Car Talk 5: The Juice is Loose!

[max225]

Ya rebadged Durango. I personally can’t stand that shit

Yeah, it is all fine and good when it's platform sharing, drivetrain sharing, etc. but when it is the exact same car with different badging and some fake wood...

Entire GMC brand

[D Griff]

Yeah, it is all fine and good when it's platform sharing, drivetrain sharing, etc. but when it is the exact same car with different badging and some fake wood...

Entire GMC brand

But... but... but... professional grade

[RLWake]

(Mr. Regular’s voice) Not a caaarrrr.

Buuut...

Tonight I picked up some wheels for flipping at an absolute robbery of a price.

They’re off a 2018 Miata Grand Touring, and they’re in 9.5/10 excellent condition. BFGoodrich Rival tires with 60% tread remaining. Only problem is that one tire needs to be replaced.

Took the 4 off a guy’s hands for $180

I’ve already cleaned and ceramic coated 3 of them and they look like they could be on a diller’s showroom car. I ordered the tire for the 4th and I’ll get that installed Friday.

I’ll be in the set for $375 and I know I can list them for a couple hundred more

[wap]

[Tar]

(Mr. Regular’s voice) Not a caaarrrr.

Buuut...

Tonight I picked up some wheels for flipping at an absolute robbery of a price.

They’re off a 2018 Miata Grand Touring, and they’re in 9.5/10 excellent condition. BFGoodrich Rival tires with 60% tread remaining. Only problem is that one tire needs to be replaced.

Took the 4 off a guy’s hands for $180

I’ve already cleaned and ceramic coated 3 of them and they look like they could be on a diller’s showroom car. I ordered the tire for the 4th and I’ll get that installed Friday.

I’ll be in the set for $375 and I know I can list them for a couple hundred more

That's a sweet deal, can't go wrong for that price! What are their purpose, just to resell or are you planning on using them to track with?

[RLWake]

(Mr. Regular’s voice) Not a caaarrrr.

Buuut...

Tonight I picked up some wheels for flipping at an absolute robbery of a price.

They’re off a 2018 Miata Grand Touring, and they’re in 9.5/10 excellent condition. BFGoodrich Rival tires with 60% tread remaining. Only problem is that one tire needs to be replaced.

Took the 4 off a guy’s hands for $180

I’ve already cleaned and ceramic coated 3 of them and they look like they could be on a diller’s showroom car. I ordered the tire for the 4th and I’ll get that installed Friday.

I’ll be in the set for $375 and I know I can list them for a couple hundred more

That's a sweet deal, can't go wrong for that price! What are their purpose, just to resell or are you planning on using them to track with?

Resell if none of my friends can use them.

NC Miatas have a 5 x 114.3 bolt pattern. Wheels for all other miatas (including these) are 4 x 100. Can’t use them, unfortunately. If they were NC wheels, I’d absolutely be using them for that.

[Tar]

That's a sweet deal, can't go wrong for that price! What are their purpose, just to resell or are you planning on using them to track with?

Resell if none of my friends can use them.

NC Miatas have a 5 x 114.3 bolt pattern. Wheels for all other miatas (including these) are 4 x 100. Can’t use them, unfortunately. If they were NC wheels, I’d absolutely be using them for that.

Interesting bolt pattern variance, good to know.

[CaleDeRoo]

Gonna really miss this car when I give it back. It's basically everything you'd need or want in a daily, with not much that you don't.



-More than enough power, with the option for more with plug and play stuff
-I've averaged 32mpg over the last 3200mi
-comfortable seats
-good enough base stereo
-decently practical with the hatch/liftback

[max225]

Gonna really miss this car when I give it back. It's basically everything you'd need or want in a daily, with not much that you don't.



-More than enough power, with the option for more with plug and play stuff
-I've averaged 32mpg over the last 3200mi
-comfortable seats
-good enough base stereo
-decently practical with the hatch/liftback

And a gti does the same thing for 1/2 the price

[CaleDeRoo]

Ok and?

