About Tim

Tim

I think my mother would have bought one of these. She bought (and replaced) the original. 😄

Tim

I'm disappointed there was no Seinfeld reference in the story. "The Smelly Car," season 4, episode 21 may be the most famous pop-culture reference about car odor. Or people-caused car odor. 😄

Tim

It's true. The vehicle he totaled was a loaner from the tournament or country club (I can't remember which, but either way, he didn't pay for it and it wasn't even his.)

Tim

Does the Porsche have a flood-branded title? 😄

Tim

Just reading the article title, disc brakes came to mind. I see you covered that. 🙂 If I had a gen-1 Mustang, for example, I'd give it the disc brake, power steering and power brake upgrades if it didn't already have those. Also, a "factory" look A/C kit. And I'd swap the stereo for a Bluetooth compatible head unit that looked retro (but I'd still keep the original in that box of take-off parts). Under the hood, electronic ignition and an alternator conversion (if it had a generator) would be early modifications for low maintenance and drive ability. The goal would be to have a nice weekend driver and try to keep modifications invisible from the exterior.

Tim

Electric GT40 please. I don't have an EV yet, but I do find it odd that so many people that like performance/sports cars are so vocally anti-EV. 0-60 in 5 seconds with the gasoline-powered engine or 0-60 in 2.something seconds with the electric motor. I guess most people just want it to *sound* like they're going fast without actually needing to be quick. 🙂 Really, it's just range and recharge times that are the only issues needing to be perfected.

Tim

40% from natural gas, 20% renewables, 20% nuclear, 19% coal and 1% petroleum.

Tim

You may have well explained why these are being collected and not driven. 😀

Tim

The Revolution engine has propagated beyond the V-Rod. The reason it was not initially successful was that it was paired with a bike that was quite a departure from the norm for a typical Harley at the time. Emissions restrictions for bikes are steadily increasing, necessitating a move to liquid-cooled motors. The H-D ship is large and steers slowly, but eventually it will get there (updated motors, electric bikes, etc.) If corporate keeps supplying bikes for the aging boomers and early Gen-Xers while bringing new bikes for Millenials and beyond, it can remain relevant.

Tim

You are conflating any big cruiser rider with Harley riders. There are as many, if not more "loud pipe" riders of other brands and custom cruisers. A lot of bikes that the casual non-biker thinks are Harleys are, in fact, not. Any biker that runs straight pipes is an obnoxious------- regardless of brand. For those that enjoy the rumble of a gasoline-powered engine, there are many ways to achieve that without being obnoxious.

Tim

Sajeev, your knowledge of Ford's of this era (not just Mustang) is impressive. The detail in this guide is a must-read for anyone shopping a Fox body. If I ever see an '87 GT that lures me in, I;lol know exactly what to look for.

Tim

An '87 GT was my favorite at the time, with all the power and the better looks than the LX. I didn't care if the LX was faster, I'd take the GT or GT convertible. I wouldn't begrudge anyone opting for the LX, and '87 appears to be the high-water mark for power through the end of the Fox years and well into the 4th gen's run.

Tim

Nobody does outrageous like Lamborghini. So much that they don't seem right unless they are painted in a bright, bold, eye-popping color. Che macchina!

Tim

Sam Smith, you wily man! Just as I was thinking you'd lived the ultimate grandpa's tale to tell... 😄

Tim

I will definitely never forget Renault-10-ad! 😂

Tim

I don't think that was actually an ad, but just a common street comment people would make.

Tim

This could make a could second-hand F-150 if purchased properly. Maybe find a city that used one for the meter maid. 😀

Tim

This video proves that *knowing* and *seeing* are two different things. Knowing how a carburetor works is one thing, but seeing it in action, especially the high-speed footage, makes this far more fun than even a computer-modeled fluid dynamics simulation. If Destin Sandlin has 13 years of videos, I've got a lot of catching up to do. 😄

Tim

That TVR looks the part, but I suspect that "plagued with delays" and "new factory in Wales" means it's doomed to cost substantially more than what could be considered its competition.

