Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Decisions, decisions

[Dennis Liu (BigHeadDennis]

Thanks for the input, Dave.  I'm going to have to check one out.  Though I'm
told that the interior room is nothing to write home about....

Vty,

--Dennis 

-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Craig [mailto:dave.craig [at] sbcglobal.net] 
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 12:01 PM
To: BigHeadDennis [at] earthlink.net
Cc: 'The FerrariList'
Subject: RE: [Ferrari] Decisions, decisions

Dennis,

I am sure you will get a lot of recommendations for more interesting cars
and more exclusive cars, but for the family vehicle, I believe in getting a
car that requires almost zero maintenance and has perfect reliability.
Basically a car that on a whim you could drive coast to coast and back again
without a single issue and be comfortable doing it.  As you said, the Toyota
meets this requirement, but you also brought up the Dodge Magnum (RT).  I
personally believe it is an amazing highway cruser / family truckster
vehicle.  I have been in several.  And to top it off, it has some design
character; they brought back the Chevy Nomad look and modernized it.  (I get
so tired of all of the modern cars looking alike.)  The Dodge will be on par
with the maintenance costs of the Toyotas.  The Dodge will cost you almost
nothing to own in maintenance; just give it oil changes, tires, brakes, and
you are done.  If my experience is typical, it will be absolutely reliable.
My 1995 Dodge Truck now has 170K miles on it and still runs great!  Granted,
the paint fell off of it a few years back and it is covered in baseball size
dents.  I have been extremely impressed with my Dodge's quality and
reliability, those two might be related. The Magnum will also hold more crap
than just about any sedan.  And finally, boy do they look sweet properly
accessorized!  2 years ago at SEMA, the Dodge Magnums and Chrysler 300s were
the hot cars to accessorize and there were 100s of each at the show.  

The only thing I really don't like about the Magnum (and this is getting
picky) is the head rests on the front seats are not comfortable to me.  

So, my recommendation would be for the Magnum for style, acceleration,
comfort, reliability, hauling capacity, and you can say "Yep it's a Hemi". 

Dave Craig



-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis Liu [mailto:BigHeadDennis [at] earthlink.net]
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 10:35 AM
To: Dave Craig
Cc: 'The FerrariList'
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] Decisions, decisions

The appeal of the Toyota really lays in the "turn-the-key, change the oil,
replace the tires and pads and drive it for 200k miles" aspect of it.  I
forgot to mention, the bulk of the driving is for my daily commute on the
highway, 60 miles round trip (averaging 25 minutes each way, which is saying
something considering I live just outside of Boston).  And it's gotta handle
better than the Armada or the Odyssey!  Still, that's why I wish Toyota took
the LS430 chassis, left out most of the luxury/electronics convenience items
and gee-gaws - but left in the drivetain, stuck a Toyota badge on it, and
sell it for, oh, $37k.  Heck, there would be enough room left in the price
for aftermarket shocks, springs, tires....  They could not keep enough of
them in stock.

A good friend had an A6 4.2, and it's really quite nice - but practically
speaking, no bigger than the 5 series, which is too small for my needs,
alas.

Re the German content in the 300, you're absolutely right.  It's basically
the old E-class chassis, stuffed with an American drivetrain.  Yummy.  Heck,
if you watch the current "Dr. Z" commercials, they're trying to say that
without saying that, making oblique comments about how the chassis is
"German engineered".  HAHAHAHAH!!!!


-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Meisch [mailto:meisch [at] sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 8:59 AM
To: BigHeadDennis [at] earthlink.net
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] Decisions, decisions

Dennis,
Seems like we have similar tastes.  Three things...2.e  Notice Toyota never
says anything about fun.  Their sedans tend to be very sterile from a
driver's perspective.  I did one once...never again.  Item #2...Audi A6
4.2...I have an 2002 with sport package and love it...more room than a 5
series...only slightly smaller than the 740i...I would recommend trying
one...mine also had the extended warranty.  3rd thing.  A lot of Chrysler
products have an Mercedes equivalent.  I would not be surprised if the
platform for the Charger/Magnum/etc. would.  I have heard that the 300 is
the old E class.  Also, the Pacifica is the new R class.  However, power
plant is different.

Best of luck,
Rick

_________________________________________________________________
To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options, please visit:
http://lists.ferrarilist.com/mailman/options/ferrari/dave.craig%40sbcglobal.
net

Sponsored by BidNip.com eBay Auction Sniper