What kind of car do you drive? - Page 4

yvanleterrible · 07-12-2009, 02:55 PM

I have a car related question for our European friends.

Here in Quebec, during winter time, they sprinkle salts over the roads to melt snow and ice. Do you have the same kind of road maintenance in your regions?
This... proccess does incredible damage to cars, so much that most all vehicles must be discarded soon in the vicinity of their tenth year due to corrosion unless one has the means to wash vehicles after each use. Heh! Try that at -35C!

zelda_pinwheel · 07-12-2009, 02:57 PM

in paris they use sand. but it hardly ever snows here anyway, and when it does it usually melts within a few hours, so it's not really an issue. this winter it snowed a lot and stuck for several days, long enough to get packed down into ice. that was an adventure. but still, everything is relative ; when i say "a lot" i mean in some places where it was piled up there might have been 10 or 20 cm...

yvanleterrible · 07-12-2009, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

in paris they use sand. but it hardly ever snows here anyway, and when it does it usually melts within a few hours, so it's not really an issue. this winter it snowed a lot and stuck for several days, long enough to get packed down into ice. that was an adventure. but still, everything is relative ; when i say "a lot" i mean in some places where it was piled up there might have been 10 or 20 cm...

Do you mean snow banks on the side of the road?

zelda_pinwheel · 07-12-2009, 03:03 PM

no, the snowbanks were a bit deeper (sometimes... in some places... not everywhere). but i mean on a heavily travelled area the sidewalk was usually kept fairly clean, but in places no-one was walking there was more snow.

yvanleterrible · 07-12-2009, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

no, the snowbanks were a bit deeper (sometimes... in some places... not everywhere). but i mean on a heavily travelled area the sidewalk was usually kept fairly clean, but in places no-one was walking there was more snow.

Sorry, I forgot the city dweller.
You should have seen Montreal last winter, to cut expenses they only cleared one sidewalk by street. The one on the other side was not cleared of the snow, those poor old people really did not enjoy trudging through 1 meter of snow. Cat lives in Montreal, she's seen a lot of it.

joobies · 07-12-2009, 03:33 PM

We drive a 15 year old subcompact. No CD player, automatic seats or mirrors, moon roof, cruise control or any other bells and whistles.
We do have a trailer hitch on it to haul my 3-wheeled trike.
No new vehicle on our horizon. No need.

Verencat · 07-12-2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Sorry, I forgot the city dweller.
You should have seen Montreal last winter, to cut expenses they only cleared one sidewalk by street. The one on the other side was not cleared of the snow, those poor old people really did not enjoy trudging through 1 meter of snow. Cat lives in Montreal, she's seen a lot of it.

Those were taken at the end of December, a friend and his car, after spending about an hour digging it out, and Jacques-Cartier bridge, seen during a snow fall, pic taken right after passing under it. The rest of the winter was even worst! Parking a car in the city was awful, and walking was almost unmanageable. Let's just say I didn't get out unless necessary!
It was beautiful though.

Moejoe · 07-12-2009, 04:38 PM

My new transport should arrive tomorrow

mellina 52 · 07-12-2009, 05:16 PM

My personal vehicle is a 2003 Rav 4 by Toyota and I drive a Freightliner School Bus for work.

ShortNCuddlyAm · 07-12-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peverel

a Suzuki Grand Vitara 3 door.)

What's the head/leg room like in that? (as in could someone who's 6'7" drive one?) (The yeti's already planning what our next car will be

)

yvanleterrible · 07-12-2009, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

What's the head/leg room like in that? (as in could someone who's 6'7" drive one?) (The yeti's already planning what our next car will be

)

He'd fit better in a smart!

Over · 07-12-2009, 07:20 PM

I have a Fiat Bravo JTD105GT, like this one:

It's been more than 9 years. That means 95% of my driving life. Very faithful I am.

ShortNCuddlyAm · 07-12-2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

He'd fit better in a smart!

He can fit in one with room to clear - unfortunately, the windscreen starts too low, so he can't see things like road signs and traffic lights

slayda · 07-12-2009, 09:09 PM

Mine has four wheels.

donslade · 07-12-2009, 10:55 PM

Ok, I'll bite.

I drive a 1997 BMW 318ti with most of the clear coat gone from the horizontal surfaces. Ugly but in excellent mechanical condition at 150k miles. Since I work in Juarez, Mexcico, the land of the drug wars and kidnappings I like my low profile car. As long as it gets me into my office and back home to the US of A in one piece I'm good. My next choice for a commute vehicle is not available to me at any price - a Stryker (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stryker) with the M151 RWS. What fun that would be!

