Chicago Crew Thread #2

[saiyin car]

Originally Posted by DaveSlow

So yesterday I go grab my car from the apartment complex's extra lot and bring it back to our lot. I quickly run in to get my shorts to run to the gym. When I start backing up I feel a small thump but I think nothing of it because it's a shitty road. I start moving and about 100ft down the road the car just doesn't feel right. I get out and this is what I see........

Tire 1

Tire 2

Tire 3

Seems like bad things come in three's my fuel, yoru tires....

DAMON, dont drive teh stealth for a while.. or at least untill something bad happens to another car of yours...

[Damon]

The circle closes... the trinity completes.

BOOM! OLD'S IS SHOT!
Yes, the grannymobile is done... dead... finito. Leaking fuel pump and line assembly would be around $800 to fix and she ain't worth it. I'll either donate her for the tax write-off or see if I can convice a dealer to give me a few hundred for trade-in value. KBB online said "No Value". LOL!

So the casual search for an all-season vehicle just got kicked into overdrive. I'm considering a newer Mazda6... V6 or I4 engine. Honestly, I'm looking for something 4-door, comfortable for my 6'3" frame, good gas mileage, and decent looking. Power is not the motivating criteria here. I've always liked the look of the Mazda6 so I'm gonna go test drive one to see how they drive. Anybody have an opinion on the 6? How about other vehicles that will fit the bill for ~$15K??? Let's hear 'em.

[sluggo]

Originally Posted by 1500awhp

hey what up man? i saw you on skokie blvd today on my way to walgreens.. i tried catching up but you were driving way too fast . car looks AWESOME in the rain BTW.

- syed

Syed, sorry I missed you. My buddy was treating me to a free dinner at Backyard Grill at Devon and Pulaski. There is a nice looking Vietnamese gal who works there, I was trying to get there before she left work. Pathetic, I know...

Always check air pressure. My last set of Michelin Sport Pilots had three bad seals. Everyday I had to fill 'em up. Made me ruthless in finding gas stations with free air. My new set of sport pilots- no air loss. But with pot holes getting bigger every year, who knows.

Dave- you probably didn't damage your car with that short drive. The good book states that our cars should not be towed more than three miles unless it's on a flatbed. It is more dangerous to drive a car with different tread depths...that's why you gotta rotate those tires. Your distance was most likely not damaging.

A few years ago a kid fender bended my car, and caused a flat. State Farm gave me two brand new rear tires, and a "reduced award" amount on the other two (I was a month away from replacing them anyway) after I showed them that our cars really ought to have all four tires replaced at the same time.

Damon, don't laugh... but what about a Toyota Matrix 4 wheel drive? Lot's of head room, good milage, and it ain't bad looking. A buddy has one, and it is impressive. Or even the cousin to the Matrix, the Scion Xa (the one that looks like the Matrix, not the one that looks like a box).

[Damon]

Originally Posted by sluggo

Damon, don't laugh... but what about a Toyota Matrix 4 wheel drive? Lot's of head room, good milage, and it ain't bad looking. A buddy has one, and it is impressive. Or even the cousin to the Matrix, the Scion Xa (the one that looks like the Matrix, not the one that looks like a box).

Yeah, unforunately something about the Matrix/Xa/Vibe style just rubbed me the wrong way. I was thinking along the lines of a more traditional 4 door. Anything else come to mind?

Any other ideas fellas? I really need to purchase in the next few weeks so now's the time to...

{echo} PICK... DAMON'S... CAAAAAAAAAR! {end echo}

[talskinyguy]

BMW 3 Series

[DaveSlow]

Originally Posted by Damon

Yeah, unforunately something about the Matrix/Xa/Vibe style just rubbed me the wrong way. I was thinking along the lines of a more traditional 4 door. Anything else come to mind?

Any other ideas fellas? I really need to purchase in the next few weeks so now's the time to...

{echo} PICK... DAMON'S... CAAAAAAAAAR! {end echo}

Damon, I suggest you to go testdrive the 6. I've driven one before and I liked it. It rode much better than the camry we have at home and it's a lot better looking. As for room, I can't really be the judge in that department being that you're 6'3" and I'm 5'7". Theres PLENTY of room for me but you'd have to sit in it youself to be the judge on that.

[talskinyguy]

So Ive been looking at at bigger turbos for my truck, and for some reason they are a hell of a lot cheeper than a the "name brand" turbos for cars. The turbo that is currently on my truck will do just under 30psi on a 5.9 liter till just above 3k rpms, and that is still in its efficency range. How much does this turbo go for used? Im not really sure because I can only find the bigger stock one(35psi) for sale. And that goes for about $4-500. So anyone looking for a big single project, look at turbos from diesel engines, they seem fairly cheep.

[Drjekkyl3]

What's the 4 doors for? You and Michelle expecting something that the rest of us don't know about? The Scion TC was nice at the auto show, probably pick one up a year old by now for around $15K fully loaded I would assume

[38 Cigarette]

Originally Posted by talskinyguy

So Ive been looking at at bigger turbos for my truck, and for some reason they are a hell of a lot cheeper than a the "name brand" turbos for cars. The turbo that is currently on my truck will do just under 30psi on a 5.9 liter till just above 3k rpms, and that is still in its efficency range. How much does this turbo go for used? Im not really sure because I can only find the bigger stock one(35psi) for sale. And that goes for about $4-500. So anyone looking for a big single project, look at turbos from diesel engines, they seem fairly cheep.

What one are you looking at ?

http://www.piersdiesel.com/DodgeTurbos.htm

[38 Cigarette]

Originally Posted by Skywalker

Maybe you've got a slow leak, so when the tire pressure gets too low, it just doesn't hold to the rim. I've had that happen in the winter, they just reapplied the seal goop, and all was good. Try that.

Since I do occassional high speed driving, I always have them use / apply a reasonable amount of excess goop to seal the tires on the rims.