What do you drive?

[The Evil Overlord]

I just replaced the hydraulic clutch system in my pickup truck a week or two ago (1999 Dodge Dakota).  Pressure plate, throw-out bearing, and clutch pad were all good, but the master and/or slave cylinder started leaking internally so although it didn't lose fluid, it wouldn't completely disengage the clutch when the pedal was depressed so sometimes it was impossible to get it into gear without shutting the engine off.  $160 and an hour later I had the part installed myself.  Not a complicated repair, but I just bought the pre-filled pre-bled kit with both cylinders and a fluid reservoir and just replaced the whole thing so I wouldn't have to worry about trying to figure out which cylinder went bad, bleeding the whole system, etc.  Good thing is that the factory cylinders were plastic, but the replacements are cast aluminum with more rigid hydraulic hoses (Feel like they have a metal liner inside the rubber).

The master cylinder was the hardest part because I had to unbolt the vacuum chamber for my brakes, which required a few extensions and swivel sockets to get to the bolts, and slide it forward a few inches so I could wiggle the master cylinder into where it needed to be, then re-bolt it all back in place.

 

Having owned both a manual and an automatic, personally, I prefer a manual.

OMG now I wish I knew you about 8 years ago when I had my Misti Galant, a not correctly calibrated Thrust Bearing kept destroying my clutch plates, (at the time I didn't know this) Scrapped the Car, and have missed it ever sinse

[Wannes]

It's becoming more and more unique. Manual gearboxes are limited to certain performance cars, and lower end cars. Automatic gearboxes these days are extremely fast, and efficient, but there is something to be said when you are driving a manual. It's also a highly debated topic.

 

I work in the automobile business so I know how gooed automatic gearboxes are today but I always thought America hated manual. ;)

[tsupersonic]

I work in the automobile business so I know how gooed automatic gearboxes are today but I always thought America hated manual. ;)

I don't think it's a matter of hate. If everyone in the world had an option, I think 99% of the world's driving population would go with an automatic transmission. It's just easier to operate - pop the car into D (Drive), and go. Doesn't really get much easier than that. 

[TDT]

Peugeot 407 2.0 HDi 136 HP  :wub:  :wub: It's a fantastic car, contrary to some opinions, it's the only car that I feel comfortable in, even after driving for hours. I tried about 15 different car models so far, even 2013-2014 models, but this is still my "weapon of choice". Great performance, great fuel consumption, even at this engine size. Spare parts are a little expensive, but if you know where to look, you can find them much cheaper.

 

EDIT: Wow, this is my 1000th post here  :laugh:

 

[kombolcha]

You chose a manual in the States? Am I getting ancient or is that still something unique?

 

Unfortunately I think it's unique although there have been campaigns for "save the manuals" and I think that's worked a little because I see a lot of Fiat 500's and mini's with manuals. I enjoy every second of it. 

[Gerowen]

Peugeot 407 2.0 HDi 136 HP  :wub:  :wub: It's a fantastic car, contrary to some opinions, it's the only car that I feel comfortable in, even after driving for hours. I tried about 15 different car models so far, even 2013-2014 models, but this is still my "weapon of choice". Great performance, great fuel consumption, even at this engine size. Spare parts are a little expensive, but if you know where to look, you can find them much cheaper.

 

EDIT: Wow, this is my 1000th post here  :laugh:

 

Sharp looking little car, :-)  Congratulations on your 1000th post.

 

Unfortunately I think it's unique although there have been campaigns for "save the manuals" and I think that's worked a little because I see a lot of Fiat 500's and mini's with manuals. I enjoy every second of it. 

 

I bought a used 2009 Ford Focus once that was manual, so they are still being made, they're just not very common.  It only  had 19k miles on it when I got it, so it was practically brand new, and I can't imagine somebody would request a manual from the factory and then sell it 19k miles later when the car was in great shape.  I ended up selling it because I needed something with more cargo room, but that was an outstanding car when we had it.  30-35 mpg city, 50+ highway.  Little 4 cylinder 5 speed manual.  Manual transmissions don't get hot like automatics do, and don't slip.  You're supposed to change transmission fluid/filter about every 25,000 miles in an automatic, depending on which vehicle you drive, how you drive, etc.  With a manual as long as the fluid looks OK and you don't have metal shavings in it, and you're not taking it apart for some other reason, you never really have to change the fluid because it doesn't get hot and break down like it does in an automatic.

 

Had some guys asking me what kind of exhaust I had on my pickup truck to make a 3.9L V-6 sound like it does, so I uploaded a quick video.  It's a Flowmaster exhaust with the last 12 inches or so on both sides cut off and replaced with flared out 3" tapered cut pipes.

