Conference waylay::singles_chat

          You guys are reminding me of the day I sold my 78 Z-28 sniff
    sniff the sportiest car I ever owned..
    
    bb

    
    	My last three have been sports cars, and I still own two of them.
    
    	I haven't gotten sick of them yet, so I think I'll keep buying
    	them.
    
    	I'd love to pick up a cheap non-sporty car and turn it into a
    	veritable sleeper, but I don't have the knowledge to do it my-
    	self.
    

         Lucky you. I sold the Camaro and a racing sailboat to buy my first
    home.. When the kids came along all I could afford was econoboxes ;-(
    I drive a rare v-6 Tempo now which if Ford had put a standard in would
    be an ok performer.. Regardless it gets great gas mileage and screams 
    when I kick it in the butt on the highway...
         My brother had a sleeper once.. I 2dr Nomad Wagon. It had a 283
    that had been balanced and blueprinted (are those correct terms??). He
    used to go down to the A+M in Marlboro and clean up. 
    
    bb

Shawn,

When I went to the car show in Boston back in January, I checked 
out all the ragtops. The Camarobirds and Mustangs had no rear 
space. When you put the seat all the way back, it _touched_ the 
backseat. I asked the salesman who I could put back there? His 
reply, "Um, your dog?"

Oh, and they were mo' money. 

Then there was the Nissan that was even mo' money and was barely 
equipped with tires let alone other luxuries, like real seats.
Apparently just the honor of owning one was worth the extra cost, 
not.

There were two beautiful ragtops at the show. One was the Jag. I 
chose the other for obvious reasons....

daryll

Bob,

I passed on a southern 2dr Nomad back in 1980, $1500.00 bone 
stock original. Still regret that one.

daryll

    	Shawn, Daryll - did either of you sleep last night? :-)
    
    joyce

    
    	Depends on what you mean by "last night", I guess.  8^)
    
    	I slept this morning.
    

    re .474
    
    I hear ya Bob.... I left my 1980 Trans Am T-top on the rear end of a
    Lutheran minister (how backwards eh.. I rearended him.. ).. wasted my
    car between his van and the retaining wall.
    
    Been a few years and I still wanna cry....

RE: .470

	It's a real sports car. Real sports cars have only 2 seats.

	:) :) ~/~

							mike

I'll be passing on those real sports cars then.

I like _space_.

    You want car stories -- 220k on my 86 5.0L Caprice, original
    engine/transmission (and the A/C still worked), before I decided to
    give it a rest.
    
    Stay away from the Z28 -- I don't want demand to drive the price up. 
    Next year it's a new navy blue metallic Z coupe, LS-1 equipped, M6, no
    T's... <Tool Time grunt inserted here>
    
    Tony

                        
    The 240sx is essentially a 2 seater.  Being 6'4", I just jam the front
    seat all the way back and it's pretty comfy.  
    
    The hatchback is priceless....holds my skis and mtn bike perfectly.  
    No need for the cop-attracting tourist racks.
    
    The rear wheel drive is refreshing...even in the snow it can be
    somewhat exciting to drive.

                        
>    The 240sx is essentially a 2 seater.  Being 6'4", I just jam the front
>    seat all the way back and it's pretty comfy.  

Yeah, at least being 5'3" someone could just barely fit behind me in the Supra.
;-)  I've missed the targa roof on these latest spring days.  ;-(  Though I must
say the sun roof is much easier!
    
>    The hatchback is priceless....holds my skis and mtn bike perfectly.  
>    No need for the cop-attracting tourist racks.
    
The hatch in the Supra was great!!  I could fit my (6' or so) Christmas tree all
the way in with the hatch closed!  I too could fit my bike in without having
to take a wheel off!  Ended up going with the rack anyway though.  The best was
driving up to Sugarloaf one very warm late March weekend.  Had the ski rack on
the rear window with the skis and the targa roof off!!  Not THAT was a spring
skiing weekend!  Awesome!

    
    Yeah, I love them Supra's as well.  Very nice power.
    