[wap]

Ok and?

the point.

[D Griff]

I have always kind of wondered why GTIs aren't like 30% of the cars seen on the road, they are really the best for regular people. It's crazy that for the same price, so many choose things like CRVs, Camrys, CX5s, etc. when the GTI does everything those do better other than maybe reliability past 100k.

[D Griff]

Gonna really miss this car when I give it back. It's basically everything you'd need or want in a daily, with not much that you don't.



-More than enough power, with the option for more with plug and play stuff
-I've averaged 32mpg over the last 3200mi
-comfortable seats
-good enough base stereo
-decently practical with the hatch/liftback

Your Audi is cooler

[Huckleberry]

I have always kind of wondered why GTIs aren't like 30% of the cars seen on the road, they are really the best for regular people. It's crazy that for the same price, so many choose things like CRVs, Camrys, CX5s, etc. when the GTI does everything those do better other than maybe reliability past 100k.

VW still doesn't have a great reputation with reliability, whereas Honda and Toyota do, and both reputations have their roots from decades ago. And even you question reliability beyond 100k, which no one ever seems to question for a Honda or Toyota, despite the majority of new car buyers ditching their vehicles well before that threshold.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Gonna really miss this car when I give it back. It's basically everything you'd need or want in a daily, with not much that you don't.



-More than enough power, with the option for more with plug and play stuff
-I've averaged 32mpg over the last 3200mi
-comfortable seats
-good enough base stereo
-decently practical with the hatch/liftback

Your Audi is cooler

[max225]

Ok and?

Wasn’t sure if you wanted to replicate the experience at 1/2 off

[D Griff]

I have always kind of wondered why GTIs aren't like 30% of the cars seen on the road, they are really the best for regular people. It's crazy that for the same price, so many choose things like CRVs, Camrys, CX5s, etc. when the GTI does everything those do better other than maybe reliability past 100k.

VW still doesn't have a great reputation with reliability, whereas Honda and Toyota do, and both reputations have their roots from decades ago. And even you question reliability beyond 100k, which no one ever seems to question for a Honda or Toyota, despite the majority of new car buyers ditching their vehicles well before that threshold.

I guess I'm just surprised people care.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

VW still doesn't have a great reputation with reliability, whereas Honda and Toyota do, and both reputations have their roots from decades ago. And even you question reliability beyond 100k, which no one ever seems to question for a Honda or Toyota, despite the majority of new car buyers ditching their vehicles well before that threshold.

I guess I'm just surprised people care.

Really? Regular people don't want to deal with car shit at all...it's usually a chore just to keep the thing clean. Horror stories about breakdowns and time spent at the dealer resonate strongest among regular people who really don't want to be bothered with those sorts of things.

[max225]

I have always kind of wondered why GTIs aren't like 30% of the cars seen on the road, they are really the best for regular people. It's crazy that for the same price, so many choose things like CRVs, Camrys, CX5s, etc. when the GTI does everything those do better other than maybe reliability past 100k.

1. Gtis are sort of expensive compared to their size
2. They are still “too small” for people who want some weird ass child carriers ec
3. Maintenance is expensive compared to Japanese
4. Ride is too stiff
5. Reliability is sub par also

[D Griff]

I have always kind of wondered why GTIs aren't like 30% of the cars seen on the road, they are really the best for regular people. It's crazy that for the same price, so many choose things like CRVs, Camrys, CX5s, etc. when the GTI does everything those do better other than maybe reliability past 100k.

1. Gtis are sort of expensive compared to their size
2. They are still “too small” for people who want some weird ass child carriers ec
3. Maintenance is expensive compared to Japanese
4. Ride is too stiff
5. Reliability is sub par also

1. They are $25-35K which is basically what the aforementioned CRVs and things cost.
2. They are packaged really well and are as comfortable inside for four adults as any 5 seat CUV, they do lack a bit of cargo space against them typically, but that's it.
3/5. They have a huge warranty now and free maintenance for 50% of the time most new buyers would keep the car.
4. They are stiffer than some things but it's like 20% worse ride versus a CRV for the return of 150% better driving quality.

