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bimmer
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vettra
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Posts: 123
Location: Cleveland
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 Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2005 6:28 am Post subject: Re: Anything |
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| Atomcat wrote: | | with lots of accidents like Russia, Not a damn chance. Only way I drive in Moscow is in a T-80 tank. |
Good choice! How about an M1 Abrams? 1500 HP, 500 gallon tank, and the 120 mm cannon range is 3,000 meters - far enough to take out the peskiest crazy Mercedes driving Muscovite.
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m1a1-981025-A-5697G-504.jpg |
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Thalys
Just Starting
Joined: 28 Jun 2005
Posts: 5
Location: Netherlands
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| Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 12:14 pm Post subject: |
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Though japanese cars are probably the most reliable cars, they lack one important thing, and that is character.
So an european car, though somewhat less reliable than a japanese car, is for me always an better option. Also most japanese models are designed by designers with absolute no taste of what is beautiful in the eyes of the beholder. And very funny, the more nicer japanse models are aleays designed by or with the help from european designers.
American cars are indeed not built for quality, but if i would have my pick, it would be a Corvette (the shark nose models), a Mustang (a Mach I or II), The Trans AM Firebird, The Shelby GT, or the new Chrysler 300 C Hemi.
Greettzz,
Rinus  |
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cook
Frequent Guest
Joined: 31 Mar 2005
Posts: 59
Location: Michigan, US
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| Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 9:29 am Post subject: |
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I can say with almost complete certainty that I would never buy an American car. Though I love the states, American cars are just plain bad- they tend to cost a good deal more than any comparable foreign car and for all of that, the comfort, reliability, warranty, MPG, and styling simply aren't there in domestic cars...what a shame. It's not that I think that American companies can't make a decent car, I just think that Ford should devote more time and effort into keeping weird flaws from their vehicles, like the explosive cruise control in the new F-series pickups. Oldsmobile has been claiming that they'll quit the business for the past 6 years now, and Dodge Ram pickups (pretty much Dodge's flagship vehicle) have such serious suspension problems that the front wheels come off during normal city use. Chevrolet just plain sucks ass- my mom rented one a few weeks ago and to give you an idea of its overall quality, 5,000 miles into its life the "check gages[sic]" light came on. My two questions for Chevrolet are 1) when are you going to make a car that doesn't fall apart right after purchase and 2) just what in the hell is a "gage"? Is it anything like a gauge? Oh yeah and I forgot to mention that the car I'm talking about, the Cavalier, has the dubious distinction of having received the lowest rear crash safety rating of any car in its class for several years now.
I do love all Jeeps though, especially those new long wheelbase Wranglers. And the new Ford Mustang GT (despite its apparently flimsy interior) is the nicest looking thing I have ever seen in all of my life, I saw three of those today coming to Michigan from Arkansas and they are just plain gorgeous from any angle. |
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Mogsfan
WayToRussified
Joined: 03 Nov 2004
Posts: 490
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| Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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The quality of American cars only started making an improvement after some of the European car companies (see German) starting buying or investing in the Major Domestic Three.
You are right, most of the Japanese manufacturers brought European influence with them by hiring European engineers and design specialists.
I wouldn't touch a Cavalier with a 10 foot pole. Old or new.
Unfortunately, for American car manufacturers, the most prized of their vehicles are all sports (or muscle) cars, Mustang, Corvette, and to a lesser extent (not exactly a sports car), the 300. But, I think the new marketing trend now is to sell to families and obtain the input of women (thought to be the major factor in auto purchasing decisions). |
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cook
Frequent Guest
Joined: 31 Mar 2005
Posts: 59
Location: Michigan, US
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| Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Yeah, Toyota and Honda were a big help to American car quality in the 1970's, too. In producing cars that would run for 100,000 miles, they forced American companies to stop making engines that would wear out in 5 or 10,000 mi. There might be old American cars on the road nowadays, but I know from my '72 C10 that they have space for only 5 digits on their odometers |
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e
VIP
Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Posts: 654
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| Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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Foreign investment into American cars haven't made a hoots worth of difference other than Ford bringing in its European models into the US (Focus, Mondeo, as the Four-Hundred)The Damiler/Chryslar debacle was a disaster for both brands. Especially for Chrysler which has been suffering since, especially Dodge and Jeep.
