"What car?" threads

Thanks to these threads I have decided that my next car will be a Miata, a minivan, or a Suburban, or perhaps, all three.

I'm a bit surprised there hasn't been a subforum created for "what-car" threads, since they happen so frequently!

I mean the top-3 threads could be stickies for Miata, P71 and Cherokee...

Duke wrote:

yamaha wrote: If the search function was more reliable than me wandering through a submerged haystack in the dark trying to find a microscopic needle, we probably wouldn't have the exact same questions asked over and over again.

Don't bet the ranch on that, either.

That is true, I know some people will still ask the most basic questions that have been answered thousands of times already, but it might cut down on some of it.

Am I the only one who is horrified to see that "Google" is a better search function than the website you're searching for info on?

yamaha wrote: Am I the only one who is horrified to see that "Google" is a better search function than the website you're searching for info on?

Ummmm... what is odd about a company that defined it's whole existence by it's search indexing expertise being better at searching stuff than a home-grown website operated by a family business?

If I was building the GRM search... it would be thin wrapper around a hidden call to google. No need to waste cycles thinking about it if you are embedding their ads/trackers and trying to get their attention anyway.

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

That would be acceptable, but its just soo much work having to go to another webpage....

dculberson wrote: I want a RWD, manual transmission, 8-passenger car that is ultra reliable and gets >56mpg. Must be made in Croatia and have blue piping on the seats. No leather and nothing with a funny name. What car?

Sounds like you are after a modified Honda Wagovan, although the name might qualify as funny

The only time "what car" threads annoy me is when they are started by people who are such hard-core nutswingers for one particular thing that you know they're just going to get the thing they think is best anyway because the rest of us are obviously wrong, and are just using their what car thread to convince themselves that they were right in the first place and the rest of us are not quite on their level. Or people that have stupid hangups and want minivans that arent minivans and a prius that isnt a prius because EWWW and also their wife is an idiot.

It's not the format of "what car" threads that bothers me. It's people pretending to be open-minded when they're really not.

That's a fairly small proportion of what car threads. Most of them are great! In general GRM forums is one of the MOST open-minded car forums in the whole int4rw3b.

SilverFleet wrote: I have no problem with these threads. In fact, I enjoy them. I love helping others spend their money.

THIS^ many people want to ask for person experience with said vehicle

Swank Force One wrote: Those that have a problem with them could quite easily just not click on them.

The issue typically stems from setting BS criteria and then asking how to best fulfill that criteria.

Some examples that stick out:

"I need a minivan, but I want something that does everything a minivan does, but isn't an actual minivan because either myself or my wife are stuck on how we're perceived in them."

Or

"I need a sporty SUV that will handle and drive like an X5 but will haul 7 people."

The answer to both of those questions is a minivan. Granted in the second example, it would have to be a modified minivan, but it would fit the bill with a power adder and some suspension work.

The folks looking for something similar to the standard answers in that segment are cool, as many of us love oddball answers to questions people answer. So instead of a Miata, perhaps a Z3/Z4, Capri, Del Sol, Elan M100, S2000, Boxster, Sky/Solstice, etc. Or instead of an E30, its an E28 or 36 or a 510/610 or an MX-6 and yada yada yada.

Be realistic about the request or at least listen to the recommendations, accept them gracefully and decide whether to take the advice, don't throw it back in people's faces and trash it, makes it hard to help sometimes.

If the search function was a bit better (personally guys, just use Google with site:grassrootsmotorsports.com added to the end of your search string and you'll get much better results) then perhaps some of the questions could be answered without asking, but I think that healthy and productive discussions are why this board works and whether an old post is ressurected or a new one is created to hash out some question, theory, BS bench race claim, then there is a benefit to all of us. Its just when the ego's and negativity are brought to bear when things start to slide, quickly.

In reply to Vigo:

Exactly.

I enjoy reading the 'what car' threads because it gives me yet another car to look up on Kijiji... I've found great honest advice on here, all with a good sense of humour.

In reply to turboswede: I've asked the cool people hauler question many many times. Minivans do most everything better and you are stuck on the best answer being the only answer. Here are some options for those who are tired of being told "minivan" : V70 Volvo, Mercedes wagon, audi A6 or Allroad. All are available with a third row, all are available or standard equipment AWD, the volvo and the Audi can be had in stick. Other contenders are big chebby or Buick wagons, and the boring option is taurus.

So after reading this, I think the clear answer is that the Minivan is the new Miata.

To the original question, I'm all about enabling others to spend money foolishly. After all, that's what I've done and now I'm broke and others need to be as well! Seriously though, I've got no issues with them, and even posted a sort of one version a few weeks ago. Getting opinions of people that have owned a particular example can be very helpful. I think the reason some may apologize is the quantity of them as well.