I've noticed that Chinese motorcycles are probably the most expensive motorcycle purchase you can possibly make. You buy in low, but parts cost quickly mount.
Better to buy a battered old Virago. It'll run longer and you won't be in such a hot hurry to move up to a bigger bike.
Also: Kudos to Bumbeck devising a way to safely drop the turkey into the grease. My way is to get my brother in law to do it.
Also: Knoxville TN cops are screening crazy hard - go five miles over the limit and you'll get flagged. I don't think there'd be more cops on the roads if they thought we were being invade by the Taliban.
Also in Knoxville: Jim Cogdill Dodge is trying to sell brand new, never sold, 2008 Dodge and Chrysler products at $13,000. Still got the whole warranty, it's still a brand-new car at a used car price. It might be a better deal, assuming Chrysler's still around in five years for parts support.
I watched a beautiful older model Viper tear up an SCCA Autocross track this weekend. It showed sexy and powerful amongst a group of more power hungry Euro and Rice tuners. It was not the fastest thing through the torturous twisties that Autocross relies on, that was relegated to abnormally aspirated AWD's and BMW's. It was however, the best looking, best sounding stock monster there. The Viper made the sheer 'get to the gate' brake, punch, brake, punch look incredible, even when it overpowered itself and spun into the grass.
@BRAWNDO_POWERED:
They are really neat cars, for sure. I live in small town and have only seen one in person. I was sitting at a stop light, on cell phone (shame on me), when a Viper drove down the highway. I started yelling in my phone....."A Viper, A Viper". My girlfriend I was talking to freaked out. (My girlfriends don't understand my love of cars anyway).
@skaycog was here: Hahaha I feel ya man. I always just go "Oooh" or "Damn!" and then put reality on hold for 5 or 10 seconds until the car goes by. I tell the girlfriend that at least it's a piece of machinery I'm lusting after and not a piece of something else..
@iancoleTX: Yes, it's okay to lust after cars. Period. BTW, I'm not a guy. That's the main reason my girlfriends don't understand. My guy friends get it though.
@skaycog was here: Same here, I yell out when I see something interesting ("oh shit, a Cobra... no, it's probably a clone... wait, can't be, it's a 289, OH MY GOD IT'S REAL!"). Mom is afraid I'll crash because I do it so often, but I force myself not to rubberneck in such instances.
I need a little help with understanding the AWD Dodge problem. Why is it less desirable? Poorer fuel economy? Fewer engine choices? For a family looking for a affordable big sedan that is good in the snow, this might be appealing.
@YankBoffin: It gets poorer fuel economy and doesn't corner as well but most importantly, there are much better AWD cars for the price. Most people looking at the Charger in the first place want a RWD muscle car. People looking for an AWD family sedan don't immediately think of a Charger.
@yachius: Just checked the website, [www.dodge.com] and looking at the prices Sam quotes, the deal would be to get an AWD SXT for the price of the stripper SE base model. So, that doesn't just get you AWD, you as get the bigger V6, 5-spd auto, TC, ESP, "performance brakes", and more. Nobody wants the wimpy underpowered base model, even if it does have more mpg.
@YankBoffin: I didn't look at the deal but what you've quoted is correct then it sounds like Dodge is trying very hard to move an unpopular model that is sitting on their lots. There aren't many other reasons to lower the price of a premium model so drastically.
@YankBoffin: When I'm thinking AWD, Dodge isn't the first thing that jumps to mind. "Affordable big sedan that is good in the snow" just screams Legacy to me.
Subaru does build cars I want (and even bought) ... it's the image and segmentation I could do without. I am not a lefty, lesbian, tree hugger or whirled peaser by any stretch. I just want a reasonably reliable, fast, AWD wagon.
@Alfisted: it's fairly sad that you would be more concerned with what your friends and neighbors think about the car you drive than driving the car you think you want to drive.
I mean, seriously, if you're concerned they'll confuse you for a tree-hugging lesbian, you've got more problems than just choosing a car can solve (or create).
@Sportwagons, haulin' stuff and haulin' balls: It's not what others think of my car. It's that I think Subaru could more successfully attain their objectives (the Legacy GT was intended to rival the 3-series and A4) if they would ease up on running promotions and advertising that play to a stereotype.
@Alfisted: My question was purely rhetorical, not directed at anyone in particular, just kinda "who cares?".