    Gee, since there's so much talk in here about cars, I wonder if
    discussing automobiles is a good intro conversation piece for
    attracting members of the opposite sex....
    
    "hey baby, I got a 454 with dual Holly carbs, whaddya 
     say we go for a ride"               

    ... My Holly is bigger than your Holly... :)
    
    (You hadda know that was coming)

          Actually as far as cars and relationships go... I think people of
    the 90's are less concerned with the type of car a potential SO drives
    than say in the 80's. Then again my line of thinking is that of a 43
    yr old male. 
          Now if only I could afford that Barracuda I saw the other day :-)
    
    bob

     Brought my Mustang up to epping last night, got to put put a
    mid-sixties GTO to shame twice ;^)
    
     I beat him the first time, and he came back for more !
    
     Chris

    Hey Chris, 
    
    Congrats!!!!

    
    Thanks Kathleen,
    
    Met up with another guy there that I know. He has an insanely fast
    Mustang.....Had a blast !
    
    13.82 @ 101.74 best.......13.7's are quite possible.
    
    Did better then expected.
    
    Chris

>     Brought my Mustang up to epping last night, got to put put a
>    mid-sixties GTO to shame twice ;^)
    
So the "put put" is cause you beat him twice??  ;-P  Sorry, just couldn't re-
sist.

That's cool Chris!!!  Congrats!

B

p.s.  Or spose I could've said, so guess you weren't put put'ing around the 
course then??  ;-)

    
    Ooops, didn't mean to put two "puts" :^)
    
    Thanks Barb !  
    
    p.s. no going around the track, straight line only ! ;^)
    
    Chris
    

    re: .38 by WMOIS::WHITE_C
    
    >>  p.s. no going around the track, straight line only ! ;^)
    
    Everybody knows these muscle cars can't turn worth a darn
    anyway.    :-P
    
    /Bill (ducking)

    
    Actually, it does not corner that bad..(note, I didn't say great!)
    
    I've been thinking of taking it to an oval.....Don't know if I'd trust
    the other drivers not to bang it up a little though.....
    
    So Bill, what do you drive ? :^) If its something that corners
    great,I'll meet you at the strip ! :^p..    :^)
    
    Chris

    re: .40 by WMOIS::WHITE_C
    
    >> So Bill, what do you drive ? :^) If its something that corners
    >>    great,I'll meet you at the strip ! :^p..    :^)
    
    I don't drive anything that has much power to weight ratio any more.  I
    would've gladly put my 1000cc motorcycle against your car, though. 
    Don't have it any more.
    
    /Bill
    
    '85 Supra - 2.8 liter straight 6 - 168 hp? - handles curves great
    '94 baby Cherokee - 4.0 liter straight 6 - 195 hp - climbs curbs great ;-)

    
    	2.8L in the '85, eh?
    
    	By '86/'87 they were up to a 3.0 straight 6, with [I'm told] about
    	190HP.
    

>    would've gladly put my 1000cc motorcycle against your car, though. 
>    Don't have it any more.
    
What?????  No more bike????

    
>    	By '86/'87 they were up to a 3.0 straight 6, with [I'm told] about
>    	190HP.

I used to know all the specs on mine but have forgotten them.  ;-)  It was a
turbo.  Lots of fun!  Sigh...    

    
    Re: .41 Bill
    
    1000 cc bike huh ? Kinda two different things don't ya think ??
    
    Tell you what though, if you still had it I know a guy with a
    Mustang that would take you up on it...............and win. :^)
    
    
    Chris
    

    re: .45 by WMOIS::WHITE_C
    
    >> 1000 cc bike huh ? Kinda two different things don't ya think ??
    
    Just like a musclecar isn't much like a normal car, now is it?  Only
    thing in common is 4 wheels and a steering wheel.  I suppose you won't
    race against a rocket sled either, eh?  ;-)
    
    re: Barb
    
    >> no more bike
    
    Sold the bike to keep Mom happy.  Go ahead, call me Mama's Boy.  ;-)
    
    /Bill

    re: .42 by BUSY::SLAB
    
    >> 2.8L in the '85, eh?
    
