7shades Posted November 29, 2006 Report Posted November 29, 2006 I'm more worried about them having me killed actually.... I know too much! Quote
ancullen Posted November 29, 2006 Author Report Posted November 29, 2006 There are plenty of people out there who know how to build closed-loop hydrogen systems. I think the main reason none of them have been successful (if not for the fuel companies killing them), is that they haven't made efficient enough systems. It's like perpetual motion machines - there is always going to be a loss unless you keep adding power to the system. What if you had a vehicle with as many power enhancing devices as possible (eg. regenerative braking, solar panels, etc), but you also plug it to your wall socket at home just to top the power up that bit more? Quote
ancullen Posted November 29, 2006 Author Report Posted November 29, 2006 BTW, on the original topic of the Golf GT, I got a call from my dad just now, and he's having trouble deciding between a Jetta and a Passat. I tried to get him interested in the GT, but he doesn't want a Golf. Bugger, I really wanted to see what the TSI felt like to drive. Instead it looks like I'll be enjoying the diesel VW experience. Quote
Mr Hardware Posted November 29, 2006 Report Posted November 29, 2006 why get a jetta/passat when you can get a corolla/camry Quote
7shades Posted November 29, 2006 Report Posted November 29, 2006 why get a jetta/passat when you can get a corolla/camry Cos after you've driven a top-end VW, the new camry/corolla range reeks of "budget" I mean I really dig the toyotas... I'll swear black and blue that they make the best cars in the world and I'll give you a million good reasons to back my case but honestly, if I was in a position to buy a brand new car I'd part with the extra 10-15 g's and get something a little bit shwankier. having said that though... my GTi was both the most well built yet wholly unremarkable car I've ever owned. To paraphrase the venerable mr. paul keating: "the experience was not unlike being flogged with a warm lettuce". It also liked to eat bits of itself with alarming regularity. Personally I think it had a "thing" going with the hoist at the dealership cos it liked to spend more time there than with me. Ps... the passat gives me the shits cos with all the electronic gizmology in it, you may as well not be driving the bloody thing at all.... just push a button, say "home", and have a little nap while it takes you there. BMW ftw. End rant, Yay for hydrogen. Quote
7shades Posted November 29, 2006 Report Posted November 29, 2006 Nah on second thoughts.... f@$k it all. Tell him to get a lexus hybrid. Quote
kickn5k Posted November 29, 2006 Report Posted November 29, 2006 (edited) Nah on second thoughts.... f@$k it all. Tell him to get a lexus hybrid. I love those things when you nail it both motors work awesome "not" isnt owning cars and working on cars about making them go better how the f&*%k do i extract more power out of it when i get used to it? 4agze`s suck well i don't see that the same way. An engine that with forgies a 20v head and a big turbo an theyll make 500hp "how does that suck". A golf that makes a whole 125kw it hardly opens the eyes though 1.4l or not. i do on the other hand see that this for what it is could with a bit of rnd be made to fly but renault in the early 80`s were seeing that and a fair bit more in the factory spec r5 turbo group b rally cars and they were 1.4ltr. Not ragging this engine though too much it makes truck loads of torque. Edited November 29, 2006 by kickn5k Quote
ancullen Posted November 29, 2006 Author Report Posted November 29, 2006 He originally wanted a BMW 3-Series Convertible, but knew it was out of his price range. He test drove a new 320i sedan, and found it's motor way too weak, plus they're friggin' expensive for what you actually get. He then decided he liked the AWD grip of his current Outback 2.5L (old model), and wanted to go to a new Liberty or Outback with either the 3.0L or the 2.0 turbo. But each of those were out of his price range (for some reason he didn't seem interested in the lower spec models). Then he decided that the new IS250 was the way to go, but found out once they were released that they were too expensive. Then it was the Audi A3 Sportback, but I talked him into looking at the VW's as they're a bit cheaper but with similar drivetrains. He couldn't afford a Sportback Quattro anyway. It's amazing how much research he's done in 18 months. He's also negotiating the best rate with the finance company, and playing companies off against one another to improve the rate. I was in Sydney when he got a phonecall from one company (back in July), and it was funny as hell to see him give them what for and let them know that their rate was crap and exactly where he could get a better one. Mucho respect for his negotiating powers. :y: Quote
ancullen Posted November 29, 2006 Author Report Posted November 29, 2006 (edited) And the Lexus Hybrids are WAY, WAY too expensive considering the cheapest (the RX400h) is $94,000 - and it doesn't even get a GR-series motor, but instead the old 3.3 3MZ-FE. Edited November 29, 2006 by ancullen Quote
Mr Hardware Posted November 30, 2006 Report Posted November 30, 2006 Cos after you've driven a top-end VW, the new camry/corolla range reeks of "budget" I say budget is a car that spends alot of time at the mechanics... LIKE A VW! Quote
ancullen Posted November 30, 2006 Author Report Posted November 30, 2006 I'm hoping Dad's doesn't turn out that way. Otherwise I'll be in the bad books. Of course, if it turns out fine, he will have bought the best car around. :y: Quote
Mr Hardware Posted November 30, 2006 Report Posted November 30, 2006 i don't see the extra half-a-time-again expense in a VW. Do the motors last longer? Do you get exceptional fuel economy? (and I don't mean 8L/100klms as apposed to 9L/100klms) Does it have wonderful power vs economy? Is it going to go for 15 years without putting a spanner on it? No? Then it's just an inferior camry/corolla for wankers. Quote
7shades Posted November 30, 2006 Report Posted November 30, 2006 Seriously dude... go drive something made in europe worth over 50 grand. The difference isn't so much what you can define on paper... its the whole car. Its the higher quality of materials used in construction. Nicer plastics in the interior. tight, precise switchgear. more comfortable seats. ergonomic driving postition. smooth snicky gearshift. woodgrain trim that actually looks like wood. fantastic brakes. soft leather. low NVH level. awesome factory stereo. the glovebox and doors don't go "guh-doongk" when you close them.... they go "shnick".... I could go on forever.... Toyotas are great. They do everything they're built to do and they do it efficiently, reliably and cost effectively. But seriously.... spend the extra and you'll realise what you paid for. Quote
Mr Hardware Posted November 30, 2006 Report Posted November 30, 2006 (edited) hey, i'm not saying that there isn't some value in european cars. One of the cabbies has a 1975 Volvo, interior looks like something from 1985 not 1975... My uncle has run BMWs for years. I have alot of respect for them. But I don't have alot of respect for Volkswagen. When I buy a car, i look for the best value for money. I don't believe a VW represents best value for money in that regard. I think you're paying alot of money into things that don't really matter. I mean to say, if you had the longevity of a camry in a package to rival european cars, i would say that is the way to go... oh wait, i just described the IS250. As if anyone spending 20-50 grand on a car, as if you would look anywhere else other than toyota/lexus. A 2-year old IS250 represents greater value than a brand new kraut-mobile. Hey, don't get me wrong. I think it is very difficult to shop in the 35K+ range. Because in 3-4-5 years time, the car is worth 3/5ths of sweet f.a. compared to what you paid for it. The way to win with cars is to buy something at about 2-3 years old and keep it until you start to need to spend more on it than it is worth. The bottom line is, i don't give a shit about interior build quality, it's only going to go down the dunny after a few years on australian roads any way. What matters to me is engineering build quality, how long will the motor/transmission/diff etc last before you have to go spending big bucks on it. If the answer is only 10years/200,000klms, then i don't wanna know. Any old shit car can do that. The fact of the matter is that Toyotas are one of the most reliable, long lived vehicles around and not too may cars can compare. Toyotas should be more expensive compared to other shit around like Kia's etc. This whole site exists solely based around the absolute brilliance of the reliability of toyota motors. You would be mad to take a step or three backwards into the land of commoner's shit cars. We are toyota blokes. We know far better than to be buying european shit. Edited November 30, 2006 by Mr Hardware Quote
Mr Hardware Posted November 30, 2006 Report Posted November 30, 2006 (edited) ps why not just buy a prius. pps sorry for firing up. i just hate seeing people buy cars that appear to be wonderful, but turn out to be heaps. Mitsubishi stylin'. Edited November 30, 2006 by Mr Hardware Quote
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