CARS FUCKING RULE

[Lox]

Whats the MPG on your 3 series?

From what I have seen of STFU's they get 30 plus, but that is the e36.

[malachi]

Can I get opinions on the Hybrid vehicles? I'm in the market for a new/slightly used car. By way of rentals, I've driven a wide variety of cars in the last few years. I've liked hybrids, the mileage is nice, no major complaints other than the creepy silence. But is it actually worth it? Will that warm fuzzy feeling I get with 45mpg wear off in a month when I realize the premium paid?

From my observations, buying one entitles you to cutting people off when you feel like it, parking wherever you want, not signaling ever, driving 10mph below the speed limit in the car pool lane and in general acting like a smug fucking bastard.

Sounds perfect for you.

[leaverbiner]

Whats the MPG on your 3 series?

From what I have seen of STFU's they get 30 plus, but that is the e36.

I have no idea - I don't drive it. That's the wife's car and it just got cleaned and packed up for the winter. Now she gets to suffer driving the "Beast" a 1999 Grand Cherokee Laredo, 200k+ and going strong!

I fart around in a 2004 Honda Accord with 135K+. Which BTW has a fucking annoying driver's side headlight assembly . . . I needed to replace the bulb and to do so you ahve to remove the battery, remvoe a cople of plastic covers and still have a quadruple jointed wrist to get to the screws . . . Annoying, but better than spending a hundred bucks or more having is done by a mechanic.

[Lox]

Weird. Dudes are supposed to know stuff like the MPGs of their wife's car.

[slim]

Yeah, they are.

I cannot condone buying a hybrid car because of points that LOX brought up. I don't trust battery packs, and the cars are filled with tons of unproven electronics just waiting to fail.

Buy a diesel.

If I were in the mood to buy a new used car, I would be buying a diesel for sure. Maybe a Mercedes E320 BlueTec sedan, or maybe the ML series like pitansker has got himself. If money is a problem, then step down to a nicely used Jetta wagon or Golf TDI if you can pack well (they're small).

Diesel motors have been breaking efficiency records, are proven and reliable, and don't come with a bunch of electronic doodads that may or may not work in a decade. The diesel will still work in two decades.

http://www.triplepundit.com/2010/10/vol ... luemotion/

Keep in mind the 75mpg above is more like high 50's here in the states. My coworker routinely gets 700 miles a tank in his Golf TDI... Pretty impressive. PLus, it's FAST! It's got over 250 ft/lbs of torque...

My .02

[pmahnn]

Buy a diesel.

This has always been on my radar and I'm glad you brought it up. Around 2005/6 when I was looking for cars, the TDI models were stupid expensive, with used models priced over their original MSRP because of demand. I opted for the much less fuel efficient Jetta 1.8T Wagon. It seems that VW has taken advantage of this consumer diesel market and is selling them more readily. Base of $25K for the Jetta Wagon seems reasonable. With equivalent mileage to a hybrid plus more power and comparable base price it doesn't seem like I could draw any different conclusion than you.

[slim]

If you go the VW route be patient and find a model with a 5speed manual transmission.

The dual clutch paddle shift tranny is BOUND to have problems down the road, and ultimate efficiency is found with manual tranny due to lighter weight and less rotating parts. Cheaper to fix too. Also, being rarer, will enjoy a much better resale value when you go to get rid of it.

[Lox]

Paddle shifters suck.

Paddles should stay where they belong - on pingpong tables and in bedside table drawers.

[skav]

I haven't used a paddle shift that wasn't laggy. I demand LPB transmission.

[pmahnn]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMo3pwyDNns
The video is useless, but the sound is oh so wonderful.

[dm]

A mate of mine drives a Golf TDI. We call it the tractor.

[600#gorilla]

[slim]

[600#gorilla]

yeah, well, i've used an old D6 to clear mesquite and coconut trees IRL, damnit.

[VTP]

played GT5 last week with the logitech wheel and pedals.

once you get the veyron its all over.

drifting is impossible.

[pmahnn]

played GT5 last week with the logitech wheel and pedals.

Good times? I can't justify the whole wheel and pedals setup without an arcade style seating configuration to go with it. And that's just a bit too much...sticking with the controller I guess.

Drift like whoah.

[VTP]

validity is subjective. i think the setup was $160 and will change your whole perspective on how awesome that game really is. so much more fun.

i played on this: http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-PlayStation-Driving-Force-Racing-3/dp/B0015HYPOO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1294173708&sr=8-1

thats way better that the ones i have at my house: http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Playstation-Driving-Wireless-Feedback-3/dp/B001D1MG5W/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1294173708&sr=8-4

good enough but still...the pedals make it so much more fun. that shit is BADASS.

[Lox]

BADASS.

I guess I can't see dropping $150 to get what is essentially a controller that is game-specific.

[skav]

Playing fighting games on non-conventional controllers is fun though. Soul Caliber with the fishing rod from a PS1 is good times.

[Tronic]

http://www.local-motors.com/rallyFighter.php?p=theCar