade in my current vehicle I'll look hard at the new Buick Enclave, which looks to be very nice. By then any kinks should be worked out.