Send an answer to a topic: Tempo
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02Silverado4x4
Used to really like them. Like I said, my tastes have changed. I still like some SUV's; first generation Ford Explorer, Jeep CJ-Series, Toyota FJ (not the new FJ Cruiser though), Land Rover's. Even the ones I like, I don't think I'd want to own any of them. Except maybe the Explorer.
I don't like the modern SUV's, the ones that aim towards road comfort over off-road capability and towing prowess. Perfect example is the modern-day Ford Explorer. Its big (far bigger then the original), it gets like 16MPG highway (on a good day), its ugly, and its about as good off-road as my mom's old minivan. Which is the case with numerous modern "SUVs". I do like the ultra-compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Ford Edge, but even then, why not just get a smaller, all-wheel-drive wagon?
Oh, and I don't like the Hummer H2 for pretty much the same reason as the Cadillac Escalade. Its big, its bad on fuel and it is bad off-road (its just a GM Tahoe underneath).
I don't like the modern SUV's, the ones that aim towards road comfort over off-road capability and towing prowess. Perfect example is the modern-day Ford Explorer. Its big (far bigger then the original), it gets like 16MPG highway (on a good day), its ugly, and its about as good off-road as my mom's old minivan. Which is the case with numerous modern "SUVs". I do like the ultra-compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Ford Edge, but even then, why not just get a smaller, all-wheel-drive wagon?
Oh, and I don't like the Hummer H2 for pretty much the same reason as the Cadillac Escalade. Its big, its bad on fuel and it is bad off-road (its just a GM Tahoe underneath).
G-MANN
I thought you really liked SUVs, even some of the expensive ones like the Hummer H2. It's funny how you seem to have completely reversed your stance.
02Silverado4x4
That's terrible, they're the ones who deserve dirty looks, buying such a big flashy gas-guzzling death-to-pedestrians and small cars SUV without any intention of going offroad, THAT'S WHAT A 4x4 IS MEANT TO DO! SUVs are wasted on people like that and all these luxury, status symbol SUVs shouldn't even exist. You ought to give those people a dirty look back or just laugh at them and their stupid cars.
Surely now you understand why I hate SUVs so much?
Completely agree. I can't stand expensive, luxury SUV's. Nobody uses them for off-road or work use, because they are too expensive. You scratch the rims, brake a headlamp, you are out a lot of money. Although I doubt anyone gets a Navigator to off-road in the first place. Like you already said, thats what SUV's are supposed to do. Their entire purpose is based around work, whether it be off-road use or heavy duty towing. I see more minivans/MPV's towing trailers then I do SUV's.
Back when I lived in Connecticut, we had no need for an SUV or truck. We do not tow or off-road, and the roads we travel on are primarily newer, well-kept roads. So we had a minivan. While our minivan was probably big compared to European minivans (Chevrolet Venture, or Opel Sintra to you), it was not that bad on gas and wasn't that large. Its nose was very low so it was probably safer for pedestrians/cyclists. Now that we moved to rural Alaska, things have changed. We live in a two mile windy road in the forest (no other house in miles). This road is very dangerous (narrow, with steep drop offs) and during the spring and winter seasons really requires a vehicle with decent ground clearance and all/four wheel drive. If we could, we would definitely get another minivan or station wagon. The winters here are insane, and really call for a car with good traction. Not to mention, up here, we do need towing capability (we have a boat). We are left with very few options for an eight passenger vehicle with good ground clearance and AWD.
G-MANN
In fact I hate the look those people give me when I take my Expedition up to a gas pump right after its been off-road. You would think I was transporting illegal aliens or something. I guess its just strange to them to see a vehicle covered in mud.
That's terrible, they're the ones who deserve dirty looks, buying such a big flashy gas-guzzling death-to-pedestrians and small cars SUV without any intention of going offroad, THAT'S WHAT A 4x4 IS MEANT TO DO! SUVs are wasted on people like that and all these luxury, status symbol SUVs shouldn't even exist. You ought to give those people a dirty look back or just laugh at them and their stupid cars.
