Ongoing General Automotive Thread 2.0

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by kevman

The high hood thing isn't just a truck problem though, it's plaguing all modern vehicles. High belt lines, tiny windows and squared off hoods make visibility terrible across all form factors.

The bubble hood, high dash, weird steering wheel and seat positioning combination makes it so much harder to figure out my distance for parking. I used to feel pretty confident I knew how far from the curb or line I was after parking. Now I know there's a margin of error of 2-4 inches. I reposition more than normal because I'm right on the line.

I think this is primarily a midsize+ issue. I rented a subcompact vehicle (Versa) recently and it was pretty easy to position after I got used to it, plus the width of the vehicle made it so that being off a few inches didn't matter and the turn radius was slightly different than a full sized sedan. The bizarre part was finding out that vehicles manufactured in the last decade don't have a remote for unlocking/locking the vehicle as a base model option. It was a little weird pulling the key out all the time to get into the vehicle/trunk and worrying I'd accidentally drop the key inside the vehicle and lock it in there or accidently key the vehicle unlocking the door. I've never seen a vehicle without a remote since about 2002-2003 when I started driving. For a few hundred bucks, it seems like an odd thing to exclude. It makes the vehicle feel even more bare bones.

It kinda confirmed to me that a perfect commuter/"performance" vehicle for me might be a Honda Fit sized vehicle with AWD. I thought the AWD Corolla might be that, but I think I saw one recently and it seemed bulkier than my '07 Camry, or at least nearly the same size? Wider yet shorter body?

Honest question, how many 4 door vehicles came in a proper early 2000s mid size/current subcompact size that had AWD? The only one that came to mind is the top model Golf? I think Subaru, Audi, BMW and Mercedes options were all closer to full size sedan. I could be wrong, but I think there were options in Europe and Asia for this (albeit I was always enamored by those smaller AWD rally cars of the 80s-90s when I first started driving).

As much as I like the creature comforts and size of the trunk of modern vehicles and the fact some vehicles no longer have back seats with like 2-3 inches of space for your feet in the back, I do miss what it was like driving those smaller <2010s vehicles. Even the full sized sedans of those eras feel like they are easier to determine spatial awareness than modern day mid sized sedans that are similar in size.

I really wish they'd do way more subcompact hatches with excellent design for flattening the back seats and AWD. The Lexus CT200h and Fit were excellent examples of this, but without AWD. AWD would go a long way in addressing the issue of the lower clearance and smaller tires in a snow situation.... but alas... I am tempted at times to cash out my full size sedan and hop into one of those... but I'm not interested in a vehicle without AWD at this time. I sold my previous vehicle to get back into a vehicle with AWD.

Heck, my Odyssey, I wish there was a AWD Odyssey or there was a way to do a AWD conversion (bonus if hybrid). The front tires spin all the time and then the stupid TCS gets overzealous in cutting the power due to tire spin if I'm not on sport mode. Occasionally scary when trying to do a left turn in inclement weather. My hopes is that the Pacifica PHEV/AWD does well so that other manufacturers follow suit... but I didn't like the interior of the Pacifica.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

The “people that own trucks don’t need them!” thing is so lame. Like sure, some people don’t. Some people need them only sometimes. And some people make good use of them regularly. But like… we’re talking about a utility feature.

You want to get bent out of shape over people driving things they don’t need, focus on people driving overpriced Land Rovers and Mercedes that have no objective, meaningful advantage over a similar style vehicle half to 1/3 the price, or focus on the sudden trend of turning SUVs into all out busses (Yukon, Escalade, etc).

Don't forget BMW in that list

[Acey]

Like photon, I have acquired a dark gray 6-cylinder German coupe with the ZF 8-speed. It saved my life, so why not get another one?



Unsuprisingly, my rolled over S5 from Sunday is a writeoff:

Spoiler!

Neck and back pain is improving, another couple weeks of physio and I should be good. The mental part of it has been harder, if anything.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

That just looks like a chart of smart phone adoption from 2009

It doesn't though, smart phone usage started to plateau ~2015.

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

The more curious part of that chart is the dip between 2005 and 2011….like why it dropped and returned to the same level in only 6 years.

