OT: buying cars

[clare]

The "duke" predates the Vega by almost 10 years - and survived it by several decades. Tough little bugger -- used in marine apps too.

[notbob]

;)

Hard to argue that point. At least I wasn't driving around in my own coffin.

nb

[bob_villa]

What you say makes logical sense...but still opinion/speculation. It doesn't mean it applies in the real world. Temperature/texture of driving media has a large impact on traction. It's difficult to get consistent data.

[Kurt Ullman]

Some areas around here you get rear ended if you aren't at least 3-4 through the red light. I have found that the guy behind me getting pissed enough to honk at me is a pretty indicator that the coast will be clear.

[sms]

I recall my stepfather deciding between a Vega and a Beetle. He chose the Vega. It lasted only about two years before rusting out. I recall reading a review on the Vega many years later that insisted that the body was made of compressed rust.

[Kurt Ullman]

My Chevette lasted over 23 years before my b-i-l decided not to change or check the oil and blew up the engine. My heel went through the floorboard after about 5 years but some scrap sheet metal, a few screws and some epoxy glue and I was good to go for another 18 years.

[Ed Pawlowski]

It works in practice. I've owned a Corvair and two Karmen Ghias and all were excellent in snow. Could easily pass a 4WD Jeep. Better than any car I've owned since.

[clare]

Just picked up a set of Hakkepeliitita R2 SUVsnows for the Ranger for next year. A hard tire to beat in ice and snow - even with studded tires. The Haks were THE tire in winter rallying back in the day.

[clare]

The tracker was hardly a CAR. It was a half scale jeep CJ. The Geo Metro was the Suzuki Swift - still sold in India as the Maruti Swift.. They were not a bad car if you could keep the front suspension from rotting off up here in the land of ice and salt.

[clare]

It only has 2 seats unless you count the shelf in the back provided for carrying legless pygmies.

[clare]

Professional race drivers steer nore with the throttle than with the steering wheel too. Nothing like making a hard right turn with the wheel cranked hard to the left, and the rtight foot burried. That driving style doesn't work worth a crap with front wheel drive!!!

[clare]

The windsheilds on the darn things leaked, and a teaspoon of water on the fuse panel a few times was all it took to turn them into lawn ornaments.

[Ron]

What is this guy sitting on at the 6:39 mark?

[Muggles]

Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure it had a water leak that had something to do with the electrical issue.

[Ron]

IIRC, they had weep holes in the pinchweld on each lower corner. The holes would get dirt in them which would cause water to buildup and spill into the car. We (I was in the glass business) would seal between the gasket and the body on the sides and top and unplug the weep holes from underneath with a piece of wire.

[clare]

Get out on the lake with a bunch of ice racers and the opinion/speculation goes "bye-bye" Get out winter rallying, and the opinion/speculation goes bye-bye just as quick.

[clare]

911's are still great ice racers and winter rallye cars.

[clare]

They virtually all did, eventually - unless they were in Arizona or southern Cali.

[Tony Hwang]

I don't think there is no FWD racing vehicle.

[rbowman]

I had a set studded Hakkapeliittas and really liked them. One thing the Finns know about is icy roads. I couldn't find any the last time around. Nokian (not Nokia) even makes studded bicycle tires for the hardcore.