Surely now you understand why I hate SUVs so much?
Neptune
... All the Navigator's, Escalade's, Aspen's and other luxu-yachts I see are always clean and dent and dirt free. I've never heard of any luxury SUV going off-road. Ever.
Me neither, in my opinion people who buy those types of vehicles don’t like to go off road because its just too "Dirty"
. Going off-road isn’t something rich people like to do. In fact I hate the look those people give me when I take my Expedition up to a gas pump right after its been off-road. You would think I was transporting illegal aliens or something. I guess its just strange to them to see a vehicle covered in mud. 
Every now and again I go down to take my kids to see my parents. They own a good chunk of land that has a large open field and far back into the woods past the tree line, a large pond that is full of fish (mostly Bass) Four-wheel-drive is a necessity to get to it (unless you walk of foot, in which case that would be a awful long walk) Every time I go to the pond to go fishing my vehicle looks like its been through hell and back because the road that leads to the pond isn’t really a road at all (its just a clearing wide enough for a vehicle to travel)
It has never been kept up and is full of deep ruts that fill up with water when it rains, which also causes the mud to become thick and soupy. I have had friends try to drive down to the pond with two-wheel-drive-vehicles after its rained and as a result, they never make it. It’s a place you won’t find any Cadillac Escalade, that’s for sure.
02Silverado4x4
I understand why you like your Tempo, it's your first car. A lot of members' tastes in cars seems to influenced by what they grew up with, but I've never really rated any of the cars my dad's owned while I've been alive (Ford Cortina, BMW 520i [E28], '88 Honda Accord, Vauxhall Omega, Seat Leon) or either of the cars I've had (Fiat Punto, Renault Clio). They did their job, and I have memories of them, but I would never bother trying to track down any of those models for myself in future. The only car belonging to a relative that I'd like to keep for myself one day would be my grandad's old Audi 100 (he's getting old now and this would be a good memento of him), but I know that'll probably never happen, it just wouldn't be practical to keep that old hunk of junk lying around (most people in England don't have much land to themselves).
You know I used to have a bit of an affection for my dad's Vauxhall Omega, because I saw it as like the underdog to the big "snob brand" cars (Merc E-Class, BMW 5-series and Audi A6) in the European executive car market. I thought the Omega was better than it's old contemporaries (Ford Scorpio, Rover 800, Renault Safrane, Citroen XM, Nissan QX, Toyota Camry). But over time I've come to realise that there's a good reason why the Omega depreciated much faster than the Mercs, Beemers and Audis, not only does it lack their image, it just isn't quite in their league in engineering and build quality. But the estate had more space than any European estate since the Volvo 700/900 series. The Omega is obsolete now, European family cars are getting bigger and more sophisticated, there's no need for Ford and Vauxhall to have an "executive class" anymore, they've realised that people will always go for BMWs and Mercs. So the Omega is kind of the last of the large British executive cars, it's a bit like a British version of the Chevy Caprice and Crown Victoria (of course it's a lot smaller, but it was still the flagship Vauxhall).
But I'd never put the Omega on any all time favourite cars list, it's too ordinary.
Maybe my dad will give me his Omega soon (it's getting old and isn't worth much), but he tends to run his cars into the ground, so by the time he's finished with it, it'll probably be at the stage where it'll need big repairs and it wouldn't be financially practical for me (that's why I got rid of my Clio, I wasn't going to spend £700-£900 minimum to fix a £200 car) He's already spent more money in repairs than it's worth in the last few years, only because it's cheaper than him having to buy a new car for the best part of £20K. I don't know when he plans to replace that car, he's just putting it off for as long as he can, but it's starting to show it's age, recently it had trouble starting, so it needed yet more fixing.
