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

[Deleted member]

I just ordered a new pair of hatch struts for +1's 19yo Hyundai Accent.
Thought they would have lasted longer than that.

Who’d have thunk it ?

 

[tgh]

A 19 yo Hyundai is ( that is actually still roadworthy) is probably a fair punt as a collectable and to that end is likely an asset rather than a liability.

 

[Cossie]

Did the jackpot go off? If so and it's mine, this is one of my next cars.

 

[Buzzard]

A 19 yo Hyundai is ( that is actually still roadworthy) is probably a fair punt as a collectable and to that end is likely an asset rather than a liability.

Purchased new, it has travelled just over 100k. The only problem with it is the hail damage it suffered 3 years ago IIRC. Until then it was perfect.

 

[rogerkambah]

Likewise with Mrs Rk's 17yo Cillycar hatch struts.
Haven't got around to fitting them yet though. Can't budge the nuts fixing them to the hatch. Apparently the go is to just cut them off with an angle grinder so you can slip a socket onto the nut.

I just ordered a new pair of hatch struts for +1's 19yo Hyundai Accent.
Thought they would have lasted longer than that.

 

[juddles]

I don't currently own a vehicle - I just use rentals. Over the past few weeks have had an absolute mixed bag, but the ones I enjoyed most were Klugers. But I really noticed the difference between the last two. One was brand new - and doing lots of highway traffic I came to really enjoy whatever you call the system where cruise control adjusts for other vehicles speeds. Sorry I do not know the technical term but I am not a "rev-head" like all you people Today I had another Kluger with 50k on the clock - being a rental this is not an old vehicle - but it did not have the same radar/cruise control system. So is this new? As in the changing speeds to match other cars thing?

In any case, the newest Kluger was great - particularly liked the function where if you are reversing out of a driveway/etc it alerts you to vehicles coming down the street. But it lacked a simple proximity warning for the nose when parking in tight spaces - major miss IMHO.

 

[blackcat20]

I don't currently own a vehicle - I just use rentals. Over the past few weeks have had an absolute mixed bag, but the ones I enjoyed most were Klugers. But I really noticed the difference between the last two. One was brand new - and doing lots of highway traffic I came to really enjoy whatever you call the system where cruise control adjusts for other vehicles speeds. Sorry I do not know the technical term but I am not a "rev-head" like all you people Today I had another Kluger with 50k on the clock - being a rental this is not an old vehicle - but it did not have the same radar/cruise control system. So is this new? As in the changing speeds to match other cars thing?

In any case, the newest Kluger was great - particularly liked the function where if you are reversing out of a driveway/etc it alerts you to vehicles coming down the street. But it lacked a simple proximity warning for the nose when parking in tight spaces - major miss IMHO.

Radar cruise control. My car has it, makes you realise how slow some people drive when your car slows right down....

 

[rogerkambah]

MrsRk's 110km 17yo Cillycar that tries to decapitate anyone who attempts to put shopping in the rear hatch in winter.



And the hungry hatch.

 

[JohnM]

I don't currently own a vehicle - I just use rentals. Over the past few weeks have had an absolute mixed bag, but the ones I enjoyed most were Klugers. But I really noticed the difference between the last two. One was brand new - and doing lots of highway traffic I came to really enjoy whatever you call the system where cruise control adjusts for other vehicles speeds. Sorry I do not know the technical term but I am not a "rev-head" like all you people Today I had another Kluger with 50k on the clock - being a rental this is not an old vehicle - but it did not have the same radar/cruise control system. So is this new? As in the changing speeds to match other cars thing?

In any case, the newest Kluger was great - particularly liked the function where if you are reversing out of a driveway/etc it alerts you to vehicles coming down the street. But it lacked a simple proximity warning for the nose when parking in tight spaces - major miss IMHO.

I don’t like the active cruise control in the country. My A4 doesn’t have it but a current model loaner when mine was being serviced - and which happened to be a brand-new and more fruit-laden demonstrator from the new car department - did.

I took it for a 500km spin through some varied territory out of town to have a proper test drive as the salesman was looking to induce me to trade up. On long straights it slowed the vehicle far too early. I found it very irritating. I didn’t check to see whether any adjustment of range or sensitivity was possible.

