Calgary Car Talk

[Vascilli]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

This is my current car:

2011 Volvo XC70 AWD. It's got all the bells and whistles:

-Radar Cruise Control
-Blind spot warning system
-Lane departure warning system
-Driver alert system
-Automatic emergency braking
-Rear seat TV's (but our kids don't know about them yet, will try to keep it that way for as long as possible)
-Heated/Cooled seats (cooled seats rock on a hot day when you get into the car after a round of golf)

Pretty much the perfect size for our now family of 4, I like having the bit of extra space in the back (a step up from my previous Volvo S60).

Mrs. Bigtime drives a 2008 Yaris (hatchback), and she loves it (she only has like 30,000km on it too). Like this one, but she has the bike racks on top:

It won't have all the bells and whistles until you put in some IPD swaybars and other goodies.

[Ramsayfarian]

Since we're sharing whips, here's mine. Most fun I've ever had on 4 wheels:

Zoom Zoom by D-2-C, on Flickr

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by suburbia

Now I know why I tend to agree with you so often. I drive an FX35 fit out similar to your volvo (few variances like around view cameras - and yes, I like the heated/cooled vented seats too) and with 39K on it. My wife has a yaris hatchback, which she very much loves.

Wanna be best friends?

That's pretty funny, I don't think my wife is ever going to get rid of her Yaris. If that day ever comes I'm pretty sure she is going to cry, she loves that little car.

[Ramsayfarian]

I'm very close to having work allow me to expense my Car2Go. I don't get a car allowance, but I do get to expense parking. As it costs me less than $10 per day to drive back and forth to work, it's pretty much a no brainer. Which means, my request will probably be denied.

[hulkrogan]

Some great cars in this thread for sure. I knew I was getting old when I started LOVING those old Volvos. Almost pulled the trigger on an S40 T5 AWD. Ended up with this instead:

EDIT: Huge image

http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7HW4fi...sVIhWIv4ypA/s0-d/IMG_0446%255B1%255D.JPG

[Bigtime]

I am unfortunately experiencing the double edged sword of living in a community like Sunnyside. I think so many people just walk to work that there are sometimes no Car2Go's in my area. There tends to be a cluster of them up the hill from me in Crescent Heights, average distance around 500m from me, not too bad but then you remember you have to go up that hill...

[Bigtime]

This the image Hulk?

Spoiler for size.

[hulkrogan]

Yup, haha, tried to edit it as its huge

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I am unfortunately experiencing the double edged sword of living in a community like Sunnyside. I think so many people just walk to work that there are sometimes no Car2Go's in my area. There tends to be a cluster of them up the hill from me in Crescent Heights, average distance around 500m from me, not too bad but then you remember you have to go up that hill...

Do what I do and drive to the Car2Go.

[Innersoul1]

Hulk, is that an S4?

[hulkrogan]

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

Hulk, is that an S4?

You've got it! Just don't ever get one if you drive a lot... it's almost like they tried to give it bad fuel economy...

[floobie]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

You've got it! Just don't ever get one if you drive a lot... it's almost like they tried to give it bad fuel economy...

My dad managed to get about 25mpg in his on the highway... Around 20 in the city. He definitely never drove it slow either. The key seems to be getting into 5th or 6th gear ASAP. His new one with the supercharged V6 is much easier to drive efficiently, though :p.

I'm in Germany right now... It's always interesting to see the dramatically different cars in other parts of the world. My uncle has been generous enough to lend my mom and I his old Opel omega wagon. It's about the size of a Volvo v70, but only has a 135hp 1.6 liter... Definitely not very fast :p. But, that's how it goes here. You can get cars with way tinier engines... Midsize sedans with 1.6 liters, compacts with 1.2 liters. That 2.5 liter 5 cylinder that comes on the base golf in north America is one of the big engines here.

I really do wish I had my car here. I'd love to max it out on the autobahn. The omega is rather unnerving at 190.

[Bigtime]

Oh man I love driving the Autobahn.

[Jimby]

me too and I had the pleasure of experiencing Montana's "reasonable" speed in daylight hours on their interstates once, and I was getting passed while doing 210 (governor).

[Innersoul1]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Oh man I love driving the Autobahn.

One of the highlights of my life was driving a 911 Turbo on the Autobahn! YUM!

Originally Posted by Jimby

me too and I had the pleasure of experiencing Montana's "reasonable" speed in daylight hours on their interstates once, and I was getting passed while doing 210 (governor).

YES!!! Loved interpretation of "reasonable." But it sure as hell makes the drive to Great Falls much more enjoyable! And faster

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Jimby

me too and I had the pleasure of experiencing Montana's "reasonable" speed in daylight hours on their interstates once, and I was getting passed while doing 210 (governor).

What is the police interpretation of "reasonable". Let's say dry sunny day, no cars, divided highway, no other car on the road, and you with a capable car. What would they let you do? Would they really let me go if I was testing my top speed?

[suburbia]

Regarding vehicles in general, I've really been surprised by what the Korean companies have been coming up with. Kia and Hyundai have some excellent cars - and exceptional values too.

[MichaelS]

Originally Posted by floobie

I'm in Germany right now... It's always interesting to see the dramatically different cars in other parts of the world. My uncle has been generous enough to lend my mom and I his old Opel omega wagon. It's about the size of a Volvo v70, but only has a 135hp 1.6 liter... Definitely not very fast :p. But, that's how it goes here. You can get cars with way tinier engines... Midsize sedans with 1.6 liters, compacts with 1.2 liters. That 2.5 liter 5 cylinder that comes on the base golf in north America is one of the big engines here.

This brings up a question for the car guys here then. What car would you want to get, that is not for sale in NA?

For me, it would be the Alfa Romeo Brera. Not the fastest, but man is it gorgeous. Saw a couple when I was in Australia.


http://motoburg.com/3816-alfa-romeo-brera.html

[Jimby]

Originally Posted by suburbia

What is the police interpretation of "reasonable". Let's say dry sunny day, no cars, divided highway, no other car on the road, and you with a capable car. What would they let you do? Would they really let me go if I was testing my top speed?

This was for a few years in the mid 90s after the federal 55 mph law was removed in Montana. I don't think the police would have done anything if the conditions were ideal. If there were other issues like weaving or recklessness, then they would have pulled over the offender.

[suburbia]

Somewhat of a tangential item, but related to cars. I mentioned that we have two vehicles - mine a little fancier than my spouses. The observation is that people are actually nicer on the road when I'm driving my larger, fancier car, but if I'm driving my wife's more modest vehicle, people cut me off and have no or little respect. In the fancier car, people will actively slow down even when I'm supposed to yield. In the more modest vehicle, I've got to run the gauntlet. When I see people favouring me when in my own vehicle, it actually makes me feel a bit sad - might even be a reflection on how the world works. Anyone else have these types of experiences / observations when driving different vehicles?