Hooniverse Asks- If You Could Change One Aspect of Your Daily Driver, What Would it Be?
Magic is magical in what it can do. Harry Potter, H.R. Puff N Stuff’s Witchiepoo, Canadian Doug Henning, they all used it to shape their surroundings to their liking. Well, maybe not the perennially spandex-clad Henning, as had that been the case he probably wouldn’t be dead now. That’s of course if his death isn’t the greatest long-term magic trick ever conceived.
If only you were as magical as a Weasley, you could hocus pocus your car and eliminate that one thing about it that drives you mad while you are driving it. Maybe it’s a lack of a dead pedal, or a too-low door header that’s causing you premature hair loss and sometimes scalp. Whatever it is, it’s the one thing that perhaps separates your car form close to awesome to nirvana like perfection. What one thing would you say that is?
Image source: [thefoat.com]
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Diesel engine.
I wants RWD.
Yes, I agree. A RWD version of my Protege 5 would be incredible beyond description.
Especially if it had a turbo and direct injection.
But that's three things . . .
I drive a Saturn Ion… So, unless the 'one thing' can be everything, I'm going to pass on this one.
I DD a 2002tii, so ventilation. Or, more practically, rust proof metal.
<img src="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqQOKjwE4HL)GejrBOI6ooYcHg~~_3.JPG" width="500">
I heard about the Vintage Air system I think on Oelican Parts. I think Summit Racing sells them. The image is from a really nicely done Amazon that was on ebay (click on the image for more) with AC.
I think for me a power brake booster would be the thing I would appreciate the most. since I would use it so often, but overdrive would be nice as well.
I have a non-functional Behr unit. I am planning on dropping in a Sanden compressor to get it functional again and running on R134a. And the OD is the best upgrade you can do- I turn about 3100rpm at 70mph with my swapped 5-speed.
You have nothing to complain about.
I suffer greatly.
A small thing – I wish my LeSabre had a moonroof.
<img src="http://images2.cableorganizer.com/milwaukee-tools/m18-sawzall-set/M18-Sawzall-Reciprocating-Saw.jpg">
I drive an '02 Passat (5MT, 1.8T), which isn't a bad car for boogeying on down the road and around a corner in comfort. However, if Mr. Weasley were to wave his magic wand at it, I'd ask for a rust bucket '87 Ford Escort. That way, I'd end up with a pristine '73 Porsche 911 2.7 RS. Green w/black Carerra stripe
The Alfa puts out somewhere around 120 hp. Moar power would be nice.
Hell, in my world even 120hp would be nice.
You're not the first MG owner to tell me that.
Hell, in my world even 120hp would be nice.
(snort!)
In your world, 120hp would be fatal.
Fun while it lasted, though.
Gotta be gas mileage. My SVT Focus gets 21 MPG on average with my normal driving (which includes 7 miles and 20+ traffic lights on surface streets on my daily commute). And that's on 91 octane. Best I've ever gotten on the highway is about 27, although my 72 year old dad got 30 MPG out of it by driving like a 72 year old man.
Otherwise I really like my car.
Could be worse. You could be getting about the same mileage from a camry er washing machine and geting absolutely no reach around while doing so.
The Internet is making me feel bad for the Camry and its designers. Sure, it's the best selling car in the country, but everyone always complains about it not being cool enough. So they put a body kit on it and it's unintentionally sad and awkward, like someone's dad dancing at a wedding. Incidentally, this is also why I'm sometimes compelled to defend Justin Bieber in spite of not really enjoying his music, because I can see a descent into Lief Garrett-esque drug addiction and failure in his future.
So the Toyota Camry is like Justin Bieber, if he was a dad at a wedding. That is totally a sensible comparison.
I wish E10 wasn't 10% worthless in my car.
Since 'diesel' was taken already, a real LSD in the Ranger (DD) and the Mustang (mid-life car).
1997 F150 V6 – I could go for some better fuel economy. Shocking, I know!
05 F150 4.6L on 33"s. I too wish for better fuel economy. We're considering upgrading to an EcoBoost truck.
The wife's Impreza 2.5i (5MT) averages 28 in mixed driving so I can't complain about that. But I will complain that when locked, pulling the interior door handle doesn't automatically unlock it, like on my truck. She has a habit of locking the doors while driving around.
I love these posts to find out what everyone drives.
My wife has a '06 Forester (auto), and gets decent economy, but her driving is mostly around town, not highway, and gets about 21. Highway it gets about 25.