 

[abysal]

My two turbos.

 

2012 Cruze 1.4L Eco & 2008 Mazdaspeed 3.

 

[+Anarkii Subscriber²]

2014 Holden Barina RS (AKA Chevrolet Sonic) 







Turbo and ECM tuned ;)

[Wannes]

I don't think it's a matter of hate. If everyone in the world had an option, I think 99% of the world's driving population would go with an automatic transmission. It's just easier to operate - pop the car into D (Drive), and go. Doesn't really get much easier than that. 

 

Can't deny that. 

[cork1958]

She's a beauty! Love it.

Thank you, JHBrown! :)

 

On the topic of manual verse automatic tranny, I'd take a manual any day of the week, normally. Just like the fact it gives you something to do when driving, usually gets better gas mileage also and less maintenance.

[+JHBrown Subscriber¹]

I need to wash this thing! Shes getting really dirty ;)

 

 

 

 

The Lighting Package was a MUST but they only came on the C350's in my area! Sucks really but hey, its still a Mercedes Benz and a first car which I got out the door for $34,600! Considering it has the Multimedia Package, SiriusXM, KEYLESS-GO, wood-burl trim, and Navi (didn't care for this, prefer Sport Plus Package instead), this is at MSRP $41k and invoice $38.5k. I'm rocking out on this lease @ $340 a month for 27 months and 10k miles annually! 21, clean record (knock on wood!) and $120 a month on insurance all inclusive! The residual is $27.5k.

 

The mods I've done:

- Performance-wise: Secondary Cat Delete, Resonator delete, and muffler delete. The Primary Catalytic Converter is leading out via a straight pipe to the stock tip (needed a custom mini Y-pipe to get it to bond, the muffler had a VERY short link to the tip for the dual-exit.) The stock look doesn't create unnecessary attention, still keeps the classiness, and I have yet to find someone who dares rev at a red light hahaa! Plus installing quad-tips and all that jazz on an i4 is kinda silly unless we are talking CLA45 AMG i4.

 

- Aesthetics: Carbon-Fiber wheel caps with the Mercedes star. Front windows 30% tint, rear and windshield 15% and no cop troubles even in the dark. This is a very bright California day @ 18:00 and the sun really got through the windows otherwise it looks like an eased-limo tint. Finally, the slimline license plate frames which are Mercedes OEM. The dealer's frame was some cheap plastic and the front had a totally exposed frame, not clean cut for me..

 

I'm not looking to post videos of the exhaust (not yet at least). I got 575 miles on it, give me til 1200 to break in the engine then we see what happens. :shiftyninja:

You are doing all this on a leased vehicle? Seriously? Other than that, cool car. I test drove one last month and it was petty good. Settled on the E350 instead. Has more refined overall ride.

[Gerowen]

Thank you, JHBrown! :)

 

On the topic of manual verse automatic tranny, I'd take a manual any day of the week, normally. Just like the fact it gives you something to do when driving, usually gets better gas mileage also and less maintenance.

Also, if you drive a Chevy and the ignition switch just decides to shut off on its own, you can throw a manual into neutral and re-start it while you're rolling.  An automatic will not go into Park while it's moving, and the engine will not start if it's not in Park.  That's part of the reason all those people died from the faulty ignition switches I'd say.  I'm not dogging on Chevy, I'm just pointing out that a manual transmission gives you more manual control over how your vehicle operates.

[Gary2MBz]

You are doing all this on a leased vehicle? Seriously? Other than that, cool car. I test drove one last month and it was petty good. Settled on the E350 instead. Has more refined overall ride.

Thank you for the compliment sir. I can vouch that these mods cost me no more than $200 tops. It would be an extra $150 for tinting in Van Nuys but they were gifted to me by my brother.

 

I got this car since as a first car, I've driven my mom's which is a '13 model and my buddy's which is the coupe and it fits my needs as a daily driver pretty nicely. The E350 is a lil high for my budget so this was a better option anyways and its a first car, I'm not gonna totally deck out right away I'll get bored hahaa. My next car is leaning towards a 435i Gran Coupe though since they got rid of the shift knob in the Benz line-up and I'm not totally happy with it personally..

[tsupersonic]

Thank you for the compliment sir. I can vouch that these mods cost me no more than $200 tops. It would be an extra $150 for tinting in Van Nuys but they were gifted to me by my brother.