    Right.  Mine's the last of that body style and engine.  86 1/2 (Barb's)
    was when the newer style and 3.0 came out.

    These Mustang guys are such eternal optimists :-).  But hey, they do
    the best they can with what Ford gives 'em.
    
    Tony
    

    	My first car was a mustang...
    
    
    joyce

The standard line for Mustangs was: "Nice 'Stang, got floors?"

Thought I'd never ever see anything rust away faster than those late 60's 
early 70's Stangs until those 70's Toyotas and Datsun started 
showing up.

    
    In all seriousness, this guy runs in the 10.7 second range....thats
    more then fast enough to out do, well, just about anything :^)
    
    Oh yea, its a daily driver, and legal to boot!
    
    Not bad for us Mustang guys huh ?? :^)

Chris,

The Stang might be the last real muscle car out there. 

daryll

    
    	Barb, I think the Supra Turbo had about 220HP.
    

    10.7 -- Not normally aspirated with a 5.0L, you don't.  I don't need
    enemies, so I'll step around the muscle car issue.  I'll just keep
    flipping through my dealer blurb on the 285 hp 5.7L Z28; next year to
    be 305 hp with the LS-1, all normally aspirated.
    
    Tony

    
    I like them new Stangs, but I think the new Camaro looks pretty hep.
    
    Wouldn't mind test driving both of em.

    An ex-DECcie friend just mentioned that he's bummed out that he
    couldn't get a hold of one of the limited production Camaro Z28 SS.
    Souped up Corvette engine he says...

Well last time I checked the definition of a muscle car included, 
reasonable priced. That leaves that Z well out of the picture 
Tony. If price is not an issue, then I'll take the Viper. hands 
down.

    
    Tony,
    
     No, didn't say normally aspirated. He did get 12.7 normally aspirated
    though. And it was legal then too.
    
     It now has an ATI procharger on it. He drives it there, and then home.
    
     I've seen many trailer queens that could not touch him.....
    
     Chris

    That's the LT-4 engine, and they only made 100 Z's with that -- just so
    they could qualify for some sort of racing.

    Hope you guys aren't offended by the stupid mood I'm in.  Actually, I
    like the way the Mustang looks too.
    
    As far as price goes, I think you'll find that the regular Z28 is about
    the same price or less than the Mustang GT.  It's the SS version that
    they send out for rework that adds about 4K or more to the price.
    
    Tony

    Give me a truck any day... (-;
    
    

When are you going to the sox game Tony?

Lots of people will tell you they stopped building real muscle 
cars in 1974. Everything after that is a cheap imitation. 

    Tomorrow night -- thanks.  (May need an umbrella, though).
    
    My first new car was a 1970 Chevelle SS396 4 speed manual.  It was fun,
    but my experience with that engine might easily have turned me to Ford.
    
    
    

    
    I like beating them pre 74 cars.....shows'em the new stuff has more
    muscle then alot of the older muscle cars do....
    
    Hey, its all in fun !! (Now bring on them chevies so I can woop'em :^))
    
    Chris

Hope the weather holds.

    
    .61 Kathleen
    
    Have had a few trucks....kept breaking them 4-wheelin :^)
    
    Chris

	Didn't realize there were so many gearheads in here.

    	I did love my GMC 4WD 3/4 ton, full bed pick-up, especially the
    black and white houndstooth check front seat :-)   Never wanted a
    truck, but once the ex bought it - I drove it...
    
    joyce

>    	I did love my GMC 4WD 3/4 ton, full bed pick-up, especially the
>    black and white houndstooth check front seat :-)   Never wanted a
>    truck, but once the ex bought it - I drove it...
    
Hey!  Me too.  Had a blast with the 4WD!  ;-)  Ours was a Chevy full bed, ?
ton, extended cab - BIG truck.

