"Brewman15" (brewman15)
09/05/2013 at 13:55 • Filed to: None
2
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"Brewman15" (brewman15)
09/05/2013 at 13:55 • Filed to: None | 2
| 18 |
So, I don't mean to brag, but today's !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! was all about me. 2nd Gear: Volvo. 3rd Gear: Honda. Neutral: Volvo and Honda.
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My driveway is currently filled with a '94 Honda Accord EX, '13 Honda Accord Sport, '93 Volvo 945 Turbo, and two '98 Dodge Dakotas. If only the Jalopnik gents would have included something about the Gen III Dodge Dakota, I would have had all my bases covered.
This got me thinking about how weird my automotive devotion is to different manufacturers. I don't follow one specific brand. I don't follow brands under one big corporate umbrella like GM or VAG. I don't follow brands from one specific nation or even for specific type of car it makes. My attachment matches that of my driveway: efficient and reliable Japanese; safe, practical, and unassuming Swede; and crude but powerful American.
But why? Why am I so attached to three different brands from three different nations that make three completely different vehicles? Why every time I shop for a new car I'm led back to these three brands? Well, it's complicated, but I think it has a lot to do with how I acquired them. So, here's the long winded story of how I did...
1998 Dodge Dakota
This is the first vehicle I bought on my own. I paid for it by running a little mowing business in high school, so the fact that it was a truck was very beneficial. I've owned it since I was 17, and I wanted it to replace the embarrassing (more on that below) '86 brown on brown Volvo 740 passed down through from my grandparents and siblings. My favorite cars have always been the '68 Charger and the original Viper. So, I knew I wanted a Dodge. I wanted RWD, and I wanted a V8. Well, 11 years ago, the only ponies in the Dodge stable that offered that were pick-ups. The Ram was too big, but the Dakota was a much better size with the, in my eyes, much better and sculpted styling. I also loved the fact that you could get it with the V8 engine. To me, it was a modern day interpretation of a muscle car...shoehorn the biggest engine possible into the smallest body possible. I desperately wanted an R/T, but I 'settled' on the green beauty you see due to price albeit with smaller wheels, taller ride height, and 42 cu in less under the hood than an R/T. But not to worry, I have corrected all those defects over the years.
1998 Dodge Dakota Part II
Well, a year after owning my green Dakota I got cocky, as many 18 year old teens do, and my dad and I bought a wrecked '98 Dakota to rebuild for him to eventually drive. It was a near duplicate of mine...318 V8, 2WD, and extended cab. The project was a little more ambitious than planned. College, job, marriage, kids, and life in general got in the way. So, it took much longer than anticipated, but it's road-worthy again! We've put a couple hundred miles on it, but there are still a few finishing touches left.
'94 Accord EX
My brother bought this car used when he was in college. My dad was not really into cars other than routine maintenance, but my brother loved all things performance. So, naturally as a younger brother, I leeched to him with all things automotive. So, when he stepped up to a mark IV GTI, I snapped up the little Honda as quick as I could. It's under-powered little 2.2L 4-cylinder is masked by the wonderful manual, general toss-ability, and willingness to rev. So, now 19 years old with 283,000 miles, 150,000 of which is from my time behind the wheel, it is definitely showing its age, but I cannot imagine getting rid of it despite my wife's insistent nagging. I'm actually thinking of replacing the rear quarter panels to eliminate the typical Honda rust and repainting the whole thing. Why? Because I can.
'93 945 Turbo
So, as I mentioned above my first car was a brown on brown Volvo 740 with a measly 115-hp and 4 speed auto. I hated that thing in high school. I thought it was uncool and a crime that I, a motoring enthusiast, was stuck driving a shit-brown grandpa Volvo, but it was a free car from my parents, so I couldn't complain too loudly. It was also the only car I would get from them, as they often reminded me. However, when I look back on it, I loved that thing. It was big, comfy, reliable, and un-apologetically a brown brick. It was also RWD, which made it fun in the snow with the small amount of power keeping me from getting into too much trouble. I realized how much I missed it in college and bought a '91 740 turbo sedan for dirt cheap as a project. It was fun to drive and work on, but I wanted to convert to a full weirdo, and I needed more room. The red 945 turbo fit the bill perfectly, and I absolutely love it! What other 22 year-old actually wanted an old Swedish station wagon? When I bought it, it became the 10th+ Volvo in my family. So, there's also some loyalty due to that, but that's a story for another day.
'13 Accord Sport
When my son was born my wife and I hauled him around in his infant car seat in my Accord, my Volvo, and her '05 Civic coupe. However, once we moved up to the toddler car seat getting him in and out of the two Honda coupes became problematic. She was unwilling to drive my Volvo on a daily basis, so that led us down the path of a new car and selling her Civic. We both wanted to stick with a manual transmission, so we test drove anything we could find with 3-pedals. Sadly, that was a small list in our price range. After driving a handful of cars we both independently choose the Accord. I'm not sure if there was a level of comfort from both of us going from older Hondas into the new Accord, but I do know both of us fell in love with the buttery smooth gear changes. That alone was the deciding factor.