You know I used to have a bit of an affection for my dad's Vauxhall Omega, because I saw it as like the underdog to the big "snob brand" cars (Merc E-Class, BMW 5-series and Audi A6) in the European executive car market. I thought the Omega was better than it's old contemporaries (Ford Scorpio, Rover 800, Renault Safrane, Citroen XM, Nissan QX, Toyota Camry). But over time I've come to realise that there's a good reason why the Omega depreciated much faster than the Mercs, Beemers and Audis, not only does it lack their image, it just isn't quite in their league in engineering and build quality. But the estate had more space than any European estate since the Volvo 700/900 series. The Omega is obsolete now, European family cars are getting bigger and more sophisticated, there's no need for Ford and Vauxhall to have an "executive class" anymore, they've realised that people will always go for BMWs and Mercs. So the Omega is kind of the last of the large British executive cars, it's a bit like a British version of the Chevy Caprice and Crown Victoria (of course it's a lot smaller, but it was still the flagship Vauxhall).
But I'd never put the Omega on any all time favourite cars list, it's too ordinary.
Maybe my dad will give me his Omega soon (it's getting old and isn't worth much), but he tends to run his cars into the ground, so by the time he's finished with it, it'll probably be at the stage where it'll need big repairs and it wouldn't be financially practical for me (that's why I got rid of my Clio, I wasn't going to spend £700-£900 minimum to fix a £200 car) He's already spent more money in repairs than it's worth in the last few years, only because it's cheaper than him having to buy a new car for the best part of £20K. I don't know when he plans to replace that car, he's just putting it off for as long as he can, but it's starting to show it's age, recently it had trouble starting, so it needed yet more fixing.
Yes, my tastes are heavily influenced by family and my first car (the Tempo). I wouldn't have cared for the Tempo if I didn't own one. Two of my favorite cars, the Ford F-150 and Dodge Caravan, I like only because my parent's owned numerous F-150's and Caravan's and I grew up around them. However, as much as I like them, they are not cars I would want to own. I could see buying myself a 1997-2003 F-150 XL (entry level model) 4x4 with the five speed manual transmission as a work truck only (fishing work, hauling large amounts of wood, dirt, rock or other materials) or when the conditions demand four wheel drive and good ground clearance. I am perfectly happy driving my small car around, but sometimes it just does not cut it.
Since owning a Ford Tempo, I've come to have a sort of respect or attraction to underdog cars from the 1980's and 1990's. Cars like Tempo, the Chevy Corsica, Dodge Spirit, Dodge Aries, and similar cars. Cars normally deemed uncool, low and worthless by today's people. Thats not to say the aforementioned vehicles deserve respect. Because they don't. They were not fast, not powerful, not particularly innovative (though I think the Tempo was very innovative for the Ford Motor Company) and certainly were not very appealing. I have a few friends who have Corsica's, and based on my personal experience with my Tempo, I feel their material quality was surprisingly good. In comparison to more modern American entry level compact sedans like the Chevrolet Cobalt (which my family rented last summer) and American market Ford Focus (which we also rented a while back), they are noticeably better built. Sales reflect that too.
About my favorite cars, they are not influenced at all by what I think is the "best". In fact, I've come to realize that none of them are best-in-class. I just like them, and probably will for the rest of my life.
Edit: I can't stand the Escalade (or Navigator, or the new Chrysler Aspen). I highly doubt that anyone takes their Escalade off-road, and I also doubt that the Escalade EXT's rear bed is ever used for carrying cargo. All the Navigator's, Escalade's, Aspen's and other luxu-yachts I see are always clean and dent and dirt free. I've never heard of any luxury SUV going off-road. Ever.
MBSL65fan
Maybe, I don't think many of them actually do. It's originally a Chevy Avalanche. It however doesn't have as good off road capabilities as the Avalanche I would think.
G-MANN
Does anyone actually use the EXT like a normal pickup truck, i.e. they actually put stuff in the pickup section? I'd be very suprised if they did (just like I'd be suprised if someone actually took an Escalade offroad).
MBSL65fan
I know that a lot of teens or college students like trucks, but particularly I don't. I'd rather own a Cadillac STS than a Escalade EXT, but a lot of guys might prefer the EXT. Right now I'm only driving a truck because It's the only thing I have to drive. Althogh there's the Caddy but I can't take it to school when I get my license.
