Ongoing General Automotive Thread 2.0

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Beautiful cars!

Although looks like the Aston club drives are even more monotone than the Porsche ones. Can we at least get a British Racing Green in there?

They’re just so exceedingly rare — particularly the pre-2017 cars — in interesting colours. I used to have a beautiful blue 2009 Vantage that I wish I’d never gotten rid of, and when I was ready to get another one, the best one on the market was my white one.

These days, there seems to be a renewed interest in colour amongst the exotic manufacturers not named Lamborghini or McLaren (who’ve always had higher uptake outside of white - silver - black), so you are seeing more of the palette out there. Hell, even Porsche.

[you&me]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Beautiful cars!

Although looks like the Aston club drives are even more monotone than the Porsche ones. Can we at least get a British Racing Green in there?

I remember once going to Banff and randomly happening onto what was apparently a convention of Mercedes Gullwings. That was one of the coolest things I've ever seen.

I was there that day - awesome to see!

I believe this year's event was on Vancouver Island.

[Brupal]

At first glance I thought it was odd more than one Genesis would be parked together like that.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Brupal

At first glance I thought it was odd more than one Genesis would be parked together like that.

It's kind of surprising in the era of big grilles that Ford was the only manufacturer to rip off the the Aston Martin grill with the Fusion (maybe Focus to a lesser extent) which was kind of handsome in its time.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

They’re just so exceedingly rare — particularly the pre-2017 cars — in interesting colours. I used to have a beautiful blue 2009 Vantage that I wish I’d never gotten rid of, and when I was ready to get another one, the best one on the market was my white one.

While I always like to see more color, I do think that in a vacuum the Astons look best in the neutrals since that fits their GT vibe. I actually think most sports cars look great in silver... it's just diminished since it's so common on the road. If I got a silver car, I'd definitely at least want something more interesting than black on the inside (red/tan/blue etc.).

[TorqueDog]

The silver Vanquish Mk2 has the red leather interior, it looks brilliant.

I think most people tended to go for the neutral tones as those are the colours used in the James Bond movies -- I mean, they're quite literally named after the movies: Skyfall Silver and Casino Royale (grey/silver with subtle blue undertones).

There's a 2025 Vantage in the showroom at Grand Touring Autos in the Glenmore Automall and it's in the perfect spec:

[Table 5]

Yeah, green on tan is always a winner.

[woob]

OK need some help on tire sizes. If my OEM sizing is 265/60R/18, what alternative sizes can I work within that are still safe for the vehicle? Can I go down to a 235 or 245 or is that too narrow?

*This if for the seaon tires that shall not be mentioned so that I don't invoke the wrath of bringing the season too early.

[speede5]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's kind of surprising in the era of big grilles that Ford was the only manufacturer to rip off the the Aston Martin grill with the Fusion (maybe Focus to a lesser extent) which was kind of handsome in its time.

Ford didn't exactly rip off AM, they owned them at the time the Fusion was designed. Edit; I guess the new one was later after they sold I always thought it was linked.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by woob

OK need some help on tire sizes. If my OEM sizing is 265/60R/18, what alternative sizes can I work within that are still safe for the vehicle? Can I go down to a 235 or 245 or is that too narrow?

*This if for the seaon tires that shall not be mentioned so that I don't invoke the wrath of bringing the season too early.

I use this:
https://tiresize.com/converter/

Looks like you can go 235/65R/18 or 235/70R/18 and be within range. Or 245/65R/18 and be the same.

If you go down an inch in wheel size (I like to for w**ters) you have a few options there too.

EDIT: If it were me I would go 235/75/R17

[TorqueDog]

Don't know what vehicle woob's got, but just make sure if you're going to size down that your model/trim can fit a smaller wheel over the brakes. If they didn't offer a factory wheel in that reduced size, check around and get confirmation that you can run a 17".

Originally Posted by speede5

Ford didn't exactly rip off AM, they owned them at the time the Fusion was designed. Edit; I guess the new one was later after they sold I always thought it was linked.

