Intrepidation

Take a shot of Wasabi

Nice rides, welcome to C&G!

So yesterday Sixty8 and I took his Banana boat on a trip to the toy store...er...junkyard. He was in search of parts for it and I was in search of a headlight for the T&C...plus any other goodies that caught my eye for one of the other cars. We spend from 11 until 1 or so there, he had better luck than I though. They didn't have a single first gen Caravan. Although We did see a few interesting things there. There was a triple burgundy Cadillac 1984 Fleetwood Brougham (I think that's what it was) that was in sitting amidst the rows of other Caddies and Buicks stacked on top of each other with nothing on it (yet) The vinyl top was gone and so was the grill but the rest of the body was in great shape. Paint was still very good, there was no rust where the top had been, no frame or body rut that we could see, the engine had no leaking fluids that we could see and it was all there. The interior was all there save a few trim pieces too. But the real kicker was that the car started right up and ran very nicely. It's not like when you come across a car that starts but sounds ready to die, it ran very well. The writing on the window said the engine and transmission were good. It was such a shame that someone would junk a perfectly good car. After he got his parts and we weren't able to find any vans, I grabbed a few things for the Prizm (climate control knobs, armrest, a coin holder) and then we grabbed a bite to eat. By then he had to head back home but suggested I try another junkyard not far from us. So I took my Intrepid there and sure enough located a downer Caravan...the only one there. Unfortunately they were closing soon so I only had time to grab a center console bezel to replace the one that was broken when the van was broken into. I pay for it and head to my car, and this is where it gets interesting (and the main point of this thread). I pop the trunk of my car and put my tools and the part in the car. There's a guy standing next to a black early `92 or so Camry. As I close my trunk the following conversation begins: Him: Those Integras are pretty unreliable. Me: It's not an Integra, it's an Intrepid Him: Oh, well they're pretty much the same Dodge anyway Me: No, Integras were mad e by Honda Him: Oh, well anyway you should get rid of that thing as soon as possible because they are full of problems Me: No way, I love my car and it's been problem free since I bought it. Him: You know my car is probably worth more than used. It's a worth $5,500 Me: (thinking to myself, I highly doubt that, and looking it up later the average one is worth only 2,200) That would have to be for a mint, low mileage example...I'd never pay that kind of money for one of those. Him: Oh, well...I only paid $800 for mine, I got it at an auction. Me: That's were my car came from, I paid $2,100 for it. Him: You know Mercury Mystiques? Me: Yeah Him: They're kind of like your car, I knew this lady who had one and the timing chain broke and damaged a pulley thing that ruined her engine. Me: It was probably an interference engine. My car uses timing changes, so unlike the timing belts in your Camry and other Hondas and Toyotas which have to be replaced every 50,000 miles and cost $500 - $1000 each time, timing chains only need to be replaced every 150,000-200,000 miles. Him: Oh...well Toyotas and Hondas go for a long time, this has 220,000 miles on it. Me: (I've gotten in my car by now and started the engine up with the door open) My car has 190,679 original miles on it, which includes the engine and transmission. I know someone with a 1990 Suburban that has 230,000 original miles on it. I also have a Dodge Shadow with 213,000 miles on it. It'll probably rust away before it stops running. Him: (changing subject). ...yeah rust is bad here with all of the snow and salt and stuff. Me: Yeah, it's important to keep your car clean to keep rust from spreading Him: Yeah that's what I do...Anyway...I still think Toyotas and Hondas are more reliable Me: I haven't had a single problem with my cars ince I've owned it besides a gasket to the fuel pump. Meanwhile, the Toyota I have at home has had the transmission replaced because it lost 3rd and 4th gear, the master and slave cylinders had to be replaced, the timing belt had to be replaced, and I've had to replace half of the interior because so many stupid parts have broken on it. Him: (shocked) Really? Me: Yeah, I've had to replace the rear view mirror because the plastic internals broke, the window regulator... Him: I had to replace mine too, cost me $40 and I had to drill holes to get it out (it must have been welded) Me: Luckily mine was bolted on so it only too an hour to replace after I bought one for $20. Anyway, I've also had to replace the inside driver's door handle once, the outside twice, and the rear exterior handle once. Their made out of such cheap, $h!ty plastic. I see so many Toyotas with broken door handles (to my delight as I'm saying this I notice his driver's door handle is broken)...just like yours! Him: Oh, well, uh...it was my fault...I pull the handle kind of hard. Your handles are made out of plastic too... Me: Yes but mine have ever broken, nor and of my Chryslers for that matter. Him: (he's run out of ammo at this point). Well, I've got to get going. Nice talking to you though. Have a nice day. Me: You too. (I close the door and drive away with a smile on my face). That was the first encounter like that I've had with a random person.

j00 cannot get rid of this thread so easily...