Tim

I would tear out that roll bar and replace it with a couple of hoops, similar to the Audi TT and others. In stainless steel, not black. Everything else is perfect. Honestly, the car looks good enough, I wouldn't car if it had an upgraded engine. Even with reinforcement, it's probably got too much chassis flex to take that V8 seriously, anyway.

Tim

When you look at a car mod like this, you realize there are some very talented people. The typical "home mod" usually looks like a bad idea that only got worse the more work that was done. This car looks like it could have been the prototype for a 240Z roadster or convertible. Other than the roll cage that looks a bit like a parts catalogue buy, this car looks like it could have been in a Datsun showroom back in the '70s.

Tim

I'm guessing you are talking about historical motors, non-turbo-charged. The author's comparison to 327s was merely for size, not power. A non-boosted Mustang 5.0 makes up to 480 horsepower, for example. That's the equivalent of about 2,600hp for that tank engine. Of course, this isn't really about power-to-displacement, but just the mere insanity of stuffing a tank engine into a sedan. 😄

Tim

From this review, it sounds like the Bronco is a better Wrangler at a minimum for the 99% of owners who either never go off-road or do so only on typical fire roads and washboard-rutted roads. (For the other 1%, we'll need to wait for a more in-depth, side-by-side, on-the-trail comparison).

Tim · ‎25-06-2021

I have to agree with you. A Cadillac lover would inevitably had non-limos in his collection. Where these models run the gamut across years and generations, one can see how they were garaged as they were replaced in the fleet. Perhaps it started out as being difficult to resell, perhaps the owner feeling they were worth more than what he could sell them for. I think it would be cool to get that black '56 back in running order and operate it as a limo-for-hire for those looking to arrive in a unique way.

Tim · ‎25-06-2021

Of all the mainstream production cars to go electric, it is most crucial that Mazda gets the Miata correct. The roadster's DNA is in lightness, which is the antithesis of electrification. Will Mazda spend the money on redesigning the platform to make it ideal as an electric? Those batteries are going to need to be placed as low as possible to try to maintain the essence of Miata. Even still, it's going to clearly ride and drive differently than the gasoline-powered version. Perhaps the peppier acceleration will help make up for the inevitable change in driving dynamics.

Tim · ‎23-06-2021

I've been riding "post opulence" since I downgraded my A8 for mere Fords. 🙂 I definitely missed some avant garde features like the solar-powered sunroof that helped vent the cabin of hot air, but in the end, I found my bank account preferred I live a more plebeian lifestyle. 😄 There is the amount of money required to afford a vehicle such as these and then there's the amount of money required to justify purchasing and owning a vehicle such as these. 😉

Tim · ‎22-06-2021

I don't remember the wheels being covered by flat fenders in the Monopoly version. A proper two-seater version could be popular with the NEV crowd.

Tim · ‎22-06-2021

Use of turn signals is key here. If the driver signals, he or she claims the space. Backing in lets you pivot into a tighter spot in one simple move vs. the forward-back-forward (-back-forward) of pulling in. So, the proper process should be: Plenty of room (as if, in NY 😄 ) - pull in Tight space - signal and back in

Tim · ‎22-06-2021

I can't help but think that films like this will never happen again. From being able to convince the various authorities to allow certain stunts to be performed to the rising costs and stricter needs for safety to the "we can do it cheaper and safer with CGI", it's too easy to say "no" than "yes" to epic real-life stunts like this. CGI is great for sci-fi and fantasy, but when something is supposed to be "real" and it's replaced by CGI, something is lost in the translation. This reminds me of Bullitt, another film that would never be allowed to be made the same way (can you even imagine what it would take to close off so many streets in San Francisco?) 😄

Tim · ‎21-06-2021

When compared with other investments, there are very, very few cars that are worthwhile investments. So, even if someone held a car long enough for it to be worth a lot more "someday", chances are the same money would have yielded a better return invested in a simple index fund. So, yes, definitely use and enjoy owning the car. Of course, the exception would be cars manufactured in such small numbers that it doesn't take a crystal ball to recognize their rarity. Or, if you are extremely lucky in market timing and happen to buy a vehicle right at the nadir of its price line just before it sees a rapid value increase over the next several years.

