5 years old and ready for scrap…

[OnTheReel]

17 minutes ago, KARNUT said:

The CRV was bad. The odyssey is worse. Bigger greenhouse. That’s why I never bought a Honda. The CRV was the mother in law’s. I traded for the odyssey with my daughter. I like them both until you hit certain roads. About 1/2 the trip are those noisy roads. I’m ordering earphones for the trip. 

Presumably it has plastic wheel well liners. You could pull them down and apply sound deadening to the back sides of them. My Ram has that done from factory. Sheets of MLV can also be a miracle worker when laid under the carpet. But it’s a huge job.
 

I’m not sure why Hondas are so loud but that’s been my experience too. They just seem unrefined compared to my GM and Mopars. Never mind the VW. That thing is like a tomb.

[KARNUT]

1 hour ago, OnTheReel said:

Presumably it has plastic wheel well liners. You could pull them down and apply sound deadening to the back sides of them. My Ram has that done from factory. Sheets of MLV can also be a miracle worker when laid under the carpet. But it’s a huge job.
 

I’m not sure why Hondas are so loud but that’s been my experience too. They just seem unrefined compared to my GM and Mopars. Never mind the VW. That thing is like a tomb.

I consider sound proofing. You have to pull the seats. My local auto accessory shop quoted 1K to do it. I did spray the wheel wells with the CRV, layering undercoating. It helped. 

[OnTheReel]

21 hours ago, KARNUT said:

I consider sound proofing. You have to pull the seats. My local auto accessory shop quoted 1K to do it. I did spray the wheel wells with the CRV, layering undercoating. It helped. 

I usually do at least a little sound treatment on all my vehicles. For the Ram it was the back side of the doors and and the cab back wall. Wanted to cut the drone a little and make the doors close with a more solid “thud”. SoundSkins Pro is a great product. Followed up with 3M Acoustic Thinsulate. 

On this Jeep I’ll probably do the doors and that’s it. It’s very quiet as it is but could be a little better. 

[Grumpy Bear]

On 9/18/2023 at 8:56 AM, diyer2 said:

Hyundai Tucson?

EDIT

OOPS 2x the cost and bigger.

 

Actually, you are on the right track. Looked at a Mirage. I mentioned that. Well looks like this and the Kia Rio are going the way of the Dodo bird and in another year so will the Versa. The squeeze in on. 

 

Next few levels up in Kia have some interesting choices.... for now. Sedan next. Combination GDI/MPFI systems with real transmissions. Dual clutch 8 speed automatic and even a 6-speed manual in the K5 GT. The Forte has an uncomplicated 2.5 turbo GDI/MPFI 8 speed that is in the running with a 10 year, 100K warranty for under or close to $30K. Even still have multiple interior choices and some decent paint. Only a bit more than a Malibu 1.6T with a CVT in limited configurations or the new TRAX. 

 

 

 

[KARNUT]

50 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

 

Actually, you are on the right track. Looked at a Mirage. I mentioned that. Well looks like this and the Kia Rio are going the way of the Dodo bird and in another year so will the Versa. The squeeze in on. 

 

Next few levels up in Kia have some interesting choices.... for now. Sedan next. Combination GDI/MPFI systems with real transmissions. Dual clutch 8 speed automatic and even a 6-speed manual in the K5 GT. The Forte has an uncomplicated 2.5 turbo GDI/MPFI 8 speed that is in the running with a 10 year, 100K warranty for under or close to $30K. Even still have multiple interior choices and some decent paint. Only a bit more than a Malibu 1.6T with a CVT in limited configurations or the new TRAX. 

 

 

 

I looked online at the Nissan Sentra and Altima. The Sentra is just a little more than the Versa. My local dealer is selling cheaper than my local Hyundai dealer on competitive models. VW in my area is advertising good deals. The cheapest in my area is Nissan. As far as road noise with my Odyssey. Noise cancellation with earbuds. That will keep me from making a bad decision on a replacement trip vehicle. Wooo cowboy. 

[KARNUT]

2 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

 

Actually, you are on the right track. Looked at a Mirage. I mentioned that. Well looks like this and the Kia Rio are going the way of the Dodo bird and in another year so will the Versa. The squeeze in on. 

