"CAR_IS_MI" (car-is-mi)
08/24/2015 at 12:34 • Filed to: None
2
39|
"CAR_IS_MI" (car-is-mi)
08/24/2015 at 12:34 • Filed to: None | 2
| 39 |
Now you’re probably asking yourself, whats “AADD”. It’s a very serious problem that effects, I am sure, nearly everyone on this site, even if you don’t know it.
AADD, also known as “Automotive Attention Deficit Disorder” is a “disorder” in where one constantly finds themselves wanting a different or another vehicle. Working in the automotive industry does not help my AADD. One of the ‘benefits’ of my job is that I get the opportunity to acquire vehicles for my personal use at wholesale prices, which means I could get a really good deal on the right car. I could also just purchase someone else’s problems.
This only exasperates the AADD, as, well, I can find a good deal on something fun at least once a week.
I finally found some relief to this ‘problem’ 2 years ago when I bought my Wrangler. I cant see not having a Jeep. But... I also bought my Jeep new, for nearly 40 grand, and then proceeded, over the 2 years of ownership, to put about another 10 grand into it.
It also happens to be a terrible DD. It gets piss poor mileage, especially in traffic, and for someone who drives 12 - 14 k mi per year just in commuting to work, its no bueno. Then, when I go on the trails (what its true purpose is), I don’t like to take it on the heavy stuff as, well, I’ve got a large portion of money sunk into this and I would prefer to not damage all the equity out of the Jeep.
Recently I’ve been contemplating a cheap dd to help with issue #1, and came across a very cheap, clean Civic Hybrid, but it was too baby blue for me to contemplate driving. However, while searching, I also came across a nice Firebird Firehawk and a CL55 AMG.
My current idea is to sell the Jeep and buy both an older Jeep for the trails and a comfy cruiser that gets decent MPG. I know I will probably tire of this eventually too, and / or buy more things, but guide me Oppo, am I making horrible decisions?
Textured Soy Protein
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 12:39 |
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“I want something that gets good gas mileage,” and “I’m looking at this CL55 AMG” seem to be two opposing statements.
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CAR_IS_MI
> Textured Soy Protein
08/24/2015 at 12:40 |
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This is the problem.
You see.
FKA-RacecaR
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 12:41 |
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HA! My buddy diagnosed me with that about 10 years ago. I guess he was not the only one who thought of that term.
And no. I would say if you do that, then you are coming out ahead with a car you like to drive, and a jeep you can take off road.
HammerheadFistpunch
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 12:41 |
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definitely never buy an offroad vehicle you can’t handle get banged up a little. My plan was large old off road vehicle and comfy cruiser commuter, but my wife nixed the 3 car policy so im here with just the cruiser to commute in.
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Textured Soy Protein
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 12:44 |
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Well, let’s put it another way. If you revise your goal from “gets decent mileage” to “at least gets better mileage than my Wrangler,” the CL55 still fails miserably.
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CAR_IS_MI
> HammerheadFistpunch
08/24/2015 at 12:51 |
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I don’t mind it getting a little trail worn, and its got its dents and dings already, but I feel like if it gets any more dents and dings in it, it will start to loose its value. If I had an older one thats already depreciated, well, who cares...
Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 12:51 |
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Get a Toyobaru for your DD! They get pretty good gas mileage for a sports car, I’m averaging 28.6 right now, and that was with a reset of my overall average when my battery was recently disconnected to do some work on the car. Before that I was between 29 and 31mpg. And they’re very fun cars! Not fast enough to get you in much trouble, but plenty fast enough to have all the fun.
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CAR_IS_MI
> Textured Soy Protein
08/24/2015 at 12:51 |
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After the lift and tires etc, I average 14.1 on the highway.
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HammerheadFistpunch
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 12:52 |
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yeah, I had this talk with my buddy who is still paying off his tacoma. At the end of the day he’s decided that he’s in it for the long haul with the truck so whats the difference if it gets damaged now, or later. In your case though, a pre-depreciated truck makes a lot of sense. Going back to jeep or will you look for something that’s more high mile compliant?