Well, if you made it this far, now is the part where I'm supposed to tie it all together. Well, here's the thing...I can't. These cars all became parked in my driveway for very different reasons, whether it be first vehicle I ever purchased, nostalgia for a first car, family loyalty to a brand, influence from a gearhead family member, or just general opinion of a car. It just sort of worked out that all those reasons have led me to Volvos, Hondas, and Dodges. It's also funny that a lot of new cars on my wishlist are from those three brands. I've often thought about trading all my cars in to buy a respectable, new car with a lot more features and comforts. I know that would make my wife very happy. Every time I do, though, I can never decide on what to get. Nothing matches the efficiency and fun to drive factor of the Hondas, the practicality and sleeper-status of the wagon, or the towing/payload and shear grins of the V8 Dakotas. Plus, I wouldn't be able to wake up in the morning and decide what to drive based on my day.
So, that is my story of why my fleet of cars puts me in the stereotypes of a inattentive Consumer Reports reading appliance driver (Honda), sensible but a bit boring liberal with a young wild streak (Volvo), and redneck (Dakota). So, at the minimum, you'll at least understand how I can post one minute about fuel efficiency, the next about 'Screw SUVs! Save the Wagons!' and follow up with a post of why every American needs a pick-up cuz 'Murica.
How about you fellow Oppo-nauts? What is your weird car brand allegiances to different manufacturers and why? What different brands are in your driveway at night? What different brands are in the driveway in your dreams? Hopefully you can respond below in a few less words than me!
Also, first Oppo post! Woot!
ddavidn
> Brewman15
09/05/2013 at 13:57 |
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Welcome to Oppo! I really love VW (especially older models), but I've never had one, and likely won't end up with one for many years.
Casper
> Brewman15
09/05/2013 at 14:02 |
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I don't have any specific allegiance to manufacturer, but I do have favorite cars. For instance I love 240Zs, Z32 300ZXs, FD3 RX-7s, first generation Camaros, C1 - C3 Corvettes (yes even the bad ones), Porsche 911s, etc. It all depends on the character of the car, but generally no maker or country allegiance here. I like whatever is good by my standards.
GhostZ
> Brewman15
09/05/2013 at 14:03 |
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Nissan. I often rant about how old they are and how consistently "ahead of their time" compared to other car manufacturers. I like the way they manage their company and they occupy a large space on my "Favorite cars of all time" list.
Dsscats
> Brewman15
09/05/2013 at 14:20 |
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Even though I have never owned one, I have a strange loyalty towards Porsche/Volkswagen.
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Brewman15
> ddavidn
09/05/2013 at 14:28 |
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Thanks! I've been lurking on here for a bit and replied to a few posts but never made my own.
I like the old VWs too. They remind me a lot of old Volvos, but there are a lot more of them. Each model seems to have a really cool character.
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Brewman15
> Dsscats
09/05/2013 at 14:30 |
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I used to have a major loyalty towards Porsche too...also because of my brother, but I have been very turned off by them in recent years. There was something about them that made it uniquely a Porsche that no one else but Porsche could manage. Lately, I feel like they're just trying to chase down Lambo and Ferrari, and I feel like a lot of their designs and prices reflect that.
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ddavidn
> Brewman15
09/05/2013 at 14:36 |
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They do! Sometimes the "character" comes from parts that break often and are hard to find. For some reason, I love these kinds of cars.
Tom McParland
> Brewman15
09/05/2013 at 14:47 |
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Welcome to Oppo! Love that Accord...I would get one for myself with the 6MT but I cannot bring myself to buy another black car and the grey looks so blah.
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Brewman15
> Tom McParland
09/05/2013 at 14:54 |
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Thanks! I think you and I are going to get along nicely. :)
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Brewman15
> GhostZ
09/05/2013 at 14:56 |
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So is that what you drive now? I'm guessing by your name you've got a Z.
I should like Nissan more than I do for all the quirky cars they make. I've always loved the new Zs, but I think the newest Altimas and Maximas ruin Nissan for me.
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Brewman15
> Casper
09/05/2013 at 14:57 |
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So at least your allegiances lie with sports cars! Given any car in the world I'd still probably pick a Volvo wagon or old pick-up.
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Brewman15
> ddavidn
09/05/2013 at 15:00 |
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Even more character is added with the ingenious 'repairs' people come up with. I'm shocked at some things I see on the Volvo forums.
So, do you have a car now and what kind? That was what I was going with on this post...the weird reasons people have/like cars from different brands that have no affiliation with each other.
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Casper
> Brewman15
09/05/2013 at 15:00 |
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Yeah, if I had to drive it a lot it would probably be a sports car... but I also really like classic cars and trucks. I would rock the shit out of something like a 55 Chevy pickup... and just might if I can build more parking (always need something to pull a trailer/haul motorcycles).
JEM
> Brewman15
09/05/2013 at 15:02 |
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AMC's
Had: 1960 Rambler American
Have: 1996 Jeep Cherokee, 1969 Javelin SST
I have a soft spot for all orphaned car brands, but I really have the softest spot for AMCs. I guess I love the underdog. I blame this on growing up surrounded by Massachusetts sports teams.
