New daily driver

[93formulalt1]

I have to agree with the above statements about the I6. . . My '78 280Z had the stock straight six, and when that thing ran right, it would go like a raped ape! I will get another Datsun, I fell in love with those cars after driving the 280 for a while. I need to get behind the wheel of a BMW, just to see what they're all about. I've always wanted to check one out, but never had a chance to. I've been trying to talk Mom into buying one as a new DD for her, but she keeps telling me she needs something that's cheap to fix when it breaks, 'cuz she wants a few hundred thousand miles out of her next car. lol

[MikeM]

My mom had two Pacificas (an '04 and an '06) and myself and my parents loved those cars greatly. Then we decided to get something with a little cheaper payments and better gas mileage, we got an '08 Avenger...my dad has said numerous times that she won't be getting another Chrysler product...I mean, it runs fine, but god, the interior...is terrible! Though...I do have to say, the interiors for the 2012 Sebring/Avenger look WAAAAAAAAY better

I know exactly what you mean. I had an '05 Pacifica and loved it. One of the best cars Chrysler has ever made IMHO.

However, new Chrysler launches from 2004 & on (new Durango, new Liberty, Caliber/Compass/Patriot, Nitro, Sebring/Avenger, & new Dakota in particular) were victims of the "MCM" process imposed by the Germans. "Material Cost Management" . . . i.e. cut cost by making everything from cheaper materials. When the new JS platform launched in '07 (Sebring/Avenger), Consumer Reports said "sitting in this car is like sitting inside a milk jug . . . cheap rippled plastic everywhere." And they were so right. Chrysler has gone seriously down in quality in the last half-dozen years. When they offered incentives to leave in '08, I ended up taking one . . . it was no longer the company that I had been so excited to work for a decade earlier. Makes me sad, it was a great American company. I hope they can recover in time before they run out of cash, otherwise I don't think they will make it much longer.

[MikeM]

. . . it would go like a raped ape! . . .

Have you ever seen an ape get raped?

[meissen]

Amen! The vertical piston alignment greatly reduces engine side-to-side vibration, making for lower noise and less body shake. Plus, my understanding (and recent experience) is that an I-6 generally puts out higher torque across the whole range, as compared to a V-6 with the same displacement. Translation: It kicks you in the ass more when you step on it!



Not sure which one you're talking about. We traded in my wife's old minivan for a GMC Acadia in September . . . is that what you were remembering? It was my first non-Chrysler product in a decade, so it was sort of a milestone. There was some discussion about buying a gently used 300 SRT-8, instead of the Acadia, for her, but we went with the big family car in the end. More room for the swim & soccer teams.

I thought when you took the incentive to leave Chrysler you were going to buy a semi-limited Chrysler car?

[93formulalt1]

Have you ever seen an ape get raped?

You know, there are numerous points of view for this argument, such as "you can't rape the willing". However, if you think about it, I think that an ape that were about to be raped might turn tail and run like hell. . . I was simply making a rather visual comparison between a sexually assaulted jungle mammal and the power of the I6 in my old Datsun. . .

[MikeM]

You know, there are numerous points of view for this argument, such as "you can't rape the willing". However, if you think about it, I think that an ape that were about to be raped might turn tail and run like hell. . . I was simply making a rather visual comparison between a sexually assaulted jungle mammal and the power of the I6 in my old Datsun. . .

just stuck me as especially funny for some strange reason . .

[MikeM]

I thought when you took the incentive to leave Chrysler you were going to buy a semi-limited Chrysler car?

Oh, that one . . . yes, I did get a brand new 300C Heritage Edition for free. We sold it a month later, since I needed another car like I needed a hole in the head, and it was really part of the buyout anyway (I had to pay income tax on the full amount!)

I'm trying to forget about that - it was a beautiful car and we really loved it - white leather interior, Hemi V-8, etc. - hated to part with it but I was jobless at the time.

[meissen]

Ah - that sucks. Would have been nice to keep for awhile.

[MikeM]

Ah - that sucks. Would have been nice to keep for awhile.

I know. We did take it on a road trip to Buffalo, though, when I went out there for a job interview. It was a nice ride.