it's sunday, time for automotive confessions

EvanR wrote: I just spent $3000 to purchase and retrieve a cherry 1990 Acura Integra. I have been unable to develop any emotion over this car. I don't love it, I don't hate it. It evokes no emotion whatsoever in me. It's just a car. I bought it to save the car and its PO the indignity of trying to be traded in at a dealer. I feel like I did a good deed. And that's ALL I feel.

either sell it or DD it … even though it's a 4 dr you should be able to break even on it

eastpark wrote: This year I finally got around to servicing my Ferrari 308, and just finished changing the engine and transaxle oil. Took it for a run and all is great, and then I backed the goddamn thing into my Workmate, big scratch on the RR quarter panel. Could be worse, at least I didn't dent the panel.

that'll buff out …

sorry … someone had to say it

Hmmmmm, I got a few. Some of them are sure to draw some ire:

I once cut springs on one of my cars (To be fair, drop springs for a 1990 Acura Legend are non-existent and I was broke)

I hate German cars of any badging. Sorry, do not like looking at them, absolutely hate working on them, never been impressed driving them and they seem extremely failure prone.

I find the 240SX to be the most overrated car ever. I've driven them, they aren't that great. And they certainly aren't worth the $4000 that everyone thinks they are.

I work as a GM technician, but anytime anyone talks about buying a new car I tell them whatsoever, do not buy a new GM

Mitchell wrote:

The0retical wrote: I oredered $3k with of performance parts for my daily driver and I likely won't have time to install them until this time next year. SWMBO is hiding her distain pretty well.

Why bother purchasing parts if you are not going to use them?

Bought them on sale while I was out on deployment. (It was on sale!)

I figured I'd have a couple weeks to install them before I left on the next trip but my employer monkey'd with the schedule. Now I have to leave to do some training last minute and the next trip was moved up a few weeks. I figured spending time with the family was more important.

I've realized that I'd rather drive a regular car with a manual than a fun car with a (conventional) automatic - except when I'm in traffic. Case in point, I've put 1k on the ATS since April, and 5k on my Mustang.

Some of these posts are less like confessions and more like rants!

I just bought a new-to-me "long-term keeper" and I'm already looking at RWD Lexii.

14 years ago I put my first car, a 64 Spitfire, sideways in the back of my garage under a car cover. My oldest is 12 and likes cars but has never see the Spit in the flesh.

Yesterday I ruined a brand new part by trying to install it using a shortcut I knew was likely to fail (I was using a dull chisel to install a bearing onto a shaft, instead of finding the right diameter piece of pipe to drive it on like I should have).

Yep, the chisel slipped and dented the side of the bearing, making it spin much less bearing like.

As I inch close to $1200 on Catywampus, I am wondering if a '88 Accord was the right choice for a "cheap and yet somewhat fun" daily driver.

I've owned my mini for close to 28 years. In those 28 years, it's probably been on the road 8 years. It's current hibernation has been over 9 years. I'm thinking about selling it.

I recently bought a Magnum RT under the premise that it gets better fuel economy than my S10.

I prefer automatics. Really. I haven't autocrossed or been on a track in years. Manually shifting in traffic gets old.

if I were able to drive, or trending to be able to, I'd be damn tempted by this 3.0L duratec swapped svt contour

After I clear out some space I am going to build something like this. Just to piss off the neighbors.

wearymicrobe wrote: After I clear out some space I am going to build something like this. Just to piss off the neighbors.

I can see that with some tires suitable for the street being a great commuter vehical

For the first time since I've owned my answer it doesn't have a check engine light. When I bought it the check engine light was on, owner said bad neutral bypass switch and discounted accordingly. Found a broke wire that fixed that for a couple days then code read exhaust inefficiency, replaced mid-pipe/cat and CE went away for a week or two but came back. Replaced both O2 sensors, light out for 2 days. Plugs & wires never got rid of the light. Had some cooling issues that I found was a bad thermostat, somehow cocked a little to restrict movement. Then started running like crap when warmed up. Temp related. First thought - coil pack. Bought a cheap HF code reader that read both misfire and MAP sensor bad. Replaced both MAP sensor & coil pack and it has never ran better. Plus no check engine light.

I dream of a Cobra with a 2.3 turbo in it! Or a Mustang II or Pinto!

Every car I have bought since 1995 has arrived either on a trailer or while praying it didn't explode, catch fire or have any hills. This is why a stretch of my shrubbery is called the crash barrier!

I bought a set of side mirrors from a Daewoo Nubira just to watch folks face when I tell them the mirrors are from a Daewoo Nubira. (Maybe on a 2.3 turbo powered Cobra!!)

I bought a Miata that was dented or torn on all but one panel..I dented that panel on purpose. Is that OCD?

I like wiring.

Bruce

I have a 1970 Cadillac 472 for a project sitting on my front porch but I don't have or even know what the project vehicle will be.

I just placed a bid on eBay for aircraft gauges that I think would look cool in a car.

Aircraft gauges can be had with two needles on the same dial. Makes monitoring multiple engines easier. Also cool if you want to monitor pressure at the turbo and pressure in the intake manifold.

In two weeks, I will rearend someone because I was too busy watching my new boost gauge.

Last year I bought a turbo at the junkyard off of a dodge daytona shelby or whatever. Realized it was way too big for the engine I thought about putting it on and returned it. Now I need that exact turbo back to use on my 2.3t! This is why I usually just hoard parts instead!

NickD wrote: I once cut springs on one of my cars (To be fair, drop springs for a 1990 Acura Legend are non-existent and I was broke)

I cut the springs on almost every car I've owned. And there is nothing at all wrong with it.

I believe EVERY vehicle looks better with black wheels.

I also believe that every vehicle looks better after a liberal rally treatment.

I have lots of (great!) ideas and no time or money to prove that they aren't great or ideas at all.

In reply to Stampie:

You're running 24v electrics in the car then?

I have a low mileage, paid for, slightly modded S197 and a high mileage, paid for V8 Explorer. I have no real desire to wrench o a car all the time anymore, and I don't have enough time for all the hobbies I already enjoy, but I still cruise CL for an old, uncomfortable vehicle to DD to work. Like an early Econoline van, an early sixties Comet, a Baja bug, or maybe a 1930's Dual wheel HD truck.

Or that bad ass bug above with a set of BFG ATs on it...

ebonyandivory wrote: I believe EVERY vehicle looks better with black wheels. I also believe that every vehicle looks better after a liberal rally treatment.

I hate black wheels.

Trans_Maro wrote: In reply to Stampie: You're running 24v electrics in the car then?

I was really confused until I realized that your talking to Knurled most likely. Speaking of aircraft instruments hopefully you got the senders with the gauges.