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ddavidn
> Brewman15
09/05/2013 at 15:06 |
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Right now, I drive a 1995 BMW M3 and I do love it, though I wouldn't buy it again today, all things being equal. I've had it for about 3 years.
My wife's car is a 1998 Subaru Outback Sport, I like that car too except the auto trans kills it a bit. That just came with her when we got married, so that's pretty cool.
My third car, not currently running well enough to drive me to work is a 1982 Toyota Tercel. That one I ended up with because it was the most interesting car I could get for $500 and I hoped it wouldn't have quite as many problems as it does.
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GhostZ
> Brewman15
09/05/2013 at 16:28 |
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I've got a project Z I'm going to finish when I'm out of college, it's a 1971.
I learned to drive on a 2001 Nissan Maxima 20th anniversary edition. This car had about 230HP and weighed 3000 lbs, making it about as fast in a straight line than a comparable Mustang GT. It was a beast, and despite being FWD, was limited to 155 mph. The non-anniversary editions would top out around 145.
My first car was a 1990 Nissan Maxima I bought for 200$. It had the computer-adjustable suspension settings and the 160HP VG30E engine, same as the N/A Z at the time. It was so full of electrical problems (200$ car, but at least it ran) that you had to open the driver's door to be able to turn the key in the ignition.
My next car was a 1998 Mustang, because I wanted RWD in my life and got a good deal. I learned to drive stick on a 1979 280zx 5-speed that I grew up around. Then, before I could buy a (running) Z of my own, I went to college 500 miles away in the inner city. When I graduate I plan to put together one badass 240z, but there isn't time and money while I'm in school to put one together.
The funny thing is, the Maxima, Senta, and Altima, are so unlike anything else Nissan makes. Look at a lot of the big, RWD luxobarge Infinitis they sell. Those are more 'Nissan', especially for a company that got its start making custom chassis over Prince engines. It's a shame that Nissan never brought over the RWD Skyline back in the 80s and 90s. They could have had a real place in the market when all of the RWD american sports cars got terrible and everyone started moving to FWD Civics.
I've come to realize there are a few rules about Nissans:
1. Cheap Nissans (Altima, Sentra) are usually junk.
2. You have to do electrical maintenance. Regular connection cleaning and fuse replacement go a long way to improving these cars.
3. Nissan puts sports car engines in sedans, and vice-versa. They've been doing it for years.
4. Nissan builds an engine with the intention of keeping it in production for 30 years, and spec'd to handle at least an extra 100-150 HP before parts can't handle it anymore. See: VG, RB, VQ, L, and SR engines.
5. Almost every Nissan car comes with 4-wheel independent suspension and brakes, and internationally, most are RWD. That makes for wonderful oversteer machines.
6. Nissan is usually one of the first car companies to adopt any new technology on the market for 'normal' cars. See: ATTESA, 4 wheel steering, Fuel Injection, Turbos, Paddle shifters, computer-adjustable dampening, Plasma Thermal Spraying, and many aerodynamic features. Despite this, they rarely get recognized for it.
7. Nissan is older the Chevrolet, and the way their business is conducted and their ability to stay consistently away from bankruptcy or media scandals shows maturity. We just don't see the best of the company over in America.
MooseKnuckles
> Brewman15
09/05/2013 at 22:23 |
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I'm a GM guy. I like to read about what is happening on a corporate level, manufacturing and assembly level, products and future products, reviews and specs. I do for all brands and manufacturers, but GM specifically.
I've been a Corvette fan since age 2 and a Camaro fan since I was born, mom had an 81 Z/28, I was born in 88, and that's all it took, didn't even need an initiation mullet.
I learned to drive on what was our farm truck, but learned in the 'city'. It was a 97 C1500 (2wd) with the 4.3L. It had a hard life despite only having 160,000km when I got my hands on it. I put another 95,000km in about 2.5 years before buying a CTS. So ya, rwd, traction control - there was none, ABS was pooched, and I live in Canada=winter, but hey, crappy all season tires got me by.. sort of. Extensive use of low gears was required and often freaked people out to see me slotting up and down on the column shifter. It drifted and power slided and did parking lot 1080s with ease. Many road trips were had in it and some harry situations were gotten into. The key was so worn it was still able to start it, hell I think a carrot would have, but it wouldn't unlock the drivers door.
I go camping with just the boys once each summer, sometimes new people tag along, but there is always at least 3-4 guys I went to high school with and every time a story comes up about the truck. The new guys to the camping trips sometimes ask "was that true", and the answer is "yes, it was".
Burt
> Brewman15
10/06/2013 at 22:00 |
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I've been bred since I was young to be a GM fan boy. Of the last 7 cars my parents have owned, 5 have been Chevrolets, with one G body Regal thrown in. I learned to drive in a '97 Malibu, and my parents gave me my '09 Impala as my first car two years ago. While both cars were/are crap boxes, I've come to love my Impala, and have been modifying it for autocross as I can. One pleasant side effect of driving a bad car is that I can really see the good aspects of almost any car, regardless of make. I'm not entirely sure what the first car I buy will be, but there's a good chance it'll be a nice, black, fairly low mileage 1996 Impala SS.