I would love to get an EcoBoost truck. Probably more than getting a Raptor, because I would be able to abuse the turbo more than the offroad prowess of the Raptor.
I’m with you on the EcoBoost engines. My Dad just got an F-150 EcoBoost and loves it. He says the response is diesel-like. He is also getting around 19 mpg on his (2 lane highway) commute.
The amazing thing is just how fast they are on the 0-60 run. Even with 4WD, they are in the very low 6 second range. That’s hard to fathom.
Replace pull-handle handbrake actuator with hydraulic-lever.
That thin, black rectangle bottom left of the steering wheel.
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The last time I pulled it, it came clear out of the dash, had to disconnect the handbrake permanently, or at least until I can be bothered to fix it! (the model car I have uses separate drum brakes for the handbrake, so having those disconnected doesn't affect braking)
The funny car body pictured above would be a wonderful improvement indeed, but I'm not sure how to get the crewman to the destination on time to raise and lower the car's body.
Anybody else getting context-sensitive ads for hair replacement?
I would say working A/C in the Town Cow, but that's not a design flaw, that's just me unwilling to spend the money, so I have to skip that. I really don't want a manual, because I often end up in stop-and-crawl rush hour jams on I-470. Maybe some sort of DSG or SMT would be nice. I have to say that I am shocked that I can't come up with anything other than that. I must really like the Cow, even more than I realized.
I take that back. On nice days in the fall and spring, I wish I could put on my tweed flatcap and drop the top. Oh, and have it sound just like an Austin Healey when I do.
I am also in the "working A/C, but I dont wanna spend no monies on it" camp. Maybe one day, but not anytime soon.
My A/C works, but the windows are all very angled, so the sun really heats up the inside. A remote starter would be very high on the list of "don't wanna spend", but I suppose I should scrape the sofa cushions for some funds for a tint job.
I did have my usual shop recharge it and do a dye test. They couldn't find a specific leak, so the only option was to start randomly replacing parts.
Yea, thanks guys, but I don't think so.
So you wish your Town Cow was an Austin Heifer?
Built Cossie stroker with a rotated GT30 and Meth injection.
A-la-peanut-butter-sandwiches!
<img src="http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/files/blogger2wp/65432meth.jpg">
I want some damn rain gutters.
If I could change one thing, I would change the name on the title. I don't own a DD. The dealership I work for does.
Only one?
I'd like an AX-15 in place of my current 3 speed toploader. Yesterday I was showing somebody how NOT to shift a toploader, and I got the transmission stuck in 1st with the shifter in the 2nd position.
Or by "one" can I say drivetrain so I can get an OM617.951 with my AX-15 and maybe some 3.00 gears in the ole 8" rear.
Does "a completely different and better car" count as one aspect?
I've heard that called the radiator cap repair method, best employed on vehicles with exposed radiators. (1) Unscrew radiator cap. (2) Push car out from under radiator cap. (3) Push new car under radiator cap. (4) Screw on radiator cap.
That sequence addresses most problems, but if necessary: (5) Replace radiator cap.
We call that "Jacking Up the License Plates" around here.
Or "jack up the antenna and drive a new car under it".
AC in my Opala
What model Opala do you have?
A "74 model Especial de Luxo with original SS trim inside, shiny black and chrome outside with vinyl top, rolling on white walls and a mighty iron duke under the hood.
Have you posted photos of it? I want to see!
<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ekA0mq858zI/TR_XBQIDgwI/AAAAAAAACwg/VgBNulvbKf0/s640/DSC06777-3.JPG" width="550">
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YGe_LwsZLkk/TF85JLCB3gI/AAAAAAAACtI/Qv_npw_QO3c/s640/DSC05567.JPG" width="550">
As if you could get any cooler! That's a sweet ride. Congratulations!
Well an airco could help, specially in Brazil.
Ah yes, now I remember. Very cool. Love the dish hubcaps and wide whites.
I wish I could change my Ford Explorer into a Ford Edge.
That's very edgy.
I like living on the edge.
By Ford Edge, you mean Ford GR, right?
GR-1? Oh, heck yeah!! That's what I mean.
My phone auto "corrected" GT into GR…
It, however, knows how to spell Citroën correctly…
That's funny. Yes, Ford GT, for sure, but the Ford GR-1 is very cool.
I love nearly everything about my Ranger (5-spd, 4-cyl, RWD), but if I could make it a supercab I would. I've actually started looking at dealers' inventories to see if they have any base supercabs because the rebates are back up to $5500 now.