    Mine, a 95 F250, extended cap, full bed, it was opal/Purple, opal cap,
    higher in the back.. also had an 83 ranger, 85 F150 and then the dream 
    truck (F250)... I loved it!!!
    
    My muscle car - mopar - 73 plymouth satelite/roadrunner package, 318,
    3-speed.. it was my mother's car, I inherited it...  went from that to
    a bright orange colored Pinto... just wasn't the same.. (-;
    
    If trucks would only get 35 miles to the gallon.. (-;
    
    
     
    
    
    
     

           Yow Kathleen I'll remember that if my tow vehicle breaks down
    before the rafting trip... 88 Aerostar on its 2nd time around..
    
           I really liked the 70's Buick Skylark GS. They could be a real
    sleepy looking car. Till you stomped on the pedal and that 455 kicked
    in.
           I think the ugliest one I ever saw was the Rambler American :-P
    
    
    
    bob

I think AMC had the market cornered on ugly Bob.

Pacer, Rambler, Gremlin...

daryll

         Pacer :-(. When I finally convinced my ex to part with her Super
    Bettle she wanted a pacer.. I can't imagine driving something that so
    much resembled a greenhouse on wheels. Granted the interiors were very
    spacious... They always reminded me of Baby Huey ;-) We bought one of
    the last big Nova's instead.
    
    bb

    	I learned how to drive in a rambler!
    
    joyce

           Joyce I can't picture you driving a rolls kinardly.....
    
    Rolls down one hill and can hardly make it up th enext ;-)
    
    
    bb

The performance model was the Rambler Scrambler complete with 
red, white and blue interior.

"The Machine" was another. It was an Ambassador.

Truly ugly.

    guys.. guys... 
    
    when it comes down to it... out of all the cars I owned... I'll take my
    52 MG rag anytime. Wasn't fast... crappy ride... but it was a
    roadster.. cute as hell. And it only seated two, if you know what I
    mean. NOW! What I wouldn't give for a old old vette convertible.. they
    were cute. All in all... I'd rather be built for pleasure and not speed
    :-) wouldn't you?
    
    Kinda reminds me of the movie "True Lies". Bill Paxton (I think) was
    classic....
    
    

    Yeah, I hear ya!   I drove cross-country in a 60 MGA roadster...   twas
    a perfect California car...  :-)
    
    /b

    re .66
    
    I tried driving on only two wheels Chris.... kept having problems with
    my insurance rates....

    re: .79 by TBC001::DROVER
    
    >> 4 wheelin?  I tried driving on only two wheels Chris.... kept having
    >> problems with my insurance rates....
    
    No smileys so this must be a serious question.
    
    Going 4-wheeling is the same as going off-roading.  Mud, rocks, sand,
    deep water, etc.

    re .80
    
    :-)
    
    :-)
    
    :-)
    
    I'm from Newfoundland... what you call 4-wheelin.. we call the morning
    drive.... <snicker>....
    
    I'm just being a kook Bill... the last few days have been absolute hell
    and I am unwinding :-)
    
    Jim

RE: .77

	I get all that (and a bag of chips) in a car that starts
	up every time, don't leak oil or water, is solidly built
	and dependable as hell. And the ride and handling is 
	much better.

						mike

           <<< Note 62.82 by AXEL::FOLEY "http://axel.zko.dec.com" >>>

	>I get all that (and a bag of chips)

         That must make it pretty cramped in the huh Mike?

         :-)

    Finally, a NOTE the men truly enjoy!  ;->
    
    					cj *->

    Yeah,  you service them regularly and they seldom complain. ;-)
    
    Tony

    
    	Just don't make a woman siphon gas if she doesn't want to.
    

            I'm lucky I never smoked. Every time I siphoned gas I ended up
    with a ,gag, mouthful.. Then again this was a usefull way to prime a 
    carburator mouthful of gas breathe fumes into the carb and hope the 
    heck it didn't backfire ;-)
    
    bb

RE: .83

	There's enough room to do what is needed.. :)

							mike

    I lost my hub cap yesterday.. I drove up and down the road where I'm
    sure it came off... couldn't find it.... I did find two ford hubcaps, a
    caprice, and an identifiable... no volkswagon hubcap... )-;
    
    so, I'm going to walk the road today, last ditch effort... 
    
