Challenge: Yank Tank Question?
22 February 2006, 06:09 PM
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Challenge: Yank Tank Question?
Ok ... so I have been living in Chicago for a few months without a car (!) and I am getting to the stage where that situation will have to change. The challenge/question is this:
If you were a Brit in the States and had in the region of $15,000 to spend on a car/truck/SUV (no a bike basically), what would you get? My rules are:
1. less than 80,000 miles
2. no older than 10 years, unless considered a classic (e.g. '67 Mustang)
3. RWD or AWD
4. Petrol Powered
5. vehicles located within 100 miles of zip code 60606
If you have experience in this area then great! If not, I've been using sites like Cars.com Autotrader.com etc
Interested to hear suggestions!
Thanks
Jon
If you were a Brit in the States and had in the region of $15,000 to spend on a car/truck/SUV (no a bike basically), what would you get? My rules are:
1. less than 80,000 miles
2. no older than 10 years, unless considered a classic (e.g. '67 Mustang)
3. RWD or AWD
4. Petrol Powered
5. vehicles located within 100 miles of zip code 60606
If you have experience in this area then great! If not, I've been using sites like Cars.com Autotrader.com etc
Interested to hear suggestions!
Thanks
Jon
22 February 2006, 06:58 PM
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I ran a Chevy Astro Van when I lived in Canada.
4.3 Litre V6, 4 speed auto, proper 4 wheel drive, loads of space for camping trips etc.
Terrible mpg (didn`t care as gas was 23p a litre when I was there) and I loved it, it just ran and ran and ran, in fact it had 288,000 kms on it when I sold it for $500 when I left.
Not the most satisfying drive granted but it did the job!
4.3 Litre V6, 4 speed auto, proper 4 wheel drive, loads of space for camping trips etc.
Terrible mpg (didn`t care as gas was 23p a litre when I was there) and I loved it, it just ran and ran and ran, in fact it had 288,000 kms on it when I sold it for $500 when I left.
Not the most satisfying drive granted but it did the job!
.Dodge charger...<dunno>
22 February 2006, 09:46 PM
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http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...000&cardist=23
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...ng=&cardist=23
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...ng=&cardist=23
Last edited by Colinj; 22 February 2006 at 10:00 PM.
22 February 2006, 09:50 PM
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22 February 2006, 09:52 PM
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22 February 2006, 09:53 PM
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22 February 2006, 09:57 PM
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23 February 2006, 02:25 PM
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Originally Posted by AudiLover
I take it you dont rate cars that can corner.
- Jon
23 February 2006, 04:42 PM
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23 February 2006, 05:39 PM
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Originally Posted by AudiLover
I take it you dont rate cars that can corner.
Besides, he's in the US and they don't actually have any corners there.
23 February 2006, 07:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Nat21
Every vehicle on this thread thus mentioned/linked to so far other than the M3's and the 911 are absolutely disgusting/god damn awful 
Jon
23 February 2006, 07:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Nat21
Every vehicle on this thread thus mentioned/linked to so far other than the M3's and the 911 are absolutely disgusting/god damn awful
Blame Colinj, he started it...
Cheers,
Grant
23 February 2006, 07:38 PM
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Originally Posted by scoobygav555
http://www.dealsonwheels.com/search/...tos__ID/106652
Jon
23 February 2006, 08:15 PM
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Originally Posted by scoob_dood
Very tempting, if a little far away (Tennessee!) this is well under budget and looks awesome!
http://www.dealsonwheels.com/search/...tos__ID/106652
Jon
http://www.dealsonwheels.com/search/...tos__ID/106652
Jon
Got to be a classic for me - perfect opportunity to drive some cool late 60s/70s metal. Parts must be ok-ish? Better than in the UK anyway.
I'd go further than Nat21 and say every car on the thread except the Charger and Camaro are minging! Kitted up M3s = yuck and an 80s 911 is too Miami Vice to contemplate. Why get a German car and ship parts from Munich when you can enjoy something local and different?
*disclaimer - I'm sure the M3 is a great drive, but it's a poor look.
23 February 2006, 09:14 PM
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Originally Posted by NotoriousREV
I take it you've never driven any of the above? I nearly bought a Camaro Z28, complete with it's live rear axle and while it's limits weren't as high as a Scooby, it handled far, far better than I imagined. The LS1 is also a peach of a motor, economical and shed loads of power and torque.
Besides, he's in the US and they don't actually have any corners there.
Besides, he's in the US and they don't actually have any corners there.
24 February 2006, 09:05 AM
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Originally Posted by AudiLover
The camaros **** and for the size of the engine I would expect that amount of power. I dont see how its economical cause it sucks fuel its ugly and it has a god awful interior. The engine is powerful and easy to get big power out of but thats because its of huge displacement. The engine is nothing special but yet rather just on great big lump.
Whether the Camaro is ugly or not is subjective (I disagree with you) and yes, the interior is somewhat 1980's Astra but it's a fun car with a great soundtrack and a great engine.
Is it better than an M3? Probably not. Is it a sportscar by European definitions? Absolutely not. Is it a fun car? Definately.
24 February 2006, 03:33 PM
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Originally Posted by NotoriousREV
Once again you show your ignorance. The LS1 engine is pretty damn special. Weighs less than a Rover V8 and is physically smaller, can easily return high 20's mpg and makes 70hp per litre from 2 valves per cylinder and pushrods. And that's before you tune it. Now given that the Honda Civic Type-R makes less than 100hp per litre and is considered to be in a very high state of tune what with it's VTEC and 4 valves per cylinder, it kind of puts it in to perspective.