 

I got this car since as a first car, I've driven my mom's which is a '13 model and my buddy's which is the coupe and it fits my needs as a daily driver pretty nicely. The E350 is a lil high for my budget so this was a better option anyways and its a first car, I'm not gonna totally deck out right away I'll get bored hahaa. My next car is leaning towards a 435i Gran Coupe though since they got rid of the shift knob in the Benz line-up and I'm not totally happy with it personally..

Nice car. I was contemplating the C, but after having a C300 4MATIC as a loaner, I was not that impressed with performance (also drove the C350). However, the next gen. C class looks interesting. Love the interior (minus the COMAND screen), and exterior. The exterior styling is basically an S class that was shrunk into C class proportions. If you do get a 435i GC, I can definitely vouch for its performance. I have a 335i, which has the same N55 motor. Pair that with a ZF8, and it's pretty fun. The 435i GC looks amazing - that's the car I would've bought had it been announced/available when I was car shopping.

 

I'm looking at getting back into an AMG, and I can't wait for the new 'C63' AMG. If it's not up to my spec, there's always the M4 which is also very drool worthy.  :woot:

[kombolcha]

Sharp looking little car, :-)  Congratulations on your 1000th post.

 

 

I bought a used 2009 Ford Focus once that was manual, so they are still being made, they're just not very common.  It only  had 19k miles on it when I got it, so it was practically brand new, and I can't imagine somebody would request a manual from the factory and then sell it 19k miles later when the car was in great shape.  I ended up selling it because I needed something with more cargo room, but that was an outstanding car when we had it.  30-35 mpg city, 50+ highway.  Little 4 cylinder 5 speed manual.  Manual transmissions don't get hot like automatics do, and don't slip.  You're supposed to change transmission fluid/filter about every 25,000 miles in an automatic, depending on which vehicle you drive, how you drive, etc.  With a manual as long as the fluid looks OK and you don't have metal shavings in it, and you're not taking it apart for some other reason, you never really have to change the fluid because it doesn't get hot and break down like it does in an automatic.

 

Had some guys asking me what kind of exhaust I had on my pickup truck to make a 3.9L V-6 sound like it does, so I uploaded a quick video.  It's a Flowmaster exhaust with the last 12 inches or so on both sides cut off and replaced with flared out 3" tapered cut pipes.

 

 

 

The trend I see if that manual is available in low-end / value model cars then, nothing really in the middle as far as choice and then at the top range cars you will find manuals. It was really frustrating me that I couldn't get something in the "middle" with a manual. 

 

I respect that you can customize a Cruze with a manual and the only middle car I can think of with a manual is the Mazda 6, but even then in the beginning the manual was only offered on the base model and was not until later after the release that the manual was available in the middle package, but still not available in the top ranger. Buick did the same thing where the manual was available in several trims, then for 2014 only available in the GS. 

In the end I couldn't find that $25K manual car although the Mazda 6 was closest to keep and customize over the years... So I did the only logical thing and leased an Audi haha I love it, but will part ways in the near future and go back to my 86 LandCruiser turbo diesel. Also, manual :D

[T3X4S]

Thank you for the compliment sir. I can vouch that these mods cost me no more than $200 tops. It would be an extra $150 for tinting in Van Nuys but they were gifted to me by my brother.

 

I got this car since as a first car, I've driven my mom's which is a '13 model and my buddy's which is the coupe and it fits my needs as a daily driver pretty nicely. The E350 is a lil high for my budget so this was a better option anyways and its a first car, I'm not gonna totally deck out right away I'll get bored hahaa. My next car is leaning towards a 435i Gran Coupe though since they got rid of the shift knob in the Benz line-up and I'm not totally happy with it personally..

Didnt the guys @ TopGear say that these budget cars would soil the name of Mercedes ?  That they didnt deserve the 3-pointed star ?

If it wasnt Top Gear, it was something I saw more than once online - they were saying if you absolutely positively feel you need to tell everyone you drive a Mercedes, and have to get the bottom of the barrel models - you dont need a Mercedes.

Personally, I like the LED lights & think it is a cool little car even if it is drastically underpowered.

[adrynalyne]

Also, if you drive a Chevy and the ignition switch just decides to shut off on its own, you can throw a manual into neutral and re-start it while you're rolling.  An automatic will not go into Park while it's moving, and the engine will not start if it's not in Park.  That's part of the reason all those people died from the faulty ignition switches I'd say.  I'm not dogging on Chevy, I'm just pointing out that a manual transmission gives you more manual control over how your vehicle operates.

Quite a few automagics start in neutral...