Steve in Manhattan
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 12:53 |
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Perhaps one of the Toyobaru twins? Fun, and decent mileage if driven sensibly.
450X_FTW
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 12:53 |
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I have HDADD. I don’t pay attention very much but when I do, it’s crystal clear quality
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CAR_IS_MI
> Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
08/24/2015 at 12:53 |
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The only “sports car” that slower than my Jeep.
The number of these that I’ve seen traded because “it’s too under-powered”
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CAR_IS_MI
> HammerheadFistpunch
08/24/2015 at 12:56 |
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Part of me says buy a $4000 4 cyl TJ and swap a 5.7 or something into it. I could buy a 4.0L TJ and have a Jeep that gets worse than piss poor mileage and has no power but a ton of torque and a motor that will last for ever.
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CAR_IS_MI
> Steve in Manhattan
08/24/2015 at 12:57 |
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See my reply to Chris on the 86.
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Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 12:57 |
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The people who think it’s under-powered don’t understand the point of the car. If you can’t be fast in a slow car, then you clearly aren’t doing things right. There are plenty of fixes for the “lack of power” though. A header and tune will eliminate the torque dip and put you at around 200whp, which is good enough to get you moving fast around a track or autox. Then there’s always FI. I however have been loving the car in NA form, hardly deviating from stock.
Test drive one with someone who will allow you to get on it, or find someone who has one and co-drive an autox or something. If it’s for you, then you will know it.
Arben72
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 13:00 |
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I too, am a sufferer of AADD. However, have you considered a g55 Amg? Should cover all your off road and comfort needs with just a switch of tires.
(Sorry, I'm an enabler too)
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CAR_IS_MI
> Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
08/24/2015 at 13:02 |
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I actually auto-x’ed one. Granted it was automatic (on loan from Scion for promotional purposes) but it was, mmm, not for me. Background to that, I had prior build and tracked a 450hp mustang, as well as a number of Ferrari’s and Porsches, also an R8 once, so most entry level cars feel slow to me.
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HammerheadFistpunch
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 13:03 |
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A tj is great but requires a lot of build up to be jk tough. Buy one that’s been built up by someone else and save some money
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CAR_IS_MI
> Arben72
08/24/2015 at 13:03 |
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I hate the G-wagon.
The only G-wagon I like is the original.
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Textured Soy Protein
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 13:05 |
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I have a feeling the CL55’s highway number might be a tad optimistic, plus it needs premium fuel. My 135is needs premium, and let me tell you, buying premium is a pain in the ass.
It used to be everywhere you went, gas stations charged $0.10/gal more for mid-grade and $0.20/gal more for premium. It was no big deal. But now where I live, gas stations charge at least $0.40/gal more for premium, sometimes more. There’s no rhyme nor reason to it. Even worse, most gas stations only put the cost of regular and diesel on their signs, so you don’t know how much premium costs until you’re already at the pump. I’m so sick of surprise ridiculously overpriced premium fuel. I always check GasBuddy before going to buy gas.
(My ’05 Grand Cherokee Hemi with taller-than-stock General Grabber AT2s takes regular, but it does like 11 city, 15-16 highway. Even with the cheaper fuel it costs more per mile to drive than my 135is.)
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CAR_IS_MI
> HammerheadFistpunch
08/24/2015 at 13:05 |
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I know, thats my other problem.
TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 13:07 |
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Oh is have AADD bad.
First it was the Capri, then it was the SHO, (which is tantalizingly close to being ready by the way),
And now it’s the Cutlass that I adopted from G Body Man, who is the carless wonder because of me.
