well heres an odd discussion. after meeting some people here who love to geek about cars. I thought i would see who else is a gearhead who might have a feel for his/her automobile.

we assign personality and sometimes a sort of mentality to our vehicles and dress them to impress the opposite sex.
and in some instances grieve when they leave our garages we sometimes mourn that loss like the departure of an old lover.

i know im not the only old motorhead here. lets share our experiences!

cheers
Nigel.

Hmm, I'm definitely certifiable when it comes to this category. I really hit full stride into the addiction about 6 years ago which coincidentally is about the same time I started having enough disposable income to be dangerous!

My current car is nicknamed the Red Mongoose. Unfortunately the car seems to be finicky about eating engines so I've put a lot more time and money into it than I should have, but it's been fun and even moreso now that I've calmed my addiction a bit so my family gets time with me too. Here's a recent picture of it at the paint shop:


This is what the car looked like a year ago:


There's a lot more to the car than just what's shown, especially in the pain department, but I'm trying to save the full details for a car show next Spring.

wow buck! you dont mess around. like the leather interior too. sweet project!

best
Nigel.

Funny enough, the interior is the most stock area in the whole car. I've only added a set of gauge pods, some sill plates, and a 4 point harness setup in there.

quote:

especially in the pain department

I know it has been HUGE in the "pain" department...but I'm guessing you meant "paint"

Yes, I second the note of you slowing down a bit to spend some time with us!! I really do like the new paint job though (mummms the word)

ok. so time for another car is quickly approaching, and aside from looking for another classic, im gonna have to replace my honda element with something recent. so with all things in mind, ive come to the following choices.

a) the 350z
b) mini cooper john cooper works edition.
c) subaru WRX

anyone have thoughts to share on these? anyone owned one? do share.

best!
Nigel.

Definitely a shotgun pattern to picking cars there. It really depends on what you're after in regards to fun to drive and space needed. My first vote for fun to drive and economy would be the Mini. Second vote goes to the WRX for fun to drive and decent space. Last would be the 350Z. The styling is semi-cool, but in test driving the G35 coupe (sister to the Z) I didn't really like it very much. It just seemed like more of a boat and a show car rather than a fun to drive car.

Full-blown Midlife crisis, choose a) the 350z

Manageable Midlife crisis, choose b) mini cooper john cooper works edition.

Mild Midlife crisis and you want your wife and family to think you're cool, pick c) subaru WRX

Dodge Caliber SRT4. Those things are frakkin sweet for the Neon replacement. Can get em for right around 20K too.

~Ranger

I love my Subaru Impreza Sport hatchback

Nissan Micra.
Coolest car ever.

...


Why is everybody sniggering?

what, snowflake, no nissan figaro?

im off to go send feelers at the mini dealer this weekend. ive driven the S before and liked it a lot. although its a tight fit for a big guy like me. its a fun car.

wife states i should get a car with room for our dogs, i state. thats why you drive a caravan dear. (our dogs weigh in at @170lbs each full grown, the same logic that caused me to buy the element)

hehe
mid life crisis. hmm i thought thats what corvettes and porsches were for.

lol
cheers
Nigel

I love Acuras. Have a TSX. Asian wouldn't let me sell my kidney to get an RL

The 350Z looks nice. A guy down the street from me has the convertible version. I like Nissan/Infiniti's exterior styling alot, and their interiors are getting better. If I were going with Nissan products, I would prefer the new G35, however.

I recall a review of the WRX (I think in Car and Driver) that its ride was so hard that its was "geared for the S&M set".

yeah , ive heard like about the WRX, stiff ride, low mileage, and in some cases the mid height wing, cuts off view of cars behind you, right where a police cars light bar resides lol.

something i think drivers need to be able to see! lol

still the attractiveness of the AWD platform with suspension and horsepower, combined with a rally heritage makes the wrx a very tempting auto. esppecially if you enjoy performance.

on another note, the build your own part of the mini website is fun, but there seems to be a huge amount of options etc that wont be avail till 03/07 . bummer that! fun web page.


best
D.