Mini Cooper in Route Across the Pond

  • Thread starter Thread starter Joey D
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No idea. The best way to find out is to call an insurance company and simply ask for the symbol rating.
 
Better to know the symbol first. If you know the rating of the car it is easier to know whether you're getting ripped off I think. Plus, I'm a numbers person so I like to know such stats.
 
Better to know the symbol first. If you know the rating of the car it is easier to know whether you're getting ripped off I think. Plus, I'm a numbers person so I like to know such stats.

If you're a numbers person you should count the number of figures in the mileage of that E46! :D
 
For contrast a Mustang Cobra is rated a 25, a WRX is rated a 26, and a C5 Corvette is rated a 19. Think about that.
Rebuttal ion behalf of insurance companies everywhere:
Typical Mustang owner:
redneckboatae1.jpg

Typical Rex owners:
poserszy4.jpg

Typical Corvette owners:

180px-Dental_surgery_aboard_USS_Eisenhower%2C_January_1990.JPEG
 
What about an Astra? They should be due out soon here in the states I would think and I get the GM discount.

I wouldn't expect them to be any different than a Volkswagen Rabbit, which didn't seem like too bad of a rating on insurance. Of course, it likely depends on what kind of research they do on the vehicle overall. They're pretty safe, seem to be built pretty well... But much like the VW, I think it will suffer from expensive parts. We'll see how GM patches that up.

...Still, if you can get a three-door XR for under $17K, that would be a steal...
 
If you're a numbers person you should count the number of figures in the mileage of that E46! :D

:dunce: I guess I'm guilty eh?

Rebuttal ion behalf of insurance companies everywhere:
Typical Mustang owner:
redneckboatae1.jpg

Typical Rex owners:
poserszy4.jpg

Typical Corvette owners:

180px-Dental_surgery_aboard_USS_Eisenhower%2C_January_1990.JPEG

THAT ladies and gentlemen is how you do a comedy post. Everyone should +rep that post just because its the funniest thing on this forum this year.

:lol: One of the best posts of the year.

+1 I actually had my drink spew out of my nose laughing so hard at that post.
 
I drove a Lincoln LS today, it was pretty much awesome. I would consider one of those as well...any thoughts?
 
not too fond of the styling, but it is definitely one of the more under appreciated cars fomoco has build in recent memory






















buy a 300E
 
It reminded me of how the Americans thought of a BMW, it looks like and feels like a failed 3 series, but it's cheaper and is covered in dead cow and fake wood.

The 300E is nice but to old, I don't want to buy something that is older then my 2003 Blazer.

I'll probably end up with a MKIV Jetta since I've always loved those cars.
 
On the LS: They're one of the better cars that Ford has made is decades, but I have no idea what the long-term costs would be in something like that. God forbid what insurance prices would be like...

For the Jetta, you're going to want to shop around a bit. The MKIV models are really spotty when it comes to reliability, obviously the newer ones being quite a lot better than the earlier models. Personally, I'm a sucker for the 2004 Jetta GLI 1.8T models, really any of the 1.8T models I guess. I know that they use premium fuel, and in some cases have some oil consumption issues, but it largely depends I suppose. I'd skip the TipTronic transmission if possible, as it sucks out quite a lot of power, plus, it isn't the same kind of experience without a manual.

What it comes down to is that you have to be willing to pay for things if they break. Furthermore, you've got to keep an eye out for the reliable models. CARFAX would likely help to sort that out...

The good news is that Michigan is full of VW-philes, so you could probably go anywhere under the bridge and find a nice one. My VW dealer guy used to go through them like water, as VW is a pretty popular brand on this side of the state (we've got four or five "indie" VW dealers here). Its good to know what you want, but you've got to be willing to search it out too. I knew I wanted an MKIII Jetta when I got mine, and while I did find an excellent MKIII K2, I stumbled across this Wolfie, and I couldn't be happier.

...And don't count out the Golf either, particularly the GTI. I've considered going that route numerous times, the only problem is that everyone gets a GTI, so thats why I've been so attracted to the GLI...

Good luck. Don't be picky like me and look for the impossible Jetta: 2003-2005 Jetta GLS Wagon 1.8T with the stick, in blue with a tan interior.
 
Where is marketmaker when you need him.. that guy knew everything on Lincoln LS...

Find him, find answers.
 
What I really want is a Jetta GLI, in silver, with that ground effects package on it. Barring not finding one of those...because I won't...I'll have to settle on something else. Having an estate would be cool though, I could throw all my junk in there.
 
I looked at a WRX wagon today and it was nice. They didn't have a Legacy on the lot in the way I wanted it.

Have a look at a Forester Joey, it'll be a gentle come-down from your blazer - uni-body construction using Impreza running gear and stacks of practicality. 4WD in your neck of the woods would be useful too i guess.
 
Have a look at a Forester Joey, it'll be a gentle come-down from your blazer - uni-body construction using Impreza running gear and stacks of practicality. 4WD in your neck of the woods would be useful too i guess.