 

Next few levels up in Kia have some interesting choices.... for now. Sedan next. Combination GDI/MPFI systems with real transmissions. Dual clutch 8 speed automatic and even a 6-speed manual in the K5 GT. The Forte has an uncomplicated 2.5 turbo GDI/MPFI 8 speed that is in the running with a 10 year, 100K warranty for under or close to $30K. Even still have multiple interior choices and some decent paint. Only a bit more than a Malibu 1.6T with a CVT in limited configurations or the new TRAX. 

 

 

 

Check out the Jetta GLI, it’s a bargain considering. And you can row your gears. 

[OnTheReel]

Did spark plugs and air filter. All is running well and working perfectly. Still waiting for a break in the weather to do the first oil change. I swear it’s rained every single day for 3 weeks. Can never line up a 1 hour window to do this job. My silly plastic creeper bit the dust so I kinda need a dry driveway to lay on.

[OnTheReel]

Finally was able to get the oil change done.

 

Of course with any used vehicle the guy who did it last leaves you a surprise. In this case it was a drain plug with a degraded rubber washer. Their solution? Torque it to one million foot-pounds. Thank god it’s a steel pan or that could have ended very badly. Still puckered me up a bit.

Replaced drain plug with a Votex magnetic I took off the TRX to install the Valvomax, and a new crush washer. All is well. Also did Red Line SI-1 in the tank, and tried out cosmoline on the sub frame, oil pan and other metal parts underneath for corrosion protection.

 

So far averaging 24.9 MPG on 88 E15. Not too bad considering I’m just using it to hop around the neighborhood. TRX in those same operating conditions would be around 10 MPG, and on premium only.

[OnTheReel]

This is what I like…big impact for low investment. I’m not a huge audio snob but I’ve done some pretty nice systems. And the stock stereo was bad by anyone’s standards. All bass, nothing much else. No stage. No clarity. No treble even with it cranked all the way up. $50 worth of dash speakers and another $50 on the doors. Matched stock impedance and went for the most sensitive ones I could find at a cheap price so there was no volume loss. Added in some remnants of sound treatment material I had from other projects and it’s pretty good overall. Very clear. Doors close with a nice thud now. And the door panels don’t buzz or rattle anymore.

Have a couple quarts of Red Line MTLV for the trans and then I swear I’m done tinkering and putting money into this. 

[Grumpy Bear]

Your hired  !!

[KARNUT]

5 hours ago, Lily Elliott said:

It's fascinating how our connections to vehicles can be so personal and emotional. Sometimes, a certain vehicle just clicks with us, while others don't evoke the same feeling. Exploring new options and doing research is a sensible approach when you sense a change in your automotive preferences. Your intuition might lead you to a vehicle that resonates better with your needs and feelings. It's also heartwarming to hear about your brother-in-law's generosity in gifting vehicles as graduation presents to his daughters. Starting a business related to automotive consulting or car customization could be a great venture if you're passionate about helping others find their perfect vehicle match or personalizing their graduation presents.

When I turned 60 eight years ago a few things changed when it came to vehicle preferences. My avalanche is the first truck that I left the exhaust stock and didn’t tune. I prefer ride and comfort over performance. I still look at performance it’s number two, not number one. One hundred thousand miles isn’t a red line anymore. I actually bought a vehicle that had over 150K, the avalanche. I’m not as quick to get rid of a vehicle that annoys me. I try a work around. Ear buds on noisy roads. I’m still looking at a replacement for the trip vehicle. Without anger.

[Grumpy Bear]

2 hours ago, KARNUT said:

When I turned 60 eight years ago a few things changed when it came to vehicle preferences. My avalanche is the first truck that I left the exhaust stock and didn’t tune. I prefer ride and comfort over performance. I still look at performance it’s number two, not number one. One hundred thousand miles isn’t a red line anymore. I actually bought a vehicle that had over 150K, the avalanche. I’m not as quick to get rid of a vehicle that annoys me. I try a work around. Ear buds on noisy roads. I’m still looking at a replacement for the trip vehicle. Without anger.

 

That was a BOT friend.  Lord, don't click on that link. 