Tim · ‎15-06-2021

I sure hope it doesn't take 2 1/2 years to build 125,000 Broncos. Ford added an entire shift to build the Bronco and one would hope they could output 500 Broncos per day once in full output. Granted, with supply/semi-conductor issues, that could take a little while, but napkin math suggests that it should require only about a year to clear that backlog.

Tim · ‎12-06-2021

Wow, you can tell who the C students were in school. Those that didn't read the assignment and wondered why they didn't get a better grade. All the complaints about "no American ads". 😆

Tim · ‎11-06-2021

You know a car was a winner when there is never a time that it isn't loved. These cars were sought in my high school years even though they were definitely "old" cars by then. The Italian styling of the late '50s through the '60s has left us with so many gems that the real shame is that they weren't produced in greater numbers to make them more accessible to those of us who don't have six-figure budgets. The Karmann Ghia is probably the lone exception of these Italian-designed classics.

Tim · ‎10-06-2021

No mention of the 260s, even though they were the same body as the 240s. The 264 GLE was the top trim, adding a few features on top of everything that came with the GL. Leather seating and padded headrests are a few features that come to mind. The stereo (not sure if it was standard or an option) even had a microphone that would allow an executive to record dictation. We still have some fun cassette tapes of making family recordings on the road to grandmother's house. The GLE also swapped the 4-cylinder for the infamous PRV 2.8 V6, which some may recognize as the same motor that ended up in the DeLorean DMC12. We had two in our family: a 1980 and 1982. The 1980 GLE was the first to get the dual square headlights on each side, which really made the older round headlight cars seem dated until they were replaced by the European headlights.

Tim · ‎09-06-2021

Will there be a part two that takes us through the '80s and '90s? It would be interesting to see how we got to the Grand National. I remember as a teen thinking what a great (sort of) sleeper hot rod the '86 GN was and wished for a time that I had money to buy one.

Tim · ‎09-06-2021

Sounds similar to what people said about unibody SUVs not so long ago. "Not a real SUV. Can't take it off-road. Etc." Then people rode in them and said, "Whoah, this rides way better!" Lots of people have needs that don't require more than this. For those who need more and those who think they need more but really don't, there are larger trucks available.

Tim · ‎09-06-2021

There's always more than one way to do it, but each has it's trade-offs. A pickup offers the ability to keep messy things outside that cab/trunk. An auto can't put 1,500 pounds in the bed, meaning there are many tasks a Maverick can do without a trailer that an auto needs a trailer. The tow package (you'll want to seriously consider more than just a hitch and add a transmission oil cooler) and trailer are additional expenses to an auto that costs at least as much, if not more. Then you need a place to store the trailer out of the elements. Sometimes it's better to get a vehicle intended to do the things you need rather than try to make something do what it wasn't designed to do.

Tim · ‎09-06-2021

It shares the same platform as the Escape and now Bronco Sport. The Focus platform was considerably shorter.

Tim · ‎09-06-2021

Baby that Ranger, because there will very likely never be a compact two-door pickup truck again. Maybe some Chinese company might give it a try.

Tim · ‎09-06-2021

Just check the option on the order sheet. The 4WD is paired with the EcoBoost and the 8-speed transmission.

Tim · ‎09-06-2021

Regular cabs are all-but-gone in the pickup market. SuperCrew (4 full doors) are the vast majority of sales. SuperCabs (2+2) make up a small percentage of the rest and regular cabs are practically special order. Chances of a regular cab? Zero percent. Chances of a SuperCab in the Maverick? Near zero. At first, I thought a SuperCab would be perfect. But if the rear seats sacrificed leg room and became unusable but for smaller children, that would be pointless. And if you extend the length of the vehicle six inches, you're in Ranger territory. Ford seems to have made that decision by answering the question, "How do I get my 4x8s home from Home Depot?"

