cramming the whole cake in my face

[redpoint5]

Why have 1 cake if you can more easily have 3?

Get a fuel efficient car for commuting and mature a little when it comes to wanting to blow the socks off of ricer cars.

Get a sporty car for weekend fun so that you don't have to completely mature. Blow the socks off of the ricers with this car.

Get a 4x4 for the utility.

The best car I've owned is a Subaru Legacy 2.2L. If I could only have 1 car, that's the one I'd have. Since I don't have to own just 1 vehicle, I have 4.

Ram 2500 4x4 - Utility
TSX - Sporty
Camry - Commuter/Road Trips
CBR600 F4i - No car under $100K can beat me/track days

[ecomodded]

A NEED FOR SPEED

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycicoWJSI8c

On the Autobahn @165 mph

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by ecomodded

A NEED FOR SPEED

Like I'm looking at my own bike. I've maxed the speed a couple of times myself at about 160 mph, although the speedo is optimistic. All that speed can be had for $3k or less.

[inanitydefined]

I would kill myself on a bike. And i really want a do all vehicle. My little sister just bought a Subaru legacy and that thing corners nice for stock. Though I just love my parents rav4, its such a fun, eager little SUV to drive. I figure the older, lighter rav4 with its 3s motor and altrac inspired drive train would be wild fun and still get the fuel economy I need. The Subaru Forrester is heavier and smaller inside, and the awd system just feels less efficient. I've always had a thing for performance wagons. if I could just get a Toyota Caldina in this country I'd be set. But I'm looking at my options and there aren't many cars that do what I want

[Xist]

How is the Forester smaller inside? I hated how mine cornered, while my dad's F150 did far better.

[UltArc]

I like your idea, but I LOVE having a second car. It's so nice to be able to drive the other whenever I want; weather, fuel level, destination, purpose, or just because.

[redpoint5]

Another advantage of owning a second (or third, or fourth :P) vehicle is that you are never under any pressure to fix it if something goes wrong. If your only vehicle breaks down, you must fix it and pay whatever price to get it back on the road immediately. This way, you can make repairs at your leisure, or spend extra time looking for a great deal on a replacement.

As much as I like the idea of a do all vehicle, it just doesn't make sense financially, and there are always compromises made when designing something that "does everything".

[UltArc]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Another advantage of owning a second (or third, or fourth :P) vehicle is that you are never under any pressure to fix it if something goes wrong. If your only vehicle breaks down, you must fix it and pay whatever price to get it back on the road immediately. This way, you can make repairs at your leisure, or spend extra time looking for a great deal on a replacement.

As much as I like the idea of a do all vehicle, it just doesn't make sense financially, and there are always compromises made when designing something that "does everything".

I completely agree up to a point- for many people being able to save up the money for a second (reliable?) car can be an issue. Your point is valid, one has time and flexibility- but is buying a $1500+ car better than getting repairs done in a timely fashion? To a point, yes, but in most situations no.

[Cobb]

Notice he hovered around 7 grand til he nailed it, then he hovered around redline, 14 grand.

[wmjinman]

If the boattail is too "extreme" a project, some sort of kamm back would probably still help a lot. Like everyone else is saying, block the grille, add to the air dam, get the air around the front of the car instead of into it or under it. If there's a roof rack you don't need, remove it when you don't need it, keep the tires aired-up to maximum inflation for mileage, alter driving - hypermiling will probably do as much as all the mechanical/aero tricks.

I drove a 2000 Jimmy 4-door SUV with a 4.3 liter V-6 until it got wrecked, and could exceed 26 mpg with it by hypermiling. Still had the "all around" cargo/passenger space, 4 wheel drive capability, etc. Of course, I had the "White Gnat", too, and for all out gas saving, it would easily double the mpg of the Jimmy, and approach tripling it at times.

A second set of wheels/tires is probably more do-able than a second car, so if you want "meaty" tires for off road, and/or wide tires for your racing, perhaps change tires & run skinny, low rolling resistance tires for economy (assuming you aren't constantly changing roles, like every week, or whatever - that might become a big pain in that case)...