[Huckleberry]

I have always kind of wondered why GTIs aren't like 30% of the cars seen on the road, they are really the best for regular people. It's crazy that for the same price, so many choose things like CRVs, Camrys, CX5s, etc. when the GTI does everything those do better other than maybe reliability past 100k.

1. Gtis are sort of expensive compared to their size
2. They are still “too small” for people who want some weird ass child carriers ec
3. Maintenance is expensive compared to Japanese
4. Ride is too stiff
5. Reliability is sub par also

I find that mine rides pretty well. Much better than my Silverado.

[max225]

1. Gtis are sort of expensive compared to their size
2. They are still “too small” for people who want some weird ass child carriers ec
3. Maintenance is expensive compared to Japanese
4. Ride is too stiff
5. Reliability is sub par also

1. They are $25-35K which is basically what the aforementioned CRVs and things cost.
2. They are packaged really well and are as comfortable inside for four adults as any 5 seat CUV, they do lack a bit of cargo space against them typically, but that's it.
3/5. They have a huge warranty now and free maintenance for 50% of the time most new buyers would keep the car.
4. They are stiffer than some things but it's like 20% worse ride versus a CRV for the return of 150% better driving quality.

A CX5 touring with a nice stereo, moonroof and power everything costs 29k, a comparable gti is 35-8. And the Mazda is Easy to get with cheap financing and another 5k on the hood. It’ll have a better riding position and ride and space, and come at a cheaper price.

Sometimes people don’t want a stiff suspension and sporty handling

[Huckleberry]

I guess I'm just surprised people care.

Really? Regular people don't want to deal with car shit at all...it's usually a chore just to keep the thing clean. Horror stories about breakdowns and time spent at the dealer resonate strongest among regular people who really don't want to be bothered with those sorts of things.

Yeah, probably 95% of people think their cars run on gasoline and magic. Most get lost once the hood is popped open, and even the majority of "car guys" will see the plastic engine cover and write off the car as too complicated to work on while mumbling something about "god damn 'puters."

[Huckleberry]

1. They are $25-35K which is basically what the aforementioned CRVs and things cost.
2. They are packaged really well and are as comfortable inside for four adults as any 5 seat CUV, they do lack a bit of cargo space against them typically, but that's it.
3/5. They have a huge warranty now and free maintenance for 50% of the time most new buyers would keep the car.
4. They are stiffer than some things but it's like 20% worse ride versus a CRV for the return of 150% better driving quality.

A CX5 touring with a nice stereo, moonroof and power everything costs 29k, a comparable gti is 35-8. And the Mazda is Easy to get with cheap financing and another 5k on the hood. It’ll have a better riding position and ride and space, and come at a cheaper price.

Sometimes people don’t want a stiff suspension and sporty handling

I have never walked into a Mazda store where they put $5k on the hood of anything. The Mazda dealers around here are proud of their shit and won't come down more than a grand or two. It's why my wife now owns a Cherokee over a CX-5.

VW threw something like $6k on the hood of my GTI when I was shopping.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

A CX5 touring with a nice stereo, moonroof and power everything costs 29k, a comparable gti is 35-8. And the Mazda is Easy to get with cheap financing and another 5k on the hood. It’ll have a better riding position and ride and space, and come at a cheaper price.

Sometimes people don’t want a stiff suspension and sporty handling

I have never walked into a Mazda store where they put $5k on the hood of anything. The Mazda dealers around here are proud of their shit and won't come down more than a grand or two. It's why my wife now owns a Cherokee over a CX-5.

VW threw something like $6k on the hood of my GTI when I was shopping.

It's a regional thing. I bet there's far more Mazda dealers in CA than there is on the entire NE. VW is the opposite for some reason. Example: in Northern MI we have a every dealer including VW, but not Mazda. I would need to drive 150 miles south to Bay City to reach the nearest Mazda dealer.