So... what car do you guys drive when not flying?

[Quickstatus]

Or make you use a 80kmh space saver. A front flat really does mean moving a good rear to the front and pitting space saver to rear

 

[Buzzard]

Mr Up received his HSV GTS a couple of weeks ago.. Are 5 V8s for two people too many
Bring on Bathurst weekend

Looking forward to the next 2 days of TV watching but I think it will be a Ford this year Uppy.

 

[Simo]

Yep love Bathurst weekend

 

[trooper]

CVT?

I believe they all are.... but as someone who has always had the large sedate kind of wagon (my sport is gear intensive!) this is...a lot of fun.
After due research I went for the standard GT model..... the Spec B just seemed a bit silly ..and reviews suggested the ride in the GT-S was harsher than desirable for a "daily drive".... GT-S SEATS would be a nice touch as several reviewers pointed out.....but I'm happy with the firm, rather than hard, ride....
Again..i am used to larger, softer riding wagons... I suspect my 2 -speeding-fines-in-37-years-record is going to change abruptly however......this thing is like a motorbike.... accelerate away from the lights for 2 seconds...and you're speeding.... lol

 

[Skyring]

Just responding to a few points in discussion. After decades of yearning, I finally got to drive a red Mustang down Route 66. And a yellow Camaro in Chicago. They look great - not as good as the originals IMHO - but frankly I prefer my 2015 Golf wagon. American cars rarely impress me as efficient driving machines.

The Golf is what I use for Ubering. It's a pleasant, comfortable ride, has enough room for luggage, though perhaps a little squeezy in the back on the rare occasions I have four passengers. It has all the options, including reverse and nose-in parking, adaptive cruise control and collision avoidance.

I look on these last as the first washings of what will eventually become consumer self-driving cars. I tested the parking features, but frankly, after decades of driving and five years as a cabbie, I can park a car reasonably well. The sensors and especially the rear-view camera help when things get tight. There's a lot of beeping, which soon gets old.

The adaptive cruise control is something I use a lot. I'm on the road enough that I go through any number of speed cameras, so I set the thing to the speed limit plus a little over. Been years since I got a speeding ticket. Usually the system follows the car ahead nicely, with perhaps a little more buffer than I'd like, as other cars will dive in if I let them, and that slows me down even more. Occasionally the thing gets confused by a car turning, or a cyclist, and it will slow me down when there's no real need. The collision avoidance hasn't had a full scale test - yet - but it has issued warnings and begun slowing me firmly down on occasion.

There's a pedestrian bridge across Coranderrk Street that flummoxes the car's brain. For some reason it pings off the supports and tells me that I'm about to be T-boned. With some beeping, of course.

I guess more recent models are smarter, but I do wonder about robot cars, They might spend a lot of time slowing down and avoiding hazards that aren't actually there.

What would be really useful around Canberra at night is a kangaroo detection system. Preferably coupled with vehicle-mounted weapons, though this might be tough on late night pedestrians.

 

[JessicaTam]

Four weeks to go until my Simpson Desert Dash. Underbody protection goes on tomorrow; suspension and dual battery system in a couple of weeks. I think I am running out of things to bolt on to the car!

 

[Quickstatus]

Four weeks to go until my Simpson Desert Dash. Underbody protection goes on tomorrow; suspension and dual battery system in a couple of weeks. I think I am running out of things to bolt on to the car!

Double diff locks
Air compressor
Mud terrain tyres
Spotties
Hi-lift jack
10000lb electric winch
Dual spare wheel carrier
Long range fuel tank, water tank
GVM increase
Long travel suspension
UHF/HFradio and antenna
Satphone
Cargo barrier
Cargo drawer system...........

......But a bit late for the Simpson?. Better in July when it’s cooler?

 

[JessicaTam]

Double diff locks
Air compressor
Mud terrain tyres
Spotties
Hi-lift jack
10000lb electric winch
Dual spare wheel carrier
Long range fuel tank, water tank
GVM increase
Long travel suspension
UHF/HFradio and antenna
Satphone
Cargo barrier
Cargo drawer system...........

......But a bit late for the Simpson?. Better in July when it’s cooler?