{(OMFG: "I8A -----> "PB+J FTW" <---- QFT!" <---- LOL + BBQ = LMAO + TNT = WTF OH T3H NOES!!! <---WOW!! LAWLZ!!1! IIRC UR TEH L0SR1!! JK BUT RLY. ****ROFLCOPTER!!1****)<----- GTFO!!!!}<----IDC!!1 STFU!!!11!! AT&T 0WNZ & I 0WNZ AT&T!!1! I IZ TEH 0WNZ0SAURUS R3X FTMFW!!!11!1!!11!!!!!!1! <---- LOLZ JOO NOOBZ1!!1 MCI PWNZ AT&T & I PWNZ MCI LMAO!!1 K? THNKZ BIE TTYL<-----RU4MF R3ALZ?!111!!! UR M0M OWNZ MCI & I PWNZ URZ M0M [MY GF & BFFE!!!1!!!!]. UR MY S0N!!?!?1??! N00B OMGZ. U R NOT TEH L33T3ST. T!GHT WH1P$ FTL!!!!!1!!1!11<---B1TCH I M T3H L33T3ST & UR M0M OWNZ3D BIE SATTY 3V3RY NITE LOLZ!!11 UR HZ SON NUT MAH SON!!11 I HAZ NOES SONZ!!1

If EPII is no doubt better than EPI than it certainly wouldn't hurt the Malibu's glow. Plus if they redesign it in 3 years there's little chance of sales declining, and if it's better than the current Malibu nothing but good things should result.

{(OMFG: "I8A -----> "PB+J FTW" <---- QFT!" <---- LOL + BBQ = LMAO + TNT = WTF OH T3H NOES!!! <---WOW!! LAWLZ!!1! IIRC UR TEH L0SR1!! JK BUT RLY. ****ROFLCOPTER!!1****)<----- GTFO!!!!}<----IDC!!1 STFU!!!11!! AT&T 0WNZ & I 0WNZ AT&T!!1! I IZ TEH 0WNZ0SAURUS R3X FTMFW!!!11!1!!11!!!!!!1! <---- LOLZ JOO NOOBZ1!!1 MCI PWNZ AT&T & I PWNZ MCI LMAO!!1 K? THNKZ BIE TTYL

OMFG: ""PB+J FTW" <---- QFT!" <---- LOL + BBQ = LMAO + TNT = WTF OH T3H NOES!!! I WINZ PLZ GIVZ PRIZ K?

I lawled a bit.

Good thing I got to see the Buick when I did! Too bad I forgot to get pictures.The Suburban is super clean. Congrats on getting the Banana Boat back...now don't go selling it ina month again.

My friend's sister bought a band new TL...handsome car really...but within the first week of ownership the transmission had to be replaced. At least it was under warranty.

Good perhaps, but very bland....I think if the Verve sedan makes it to production with little changes it will be the best looking small sedan on the market.

There isn't even a poll with options, this thread is useless.

The Kuga's interior may not be revolutionary, but it does have an upscale feel that vaguely reminds me of the Passat. What really sets it apart from Ford's NA products is the superior quality of the interiors.

I hope our version is called Verve, I like that name. It looks fantastic. I hope the guys at Ford open their eyes and give us the hatch and the sedan (which looked very good as well). It better look this good for us and not dumbed down...also and if it does I hope future Ford cars look more like this. Interior looks great too.

I think the XLR needs some kind of defined purposed. It's a halo car sure, but it doesn't handle as well as the Corvette it's based on, the interior isn't that great, It needs to start making a name for itself, which means more than just being an edgy Corvette sans the all-out performance.

So? a Neon SRT-4 can own an Acura RSX Type S. Most Acuras are overrated, especially the Type-S or R or F (oops, that's Lexus), and especially when it come to performance.

hilarious

I liken the RL refresh to:

Where can I get a car for $5700 Nothie?

All Sixty8 needs apparently is heat.

Rear bumper design looks the same.