G-MANN
I understand why you like your Tempo, it's your first car. A lot of members' tastes in cars seems to influenced by what they grew up with, but I've never really rated any of the cars my dad's owned while I've been alive (Ford Cortina, BMW 520i [E28], '88 Honda Accord, Vauxhall Omega, Seat Leon) or either of the cars I've had (Fiat Punto, Renault Clio). They did their job, and I have memories of them, but I would never bother trying to track down any of those models for myself in future. The only car belonging to a relative that I'd like to keep for myself one day would be my grandad's old Audi 100 (he's getting old now and this would be a good memento of him), but I know that'll probably never happen, it just wouldn't be practical to keep that old hunk of junk lying around (most people in England don't have much land to themselves).
You know I used to have a bit of an affection for my dad's Vauxhall Omega, because I saw it as like the underdog to the big "snob brand" cars (Merc E-Class, BMW 5-series and Audi A6) in the European executive car market. I thought the Omega was better than it's old contemporaries (Ford Scorpio, Rover 800, Renault Safrane, Citroen XM, Nissan QX, Toyota Camry). But over time I've come to realise that there's a good reason why the Omega depreciated much faster than the Mercs, Beemers and Audis, not only does it lack their image, it just isn't quite in their league in engineering and build quality. But the estate had more space than any European estate since the Volvo 700/900 series. The Omega is obsolete now, European family cars are getting bigger and more sophisticated, there's no need for Ford and Vauxhall to have an "executive class" anymore, they've realised that people will always go for BMWs and Mercs. So the Omega is kind of the last of the large British executive cars, it's a bit like a British version of the Chevy Caprice and Crown Victoria (of course it's a lot smaller, but it was still the flagship Vauxhall).
But I'd never put the Omega on any all time favourite cars list, it's too ordinary.
Maybe my dad will give me his Omega soon (it's getting old and isn't worth much), but he tends to run his cars into the ground, so by the time he's finished with it, it'll probably be at the stage where it'll need big repairs and it wouldn't be financially practical for me (that's why I got rid of my Clio, I wasn't going to spend £700-£900 minimum to fix a £200 car) He's already spent more money in repairs than it's worth in the last few years, only because it's cheaper than him having to buy a new car for the best part of £20K. I don't know when he plans to replace that car, he's just putting it off for as long as he can, but it's starting to show it's age, recently it had trouble starting, so it needed yet more fixing.
You know I used to have a bit of an affection for my dad's Vauxhall Omega, because I saw it as like the underdog to the big "snob brand" cars (Merc E-Class, BMW 5-series and Audi A6) in the European executive car market. I thought the Omega was better than it's old contemporaries (Ford Scorpio, Rover 800, Renault Safrane, Citroen XM, Nissan QX, Toyota Camry). But over time I've come to realise that there's a good reason why the Omega depreciated much faster than the Mercs, Beemers and Audis, not only does it lack their image, it just isn't quite in their league in engineering and build quality. But the estate had more space than any European estate since the Volvo 700/900 series. The Omega is obsolete now, European family cars are getting bigger and more sophisticated, there's no need for Ford and Vauxhall to have an "executive class" anymore, they've realised that people will always go for BMWs and Mercs. So the Omega is kind of the last of the large British executive cars, it's a bit like a British version of the Chevy Caprice and Crown Victoria (of course it's a lot smaller, but it was still the flagship Vauxhall).
But I'd never put the Omega on any all time favourite cars list, it's too ordinary.
Maybe my dad will give me his Omega soon (it's getting old and isn't worth much), but he tends to run his cars into the ground, so by the time he's finished with it, it'll probably be at the stage where it'll need big repairs and it wouldn't be financially practical for me (that's why I got rid of my Clio, I wasn't going to spend £700-£900 minimum to fix a £200 car) He's already spent more money in repairs than it's worth in the last few years, only because it's cheaper than him having to buy a new car for the best part of £20K. I don't know when he plans to replace that car, he's just putting it off for as long as he can, but it's starting to show it's age, recently it had trouble starting, so it needed yet more fixing.