Went to Autoshow

[RobertN]

Tres,

I am suprised you do not have, and have not mentioned, one of these. It would seem to be a fit for you. It would be fun to play with, especially with all the interesting things you can do with a Clevo motor.
www.panteracars.com/carpage.html

 

[TresCrows]

Bigdave, like I said, Toyota bashing /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. No worries, I always understood my truck was not best for everyone, just for me /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif.

Doug, yes, the Pantera is quite a machine. Sure wish they would make that again /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif. The Shelby Cobra unfortunately may run up to 100,000 dollars or more I fear as the new GT runs about 140,000. I was thinking more along the lines of a trick Mustang in a somewhat less stratospehric price range /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. There is money well spent and money wasted, at that kind of price range (100,000 plus) I think it is money wasted but that is just me /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif.

Tires?, my Tundra came with BF Goodrich, as far as I am concerned those are the best /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. Now, if I had 350 horsepower, I might need some that were a tad wider since the ones I have are somewhat expended due to all the rubber stripes I lay down /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif.
As to what actually lies under my hood, well, er, we'll let that just be my little secret /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif but those twin stripes of smoking rubber I am known to trail behind me may give some cause for concern to even the most jaded /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif.
Oh, I suppose there are 50,000 dollar Tundras but mine did not exactly cost that and now that it is paid for a few little mods here and there don't break the bank now do they? Nothing like a paid for car/truck. If I could just stay out of that Titan /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif.
I don't think the new Ford looks cheap, in fact, I hear it is such high quality that the bean counters are wanting to reduce the grade of materials to produce a better profit margin. I hope the Ford guys kick the bean counters in the rear and send them packing. Now is not a good time to be pulling punches because like it or not Nissan has come out slugging and Toyota is about to come out for round two and this time they are not going to be fooling around.

Car/truck commercials are universely stupid, the Chevy pulling the house, the Ford having bricks dumped in it's bed, the Titan passing a Dodge going up hill, the Toyota outrunning sportcars and then leaping across a ditch leaving them trailing dust, the GMC challenging a Bison heard or some crap like that, make for fine entertainment but like everything on TV, most of it is hype.

I like the new Mustang, power to the people /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif. J

 

[RobertN]

De Tomaso does have some stuff going /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
www.detomaso.it/gb/vetture/ieri/ieri.html
Looks like fun...

It is WONDERFUL not having car or bike payments. It is funny, how we all, especially lately, have had conversations about Tundra/Titan/F150/F250/Duramax, but we hardly ever talk about paying them off /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Have you ever looked at SCCA A-Sedan Mustang/Camaro road course racing? It seems to be very popular back there... Only bummer is they seem to be limited to older engine/tranny configurations.

 

[TresCrows]

"but we hardly ever talk about paying them off "

Yeah, that is the best feature on a car, being paid off. That is why I never buy used. I buy a new car and take care of it and drive it till it falls apart or close to it. With only 45,000 or so on the Tundra it should go aways yet. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

Since the fall of civilization and our crumbling infrastructure cars in general have not held the public fancy like SUV/PU. That is a shame because there is a complete dirth of cool sporty cars out there /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. There really is not a single sport type machine out there that I really like enough to want to own one. The new 350Z is dissapointing, the M3 looks like a Corrola, the Prelude is gone, the Supra is gone, the F-body GM twins are gone /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif. Only Ford is hanging tuff with the original pony car. Only Ford can give us a Mustang /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif. I may buy one when they produce some limited performace versions.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the Corvette, sorry, I just cannot get all that excited over a chop glass bodied car that cost that much and rattles and squeaks. It needs more of a Euro type ride as well. The Viper, nah, too much dollars and I don't really like them either.
Autocross is fun, ever try that? Long ago I took one of those competition Bondarant(sp) performance driving courses. I also put my SVO on the track a few times--track days. Fun holding the pedal to the floor and not worring about speeding tickets. The few parking lot races I have entered were fun and I like them because they are against the clock and there is little danger of injury to self or car /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.
The new Mustang is going to be built on Ford's auto partner's line, Mazda, so they can control quality and fit better (that is what Ford says). It has a new chassis and after the intital year(05) there is supposedly going to be several performance versions. The 05 GT will have 300 hp, not quite enough and no IRS. I will wait for an SVT/SVO version. I think the Shelby version, Shelby has been hired to work this car /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif, will likely be out of my range but in addition to the Shelby, there will be a SVT and a Mach etc as well. Ford says they will build versions that will compare to the BMW M3. OK, I am waiting /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.
Oh, I understand the Skyline may be coming to America /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif at long last, that could be intersting.
Oh, speaking of Jap performance cars, did you guys realize that the Subaru WRX packs a 300 HP wallop and goes 0-60 in about 4.2 seconds. Like I said, a performance Mustang is going to need more than 300HP to provoke me into buying one. Getting beat in a stoplight GP by a "Ricer" with a lip ring is not my plan. I hear the Ricers call domestics "Corn" /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. J

 

[BigDave]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Tires?, my Tundra came with BF Goodrich, as far as I am concerned those are the best )</font>

Toyota TRD has a tire/wheel package that includes Michelin Cross Terrain SUV tires (275/55SR18) that costs $2420. These are pretty highly rated tires at Tire Rack. Although I'm not endorsing Michelin, I just put Michelin Pilot Sport A/S (235/50WR17) tires on my car and I can feel the improvement big time over the Firestone Firehawks that were OEM. Anyway, buying the works thus pushing the price tag close to $65,000 on a truck, WOW, but I would agree that would be the slickest truck out there.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I don't think the new Ford looks cheap )</font>
Maybe my expectations were set too high, but the way the automotive press boasted about this truck, I probably was expecting luxury car type materials combined with tractor-like ruggedness.

