HN Explorer

Ask HN: Does anyone here drive anything exciting?

13 points by joshmlewis ↗ HN
I mean come on we are just computer geeks right? We have those Honda Accords, completely stock, right? Wrong. Some people here make good money. Let's see what kind of cars you can get being a hacker.

54 comments

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thaumaturgy
Oddly enough, there seems to be a really tiny intersection between computer enthusiasts and serious gearheads. Of the computer-automotive enthusiasts I know, they tend to gravitate towards -- heh -- upgrading the computers in their cars.

The "hottest" car I've driven was an Audi TT convertible. I'm currently driving a '72 Jeep J4000, but the rings are completely shot on its original engine so actually I've been driving my girlfriend's car. Got most of a 1917 Model T speedster in the garage, and an '87 AMC Eagle at my parents' place awaiting my attention, hopefully to turn it into my masterpiece car.

sixtofour
1990 Honda Civic Wagon, Front Wheel Drive, 36MPG, coming up on 180K miles, original owner.

Yeeee - haaa!

steventruong
Nothing fancy. A 2010 Toyota Prius. Great on gas.
karolist
Is it fully electric or still a hybrid? If MPG was your primary consideration, why not VW Polo/Lupo or Audi A2 with diesel engines?
steventruong
It's a hybrid. MPG wasn't my primary consideration although it was definitely something I partially considered. That said, I wasn't really looking at diesel cars. Wasn't really shopping around for different types of cars either actually. A few of my friends have the Prius and I enjoyed it and thought it was roomy when the seats was down. So just thought it was worth getting. I didn't spend too much time thinking it over.
mishmash
Not exciting, but 07 Chrysler Pacifica V6. It hauls the kids around nicely, ~18mpg, looks better than a minivan, less than $300 in repairs, and best of all... the back seats fold flat so we actually hauled a boxed 52" HD set home with it.

Overall, not a bad set of wheels for the family hacker.

hotshothenry
I had a 350z and then a G37S but got rid of it last year before moving to SF...and now I just walk haha

btw both were coupes and 6MT, definitely fun to drive :)

WesleyJohnson
Would you mind doing a comparison between the two? I have an 06' 350Z with around 30k on it right now and while I love my car, I tend to "oohh and aahh" when I see a sporty Infiniti driving by. I came across one for sale the other day, same year, roughly the same miles for a decent price. I just feel like if I found my way in one, I'd then start "oohhing and aahhing" over the 350Zs driving around. Was thinking maybe someone who had owned both might understand and could offer some opinions of the differences between the two.
hugh3
Mustang. When I moved to America I decided to buy something American, and it was either that or a giant Cadillac.
karanbhangui
Audi A6 (4.2L V8 variety) that I bought when I was 19 in SF, drove it back home to Toronto.
veyron
2012 911 turbo s cabrio (got at 24) with a 335xi beater car (got at 21) -- both new.

FYI: If you are going with a luxury car, always go new. I tried test-driving a used gallardo and concluded that many first-drivers abuse their cars.

Edit: What do you drive?

joshmlewis
That's what I'm talking about. :p

I have an '01 Mustang and a '67 Mustang. But I want to get into the european cars. I've had a fond liking to Porsches recently.

veyron
It's definitely a quarterlife crisis car.

I want to like american cars (USA! USA! especially given that today is memorial day in NYC time), but everyone I talk to has some sort of horror story with a GM or chrysler.

joshmlewis
Haha, yeah. Everyone has a crisis with every car at some point I imagine. Well put another way, every car make/model has a crisis with someone at some point I imagine. It probably would come down to personal taste. I of course love mustangs. So I'd go test drive a new Shelby GT500 if you really want power, or just a Mustang GT and see if you like it. There are always other options, though. The new Chevy Camaro, Dodge Challenger, and Chevy Corvette to name a few.
hugh3
At first I thought "wow, that's pretty cool". Then I read your username and was disappointed that you didn't have a Bugatti.
veyron
On the waiting list. They make each car by hand, and dont rush the process, so the the demand far outstrips the supply (thus the multi-year waiting list)

Also for US citizens, there are tax advantages to taking delivery in Europe (the car will come into the country used).

niqolas
If you don't mind me asking... How do you afford these cars at such a young age?
veyron
It's a long story but at the end it's a combination of strong salary, extreme tax advantages, and sales from a startup medical services firm.
pepsi_can
I'm still living off Ramen and boot-strapping my company. But when I was an employee I bought a 2005 Dodge SRT-4. I had wanted this car since it came out back in 2001. Not really an expensive car but at the time it was the fastest car one could buy under 20K dollars.