[Grumpy Bear]

2 hours ago, KARNUT said:

When I turned 60 eight years ago a few things changed when it came to vehicle preferences. My avalanche is the first truck that I left the exhaust stock and didn’t tune. I prefer ride and comfort over performance. I still look at performance it’s number two, not number one. One hundred thousand miles isn’t a red line anymore. I actually bought a vehicle that had over 150K, the avalanche. I’m not as quick to get rid of a vehicle that annoys me. I try a work around. Ear buds on noisy roads. I’m still looking at a replacement for the trip vehicle. Without anger.

 

Early on I remember some famous racing team saying, "You have to finish a race to win a race". Smokey, I think. Durability and fuel economy are part of high performance. I read once an interview from Andretti stating, "Tires not on the ground do not move, stop or change direction". Suspension tune is part of high performance. My personal experiences road racing were, a driver than isn't comfortable isn't focused. A certain amount of comfort is also high performance. Ergonomics are part of high performance. Great braking....and so on. 

 

That doesn't make my Buick LaCrosse a race car, but it does make it high performance.  My favorite tip vehicle. My first total build was neither. But it was fun. 6-8 mpg of Sunoco 260. Loud as an afterburner.  Rough as a cob. Quick to the first corner and passed everything but a gas pump.  I dumped money into that car like I had an oil well and time like I would live forever. Won some street races. Okay, most of them. And two years later it was over and done. Most fun I've ever had with a car and the biggest waste of money, health and a good marriage.

 

I was in my mid 20's. What did I know. 

 

Now 70 and I still prefer the Buick on drives over 500 miles a day. 

[KARNUT]

1 hour ago, Grumpy Bear said:

 

Early on I remember some famous racing team saying, "You have to finish a race to win a race". Smokey, I think. Durability and fuel economy are part of high performance. I read once an interview from Andretti stating, "Tires not on the ground do not move, stop or change direction". Suspension tune is part of high performance. My personal experiences road racing were, a driver than isn't comfortable isn't focused. A certain amount of comfort is also high performance. Ergonomics are part of high performance. Great braking....and so on. 

 

That doesn't make my Buick LaCrosse a race car, but it does make it high performance.  My favorite tip vehicle. My first total build was neither. But it was fun. 6-8 mpg of Sunoco 260. Loud as an afterburner.  Rough as a cob. Quick to the first corner and passed everything but a gas pump.  I dumped money into that car like I had an oil well and time like I would live forever. Won some street races. Okay, most of them. And two years later it was over and done. Most fun I've ever had with a car and the biggest waste of money, health and a good marriage.

 

I was in my mid 20's. What did I know. 

 

Now 70 and I still prefer the Buick on drives over 500 miles a day. 

I have great experiences in Buicks. My father’s preferred Buick for a family vehicle from the 50s until the 1974 Buick Riviera boat tail. He went Cadillac for a while until the move to Texas. My mother’s last car was a Buick. Then diesel trucks. My wife drove a clean 64 Electra 225 for awhile in the 80s. Buicks Oldsmobile and Pontiacs were some of the vehicles we modified back in the day. They didn’t need much as they were fast out of the box. As strange as it may seem to some my wife Genesis fits well into that slot. I’m actually considering a clean used Equis for the next trip vehicle. 

[Black02Silverado]

On 9/30/2023 at 4:53 PM, OnTheReel said:

Finally was able to get the oil change done.

 

Of course with any used vehicle the guy who did it last leaves you a surprise. In this case it was a drain plug with a degraded rubber washer. Their solution? Torque it to one million foot-pounds. Thank god it’s a steel pan or that could have ended very badly. Still puckered me up a bit.

Replaced drain plug with a Votex magnetic I took off the TRX to install the Valvomax, and a new crush washer. All is well. Also did Red Line SI-1 in the tank, and tried out cosmoline on the sub frame, oil pan and other metal parts underneath for corrosion protection.

 

So far averaging 24.9 MPG on 88 E15. Not too bad considering I’m just using it to hop around the neighborhood. TRX in those same operating conditions would be around 10 MPG, and on premium only.

AMSOIL's Heavy-Duty Metal Protector works well as an undercoating.  Dries to a wax film.  Several customers use it for that purpose and love it.