by "LJ909" (lj909)
Published 11/16/2017 at 18:27
by "LJ909" (lj909)
Published 11/16/2017 at 18:27
No Tags
STARS: 1
Just off the top of my head, 2: first, the above pictured CX-3. Its stupid. No bigger and no taller than a 3 hatch. But its handsome to me, especially in Grand Touring trim like the one above. I would reluctantly consider buying one. And:
5 Series GT. Dont ask me why. I just..do. Even knowing a 3 Series wagon would be better.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
11/16/2017 at 18:42, STARS: 2
The car was a great idea but absolutely failed to do what makes smart a successful global business model. People aren’t going to buy a small car that costs as much as a bigger car unless you give them a reason to. Even worse, the smallest car in the lineup should have the lowest price. The iQ was nearly $2k more than a similarly-equipped Yaris.
But I can’t help but respect Toyota’s attempt. It did quite a few things much better than the equivalent smart could do and even did a few things a smart couldn’t even do.
"LJ909" (lj909)
11/16/2017 at 18:50, STARS: 1
The Smart only works everywhere but the US. I always had a soft spot for the iQ and even breifly considered getting on when I was in college...until I saw the price. Bigger small cars could be had for how much it was. But it was appealing. I even saw a few tuned ones running around locally.
Me and my girlfriend ran her aunts store back in in 2010 a few blocks from Toyota’s NA headquarters (when it was still here) in Torrance. I remember snapping this pic of a lightly camoed iQ being trailed by a lightly camoed LFA:
"Milky" (jordanmielke)
11/16/2017 at 18:52, STARS: 2
Its an expensive Honda and its not practical. Yet I think its just on this side of good looking and was ahead of its time.
"CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley)
11/16/2017 at 18:59, STARS: 3
I have the exact same opinion as you. But I bought one. GT trim
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
11/16/2017 at 19:06, STARS: 1
I think that’s what killed it for Toyota too. A smart is generally accepted as the cheapest new Mercedes-Benz you could buy. However, the Toyota iQ cost a decent amount more than an already popular larger Toyota model.
The iQ could have worked in the US if Toyota sold it at around $10-$12k or so. It could have even wiped out USA smart sales (what little there was back then) too. You could buy one from basically any Toyota dealership and get it serviced at every toyota dealership, they didn’t have the insane markup on parts that MB has, dealership services wouldn’t require a small loan, and they even ran on regular fuel. They were what a smart isn’t: Normal.
"LJ909" (lj909)
11/16/2017 at 19:07, STARS: 2
THIS. I love the ZDX. It looked way better than the confused dadmobile the Accord Crosstour was. You can find them under 20 grand now. If you can find one. Total production figures on its run from 09-15 are 6,119, making it more rare than an NSX.
"LJ909" (lj909)
11/16/2017 at 19:07, STARS: 0
Love the color. How is it to drive?
"LJ909" (lj909)
11/16/2017 at 19:09, STARS: 0
Exactly. Everything you said is reason enough for why the iQ should have worked. But it didnt. It should have been the cheapest new car in America. But a Versa was. And with Toyota reliability it would have been a no brainer for a city dweller or commuter. At least you can get one cheap used now.
"CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley)
11/16/2017 at 19:37, STARS: 1
Not bad, not great. It’s the best for a small city crossover I think.
And I know it’s worse than the Mazda 3 in every way on paper, but I prefer the looks and relative rarity of the CX-3
"LJ909" (lj909)
11/16/2017 at 19:39, STARS: 1
Yea thats what gets me is the looks. I love them. But in every single subjective way that matters, its an inferior vehicle.
"Monkey B" (monkeyb)
11/16/2017 at 19:44, STARS: 2
I actually think the CX3 is nicer looking than the hatchback 3. The proportions are better IMO.
"interstate366, now In The Industry" (interstate366)
11/16/2017 at 19:46, STARS: 2
Yeah, it’s weird looking, but 300+ HP, AWD, and a manual? I’d rock one shamelessly. If any with said combination actually existed outside of press cars.
"LJ909" (lj909)
11/16/2017 at 19:50, STARS: 0
It really is. Its just that compared to the 3 hatch itself and the CX-5, it doesnt make sense.
"LJ909" (lj909)
11/16/2017 at 19:51, STARS: 0
Is that the SH-AWD model?
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
11/16/2017 at 20:51, STARS: 1
W body Impalas. Even though I’ve sworn to never buy a FWD GM product.
"interstate366, now In The Industry" (interstate366)
11/16/2017 at 20:53, STARS: 0
Yep. It was available with a 6-speed but I’ve never seen one for sale anywhere.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
11/16/2017 at 21:08, STARS: 2
Dodge Dart. Everyone tells me I should hate them, but I think they look cool.
"LJ909" (lj909)
11/16/2017 at 21:14, STARS: 0
It was pretty much the Type S of that generation. But depending on where you live, there are 14 for sale here in Southern California. Only one is a manual though.
"LJ909" (lj909)
11/16/2017 at 21:16, STARS: 5
Ive always said that the 200 and Dart were good and a lot of the hate they got was bandwagon. Ive seen some tuned ones running around in the trim that shared the engine with the Abarth. They have a good exhaust note.
"arl" (arl1968)
11/16/2017 at 21:27, STARS: 1
Lexus ES350. Damn if it’s not the quietest, most comfortable car I’ve ever driven.
"HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie" (hpoz54)
11/16/2017 at 21:31, STARS: 0
The second-gem SS with the LS4 speaks to me; also the first gen was a damn good-looking car
"Svart Smart, traded in his Smart" (svartsmart)
11/16/2017 at 21:31, STARS: 0
It’s not a sports car, or even a ‘sporty’ coupe. I don’t care. Some generations of the Eclipse were duds anyway. I think the shape of the Eclipse Cross’s greenhouse is the bee’s knees (even if it uses some slight DLO fails to achieve the look). It’s a sexy car and I wouldn’t mind having one.
"HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie" (hpoz54)
11/16/2017 at 21:32, STARS: 1
I would probably take a Forte5 SX or a Veloster Turbo over a GTI. I love the little Korean hot hatches even though they’re probably not actually very good cars.
"interstate366, now In The Industry" (interstate366)
11/16/2017 at 21:37, STARS: 0
I’m in Virginia. The SH-AWD version is relatively common in general, but I’ve never seen one with a manual. I’ve also only ever seen one manual ILX, and a handful of manual 2nd gen TSXs besides my own.
"Spanfeller is a twat" (theaspiringengineer)
11/16/2017 at 21:39, STARS: 1
I actually like the new six series GT, I think that perhaps the 5GT was a bit overwhelming (actually all the f10s look ugly to me, uglier than the the E60 and those weren’t exactly beautiful) the g30 solved that for me, it looks sharper!
But as a person of a certain girth and size, and being the lucky owner of two bycicles (an 27" M and a 29" XL) but hater of massive SUVs, that six series just looks swell.
Shame I can’t afford it!
"Spanfeller is a twat" (theaspiringengineer)
11/16/2017 at 21:40, STARS: 2
the 200s could be optioned with a v6 and AWD.
Stick a good tune on it and you have yourself a good Fusion Sport competitor!
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
11/16/2017 at 21:44, STARS: 1
The CX-3 is horrible. It’s waaaaaaayyyyy smaller than the 3. Its back seat and trunk are laughably bad. The ride is too stiff, you can’t see out of it, and it’s slow. I don’t care if it has sporty handling, it is arguably the worst vehicle in the mini crossover segment because it is a complete and utter failure at providing anything close to crossover practicality.
"Elric Naslund" (sanctimoniously)
11/16/2017 at 21:49, STARS: 2
Buick LeSabres. I’ve owned two (a 2004 and a 2005) and yeah, they’re AARP-spec “luxury” but that’s what I enjoyed about them. Lots of surprisingly advanced features, like a head-up display and the digital driver information center, but in a simple package. Not my first choice for attacking a mountain road (not for lack of trying) but for a 30-mile daily commute at 80 mph, sign me up for another one of those any day.
Also...modern cars with landau and carriage tops. Some of them are pretty awful, but I don’t think all of them are that bad. I came pretty close to pulling the trigger on a superb prosperity-theology-preacher-spec Lucerne CXL with a blue carriage top (over a pearl white car), trunk rack, full-color trishield hood ornament, and gold nameplates. I’d have people making fun of me on V.I.S.I.T. but I’d be laughing with them while enjoying the ride.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
11/16/2017 at 22:10, STARS: 0
Thank you!
"Spanfeller is a twat" (theaspiringengineer)
11/16/2017 at 22:12, STARS: 2
The pentastar is also N/A
Stick a couple of Turbos and an intercooler (overnight from Japan I hear) and you’ve got yourself a Chrysler as quick as an S4
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
11/16/2017 at 22:23, STARS: 0
I’m convinced.
"Spanfeller is a twat" (theaspiringengineer)
11/16/2017 at 22:29, STARS: 1
Get rid of the decoupling AWD, stick a nice LSD in there....
Chariot?
You still there?
*Charriot looks blindly at the sky*
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
11/16/2017 at 23:25, STARS: 1
The aren’t bad cars really, they just were a hard sell against the competition when new. The reliability is questionable and they are pretty unrefined. My biggest beef is the 2.4 and 3.6 and their associated transmissions are great on paper but in real life the ones I have driven are harsh, slow to respond and dimwitted. The Camry, Accord, and even Fusion just feel a class up and a generation newer when it comes to the smoothness of the drivetrain. Add in the sketchy CJD dealer network and it is no wonder they got a bad rap. But you could get one for way under MSRP in the higher trims that are pretty nice - especially with that UConnect system that competitors are still catching up to several years later. I remember seeing 200C Limiteds with the 3.6 and all the options at stickers pushing $40k going for $26k at no-haggle dealers. That’s awfully tempting compared to a 4-cyl Accord that you’d have to negotiate to get into an EX-L trim at that price.
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
11/16/2017 at 23:28, STARS: 1
i3. To the point I’m actually seriously thinking of buying one. One of our 2 cars was in the shop recently and it seriously messed up plans for multiple days, so I want a 3rd. Electric makes sense. Yeah the i3 is weird and slow and disconnected and weird. But I kinda like that.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
11/16/2017 at 23:36, STARS: 0
Huh? Oh, right. Still here.
"marshknute" (marshknute)
11/16/2017 at 23:46, STARS: 1
If you want quiet, you need to try its hybrid sister, the ES300h. But it is egregiously slow, and downright dangerously slow in Eco mode.