The EU passed a bunch of mandates for manufacturers to improve outcomes of pedestrian collisions in this period.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by kevman

The high hood thing isn't just a truck problem though, it's plaguing all modern vehicles. High belt lines, tiny windows and squared off hoods make visibility terrible across all form factors.

Correct, but it's caused by high vehicles.

They need to design a Camry to get smoked by a Suburban now.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Honest question, how many 4 door vehicles came in a proper early 2000s mid size/current subcompact size that had AWD? The only one that came to mind is the top model Golf? I think Subaru, Audi, BMW and Mercedes options were all closer to full size seda

What about a Mazda 3 Sport GT?

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

What about a Mazda 3 Sport GT?

I forgot about that one. But yeah, there's not much in terms of options. I just don't like how Mazda have the reputation of being rust buckets. They metaphorically seem like SSDs to me. They're great until they go. Sometimes, no warning. Just gone. Other times, it's obvious something isn't right, but it runs and it's on its last legs forever and doesn't go.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

Totally agree with the tablet/phone comments as well.

Yes there were boats in the 2000s, but they were not quite as bad as what we have now, and more importantly they were much less common. In 2000, US car sales and light truck sales were about 50/50. It's now 70/30 trucks.

The window part you mention is a big aspect that has changed too. As vehicle heights have grown, so have belt lines to protect passengers when the newest, biggest thing rams into them. Windows are tiny and visibility is terrible now.

Look how much lower the windows went on a 2006 Expedition compared to a current model:

Spoiler!

The approach to safety is that success is keeping the person in the vehicle alive. There is no consideration to what happens outside the vehicle.

This annoys me. My wife's Acura? The sightlines are atrocious! Who designed this thing?

"Well you dont need to shoulder check anymore, we have sensors for that! You dont need to see where you're going when you're backing up, we have cameras for that!"

Guys...I prefer to actually SEE whats around me and where I'm going.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Locke

This annoys me. My wife's Acura? The sightlines are atrocious! Who designed this thing?

"Well you dont need to shoulder check anymore, we have sensors for that! You dont need to see where you're going when you're backing up, we have cameras for that!"

Guys...I prefer to actually SEE whats around me and where I'm going.

Acura built the ZDX / Accord Crosstour which literally had cameras for the blind spots, like a back up camera, as if you'd want to look down at your dash while changing lanes.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

It’s also not like people have much choice about form factor. Nobody is saying “I’m only buying an F-150 if they increase the size another 20%” it’s just that companies make them and people buy them, but people would buy them regardless.

Form factor is precisely one of the few choices you do make in buying a vehicle. Car, truck, SUV, van; those are form factors for an automobile in the same way a desktop PC and a laptop are different form factors for a computer. You can get into "sedan, coupe, compact pickup, half-ton pickup, small SUV, etc." if you want to be more specific on the form factor, but is nothing to do with 20% bigger or smaller, it's market segment.

As for vehicles getting excessively big, we can thank the US government's well-intentioned but horribly misguided fuel economy regulations that basically incentivize making as many vehicles as possible classify as a "light truck".

[WideReceiver]

Thanks for the comments and advice on buying the 2025 RAV4. I haven’t abandoned the idea but it’s caused me to reconsider some things. I’ll add a separate post later about the RAV add-ons.

If we want an SUV similar to the RAV, what makes and models should we consider? I’m not mechanical (can do very minor things) and we can afford quality which explains our preference for Toyotas. I own a Honda Civic so I’d consider a Honda. Mazda’s been mentioned; I’ve never owned one so what is its quality?

I’ll check consumer mags for reliability ratings on Toyota RAV4 and similar Honda, Mazda, etc. products. What do people suggest I consider? I’ll also look at Acura but prefer a more loaded Toyota or Honda car to the upscale versions.

[photon]

Hyundai Tuscon is an option... Hyundai doesn't have the same level of reliability as Toyota but they're still in the top half in the industry and the warranty is longer on the Hyundai I think.

[Wormius]

Ultimately it’s important to go and look at the vehicles and arrange test drives.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Ultimately it’s important to go and look at the vehicles and arrange test drives.

