Automobiles

[caleb]

That 245 is in great shape. It must be getting close to 40 years old.

I'm always stunned at how long car bodies last in places where the roads aren't covered in salt six months of the year.

Practical question for folks in the salt belt: Do any of you do underbody treatments on your cars? I tried Googling it and found one shop that specializes in it an hour away. It must not be that common here. If you've done it, did it help?

[echappist]

I do monthly underbody washes on my V60 CC and call it good (so three total, one for each of January, February, and March). Volvo is supposedly very good when it comes to corrosion resistance, as would be expected of a manufacturer based in Sweden.

[rwsaunders]

My Dad worked in a steel mill environment for 44 years and we lived in Pittsburgh. A common Winter joke was “there is so much salt on my car, that when I pulled up to the last stop sign, a deer came over and started licking the car.” Needless to say, as kids, we became very skilled in bodywork and bondo if we wanted a car to last 5 years, and also pass the bi-annual state safety inspections.

[rwsaunders]

[rwsaunders]

So bad arse, there’s no model designation, although when I see that blue, it reminds me of my Dad’s ‘72 Chevy Vega.

[TonyP]

So bad arse, there’s no model designation, although when I see that blue, it reminds me of my Dad’s ‘72 Chevy Vega.

This is probably a mite nicer than your Fathers Vega.

[72gmc]

Did you find that in Madison Park? Pretty sure I’ve seen a vintage Targa in apple green over there. If you’re looking.

[ldamelio]

So bad arse, there’s no model designation, although when I see that blue, it reminds me of my Dad’s ‘72 Chevy Vega.

The color is called Shark Blue. It's a $3000 - 4000 option at Porsche depending on model. The same color from VW under a different name (Cornflower blue) is free! Gotta love the Porsche options pricing model.

[TonyP]

The color is called Shark Blue. It's a $3000 - 4000 option at Porsche depending on model. The same color from VW under a different name (Cornflower blue) is free! Gotta love the Porsche options pricing model.

I'm pretty sure that's more than his Father paid for the Vega.

[Clyde]

What is the outcome when an El Camino and a Porsche mate?

[TonyP]

What is the outcome when an El Camino and a Porsche mate?

porsche.jpg

[rwsaunders]

I'm pretty sure that's more than his Father paid for the Vega.

yep…about $2,200 if I recall…close to what my first year of tuition and room and board cost too.

[htwoopup]

While we are in the 70’s, seen at the bodyshop while picking up the Mini yesterday…

[robin3mj]

porsche.jpg

Not having that cargo bed double as a hot tub is a huge missed opportunity IMO.

[72gmc]

porsche.jpg

I grew up a fan of the 928. This makes me want to say "well done" and also "never do that again."

[rmplum]

My wife's Bolt charging last night (our Level 2 gets installed next week) after she successfully (and slowly) drove from Ann Arbor MI up to Hancock MI and back for a week up north. Will echo the charger reviews from above (from her standpoint, I already knew this rom work trips). Having to download and charge all the various Apps sucks. (vs being able to just swipe your cc directly). DC Fast charging rate doesn't matter much with the Bolt since ours only charges at 55kW until up to 65% or so SOC and then tapers off - so even the underperforming (vs their rating) DC Fast Chargers max it out. No non-Tesla DC Fast charging in Marquette (WTF? - it's the upper peninsula's largest city) so she had to drive up through Escanaba.

It is crazy efficient around town though (4.5-4.7 m/KWh).

She ordered the stripes a few weeks ago and we put them on the car last week. Ours has a brand new battery with slightly higher capacity and an 8 year 100k mile warranty on it.
bolt charging.jpg

[72gmc]

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/09...omments-page=1

The Ars Technica review of Mercedes' level 3 driving system. It deactivates under what seem to be well-defined conditions, including the presence of pedestrians or cyclists. In the aftermath of iffy decisions by Uber and Tesla, I'm on board with the approach of the automaker defining their responsibility at the outset and then clearly explaining the driver's responsibility.

[rwsaunders]

[jimcav]

I like that, assuming the map contour lines reflect a real place. I don't like any single place enough to have it mapped on my trick, but I like the idea that this individual does.

[rwsaunders]