The Foresters aren't bad. If the leg room on the Impreza's work then the Forester will work also, but will give you more head room and plenty of storage. The turbo versions look fun, but they were just too small for me.

I know a gal that is going on 250k on her Forester.
 
Have a look at a Forester Joey, it'll be a gentle come-down from your blazer - uni-body construction using Impreza running gear and stacks of practicality. 4WD in your neck of the woods would be useful too i guess.

AWD ;) Though the Forester is about as exciting to drive as as as... crap, I dunno, but its bad. Gets worse with the world's slowest automatic in there. I've also heard AWDs have a higher insurance premium, when compared to a similar FWD car. And the only interesting one to drive is the turbo, which means more insurance money.

I still dun see how you can want a Jetta or A4. The car is permanently tied to Sorority girl's in my mind. Which is a bad thing. You could look for the total odd ball car, the Corolla XRS. Then you can get death glares from the locals and drive Brad to further levels of insanity by driving a Toyota that is, in fact, mildly interesting to drive :sly: Or a Celica GT-S for that matter.

How much do TSX's go for around there? I know they aren't quick, but they are down right awesome looking.
 
Hey now, I do like the Celica. It was the last of the truly great Toyota products, before the bean-counters came in and wrecked the Camry, et al. The Corolla XRS isn't too bad, if only for that insane little four-pot in there, but you would have thought hey would have tried a little harder to make it "cool." In that market, I'm always a bit impartial to the VW GTI/GLI, but the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart is a surprisingly good performer that can be had at a very good price.

===

On the Forester: I wouldn't knock it too hard, as the Forester XT was quite the performer. Personally, I'd start with one of the older styles (I think they looked better), but the performance pieces to get it where it should be aren't that expensive, and furthermore, aren't hard to install. Car and Driver did a quick build-up on the latest Subaru Forester XT by throwing $1700 at it, including higher performance tires, stiffer anti-roll bars, and a re-flashed ECU. It drove better, had a minimal loss in ride quality, furthermore was faster as well.

As some of you may know, I have a soft spot for wagons, and if you can get a Forester that can easily run with most WRXs, well, thats just plain fun.

Here is the full-link to the modification guide.
 
Brad, the XT is the turbo Forester... one would hope to get similar performance from it since it is the engine in the WRX as well... and everything else with a turbo that Subaru makes.

Problem is, Joey is concerned on insurance a bit, and anything with the word Turbo makes insurance guys go "Oh, money, break out the vaseline, he'll need it." Thus the suggestion for naturally aspirated cars that aren't Honda's, as those get stolen too much and have higher rates accordingly.
 
I was surprised to see that there was no insurance difference from the 2.5 GT compared to the 2.5i in the Legacy. Usually if the word GT is in the model number, you can expect higher premiums as well. I'm paying $510 for 6 months for full coverage. The safety ratings on the Subaru's really help lower the insurance costs.
 
AWD ;) Though the Forester is about as exciting to drive as as as... crap, I dunno, but its bad. Gets worse with the world's slowest automatic in there. I've also heard AWDs have a higher insurance premium, when compared to a similar FWD car. And the only interesting one to drive is the turbo, which means more insurance money.

I don't know what they do to your Foresters over there in the States, but my UK spec non-turbo Forester hustles along just fine. Sure, it has a fairly high centre of gravity and therefore rolls a fair bit - but it's also very neutral in it's balance. Mind you, you do only get the Auto boxed Forester over there don't you :yuck:
 
I don't think I'm really going to modify the car. The only thing I'll probably do is add HID lights as well as HID yellow fog lights. Maybe some rims depending on the car, but no more heavy mods. Plus I will refuse to do anything myself.

I went and looked at a Mazda3 today and loved it, I might just be sold on it.
 
While your looking at the Mazda's, for fun you should test drive a the Mazdaspeed 3 if they have one. :D
 
I went and looked at a Mazda3 today and loved it, I might just be sold on it.

Was it the 3S? Those are supposed to be spunky little rides... I loved the Protege before it (I wouldn't mind having a Protege5), but I have yet to drive a 3.

My only problem is that the VW Rabbit can be had for the same price, and although it won't perform nearly as well, the grown-up attitude is much more appealing, at least to me.
 
I went and looked at a Mazda3 today and loved it, I might just be sold on it.

I had a Mazda 3 for a week as a rental car. I put about 1100kms on it in that week across some fairly interesting terrain and I must say I was very impressed. It was very chuckable around corners at public road speeds. Even the interior was pretty well spec'd for a base model. The MPS/Mazdaspeed ones must be super fun
 
Yes, Joey, you want that Mazda… you very very very want that Mazda. :D
 
Go. For. The. LS. V8.



'Nuff Said

I've always liked LS V8s, the newest ones are gorgeous and i'd have to assume they're fast even though they're heavy. About a block away there's a white one that I like alot. Unfortunately I've never been in one at all. :indiff:
 
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