Other vehicles you should hate, but ending up kind of liking?

[1971demon]

I knew we must have had something in common.

Had a ‘75 T/A with that horrible 400 CI with little or no power and the gears were like 2.50. We had it up over 150 but it would take forever.

Then I ordered a ‘78 with the real Pontiac 400, 4sp, WS6, T-tops, gold NO BIRD on the hood. That was a good one. But I made it better.
Little known fact if you simply bolted a set of pre-emission 400 heads (junk yard - $30 off a six pack 400 CI). In one to two days, we ripped it down to its pistons, bolted on the heads, headers, medium rise intake, a 750 double pumper, adjusted the valves and wow! I think she was then 350-400 hp. After that had to mod the clutch, & rebuild the tranny once. It was sweet. Wish I did not need to sell it to return to college. After that I had a ‘75 MGB! Drive it for four years I think and sold it for a few more bucks than the $3k I gave for it. I really liked that old girl also. Got real close to that one, rebuilt the engine once, added a set of double carbs that were a pain sometimes and worked on a bunch of stuff all the time.

Let me guess...a pair of SU carbs

 

[DGatzby]

Let me guess...a pair of SU carbs

Yep. And a dent was in the top of the quarter panel when my fist slammed it one of the first times I was attempting to sync those SOB’s.

 

[1971demon]

Yep. And a dent was in the top of the quarter panel when my fist slammed it one of the first times I was attempting to sync those SOB’s.

Trust me...I know the drill...(see we do have something in common)

 

[Jimmy N.]

@Jimmy N. for the love of god wash the bugs off the front of your cars!

Those are her bugs, not mine.

Besides, the rain and snow tends to clean them off nicely, and automatically.

 

[Jimmy N.]

Let me guess...a pair of SU carbs

Had quite a few MGBs. My first and third cars were Bs, and later I had a relapse. This one being the most fun, void of SU carbs, heater, radio, and other unnecessary things.

Low weight and a bit over 300 hp with a 5-speed made it a blast to drive, plus it was quite low key. No V8 enblems or other signs, except for the width of the tires and dual exhaust. Very few noticed the slightly flared rear fenders needed to accommodate those tires.

But even with a slightly better power to weight ratio it wouldn't keep up with my girlfriend's 911 Turbo S (not with me shifting anyway) so I sold it.

 

[jroyk]

Had quite a few MGBs. My first and third cars were Bs, and later I had a relapse. This one being the most fun, void of SU carbs, heater, radio, and other unnecessary things.

Low weight and a bit over 300 hp with a 5-speed made it a blast to drive, plus it was quite low key. No V8 enblems or other signs, except for the width of the tires and dual exhaust. Very few noticed the slightly flared rear fenders needed to accommodate those tires.

But even with a slightly better power to weight ratio it wouldn't keep up with my girlfriend's 911 Turbo S (not with me shifting anyway) so I sold it. View attachment 149444 View attachment 149445

Very nice MG!

MG’s are big sellers in the UK, now. Too bad they are Chinese SUV’s.

 

[DGatzby]

Had quite a few MGBs. My first and third cars were Bs, and later I had a relapse. This one being the most fun, void of SU carbs, heater, radio, and other unnecessary things.

Low weight and a bit over 300 hp with a 5-speed made it a blast to drive, plus it was quite low key. No V8 enblems or other signs, except for the width of the tires and dual exhaust. Very few noticed the slightly flared rear fenders needed to accommodate those tires.

But even with a slightly better power to weight ratio it wouldn't keep up with my girlfriend's 911 Turbo S (not with me shifting anyway) so I sold it. View attachment 149444 View attachment 149445

Turn that into a 1975 and it has the same color combo as mine did! Because I have talked with you and know you a bit etc. I can understand clearly that you had several.

 

[jroyk]

Do we need a “car you thought you’d love but ended up hating thread”?

 

[Jimmy N.]

Turn that into a 1975 and it has the same color combo as mine did! Because I have talked with you and know you a bit etc. I can understand clearly that you had several.

With that one, the model year is an interesting story.

It was built with a '69 tub as those offered a larger transmission tunnel, but with the metal dash that wasn't offered in the USA after the '67 model year.

Then there were noises about even more stringent emission regulations in California so I went to the CHP, armed with photos of how a '69 should look. Wanted it to be a '65.

Why '65, one of the officers asked. Because my first MGB was a '65, and in the same color, I said. Okay, a '65 it is then said the officer. That was a happy day, although it turned out to be not necessary since I moved out of California not much later.

Oh, and now my "OMG A69" didn't make sense anymore, but I could live with that.

 

[Jimmy N.]

Do we need a “car you thought you’d love but ended up hating thread”?

I nominate my Q5. Mostly because I really missed the Challenger GT AWD it replaced, but the touch screen didn't exactly impress me - not that I like any touch screens. Fun little car, but, it was sold with maybe 600 miles on it.

It was replaced with another GT AWD, which I'm not getting rid of anytime soon.

