Let's talk about cars
Jul 7th 2015, 3:32 pm
#4081
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: Apex, NC
Posts: 419
Re: Let's talk about cars
Easier said than done 
I hope I can do better than the tires on my last car (Honda S2000) where I could usually only manage about 8k miles on a set of rears. As it had different size wheels between the front and the back there was no rotating. I used to get through 2 sets of rears to every set of fronts. Likewise the corvette also has different sizes between the front and the back. So far it looks like the rears are going to do better than the S2000's thank god.
I hope I can do better than the tires on my last car (Honda S2000) where I could usually only manage about 8k miles on a set of rears. As it had different size wheels between the front and the back there was no rotating. I used to get through 2 sets of rears to every set of fronts. Likewise the corvette also has different sizes between the front and the back. So far it looks like the rears are going to do better than the S2000's thank god.
Jul 7th 2015, 3:35 pm
#4082
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: Apex, NC
Posts: 419
Re: Let's talk about cars
I owned a 2007 Corvette convertible with manual shift, of course. It was a fantastic car and surprised me by returning 26 mpg on the highway. My wife and I drove it a thousand miles north to Prince Edward Island that summer and enjoyed the drive immensely. For its time it was advanced, offering magnetically-controlled suspension and heads-up display.
One problem was the heavy clutch. I got stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic for an hour on the Sure-Kill Expressway in Philadelphia during rush hour. By the time I made it to the Turnpike my left thigh was on fire. (Well, I was at the time a few years past the median owner demographic) Likewise, returning from PEI we were in stop-and-go traffic on a highway leading to the George Washington Bridge. We had to swap driving so that my left thigh rather than hers would pay the price.
One other annoyance was - and still is - that when starting out from a light, the shifter goes from 1st gear to 4th, second is locked out. They do that to eke out enough mileage to avoid the gas-guzzler tax. There are after-market chips to defeat it, but the dealer wouldn't install one for mine. In 2009 I traded it on a Porsche Carrera 4S Cabriolet, that didn't impress me as much as the Corvette.
One problem was the heavy clutch. I got stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic for an hour on the Sure-Kill Expressway in Philadelphia during rush hour. By the time I made it to the Turnpike my left thigh was on fire. (Well, I was at the time a few years past the median owner demographic) Likewise, returning from PEI we were in stop-and-go traffic on a highway leading to the George Washington Bridge. We had to swap driving so that my left thigh rather than hers would pay the price.
One other annoyance was - and still is - that when starting out from a light, the shifter goes from 1st gear to 4th, second is locked out. They do that to eke out enough mileage to avoid the gas-guzzler tax. There are after-market chips to defeat it, but the dealer wouldn't install one for mine. In 2009 I traded it on a Porsche Carrera 4S Cabriolet, that didn't impress me as much as the Corvette.
On the 1-4 lockout. It annoyed me until I discovered all I needed to do was go over 21mph in first to avoid.
Jul 7th 2015, 3:37 pm
#4083
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,446
Jul 7th 2015, 3:58 pm
#4085
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2013
Location: Lehigh Valley, PA USA
Posts: 1,206
Re: Let's talk about cars
Went to the dealer yesterday to make enquiry - they have no product to show, they have no brochures, they don't know when the 2016s will be in, the website's not helpful...
So far, my short-list replacement for the 2011 M-3 convertible (Spring 2016) is an M-4 convertible, a Stingray Convertible, or perhaps a Jaguar coupe. Ideas?
Last edited by FlaviusAetius; Jul 7th 2015 at 4:00 pm.
Jul 7th 2015, 4:08 pm
#4086
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: Apex, NC
Posts: 419
Re: Let's talk about cars
Right, I used to wind it up too, unless there was a Hundai or Saturn ahead. The clutch may seem light, until you're tied up in traffic for an hour or more and have to do hundreds and hundreds of clutch shifts. I haven't driven a 2015, so can't tell.
Went to the dealer yesterday to make enquiry - they have no product to show, they have no brochures, they don't know when the 2016s will be in, the website's not helpful...
So far, my short-list replacement for the 2011 M-3 convertible (Spring 2016) is an M-4 convertible, a Stingray Convertible, or perhaps a Jaguar coupe. Ideas?
Went to the dealer yesterday to make enquiry - they have no product to show, they have no brochures, they don't know when the 2016s will be in, the website's not helpful...
So far, my short-list replacement for the 2011 M-3 convertible (Spring 2016) is an M-4 convertible, a Stingray Convertible, or perhaps a Jaguar coupe. Ideas?
Jul 7th 2015, 4:51 pm
#4088
The worse half of Weeze
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Back in TX
Posts: 3,231
Re: Let's talk about cars
Right, I used to wind it up too, unless there was a Hundai or Saturn ahead. The clutch may seem light, until you're tied up in traffic for an hour or more and have to do hundreds and hundreds of clutch shifts. I haven't driven a 2015, so can't tell.
Went to the dealer yesterday to make enquiry - they have no product to show, they have no brochures, they don't know when the 2016s will be in, the website's not helpful...
So far, my short-list replacement for the 2011 M-3 convertible (Spring 2016) is an M-4 convertible, a Stingray Convertible, or perhaps a Jaguar coupe. Ideas?
Went to the dealer yesterday to make enquiry - they have no product to show, they have no brochures, they don't know when the 2016s will be in, the website's not helpful...
So far, my short-list replacement for the 2011 M-3 convertible (Spring 2016) is an M-4 convertible, a Stingray Convertible, or perhaps a Jaguar coupe. Ideas?
Jul 17th 2015, 11:30 pm
#4091
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Let's talk about cars
Which car burns best on freeway caught in a brush fire?
Cars in Flames as Brush Fire Jumps 15 Freeway in Cajon Pass | NBC 7 San Diego
Crazy video, a brush fire in California jumps the freeway I-15, and sets numerous cars on fire and a boat.
Cars in Flames as Brush Fire Jumps 15 Freeway in Cajon Pass | NBC 7 San Diego
Crazy video, a brush fire in California jumps the freeway I-15, and sets numerous cars on fire and a boat.
Jul 18th 2015, 2:00 am
#4093
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 0
Re: Let's talk about cars
We looked at this today
Attachment 118728
Attachment 118729
we only looked but I have a feeling the Harley will be put up for sale soon...
Attachment 118728
Attachment 118729
we only looked but I have a feeling the Harley will be put up for sale soon...
There is a very happy man in the house tonight
Jul 18th 2015, 5:09 am
#4094
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Monterey, CA
Posts: 2,554
Re: Let's talk about cars
Also got to take a Tesla Model S for a short spin. Cool and funky as anything, especially as the car wakes up as you get in. It is basically a computer on wheels. However, the complete lack of engine noise would be a complete no no for me, even if I could afford one.
Jul 18th 2015, 5:36 am
#4095
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 10,678
Re: Let's talk about cars
Also got to take a Tesla Model S for a short spin. Cool and funky as anything, especially as the car wakes up as you get in. It is basically a computer on wheels. However, the complete lack of engine noise would be a complete no no for me, even if I could afford one.