Recon1342 said:
Also, we really haven't defined practical as it relates to automobiles...
It takes some searching but there's plenty of clues. Just look for some of the derogatory language aimed at full size pickups that aren't used for towing and at SUV's who's tow rating isn't very high. The crap thrown at the owners of said vehicles for having the temerity to drive one is really much worse than someone disliking a certain vehicle type. You don't have to love big trucks or SUV's, that's not the point as much as belittling people that do.
I remember feeling like I had to defend myself trying to build a hardtail motorcycle in a thread I started. I really don't enjoy trying to defend personal decisions about what I want to try or what I enjoy. Truthfully, that thread dissuaded me from posting any more about the build on GRM.
Examples:
"That is the worst of both worlds. The crap ride of a hard tail, yet doesn't look good."
"I don't understand people building hardtails.
My bikes are faster and handle better when I'm done.
That being said, if you're working with a Virago or a Maxim, it can't really get much worse."
NickD
PowerDork
1/2/20 8:27 a.m.
I own a Subaru Baja with a 5-speed, which is a pointless vehicle. It only seats 4, has the ground clearance of a car, less cargo capacity than a truck or wagon, fuel economy of a small truck and is hideously slow. Worst of all worlds.
My other car is a 245whp, supercharged Miata. Seats 2, absurdly loud, cantankerous in cold weather and on cold starts, drinks 93 octane fuel, and I run it around on 200tw tires. And I commute back and forth to work in it about 7 months out of the year and take road trips in it. I'm a psychopath.
NOHOME
MegaDork
1/2/20 8:40 a.m.
1967 MGB GT
1973 Volvo Kinda
2013 FRS
Backseats are not my thing.
Pete
AAZCD
HalfDork
1/2/20 9:53 a.m.
The 1989 VW Cabriolet makes no sense. The rest all have 'reasons'.
dherr
HalfDork
1/2/20 10:08 a.m.
In reply to AAZCD :
I think we have a winner!
I do not currently own a vehicle that is not an SUV...
1990 Dodge Ramcharger
2004 GMC Yukon
2004 Ford Escape
The trick is being "practical" while being stupid in some way. That's how I get my cars past the wife's initial smell test.
- Modified Mazdaspeed3
- RX-3 Wagon - Project
- Vibe GT (2zz-ge)
She's caught on though. I was talking about selling the MS3 and Vibe the other day to replace them with another wagon to drive year round to eliminate another car.
Unfortunately she's been with me long enough to know what a Jaguar XF Sportbrake is and what's associated with maintaining one.
In reply to The0retical :
To your point, Ive been wanting a P71 much to the chagrin of my wife. She thinks it's an "old man's" car. What she doesn't know is that it's to practice drifting an automatic and for long burnouts.
Cotton
PowerDork
1/2/20 1:55 p.m.
ebonyandivory said:
In reply to The0retical :
To your point, Ive been wanting a P71 much to the chagrin of my wife. She thinks it's an "old man's" car. What she doesn't know is that it's to practice drifting an automatic and for long burnouts.
I used to DD a 300SD and my wife always called it an old man's car. I did buy it from an elderly person, so couldn't really argue with her. 
Family of 4 with young kids. Wife drives 6,500 miles a year. I drive 28,000 miles a. year. All driven and insured and in the heart of a big city.
Excluding motorcycles:
6 - 2 seaters.
1 - wagon
2 - sedan
1 - 4 seater convertible
1 - pickup truck (crew cab)
1 - SUV.
Sold 3 vehicles over X mas. So down to 9. Gonna sell a few more. Wife's only rule, she keeps her car, and we keep the family SUV. Others, she is never told when I buy and sell what, and she doesn't ask or care.
1999 Miata and 1995 F150. The Miata is a fair weather car. The truck technically seats 6 (number of seatbelts) but there's no way that three reasonably sized humans can fit on the rear bench seat. It also gets 10mpg in town and it feels too wide for the narrow streets here in Portland. I guess I wanted to nail the hairdresser and poorly endowed man categories.
I own nothing but practical vehicles. That said, the number of vehicles I own makes my collection totally impractical. I have more 1989-1993 Buick Centuries than AAZD has Porsches...