    Does anyone know where I can get a hubcap cheap?  vw $65 to replace
    it...
    
    thanks,

    
     Hi Kathleen,
    
     You could try calling around to local J-Yards.....they could have a 
    decent one...
    
     Chris

             Some of the Flea Markets have them... Rietta Ranch on rt68 in
    Huubardston Mass usually has a guy with an excellent collection.. Geez
    hope he didn't find your allready!!
    
    bob

    Has anyone seen the BMW Z3?  I love it... I've only seen them in the
    slate blue.. today I saw a black one.. little convertible roadster type
    car.. 
    
    

	Nice car.. A little overpriced. The Miata is a better value.

	(ducking for cover,)

							mike

    
    I haven't checked out the sticker-price yet.. I've always loved the
    Miata.. but this just caught my eye.. I'd like to see one in red or
    yellow.. preferrably (preferably, prefferably) yellow.. (-;
    
    
    

Kathleen,
                                                  
I am interested in getting a convertible for a summer car and the Z3 is on the
top of my list. Although the Miata is a better value and you can get some great
deals in the Want Ads for one. I just like the looks of the Z3 a little more. 
For practical purpose, a 4 seater like the Mustang or Mistubishi Eclipse
Convert would save $ and insurance cost. But there is just something about the 
seaters. I seen the Z3 in Purple, grey, light blue, forest green and red.
Yellow would be really cool if they have it. 


The base for the Z3 is about $29K for the 4 Cyl. The 6 Cyl will probably be in
the $32K range. Will leather and the rest, you are probably talking $35-38. The
dealers are getting full price for them right now due to the demand. Hopefully,
they will go down by next year since Porsche and Mercedes came out with their 2
seater.
     
Now you know why I am not going Rafting.

Dave

    re: .95 by STRATA::HUI
    
    > Now you know why I am not going Rafting.
    
    Just why is that, Dave?
    
     - You'll be buying a Z3 at that time?
     - You're trying to save up for a Z3 so you can't afford to go rafting?
       (but a cruise is different?)  ;-)
    
    /Bill

    
    	Someone here at MRO owns a black Z3.
    

    	Welcome back Dave - we'll have to compare cruise notes :-)  I'd go
    on another cruise in a heartbeat!
    
    joyce

Anyone who thinks that the Mustang conv is a 4seater needs to sit in 
that back seat.

You can pick up a fully loaded Sebring ragtop for about 25K I'd 
venture. All of the reviews on the car have been positive. You 
can seat 4 comfortably and throw a couple bags in the trunk if 
you're going away for the weekend.

From experience, I'd stay away from leather in a ragtop. Sitting 
down on those seats after they've been sitting in the sun for a 
couple hours is painful, especially if you're wearing shorts.

daryll

    re .99
    
    I always heard that one of the reasons some sports cars have rear
    seats at all is to minimize insurance premiums.  Two-seater vehicles
    are considered by insurance companies as "true" sports (pleasure)
    vehicles and higher risk. Must be the added weight of the rear seat
    that slows the others down and makes them less risk!! : -)
    
    Ron

                                     
> Anyone who thinks that the Mustang conv is a 4seater needs to sit in 
> that back seat.
    
    It's a 4-seater if two of the sitters are kids (that can matter...)
    
    
    glenn
    

                     <<< Note 62.102 by EDWIN::WAUGAMAN >>>

                                        
    >It's a 4-seater if two of the sitters are kids (that can matter...)
    
     Or as the Ford salesman at the Boston Auto show told me when 
     I asked him who I could fit in that back seat with the drivers 
     seat all the way back: "Your dog?"

     >Or as the Ford salesman at the Boston Auto show told me when 
     >I asked him who I could fit in that back seat with the drivers 
     >seat all the way back: "Your dog?"

