Revitalized Malibu Takes on Accord and Camry

#41

"Nate Nagel" wrote

Quote:

If I have to spend hours of my day trapped in a rolling box, I might as
well enjoy it, rather than making it feel like a chore...

...which is why I bought a 2004 Accord with an automatic, because I got sick
of years of shifting a 5-speed Civic through a 20-mile roundtrip commute
through the city each day. It's given me virtually no trouble. My only
complaint is the ride is noisy except on rubberized asphalt.

#42

Howard Lester wrote:

Quote:

"Nate Nagel" wrote

If I have to spend hours of my day trapped in a rolling box, I might as
well enjoy it, rather than making it feel like a chore...

..which is why I bought a 2004 Accord with an automatic, because I got sick
of years of shifting a 5-speed Civic through a 20-mile roundtrip commute
through the city each day. It's given me virtually no trouble. My only
complaint is the ride is noisy except on rubberized asphalt.

To me a stickshift is not a chore. But my commute typically only goes
stop and go for the last mile or two on my way home; it's mostly good
other than that. (and these days I'm driving an automatic anyway, not
by choice, but because that's what I'm given to drive. But I have only
bought four automatic vehicles in my life; one of which has been
converted to a four speed and one of which I'd collected the parts to
convert it to a three speed before I sold it. The others were a '67
Dart that was a rolling disaster and my F-150 which I don't drive enough
to worry about.)

It sounds like the noise you complain of is mostly tire noise, yes?
Might be able to get some better tires and make that go away. Some
tread patterns are just simply more noisy than others.

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

#43

"Nate Nagel" wrote

Quote:

It sounds like the noise you complain of is mostly tire noise, yes? Might
be able to get some better tires and make that go away. Some tread
patterns are just simply more noisy than others.

I got Goodyear Assurance Comfortreds with the hopes of cutting the noise
down vs. the OEM Michelins. I don't detect any improvement. Road noise has
been a perennial complaint with Accords, at least, per Consumer Reports.

#44

"Canuck57" <nospam (AT) nospam (DOT) com> wrote

Quote:

"Ed Pawlowski" <esp (AT) snet (DOT) net> wrote in message
news:kNGGl.29407$ZP4.9144 (AT) nlpi067 (DOT) nbdc.sbc.com...

"Canuck57" <nospam (AT) nospam (DOT) com> wrote in message
Mint to me means well kept, not abused, low wear and tear and well
maintained. Often used in the lax form, as not too many people buy
them, then flat bed them to a warehouse for the strict use.

That makes you wrong too. Talk to a collector and they will laugh at what
you call mint. By your definition, it may be Good or even Excellent, but
not Mint. Any visible wear takes it out of the Mint category.

You can call a lump of coal a diamond, but it won't shine any brighter.

By your definition, right off the lot it looses mint status. Thus no
mints really exist. Tires for example rot where they sit.

Now you're catching on. It is not my definition, some dictionary writer
does that.
Mint condition is often used to describe a collectible item such as a model
figure, doll, or toy that has never been removed from its box (NRFB[1]), or
in some cases is as good as new without any scratches or other damage. The
term is also very widely used in record collecting and comic books.

The mis-use of a term does not change the definition. Well kept and not
abused cannot mean mint. It can mean excellent. I didn't make the rules,
but I'm going to follow them so we all know what we are talking about. I
hope others will also.

#45

"Canuck57" <nospam (AT) nospam (DOT) com> wrote in message

Quote:

Mint can be used as a noun or as an adjective.

Mint condition is a valid statement. Are you from the mountains in the
south?

It is a valid statement, but it does not apply to 10 year old cars. It can
apply to uncirculated coins, stamps, and similar items, but once a car is
driven thousands of miles, it cannot qualify.

I've heard this so many times by people looking for used cars. "The car was
advertised as being "mint condition" but when I looked at it, it was a piece
of crap" Expectations were high but when the product does not meet the
claims, interest is lost no matter how good the price is.

#46

Mike Marlow wrote:

Quote:

"Tegger" <invalid (AT) invalid (DOT) inv> wrote in message
news:Xns9BF1DE8CEB01Ategger (AT) 208 (DOT) 90.168.18...

Just don't ask your question of anybody in the "collector" auto circle. To
them, anything under 50 years-old is "modern", and they will sneer at you
aggressively for your impertinence.

Antiques and Classics are a whole different story. A 17 year old Honda or
Toyota is not either one of those. It's just a 17 year old car.

But then there are the 1st and 2nd generation Civics of which two are
notable...

1983 Civic 1500 "S" which was the forerunner of the early CRX

and

1982-83 1300 Civic FE which was the forerunner of the early CRX(s) that
got great fuel economy.... 40+ MPG City and 55 MPG Highway in actual
real world tests..

JT

#47

"Mike Marlow" <mmarlowREMOVE (AT) windstream (DOT) net> wrote

Quote:

"Tegger" <invalid (AT) invalid (DOT) inv> wrote in message
news:Xns9BF1DE8CEB01Ategger (AT) 208 (DOT) 90.168.18...

