Off-topic thread - talk about anything

[Burnsside42]

WULF
You do not want an Audi unless it's under warranty. They are horrible cars to work on and they are a rather faulty car - yes faulty and that would compare to a Saab! It may appear nicer and cleaner and much more advanced, but that's just front for all the extra maintenance bills to come. Steer clear! They are nice to drive - but not something you would want to bring home to mom

[nordwulf]

Saab 96 in 1961
42 hp and 2100 lb = 50 lb / hp
0-60 mph in about 24 seconds.
Price $1,895 - adjusted for inflation in 2009: $13,440

Life was a bit slower and less expensive back then.

Current 9-5 Aero
300 hp and 4200 lbs = 14 lb / hp
Price: about $50,000

Weight doubled, 7 times more horsepower and 3.72 times more expensive. And some still think the 9-5 is underpowered with only 300 hp!

If this trend continues to the year 2060, the Saab sedan will weigh 8400 lbs, have 2100 hp and cost $186,000.
0-60 mph in about 1.5 seconds!

[euromobile900]

I finally selected Mechanical Engineering as my major. Only problem in waiting so long (three semesters in almost) is now I'm going to have to take one summer course this summer because it is a prerequisite for many other courses I'll eventually have to take... if I wait to take it next year, I'd graduate a semester late, which is something I cannot afford to do. Now back to all this school work.

Seems like a good decision. I was a double major, biology and French, at Middlebury in Vermont. I still don't have a job. You likely will not experience this fate.

[SpecialTool]

Current 9-5 Aero
300 hp and 4200 lbs = 14 lb / hp
Price: about $50,000

Not sold here yet but when it is, it will be around $85000. And our dollar is worth almost the same as yours. Either our margins are obscene or yours are non-existent -- I suspect it's the first.

An issue rarely if ever mentioned in the media of course (conspiracy theory alert!) -- millions of bucks in advertising ensure complicity.

[colombo]

I would just like to say how much I dislike websites with black background and white text. Makes me dizzy.

[Shazam]

All ready for winter now (I swear there was snow on that grass just two days earlier!). Just need to add my ski rack to the roof and I'm done. Can't wait to post up pictures of the car in some real deep stuff. At the end of winter I plan on painting my rusting steelies (I heard rocker panel paint looks great on them... I prefer the black wheel look for winter) and on a day I'm bored I'm going to finally get around to getting rid of the yellow in the corners.

[nordwulf]

I hadn't put my winter wheels and tires on yet but they are expecting a lot of snow for the rest of the week. So I put them on a few hours ago. Mine are used 16" Saab alloys though. Don't really like the look of black steel wheels on one of these fine Swedish automobiles.

[Shazam]

I think the black wheels go well with the black trim, door handles, rub strips on the car, and blacked out B-pillar. Add in snow, and I think it gives it a great snow rat look. In the summer, I do prefer the stock wheels though, but I wish I could afford a set of Gary Fisher wheels, they are my favorites.

[Shazam]

I finally got around to checking out the new 9-5. I must say, it's a very sharp looking car. It does seem like the tail is very big though, but overall, I'd buy it if I was looking for a car in that class (not a big fan of the current 5 series, don't like the new E class, and I don't like the front of the current A6). Everybody has been saying how big it is, and I was a little disappointed! I was expecting some gargantuan sized beast compared to the old 9-5, but it was parked right next to one, and while bigger, it seemed roughly the same (the hood did seem a lot higher though). The interior looked very nice, but I'll agree with most of the magazines, the center stack did come off as a little bland/sparse looking... wish it was unlocked so I could have gotten inside. Now I'm looking forward to looking at the 9-4x when it gets to dealerships.

[nordwulf]

I was doing the same thing last weekend. I enjoy walking car dealer lots on a Sunday or other times when they are closed. I still don't care for the side profile and small windows but it is a very nice looking car. Another dealer had some 2011 on the lot and I actually like the toned-down front and smaller wheels of the "base" model.

It's just not a good thing so many 2010s are still sitting on dealer lots. I wish I could take one home.