To get to the picture...what do you drive?

[drew.saunders]

Usually this:

That shot shows a weekend grocery run. I can do large format with that thing, thanks to my photobackpacker P2 and what not.

If I want to shoot in San Francisco, one of these gets me there:

If I must drive, I have a trusty 1996 Geo Prizm with ~39,000 miles on it. No, I'm neither little, nor old, nor a lady, nor have I ever been to Pasadena.

 

[RanceEric]

I've had a few 4WD vehicles, but this one is the best I have ever owned. It has heavier Dana 44 axles in the front and rear, air locking differentials, and a stronger transfer case with lower gears.

My Jeep Wrangler is the same color! (of course I don't have any color photos of it...)

 

[hteasley]

The true Mini ... another classic example of the British Motor Industry's ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by selling the name to BMW ... who made a motser from it!

Give me the original Cooper S any day! 😀

Hey! The new Mini had to get bigger, just to comply with crash specifications. It's awesome.

 

[Keith]

Hey! The new Mini had to get bigger, just to comply with crash specifications. It's awesome.

Hey ... Don't get me wrong, it's a great car and I'd have one in a heartbeat Harry!

I just think it's a tragedy that the Brits had to leave it to the Germans to move the car into the 21st century successfully! 😀

 

[Corto]

I think its great to see what people use to get around, I did own a car when I lived in NYC for 20yrs but the only reason for that was that I liked to get away for the weekends.

 

[Graham Line]

Bought new, '93 Mitsubishi Montero that's been all over the US West with no problems. 3-liter 6, 5-speed, 21 mpg.

Have an '84 BMW 318i for city traffic.

Well over 300K miles on the pair.

 

[sepiareverb]

I think its great to see what people use to get around, I did own a car when I lived in NYC for 20yrs but the only reason for that was that I liked to get away for the weekends.

I had a car for the same reason when I was in the city. Nearly more of a pain than it was worth as I couldn't afford a garage and had to park on the street. That was a great car- an '84 Honda Civic 1500S hatchback that got 52 mpg. Can't understand why such milage is so difficult to achieve today that it just can't be done???

 

[gb hill]

Sometimes my 73 XLT Ford pickup that was my uncles, but mostly in my 86 Ford Tempo. Then again there's the 95 Bonneville my wife drives.

 

[farlymac]

A nice used 2006 Ford Explorer. Had less than 22,000 miles on it when I bought it two years ago. Gets better highway milage than the 2001 Ranger it replaced, even with the V-8.

Sure would like to get one of those new Aussie Ford Rangers. Too bad the new regulations here have Ford thinking it would be too expensive to market this model.


Self Portrait by br1078phot, on Flickr

PF

 

[kuzano]

Hmmm . let's see

Hmmm . let's see

In my garage, I have four Fiats, three Saab 9000's, a 1969 Chev Suburban, and a Yamaha XVZ1200.

I usually take whichever on starts and has gas in it.

 

[gm13]

200Tdi 110, nice to see some relatives in here.

 

[Graham Line]

In my garage, I have four Fiats, three Saab 9000's, a 1969 Chev Suburban, and a Yamaha XVZ1200.

I usually take whichever on starts and has gas in it.

that would be the Yamaha

 

[kuzano]

Actually, you ain't wrong there

Actually, you ain't wrong there

that would be the Yamaha

Near truth in your selection. However, I've had good luck and fair reliability with the Saabs, and I know how to keep a Fiat running quite well and deliver good gas mileage.

But the Yamaha is an every time start, delivers 45 MPG with it's 1200 CC four cylinder.

 

[Michael Markey]

Everyday use ,its a Defender 90.
For following the horses cross country ,its one of these.
Downside is the Billingham gets a thick coating of mud .

 

[kossi008]

Mostly this:

 

[uhoh7]

 

[wolves3012]

That was a great car- an '84 Honda Civic 1500S hatchback that got 52 mpg. Can't understand why such milage is so difficult to achieve today that it just can't be done???

It can be done, still - by removing the catalytic converter, side-impact door bars, airbags and all the other safety "enhancements" fitted nowadays. Unfortunately, you can't sell such a car in the developed world! Nowadays cars are a good 50% heavier than back then, transporting the extra weight offsets the gains in engine technology. It's what we call "progress" 😛

 

[Lord Nikon]

It can be done, still - by removing the catalytic converter, side-impact door bars, airbags and all the other safety "enhancements" fitted nowadays. Unfortunately, you can't sell such a car in the developed world! Nowadays cars are a good 50% heavier than back then, transporting the extra weight offsets the gains in engine technology. It's what we call "progress" 😛

Your quotations around enhancements is amusing.

The objective reality is that cars are SIGNIFICANTLY safer now than they were 20 years ago. Whats unfortunate about improving safety? One could also point out that cars (excluding trucks masquerading as minivans) as a group achieve FAR higher MPG ratings under harder testing conditions.

Your comment on the catalytic converter is hopelessly misleading. NOTHING but a bike made before the early 80's got 50mpg. 32-40MPG was what you got in a car you KNEW you would die in if you were involved in an accident you would walk away from laughing today. 50mpg in a production car didn't happen until well after the catalytic converter was absolutely mandatory.

If you want speed and good MPG get a motorcycle. Plenty of motorcycles get ~50MPG and the acceleration on even a modest bike can be frightening. On a motorcycle you also have the advantage over an 80's era econo-car that you are more likely to be thrown from the vehicle than trapped inside.

 

[je2a3]

Hey ... Don't get me wrong, it's a great car and I'd have one in a heartbeat Harry!

I just think it's a tragedy that the Brits had to leave it to the Germans to move the car into the 21st century successfully! 😀

I test drove the first version basic trim BMW/Mini in late '03, great handling and the non supercharged 1.6L engine had enough power to make it fun for me to drive. I almost got one but practicality ruled my decision for a daily driver, so I stuck with a Honda. Deep inside, I longed for the original Issigonis design😉

 

[je2a3]

I had a car for the same reason when I was in the city. Nearly more of a pain than it was worth as I couldn't afford a garage and had to park on the street. That was a great car- an '84 Honda Civic 1500S hatchback that got 52 mpg. Can't understand why such milage is so difficult to achieve today that it just can't be done???

This brings back fond memories, had the '86 flush headlamp 1.5L 12V carb version. A friend had a contemporary VW Golf that was admittedly more fun to drive but this Civic spent more time on the road and consumed less fuel. :angel: