General Car Conversation 2024 - part 1
#2536
Lee Iacocca famously said in those commercials back in the 80s “If you can find a better car! Buy it!” Um okay, yes I will!
#2537
Lexus Champion
However the high end cars back then were epic, W126 for example.
#2538
Lexus Test Driver
We had a variety of K cars in our fleet where I worked, and they were indeed terrible. Our fleet manager only ought them for about 1 1/2 model years before getting rid of them. They were nothing but problems with major mechanical failures. I had a Dodge 600 for a year or so before it went away.
I must've seen a million of them driving around.
Slight exaggeration but they were everywhere spawning like orcs. Haha
#2539
I was born in 1994. So I haven’t seen very many in my life. Much better cars around in the 80s the Accord, Camry, Mazda 626……
#2540
Lead Lap
We had a variety of K cars in our fleet where I worked, and they were indeed terrible. Our fleet manager only ought them for about 1 1/2 model years before getting rid of them. They were nothing but problems with major mechanical failures. I had a Dodge 600 for a year or so before it went away.
For fleets, I worked for a rental car company in the 90s. Mostly bad cars, but the 1993 Cavaliers were the worst. If people were abusive or just jerks, I would punish them with a Cavalier. It would be there with a Corolla or two. Sorry, sir, but those cars are both reserved. They weren’t. We actually didn’t hold cars even if they were reserved, which was lame and led to some understandably frustrated customers. There’s a Seinfeld episode with precisely this scenario. It’s funny because it’s true.
#2541
Super Moderator
Thread Starter
That's hilarious. Oddly enough though, I had a friend back in the day that had a Cavalier coupe (think his was a '94) that he took to something like 270k. Just standard maintenance, plus some of the expected stuff like starter/alternator, belts, muffler, etc over the years. Seemed a miracle at the time for a GM product.
#2542
Lexus Champion
My buddy always preferred that we took my ‘72 Fiat 124 sedan than the K car. The Fiat was more reliable, believe it or don’t lol.
For fleets, I worked for a rental car company in the 90s. Mostly bad cars, but the 1993 Cavaliers were the worst. If people were abusive or just jerks, I would punish them with a Cavalier. It would be there with a Corolla or two. Sorry, sir, but those cars are both reserved. They weren’t. We actually didn’t hold cars even if they were reserved, which was lame and led to some understandably frustrated customers. There’s a Seinfeld episode with precisely this scenario. It’s funny because it’s true.
For fleets, I worked for a rental car company in the 90s. Mostly bad cars, but the 1993 Cavaliers were the worst. If people were abusive or just jerks, I would punish them with a Cavalier. It would be there with a Corolla or two. Sorry, sir, but those cars are both reserved. They weren’t. We actually didn’t hold cars even if they were reserved, which was lame and led to some understandably frustrated customers. There’s a Seinfeld episode with precisely this scenario. It’s funny because it’s true.
#2544
for fleets, i worked for a rental car company in the 90s. Mostly bad cars, but the 1993 cavaliers were the worst. If people were abusive or just jerks, i would punish them with a cavalier. It would be there with a corolla or two. Sorry, sir, but those cars are both reserved. They weren’t. We actually didn’t hold cars even if they were reserved, which was lame and led to some understandably frustrated customers. There’s a seinfeld episode with precisely this scenario. It’s funny because it’s true.
#2545
Lexus Fanatic
For fleets, I worked for a rental car company in the 90s. Mostly bad cars, but the 1993 Cavaliers were the worst. If people were abusive or just jerks, I would punish them with a Cavalier. It would be there with a Corolla or two. Sorry, sir, but those cars are both reserved. They weren’t. We actually didn’t hold cars even if they were reserved, which was lame and led to some understandably frustrated customers. There’s a Seinfeld episode with precisely this scenario. It’s funny because it’s true.
If this is the Seinfeld video you are refering to, I did a CL thread on it some time ago (can't remember if it was in Car Chat or Clubhouse).but I'll repost it here............
#2546
Lexus Test Driver
the quality of that era was still pretty good on the germany built cars, and the C55 is actually a surprisingly simple machine as far as no active suspension, or really any other electronic or mechanical trickery... just a C-class with a very solid (just comically big) engine and transmission, the only real "AMG" extra cost would be the extra fuel and brake parts can get a tad pricey, but a set of pads will last a LONG time under casual driving
i'd say don't bother though since the speed won't be impressive now that you have the IS 500! from a collector standpoint though i can honestly imagine clean examples of those early 00s AMGs becoming increasingly sought after, people see what's going on now with mercedes and realize what a special time it was to have those pretty cars available with such potent yet stout powertrains
#2547
Lexus Test Driver
i'm scrolling up seeing everyone trash the 'K car', and thinking what do people have against the Kei car?! how can someone dislike the Autozam AZ-1, Honda Beat, or Suzuki Cappuccino... i had no idea we already had a 'K car' produced by one of our automakers lmao
yea that thing looks terrible, i'm sad i kept scrolling up
yea that thing looks terrible, i'm sad i kept scrolling up
#2548
Lexus Champion
i'm scrolling up seeing everyone trash the 'K car', and thinking what do people have against the Kei car?! how can someone dislike the Autozam AZ-1, Honda Beat, or Suzuki Cappuccino... i had no idea we already had a 'K car' produced by one of our automakers lmao
yea that thing looks terrible, i'm sad i kept scrolling up
yea that thing looks terrible, i'm sad i kept scrolling up
Oh great fuel economy too, low 30s not that it matters much when it felt like death is near at any speed over 40
#2549
Lead Lap
If this is the Seinfeld video you are refering to, I did a CL thread on it some time ago (can't remember if it was in Car Chat or Clubhouse).but I'll repost it here............
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2GmGSNvaM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2GmGSNvaM
Yes, that’s the one. We also did the fake talk with the manager.
#2550
Lexus Test Driver
Now just imagine a little ****box like that weighing under 2100lb with a 400hp engine and manual trans. It feels like death but damn it's fast, my mentor had one like that and it's probably the scariest thing I've been in. You truly felt like you were in a tin can with uncontrolled power!
Oh great fuel economy too, low 30s not that it matters much when it felt like death is near at any speed over 40
Oh great fuel economy too, low 30s not that it matters much when it felt like death is near at any speed over 40
what was done to the engine? was it a swap? sounds like it'd constantly be smoking the front tires lmao