The car you drive

[Leisher]

I'll concede the gas usage at startup, but it does not negate any of my other points.

It's a garbage technology.

[Cakedaddy]

Absolutely. The wear and tear on the engine/starter is NOT worth the savings. When you compare the minuscule amounts of gas you save to the cost of earlier failure/replacement of parts, the environmental cost of making more of those parts now, transporting them, disposing of them, etc. . . aren't we just giving more money to the manufactures who get to mark up and pass on those costs to us in return for an incalculably small amount of MAYBE environmental gain?

Ya. It's stupid.

[TheCatt]

Absolutely. The wear and tear on the engine/starter is NOT worth the savings. When you compare the minuscule amounts of gas you save to the cost of earlier failure/replacement of parts, the environmental cost of making more of those parts now, transporting them, disposing of them, etc. . . aren't we just giving more money to the manufactures who get to mark up and pass on those costs to us in return for an incalculably small amount of MAYBE environmental gain?

Ya. It's stupid.

Strangely hard to find objective data here. Fuels savings estimates are 3-10%; So $60 to $200 per year.

[Leisher]

Fuels savings estimates are 3-10%; So $60 to $200 per year.

Remember what I said about not believing in anyone neutral anymore? Same shit about the people behind these figures.

I think we've been given some real good examples lately of how easy it is to buy the scientific community.

[TheCatt]

Obviously depends how much city vs highway driving. I probably spend almost 25% of my time at stoplights around town

[TheCatt]

Went to visit my dad at his assisted living facility today. I drove up in the Porsche, but then borrowed a car from a relative, since dad can't get into/out of the car easily. We went to lunch, then drove back to the facility.

Dad: Wow, check out that Porsche over there. What a beaut!
Me: Thanks, it's mine.
Dad: YOU WISH.

We park the car, I walk over to the Porsche, and open the doors.

Dad: Wow! I had no idea!

We took a short joyride, and he enjoyed it - but it was hard for him to get out.

[TheCatt]

Anyway, if that above picture works, that's my car. Porsche 911 992.2 Carrera GTS 4 Cabriolet in viola metallic.

[Leisher]

Good looking car. I'm very jelly.

I like the color too.

[TheCatt]

I spent the past 6/7 months refreshing the Porsche new car listings every 2-3 days looking for that purple. (or, one other purple was under consideration as well). That was the first one that showed up. And it turned out to be only 2.5 hours away! Kizmet?

[Leisher]

The Porsche site didn't let you build it?

[TheCatt]

The Porsche site didn't let you build it?

I've been on the waistlist for a year for this model(still am, as I didn't remove myself). So yeah. I took a dealer build. But it was a nice build, and honestly, I wouldn't have been able to get that color on my own anyway. It's a special paint to sample color, which requires even more Porsche status.

[Leisher]

Just curious. What did you give up to go with the dealer build?

[TheCatt]

Just curious. What did you give up to go with the dealer build?

I mean, if I build it, it's EXACTLY what I want. The dealer did this as a custom build, but obviously they chose how to customize it.

That being said, this car is pretty much what I would have built, except 1) I would not have chosen the special leather interior, I would have gone with a basic one. But it's really nice, so I'm not complaining. 2) I would have upgraded the stereo from Bose to Burmester, which I had in my previous one. 3) I would have chosen the ventilated seats. 4) I would not have chosen the hood/ragtop stripes. I like them fine, I just would have stuck with plain.

But, I did get the color by going this way, which I would not have gotten on my own.

So, overall, not a big difference.

[TheCatt]

Porsche 911 992.2 Carrera GTS 4 Cabriolet in viola metallic.

Wife and I went away for the weekend. Dropped the car at the valet, and, for the first time, my car was the "car so fancy it stays in front of the hotel" car!

[Leisher]

Nice.

I am in the process of getting another car. I don't buy new anymore, so it's used for me. Deciding right now between an Alfa Romeo and an Audi.

Amazingly good deals on used cars on Carvana.

Both cars I'm looking at are sub-$30K and sub-30K miles.

[TheCatt]

Deciding right now between an Alfa Romeo and an Audi.

Well, knowing you, it's a lemon either way . But I would never buy an Alfa.

[Leisher]

But I would never buy an Alfa.

Racist.

I've been leaning the Audi since the beginning.

[Leisher]

Decided to get the Buick Envision. It's fully loaded, AWD, and I wanted something for commuting with a touch more storage space than the sedans I have always driven.

It being fully loaded and way cheaper to own helped it beat out the Audi Q5. I was also thisclose to pulling the trigger on an Audi A4, but again, they're so expensive to own and they have a rep for going dramatically downhill at the 70K miles mark.

Getting it tomorrow, so it'll break down by next week

Taking the Focus up this weekend to hand off to the oldest. She only needs it this year, and then she'll hand it over to the youngest.

The middle kid is driving the BMW X5 and refuses to give it up.

[TheCatt]

The Buick Envision is widely considered a highly reliable compact luxury SUV, with the 2025 model earning a "Great" J.D. Power score of 85/100 and top, or near-top, rankings in its class. The current generation (2021–present) boasts a strong, refined 2.0L turbocharged engine and has significantly improved its, at times, inconsistent past reputation.

Leisher "Challenge, accepted"

Also, wtf? Kid gets to call dibs on the X5?

[Leisher]

Leisher "Challenge, accepted"

They really don't know who they're fucking with.

Also, wtf? Kid gets to call dibs on the X5?

It's a used 2012 X5, but still in almost mint condition. If my girls didn't appreciate it, they wouldn't have it. I'd rather them be in a safer, more reliable car than me.