Official Car Thread :: Vol 2 :: Now with More Bikes!

Thanks for the compliment; two days ago was seriously the first time I have ever washed her. There's not much incentive when it gets parked out on the street, but I should really take better care. During the day, it was in the low 70's with a steady wind. At night, the wind died down but it cooled to right around sixty. I wasn't uncomfortable in my summer gloves on the way back, which is fortunate because they were the only pair that I brought.

It was a great ride, and I hope to have a few more this spring break.

From my day on the Ugly Thumper.

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Photos by iPhone. Brah.

living in the future man

My Ninja 250 was in the shop to repair the ignition switch some failure thief-wannabe inflicted with a screwdriver. Got the bike back a week ago Friday. This morning I came out to the bike after breakfast with friends and found this.

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Now the bike's back in the shop 'cause a woman in a minivan backed into it.

Sucks man. I park on the street right down the street from a lot of bars, so I figure that it's only a matter of time before someone tips it over. I installed frame sliders and a folding shifter recently just in case.

I went on a group ride today; there were 8 of us total. 3 R6's, a GSX-R, ZX-6R, a V-Strom 1000, a cruiser, and my SV650. There was even an omg ~girl~. It was great out; it's getting warm, but I don't mind it much even when I have the leather jacket on. On the back road (the "distanation" of sorts), we kept a pretty good pace too, which was fun. It was much better than the last time we went out; just much more orderly. Everyone kept formation, we kept a low key on the state highways (I don't like to attract too much attention), and the only issue was one guy having a fuel pump issue and having who had to head back early.

Kinda disappointed with the MPG of my Mini Cooper S (23.5 total MPG) and thinking about a Prius III. If you do the math, it's astounding how much $ you save over the life of the vehicle - particularly with the price of gas ATM.

Anyone have an opinion on the Nissan Juke? I'm fairly certain my next car is going to be a crossover for several reasons, and that one struck my fancy.

Even the Juke gets better MPG than my Mini Cooper S. Go figure.

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Originally Posted by haohmaru

Kinda disappointed with the MPG of my Mini Cooper S (23.5 total MPG) and thinking about a Prius III. If you do the math, it's astounding how much $ you save over the life of the vehicle - particularly with the price of gas ATM.

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How much have you tried changing the way you drive? If I hoon it up, my Miata will get around 23-25 mpg, but if I settle down and go easy on the throttle I can get 28-30. I rarely bother, though, I'd rather enjoy the car than save 5 mpg.

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

Anyone have an opinion on the Nissan Juke? I'm fairly certain my next car is going to be a crossover for several reasons, and that one struck my fancy.

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What do you get from a Juke that you don't get with a hatch like a Honda Fit or Ford Fiesta? Subaru WRX? The Juke appeals to me a bit, mostly 'cause of the engine, but objectively it's a bit nonsense. It's a Versa on stilts.

Not trying to talk you out of it, mind. The car's gotten solid, if maybe slightly confused, reviews.

I think the Juke is really cool, and it's supposed to be a lot of fun to drive. The only problem is the stupid cvt. I would never buy one of those, and the manual only comes on the fwd model. Have you seen how small it is in person Yoshi? I see quite a few on the roads in LA.

Don't worry Haoh, the Juke doesn't get close to its rated MPG either. Owners report 20-22mpg.

edit - I looked up what Edmunds.com is getting on their long term Juke test vehicle. They show best tank - 24.5, worst tank - 18.6, avg - 21.3.

For a small car, that is pretty terrible.

I get 33mpg in my old ass Scion. 40-45 if I get all hypermile on that ass.

lol juke.

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Originally Posted by haohmaru

gas ATM.

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u nasty

Didn't know Juke is that ugly crossover from Nissan.

The Mini Cooper S is the sporty version of the Cooper it has a turbo engine. LOL for thinking its a gas saver.

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Originally Posted by stormy

I think the Juke is really cool, and it's supposed to be a lot of fun to drive. The only problem is the stupid cvt. I would never buy one of those, and the manual only comes on the fwd model. Have you seen how small it is in person Yoshi? I see quite a few on the roads in LA.