0-60 in 5.8 seconds, 2.4L 4 cylinder turbo charged engine with 230 HP, a LSD and only 2900 lbs. Not too shabby for a cheap economy car and very fun to drive!

Back in high school I bought lots of Honda Repair Manuals and studied them. I swapped out a 1990 Honda Civic's original engine with a more powerful Japanese engine. Then I figured out how to install a ZEX dry nitrous system.

Although I estimated a measly 160-170 HP to the wheels, the car only weighed a little over 2000 lbs. When I took it to the race track I had plenty of fun embarrassing 50K luxury cars with my shit brown Civic!

How much had I spent of my $5.15 an hour pay check?

     Used 1990 Honda Civic            - $500
     Used Japanese performance engine - $600
     Used nitrous system              - $500

     Embarrassing the driver of a 50K dollar car? Priceless.
veyron
I've wanted to take a smart car or mini cooper and stick a powerful engine inside. Have you seen the smart diablo?

How do you obtain the repair manuals?

PatrickTulskie
Ebay or your local autoparts store might have the repair manuals you're looking for. Sometime with enough hunting around you can even find a digital copy online.
mambodog
When I make some money it'll probably be a Nissan GTR, but for now it's a Ford Falcon. Super boring, but it's an incentive to get on and earn the aspirational stuff.
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pguzmang
Toyota MR2 MKII Turbo, really exotic and enjoyable.
mgarfias
2001 Chevy Z06 Corvette. Bought new in 2000 when I was working for PGP.

ETA: Its seen track use too. Fortunately (or un really) I've not had the spare income over the years to really hit the go-fast crack pipe.

karolist
Aren't you bored of driving the same car for 10 years? Not making fun, genuinely interested.
mgarfias
Not a bit at all. Let's say I bought a new Z06 - 505hp, etc - it'd likely be no more exciting on the street than the 01. You simply cannot drive these cars fast on the street, if you lose it you're going to kill someone. I do drive it rapidly, but I can't remember the last time I had the car giving the "feels like I'm on ice feeling" you get when you're hauling ass.

The next "fast car" I buy will be a new grand sport corvette, and it will be promptly turned into a race car (scca t1).

duncan_bayne
Get thee to a racetrack :-)

I had the same issue with not being able to enjoy sportsbikes to the limit on the road. Nowadays I'm a trackday regular and loving it. Good organisers make professional tuition available as well, which has sharpened up my riding no end.

mgarfias
Oh I know, but a mortgage and a 2yro (and before that saving for the house) kind of get in the way. I suspect my boy will be racing karts before I have a race car.
duncan_bayne
Not for racing - just track days. The whole idea of a track day is to have fun, go fast, and improve your driving (or riding) with the car (or bike) you use every day. You shouldn't have to spend any money modifying your vehicle.

Here's an example in Australia: http://wakefieldpark.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&...

mgarfias
Oh yes, I've done plenty, as well as autocross. To do it right, I need another set of wheels. I can buy scrub hoosiers or r888s for ~ $100/tire (vs $400 new), so the wheels make sense. Then the C5s are HARD on brakes. I'm still on OE rotors with no cooling, so I need to add cooling, and plan for a set of rotors for every weekend I go out. Plus pads. At least I've got wilwood calipers up front now which use a much cheaper 7420 pad with more material (compared to OE). Plus entry fees, and other consumables. Oil changes every weekend out. And I need a trailer to get the car to/from the track.

Trust me, if I had the $ I'd be doing it, but having done it I know what the real costs are.

duncan_bayne
Have you considered buying a motorcycle? Track days are cheap as chips on a 125 or 250.
ihartley
In the midst of rebuilding + turbo-charging a '85 BMW 635CSi. Daily driver is a '90 325i Convertible. It's quite fun to drive with the top down and I still get 21mpg with a lead foot.
garyrichardson
I drive a 99 Jeep TJ. My wife's car is an 88 BMW 325i convertible.

I take the jeep off road about once a month, more if time permits. It's stock, but running slightly larger tires (31") and a bunch of other off road upgrades. Last weekend I just about shat myself when I had the jeep off camber and pointing straight up and down inches from a cliff. The only way home was up. That's pretty exciting.

