Car Talk 5: The Juice is Loose!

[troyguitar]

I've never driven one with an auto or the 4.6 for that matter, only the newer coyote and 3.7 V6. The 3.7 is not bad either with the right gearing.

[D Griff]

That automatic blows tho

Yeah... if you're looking at older cars, auto is a tough pill to swallow. They really only got decent in the past 5-10 years.

[D Griff]

The funny thing is that with every car getting soooo big and heavy and numb and nannied with tiny windows and trunk openings, I am actually kind of interested in the old 2005-10 Mustang GT... They look pretty badass now. 300 hp on 87, 3500 lbs, and almost the exact same size as a new 3 series. The 5-speed auto was introduced in 2005 and is geared nicely from the factory for acceleration in 1-2-3 and fuel economy in 4-5.

No hatch because

I wish any of those cars were made in a liftback style like they were in the 80s. So much more useful.

I find Mustangs kind of aggravating because they are pretty sweet but they are just so damn big and yet so damn small. My 328i is significantly smaller than a new Mustang and has sooo much more room, it is really , especially considering they are both RWD and BMW uses inline sixes which should be longer than a V8.

[troyguitar]

The funny thing is that with every car getting soooo big and heavy and numb and nannied with tiny windows and trunk openings, I am actually kind of interested in the old 2005-10 Mustang GT... They look pretty badass now. 300 hp on 87, 3500 lbs, and almost the exact same size as a new 3 series. The 5-speed auto was introduced in 2005 and is geared nicely from the factory for acceleration in 1-2-3 and fuel economy in 4-5.

No hatch because

I wish any of those cars were made in a liftback style like they were in the 80s. So much more useful.

I find Mustangs kind of aggravating because they are pretty sweet but they are just so damn big and yet so damn small. My 328i is significantly smaller than a new Mustang and has sooo much more room, it is really , especially considering they are both RWD and BMW uses inline sixes which should be longer than a V8.

Yeah, the real answer is probably a cheap Volt and an extension cord whenever the time comes.

[D Griff]

I wish any of those cars were made in a liftback style like they were in the 80s. So much more useful.

I find Mustangs kind of aggravating because they are pretty sweet but they are just so damn big and yet so damn small. My 328i is significantly smaller than a new Mustang and has sooo much more room, it is really , especially considering they are both RWD and BMW uses inline sixes which should be longer than a V8.

Yeah, the real answer is probably a cheap Volt and an extension cord whenever the time comes.

It looks like you can get a pretty solid Volt for sub $15K... that is actually kind of appealing.

I could see having a Volt and a GR86 if I ever am willing to do two cars again.

[RLWake]

I kind of like the base civic hatch with the NA (k20) motor. 158 hp of pure linear fury, and probably the most reliable thing they produce at Honda. The LX was around 23k.

I agree but it would have to be a for me... CVT with some gutless-ish motor is a

I weirdly sort of covet some NA poverty manual hatch to be honest. I am just not a big fan of the turBRO driving experience.

‘22 civic hatch sport gets the 2.0 with a

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Yeah, the real answer is probably a cheap Volt and an extension cord whenever the time comes.

It looks like you can get a pretty solid Volt for sub $15K... that is actually kind of appealing.

I could see having a Volt and a GR86 if I ever am willing to do two cars again.

I really liked our Volt, it was a great car that was surprisingly fun to drive. Just not great when trying to take more than 2 people, which makes the sedan body type We spent 90% of our time with that car with the rear seats folded down. Since it was a liftback, it could fit a ton of stuff back there.

[D Griff]

I agree but it would have to be a for me... CVT with some gutless-ish motor is a

I weirdly sort of covet some NA poverty manual hatch to be honest. I am just not a big fan of the turBRO driving experience.

‘22 civic hatch sport gets the 2.0 with a

honestly. I am intrigued with the next gen Si, Type R, and Integra

[Johnny_P]

I agree but it would have to be a for me... CVT with some gutless-ish motor is a

I weirdly sort of covet some NA poverty manual hatch to be honest. I am just not a big fan of the turBRO driving experience.

