The winter idiot and what to buy discussion

[LKTraz]

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I'm just happy that I get to "stir the pot" through 10 UN-synchronized gears in the Freightliner.

Bad enough that people can't figure out how to shift 4 or 5 fully synchronized gears these days but just imagine if they had un-synchronized 3 on the tree vehicles like some nice vintage 50's and 60's pickup trucks. Double clutch and shoot the gas on the downshift!

[AnthonyG]

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The recalls on the F150s ranges from seat belt issues , air bag issues to the engines taking shits. The transmission mapping got all screwed up because it learns from the engine, My truck blew through a few spark plugs in about 7k miles and then two cylinders went. It turned out the fuel injectors burned up and they replaced them and things seemed ok but I decided i couldnt trust the truck anymore and changed out. Be careful the Explorer has the same engine that my truck had its basically a turbo charged hot running v6. Also the terrain system isnt a real 4WD system on the explorer its beefier AWD traction management system. I dont know how good it is or isnt but fords false advertising saying 4WD because theres no locking hubs and the power can never go completely to all wheels equally

[Biker Dude]

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About the only vehicles left that you can get with a manual transmission are trucks that are class 6, 7 or 8.

Amazingly, there are still some cars with manuals in them.  Wife is looking for a car, we drove a VW AllTrac with a 6spd.  Also drove the Mazda 3, but the all wheel drive ones don't get a manual, and all wheel drive is important in Colorado.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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About the only vehicles left that you can get with a manual transmission are trucks that are class 6, 7 or 8.

Amazingly, there are still some cars with manuals in them.  Wife is looking for a car, we drove a VW AllTrac with a 6spd.  Also drove the Mazda 3, but the all wheel drive ones don't get a manual, and all wheel drive is important in Colorado.

The VW's are not getting good reviews by people we know personally out this way, so do some homework. Yes, Mazda and some smaller Subuaru's do offer manual transmissions, but those are useless for me. They're all talking about the new Bronco now. Supposed to have a 7 speed manual RWD drive-train but goddamn if the thing isn't as ugly as sin.

Apparently they're forcing us to do a lot of homework just to pick a vehicle. Just read this on the Coyote engine group from a guy working at Ford:

   

[Biker Dude]

0

The VW's are not getting good reviews by people we know personally out this way, so do some homework. Yes, Mazda and some smaller Subuaru's do offer manual transmissions, but those are useless for me. They're all talking about the new Bronco now. Supposed to have a 7 speed manual RWD drive-train but goddamn if the thing isn't as ugly as sin.

Apparently they're forcing us to do a lot of homework just to pick a vehicle. Just read this on the Coyote engine group from a guy working at Ford:

I know several people that are fanatics about the VW's.  A co-worker had to sell his TDI Jetta because of the diesel bullshit, bought a '17 AllTrac, then moved to an '18 AllTrac when they gave him a sweet deal.  

The Mazda 3 only comes with the autotragic slush box on the all wheel drive version.  And she wants all wheel drive.  It's ok, as she is moving jobs, may have a lot more traffic to deal with.  

The Mazda, for 2K more, was just an entire world nicer car.  Interior was sleek, minimalist, the car is very smooth.  Decent power for a 2.5l.  The VW 1.8l just seemed a tad buzzy, the interior controls just very busy and cluttered by comparison.  

Bronco.  Yes the 7spd might happen.  At least Ford DID commision the engineering work from Getrag for one to be built.  As for looks, to the best of my knowledge nobody has any idea what it will look like.  The only pictures I have seen are heavily camouflaged test mules that have no resemblance to what it will end up looking like.  Not to mention there is no idea if a 2 door version will even be available.  I have looked some, then I looked a LOT more, can find NOTHING on 5.0 engine problems.  I will have to talk to my friend that works at ford, and drives a 2018 5.0 F150.

Either way, she is not going to wait 2 years for one.  She has driven this Subaru for 9 years, is done with it.  So we went Mazda 3.  Myself, I do like the new Ranger some, would like a 4 door, but don't like the short bed.  And I don't want a payment.  My truck and all of my bikes are paid for.  So I won't be buying anything.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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The VW's are not getting good reviews by people we know personally out this way, so do some homework. Yes, Mazda and some smaller Subuaru's do offer manual transmissions, but those are useless for me. They're all talking about the new Bronco now. Supposed to have a 7 speed manual RWD drive-train but goddamn if the thing isn't as ugly as sin.