The BMW is a real car -- sounds great and doesn't have a TV screen in the middle of the dash or advanced stability control. With the hard top off, it feels about 1000lbs lighter. Compared to the jeep, it throws you into the seat when you accelerate. I think about getting a new one every now and then, but it's just not the same.

Both are manual transmissions. I weep for the day when I won't be able to get a new car with a stick shift.

I love both of our cars. Most people would have walked away from them after the amount of money I've put into them. I love to drive and these are the cars I've always wanted.

gooddelta
A 2005 Audi A4 USP (Ultra Sport)... Relatively small 1.8-liter turbo-charged engine, but it's surprisingly quick, and the quattro four-wheel drive has saved my life numerous times and kicks ass on the snow.. I've had it up to 120mph in the desert, too.

I'm sticking with Audi for the rest of my life. Build quality is fantastic, technology is great, and the design is almost as timeless as Mercedes.

ktsmith
I have this same car and feel the same way about Audi.
mattgreenrocks
If you're looking for excitement, consider the 2004 Toyota Corolla. I cannot claim I drive a stock car, as I got the in-dash cassette option (indispensable for listening to old MC Hammer tapes), and occasionally put premium in it. It handles the turns well (like Toad in Mario Kart), and can take a little while to get going, but the sex appeal is undeniable...as is the ability to chime in on threads like this one.
PatrickTulskie
2011 Subaru STI here. It's not my first rodeo though... previously I had a 2007 STI Limited (1/800) and a 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX (AWD, turbo). I refuse to buy a boring economical car... it's really my one indulgence. I don't drive often, but when I do I want to enjoy it.
prodigal_erik
If anyone is having sticker shock about that STI, I assure you that even my humble base model 2008 WRX is a hell of a lot of fun. I'm trying to figure out whether I can bring it to a track without insurance getting word and cancelling me (apparently this happens despite track day policies you may buy on the spot).
BigZaphod
I have a 2003 WRX which I enjoy greatly. I haven't done any track days or anything with it because I'm too chicken and boring, but it's still great fun. :) Bought it brand new and it is 100% paid for, which is even better. :)
hkuo
Don't worry about insurance. Take it to the track and have fun. If anything bad happens, tow the car outside of the track and then claim the damage happened there. That the general course of action.
prodigal_erik
This kind of insurance fraud is partly why they started preëmptively banning track day enthusiasts. No thanks.
duncan_bayne
I ride a 2007 Cagiva Mito 125 - mostly on the track these days:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/duncanbayne/5774348405/in/photo...

I drive an ex-Australian-army 1970 Land Rover Series IIFFT:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/duncanbayne/sets/72157622950578... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FDxJ8GG-L4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GKxe8bC2fk

You don't need much money to drive or ride something exciting :-) The Mito cost AUD$7K (back before the USD took a nose-dive) and the Landie was ~ AUD$4K.

FWIW, Land Rovers of that vintage are very hacker-friendly. They were designed to be very easy to maintain, unlike modern cars which are basically equipped with an 'uh-oh, take it to the dealer' light :-)

pdxgene
About 9 out of 10 workdays, my commute is on a 2010 steel-frame Kona Honky Tonk bicycle.

But every tenth workday or so, and a lot of weekends, I roll the 1990 Carrera 4 cabriolet out of the garage, which totally makes up for not being on a bike ;-)

karolist
00' BMW 330d manual, amazing torque and great MPG, when remapped this engine pulls this car 0-60 in sub 7 secs, smokes (literally) 330i's for a fraction amount of fuel it's petrol brother takes.

Possibly the best road diesel engine ever built. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M57.

Best overall sits in Audi R10.

yankcrime
Currently a BMW M3 CS, previously an (E39) M5.
1tw
A 1959 Austin Healey Frogeye Sprite.

Not entirely practical in the British winter, admittedly. And the lack of seat belts tends to worry passengers. But I always have an enormous grin on my face while driving, and it's absurdly cheap to run.

1tw
I should add some stats: 948cc, 43hp, top speed (in theory) 80 MPH, 0-60 in 25 seconds. Impressive!
willlangford
2008 VW R32 - Heavily modified, right around 450hp. Daily driven track car.
WesleyJohnson
'06 350Z Enthusiast coupe. It's the closest to new I've ever owned (bought it 2 years old with 7,000m on it) and a blast to drive. I'd love to put some money into it and see about taking it to the track, but I just don't have that kind of expendable cash.

If I was well off, but not rich, I'd probably get a GTR or an R8.