New England B.S. Thread

You're right, the V6s are less likely to have issues like the 4 cylinders but it still can happen. I use to really like Hyundai/Kia products, praising them as cheaper but just as good options to Toyota/Honda, but seeing an engine chuck a rod out the oil pan while being maintained really well (any brand will blow up if you go 30k+ miles on an oil change, and many Hyundai/Kia owners like to do that) has made me lose a lot faith in thier cars.

Now saying that, I hope they did a better job designing thier new engines so they don't blow up unexpectedly!

 

Yeah at that point you still have a lot of miles left, but could be about that time too..

 

It is all give and take. 20 years ago the Korean products were the lowest cost/value. They were reputably reliable but very cheaply built.

The Korean products now are still the lowest cost/value but the concept has flipped. Their fit and finish is incredible. The reliability has fallen. No other brand offers as much value/$ as Kia/Hyundai but their reliability and dealer service experience takes the hit. If i were in the market, they would be a lease product.

 

They used to be a meh car for a meh price. Now they're a meh car (in my opinion, still) for a competitive price tag. At least the US Market.

It also looks like they asked ChatGPT to merge all the pick ups on the market for the styling of the Tasman (not available in the US). The fender flares.....

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a62748062/2026-kia-tasman-revealed/

 

I 100% agree with you! Sitting in their newer cars (2023+), the amount of gadgets you get and how nice the interior looks/feels for the price point is amazing, but you take a gamble on the long-term reliability and parts availability (Hyundai/Kia seems to stop supporting cars past 10 years old, it is tough trying to get new OE parts for some of the customer cars at my work, and the aftermarket is no better, because they tell you it is dealer only part!).

 

The towing, power numbers, and features have improved a lot with the latest midsize trucks. I just wish they had better fuel economy. I'd be tempted to switch back next time around if I could consistently get 27+ MPG out of one but they do no better than my hybrid F-150. The most I usually tow with my F-150 is about 6000 lbs and that would be within the capability of a midsize.

I know two guys with Mavericks. Both special ordered them as soon as they were announced. They're both very happy with them. Fit and finish is so-so, but considering it's a utility vehicle at a good price point, it's excusable.

I actually like the Frontier quite a bit. Though Nissan dealers have a worse reputation than just about anyone. One near me got their license pulled recently for failing to pay off loans on trade-ins. The others around here are all known to be a bit shady too.

 

I see 250 landcruiser body lines, gladiator proportions, and 3g tundra/telluride front end.

Their safety suite, sub(self driving) and luxury features in a sub $30,000 car is the best in class. My co-worker had a telluride with some funky issues but the dealer covered everything, even out of warranty. He needed a LED headlight assembly out of warranty and they paid for the repair.

 

This one's a "minimalist+" size. Six card slots plus some extra pockets for maybe a little bit of cash and some whatever. I like the pattern a lot but there were a few unforced errors on this prototype, and I don't like the color I put in the stitch grooves - it dried tan instead of brown and it makes the stitching look sloppy.

 

Spruce Mica Edition

 

When Hyundai was introduced in the mid 1980s, they were marketed as cheap cars with lots of features. They were not marketed as durable or particularly reliable. At the price point you could buy one, it was more or less a throw away car.

 

Definitely looks like something AI designed. Ughly.

 

I was aiming for olive drab, I got something between there and forest green. I don't dislike the color, but I need to experiment more with the dye proportions.

 

Between eating the rings early plus rolling over, the Excel was interesting for sure

 

Other than that, it was fine.

 

Maybe it's teen drivers but 2 people I knew in high school had that car and both rolled em.

 

that's a funny thing about those cars back then.
so many of them were smashed up

 

I think part of the roll over situation might be that front wheel drive vehicles have different handling characteristics. If you start to skid you don't steer into the skid with your foot off the accelerator, you steer in the direction you want to go and accelerate. I know I ground looped my Dodge Intrepid (without hitting anything) the first time I drove it in the snow. Which is why I've had rear wheel or 4WD ever since about 2001.

It's a nice thing about AWD like my wife's RAV4, it handles better in the snow.

Of course we don't get much of that down in Texas.

 

FWD is interesting. If you really know how to handle them they can be surprisingly capable, but the "pull" vs "push" of RWD takes some getting used to if you're attuned to the "push", especially in situations where you are either fighting for traction or intentionally breaking it, like when you're dragging the ass around a turn or if you're trying to slide the front to set up for one.

 

In an effort to be less of a slug in the winter (and on rainy days in the summer when I can't get out on my bike) I ordered myself a Concept2 rowing machine. My brother in law has had one for a long time and raves about it. Anyone else have one?

I don't think it'll take long to arrive since they're only about 2-1/2 hours away in Vermont.

 

Don't any longer...but had one for numerous years. I think you're going to like it. Keep an eye on the seat rollers and replace them when they wear...prevents wear to the rail. Also, consider periodically rubbing the rail with a candle as a lubricant that won't attract dirt.

I found mine for free on someone's lawn. Needed new seat rollers and a battery for the display. That's a deal, they sure don't give them away new.