     You just never know when you pick up one (Greyhound, off course:-)
     so the back seat is good for something. :-) I think it do reduce insurance
     also. I will also have to make sure my golf clubs and pull cart will 
     fit in the trunk.:-)
     
     Yeap! the cruise was excellent and I am trying to keep money in the bank
     for a convertible and another big boat ride for next year.

     I heard the Royal Majesty to Bermuda is a good one. Anyone want to do it
     next spring? Maybe we can get lost in the Triangle and get stuck in
     paradise.

     dh

    	Dave - I'd certainly go on another cruise.  I went on Royal
    Caribbean, known to be an older crowd, but top of the line.  Since it
    was my 1 year wedding anniversary/2nd honeymoon - I wasn't interested
    in a party boat...
    
    joyce

     >Or as the Ford salesman at the Boston Auto show told me when 
     >I asked him who I could fit in that back seat with the drivers 
     >seat all the way back: "Your dog?"

Some of us have the drivers seat all the way up (well almost).  ;-)  Plenty of 
room in the back seat!  ;-)

> Some of us have the drivers seat all the way up (well almost).  ;-)  Plenty of 
> room in the back seat!  ;-)
    
    Road trip!  Barb's driving, I'm sleeping in the back... 
    
    
    GW
    

    	On the rare occasions I let someone else drive my car, its
    priceless to see them try and get into the driver's seat.  I have my
    seat up as far as it will go :-)
    
    joyce

    I seem to like driving with my legs bent up a bit, so I also
    drive with my seat up pretty far.  People always say I'm on
    top of the steering wheel.
    
    I am conscious of it though, and put my seat back as soon as
    I get out if someone else is going to get in.  Like when I get
    my car inspected or worked on.  
    
    Seems to me the mechanics must get in the car and think "gee,
    isn't this lady short?  How the heck does she drive from back
    here?"   :-)
    						cj *->

    175K on my 1987 Honda Civic DX... wonder how much further I can go!?!?! 
    I'm still averaging over 35 mpg so hate giving it up with I have a 35
    mile commute between home and work......  Now, if I can just keep it
    out of the shop!
    
    Pat

RE: .95

	 A 4 seater isn't going to save you that much. My Miata, a '92,
	only runs me about $600/yr in Southern NH. And I take it off
	the road for 5-6 months of the year and lower the insurance
	to fire and theft only. That brings the total down around
	$350-$375 for the year!

	I wouldn't get a Z3 without the 6. The 4 is a bit underpowered.
	Let's see, for $35-38k, I can do alot of things.

	. $12-14k for a used Miata. A loaded 94 should do. Probably 30k miles.
	. $5k for a supercharger and cool wheels and tires and storage

	Hey, I've still got $20k to play with! How's about a new
	Ford pickup for the winter?

	I guess I can't justify it. The Z3 is an awesome car, I'm
	in total agreement there.. But I don't have the $ to burn.
	I'd rather have 2 cars. I only put about 9k miles a year
	on my Miata because I have a winter car.

	The Miata does very well with insurance companies because it's
	a proven design. The car is structurally sound and survival
	rates are excellent. They are extremely dependable and low
	maintainence and SAFE. Used prices are CHEAP compared to the 
	competition. And only the Boxster was designed from the ground
	up as a true sports car. (the Z3 is based on a 318i cabrio sedan
	platform) Yea, sure, I'd LOVE a Porsche Boxster, but honestly, 
	I can't justify it. I LOVE my Miata and plan to keep it forever.

	What this has to do with Singles is beyond me. :)

							mike

    It SINGLES_CHAT Mike....   we can "chat" about anything.  :-)
    
    						cj *->

    re: .111   
    
    >>What this (cars) has to do with Singles is beyond me. :)
    
    Well, you see, there is a connection.  It's single people who are 
    most attached to their cars.  Afterall, they chose the car over 
    the spouse.
    
    : -)
    
    Ron