Tim · ‎05-06-2021

I'm not sure if the day will ever come, but if coupes and sedans return to vogue, there could be a place for some of these vehicles. It would be sad to slap one of these names on a crossover just to push sales. A T-bird as a crossover? Weird to me. But a T-bird as an EV luxury convertible sounds like just the way it was meant to be--whisper quiet cruising with the top down. Some of these names have been gone long enough that if they were brought back, most people would think they were new.

Tim · ‎04-06-2021

This is a great list. I've seen them all on TV, but seeing them all in person would be a great bucket list item.

Tim · ‎04-06-2021

Top speed in the regular Microbus was 68mph. That's floored, all-out max in the best conditions. Add a friend or more, their stuff, the slightest headwind or incline and I can see why you were doomed. 😄 That extra 400+ pounds on the 4WD version probably meant the 2.0 was needed just to keep it comparable to the 2WD Microbus. Still, had this been planned during the initial design, I'll bet it would have been a pretty popular option. An alternative to the Broncos and Scouts of the day.

Tim · ‎04-06-2021

Interesting story. Seems like it was the right idea, just the wrong implementation. Yes, vehicles are heavier now, but I can't imagine how Gustav had any fun in a 4WD Microbus with only 50 horse power. Zero to sixty in never. The extra drive train components and skid plates probably put curb weight near 3,000 lbs. He must have had the patience of Job. The later prototypes with a 40% boost in power must have seemed like race cars to him. 😄

Tim · ‎02-06-2021

If you are using your truck 15% of the time for "truck stuff," that's an argument to keep it. That's a pretty high percentage for non-work trucks.

Tim · ‎02-06-2021

I 100% agree that leasing a vehicle is generally not a good idea. It's just a way to hide the fact that you are paying more for a vehicle. I've never leased a vehicle, as I generally prefer to keep them until they die (or a family member kills them). Purchased vehicles also make great hand-me-down vehicles for kids leaving the nest. I think what Jack and I were saying was essentially the same thing: one should really look at how a vehicle (particularly a truck) has been and will be used to determine if it still makes sense to own. The older the truck, the more it probably fits the "it's worth more to me than someone else" category. Which explains how we've had the same F150 in our family for over 17 years. 🙂 I think if Brian's truck was older and paid for, his answer would be different. I also don't necessarily think his trade proposition makes much sense to me. But maybe he's tired of the way the truck drives during his daily solo commutes and imagines something more enjoyable, if certainly not less expensive to own.

Tim · ‎02-06-2021

This situation is a parallel of what is happening in the housing market right now. The price of his truck may be higher, but so is the price of anything that he would replace with it. So, unless the plan is to downsize (in auto-speak, purchase a less-expensive vehicle or no replacement at all), nothing is really gained in the transaction. And with the market as tight as it is, simply *finding* a suitable replacement could be much more difficult than anticipated.

Tim · ‎02-06-2021

I disagree. An SUV may never be a great replacement *for you*, but it could be a great replacement for someone else. If someone isn't using a pickup truck for the features that require one, then other vehicles could be a great replacement. Examples: Someone who never really hauls anything except maybe once a year when you buy a new appliance. Paying for delivery is cheaper. Someone who isn't using the truck bed for things that require a truck bed. If it's not going to mess up the cargo area of an SUV and it fits, an SUV can do the job. Someone who doesn't tow substantially much and/or often. Let's face it, you don't need an F-150 to tow a 3,500 pound boat and trailer. Someone who just needs a friend who owns a truck to let them borrow it on occasion. Gas money and some beer is way cheaper than actually owning a truck.

Tim · ‎29-05-2021

That Camaro is the most hideous example of the most hideous generation of Camaros. I would sooner have put that money into a better example, like a '68.