I wrench, I wheel, and I think about cars roughly 90% of the time (+/- 10%). Just a small-time gearhead providing some enjoyable and entertaining content. I'm really into rescuing and restoring lesser known, semi-enthusiast vehicles. These candidates have usually been sitting for an extended time, abandoned, or are on their way to the junkyard...and it falls on me to rescue these turd boxes. I also film car reviews that I refer to as my "auto experience series" as I combine both subjective and objective tests to give you (the viewer) the best overall feel of what it's actually like to "experience" the vehicle. Thanks for checking out the channel!
After 10 years of wanting one, about a month ago I purchased a completely stock ‘90 Miata. The original paint is almost flawless and the interior is PERFECT. It has 85k miles and is finished in Classic Red with a black soft top. The exact spec I’ve always wanted. I’ve been driving it everywhere, especially up the canyons in the mountains of Utah where I live. Love this car so much.
Today I paid $14k for a 2006 in Cypress green, 175k miles. Brand new tires, all around nice rig. I know I paid a premium price, but after looking at a handful of 99-06 GMC Yukons (and variants) I just wasn't impressed.
Even though I’m also a fan of those Yukons, you made the clearly better choice. If the rig is super clean, you don’t pay too much attention to the all. Sounds like a fantastic truck.
The gas mileage given the weight and engine size is nothing short of impressive.. had a 6 speed automatic back in 2003 and I get 27mpg on the highway averaging 75mph. I think its highway gas mileage is class leading for sure.
@@autoobsessivegarage I think your title is correct. It really is the best car I've ever driven and I'm someone who prefers a sporty manual car. It really knocked it out of the park and didn't fall short in any category. It has aged so well, it is so safe and reliable, not too mention that even that old screen can be modded by some aftermarket companies to incorporate wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto!
I have owned my c30 T5 R-design for over a year now. Although it belonged to a mate of mine previously.. See the car on my channel. It has a quantum tune and was dyno'd @ 265hp / 440nm or 325lb-ft. Its a comfortable car with some decent fast road performance. Its not without its weaknesses that's for sure. Needs better brakes, LSD and a better feeling gear linkage setup. The steering is a little vague but its like anything you get use to it and muscle memory takes over when you become familiar with the car.. The seats a very comfortbale (typical volvo) but another reason not to call it a hot hatch is the lack of support from the seats when corner hard or into tight turns you will find yourself trying to hold yourself in. Its not the sharpest most precise hatch but then its a volvo, they always like to give their owners comfort and refinement. All that being said I still love the car. Engine mostly and then the styling is quite unique.
I love love love my R-Design C30 w/the cosmic white/java color combo plus roof rails, I’ve had it for about 3 years & this thing is a tank! Maybe that’s just Volvo in general but I’m branded now. I get so many compliments about my car, most people have the same reaction “I’ve never seen a Volvo that looks like this 😮” the design team at the time hit a home run w/ the C30, very unfortunate it was discontinued but this car definitely only appealed to a very niche group of ppl.
It was quite a polarizing design at first. I never really got into the non R-Design models with the gray cladding…color matching those panels went a long way. The interesting design and not cookie cutter engine make it quite a unique vehicle.
I had a white ‘93 in high school in 1996. I was trying to dig half a joint out of the ashtray and veered off the road into a ditch, jumped a driveway culvert, and went through a telephone pole. I loved that car…
Owned a 91 LTS back in 96-97. One person thought the car had a turbo because of the revvy Mazda engine. I had to explain it was just a Japanese engine that liked to rev more than the typical American car. 😄 Like most Ford products, you definitely don't see these around anymore. It's amazing you were able to find one in this condition. I think it's cleaner than the one I had 25 years ago. 😂 Ford abandoned so many names: Marquis, Sable, Probe, Topaz, Tempo, Contour... nobody remembers these cars today and nobody took care of cheap products as though they were rare collectibles, so they're all but extinct now.
Now this is a solid LTS story. These things are absolutely all but gone today and are incredibly rare to find in any condition. The power plant and drivetrain being Mazda really meant that these cars had the capacity to love long and happy lives. I plan to rescue as many of these and Escort GTs that I find.