I would change the final drive on my saabaru from 3.90 to 4.11 to get the gears a little closer together. Otherwise, I've changed every little thing that has bugged me. Maybe lightweight wheels or something, but I don't like spending that much on stuff I ram into potholes and the occasional curb.
I already have RWD and a Rear engine. The three thing I really want are: a moonroof (not happening), a dead pedal (eventually), and more power (eventually).
Rocking a Fiero?
Living where I do, I want a heated steering wheel and shift knob. No matter how long it warms up in the morning, the steering wheel and shifter feel like glaciers in an ice age. Otherwise, I quite like my Matrix, it's better than a lot of people would have you believe.
Rust. I would get rid of it.
Given time, it's self-removing.
Hard to choose, Turbo or AWD. Regardless I'll take either one of them.
I would like to be able to remove the Targa roof without having to stop and open both doors. I miss my MGB for that reason (but no others!)…
Well, I have an 09 Sonata so if I was changing just one thing it would be the powertrain. The car is rather svelte for its size at 3200 lbs so it has some semblance of agility (at least compared to its competitors). The 2.4 is just so weak… and I'm not a fan of FWD… so a 2 liter 270 bhp engine like the one in the new Sonata's (which I don't think feel as nice as the previous generation) would fit the bill in my book. A manual transmission that isn't that doesn't feel like a rowing a trireme and a clutch that was firmer then 45 day old ground beef would add to the allure. Throw in an adequate rear bias AWD system and I think you'd have quite a killer sedan in my book.
What I'd really like to have in my 760 would be one of those aluminum Chevy 5.3L small blocks… but I would settle right now for a new drivers seat and a steering wheel. The upholstery and cushioning are starting to get worn.
Moooooooore power! 185 HP doesn't work well with 33" tires and 3.55 gears. Though having a soft top would be nice too.
4.0HO or no HO?
5.0 in a Bronco.
Ah, read like a Jeep check list.
210hp isn't much better. But I'm also in a 6000lb. F150.
I doubt my Bronco weighs that much less than your F-150.
Like pj134 I assumed you were talking about JEEP.
I wish my car could fly without compromising it's driveability. Big pothole? Don't worry about the 12 inch wheels, just fly. . Can't get to the twisties because of traffic? Just fly.
My other sometimes daily driver is a motorbike. The only aspect I would change of it would be that ever Susie SUV would be off the road when I am riding the bike.
That, and A/C.
I'd love for the Lego GT to have an MT. Unfortunately, the auto that I found was too good a deal to pass up.
Currently, I'd settle for a working starter on my '94 Ranger.
In the dream world, a turbo diesel or a turbo'd version of my current engine (2.3 L 4-banger).
Sometimes a roof would be nice. Or a heater. Or even padded seats.
But the ONE thing I'd REALLY like to change, would be having a way to easily get the spare motor in and out of the passenger seat when away from home. It's become a huge pain in the ass.
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I like your well-integrated clock there. That's almost OE quality, just slightly better.
That clock is surprisingly handy, and not at all too large, out on the track.
My answer for the Bee is mirrors. Better mirrors.
I bet it keeps better time than OE too.
It was off by about an hour at the race in Oregon, so yes, it does.
There is also a small clock in the dash that used to work until we flipped and it quit. But, the horn started working, so there is that.
For a sec I thought you had that installed… a mid-engined 'B… then I saw it was backwards and I thought COOL!! A dual, engined, AWD MGB! I was all over the place with this one.
At least you have a spare motor, my A doesn't even have a motor, or transmission for that matter.
Well, if you'd race a Saab 96 instead of an MG you could carry a few spare engines in the trunk. And be able to lift them out all by yourself. Just channeling my inner mdharrell…
The S2000 needs a blower… "VTEC, yo!" is all well and good until you're autocrossing against Vipers and Corvettes.
I have a 2000 Nissan Maxima GLE and at first I would say a manual tranny or even RWD ..BUT as a daily commuter I dont want to row my gears unless its for a fun weeked toy. For stop and go I will take the slushbox.
What I really would want is the newer 3.5L V-6. The 3.0 that I currently have is rated at 222Hp and it provides plenty of scoot but for the 2000 models they are unreliable especially in the MAF department. Ive had the SE light on for the last 5 months due to either the MAF being dirty or the failure of one of my O2 sensors. So the cars is running a little lean in the fuel mix. If I didnt have a newborn on the way I would jump on a fix….
Get one of the 2001 MAFs they tend to be better. BTW has any of your ign coils gone out yet? I have heard on the 99 & 2000 maxes they tend to be a little flaky.