Our family vehicle is a 2007 Saturn Outlook. Great for trips and hauling stuff. Lots of miles in its short life - 65k in 30 months - since my wife is a Realtor and we go to Houston several times a year.

Last but not least is the 1975 MG B parked next to our house. Started out as a 'project car' around 1991 and has been in that indeterminate state ever since. My son dragged it to his high school and rebuilt the engine with his auto shop class a couple of years ago so at least that works, but it needs brakes, a new interior, body work, and a myriad other things before it can be considered anywhere near presentable.

Other vehicles in the family stable are my son's 1991 Jeep Cherokee - which my Mom purchased new in 1991 and he 'borrowed' from me in 2004 - and my daughter's 2005 Pontiac Vibe.

07-12-2009, 02:55 PM	#46
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	I have a car related question for our European friends. Here in Quebec, during winter time, they sprinkle salts over the roads to melt snow and ice. Do you have the same kind of road maintenance in your regions? This... proccess does incredible damage to cars, so much that most all vehicles must be discarded soon in the vicinity of their tenth year due to corrosion unless one has the means to wash vehicles after each use. Heh! Try that at -35C! Last edited by yvanleterrible; 07-12-2009 at 02:57 PM.

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07-12-2009, 02:57 PM	#47
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	in paris they use sand. but it hardly ever snows here anyway, and when it does it usually melts within a few hours, so it's not really an issue. this winter it snowed a lot and stuck for several days, long enough to get packed down into ice. that was an adventure. but still, everything is relative ; when i say "a lot" i mean in some places where it was piled up there might have been 10 or 20 cm...

07-12-2009, 03:03 PM	#49
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	no, the snowbanks were a bit deeper (sometimes... in some places... not everywhere). but i mean on a heavily travelled area the sidewalk was usually kept fairly clean, but in places no-one was walking there was more snow.

07-12-2009, 03:33 PM	#51
joobies Addict Posts: 234 Karma: 1856 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Midwest USA Device: Kindle 1, Sony PRS-505	We drive a 15 year old subcompact. No CD player, automatic seats or mirrors, moon roof, cruise control or any other bells and whistles. We do have a trailer hitch on it to haul my 3-wheeled trike. No new vehicle on our horizon. No need.

07-12-2009, 04:38 PM	#53
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	My new transport should arrive tomorrow

07-12-2009, 05:16 PM	#54
mellina 52 Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 320201 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southeast Virginia Device: Sony PRS-505. IPAD	My personal vehicle is a 2003 Rav 4 by Toyota and I drive a Freightliner School Bus for work.

07-12-2009, 07:20 PM	#57
Over Wizard Posts: 1,462 Karma: 6061516 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cascais, Portugal Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2", OnePlus 6	I have a Fiat Bravo JTD105GT, like this one: It's been more than 9 years. That means 95% of my driving life. Very faithful I am.

07-12-2009, 09:09 PM	#59
slayda Retired & reading more! Posts: 2,764 Karma: 1884247 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Alabama, USA Device: Kindle 1, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6S+, Kobo Aura One	Mine has four wheels.

07-12-2009, 10:55 PM	#60
donslade Member Posts: 24 Karma: 140 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: El Paso, TX Device: PRS-505, Nook STR, Kindle PW3	Ok, I'll bite. I drive a 1997 BMW 318ti with most of the clear coat gone from the horizontal surfaces. Ugly but in excellent mechanical condition at 150k miles. Since I work in Juarez, Mexcico, the land of the drug wars and kidnappings I like my low profile car. As long as it gets me into my office and back home to the US of A in one piece I'm good. My next choice for a commute vehicle is not available to me at any price - a Stryker (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stryker) with the M151 RWS. What fun that would be! Our family vehicle is a 2007 Saturn Outlook. Great for trips and hauling stuff. Lots of miles in its short life - 65k in 30 months - since my wife is a Realtor and we go to Houston several times a year. Last but not least is the 1975 MG B parked next to our house. Started out as a 'project car' around 1991 and has been in that indeterminate state ever since. My son dragged it to his high school and rebuilt the engine with his auto shop class a couple of years ago so at least that works, but it needs brakes, a new interior, body work, and a myriad other things before it can be considered anywhere near presentable. Other vehicles in the family stable are my son's 1991 Jeep Cherokee - which my Mom purchased new in 1991 and he 'borrowed' from me in 2004 - and my daughter's 2005 Pontiac Vibe.