9:06 - If you're not a fan of plastic cladding, perhaps you'll be interested in the Oldsmobile 88 LSS, which has the dull styling to suit your tastes. You won't get all the gadgets, but you'll enjoy the same powertrain.
The Pontiac abundance of plastic cladding is a running joke on my reviews and the podcast…but also one of my favorite design touches on Pontiac’s of this vintage. I also find the Olds 88 to be quite handsome.
"Super Sedan" is a stretch with wrong-wheel drive and a 4-speed auto. It's a great cruiser, though. I'd happily take a 1992-1998 Bonneville SSEi on a long-distance road trip.
@autoobsessivegarage In that case, it was better than the M5. You couldn't (legally) drive the M5 any faster than the Bonneville, and M5s didn't have 500+ possible seating combinations. Not to mention the EQ on the stereo. And cheaper repairs you could do yourself.
Got a 100 nx (1600) myself. Its my first car. Changed the brakes and put an exhaust on it. Most people get a golf or a polo in the netherlands. But this has been the most fun car to own. It is so easy to work on and its the closest thing to an affordable JDM car these days
I'm probably going to buy one of these l. I've got a 2007 is350 that I love but I want to overland as well. Crazy though that my is has way more horsepower though lol
You won’t be let down. The IS350 is a great car, but the GX will give you that all terrain capability. It may have less HP, but it’s that TQ that’s important with a truck.
@@autoobsessivegarage I'm debating trading my is for one I can get a nice one for sure.. hard decision bc I love my IS and it's kinda rare and fast.. but I know id enjoy overlanding way more cause I fish and camp
Bought a 2005 a year ago from the proverbial little old lady from Pasadena with 39,000 miles on it. There's no way I would risk the repair costs of a comparable MBZ S series or BMW 7 and it definitely can be argued the LS was a better car when new.
I had a nice Mustang Cobra and a Taurus SHO at the same time years ago, and people liked my Taurus more, and I’m not even sad about it. I miss my SHO’s.
Thank you i owned one. replased injectorts then did not solv things put new coils and injecters in after that was it. omg fun. my car before was a 87 escort lol.
I thought the claimed factory quarter mile was around 14.4 sec for the stock Shelby-Z. Its been awhile since I was big into the late 80's to early 90's turbo dodge cars. Definitely miss my highly modded '87 Shelby-Z.
Those magazine numbers were always fluffed a bit and adjusted for weather, on a prepared track, dumping the clutch, and when the car was new. Thing moves pretty damn good still.
@@autoobsessivegarage that's true. It's a few years old now, probably lost a little zip. Ahead of its time for back then. Still fun to drive today. Wish I still had mine.
I knew when after 1:27 Anna you listed every tool Anna why we needed them this is my video Bible. Even though I have a 1991 pick up there isn’t anything near as thorough as your video. Praise cheesus!
i picked up a Black 1991 Dodge Stealth R/T TT AWD last August 2023 with 69,000 original miles from a dealership in New York!!!! No rust issues either!!!! To date, only replaced the Harmonic Balancer and Clutch Slave Cylinder!!!! HOPEFULLY, next year, i can buy the same one only in red!!!! We’ll see what happens!!!!
I bought the cheapest running GX on Craigslist as a project at the bottom of the market in '18. After many hours of wrenching and a few grand for parts and specialists when i needed them, it's been my daily for the last five years. Love these things.
Now that’s the way to do it! Congrats on the project and it never hurts to know you can unload it (if you ever wanted to) and make a little bit of profit too.
Great video! - the Subaru OEM part number for the half-moon camshaft plugs is 11051AA070. These rubber plugs can shrink with age and also cause a leak.
I recently bought an identical gx both year and color as yours. Has 132K on it with water pump and timing belt just replaced. I was super pumped and LOVE driving this rig. Unfortunately...... the actuator for the center diff lock went out. It is currently in the shop for a $5500 repair.😮 I would like to think I should be good to go for a while after this. I sure hope so because it is an amazing vehicle.
Wow that’s a stiff bill. I’ve never had one actually fail on me, but I have had some get sticky over time…where you need to throw it in reverse to unlock the center diff.