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Thanks, stormy. I haven't seen one at all here, which is one of the reasons I am interested. I like to have something you don't see a hundred of around town. Unfortunately, that means I may not realize just how small it is.

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Originally Posted by MarkRyan

What do you get from a Juke that you don't get with a hatch like a Honda Fit or Ford Fiesta? Subaru WRX? The Juke appeals to me a bit, mostly 'cause of the engine, but objectively it's a bit nonsense. It's a Versa on stilts.

Not trying to talk you out of it, mind. The car's gotten solid, if maybe slightly confused, reviews.

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Basically, I want something sporty but without losing the visibility I have gotten from my Jeep and Land Rover (only two four wheeled vehicles I have owned). When I get rental cars, I hate being that low.

You should get the new Scion. It is HILARIOUS looking.

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Originally Posted by Advocate

The Mini Cooper S is the sporty version of the Cooper it has a turbo engine. LOL for thinking its a gas saver.

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The car weighs like five pounds and is advertised at 27/35 for the 2011 model (Cooper S Convertible). LOL for not knowing what the fuck you're talking about. 2006 was advertised at 21/29 and I'm doing 95% highway miles. No way should this car be topping out at 23.5 when it's driven relatively conservatively.

Anyway, trading in the FJ -AND- the Mini and getting a Mazda CX-9 instead.

How'd you like the FJ? Don't see many of them.

Loved it. Still do, really. Awesome off-road & in snow. It's getting up there in miles (to the point where if I don't trade it in now, no dealer will want it) and I do a lot of long distance driving for vacations. Some visibility issues and my fuel average was probably 17 MPG over the life of the car. Kinda hurts to trade it in, but the CX-9 is pretty awesome too.

Rumor is 2011 is the last year for FJ's.

Another group ride this past Saturday; about 80 miles of beautiful weather.

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These are what motorcycle nerds look like. Not pictured: Me.

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Originally Posted by Tones

These are what motorcycle nerds look like. Not pictured: Me.

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This is the best-kept secret of motorcyclists: We're huge nerds. People assume motorcycles are for badasses. Because we're hidden beneath leather and helmets, you'd never know we're actually dorks.

The "badasses" go on fifteen-minute rides which terminate at a bar. The nerds go on rides that last for hours or days and probably drink water or coffee at a restaurant.

The UPS man just brought me my new boots, a "steal" at $120. I was considering Pumas because they are the best looking offerings out there, but I really couldn't justify how much they cost. As a commuter in Florida, I need waterproof footwear on the motorcycle. Wet socks ruin days.

Those look like nice boots and great price for Goretex. I've got some Goretex Alpinestars I paid way more for.

And whoa, New Enough changed their name!

They're really well made, and look a bit better than pictures indicate. Comfy, not as loud on hard floors, and quality materials (leather uppers). Those Italians really know how to design a boot! And the Romanians know how to put them together, I guess.

Hah, mine are also Italian-branded and Romanian-built. Romania is like Europe's Mexico it seems. Minus the rad beaches and deadly drug trafficking (I presume).

So, I ended up telling the Mazda deal to go fuck themselves and ended up with a Chevy Traverse 2LT with Nav & Dual Sunroof. :)

That'll be amazing for driving the kids to soccer practice.

The weather in SF is fantastic this week. After work yesterday I rode to the top if Twin Peaks for a view. Usually it's just fog and clouds, but on days like these you can see downtown (Market Street pictured) and, on the other side of the peaks, the sprawling ocean.

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Originally Posted by MarkRyan

That'll be amazing for driving the kids to soccer practice.

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Great for trips to Florida from New York, more importantly.

I ended up keeping the Mini S. ;)

A picture of me on the bike. This is really just me being vain, checking myself out in my awesome jacket. Back protector and armor coming in this week! They have been back ordered since January.

http://www.the-nextlevel.com/tnl/att...1&d=1301893873

Jeans, Tones!?