I'd wager that Subaru is giving in to the natural inclinations of a large part of their buyers. In other words, the preferences of their buyers are driving their marketing, not the other way around. When my 2005 GT wagon was introduced, they had Lance Armstrong in the commercials touting the performance ("quicker than a Porsche Boxter"). But that clearly didn't shift the perception of the brand away from AWD+safety+practicality.
@Alfisted: I would hazard a guess that their marketing budget is seperate from their R&D budget, and whether or not they target niche markets has little or nothing to do with whether or not the boys and girls in product direction think they should shoot for BMW territory.
And in any event, Subaru has been steadily gaining market share and one of the only brands increasing sales over previous years, so something is working - prob in both marketing AND development.
Now relax and buy a flannel shirt and some Birkenstocks.
Good Deal #6 What: Keeping my '92 Town Car Where: My driveway Regular Price: Gift from my elderly mother-in-law. Black Friday Price: The cost of fixing the electric windows and recharging the A/C whenever I have the cash and get around to it—probably next spring with my tax refund. Why It's A Good Deal: Zero down, zero interest, zero monthly payments, zero for comprehensive insurance, forever.
11/26/09
Better to buy a battered old Virago. It'll run longer and you won't be in such a hot hurry to move up to a bigger bike.
Also: Kudos to Bumbeck devising a way to safely drop the turkey into the grease. My way is to get my brother in law to do it.
Also: Knoxville TN cops are screening crazy hard - go five miles over the limit and you'll get flagged. I don't think there'd be more cops on the roads if they thought we were being invade by the Taliban.
Also in Knoxville: Jim Cogdill Dodge is trying to sell brand new, never sold, 2008 Dodge and Chrysler products at $13,000. Still got the whole warranty, it's still a brand-new car at a used car price. It might be a better deal, assuming Chrysler's still around in five years for parts support.
11/24/09
I watched a beautiful older model Viper tear up an SCCA Autocross track this weekend. It showed sexy and powerful amongst a group of more power hungry Euro and Rice tuners. It was not the fastest thing through the torturous twisties that Autocross relies on, that was relegated to abnormally aspirated AWD's and BMW's. It was however, the best looking, best sounding stock monster there. The Viper made the sheer 'get to the gate' brake, punch, brake, punch look incredible, even when it overpowered itself and spun into the grass.
11/24/09
@ArtForge:
11/24/09
11/24/09
11/25/09
They are really neat cars, for sure. I live in small town and have only seen one in person. I was sitting at a stop light, on cell phone (shame on me), when a Viper drove down the highway. I started yelling in my phone....."A Viper, A Viper". My girlfriend I was talking to freaked out. (My girlfriends don't understand my love of cars anyway).
11/25/09
11/25/09
#tips
11/25/09
11/24/09
11/24/09
11/24/09
11/24/09
11/24/09
11/24/09
11/24/09
11/24/09
I wonder where it places on the lap time/msrp leader board.
11/24/09
11/24/09
11/24/09
11/24/09
11/26/09
11/24/09
11/24/09
11/24/09
11/24/09
Problem is, I don't want any of Subaru's current-gen models under my tree. Blech.
11/24/09
#tips
11/24/09
I mean, seriously, if you're concerned they'll confuse you for a tree-hugging lesbian, you've got more problems than just choosing a car can solve (or create).
11/24/09
#tips
11/24/09
11/24/09
#tips
11/24/09
I'd wager that Subaru is giving in to the natural inclinations of a large part of their buyers. In other words, the preferences of their buyers are driving their marketing, not the other way around. When my 2005 GT wagon was introduced, they had Lance Armstrong in the commercials touting the performance ("quicker than a Porsche Boxter"). But that clearly didn't shift the perception of the brand away from AWD+safety+practicality.
11/24/09
And in any event, Subaru has been steadily gaining market share and one of the only brands increasing sales over previous years, so something is working - prob in both marketing AND development.
Now relax and buy a flannel shirt and some Birkenstocks.
11/24/09
#tips
11/24/09
11/24/09
#tips
11/24/09
What: Keeping my '92 Town Car
Where: My driveway
Regular Price: Gift from my elderly mother-in-law.
Black Friday Price: The cost of fixing the electric windows and recharging the A/C whenever I have the cash and get around to it—probably next spring with my tax refund.
Why It's A Good Deal: Zero down, zero interest, zero monthly payments, zero for comprehensive insurance, forever.
11/24/09
11/24/09
11/24/09
What kind of a crazy business model is that?
11/24/09
11/24/09