Got Brooksie in the body shop this week, finally, and now I'm afflicted with the rental supplied by the other guy's insurance. I'm not knocking the rental agency, I've used 'em B4 and, frankly, they're all the same. If you wanna pay for it you can have a nice ride, but since it's not outta my pocket, I figured I hadda dicker with the insurance company a little. They were surprisingly nice, and the girl on the phone was no dummy - "I realize that since you drive a MINI, you're obviously not against driving a compact, BUT, I won't put you in a Geo Metro type car. We'll up the daily a little and put you in a larger car, which will at least be a little nicer."

There were so few cars available ( it was a Monday, the worst day for car rentals ) so I ended up with a bone stock Impala, with 900 miles on it, the only car left on the lot. AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! What a reality check! It drives like a bowl of jello, accelerates like a '60 VW Microvan with the drop gears still in the hubs - unless you mash the gas pedal to the floor, has no ride sensitivity AT ALL- WAAAAAYYY too soft floater or spine jarring over the smallest bumps, heels over in turns like a four-stacker tin can on u-boat zig-zags, smells like super-carcinogenic plastic inside, no CD player, and generally has NO redeeming features. This was the kind of car I hated riding in when growing up, much less driving, and makes it awfully obvious why the domestic manufacturers have such a big problem. I remember driving the old man's '63 Lincoln Connie, and 40 years ago IT had a better ride and performance. I know it's not apples and oranges, but je**s to je**s and eight hands around, WHAT HAPPENED TO ORDINARY AMERICAN CARS? I guess I've been outta the loop too long, but I expected better. Sheesh. I'm swapping it out a the earliest opportunity! I WANT MY MINI!

BCNU,
Rob in Dago

 

^^^

 

Really, those of us that use our MINIs as daily drivers
should drive something else once in a while... 'cause
it's so good to get back to real motoring!

Godspeed.

 

I used to own a 2001 Chevy Impala LS. The LS model is a vastly different car from the base Impala in that you get a 200HP 3.8L V6 engine vs the 3.4L V6 180HP in the base car. You also get the much firmer "Ride and Handling" suspension, standard in the LS, and quicker ratio power steering system. the LS has nicer 16" wheels (In Alluminum), rear spoiler and nicer body upgrades, oh and better seats too (Floor shifter vs steering wheel column mounted) All season electronic traction control, 4 wheel disc brakes with 4 channel ABS. It also came with a kickass Delco stereo with in dash CD Player, 200 watts, AMP 8 speakers (better than the MINI standard Boost CD stereo) and MFSW controls, like the MINI. I had trip computer, Homelink, OnStar and self dimming rearview mirror.

Yes the Impala is no MINI, is not a sports car, but it is a darn good powerful, comfortable, economical, well built and reasonably fun to drive full size American car. I had mine for around 23K miles and was totally flawless, not even a rattle or squeak..pretty solid Canadian made GM car.


I used to get 34MPG in the highway @70MPH on 87 regular gas. We are taking about a car with a big pushrod V-6 (225 pounds feet of torque @ 4K RPM), and 4-speed automatic (very flawless shifting tranny too) and 3,400 curb weight, not bad eh?


I sold it to get my '04 MCS and quite frankly don't miss it, but for those looking for a big, roomy, good quality, comfy and powerful full size American family sedan, the Impala comes out to be a winner in my book (Take it from someone who used to own 6 Honda Acords).


Last but not least, a rental car is not the best gauge when it comes to really savor a car. If you drive an Impala LS or the Eaton supercharged SS model, you may change your mind.

_________________
'02 Cooper CVT PW/B, Bone stock (Hers)
'04 MCS CR/W/Chrome Grille and mirror caps (His)

 

Dude--

I feel your pain...I sold my honda before my MCS was ready for me to pick up. I ended up driving a Kia Rio rental for a week. Scary stuff.

 

Impala?

I drove a base Ford Escort for two weeks while the MINI was in the shop.

I would have killed for an Impala!

 

 

Vanwall,

If you don't like the Impala and the selection was poor on monday then you can return it and tell them it was awful and you want a replacement for the same rate. Tell them you are unhappy and hopefully the selection is better on the day you swap it assuming you need it for a bit longer.

Don't settle for junk if junk is all they have. You deserve to get something decent and they can do it. Complain. Tell them you are a business customer as well.

I rent cars all the time. Almost twenty five rentals last year. I drive lots and lots of cars. The MC and MCS are great.
There is no comparison. The Subaru Impreza and PT Cruiser was OK but didn't have the precise handling of a MINI.

 

>>Last but not least, a rental car is not the best gauge when it comes to really savor a car. If you drive an Impala LS or the Eaton supercharged SS model, you may change your mind.

Actually, when the present Impala model first came out, my wife worked for GM, and got a hellacious discount on a new car, so we did drive the full LS with all the bells and whistles, but the headroom in the back seats was too small for the big lads, so I went with a Burb. This present POS, however, is unbeleivably below my minimum standards for a new car. I'm still amazed that it is worse than mediocre. Something is very wrong in Detroit.

BCNU,
Rob in Dago

 

>>^^^

I had the same thought! A friend will help you move, but a real friend will help you move....a body!