‘22 civic hatch sport gets the 2.0 with a

Probably pretty fun. The Elantra had like 140 HP and a CVT and it was pretty snappy. The Civic has almost 160 I think.

Funny. The base engine is pretty close to the sport compact power levels of the early 2000’s. Sentra SE-R, Focus SVT, hell even the guppy face Civic SI hatch.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

‘22 civic hatch sport gets the 2.0 with a

honestly. I am intrigued with the next gen Si, Type R, and Integra

New Acura products seem legit on the Integra for sure.

Interesting that there's a business case for a such a vehicle these days. A compact premium car just seems dead, hopefully it's good and sells well to prove to the industry there's still interest in these things.

[D Griff]

‘22 civic hatch sport gets the 2.0 with a

Probably pretty fun. The Elantra had like 140 HP and a CVT and it was pretty snappy. The Civic has almost 160 I think.

Funny. The base engine is pretty close to the sport compact power levels of the early 2000’s. Sentra SE-R, Focus SVT, hell even the guppy face Civic SI hatch.

I think it's actually the same engine as the EP3 Si

Basically a not as revy version of the K20.

[troyguitar]

Yeah, the real answer is probably a cheap Volt and an extension cord whenever the time comes.

It looks like you can get a pretty solid Volt for sub $15K... that is actually kind of appealing.

I could see having a Volt and a GR86 if I ever am willing to do two cars again.

I need to see if the 2nd gen was available with a non-black cloth interior. That's going to be a requirement for any future vehicle purchase. Almost anything else could possibly be acceptable depending on circumstances, but I'm not dealing with black or (p)leather ever again.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

It looks like you can get a pretty solid Volt for sub $15K... that is actually kind of appealing.

I could see having a Volt and a GR86 if I ever am willing to do two cars again.

I need to see if the 2nd gen was available with a non-black cloth interior. That's going to be a requirement for any future vehicle purchase. Almost anything else could possibly be acceptable depending on circumstances, but I'm not dealing with black or (p)leather ever again.

I'm almost certain there was a grey cloth interior, I swear I saw one. Ours was black leather, you definitely don't want that where you live.

[troyguitar]

I need to see if the 2nd gen was available with a non-black cloth interior. That's going to be a requirement for any future vehicle purchase. Almost anything else could possibly be acceptable depending on circumstances, but I'm not dealing with black or (p)leather ever again.

I'm almost certain there was a grey cloth interior, I swear I saw one. Ours was black leather, you definitely don't want that where you live.

I know that the first gen offered gray cloth, so worst case that would be an option. I'm not thrilled about the capacitive buttons or premium fuel requirement though.

[troyguitar]

Jesus. I can't type on a phone.

[D Griff]

I kind of like that the first gen is uglier. Second gen is a bit boring for my tastes, but probably a better car.

[troyguitar]

I kind of like that the first gen is uglier. Second gen is a bit boring for my tastes, but probably a better car.

I don't think it's uglier, it looks cool. The 2nd gen doesn't look like anything. The original is vaguely reminiscent of a DeLorean.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

I kind of like that the first gen is uglier. Second gen is a bit boring for my tastes, but probably a better car.

It's a way better car. The capacitive touch in the first gen blew, along with the premium fuel requirement Troy pointed out. 2nd gen also gets double the EV range and overall feels more polished IMO.

At least the 2nd gen is still a liftback. It would have been far more usable as a long roof hatch but the only way GM makes those is as SUVs

[D Griff]

Sad! I like the weird looking EVs like gen 1 Volt and Insight.

[MexicanYarisTK]

Veloster N still exists and also with DCT, slightly larger than an abarth or the i3.

Isn't it nearly $40k and discontinued anyway?

