gdp's Comments

Hooniverse : GM of the Early 21st Century, and a look back at their "Innovative Products"... Were they innovative

Mon, 13 Oct 2014 01:39:40 +0000

Chevy Avalanche, wow, now there's the poster vehicle for that whole era. Macho vehicle for the security moms and NASCAR dads that loved the plastic cladding (even though those bearded hippies at Car&Driver didnt). $50K Chevy was the perfect family car for the $1.50/gallon gas era that looked great in front of your severely overvalued Florida home that you bought with a 5/1 ARM because, hey, the values will go up forever... Kind of a watershed era for cars. The tipping point towards the SUV'ization of the American roadways, and at the same time the last hurrah of the dominant BOF SUV and large non-premium sedans.

Hooniverse : Encyclopedia Hoonatica: "GT" as a trim level

Mon, 29 Sep 2014 22:05:12 +0000

The US spec GT wasn't very GT at all. Euro spec one with the hot B23E is a bit more when you consider that the base engine was a miserable B19A, basically two liter red block with a single carburetor.

Hooniverse : Hooniverse Obscure Muscle Car Garage – The 2008-09 Saab 9-7x Aero

Fri, 26 Sep 2014 18:30:43 +0000

I say yes - it's a V8 Saab! It'll probably end up being the most collectible one of the latter day Saabs anyways as time goes on.

Hooniverse : Hooniverse Obscure Muscle Car Garage – The Oldsmobile Aurora V-8

Fri, 19 Sep 2014 18:16:31 +0000

They did it to Buick and Pontiac too. At a quick glance the difference between the W and G bodies was available supercharger or V8, foot of overhang and price.

Hooniverse : Hooniverse Obscure Muscle Car Garage – The Oldsmobile Aurora V-8

Fri, 19 Sep 2014 16:39:35 +0000

Its too refined and there's no "3.1L V6" equipped base model. Aurora is a weird car. How can it seem so fresh and dated at the same time. I've thought about buying these many times, but it all comes down to one thing... it's a detuned Northstar engine. So you get less power for the same mileage, cost, and headaches. Maybe now would be the time to buy the nicest time capsule 1st gen Aurora from some estate sale and start taking it to car shows in a few years.

Hooniverse : Last Call- Tippy Canoe And Grandson Too Edition

Sat, 23 Aug 2014 17:43:35 +0000

Well I still ended up paying 6K for it, which was pretty fair for a dealership price. How good of a purchase was it? We will know the day I get rid of it I guess. I was very impressed how well it drives. The Magnasteer variable assist steering makes it easy to navigate parking lots, but it's not numb on the highway like a Town Car. I wasn't really thrilled with the porth... Ventiports! But they are actually functional and i'll take anything that drops the underhood temps in TX. <img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3903/15010563295_84ef6d496c_z.jpg" width="640" height="359" alt="ParkAve">

Hooniverse : Last Call- Tippy Canoe And Grandson Too Edition

Fri, 22 Aug 2014 20:39:33 +0000

I did go mad and buy it (not at that price though)! The Accords surely were better cars, but those 2003+ "Fat" Accords are least pleasing to my eyes out of all of them and they all seemed to have 150+K miles on them. The point of the Buick is not that it's fast. The point is that it has a kick ass air conditioner that doesn't give me a headache, and that "GM Solar Ray" glass has some kind of voodoo magic on it which makes it tolerable to be inside the car even in direct TX sunlight. It's a big cushy magic carpet ride to work and back. Maybe the novelty will wear off, who knows, but all I know right now is that it's hellova lot more comfortable than any of my other cars.

Hooniverse : Hooniverse Obscure Muscle Car Garage – The 2004-05 Pontiac Bonneville GXP

Sat, 2 Aug 2014 14:09:55 +0000

You know, I just bought an '04 Park Avenue Ultra because of those reasons... and massive depreciation despeite being a genuine grandpa driven 1 owner car. Using a 2002 Grand Prix GTP as a point of reference, this boat handles a million times better despite being heavier. I wouldnt say the interior is cheaper as much as it is designed for a completely different clientele.

