Cars, Trucks and Minivans... oh my! - Page 4

JohnnyV · #25 October 4th, 2003, 02:25 PM

I drive a 1993 Mercury Topaz with 159k miles on it. I used to be my dad's, but then he got a ford focus in 2000 and gave it to me. It could beat any of you guy's car in a street race with its awesome 96 hp engine and phat 3 speed auto transmission!!!

I mean come on! I can do 0-60 in 14 seconds!!! Beat that!

Sogni · #26 October 4th, 2003, 02:30 PM

ROFLMAO

**mdnky** · #27 October 5th, 2003, 11:17 AM

I don't think you'll see Alfas in the US anytime soon. No market here, no consumer following, the competition is too strong, etc. Just doesn't make financial sense for them to come here, esp. with having to comply to the US standards on autos and the fact that cars just aren't selling here, SUVs are all the rage right now and will be for a while it seems.

chemistry_geek · #28 October 5th, 2003, 03:34 PM

I have two cars: a 1992 Saturn SL2 that I purchased brand new for about $13,900, and I recently purchased my uncle's 1999 Saab 93 turbo with 24,000 miles for $12,000. The Saturn is my "beater" car that I drive to work everyday, with 211,000 miles, a cracked windshield, a half-rotted muffler, and vengence for burning LOTS of oil. I drive the Saab on the weekends, hoping to catch a girlfriend or even a date with it, and occasionally to work when the Saturn misbehaves. No luck so far. Just kidding. The Saab (http://www.saabusa.com/) is fun [F A S T!] to drive. After owning this Saab since February, I'd have to say I really like it, the heated seats are mighty fine on cold Fall and Winter days. The Saab is a really solid well-made car, I'd seriously consider buying another, though I'd opt for the SE (Sports Edition) with the faster turbo charger.

My first car was a 1980 Volkswagen Scirocco. That was fun too, but it was very tiny inside, and didn't run well, if at all when it rained or dewed outside. I was constantly battling moisture getting inside the solenoid and distributor cap/points. This car nickeled and dimed me to death, constantly, every month, something would go wrong that prevented it from running. One of my uncles towed it over to his friend's house several times to work on it. That was the best gas mileage I ever got on that car (being towed).

Regarding the Saturn, I have a question. I recently turned on the headlights and only the left headlight works; when I turn on the brights, only the left side works. So I go to Murry's Deep Discount Auto Store and get new headlamps and the lights on the right side still don't work. Anyone have any suggestions that will cheaply remedy the situation? I just put new shocks and tires on the clunker because I drive 65 miles ONE WAY to work, yes I know, THAT sucks. But it's getting to be winter and I will leave for work and arrive home from work when IT'S DARK OUTSIDE, and I don't want to drive my new baby all that distance everyday, besides, driving 90 mph on the highway with the Saturn still gives me good gas mileage, not so with the Saab - it weighs twice as much as the Saturn.

JohnnyV · #29 October 5th, 2003, 07:00 PM

Get a multimeter and see if there is voltage going to the head light wires, if there is no voltage one or both of the wires probably broke, rusted through, etc. Also check the connectors that touch the lamp, there may be corrosion on them, if this is the case, get some steel wool or good sand paper and rub it off, or just replace the connectors. If neither of those is the case, don't know what to tell ya.

**mdnky** · #30 October 6th, 2003, 12:23 PM

You got a helluva deal on that SAAB. Auto or Manual?

If you're going to go all out on the next one, get a 9-3 Aero.
http://www.saabusa.com/main/US/en/model_intro_93s.xml
210hp, 6spd manual, 17" rims, aero body kit, etc...

My brother's 95 SL1 had a similar problem. We wound up replacing the headlight harness, as it had borke down over it's relatively short years. You don't want to know the cost of the harness, and definately not the install charge if you can't do it yourself.

chemistry_geek · #31 October 6th, 2003, 12:37 PM

The Saab is an automatic.

But, it's the first automatic I've ever owned and it isn't bad. I really wish it was a manual, that is what of all my previous cars ever were.

My uncle has always had the Saab garaged, in fact, the last two years he owned it he only put on 4,000 miles! The car is very clean, well, it looks and rides like I drove it off the showroom floor. The part I like about the manual is this: "When the speed of the car reaches 143 mph or greater, the turbo charger wastegate opens completely. Any additional speed attained by the car is from the engine with the turbo charger disengaged." I've driven it on the highway at 110 mph, very smooth, in fact, if I wasn't looking out of the window, I wouldn't know I was driving that fast. No vibrations from the car, steering wheel, foot pedals, etc... You can't even hear the engine running at that speed (only if the you'r not accelerating hard).

Go here for this ebooklet download (40MB!):

http://ebooklet.saabusa.com/?source=whatsnew

A rather impressive automobile. I wish I could afford (a new) one.

Arden · #32 October 7th, 2003, 06:08 AM

Sounds very nice. Our Volvo had heated seats, too (and a moonroof!), but it wasn't worth keeping the car for those features.

Well, I took my car to the dealership the other day, and just from listening to it the guy said it's probably a hole in the catalytic converter or somewhere in the piping leading up to the muffler, which could cost from $400-1400. *Ouch* And to add insult to injury, someone hit-and-run it the other day at work. I came out after I clocked off and the car was skewed in the space, sitting at about a 30° angle in a 45° spot, and the left amber blinker casing was broken. So either someone hit it while backing out, or he hit it passing it by, and clocked the bumper and the light (you can't move a car that much and only break the light casing, unless you hit the bumper).

I talked to one of the security guards about it, and he said he was outside at the time (as in outside where the golf and racetrack is) and he didn't see it. Some kids told him that some guy hit a car and took off, and the guard talked to the manager about it, and when he came back the kids were gone, so I have no idea who it was. But that's going to cost pocket change next to the converter.

Anybody know a good place online to buy quality parts for cheap?