Couldnt be more true. My wife had her heart set on a Highlander and we went for a test drive and....she just hated it.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Locke

Couldnt be more true. My wife had her heart set on a Highlander and we went for a test drive and....she just hated it.

I also thought the same about getting a new Impreza. Thought it would be great, like my old one, and it was just plain bad.

Really awkward when the car dealers insist on going along with you for the test drives. I wish they would stop that.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by WideReceiver

Thanks for the comments and advice on buying the 2025 RAV4. I haven’t abandoned the idea but it’s caused me to reconsider some things. I’ll add a separate post later about the RAV add-ons.

If we want an SUV similar to the RAV, what makes and models should we consider? I’m not mechanical (can do very minor things) and we can afford quality which explains our preference for Toyotas. I own a Honda Civic so I’d consider a Honda. Mazda’s been mentioned; I’ve never owned one so what is its quality?

I’ll check consumer mags for reliability ratings on Toyota RAV4 and similar Honda, Mazda, etc. products. What do people suggest I consider? I’ll also look at Acura but prefer a more loaded Toyota or Honda car to the upscale versions.

Acura and Lexus have tried to move away from the "upscale version of Toyota and Honda" perception. Go and test them out vs relying on the old perception. Certain things are the same and other things they're basically trying to make it feel like a totally different vehicle.

IIRC Lexus is where Toyota tests newer tech. Toyotas are a few generations behind, but in theory are more reliable as a result. Honda tests new tech while Acura is the one that's a few generations behind. Acura attempting at being the more reliable premium vehicle. This was the case a few years ago, I don't know if it's still the same.

There's also models that are totally different in the Lexus line that Toyota has and vice versa. I don't recall if there are vehicles with styling and features unique to Acura. TSX/RSX used to be that, but as of now, I don't know. I haven't kept up.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I also thought the same about getting a new Impreza. Thought it would be great, like my old one, and it was just plain bad.

Really awkward when the car dealers insist on going along with you for the test drives. I wish they would stop that.

I remember one time, I really, really wanted a Volvo SUV, my business had been finally making enough money that I could buy one. I'd been wanting one for years.

Took one for a test drive and...just...nope. Too much money for just the most 'blah' car I'd ever driven.

It just cant be over-stated how important the test drive is.

I was sold on it, I didn't even care, but as soon as I drove it? I just didn't love it. And its a lot of money to spend on something you just dont like.

And I agree and disagree with you to a point. If the sales guy is good and comes along on the test drive, sometimes thats good. He can show you things and features you might not have been aware of or know how to use, but if they spend the whole time doing a full-court hard-press? No bueno.

There are places that'll give you 24 hours with it and I think thats good. It gives you time to decide on whether you love it or not.

Cars are a lot of money. IMO...you have to love it.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Locke

This annoys me. My wife's Acura? The sightlines are atrocious! Who designed this thing?

When Car2Go started using Mercedes CLAs, I was shocked at how awful they were for this.

I'm on the taller end of things, and from my vantage point, there was barely any distance from the top of the dash to the bottom of the rearview mirror. I had to drive around leaning down and forwards to have any remote confidence I wasn't about to mow down a child.

[WideReceiver]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Acura and Lexus have tried to move away from the "upscale version of Toyota and Honda" perception. Go and test them out vs relying on the old perception. Certain things are the same and other things they're basically trying to make it feel like a totally different vehicle.

IIRC Lexus is where Toyota tests newer tech. Toyotas are a few generations behind, but in theory are more reliable as a result. Honda tests new tech while Acura is the one that's a few generations behind. Acura attempting at being the more reliable premium vehicle. This was the case a few years ago, I don't know if it's still the same.

There's also models that are totally different in the Lexus line that Toyota has and vice versa. I don't recall if there are vehicles with styling and features unique to Acura. TSX/RSX used to be that, but as of now, I don't know. I haven't kept up.

I value reliability over how it drives. Sure it has to drive well but I want a bulletproof car, if that exists.

[puffnstuff]

Did you look at the Corolla Cross? Smaller than the Rav, inside and out, still AWD if you choose that model. Smaller engine, 2 L vs the 2.5