The regular Veloster does, just like the regular Golf. But the N stays. Also starting price is higher than expected.
https://www.motor1.com/news/519746/hyun ... only-2022/

Also the Kona N is coming soon as well, time will tell how much the costs would be.

[MexicanYarisTK]

Veloster N still exists and also with DCT, slightly larger than an abarth or the i3.

Good luck with that. All the N’s are plagued by shit availability and infuriating markups. Last I looked the only new Veloster N in central Flawda was marked up to $40k.

Jesus!! Thats bizarre for a small hot hatch, let alone the company that not too long ago used to have a bad reputation too.

[RLWake]

honestly. I am intrigued with the next gen Si, Type R, and Integra

New Acura products seem legit on the Integra for sure.

Interesting that there's a business case for a such a vehicle these days. A compact premium car just seems dead, hopefully it's good and sells well to prove to the industry there's still interest in these things.

The 2021 ILX my has is great. I’ve been taking it everywhere instead of the miata when she’s off work. K24 + that dual clutch is great. It’s the first DCT I’ve seen where I can go from 8 > 3rd by rapid-firing the down paddle. It’s a pretty fun car, and the adaptive cruise is nice.

[RLWake]

Also I went and test drove a Mazda3 today. It was a hatchback, premium, manual, polymetal grey over black. It was a nice little car, especially for the price. At first I didn’t like the manual, but then I realized that I’m just spoiled by the feel and feedback from .

I need to make a trip to VW, Kia, and Hyundai as well. That Kia Forte GT2 seems like a steal. Cooled seats, a nice dct or manual with a 1.6T, all the A-tier Kia self driving stuff, and all for like 27 MSRP. Too bad the nearest one of those Kias is like 80 miles away. Gonna have to make a day out of that.

[D Griff]

Also I went and test drove a Mazda3 today. It was a hatchback, premium, manual, polymetal grey over black. It was a nice little car, especially for the price. At first I didn’t like the manual, but then I realized that I’m just spoiled by the feel and feedback from .

I need to make a trip to VW, Kia, and Hyundai as well. That Kia Forte GT2 seems like a steal. Cooled seats, a nice dct or manual with a 1.6T, all the A-tier Kia self driving stuff, and all for like 27 MSRP. Too bad the nearest one of those Kias is like 80 miles away. Gonna have to make a day out of that.

Most won't be as good to be honest Also if you haven't had a FWD , there's obviously a lot more linkage going on so it's difficult to replicate the Miata where it is a stick going right into the trans.

Are you dumping the Miata or just looking to get into a nicer DD on top of it?

[RLWake]

Also I went and test drove a Mazda3 today. It was a hatchback, premium, manual, polymetal grey over black. It was a nice little car, especially for the price. At first I didn’t like the manual, but then I realized that I’m just spoiled by the feel and feedback from .

I need to make a trip to VW, Kia, and Hyundai as well. That Kia Forte GT2 seems like a steal. Cooled seats, a nice dct or manual with a 1.6T, all the A-tier Kia self driving stuff, and all for like 27 MSRP. Too bad the nearest one of those Kias is like 80 miles away. Gonna have to make a day out of that.

Most won't be as good to be honest Also if you haven't had a FWD , there's obviously a lot more linkage going on so it's difficult to replicate the Miata where it is a stick going right into the trans.

Are you dumping the Miata or just looking to get into a nicer DD on top of it?

Dumping is 100% not the right word. Moving on? Very, very likely. I have a close friend who has agreed to buy it, assuming he can get the cash together. I give that about a 90% chance of working out. He’s been set on finding a nice NC for quite a while now. He gets to know everything about the car and have confidence when he buys it, and I get to sell it to someone I know is gonna take care of it.

I’m gonna buy whatever new DD, prep and sell , probably take care of some things with some of the money from the sale, and then sit and wait to find something to have as a second car. Suzuki X-90, Cappuccino, NB Miata, something like that. Maybe an old bmw if I can find a good one.