Whether the Camaro is ugly or not is subjective (I disagree with you) and yes, the interior is somewhat 1980's Astra but it's a fun car with a great soundtrack and a great engine.
Is it better than an M3? Probably not. Is it a sportscar by European definitions? Absolutely not. Is it a fun car? Definately.
Whether the Camaro is ugly or not is subjective (I disagree with you) and yes, the interior is somewhat 1980's Astra but it's a fun car with a great soundtrack and a great engine.
Is it better than an M3? Probably not. Is it a sportscar by European definitions? Absolutely not. Is it a fun car? Definately.
The only good thing about the camaro is that its mechanically reliable. But other than that its crap. Oh and its cheap too. But you get what you pay for I suppose.
And those power figures you quoted was for the top of the range camaro and high 20s for mpg is a joke. I can show you plenty of magazines that will argue any figure above 20mpg.
For '93, the Camaro lineup was pared to two models: base sport coupe powered by a 160-horsepower 3.4-liter version of GM's V6 and the Z28 with the Corvette's 5.7-liter LT1 small-block V8 rated at 275 horsepower.
The 5.7-liter LS-1 was the first all-aluminum engine offered in a Camaro since the '69 ZL-1 and carried a 305-horsepower rating
The 5.7-liter LS-1 was the first all-aluminum engine offered in a Camaro since the '69 ZL-1 and carried a 305-horsepower rating
Yet this car in your eyes is special. Mate do you know how far backwards americans car technology is. Theyre only introducing stuff now to their engines that us europeans and japanese have had since the 80's.
24 February 2006, 03:52 PM
#28
In answer to the question got to go for a classic, dont know what the prices are like though.
I have had a couple of yank cars in this country Trans Am 6.6, 73 Firebird 5.7 ans whilst as a drivers car they couldnt compete with European/Jap cars they both put a smile on my face and I used to love driving them LHD was a pain when trying to overtake though.
They are miles behind with engine/chassis etc, but at least I could do all my own maintenance. And they do love electric windows/roofs etc.
I have had a couple of yank cars in this country Trans Am 6.6, 73 Firebird 5.7 ans whilst as a drivers car they couldnt compete with European/Jap cars they both put a smile on my face and I used to love driving them LHD was a pain when trying to overtake though.
They are miles behind with engine/chassis etc, but at least I could do all my own maintenance. And they do love electric windows/roofs etc.
24 February 2006, 04:29 PM
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There are pros and cons all round.
Obviously the big american engines aren't anywhere near the engineering of those from Germany.
However, they are relatively simple, well known to work on, easy to work on, plenty of cheap parts for them, reliable etc.
Oh and AudiLover, there's one BIG plus of yank engines that big euro engines don't have and that's the NOISE!
Oh, and I own a german V8 btw!
Obviously the big american engines aren't anywhere near the engineering of those from Germany.
However, they are relatively simple, well known to work on, easy to work on, plenty of cheap parts for them, reliable etc.
Oh and AudiLover, there's one BIG plus of yank engines that big euro engines don't have and that's the NOISE!
Oh, and I own a german V8 btw!
24 February 2006, 05:14 PM
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I don't think this thread was ever intended to be about American Cars vs the rest of the world!
My aim is not to have the best all round car, but more to take advantage of lower second hand car prices, and potentially some American automotive MUSCLE
On a side note, I found an interesting price comparison UK vs US car prices.
2005 Porsche Cayenne Turbo 10,200 miles, Basalt Black £69,995
2005 Porsche Cayenne Turbo 18,292 miles, Gray $71,995
2006 VW Golf GTI Brand New £20,335
2006 VW Golf GTI Brand New $21,990
2006 Impreza WRX STI Type UK £26,995
2006 IMPREZA WRX STI SEDAN $32,995
This almost tempted me to go and buy a brand Golf or WRX
As it is I won't use the car Mon-Fri as a general rule, and so it would be madness to spend that kind of money for it to sit around doing nothing.
So the general shortlist looks like this:
2001 VW Golf GTI VR6 ~ $13,000
2002 Jeep Liberty 3.6L Sport ~ $13,000
2000 Nissan Xterra SE 4WD ~ $12,995
2001 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 ~ $11,995
1972 Dodge Charger ~ $4,000
2000 Ford Mustang GT ~ $10,000
I continue my search though ... not buying til after June
- Jon
My aim is not to have the best all round car, but more to take advantage of lower second hand car prices, and potentially some American automotive MUSCLE
On a side note, I found an interesting price comparison UK vs US car prices.
2005 Porsche Cayenne Turbo 10,200 miles, Basalt Black £69,995
2005 Porsche Cayenne Turbo 18,292 miles, Gray $71,995
2006 VW Golf GTI Brand New £20,335
2006 VW Golf GTI Brand New $21,990
2006 Impreza WRX STI Type UK £26,995
2006 IMPREZA WRX STI SEDAN $32,995
This almost tempted me to go and buy a brand Golf or WRX
As it is I won't use the car Mon-Fri as a general rule, and so it would be madness to spend that kind of money for it to sit around doing nothing.
So the general shortlist looks like this:
2001 VW Golf GTI VR6 ~ $13,000
2002 Jeep Liberty 3.6L Sport ~ $13,000
2000 Nissan Xterra SE 4WD ~ $12,995
2001 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 ~ $11,995
1972 Dodge Charger ~ $4,000
2000 Ford Mustang GT ~ $10,000
I continue my search though ... not buying til after June
- Jon