I bought a new car (the "I wanna be like Gugs" thread)...

[NAD]

To me, the benefit of a manual was performance. However, with a good number of car manufacturers, their 0-60 times are superior with their automatics. So why the hell would anyone want to shift? Just to be a purist?

I get bored driving automatics, it takes all the fun out of driving for me. Also, I can't drive an automatic for shit. Seriously, whenever I come to a stop I instinctively throw my left foot toward the empty floorboard, and whenever I try to downshift using the gas pedal it jumps down 2 gears, which startles me, so I left off the gas and end up lurching around going slow. It's ridiculous!

Also that's weird they get better times with an auto than a stick though, shitty driving or just bad gear ratios I wonder?

Was looking into Subarus also but everything out there seems to be in the 150-200,000km range (we're talking 5-8 yr old cars here)

From what I have seen, that doesn't matter much with most Subarus. Not that I'd pay a bunch of $$$ for that kind of mileage, but still. But...

Subaru's have very tight cockpits and you my sasquatch friend might have a hard time in them.

Yes, that they do. It doesn't bother me because I like that squashed in feeling with cars, but even with the steering wheel all the way up and the seat one click away from all the way back, my knees don't have much room. I'm 5'11" so therefore like 10" shorter than you and 14'8" shorter than lurch.

Corollas are rad, if by rad you mean boring and stupid reliable. The woman drives one, and I change the oil in it about twice a year. Even cheapo dino oil looks brand new after 5,000 miles. Ludicrous.

My asshole friend just installed solar panels on his Prius last week, the bastard gets 73 miles to the gallon now. On the upside I can still make fun of him for driving a Prius.

Is it powered by his own sense of self-satisfaction? Seriously though, that kicks ass.

I think Car and Driver got something like 150mpg in a Prius once, because they drove immediately behind a purpose-built Ferd Excursion with a wind tunnel attached to the back. It may have been a Honda Insight though, I forget. Either way.

 

[General Zod]

I get bored driving automatics, it takes all the fun out of driving for me. Also, I can't drive an automatic for shit. Seriously, whenever I come to a stop I instinctively throw my left foot toward the empty floorboard, and whenever I try to downshift using the gas pedal it jumps down 2 gears, which startles me, so I left off the gas and end up lurching around going slow. It's ridiculous!

LOL.

Also that's weird they get better times with an auto than a stick though, shitty driving or just bad gear ratios I wonder?

No clue. This was the VW GLI. And it was straight from VW, that the times are better with the auto.

Zod

 

[lurch70]

its the DSG tranny on the GLI ... there is a reason its so renowned.

you HAVE to drive that in manual mode ... its sick!

 

[dorian gray]

My understanding is that autos are faster than sticks because, well, a computer is shifting and not some slow human brain telling a leg and hand to move, causing some gears to separate, and then a new set of gears to slam back into each other and then the other leg to push down on a pedal that causes a pump in the back of the car to send some more gas into an injector in the front of the car.
I may be wrong but I don't think even Ferraris use true manuals anymore.

My friend's Audi DSG blew apart shortly after he bought it.

Manuals rule, btw. Repairing a manual - $300. Reparing an automatic - $3000.

 

[Hell Mike]

Noone here uses autos because we don't drive like grannies

 

[dorian gray]

Both my cars are autos. And I drive ridiculously slow. What's the point? I LIVE IN A CITY.

 

[Dead_Lioness]

I drive an automatic car- but I drive fast.... Relatively ...
When I travel, then I know I do

 

[En Vind Av Sorg]

When driving back and forth from Rockville on the beltway 80-85 is my average speed, which I consider fast but still relatively safe.

 

[Dead_Lioness]

When driving back and forth from Rockville on the beltway 80-85 is my average speed, which I consider fast but still relatively safe.

That's prolly what I drive too...

ok, sometimes 90-95 but only if the road is clear and open...

 

[Demilich]

Bought a 2003 Hyundai Accent 4 door sedan, automatic tranny since I ain't been learned as to how to drive stick and aren't about to at this present time.

Can't wait to pick the thing up

 

[General Zod]

When driving back and forth from Rockville on the beltway 80-85 is my average speed, which I consider fast but still relatively safe.

Me too. I occasionally end up over 90, if I'm not paying close attention. But generally speaking, I stick around 80-85.

Zod

 

[General Zod]

Bought a 2003 Hyundai Accent 4 door sedan, automatic tranny since I ain't been learned as to how to drive stick and aren't about to at this present time.

Can't wait to pick the thing up

Congrats. When do you pick it up?

Zod

 

[Demilich]

Friday, 4:30pm.

I know this isn't by any means a luxury automobile, but it should do the trick.

 

[Reign in Acai]

There's nothing more priceless than a mechanic who knows his stuff. I'm having 1400 worth of repairs/maintenance done to my jalopy so I can tour the city in Gugsian style. In the meanwhile I rented a Nissan Altima that has the handling of Bill Buckner on qualudes. And may I ask, what the fuck is this no key starter bullshit that they are putting in cars today?! Press the brake, push the button, and bam ready to go. Does this only work if the "button key" is on your person? Seems foolish to have such a deal if you're living anywhere outside of the Hamptons.

 

[dorian gray]

Must have the key on your person.
Some of the more uppity brands will only start with a particular person in the car.
Cars reached the pinnacle of innovation some 100 years ago. It's just been bullshit ever since.

Hey, did anyone know that since the 1970s engineers have increased the efficiency of the internal combustion engine by some incredible margin? Well, then, why do we, on average, get WORSE mileage than cars did, on average, in 1975? Because the American consumer demanded that the efficiency be realized in horsepower, not gas mileage. So that's why you have 300 horsepower family cars and not 70 mpg 4-cylinders.
Write your Congressman.
Or something.
People are smart.

 

[General Zod]

In the meanwhile I rented a Nissan Altima that has the handling of Bill Buckner on qualudes.

From this analogy, I've deduced the following:

Great Value - Buckner led the league four times in most at bats per strike out
Fast - Buckner twice finished in the top-ten in the league in stolen bases
Handles Well - Buckner made only 128 errors in 13,901 chances

Zod

 

[dorian gray]

haha yeah, few people realize Bill Buckner was awesome.
Nissans still suck though. They're made here in Nashville if that tells you anything.

 

[General Zod]

Why the Nissan hatred?

Zod

 

[dorian gray]

Bad personal experiences.
Maybe they are better cars nowadays.
They are based here now, so maybe these hillbillies know how to build cars.

 

[Dark One]

Bad personal experiences.
Maybe they are better cars nowadays.
They are based here now, so maybe these hillbillies know how to build cars.

LOL - geez, first you hate Subarus and now Nissans too?? Next thing you know you'll be recommending vehicles from GM.