Don't have official riding pants yet, so yes. They're a lot harder to find used in my size, and I'm too cheap to buy a new pair. It doesn't help that most of my rides are really short (school is a mile away, work is 3 miles away), so I would spend more time changing than riding once pants enter the equation.

Check it. Traded my 2004 xA with 115k miles + $2k for a way nicer 2005 Scion xA with 32k miles.

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How'd you make that trade? I'd spend $2k to cut my vehicle's mileage from 115k to 32k.

My friend was trading her car in for a Prius. I offered to trade my car in instead, take her old car, and then pay her the difference in ca$h money.

Victory.

Top tier.

Confirmed. It is WAY NICER than my old car, with some TRD clutch, exhaust, wheels, and something else. On top of all this, the gas mileage seems to be better. I'm not used to the clutch yet, so I'm getting wheel spin all the way up to 3rd gear. Makes me feel like I'm 17.

That's an awesome trade. Fucking genius.

I changed the brake pads on my bike last week. And gave the full set its first full workout; quick stopping from 60 mph to zero as a turn light switched from yellow to red. My rear tire is about bald, so it locked up, and as my front pads were really bedding in for the first time, the front end was shuddering like hell. Despite the oscillating tail and seizuring front end, I felt pretty calm about the whole ordeal. I guess that's a good sign?

And with that, a new rear tire is on order. I got a good 7,000 miles plus however many miles the previous owner put on the current tire.

I want one.

Batcave looks a little sparse at the end there. And no armor for when he parks it? Shame.

Still, thats pretty cool.

That video would have been way better if it was shot in Chicago or Detroit at night.

OR IF HE WENT OVER 5 MPH.

Got a Ford Limited Edition XR6 Ute today, as a replacement for my other vehicle that was stolen and trashed. Kinda glad it went down that way because this thing is fucking beautiful. Icing on the cake is full smartphone integration (I think they call it Ford Sync or MyTouch Ford or something in the US). Totally fucking sweet.

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You damn aussies and you RWD Cartruck goodness we don't get over here.

Adam Carolla's Top Gear style car show is on Hulu. I like it. There are flaws, but I think it has a lot of promise. Definitely better than Top Gear USA.
http://www.hulu.com/the-car-show

More summertime joy on my motorbike.

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Originally Posted by Detour

Got a Ford Limited Edition XR6 Ute today, as a replacement for my other vehicle that was stolen and trashed. Kinda glad it went down that way because this thing is fucking beautiful. Icing on the cake is full smartphone integration (I think they call it Ford Sync or MyTouch Ford or something in the US). Totally fucking sweet.

http://cl.ly/8Wu3/Screen_Shot_2011-0...9.15.08_PM.png

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how hideous

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Originally Posted by stormy

Adam Carolla's Top Gear style car show is on Hulu. I like it. There are flaws, but I think it has a lot of promise. Definitely better than Top Gear USA.
http://www.hulu.com/the-car-show

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The Alaska episode and the Premiere last night disagree. The guys are getting some chemistry and Tanner's assperger's seems to be in something of a remission.

The Car show needs some more time in the oven and a little more direction, the guys talk over themselves all the time. There is potential there, as the hot chicks+stick shift+Viper segment as decent (although Adam dissing the Viper ACR annoyed me), the NYC race was decent, but why was a 5th guy brought in? The show is too crowded as it is.

So, I completed my first PDX event with a friend of mine and Mykozo this past Saturday. The video was taken from my friend's WRX STi. Mykozo's driving the white Sentra in front and at about 4 minutes in you can see my car (Silver Civic Si in front of the Black MR2). If anyone has access and the means to attend an event like this, I highly recommend it. It's like therapy for the soul.

How do you guys feel about Subaru Imprezas? Guy down in jackson has a pretty good one for 5k. But it is the outback. Which isn't that bad, I guess. It might be a little uglier and missing the turbo, but the hatchback space would be good for me.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false


The Impreza is one o the few new cars I like. And extra trunk space would be nice to have.

