Car Talk 2: Un-American Motor Company.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

V6?

BMW doesn't do V6s, and BMW also won't fit an inline 6 in their FWD-based architecture.

Exactly my point.

[Davestr]

https://www.caranddriver.com/comparison ... ate=042518

Thanks for posting that up. A good honest head to head test. No shock at the result but I think Id pick the Honda as coupe.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

The Honduh just looks so I love the understated GTI. Always have, always will.

[troyguitar]

Eh, I have always wanted an MR hatchback that looks cool and sounds cool with ~300 hp NA engine, ~3000 lbs and compact dimensions, etc. Essentially a Cayman S. It's been the "realistic dream car" since they came out.

RX8 is perfect for the price, any upgrade costs at least double. I still want a Cayman.

Caymans are indeed fantastic.

If they would just depreciate...

I'm hoping that another couple years of saving+depreciation will put them in the reasonable range. A base 5-speed 2007 model is finally under $20k and looks+sounds the same as a 2016 GTS. That's likely my target. Add some fun bits and end up with a GT4-lite.

The good thing is that I'm essentially done spending on my car now besides fuel+oil+tires. It's quick, clean, and handles perfectly. Warranty through the end of 2019, no payments, and insurance is cheap.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Caymans are indeed fantastic.

If they would just depreciate...

I'm hoping that another couple years of saving+depreciation will put them in the reasonable range. A base 5-speed 2007 model is finally under $20k and looks+sounds the same as a 2016 GTS. That's likely my target. Add some fun bits and end up with a GT4-lite.

The good thing is that I'm essentially done spending on my car now besides fuel+oil+tires. It's quick, clean, and handles perfectly. Warranty through the end of 2019, no payments, and insurance is cheap.

I missed this detail.

I wonder where Caymans will bottom. It took 10 years for them to consistently get under $20k. Hopefully IMS bearing fears continue to drive the pre-09 cars down as more "reliable" cars get more affordable.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Whooooooops.

Bippity boppity flippity!

Was he auto-crossing a Tracker?

[Davestr]

- X2 road test in Cali

[troyguitar]

If they would just depreciate...

I'm hoping that another couple years of saving+depreciation will put them in the reasonable range. A base 5-speed 2007 model is finally under $20k and looks+sounds the same as a 2016 GTS. That's likely my target. Add some fun bits and end up with a GT4-lite.

The good thing is that I'm essentially done spending on my car now besides fuel+oil+tires. It's quick, clean, and handles perfectly. Warranty through the end of 2019, no payments, and insurance is cheap.

I missed this detail.

I wonder where Caymans will bottom. It took 10 years for them to consistently get under $20k. Hopefully IMS bearing fears continue to drive the pre-09 cars down as more "reliable" cars get more affordable.

It wouldn't surprise me if $15-20k turns out to be the bottom for a clean title no issues manual Cayman. Porsche is not making any more NA 6 cylinder examples, and the cars are relatively rare in general.

I think/hope I'll be OK with that (sounds cheap but I'd be putting $10k in MODZZZ on one) after 2-3 more years of lyfe. Wife's car will be paid off in 2020, that's another $400/mo.

[wap]

The Honduh just looks so I love the understated GTI. Always have, always will.

[coogles]

https://www.caranddriver.com/comparison ... ate=042518

Sucks that VW raised the entry bar for the PP-equipped GTI so high for 2018. Now you need to step up to the SE trim to get the fancy diff, which comes out to ~$31.5k with seats. GTI Sport was right at $28k before any add-ons, and a much more reasonable premium to pay over the Si. At $31.5k that starts to be a pretty significant price gap.

[troyguitar]

https://www.caranddriver.com/comparison ... ate=042518

Sucks that VW raised the entry bar for the PP-equipped GTI so high for 2018. Now you need to step up to the SE trim to get the fancy diff, which comes out to ~$31.5k with seats. GTI Sport was right at $28k before any add-ons, and a much more reasonable premium to pay over the Si. At $31.5k that starts to be a pretty significant price gap.

You also can't get LSD without a sunroof anymore. The Sport trim was perfect. $31.5k for what is effectively a base is insane. Give me the Focus ST with recarbros and $5k cash, or really... an Ecoballz Rustang with 350 ft-lbs and RWD.

[wap]

https://www.caranddriver.com/comparison ... ate=042518

Sucks that VW raised the entry bar for the PP-equipped GTI so high for 2018. Now you need to step up to the SE trim to get the fancy diff, which comes out to ~$31.5k with seats. GTI Sport was right at $28k before any add-ons, and a much more reasonable premium to pay over the Si. At $31.5k that starts to be a pretty significant price gap.

There must be some 's to be had , no?

