What car do you have?

[RoddyVR]

our family car has always been a ford crow vic (had 4 or 5 of them over the course of 10 years), but right now i have a mazda 626 that i'm not allowed to drive for another 2 years (licence taken away)

to tell you the truth i'm not even sure what country makes mazda's. i have this suspision in the back of my mind that says that ford or some other US company ownes Mazda, but i'm not sure.

 

[JJP]

I don't have a car.

 

[wilbill]

Chrysler Sebring Convertible.

 

[puglover]

Two Toyota Corollas.

 

[El Tee]

Originally posted by RoddyVR
our family car has always been a ford crow vic (had 4 or 5 of them over the course of 10 years), but right now i have a mazda 626 that i'm not allowed to drive for another 2 years (licence taken away)

to tell you the truth i'm not even sure what country makes mazda's. i have this suspision in the back of my mind that says that ford or some other US company ownes Mazda, but i'm not sure.

I believe Ford Motor Company acquired Mazda in the early 90's. In fact, depending on what year 626 you have, it may share a chassis design with the Mazda MX-6 and Ford Probe.

FWIW, we have nothing but Japanese cars now. I used to have a Camaro Z28 but I sold it after I got married. No regrets, though, lots of problems with the car.

We are currently in the process of purchasing a couple of new (or new to us) cars, and are looking at a lot of different sedans and wagons. In a couple of years, our garage will look something like this:

Toyota Camry (my commuter)
Subaru Forester 2.5XS (the upcoming one w/WRX power, our "utility" vehicle my wife will likely drive)
Acura TSX (fun weekend car and partial commuter)

We're also looking at Saabs, Volvos, Mazda Millenias, or possibly even an Oldsmobile Intrigue or Pontiac Bonneville (though I'm sort of loathe to get another American car, I feel like I should give the General another chance).

 

[sween32]

'95 Ford Taurus SES, white exterior, blue interior. Nice car. I call it "The Tramp" cause it has a black bra and a nice rack.

 

[Perfection]

97 Pontiac Grand AM SE
It's white

and it has a manual transmission, so eat crap Automatic loving fools

 

[Bose]

Australian car... a silver 2001 Holden VX S Pack Commodore to be exact. Well, the bank owns most of it... but i'll get the bastards

 

[TedJackson]

Toyota Supra & an Alfa Romeo 164 (cloverleaf)

Ted

 

[sween32]

oops...i also forgot to add that it used to be an FBI car, so the engine is all pimped out. it's a beauty!

 

[jack merchant]

Don't have a car myself - cars don't interest me at all. My folks have a Peugeot 306 - they used to have a 405, which I thought was much prettier. Now that I'm out of the house though, they no longer feel the need to buy a car where I have to be able to fit in the backseat.

 

[cromagnon]

Originally posted by Cobi1
Great to go topless!

...Never mind.

You missed the "New Yorkers don't need cars" option.

 

[HighlandWarrior]

911 turbo, not rich? what year is it?

honda crx

is this where our cars are made, or the company who owns it? either way, is there actually a pure british car? i thought all the british car companys were bought by foreign companys?

 

[El Tee]

Originally posted by HighlandWarrior
is this where our cars are made, or the company who owns it? either way, is there actually a pure british car? i thought all the british car companys were bought by foreign companys?

IIRC, there are no longer any "pure" british/english cars.

To wit:

Jaguar is owned by FoMoCo as is Aston Martin.

Range Rover is owned by FoMoCo (didn't they purchase the Range Rover line from BMW?) and for the time being Land Rover is owned by BMW, or perhaps by FoMoCo, with the engines being supplied BMW.

All car manufacturers that are wholly owned by any one country are either American, Japanese, or German (and I'm talking about car makers in mass numbers, that sell to other markets, so for all the Yugos out there, they no longer count). But now that the marketplace is global, most consumers care less about where a car is made or who the ownership belongs to and more about quality, value, feature content and (for the Americans in particular) luxury status.

 

[Mojotronica]

Late 90's Mazda 626 LX -- the ancestor of the Mazda 6. 6-cylinder. Gets about 24mpg.

It's Mazda's family sedan -- four-door, comparable to the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Taurus...

RoddyVR --

It's VERY dependable and peppy.

It's Japanese, but the smallest, scrappiest of Japanese car companies. They specialize in designs built around a Wankel engine for their sports car line. It's the only car company that really embraced the Wankel engine and it's rotary cylinder.

Many of their components are built in partnerships w/ American companies. I think Ford is their primary American partner, but I'm not sure. But they are definitely a Japanese company.

 

[El Tee]

Originally posted by Mojotronica
It's Japanese, but the smallest, scrappiest of Japanese car companies. They specialize in designs built around a Wankel engine for their sports car line. It's the only car company that really embraced the Wankel engine and it's rotary cylinder.

Many of their components are built in partnerships w/ American companies. I think Ford is their primary American partner, but I'm not sure. But they are definitely a Japanese company.

Have you driven the FD RX-7 (93-95 in the US)? Talk about an adult go-cart! I would have purchased one instead of my Camaro (I really should have) but I don't really fit into the drivers compartment. I'm a bit too tall. In hindsight, I should have removed some vertebrae and put up with it.

It is a really, really fun car. Too bad it's not being imported here anymore. The RX-8 isn't really the same thing.

Mazda is a very interesting company. Not only did they stick by the Wankel Rotary, they also produced the "Miller Cycle" supercharged engine for the Millenia. Their engineers deserve a place in automotive history if for no other reason than being innovators in their field.

Now that my mind is back on the RX-7, maybe I could convince the wife that, as we start our family, I should drive a two-seat sports car.

 

[SunTzu]

I sold my 1999 Chevy Silverado this past february. It had the big 5.7L 350HP Vortec engine Vrrrrroooom! It was black, dark black tinted windows, black rain visors, chrome panels, custom rims, tires, bed liner, it was truly BLING BLING
But i sold it
I'm driving my old 1990 Nissan Stanza, its a piece, but it still runs good with 250,000 miles on it lol. It has the 2.4L 140HP engine.
My mom drives a 1986 Toyota 4runner.
I'm planning on getting a new 4Runner this summer

 

[Mojotronica]

El Tee --

Alas, I am a terrible driver*, undeserving of a fine automobile like the RX-7 or even a Camaro.

I stick w/ practical, mid-sized or smaller commuter cars. Keeps me out of trouble.

Good luck convincing your wife! Mine rolls her eyes at me when I bring up the subject of getting a two-seater, and would do so even if I were a fairly competent behind the wheel. She's thinking we should look into an SUV or station wagon... Should I be nervous?

*Overly cautious, lack confidence, annoying -- not a good candidate for a sporty car. Never had a ticket though, and only involved in one accident (that was not my fault) over ten years ago...

 

[thestonesfan]

'99 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP. It's a good car.

 

[El Tee]

@Mojotronica

The chances of my wife actually agreeing to the RX-7 are slim and none, and slim don't come 'round here much anymore.

I haven't had a ticket since I was a teenager. Apparently the one time made me change my ways. Or maybe I just decided to invest in a radar/laser detector. I don't drive aggressively much anymore, but given the right circumstances, I would.

SUVs and Wagons aren't all bad. The Forester wagon (that we're waiting to show up at a dealer for a test drive) is practical and quick. I might get some pleasure at showing the tail lights to a BMW driver sometime in the future. If you need one for practical purposes, they do their job and do it well.

@Stonesfan:

How do you like your Grand Prix? I've heard different stories ranging from the desire to put a 12-gauge slug through the engine block all the way up to putting the car on a near-mythic level.