That looks like a $3500 car at best. For one, this is the south, and while it may have AWD, you can't fit any mudders underneath it.

bluebook is like 4700 at best, 3600 at worst. Fuckhead southern car dealers are the worst about over pricing shit. They think everything is worth more because locally driven cars are rust free there are so few options for imports.

and fuck buying new cars here. They still want to do the song and dance and try to rope you into some kind of payment plan. Shit bitch, we all have the internet, cut the shit.

Bring as much cash as you are willing to spend and tell the seller to take it or leave it. The car is only worth as much as someone is willing to pay. For cheap used cars (such as a Subaru with 120,000 miles), a private sale will probably save you money. If you are serious about buying a car, search the metropolitan areas.

Five grand for a 12-year-old car with 120k miles on it seems steep to me.

Price is way to high anywhere.

Just an FYI, The engine in that car is no stranger to popping head gaskets at that mileage. And when the HG goes in a subbie, your wallet will get a-rapin'.

They are pretty good cars overall though... But don't expect stellar MPG either... the AWD drags it down some.

Also, everyone will think you're a lesiban in it

GUYS, SERIOUSLY

Still waiting for the Mr. Fusion model.

That's awesome, watch it be priced out of the reach of the common man.

Deloreans are not for common men.

They should have put a faster engine in the first one if that was the case.

Or worked harder to make it not look like an 80s pos mustang.

I love the car, but lets be honest, it isn't exactly a corvette.

It wasn't trying to be a Corvette. And remember, even Corvettes in the 80's were pretty damn slow; the smog era really killed automobile performance. The Delorean was a purely stylistic exercise fueled by cocaine became more iconic than almost every other car from the era.

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Originally Posted by Tones

The Delorean was a purely stylistic exercise fueled by cocaine became more iconic than almost every other car from the era.

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Not on it's own merits though. Only because of a movie that came out after the car had been abandoned.

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Originally Posted by Detour

Got a Ford Limited Edition XR6 Ute today, as a replacement for my other vehicle that was stolen and trashed. Kinda glad it went down that way because this thing is fucking beautiful. Icing on the cake is full smartphone integration (I think they call it Ford Sync or MyTouch Ford or something in the US). Totally fucking sweet.

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I dunno know why I just saw this, but I'm jealous. That thing looks boss. They almost brought the Holden Ute to the US before killing Pontiac.

I don't know how well it would've done, though. I think a smaller vehicle like it might work in the US--just taking small FWD econo cars and chopping the rears into beds. A Honda Fit + a truck bed? Awesome!

Holy shit. I've never seen one of those before.

Traded in the Miata, bought a Mazda2 for the wife. I now have no car. I'm okay with this.

Thinking heavily about a 2001 Suzuki Bandit 600.... that or a 2007 V-Strom 650. They're the right height, and they feel like I'm not going to yank the fuckers off the asphalt when I swerve.

Not super-keen on the stock headlights on either, but modding stuff is awesome. :D

PS: what's up with heated grips? On every bike I'm looking at with 'em installed, they're half melted.

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

Holy shit. I've never seen one of those before.

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Yes, you have. It's called an El Camino.

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Originally Posted by YellerDog

Thinking heavily about a 2001 Suzuki Bandit 600.... that or a 2007 V-Strom 650. They're the right height, and they feel like I'm not going to yank the fuckers off the asphalt when I swerve.

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I suspect you're looking at a couple of actual bikes for sale? Kinda random models to single out and shop for, but if you found a couple of good examples... What in general are you looking for?

I'm guessing the melted heated grips are not factory installed, eh?

I'm going into shops and sitting on bikes to see what fits! Those two were good so far. Beemers are also rad, but outside my skill-level-price-range as of yet.

Mostly looking for bikes I don't have to assume a yoga position to ride, your average japanese bike is like riding a shetland pony for me. Kind of like dirt-bikey dual sports too, but I don't really want to ride any kind of distance on one.