[wap]

Also, this:
https://www.craigslist.org/about/best/h ... 26716.html

When this car was unveiled at the 1998 Detroit Auto Show, it caused all 2,000 attendees to spontaneously yawn. The resulting abrupt change in air pressure inside the building caused a partial collapse of the roof. Four people died. The event is chronicled in the documentary "Bored to Death: The Story of the 1999 Toyota Corolla"

More lulz to be found within.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Also, this:
https://www.craigslist.org/about/best/h ... 26716.html

When this car was unveiled at the 1998 Detroit Auto Show, it caused all 2,000 attendees to spontaneously yawn. The resulting abrupt change in air pressure inside the building caused a partial collapse of the roof. Four people died. The event is chronicled in the documentary "Bored to Death: The Story of the 1999 Toyota Corolla"

More lulz to be found within.

This is incredible.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Was he auto-crossing a Tracker?

Abarth 500.

Same thing.

[troyguitar]

Abarth 500.

Same thing.

Cool cars, but I would not autox one without making it lower+stiffer. They are scary to watch in stock trim on sticky tires.

[wap]

Abarth 500.

Same thing.

[coogles]

There must be some 's to be had , no?

Not like there were at the end of the 2017 model year. VeeDub currently only offering $1k in dealer cash on the 2018s. There was $4k or more available on the leftover 2017s.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Same thing.

I mean, you sit in it so upright, it's like a tiny SUV. I can't imagine driving one in an auto-x. It would constantly feel like tipping.

[Johnny_P]

https://www.caranddriver.com/comparison ... ate=042518

Sucks that VW raised the entry bar for the PP-equipped GTI so high for 2018. Now you need to step up to the SE trim to get the fancy diff, which comes out to ~$31.5k with seats. GTI Sport was right at $28k before any add-ons, and a much more reasonable premium to pay over the Si. At $31.5k that starts to be a pretty significant price gap.

If the Si depreciates as slow as it has in the past, that price gap just widens more and more.
Kinda wish the Si didn't have the baby dick motor though. Whatever. Still think they're idiots for not offering some sort of automatic in that.

[Desertbreh]

Also, although there are strong styling similarities between the C5 and RX7, the RX7 is a way better looking car imho.

Didn't want to go there on this site, but I don't disagree.

There's a fair number of C5 uber alles brohams out there....and I don't think that car will stand the test of time in the way that the C2 did. It was a magical reinvention of the Corvette from a world class handling and power perspective....any C5 can be set up to run strong at any track and the car is 19 years old....but looks wise...eh. Not the best, not the worst. And the interior is just fucking atrocious, other than the gauge cluster.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Didn't want to go there on this site, but I don't disagree.

There's a fair number of C5 uber alles brohams out there....and I don't think that car will stand the test of time in the way that the C2 did. It was a magical reinvention of the Corvette from a world class handling and power perspective....any C5 can be set up to run strong at any track and the car is 19 years old....but looks wise...eh. Not the best, not the worst. And the interior is just fucking atrocious, other than the gauge cluster.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

I legit like the exterior. Looks better than a base C6 (WB has it beat, doe).

Interior is...not great, agreed. But when it's 5/7 times

[troyguitar]

Didn't want to go there on this site, but I don't disagree.

There's a fair number of C5 uber alles brohams out there....and I don't think that car will stand the test of time in the way that the C2 did. It was a magical reinvention of the Corvette from a world class handling and power perspective....any C5 can be set up to run strong at any track and the car is 19 years old....but looks wise...eh. Not the best, not the worst. And the interior is just fucking atrocious, other than the gauge cluster.

I know that I'm but looks-wise I rate corvettes like so:

4 >= 2 > 6 > 7 > 3 > 1 > 5

90s gumby blobs are not sexy.

[Johnny_P]

It should be the most fun to drive of any in that segment. Sounds like it's kind of there.

Also, other than MOAR BADGES what makes the X2 different from the X1 other than styling?

I will test this thing soon. My dealer is happy to toss me the keys next time the M2 goes in for a routine service. From what I read and see the X2 is lower and shorter than the X1 and is more 'dynamic'. I hope someone does them a head to head test. Bloody expensive Golf-R it seems, touch more room and the BMW name/badge etc. Im not a big CUV fan but I am curious about this particular one as far as how it drives. The rumor of a 6cyl one is interesting.

I'd be interested to hear your take on it. I don't really understand the "sporty" CUV segment but in basic terms this is a compact, correctly-sized CUV hatchback with an actual motor that makes appreciable power for everyday use, an actual transmission, available AWD, and possibly pothole resistance? Should check a lot of boxes as just a regular runabout. Doubt it's actually sporty at all.

Many of the CUVs on the market today don't have real engine options. Which is sad.