And the low-profile tyres on this ‘S’ version were unbelievably noisy on country coarse-chip at speed. They might look posy when puttering around in the city and be good on an autobahn at proper high speed, but are essentially a negative in Australia IMO.

Klugers are heavy on fuel, I believe. I’m thinking a Prado for my next vehicle. And that would probably see me out until the S-model mobility scooter with active cruise control and low-profile tyres...

 

[k_sheep]

Drove our work car this week for 800km odd, it's an i20 or 30 diesel. Now I hate autos and I hate diesels but this wasn't completely awful.

It had the adaptive cruise control which I quite liked, and the thing where it keeps you between the lines while driving automatically. I hated this at first (I drive slightly left positioned in the lane because I'm used to stupidly large SUV behemoths straddling my lane) because I was somewhat fighting it but quickly adapted.

 

[tgh]

Most, if not all adaptive cruise controls allow you to adjust the distance between you and the vehicle in front.
I tend to set it close but this results in heavy braking sometimes.
I can set mine for permanent close in the software (Instead of each use) but dare not until it is out of warranty when it will also acquire active speed warning and a few other goodies that are now switched off for au.
My truck also has low profile tyres that I had expected to ditch, but they are quiet and sharpen up the handling around town.
Useless in the bush though….

 

[kelvedon]

My understanding of low profile tyres is that by reducing the height of the side wall it reduces the flex of the tyre and so tightens up the handling. However since the tyre sidewall gives “cushioning” for bumps in the road, the lower the tyre profile, the harder the ride.
Road noise from the tyre is a function of the tread pattern and not the tyre profile. So when you order bigger wheels for your car, the profile of the tyres fitted has to be lowered so as not to increase the diameter of the new wheel/ tyre combination, which would otherwise affect the cars gearing and speedometer readings.
Is this correct or am I missing something?

 

[JessicaTam]

My understanding of low profile tyres is that by reducing the height of the side wall it reduces the flex of the tyre and so tightens up the handling. However since the tyre sidewall gives “cushioning” for bumps in the road, the lower the tyre profile, the harder the ride.
Road noise from the tyre is a function of the tread pattern and not the tyre profile. So when you order bigger wheels for your car, the profile of the tyres fitted has to be lowered so as not to increase the diameter of the new wheel/ tyre combination, which would otherwise affect the cars gearing and speedometer readings.
Is this correct or am I missing something?

Spot on.

 

[Cossie]

Yay, my Escort Cosworth rally car has been sold, now to focus on getting the road going one and my 2.8i Capri up and running. Still looking for a replacement for the Focus (not the RS Focus), was thinking of a Ranger, Hilux and the like, but they are just too big.
Had a new RAV4 in NZ, but didn't like it, so I'm looking towards an X-Trail type thing, would seriously have considered an Escape, but given some issues with both the Focus versions that we have, I'm not that keen on buying another Ford.

 

[Andz]

very tempted to buy the new defender 110- The New Land Rover Defender - Land Rover UK

 

[amaroo]

Really liked our Lincoln Navigator rental for a drive through MA and NY. Bloody big beast of a car, pity they don't sell them here.

 

[Quickstatus]

It's currently having an engine re-build

What’s normally involved in an engine rebuild?

 

[Quickstatus]

Really liked our Lincoln Navigator rental for a drive through MA and NY. Bloody big beast of a car, pity they don't sell them here.

it’s not as big as the Suburban which we managed to fit 2Ad in front, 3 preteens at back and 500kg luggage allowance plus unmeasured carryons one time in the USA.
But still they are a beast and a little more upmarket than the Burb.
The Americans seem to like the “soft” suspension which to me felt like it was wallowing - slightly disconcerting.

 

[amaroo]

it’s not as big as the Suburban which we managed to fit 2Ad in front, 3 preteens at back and 500kg luggage allowance plus unmeasured carryons one time in the USA.
But still they are a beast and a little more upmarket than the Burb.
The Americans seem to like the “soft” suspension which to me felt like it was wallowing - slightly disconcerting.

Would buy one in a heartbeat. Very responsive when the foot was planted

 

[Quickstatus]

Looks small from that angle.
.......

I test drove one of these couple weeks ago:
Very soft ride but emasculates those Ford Ranger Wildtraks