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CAR_IS_MI
> Textured Soy Protein
08/24/2015 at 13:10 |
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I know all about premium fuel, and thats not my concern. As far as fuel costs go, my Jeep cost more in fuel per mile on regular than my Ferrari costs on premium. after adding in the cost of maintaining a Ferrari its way more expensive, but fuel wise...
Patrick Nichols
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 13:11 |
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Sounds like it’s time for you to get a bike...
Get a dual sport/enduro and sell the jeep for a comfy cruiser
or get a sport bike/cruiser/etc. to commute and keep the jeep.
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TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 13:12 |
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How about a military G Wagon? I know I’m being stupid. Lol. They pop up on government auctions up here in Canada occasionally.
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CAR_IS_MI
> Patrick Nichols
08/24/2015 at 13:12 |
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I have 2 bikes. A hard tail bobber and a cafe racer. I also still want to get another sport bike.
jmalek
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 13:16 |
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For a DD, I would skip on AMGs, as they only get poorer fuel economy and higher maintenance costs. I would suggest a diesel benz or a 335d out of speculation, as I have never owned a diesel bimmer and my diesel benz isn’t on the road yet. According to Fuelly, you will see 30mpg out of the bimmer, and the benzs will range from mid-20s to near 40. Also, up here in the Mitten, diesel is about $.20-.40 cheaper than regular right now, and putting premium in 190e definitely makes me want the S350 back on the road.
Lastly, I totally feel you on AADD, as I have owned 22 cars in my 23 years on this rock, with 7 sitting in the garage right now. We should start a support group for AADD.
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Patrick Nichols
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 13:20 |
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Doctor: This case is worse than we thought we’re going to have operate, I’m sorry.
MrTheEngineer: Wait, operate on what?
Doctor: Well that’s up to you. We can take the left foot and you say goodbye to Manuel. A lobotomy may tame your imagination, though have other unintended consequences. A reverse lipo should keep you bedridden and therefore unable to work, meaning no commute. Though the only sure thing we have is if we separate your neck from your body.
MrTheEngineer: Uhh, I’m going to get a second opinion...
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CAR_IS_MI
> jmalek
08/24/2015 at 13:21 |
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I’m on 15 in 11 years of driving and currently on a trend of 3 to 4 per year....
And I have also contemplated a diesel VW
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Steve in Manhattan
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 13:33 |
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Hmmm - Z4? Boxster? Cockster? My go to if I needed a car (and I never will again) would probably be one of those Porsches.
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Textured Soy Protein
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 13:44 |
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So...I had this totally random idea of like an Infiniti M45 or M56 which seemed like a good compromise for you but apparently they like to have random electrical gremlins in the nav systems and other electronic gizmos.
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CAR_IS_MI
> Steve in Manhattan
08/24/2015 at 13:48 |
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hmmm... I did just take in a clean 996 for cheap money. problem is its a cab and PDK. if I get a clean 996 coupe manual I may...
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jmalek
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 13:54 |
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Also not a bad idea. I have a good friend with a Mk6 TDI Sportwagen that has gotten as high as 53mpg, and usually gets low-mid 40s with average driving.
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CAR_IS_MI
> jmalek
08/24/2015 at 14:00 |
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And they sell them with manual transmissions....
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Steve in Manhattan
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 14:16 |
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Was talking here about 911s yesterday - believe it or not, if I was going to order one I’d want the Targa.
And thanks for posting - I am dependent on the rest of you - it fills the hole in my heart that is there because I miss having a car.
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Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 14:16 |
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Fair enough. haha
Then perhaps a Cayman GTS. ;)
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CAR_IS_MI
> Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
08/24/2015 at 14:33 |
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I’d rock a cayman
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Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 14:37 |
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I’d love to pick up a used S or GTS as my next daily car, and turn the FR-S into a stripped out Spec 86 car once it’s paid off. We will see though.
K-Roll-PorscheTamer
> CAR_IS_MI
08/24/2015 at 14:52 |
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If it's a 996 it's not PDK. It's Tiptronic and it's the predecessor to PDK.