Cars...

[guzzler]

It is beautiful isn't it...

The Countach was my poster car as a kid though.

Funny you mention pricing, I remember seeing a Ferrari Dino ( the original 6 cylinder one ) that was almost affordable many many moons ago and thought ....should I? Rationality prevailed and I realised I couldn't afford to maintain it! Jeezuz I'd probably still be living on cheese and crackers and cheap red now, and I'd never have been able to indulge my two wheeled obsession. But every time I see a photo of one....Or read Peter Egans tale of driving one cross country in winter something in me stirs....

Cheers   

[docc]

On 1/4/2016 at 4:47 AM, Admin Jaap said:

Okay gents, fess up... what cars do you drive?

 

20 hours ago, alannn said:

 I enjoy driving my Toyota MR2 Spyder . . . 

Tell us about the MR2, @alannn!

[alannn]

On 4/11/2025 at 4:19 PM, docc said:

 

Tell us about the MR2, @alannn!

My 2002 MR2 Spyder is 2200 lbs and 138 hp, sporting 15 inch wheels. It's a true 2 seater convertible sports car. Only the experience of driving a car with the engine behind, allows appreciation of that handling difference. Whether winding through the misty forest in the morning, or cruising under the desert stars at night, a true convertible is sweeter than the same ride in a closed sedan. It's ideal for group rides through the mountains/hills with my wife who has retired from motorcycle pillion duties. Admittedly, I still prefer my luggage equipped Stelvio for grocery runs.

I can shift up and down through the gears, even to redline without reaching speeds unsafe for public roads. That's why I chose it over the too fast, yet lovely Porsches. I upgraded the exhaust, so it sings sweet, not too loud. I upgraded the floaty oem suspension with quality shocks and swaybars, all adjustable. So it is generally fast on the super twisty bits, yet compliant, not jarring over bumps.

Compared to the Lotus dream machine of my youth, it's 6 inches taller, so easy entry/exit now for my old bones. How I survived summers in Virginia without air conditioning is a mystery of my youth. A/C is now a requirement. It's got the build quality and reliability that Toyota is famous for, easy to work on, and doesn't strain the wallet. Easy to own, compared to the classic Italian sports cars that are more fun to look at.

P.S. Washing a car is more pleasurable than washing a motorcycle.

[Lucky Phil]

Rag tops are a PITA as far as I'm concerned and once cars became airconditioned they became totally redundant like sunroofs. A convertible in this country means having some sort of sun protection when driving for a start and working your way through the trafficked suburbs to the nice driving roads is horrible experience in a rag top. Surrounded by massive SUV's and trucks and exhaust fumes etc. Who wants to be exposed to all that getting to the nice roads. Even our local rural roads these days are infested by big dirt trucks depositing half their load all over the scenery on the way to where they dump it. My Supra has no sunroof and A/C of course to provide a comfortable environment insulating me from the sun, outside noise, dirt and dust etc. I can't believe these days people drive around with the drivers window down. I was discussing it with my wife on a drive recently and we noted about 20% of drivers do it. Why I have no idea. To confirm my feelings I drove for a few klms with the drivers window down in a Sports car even and it was not a pleasant experience consisting of traffic and wind noise and a lack of A/C effectiveness. I still can't understand why 20% of people do it. 

I've also owned a few cars with sunroofs which never get used. Open a sunroof and all you get is wind noise and lack of A/C efficiency plus they reduce headroom significantly. 

I think sunroofs and convertibles are more about "other things" of the mind than a genuinely enjoyable driving experience. If I want a raw travelling experience and be totally immersed in the riding environment then I'll use the bike. 

Phil

Edited Sunday at 12:23 AM by Lucky Phil

[audiomick]

17 minutes ago, Lucky Phil said:

...A convertible in this country ...

"In this country" is the point. Convertibles just don't make sense in Australia, even in Melbourne (in the south = further from the Equator = not as savage sun as further north). The sun is too strong in summer, and, particularly in Melbourne, it's mostly too cold in winter for open top driving.

Here in Germany, I could imagine having one. Perhaps not in the absolute middle of summer, but in spring and autumn it would be pretty pleasant, I reckon.