Yeah, it was post-sale -- sold majority of their interest in 2007, remaining divestiture of their stake in 2020 -- that they started doing the DB9-shaped grille on the Fusion (2013), Focus (2015).

[Table 5]

Regardless of ownership, that generation of Ford cars (ie. Fusion, Focus, Fiesta, even the Transit Connect) were all pretty handsome looking... atleast on the outside. The ST's especially looked great imo.

Ford also ripped off Land Rover (another brand they sold a few years before) with their Explorer around that time. Not sure if there was cycle overlap, more influence from the UK division, or they just had a thing for British design....but you could do a lot worse for influence.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Regardless of ownership, that generation of Ford cars (ie. Fusion, Focus, Fiesta, even the Transit Connect) were all pretty handsome looking... atleast on the outside. The ST's especially looked great imo.

Ford also ripped off Land Rover (another brand they sold a few years before) with their Explorer around that time. Not sure if there was cycle overlap, more influence from the UK division, or they just had a thing for British design....but you could do a lot worse for influence.

Agreed, they were nice looking cars!

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Regardless of ownership, that generation of Ford cars (ie. Fusion, Focus, Fiesta, even the Transit Connect) were all pretty handsome looking... atleast on the outside. The ST's especially looked great imo.

Ford also ripped off Land Rover (another brand they sold a few years before) with their Explorer around that time. Not sure if there was cycle overlap, more influence from the UK division, or they just had a thing for British design....but you could do a lot worse for influence.

Ford needed something, and shamelessly ripping off taking creative influences from European automakers they'd previously owned was a smart play, it really made their vehicles quite a bit more handsome than the competing GM and Chrysler offerings.

Fun trivia, the first Range Rover Sport (L320) was designed during Ford's ownership of Land Rover. Ford brass wanted Land Rover to use the existing Ford Explorer platform as the underpinning for it. Land Rover shut that down as soon as they actually got their hands on an Explorer and realized what the hell they'd be working with, and it ended up using a shortened Discovery 3 / LR3 platform instead.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Regardless of ownership, that generation of Ford cars (ie. Fusion, Focus, Fiesta, even the Transit Connect) were all pretty handsome looking... atleast on the outside. The ST's especially looked great imo.

Ford also ripped off Land Rover (another brand they sold a few years before) with their Explorer around that time. Not sure if there was cycle overlap, more influence from the UK division, or they just had a thing for British design....but you could do a lot worse for influence.

The last gen Focus sold in North America was actually a very competent compact car that was let down by the disastrous powershift transmission.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Acey

To that end, what's a good road for a slightly sporty drive out toward the mountains? Had my Audi for almost a year now and haven't had the chance to really enjoy it at all outside of city limits.

IMO, the best road for this is Chain Lakes road from Nanton across to the 22.

Lots of curves and hills, very little traffic, and more importantly tons and tons of visibility so you can have fun safely. Cops/animals and other traffic can be seen from a huge distance on that road because it's not forested. One of my absolute favourite roads, and I will always choose this route on the way to Highway 3.

[undercoverbrother]

I wish more car makers made wagons.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by dammage79

A bigger loop for an all day trip is 1a to hwy 93 and out at Rocky Mountain house.

That back loop from Calgary/Banff/Saskatchewan River Crossing/Rotten Monkey House/Calgary is absolutely amazing.

[FLAME ENVY]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

The silver Vanquish Mk2 has the red leather interior, it looks brilliant.

I think most people tended to go for the neutral tones as those are the colours used in the James Bond movies -- I mean, they're quite literally named after the movies: Skyfall Silver and Casino Royale (grey/silver with subtle blue undertones).

There's a 2025 Vantage in the showroom at Grand Touring Autos in the Glenmore Automall and it's in the perfect spec:

Such a beautiful car. I was wide eyed looking at it and the DB12 Volante they had in their showroom at GTA when looking at Emira's in July.

[Table 5]

I wouldn't mind that Grenadier in the background either.