I was gonna ask if you've been to MotoJava, but just looked at their site and they're the ones with the bikes you're talking about :) Dual sports are a good choice for all riding. Not the best for long freeway trips, but they'll do it. Ninja 250 is, of course, a great choice too.

Everybody at Motojava is super nice! I'd really like to buy from them. We'll see!

My budget is between 3,000 and 5,000 right now for my first bike, that Bandit might be it if they still have it when my next payday rolls around. Any more than that and I'd be financing, but I'd rather just pay cash straight-up. Easier!

Bikes are best bought with cash. Something about how easy they are to break makes financing just seem like a bad idea. I like the Bandit, but I can't get over how dorky the VSTROM is, even though I have essentially the same bike. Granted, I have ridden with a guy on a VSTROM 1000; talk about a wolf in sheep's clothing. He was a really tall, northern European built guy.

Motojava also looks like a really cool shop.

I agree about the cash!

VSTROM is only tolerable with mods, I think. (It looks... uptight?) Luckily the one that was up had the shitty melted grips, so I don't mind skipping it, haha. Money pit!

Motojava's really small, but I like everyone there. Really nice cafe shares the building, appropriately!

I had no idea Mark Ryan was married.

I need to give off my butt and get my permit. My sister is probably going to get a job in Hawaii, so if I'm slick I can swoop in and buy his Ninja for below the going rate.

I thought about going into a shop and trying out the bike I want, but it's 45 minutes away by car. Not really the easiest place to get to.

I recommend going to a closer shop and just sitting on a bunch of bikes just for due dilligance purposes. I wasn't interested in cruiser-style bikes, and now that I've tried one on I'm ABSOLUTELY not interested. But I hadn't confirmed that!

Now I have.

I'm pretty much 100% on the bike I want. It's exactly what I need for a city bike. Small enough to weave through traffic and not knock me on my ass when I open the throttle, inexpensive so I can buy it straight cash brand-new, retro look so I don't feel like I should ride with a dress or samurai sword, and economical enough that I'm not running out of money due to gas.

I'm shorter and smaller than you so I'm sure I'll fit on it. I do want to put ass to seat at least once, though.

I think your bike choice 100% makes sense for. Is 45 minutes a far drive?

And yeah, got married about six months ago :)

Reading your blog might be selling me on a Ninja, MarkRyan. 650 specifically...

Or a Honda 599...

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Solid choices. You'll find more Ninja 650s for same than Honda Hornets. Lots of Suzuki SV650s, too.

I love the 599's. Really discreet, especially in gray. I think that they're a step above the SV650s in terms of giddyup. However, I love my SV650. No regrets. The first month or so was a little hairy, but the romance continues a year later. They can take quite a beating, too. Now that I think about it, everyone I know with an SV650 has had it down at some point or another. They're still all on the road, too.

I occasionally dream of getting a ridiculous machine, like the Honda RC51, but I really have no reason to. If I get another bike, it will be something like the VFR800, which is more of a sport tourer.

My next bike is a Street Triple. In an ideal world, I have a Street Triple and a Yamaha WR250X. And a KTM Duke, and a Husqvarna SM630. And then I'll be happy. Maybe a BMW F800GS, too. But definitely a Street Triple.

This helmet makes me look like I belong in Mortal Kombat.

Hello Storm Trooper.

GO GO POWER RANG...eh, cool helmet.

Power Rangers never looked this ninja like.

Razor, have you seen the new Steeve Mcqueen Triumph bike? There is only going t be 1100 bikes made.

I probably can't afford it.

Money in the bank, gear bought, now I just need the actual bike. :lol:

I'm holding out for Moto Java getting something cool in.

I have to retake a driving course long story, nothing to do with me being asian.

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Gonzo the Great?

Fuck yes.

You buy it!? KLR650 is a great choice.

Thinking about it! It's about a grand more than I wanna drop right now. What's your read on that bike?

That bike looks more suited for off-road riding than street riding.