 

[jroyk]

1973 Austin Marina. Don’t laugh, all I wanted was cheap reliable newish car. It was promoted as implementing all of British Leyland’s most dependable pieces, like a single carb MGB engine. It was reliable and comfortable until it decided to swap ends and crash into a guardrail on an icy overpass with no provocation. It was all downhill after that. The young lady that was with me on our first (and last) date never returned any calls after that.

 

[MMissile]

Most AMC cars, mid-60's on.

 

[2ndAmend]

I never thought I'd say this, but I think I'd get a Plaid before the Audi.

Audi's are like BMW's and MB's. Great for the 1st owner, horrible resale, and virtually unmaintainable for later owners, no thanks, been there, done that, never again.

Local guy has a Plaid, does consistent 9.1's at 149-151. Did 203.5 in the 1mi last summer, in 23sec.Can't see how a Audi that costs 30-40% more is better than that. But I wouldn't buy either though.

 

[1971demon]

Had quite a few MGBs. My first and third cars were Bs, and later I had a relapse. This one being the most fun, void of SU carbs, heater, radio, and other unnecessary things.

Low weight and a bit over 300 hp with a 5-speed made it a blast to drive, plus it was quite low key. No V8 enblems or other signs, except for the width of the tires and dual exhaust. Very few noticed the slightly flared rear fenders needed to accommodate those tires.

But even with a slightly better power to weight ratio it wouldn't keep up with my girlfriend's 911 Turbo S (not with me shifting anyway) so I sold it. View attachment 149444 View attachment 149445

That is one cool ride...I woulda never sold it

 

[Jimmy N.]

Local guy has a Plaid, does consistent 9.1's at 149-151. Did 203.5 in the 1mi last summer, in 23sec.Can't see how a Audi that costs 30-40% more is better than that. .

It's better because you can go places with one, without worrying about where to find charging stations, or bringing a generator on a trailer.

How much quicker or faster a Plaid is, that's something I couldn't care less about. And thanks to the election results it doesn't look like I'll have to drive any kind of EV anytime soon, thank God.

 

[2ndAmend]

It's better because you can go places with one, without worrying about where to find charging stations, or bringing a generator on a trailer.

How much quicker or faster a Plaid is, that's something I couldn't care less about. And thanks to the election results it doesn't look like I'll have to drive any kind of EV anytime soon, thank God.

A beater to get where you need to go and a Plaid to go where you want to go quickly costs less than that Audi! To me, it is a non-starter.

 

[Jimmy N.]

That is one cool ride...I woulda never sold it

Thanks. Not long after getting that one I came across a very nice '74 GT.

It also had a V8 and 5-speed, but was nothing like the really fun one. The engine was stock, it had A/C, a radio, and was very quiet. I referred to that one as my old man's car.

It looked great, and I put real wire wheels (with knock-offs) on it shortly after getting it. Then sold that one, too, after maybe a year. And the Bugeye, and the Lotus Seven, and a couple of others.

Basically, I was done with little cars. All I have left is a few parts cars and an MG TD that I really like. Most wouldn't.

 

[Jimmy N.]

A beater to get where you need to go and a Plaid to go where you want to go quickly costs less than that Audi! To me, it is a non-starter.

Okay, I could get to places quickly (which I already can, without being ashamed of what I'm driving), but then I couldn't get back home again.

For example, yesterday was a visit with the dermatologist (part of my weight loss program), a typical just under 200 mile roundtrip. That's well within the range of an EV, you say. No, it's not.

Yes, I could get there, just not back again. Not even if the weather was EV friendly and I drove much more slowly.

 

[2ndAmend]

Okay, I could get to places quickly (which I already can, without being ashamed of what I'm driving), but then I couldn't get back home again.

For example, yesterday was a visit with the dermatologist (part of my weight loss program), a typical just under 200 mile roundtrip. That's well within the range of an EV, you say. No, it's not.

Yes, I could get there, just not back again. Not even if the weather was EV friendly and I drove much more slowly.

That's why you have the beater! Or you could eat less (or eat better)! And why would you be ashamed driving a car that can beat 99.99% of the cars on the road? I do not understand....

 

[Jimmy N.]

That's why you have the beater! Or you could eat less (or eat better)! And why would you be ashamed driving a car that can beat 99.99% of the cars on the road? I do not understand....

My '19 Durango is my beater, and if I have to park somewhere not great or the weather is bad, that's what I take. Otherwise it's the Challenger GT AWD. Or the TRX. Or if I'm lucky, the 'Cat.

Not up on the Plaid and what one can do, but around here it's really more important to have good handling than a quick and/or fast vehicle. But let's say it'd out-handle everything I have. That still won't get me back home, except for if going to Pagosa Springs, which is only some 70 miles away and with no truly meaningful elevation changes along the way.

So I could buy a Plaid and use it for going there (and back, in theory) then drive something else when going other places. But why? EVs do absolutely nothing for me.

And for eating less, or better. Well, I hope they removed all the melanoma on this second try. It's not the most efficient weightloss program, but every bit counts. Right?