Whats really happening is that American car companies started realizing that the only way to take down the Japanese and European cars that control the market here in the US is to copy their standards or buy into them like what General Motors did.
And it looks like its paying off: I rented an 05 Chevy Impala once --was very impressed with its European style suspension, and steering. Same for the 04 Cadillac CTS that I test drove. Don't know about reliability though. |
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caz
Frequent Guest
Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 17
Location: England
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vettra
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Posts: 123
Location: Cleveland
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 6:12 am Post subject: |
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| cook wrote: | | I can say with almost complete certainty that I would never buy an American car. Though I love the states, American cars are just plain bad-. |
You love the States - do you know much about them?
All Americans know that quality is not important for American auto manufacturers. Just as much as they know that those manufacturers almost paid with their lives (business sense) in the late 80's. Which was a good time to pick up cheap real-estate in Michigan. And that the Japanese have always made "better" cars. All the arguments here are elementary, these people must be children.
The quality aspect is taken as far as necessary, as Americans have in recent (1900+) had more disposable income, and human people get suckered into spending money on what becomes attractive more than quality as disposable income rises. So the auto makers are standard businessmen, opimizing their maximum revenues. And they are not fortune tellers, and short-sighted. Humans tend to have that property. They don't "predict" the future, as Detroit failed to see the obvious (in hind-site) - higher gasoline costs and need for quality. Japanese are starting to realize that obsession in quality has its limits. Paint is no longer sprayed on the inside of bumpers. So quality of American cars has increased since the lesson of the 80s-90s. If you want perfection, buy something like a Lamborghini Diablo. However that is most imperfect for pulling out tree stumps. This whole discussion is idiotic and I refuse to comment any more. |
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neilrowland
Frequent Guest
Joined: 10 Aug 2005
Posts: 17
Location: london
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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Ive done some research on the Lada 4x4 Niva 21214. It is in my opinion a good looking vehicle with a classic syle (old shape) and solid.
Tests have proven that it can compete with a landrover off road! if you want to drive off road!! but then i hear some roads in russia are off road!!!
The newer version but old shape has a few new extras. Its reasonably economical and LPG versions are available. If not in russia then a fuel conversion can be made for not much money. Speed is not great but that can be tweaked. Parts are cheap and its easy to work on.
I would like to hear from any one who has owned one and has any negative feed back. becasue these little 4x4 work horses have character not like alot of the modern styles of car or 4x4.
I like them so much I may travel to russia to pick one up and take back to my country. stopping off in a few countries on the way.
However, If style and sheer status rating is important (which is a foolish belief) then the status symbol I would drive in to say hey look at me, look what I have and you dont, so that it makes me really important it would be......
oh sod it what a load of crap.
there will always be some one with a better more expensive car.
Twist my arm and i would say a vintage porche.... |
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mediashark
Moderator
Joined: 04 Nov 2004
Posts: 1599
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neilrowland
Frequent Guest
Joined: 10 Aug 2005
Posts: 17
Location: london
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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im not sur a niva can go that fast...
the fool must have been drinking....
was he wearing his seat belt.....
your just trying to scare me now.....
Has any one got anything positive to say about the niva????? my confidence is dwinderling  |
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mediashark
Moderator
Joined: 04 Nov 2004
Posts: 1599
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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Wasn't trying to scare you I just thought those pics were cool 
Oh yeah about the Niva and other Russian cars--they're affordable.
While I don't mean to scare you, I've seen Nivas, Ladas, Moskvichs etc. and what-have-you crumpled up like that in real life. They aren't very road-worthy things, but many people still drive them. |
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Teni-net
Just Starting
Joined: 19 Aug 2005
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Race fast, safe car. |
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neilrowland
Frequent Guest
Joined: 10 Aug 2005
Posts: 17
Location: london
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