I just drove the Abarth monday. Nice car, zippy, HUMONGOUS blind spots.
The new Mini coupe is very cool looking, but only a two seater, and more expensive than the Fiat.
We ended up with a loaded Kia Forte “Koop”. 170+hp, paddle shifters, loaded. Pretty fun car.
Shawn said:Funny, I once toured Italy in a gazebo... :D
...I did do the autobond in Germany, in a Porch...
Sorry, I really couldn’t help it! My spelling is awful! 
Mark V said:Shawn said:Funny, I once toured Italy in a gazebo... :D
...I did do the autobond in Germany, in a Porch...Sorry, I really couldn’t help it! My spelling is awful!
(Besides I have to keep Rooster on is toes)
Sumpin got mispelled? :lol:
Mark V said:Shawn said:Funny, I once toured Italy in a gazebo... :D
...I did do the autobond in Germany, in a Porch...Sorry, I really couldn’t help it! My spelling is awful!
Bob McCown said:
I just drove the Abarth monday. Nice car, zippy, HUMONGOUS blind spots.The new Mini coupe is very cool looking, but only a two seater, and more expensive than the Fiat.
We ended up with a loaded Kia Forte “Koop”. 170+hp, paddle shifters, loaded. Pretty fun car.
Sheesh I heard on the radio - business segment - that you guys are buying cars like you haven’t since 2007. I guess they weren’t lying, eh!?!
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:Not me. My 300hp 99 Eldo gives me plenty of thrills...................0 to 100mph plenty fast enough. Rides like a dream, handles nicely and gets 25mpg local, 30mpg on the highway. Heated leather seats and no car payment. Not much of an off road vehicle though ;) Ralph
Sheesh I heard on the radio - business segment - that you guys are buying cars like you haven't since 2007. I guess they weren't lying, eh!?!
Ralph Berg said:Put a lift on her Ralph and some big tires Lol. I have to admit I have always wanted a 1930's style pickup. A friend of mine just got one retsored, what a beauty.Hans-Joerg Mueller said:Not me. My 300hp 99 Eldo gives me plenty of thrills...................0 to 100mph plenty fast enough. Rides like a dream, handles nicely and gets 25mpg local, 30mpg on the highway. Heated leather seats and no car payment. Not much of an off road vehicle though ;) Ralph
Sheesh I heard on the radio - business segment - that you guys are buying cars like you haven't since 2007. I guess they weren't lying, eh!?!
I have been considering a 2003-08 Audi A3 2.0 lately as my next car, currently its a 03 1.2 VW Polo. The insurance would be cost £2400 alone (young driver)! But I should get 50-60mpg on the way to work.
Alec
In Canada you can have any color car you want as long as it’s dull.
Humph. They haven’t made a decent car that a fedora-wearing real man could sit upright in since the '32 Vicky…
Bob. I never heard of an Abarth. Prolly can’t even get one up here. Just looked it up. That’s not a car, it’s an INSECT!!!
John Le Forestier said:Its fast as stink, but I couldn't drive one as my daily driver, with the visibility issues. It'd take a bit of getting used to. Good as a fun third car, though, I would think.
Bob. I never heard of an Abarth. Prolly can't even get one up here. Just looked it up. That's not a car, it's an INSECT!!!!
I had thought of an Abarth, an old buddy of mine had a '72 we used to race against my '70 Spider 124 (He beat me of course). I am a ‘shallow’ person when it comes to cars, the looks just keep me a step back. From a rally perspective I’m sure they’re a blast!
By the way Bob, Kia has done nothing but impress me. They build cars that look and perform well above what their history and price would suggest. I saw your car drive by a few months ago and I thought “Kia”? Their styling is top notch.
Mark V said:
I had thought of an Abarth, an old buddy of mine had a '72 we used to race against my '70 Spider 124 (He beat me of course). I am a 'shallow' person when it comes to cars, the looks just keep me a step back. From a rally perspective I'm sure they're a blast!By the way Bob, Kia has done nothing but impress me. They build cars that look and perform well above what their history and price would suggest. I saw your car drive by a few months ago and I thought “Kia”? Their styling is top notch.
This one sort of fell in our laps. Our old Subaru is showing its age (170k miles) but we really don’t need a second car, so the idea was to get something sporty and fun. Martha found this in the showroom of the Kia dealer, we both went back that night after they had taken it out of the showroom, test drove it, the guy gave us a great deal, and we brought it home less than 24 hours later. Its fun as hell, as 100k/10yr warranty, and its loaded. All for a hair above 20k. Can’t beat that.
Funny story about those Korean cars–Kia and Hyundai, which owns Kia. Many, many years ago when I went on a Hyundai intro to Korea. We went to their R&D facility, plant, test track and drove the product pretty much all around South Korea. We were, er, amused. We’re not chuckling anymore. Both of these brands are producing some stylish, durable cars that keep winning accolades and have the Japanese, German and American manufacturers on their toes.
One neat thing we did was visit Hyundai’s ship building facility (they are a reknowned builder) and ya ain’t lived until you’ve stood next to a piston from a marine diesel, which fits in an engine as big as a bungalow.
My Dad bought GM his whole life…His last three cars have all been the Hyundai Sonata.
A friend of mine bought one of the first Excel’s, I did everything I could do to talk him out of it, he didn’t listen…What a pile! Today any offering from either brand is a fine choice. I would consider it but my next sedan/coupe needs to be AWD.
All that said…I’m back to thinking a silver Cayman is the better color choice for me. 
Mark… I bought a 78 Excel, first year imported to the US… Bought it so the wife could put a ton of miles on it to and from work, figured a couple of years top… 178K latter we gave it to our daughter… she trashed it in two years… But it was still running… It just wouldn’t die… Upgraded to a Sonata… 142K and traded it in on a new Azera… Best car yet 60K and not a hick-up yet… Have had several warranty things… Hyundai stepped up no questions asked… parts and labor… My next car will be a Genesis.
Back in a previous life I worked in auto salvage. The early 80s Excel automatics were garbage. Hyundai finally admitted it and redesigned it, but their rep took a bit hit for a few years. Now, Huyndai is one of the best price/feature deals out there.