Hooniverse : Last Call- Jeepster For Your Love Edition

Tue, 29 Jul 2014 05:43:26 +0000

Who wants to buy a bunch of old Volvos? I test drove a Park Avenue Ultra this evening and there is a certain appeal to effortless motoring. Unless someone can recommend a better car to buy?

Hooniverse : Last Call- Tippy Canoe And Grandson Too Edition

Sun, 27 Jul 2014 14:50:04 +0000

Happy summer hoons! I went back to the old country and after spending two weeks driving around in Renaults I came back and decided it's time to upgrade my daily driver to something different. As usual, the quest takes weird turns and what started out as a hunt for Accord coupes led me to a Park Avenue Ultra driven by some OCD case who agreed to every single thing recommended by the dealer service advisor. 10yrs/ 100K on the clock, Negotiations start at $6500, have I gone mad?

Hooniverse : Used Car Review: 1988 SEAT Ibiza

Fri, 20 Jun 2014 16:52:56 +0000

I remember my parents having an Ibiza for a short while in the 80's. Mostly I remember how much they hated it and it didn't stick around for very long.

Hooniverse : Weekend Edition Quick Hit - This 1986 Oldsmobile Ciera is probably the slowest car you can buy...

Mon, 9 Jun 2014 19:03:10 +0000

The other reasons for the large displacements is that unlike in Europe, there are no regulatory penalties for large displacements and regular gasoline is only 87 AKI, or what you'd call "92". Everybody drives an automatic anyways and no one likes to rev their cars = low end torque is more important than high hp numbers. Another thing that everyone forgets is that in the 70's and 80's, United States had the strictest emissions requirements in the world.

Hooniverse : Hooniverse Asks- What ‘90s FWD Sports Coupe Still Looks Good Today?

Fri, 6 Jun 2014 20:18:40 +0000

The most memorable thing about the Puma was the Steve McQueen ads.

Hooniverse : Hooniverse Asks- What ‘90s FWD Sports Coupe Still Looks Good Today?

Fri, 6 Jun 2014 20:17:59 +0000

Local dealer had one, 2002, blue with tan interior, and they wanted $7000+ for it and looks like it was sold. KBB shows that world nicest 2002 at dealer retail shouldn't be more than $5000. Are these things actually appreciating?

Hooniverse : Hooniverse Asks- What ‘90s FWD Sports Coupe Still Looks Good Today?

Fri, 6 Jun 2014 15:43:53 +0000

Lets see, how many 90's cliches do we have here... hidden B&C pillars, directional wheels, no grille to speak of, factory body kit with plastic cladding, contrasting silver two-tone paint...

Hooniverse : Hooniverse Asks- What ‘90s FWD Sports Coupe Still Looks Good Today?

Fri, 6 Jun 2014 13:55:01 +0000

Hyundai Scoupe LSi with the two-tone paint scheme. More of a formal look to it, like a half pint version of a Cutlass or Thunderbird. Although I'm not sure this qualifies as a "sport" coupe. The NA is more of a "sporty" coupe and the turbo model, if it handles anything like the NA, is a "suicide machine". <img src="http://www.uneedapart.com/images/hyundai-scoupe-parts.jpg" WIDTH="500">

Hooniverse : Are cars really more expensive than they used to be?

Wed, 4 Jun 2014 03:53:24 +0000

Yep... "8list" for WP is like a fountain of terrible ideas because it saves my searches. "Oh look, there's another straight looking V70 with a supposedly bad transmission for $1000".

Hooniverse : Are cars really more expensive than they used to be?

Wed, 4 Jun 2014 02:57:04 +0000

"I could buy myself a $5000 nice beater and a Porsche SC for that!", then I sober up and keep driving my old cars.

Hooniverse : The Hooniverse Obscure Muscle Car Garage - The 1977 Dodge Charger Daytona, 1978-79 Dodge Magnum and

Fri, 23 May 2014 17:36:38 +0000

What's the compression on those Police Specials anyways? New exhaust sans catalytic converters, more aggressive cam, ???? and profit?

Hooniverse : The Carchive: Audio Edition! Vauxhall Tape Madness

Thu, 15 May 2014 01:35:04 +0000

I saw the white Transit coming up and thought "Oh sh*t he's on the wrong... oh yeah, UK".