[Sonne]

1991 BMW 318is

 

-M42, Cams, Headers, Chipped

-Cat Back Exhaust

-Bilstein Sport Shocks/Struts & Eibach Springs

-E36 Steering Rack w\steering shaft guibo delete

-Schmidt TH Line wheels w\ 195/50/15 rubber (tiny bit of stretch)

 

[tsupersonic]

1991 BMW 318is

 

-M42, Cams, Headers, Chipped

-Cat Back Exhaust

-Bilstein Sport Shocks/Struts & Eibach Springs

-E36 Steering Rack w\steering shaft guibo delete

-Schmidt TH Line wheels w\ 195/50/15 rubber (tiny bit of stretch)

 

 

Nice, I like your car very much! :)

 

Didnt the guys @ TopGear say that these budget cars would soil the name of Mercedes ?  That they didnt deserve the 3-pointed star ?

If it wasnt Top Gear, it was something I saw more than once online - they were saying if you absolutely positively feel you need to tell everyone you drive a Mercedes, and have to get the bottom of the barrel models - you dont need a Mercedes.

Personally, I like the LED lights & think it is a cool little car even if it is drastically underpowered.

The CLA has a huge price differential. Sure, it may "start" at $30k (good luck finding a base $30k car), but if you get the top of the line CLA 45 AMG with options, it gets to be in the low 70's!  :o That to me is way too expensive for a "baby" Benz. I'd rather have a C63 at that point.

 

The CLA and A3 to me are just not worth it - you're paying for the brand image. However, BMW has done something nice with the M235i (and upcoming M2). This to me has the most appeal for an entry level car- small, fun, and an actual driver's car. It is somewhat expensive though. 

[Sonne]

Nice, I like your car very much! :)

 

Thank you, always nice to find a fellow German auto aficionado 

[T3X4S]

I agree on the new BMW.  The M2-235i  shows to be a little performer.  I swore never to buy a BMW after my mother's 850 was such a pile of junk.  Most of what I know about nicer cars comes from driving/riding in what my parent's had.  Sure I can read an article, watch a vid, but as far as really knowing the car, the subtle things that only owners know about - it is limited to a few brands.  Since they only owned 1 BMW - I would look again - I had a friend who was a mgr of a car wash & said he rarely saw a BMW that didnt have some problem or the Check Engine Light -  My father tended to get the same car(s) over and over again - always a 2 year lease -  but every once in a while he would come home with something different,

 

[Sonne]

I'm on my third bimmer toy (have also had two MB's, 560SEC & 500S) and in my opinion the reliability of BMW motors is bar none, mind you this is pre the current turbo era. One thing I will say though is that 90's bimmers were a little plagued with electrical gremlins that would show up as CEL's, this has nothing to do with the motors because the M60 and M70 were both bullet proof and far better anything MB was pushing in the 90's.  

 

You parents should have known that buying a German V12 touring was going to be costly and if they did a little research before dropping the hammer they probably should have stuck with the proven M60 in the 840.

[T3X4S]

I'm on my third bimmer toy (have also had two MB's, 560SEC & 500S) and in my opinion the reliability of BMW motors is bar none, mind you this is pre the current turbo era. One thing I will say though is that 90's bimmers were a little plagued with electrical gremlins that would show up as CEL's, this has nothing to do with the motors because the M60 and M70 were both bullet proof and far better anything MB was pushing in the 90's.  

 

You parents should have known that buying a German V12 touring was going to be costly and if they did a little research before dropping the hammer they probably should have stuck with the proven M60 in the 840.

They dont research things like that - saw one, bought it. - and it wasnt the cost of the repairs - it was the fact there were so many.  I do find your comments interesting though - I was watching MegaFactories, or it was "how it was made" and they were talking to the design chief of BMW & even he commented how they dont have the reliability of some of their competitors but people like the cars regardless.... maybe he was talking about cars in the past & I didnt hear that part. - do you buy new or used ?

I will be getting rid of my G37 in a few months because I will be out of the country for a year.  But when I return, I will consider an M3/M4r.  I have a weekend car now but it is a little too violent as a daily driver & I want to keep the mileage low - so I will need something a little more practical.  My fiance says I look funny in a car and need a truck - so there is always that :D

 

[Hardcore Til I Die]

Not sure if I've already posted this but I drive a 14 plate Dacia Duster now, love it :D 

 

My old car was a Ford Ka so my new car is slightly bigger! 

[Denis W. Veteran]

Slight topic edit: relaxed the image embedding rules a bit, since the OP rules are 9 years out of date. Feel free to post higher res images if you wish but keep the file size reasonable.

 

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First car, have had it for three weeks. 2014 Mazda3 GS Sport (equivalent to s in the US?)