BCNU,
Rob in Dago

 

>> :smile:

BCNU,
Rob, Getting Hit-On-The-Head Lessons, in Dago

 

Before I got my MC, I had a '97 Dodge Intrepid (when I got it, it was a lot of car for the money). My future mother-in-law has a '98 Chrysler Concorde. When I drove the Concorde instead of the Intrepid, it was like a day-and-night difference; the Concorde accelerated better, decelerated better, handled better, was infinitely more comfortable, and had a nice, fat leather steering wheel. Now when I drive the Concorde instead of my MC (only if I HAVE to), I can't get over how needlessly large and ponderous the Concorde feels. Now it's the Concorde that goes, stops, handles, and feels like s**t.

The only way my MC will feel that bad is if I drive it after driving a Lotus Elise, like that's ever gonna happen...lol

 

a little trivia - the Chevy Impaler...I mean Impala, was the top-selling sedan in the 'states last year. (Source; Jato Research)

Based upon that - Too many American's are suffering from Jello-ride

 

>>a little trivia - the Chevy Impaler...I mean Impala, was the top-selling sedan in the 'states last year. (Source; Jato Research)
>>
>>Based upon that - Too many American's are suffering from Jello-ride


But few cars compare to a 1965 Chevrolet Impala convertible with a four speed and a 427 in it. It really is a shame that the current Impala is but an American knock off of a Japanese car......
Rental cars, well they are renta-a-racers to me. I wouldn't want to buy one off the Avis lot, I'd be afraid I´d be buying one I had abused.......

 

How many of you have actually driven an Impala LS with the hard suspension?

 

Do I smell American car hatred here?

 

I'm in LA for a couple of days for work, Enterprise gave me a Pontiac Grand Am ... Deep sounding engine, but not much else going for this car.

 

In my mind the American auto industry has gone down the tubes. The cars feel cheap, don't handle well, and provide no sense of "feeling or emotion". There are a few cars that are good, but in general what was once the leader in the World in my opinion has fallen back toward the rear.

Why do we produce cars like the Aztek? Why does Pontiac tend to throw the same ugly plastic body panels on the outside of there cars for decades? Why does Ford's quality stink? Why did they kill the Camaro/Firebird? Why does Chevy use the exact same interior on all there cars? Why are they only bringing back remakes of retro cars to try to spur growth? Where is the quality.....

The only thing we seem to be good at is building trucks.

Not to highjack the thread, but I just got a new Nissan Maxima with the 3.5 engine. Not too bad of a car to drive, while having your Mini in the shop.

 

>>Do I smell American car hatred here?

I love american cars, just not any made in the last 20-25 years. Although I keep threatening my fiance when i'm done restoring my landcruiser i'm going to get a 77 trans am with t-tops and grow a mullet. I don't know why, but those cars are SO cheezy I actually think they are cool. Big screaming chicken on the hood and all. I honestly doubt i'll actually get one, but i've been checking them out on ebay.

 

:smile: Rob - let's just hope Brooksie is home REAL soon and that she looks good as new....

 

>>Do I smell American car hatred here?

Not I. I have driven a plain jane rent a ride Impala many a time and it is as blah as a car can get.

On the other hand I did drive a Ford Crown Vic for four years as a co. car and I frankly loved it. Drove the wheels off of it between Topeka and Houston once, without hitting a freeway and the sucker turned, stopped and ran like a banshee. Bought it off the leasing co. and a year later traded it in for PKT RKT. I get a pang every time I see a cop or a New York taxi........

 

>> I won't put you in a Geo Metro type car. >>

I'd have been real tempted to take the Metro. MPG is great and easier to park. I'd personally take that over comfort but that's just me. I had a '91 Metro that I liked a lot (notice: not loved!) but I'm thinking Metros went downhill in later model years. If I were to rent one, it'd have to have a stick.

BTW, do they even make these anymore??? How are they still in rental fleets?

 

Something is very wrong in Detroit.


yup! just read an article in automobile mag, april '04 issue. it said, regarding the new saturn vue red-line, how come gm, with all their own v6s to choose, has to go to honda for their v6? :???: :???:

 

>>>> I won't put you in a Geo Metro type car. >>
>>
>>I'd have been real tempted to take the Metro. MPG is great and easier to park. I'd personally take that over comfort but that's just me. I had a '91 Metro that I liked a lot (notice: not loved!) but I'm thinking Metros went downhill in later model years. If I were to rent one, it'd have to have a stick.
>>
>>BTW, do they even make these anymore??? How are they still in rental fleets?

I had a '93 Geo Metro Convertible - the BEST convertible value ever. Named "The Bean". Loved it! With just me innit was quite fun. Was getting set to drop the 'Zuk twink in, and swap the underpinnings, but it met a Toyota who didn't git outta the way. Sigh.

No, they aren't in rental fleets now that I know of, and they only rent automatics anyhoo. We were sharing a light moment. I noticed a drift to the right on the freeway driving the Impala - only 900 miles, and it mighta been curbed, so I took it back and got an Alero, a MUCH better choice. I was almost tempted to pay the dif to get a better rental, but I'm determined to make this the insurance co.'s expense, not mine. Any way, the Alero is a better car, by far, but still a bit agricultural. I don't hate all american cars - just the POS ones. I still love my 2000 Mustang, tho my son drives it a whole lot more than me. We would still have the Burb if I could make it fit the budget. Ah well, moping for my MINI.

BCNU,
Rob in Dago

 

>>Although I keep threatening my fiance when i'm done restoring my landcruiser i'm going to get a 77 trans am with t-tops and grow a mullet. I don't know why, but those cars are SO cheezy I actually think they are cool. Big screaming chicken on the hood and all. I honestly doubt i'll actually get one, but i've been checking them out on ebay.<<

Talk to jsun, I think he used to drive one just like that!