Ok, you have a couple of things I don't!

We won't have time to get hot. MEL-Simpson-MEL in 9 days.

4 cars, 8 drivers.

 

[Quickstatus]

Ok, you have a couple of things I don't!

We won't have time to get hot. MEL-Simpson-MEL in 9 days.

4 cars, 8 drivers.

I don’t have any of those bolt ons fortunately. I tow horse floats so have airbags for the rear springs and Engel fridge and Bullbar (non winch) because wife said put one on we hit too many kangaroos. But since putting the bullbar on we have not hit a kangaroo.

Oh but you must have a Porta Potti

Are you going over Big Red or around it?

A Range Rover HSE would complete the refined “Estate” look when involved in equestrians but I’ve got a LC200 diesel with various dents, scrapes

 

[JessicaTam]

I don’t have any of those bolt ons fortunately. I tow horse floats so have airbags for the rear springs and Engel fridge and Bullbar (non winch) because wife said put one on we hit too many kangaroos. But since putting the bullbar on we have not hit a kangaroo.

Oh but you must have a Porta Potti

Are you going over Big Red or around it?

I have a shovel.

And we are going over, before making a triumphant entry into Birdsville.

Note to self - do a trip report.

 

[Simo]

I have a shovel.

And we are going over, before making a triumphant entry into Birdsville.

Note to self - do a trip report.

Sounds like a great trip... Look forward to TR

 

[cove]

Enjoy your drive to Birdsville JT. Having been bogged in a 4wd in quite remote surf spots a shovel and some boards can be very handy in the soft stuff.

 

[Quickstatus]

...Oh but you must have a Porta Potti....

I have a shovel.

...Having been bogged in a 4wd in quite remote surf spots a shovel and some boards can be very handy

Haha a shovel is an important multifunction tool!

 

[ozmille]

Got a Kodiaq a couple of weeks ago, quite impressed after a test drive and so far it has been doing great, got it with the launch pack which is a combo of the tech and the luxury pack but no electric / heated seats. It is massive inside and the 2.0l Audi engine (which I though was small) is actually quite adequate in our hilly area. As was to be expected the mrs. has already claimed it and I am now driving her Outback...

 

[blackcat20]

Subaru Levorg. Thoroughly enjoying it.

Looking at one of these when I upgrade from my Mazda in the next year or two... I want something bigger than my current car but something with at least the same oomph.

 

[Quickstatus]

Got a Kodiaq a couple of weeks ago, quite impressed after a test drive and so far it has been doing great, got it with the launch pack which is a combo of the tech and the luxury pack but no electric / heated seats. It is massive inside and the 2.0l Audi engine (which I though was small) is actually quite adequate in our hilly area. As was to be expected the mrs. has already claimed it and I am now driving her Outback...

Well done and welcome to the VW family which includes Bentley. Personally it’s a silly name for me and the Audi engine - well its one used in VW as well but can see why the car salespeople would rather spruik the Audi name rather than the VW. Ever heard a car salesperson say to a prospective Audi buyer that the engine in the Audi car is a Skoda engine?
Skodas are excellent cars as are most of the ones in the VW family. However I’ve never been sold on the badge names and resale value
Sorry to hear you have been relegated to the Outback

 

[ozmille]

it just caught my attention (with some not so subtle guidance from the salesperson ) that the engine still has the Audi signs on them, same engine in a lot of them actually

 

[Quickstatus]

Haha yes as are a lot of parts in the vehicle. It’s mostly unified parts with Audi VW Skoda logos.
I think the 132TSI is also in the VW Tiguan.
But hey why not can’t hurt resale!!

BTW are you sure the dealership just didn’t swop the engine covers?

 

[ozmille]

Haha yes as are a lot of parts in the vehicle. It’s mostly unified parts with Audi VW Skoda logos.
I think the 132TSI is also in the VW Tiguan.
But hey why not can’t hurt resale!!

BTW are you sure the dealership just didn’t swop the engine covers?

it was just the audi sign in the actual metal of the engine block, the cover says Skoda, I'm now looking at swapping the Outbakc for a Superb

 

[Quickstatus]

The Superb is a very nice car. If only they had a diesel