Let me get this straight. You are saying good things about Ford, & I'm saying good things about Toyota. This can only mean one of two things: The world is about to end, or there can be peace in the middle-east. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BTW, I went to the Toyota website & I couldn't build a stock Tundra that costs much more thab $42K without being silly, so I'm not sure what extra items the truck at the autoshow had installed. Being slightly more conservative, a Tundra Access Cab Limited V8 4x4 ($33,500) with supercharger, Cat Backs, wheels/tires, stronger limited slip, shocks, plugs, air filter, & big brakes ($12,000) plus dealer installation, say $2,500 after negotiations, comes to $48,000. Toyota has $1000 cash back plus 1.9% financing, so its a bargain. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[frank_f15]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( That is why I never buy used. I buy a new car and take care of it and drive it till it falls apart or close to it. )</font>

on this point we differ, i usually buy used(very very selective) i look for cars 2 to 5 years old ,low milage and well taken care of. they are out there if u take your time and look. my wifes current car is a 95 buick that i bought 3 years ago, with 17 k on it. i buy them used and run them till they are junk.not a question of who is right or wrong just 2 different ways of looking at something. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[TresCrows]

"Let me get this straight. You are saying good things about Ford, & I'm saying good things about Toyota. This can only mean one of two things: The world is about to end, or there can be peace in the middle-east. "

Well that may be but I have said before that I have nothing against Ford, have owned three Fords and while not trouble free they were OK cars. I may buy another Ford someday. It is GM that I have the problem with, Ford and Chrysler I have no beef with. Just because I like Ford does not mean I think the Titan is second fiddle to the Ford /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif.

Frank, I understand buying a good used car but any way you look at it buying new gives me a few more years of use at a premium price maybe, maybe not. Hypothetical, but if a car has a good 150,000 in it and you buy it at 50,000 and you put 15,000 on per year and I do the same but with a new identical car I am clearly going to get a few more years and miles but I doubt the end price is much different. The way I see it that is about three more years I would have the vehicle and thus my total ownership cost is your years of ownership plus 3 yrs. See what I am saying? I have my Tundra, for example, since Summer 2,000, it has 45,000 miles on it and it is paid for now. See, that is 3 and 1/2 years I got that you do not get if you were to buy a similar used Tundra (just for example) with the same miles etc so my total costs are divided by more years. If I had a calculator handy I could figure it for you but got a headache so I will not. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif The real advantage I get is that I can have the best and most trouble free years of use, can maintain the vehicle to my standards and hopefully maybe get a little more use in the end as a result. I could be wrong. J

 

[DAP]

Tres, I have a Tacoma and this thing won't quit. BUT ... I've recently scene the Hummer H3T. Have you seen this? It's a Tacoma on Steroids. Take a look at it on the net. It's got front side bed gates! And colored rubber tire treads!

And ... it's 2 or 3 CUTs probably as far as a MSRP will be.

Too much HP too. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[RobertN]

Have you seen the new Jeep "Rescue"? Hummer type thing, built on a RAM-2500 Turbo Cummins based platform. Has a 10kw generator, run flat, big touqey diesel,

www.intellichoice.com/autoshow/detroit_1.cfm/vehicle/JeepRescue

 

[TresCrows]

Doug, yes, I seen that. The H3T if I undestand correctly will share the platforms with the new Chevy Colorado which is the S10 replacement. I also read that it will use the same engine and drive train which means the Inline 5 cylinder will be the engine. Yes, 5 cylinder. Before getting upset that new 5 cylinder makes 220 horses and if installed in this H3T probably with a supercharger, well, hang on to your hat /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. There should be plenty of power for towing tractors out of mud holes or such as that. There will be a H3 (SUV) as well I believe.
This new Colordao truck should be a great improvement over the S10. I drove a stripped down non 4WD version because that is all they had. I don't think dealers are getting the 4X4 in any numbers until Feb. Well, I have decided to hang on to the Tundra a while longer but I like the concept of the 5 cylinder engine in a sport package with a supercharger. Hope they offer that as an option in a performance package or something. Most people really do not need full size trucks, the new Colorado, the new Tacoma (yes bigger with a V8 option--06), the Ranger are all most people need to pull trailers and tractors and with the new club cabs there is room for people too. What more could you want, well, cheaper price would be nice. J