Oh and the 3.5 comes with it's own bag of demons, oil burning in 02-04 bad timing chain tentioners in 04ish-08 etc. Regardless I still want to put a turbo on mine.
Yes I have blown one ign coil and it cost about 500 large at the dealership ..then again I was accelerating hard with reg octane in the tank (which may or may not have caused the damage)
So far I have about 107,000 miles on the odo
and I have:
replaced Ignition coil
replaced radiator (bad leak at the top seam apparently common on this model, its a Calsonic but its plastic and metal)
replaced struts
replaced a/c clutch
Otherwise the car runs fine
the only problems are the MAF/O2 sensor debacle and currently the moonroof wont open
Yea the coils are known to just go out on the 99-00 VQs They updated them in 01 to fix the reliability issue. As for the sunroof get some white lithium grease and spray it into the sunroof runners, then if you can cycle it a few times. that should keep it from sticking.
As for diagnosing the MAF/O2 issues try getting on Maxima.org and start doing some searching.
As long as it's really just daily drivers we're talking about, aside from the benefit of just a wee bit more punch I don't have much to complain about regarding my Mazda Protege5, except for the stock engine sound.
If I could magically replace the disgruntled, buzzy-Ford-buzz engine drone with a more glorious 4-cyl sound it would be the icing on my commute-cake. I envision (auditorily-hallucinate?) the thunderous thumping of a large displacement Offenhauser or perhaps the scream of a Lotus/Cosworth, or maybe even just the dissonant wail of a vintage Alpha…Dare to dream.
Most of the improvements to my car exist and are feasible, so I want magic never break timing belts. I change mine at the appropriate intervals, but live in fear of the day when I hear a crunch and know the value of the car is less than the cost of replacing all those bent valves.
I'd like my 240 to run, at the moment.
At least I still have the 940 wagon.
On second thought: Turbo. And all it would take is 2600 bucks.
The only thing I can think of that my GTi needs is……hmmm….. nope, its perfect.
Mine needs rwd
Mustang 5-speed tranny in my '93 Grand Marquis
Rear-biased AWD. That would mean a different (imaginary) transmission, which would hypothetically not be so fragile. Then, turbos!
<img src="http://www.speedwheels.com/imagesc/dodge-intrepid-2003_2386.jpg">
It'd be like a big fat Galant VR-4. Which is a silly idea, but I like it anyway.
Since I split my DD duties between my Dodges, depending on season:
The '10 Challenger R/T (summer driver) could use a different set of tires that would be justified in being 245/45R20's, or otherwise it needs a -2 on the wheel size and reverting to the standard 235/55R18 tire. I wouldn't have ordered it with the 20's but they're what it had and I've mostly made my peace with the looks. Also the device that forces the 1-2 shift to be a 1-4 under certain conditions needs to die. (And I know that it's just a $20-ish wire harness to take care of that issue.)
The '05 Dakota Club Cab (winter driver and whenever else I feel like driving a pickup) is dang near perfect as far as I'm concerned, but it should be since I special-ordered it. If I could do it again I would have picked the 3.92 gears and the limited-slip diff, since it's not like its gas mileage is that great with the 3.55's and the LSD would allow
getting in more troublemore mobility before shifting into 4wd. I might have ordered it as an SLT with cloth seats instead of a Laramie with leather, but I think I'd still have picked the 230HP 4.7 / 545RFE (yes, the automatic) / NP231HD part time transfer case.Edit: Nibbles, what is so tasty about the plus sign that it must be om-nom-nommed?
The rust
I thought there was only some on a skirt, and I almost wanted to deal with it by just cutting the steel off – it wasn't a structural part. Somehow I missed a big ol' hole in the rocker panel. I don't know how I'll deal with it, but it doesn't look like the car has more than two or three years left in it.
Sorry, buddy. I'll drive you to the bitter end.
The '83 Mercedes 300SD could use another 50 or so horsepower, while the vehicle I've been driving lately – my dad's '96 GMC Sierra – could stand to have a couple more inches of seat travel, though a dead pedal would be nice too.
I would love a short-throw manual in the 9-5; or a bigger anti-roll bar at the rear.
I love, love, love, love my '99 A4 Avant. It's basically perfect and I wouldn't trade it for a new one. But a PES supercharger kit, a Garrett tip chip, and stiffer suspension would make it even perfecter. And maybe a real iPod interface with voice control would be nice. And an in-dash CD.
RWD in the Alfa.
Moar Power in the Cobra.