Apparently they're forcing us to do a lot of homework just to pick a vehicle. Just read this on the Coyote engine group from a guy working at Ford:

I know several people that are fanatics about the VW's.  A co-worker had to sell his TDI Jetta because of the diesel bullshit, bought a '17 AllTrac, then moved to an '18 AllTrac when they gave him a sweet deal.  

The Mazda 3 only comes with the autotragic slush box on the all wheel drive version.  And she wants all wheel drive.  It's ok, as she is moving jobs, may have a lot more traffic to deal with.  

The Mazda, for 2K more, was just an entire world nicer car.  Interior was sleek, minimalist, the car is very smooth.  Decent power for a 2.5l.  The VW 1.8l just seemed a tad buzzy, the interior controls just very busy and cluttered by comparison.  

Bronco.  Yes the 7spd might happen.  At least Ford DID commision the engineering work from Getrag for one to be built.  As for looks, to the best of my knowledge nobody has any idea what it will look like.  The only pictures I have seen are heavily camouflaged test mules that have no resemblance to what it will end up looking like.  Not to mention there is no idea if a 2 door version will even be available.  I have looked some, then I looked a LOT more, can find NOTHING on 5.0 engine problems.  I will have to talk to my friend that works at ford, and drives a 2018 5.0 F150.

Either way, she is not going to wait 2 years for one.  She has driven this Subaru for 9 years, is done with it.  So we went Mazda 3.  Myself, I do like the new Ranger some, would like a 4 door, but don't like the short bed.  And I don't want a payment.  My truck and all of my bikes are paid for.  So I won't be buying anything.

Ford is running some nice deals on new leftovers on the lot right now. Since we have great credit I'm going to be talking about trading in my lease for one of the Explorer Sports. HAS to be the Sport model because it's the only one with turbo and towing package and 4WD vs AWD. BIG difference in gas mileage on 4WD vs AWD.

The other must have is the wifi hotspot capability and Sync3. regular Sync is in the Edge and it SUCKS.
The masterful packing I had to do over this past weekend just screamed that we need something bigger.

As for the Bronco.... it's the 4 door version that everyone is up in the air and all giddy about. from what I was able to glean it's going to remain boxy but with a bit of "raptor" looking bits here and there. Everyone wants to. be the know it all saying all the photos are from Ford. yeah, right pal.

You'd think with the auto show going on in two weeks that thing would have been ready to show off. So unless it's something spectacular that can hold a shit load of band equipment, a passenger and an upright bass in the hard case (that adds 10" to the size!), I'll get what I need for now and maybe make a trade in if the Bronco thrills me. I never did in the past, but that manual transmission might push me over.

[Biker Dude]

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I wouldn't bet on it being big enough.  I am expecting it to be Explorer size, Jeep Grand Cherokee size.  The 7spd would be nice.  Maybe a cargo trailer?  That way you could haul, but you don't have to buy a vehicle for the once every 2 weeks you need to haul?

Here is what I have seen for looks.


I am expecting that this is new Ranger body work while they work on Bronco drive train under it.

[Biker Dude]

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So this is what she got:

[Twitchin Kitten]

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So this is what she got:

That pic doesn't work and trying the link straight up isn't working either. (admin can see it if I edit) got another source?

[Twitchin Kitten]

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I wouldn't bet on it being big enough.  I am expecting it to be Explorer size, Jeep Grand Cherokee size.  The 7spd would be nice.  Maybe a cargo trailer?  That way you could haul, but you don't have to buy a vehicle for the once every 2 weeks you need to haul?

Here is what I have seen for looks.


I am expecting that this is new Ranger body work while they work on Bronco drive train under it.

It looks kinda small to be honest. The problem is the rear hatch. We have to make sure whatever we get has no taper towards the roof. We figured out our finances since the Mustang is paid in full and we can afford to go up to the Expedition if necessary. I just see no thrill in the features though vs the Explorer. Regardless, the ONLY model we get for Explorer has to be the Sport model. It comes with towing etc.
As for trailers, we would just rent a Uhaul or something if we need to haul that much stuff, but it's not desirable as a mains go-to. Musicians are having their stuff stolen all the time and a trailer, regardless of locking hitch or not, would make it easy for thieves if they knew what was in there.