Just don't ask your question of anybody in the "collector" auto circle.
To
them, anything under 50 years-old is "modern", and they will sneer at you
aggressively for your impertinence.

Antiques and Classics are a whole different story. A 17 year old Honda or
Toyota is not either one of those. It's just a 17 year old car.

Did I mention that I pay CASH for my cars?

Quote:

--

-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE (AT) windstream (DOT) net

#48

"Grumpy AuContraire" <Grumpy (AT) ExtraGrumpyville (DOT) com> wrote

Quote:

Mike Marlow wrote:
"Tegger" <invalid (AT) invalid (DOT) inv> wrote in message
news:Xns9BF1DE8CEB01Ategger (AT) 208 (DOT) 90.168.18...

Just don't ask your question of anybody in the "collector" auto circle.
To
them, anything under 50 years-old is "modern", and they will sneer at you
aggressively for your impertinence.

Antiques and Classics are a whole different story. A 17 year old Honda
or Toyota is not either one of those. It's just a 17 year old car.

But then there are the 1st and 2nd generation Civics of which two are
notable...

1983 Civic 1500 "S" which was the forerunner of the early CRX

and

1982-83 1300 Civic FE which was the forerunner of the early CRX(s) that
got great fuel economy.... 40+ MPG City and 55 MPG Highway in actual real
world tests..

JT

Take your Honda shit to the Honda newsgroup, PLEASE.

#49

"Mike Marlow" <mmarlowREMOVE (AT) windstream (DOT) net> wrote

Quote:

"Sharx35" <sharx35 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:XbwGl.24206$PH1.12979 (AT) edtnps82 (DOT) ..

Attitudes like THAT one are why so many people are only a payday or so
away from financial ruin.

If you say so. Funny - I'm not a payday or so away from financial ruin.
I simply see no reason to keep a car for 17 years. There are lots of
reasons why that would make no sense - other than what some may consider
bragging rights that they have a 17 year old car.

That TEN year old Camry only has 130,000 kilometres on it and is in MINT
condition. WHY should I get a newer vehicle?

Maybe reading for content would benefit you - note that I did not say 10,
I said 17.

It has ALL the features I want and rides and handles like a dream. My
frugality and values have allowed me to retire from full-time work at 42
(21 years ago) and build up a net worth of close to a million.

Very good for you. That is a commendable thing. It does not change my
position that keeping a car to age 17 still causes me to wonder why.
There is a lot of ground between reckless financial behavior and miserly
behavior. I'm just one person who does not see such great nobility in
keeping something like a car to age 17 just so I can say I have a net
worth of close to a million.

NEXT question?

You're not as impressive as your question seeks to make you feel.

And, NO, I do NOT waste my money on things like bottled water, huge
screen TV's etc etc..

It's easy to begin to believe that any form of spending might be
considered a waste by you. Oh well...

--

-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE (AT) windstream (DOT) net

Inter yourself--then, for once, you will have contributed something to the
Earth.

#50

"Canuck57" <nospam (AT) nospam (DOT) com> wrote

Quote:

"Sharx35" <sharx35 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:FcwGl.24207$PH1.21389 (AT) edtnps82 (DOT) ..

"Tegger" <invalid (AT) invalid (DOT) inv> wrote in message
news:Xns9BF1DE8CEB01Ategger (AT) 208 (DOT) 90.168.18...
"Mike Marlow" <mmarlowREMOVE (AT) windstream (DOT) net> wrote in
news:1b643$49ea81ba$471fb9ee$18491 (AT) ALLTEL (DOT) NET:

"Sharx35" <sharx35 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote in message
news

LuGl.22792$Db2.11621 (AT) edtnps83 (DOT) ..

Hmmm. My Camry is only ten years old so I won't be in the market for
at least another SEVEN years. Hypothetically, though, instead of the
99CE 6 cyl. I have, I might go for a new, closer to the top of the
line Camry. To me, Honda is overpriced.

Who would want to driver around in an 17 year old car?

Me, for instance. My car is 18 years old. Bought it new, too.

Just don't ask your question of anybody in the "collector" auto circle.
To
them, anything under 50 years-old is "modern", and they will sneer at
you
aggressively for your impertinence.

I'd call it something else, like a complete lack of values...no wonder
the world is in a recession.

That is why recession/depressions occur, too much fat and leach on the
hind, causes the economic animal to get sick. Once enough leaches are off
the hind, the recovery can begin. The more leaches shaken off, the better
the recovery. Far too many in sociaty BS their way with their corrupt
values.

Sort of like GMers, it is everyone elses fault but GMs. Delusional
sickness for sure.

Amazing how many in this recession do not have respect for debt.

Mike seems to wear it as a badge of honour. Frankly, anyone saddled with
years and years of car payments because they INSIST on always trading in
their vehicles is, IMHO, a loser.