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Wouldn't Be Caught Dead Driving One

1123 messages,  Last post on Apr 24, 2013 at 1:18 PM

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Messages Page 109 of 113

#1078 of 1123 Re: Worst looking cars IMHO [davethecarnut] by andre1969

May 26, 2008 (5:27 am)

Replying to: davethecarnut (May 25, 2008 10:45 pm)
I think the Pacer's kinda cool, in a reverse-chic sort of way. But I don't think I could handle a Gremlin or Hornet. Maybe if the Hornet was one of those performance models...I think they called them the S/C 360 or something like that?
 
I'm curious what the beef was with the '68 Belvedere? I always thought the '68-70 Plymouth intermediates were gorgeous. But IIRC, the Belvedere was the bottom feeder by that time, basically what they used for taxis and police cars. The nicer ones were Satellites, Roadrunners, or GTXes. And I guess, if it was a ratted-out used car by the time prom came around, it would be an embarrassment.

#1079 of 1123 Re: Worst looking cars IMHO [andre1969] by uplanderguy

May 26, 2008 (11:26 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (May 26, 2008 5:27 am)
I am throwing myself out there for humiliation by others, as we own an '08 Cobalt XFE (purely for unbelievably low cost and good MPG) and a Chevy Uplander minivan in Sport Red (hey, except for the Venture look from straight on in the back, I think the best-looking minivan out there, mostly due to the bigger factory tires and wheels!), a car I just always hated was the '90's VW Jetta. And people loved it and thought it was a status symbol! I wouldn't necessarily say it was ugly styling, just a total lack of styling. Small wheel openings. Small tires and wheels. Rear door is a complete upright square cut-out. No styling in rear. No styling in front. UGGGGGGHHHH!
 
Bill

#1080 of 1123 Re: Worst looking cars IMHO [andre1969] by uplanderguy

May 26, 2008 (11:30 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (May 26, 2008 5:27 am)
I think the 1968 (and to only a slightly lesser degree, the '69, and an even lesser degree, the '70) Plymouth Satellite is the most attractively styled Mopar ever built. I think there's not a bad line on the car. I guess this would cover Road Runners and GTX's too, and even Belvedere coupes. I even like them in that ubiquitous light urine-y green that seemed so popular!
 
Bill

#1081 of 1123 Re: Worst looking cars IMHO [uplanderguy] by andre1969

May 26, 2008 (12:11 pm)

Replying to: uplanderguy (May 26, 2008 11:26 am)
I am throwing myself out there for humiliation by others, as we own an '08 Cobalt XFE (purely for unbelievably low cost and good MPG) and a Chevy Uplander minivan in Sport Red
 
I know the Cobalt tends to take a lot of criticism, but there are a few things about it I like. Mainly the front seats. I've heard complaints about them having poor support, contouring, or whatever, but the Cobalt is actually one of the few small cars I could actually stretch out in. So just for that, I have to give the car some credit. Now on the downside, the back seat feels pretty cramped, but it's rare that I get chauffeured around in my own car, so I'd rather they put more effort into the front seat. What kind of fuel economy do you get with the Cobalt? It doesn't seem so hot, according to the EPA estimates, but at least you get a fairly powerful engine as a tradeoff. And then, like you said, there's the low price.
 
As for the Uplander, I really don't care for them, and that front end they worked onto them in the final years to try to make them look more SUV-ish. But then, I don't think there's a minivan out there that I can say turns me on. It's just the nature of the beast. They're not meant to be sexy. They're meant to be functional.

#1082 of 1123 Re: Worst looking cars IMHO [andre1969] by uplanderguy

May 26, 2008 (12:51 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (May 26, 2008 12:11 pm)
We have only 800-some miles on it so far (only have had it ten days) but it is EPA-rated at 25 city, 36 highway. All stick-shift LS and 1LT Cobalts built after 3/17/08 are the XFE model where Chevy played around with the fifth-gearing, computer mapping and put easier-rolling tires (read that as cheap Goodyear Integritys!) on it. Apparently even the cheapest Cobalts before 3/17 came with 'touring' tires. Supposedly the 36 highway MPG is highest in its class.
 
The invoice was $14,909--we started there. There was a total of $3,000 in rebates, my $1,500 in GM Card monies was upped to $2,000 until 6/2, and I got $2,400 for my old Cavalier with 112K miles. I think I did well.
 
Bill

#1083 of 1123 Re: Worst looking cars IMHO [uplanderguy] by fintail

May 26, 2008 (2:02 pm)

Replying to: uplanderguy (May 26, 2008 12:51 pm)
I don't see anything wrong with a Cobalt, inoffensive decent enough car....but those minivans have never won me over. Luckily I don't have a reason to buy a vehicle that size, so I'll never have to go there.

#1084 of 1123 Re: Worst looking cars IMHO [uplanderguy] by andre1969

May 26, 2008 (7:19 pm)

Replying to: uplanderguy (May 26, 2008 12:51 pm)
So it sounds like this Cobalt ended up selling for about $7500? I'd say that's a helluva deal. Sounds like, for once, it was the dealer that did the squealing, more than the buyer.

#1085 of 1123 Re: Worst looking cars IMHO [andre1969] by uplanderguy

May 27, 2008 (6:39 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (May 26, 2008 7:19 pm)
Yep, $14,909, less $3,000, less $2,000, less $2,400 trade-in. Sales tax in OH is the price of the new car less the trade (in this case $12,509; the rebates are considered 'cash down'). My dealer charged a $250 document fee which I think is horse*hit; however, the Chevy dealer three miles down the road owned by another family charges the same thing. So out the door I paid $8,638.50, which was less than my '02 Cavalier with a similar trade-in. I am very happy with the car at that price, especially. The sticker was $15,465.00. Again, it's a 5-speed, and the only options I chose are ABS and the Protection Package (carpeted floor mats and body side moldings). A/C is standard, as is satellite radio now..at least for three months! The dealer had to get the car from a dealer five hours away, too, so I especially can't complain.
 
Bill

#1086 of 1123 SMART IS A JOKE by sixfive

May 28, 2008 (5:42 am)

FOUR TWO - No way I'd ever been seen in one of those. Better gas mileage to be had from many many other cars that are also compact for city driving. What is the catch? Not the mileage, not the price, not value. Looks or cool factor? I say Diamler pulls the plug on the US Smart market unless gas goes to 8 buks.
 
JETTA - The best chick car ever! Hey I'm a dude
 
PLYMOUTH HORIZON, DODGE OMNI - no need to expound
 
K CAR and other 2.2 lITER DERIVATIVES (Lebaron) - Experiences via family ownership were horrible: blown trannies at 20k, burnt turbos at 25k and worst of all - they looked like trash and sounded like an old man wheezing when you pressed the gas. I can't believe they saved the company with this car...but they did.
 
PRIUS - It's not an anti-green thing, it's that I can't been seen in an automobile that is about being seen being green.
 
BMW 3 SERIES - Does everyone who needs to make a statment really have to buy the best car in the segment and then muck it up for everyone else. Great car, not the image for me. Never have met a car guy that owns one (sans M3). Maybe I'm more image conscience than the 3 owners with whom I attempt to disassociate with. Interesting.
 
NEW BEETLE: See Jetta above. Old beetles magically are cooler now that they are no longer made. In 70's - not cool.

#1087 of 1123 Re: SMART IS A JOKE (sixfive) by hpmctorque

May 28, 2008 (6:43 am)

So, what do you drive, sixfive? Also, which model(s) do you prefer to the 3-Series?

Messages Page 109 of 113

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