[guzzler]

25 minutes ago, audiomick said:

"In this country" is the point. Convertibles just don't make sense in Australia, even in Melbourne (in the south = further from the Equator = not as savage sun as further north). The sun is too strong in summer, and, particularly in Melbourne, it's mostly too cold in winter for open top driving.

Here in Germany, I could imagine having one. Perhaps not in the absolute middle of summer, but in spring and autumn it would be pretty pleasant, I reckon.

Very true mate!

I burn by the light o the Moon....so no open top motoring for me!

Cheers 

[alannn]

On a motorcycle trip, I always try to schedule to avoid brutal summer sun when over 100 degrees. It can turn what should be an enjoyable ride into an unpleasant endurance test. At least in a convertible I have the option of top up with a/c on.

On the freeway surrounded by trucks, the bike beats the convertible. Sports cars and motorcycles are both for fun. Sometimes in the worst conditions, the isolation of the luxury car is preferred to both.

[Pressureangle]

14 hours ago, Lucky Phil said:

 I can't believe these days people drive around with the drivers window down. I was discussing it with my wife on a drive recently and we noted about 20% of drivers do it. Why I have no idea. To confirm my feelings I drove for a few klms with the drivers window down in a Sports car even and it was not a pleasant experience consisting of traffic and wind noise and a lack of A/C effectiveness. I still can't understand why 20% of people do it. 

I've also owned a few cars with sunroofs which never get used. Open a sunroof and all you get is wind noise and lack of A/C efficiency plus they reduce headroom significantly. 

I think sunroofs and convertibles are more about "other things" of the mind than a genuinely enjoyable driving experience. If I want a raw travelling experience and be totally immersed in the riding environment then I'll use the bike. 

Phil

 The answer is obvious once you see it- those people can't afford $1k-$15k to have their air conditioning repaired. 
If I was to open a business here in South Florida, it would likely be A/C service. 

[Lucky Phil]

7 hours ago, Pressureangle said:

 The answer is obvious once you see it- those people can't afford $1k-$15k to have their air conditioning repaired. 
If I was to open a business here in South Florida, it would likely be A/C service. 

Well not really because they even drive around with the window down on days that don't require A/C and in very late model cars. If they were all driving old beaters I may take your point. 

Phil

[Pressureangle]

2 hours ago, Lucky Phil said:

Well not really because they even drive around with the window down on days that don't require A/C and in very late model cars. If they were all driving old beaters I may take your point. 

Phil

Dunno if that's an Aus thing, rarely see anyone do that here- other than the poseurs cruising their pinky rings.

[Lucky Phil]

2 hours ago, Pressureangle said:

Dunno if that's an Aus thing, rarely see anyone do that here- other than the poseurs cruising their pinky rings.

Like  said it's been a reccent  topic of conversation between the wife and myself and we have actually done a survey when driving recently. It came up because on the Supra forum people whinge incessantly about the wind buffet when driving the Supra around with the drivers window down. You can buy a simple stick on device to eliminate it but I don't need one because I never drive with the windows down so I kind of got interested in how many people do and it went from there. The sunroof and rag top thing I've had for 30 years or more though. 

[Tomchri]

Windows down.   Had a looong roadtrip in the US in 82 with a 66 Catalina. Bought from the Norwegian seamans church in Brooklyn, 250$. Windows open in Death valley, no AC. Keep arm inside, or severe burned.  No ac was intentionally, feel nature. Today, of course not  .

Cheers Tom.

[GuzziMoto]

Some people like to drive past things, others like to drive through them. I find there is a time and place for each. One of our vehicles is a Jeep, with the top off and doors off you really drive through the world, not past it. Very much like riding a motorcycle, without the need for all the gear. Drop down into a gulch and feel the temp change. Head over a mountain, it changes again. But not everyday, not every trip, is a naked Jeep trip.

[activpop]

I like driving with the windows open and adjusted properly to limit wind noise around town, not at highway speeds. I like resting my arm on the door sill. Easy to do on my 2007 Chevy pickup but very uncomfortable on newer cars because of the higher belt line. Car designs have changed over the last decade or so and sleekness trumps convenience. Tiny ribbons of glass seems to be the trend now.