Who daily drives their V? Does the 6-Speed get annoying? - Page 3

**JimmyH** · #31 (**permalink**) 10-31-07, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon

Nope, mine is a weekend car. I have a B&M short throw on it and I could drive it everyday if I wasn't so anal about keeping my car clean and in mint condition.

It's my first manual car so I don't have much to compare it with. The clutch on the V takes a little to get used to, and the stock shifter sucks compared to the B&M.

What do you do more, photograph it or drive it?

Jon · #32 (**permalink**) 10-31-07, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyH

What do you do more, photograph it or drive it?

LOL

**JimmyH** · #33 (**permalink**) 10-31-07, 07:45 PM

Are you driving it to Det? Or the Fordstar?

Jon · #34 (**permalink**) 10-31-07, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyH

Are you driving it to Det? Or the Fordstar?

Definately the Windstar. I'm pretty sure it'll be snowing by then.

**JimmyH** · #35 (**permalink**) 10-31-07, 08:21 PM

Do you really need a van? My aunt has a windstar and she only gets like 18 or 19 highway with it. I would rather have something smaller and more fun (like my maxima

) for a daily driver. I have been thinking about replacing it with a 2-seater actually, like a Solstice. That has to be over 30 mpg on the highway.

Jon · #36 (**permalink**) 10-31-07, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyH

Do you really need a van? My aunt has a windstar and she only gets like 18 or 19 highway with it. I would rather have something smaller and more fun (like my maxima

) for a daily driver. I have been thinking about replacing it with a 2-seater actually, like a Solstice. That has to be over 30 mpg on the highway.

I don't really need it, but it's good to have around when you do need to move things. For example, we got a HELL of a deal for the CTS-V front bumper including front top and bottom grilles, fog lights, etc. for the CTS. It was so good I drove 5 hrs to pick it up and then 5 hrs back home. No way I coulda done that without the van. Moving wheels/tires etc.

My van's a 96 Windstar. It looks like this:

I would be amazed if you could find me another '96 that looks like that.

If I tried to sell it I'd get maybe $3000 for it. It's low mileage for a '96 and in great condition, but seriously, whose gonna pay me much for a '96 Windstar? There's nothing I can get for $3000 that would even hold a candle to this van.

My parents bought it new in '96 and I've been washing it / taking care of it since day 1. It's my insurance shield (the V is listed as an occasional car, not primary) and gets 450km per tank, if I drive it city and highway. It's no slouch either. I've driven a Pontiac G5, Chevy HHR, etc. I mean, those are newer cars, but I would NEVER want one of those cars to own. I'd rather have my Windstar as my daily driver.

Drago · #37 (**permalink**) 10-31-07, 08:58 PM

I wouldn't accept anything other than a manual even though I drive in Atlanta traffic every day. As stated before, you either are dedicated to a manual transmission or not.

The_Groundhog · #38 (**permalink**) 10-31-07, 10:25 PM

When I was looking for a car I was interested in power. When I saw the sticker on the V, LS6, six speed 400HP. I looked no farther. I didn't know at the time the stick was available. Loving it ever since.

theloanman219 · #39 (**permalink**) 10-31-07, 10:56 PM

Jon,

That is one hell of a vehicle you have. My wife has a pacifica and its GREAT! Its a 05 so I have a payment. But for $250 you can't beat it. She drives it back and forth to work and the store to get food (and home depot

) I love the family truckster. And don't you dare call it a van, she will have a bird! Its a crossover SUV.

Oh by the way she can't drive stick so......well you understand

Gene

lawfive · #40 (**permalink**) 10-31-07, 11:07 PM

Yes and yes. Between the Los Angeles area freeways and the San Francisco hills, my love affair with shifting is wearing thin.

Jon · #41 (**permalink**) 10-31-07, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theloanman219

Jon,

That is one hell of a vehicle you have. My wife has a pacifica and its GREAT! Its a 05 so I have a payment. But for $250 you can't beat it. She drives it back and forth to work and the store to get food (and home depot

) I love the family truckster. And don't you dare call it a van, she will have a bird! Its a crossover SUV.

Oh by the way she can't drive stick so......well you understand

Gene

Thanks Gene

Pacificas are amazing cars! I drove one last summer through the Canadian Rockies. I thought it lacked a bit of power, but besides that it was great. Loved the seats, the trunk space, the power lift gate, etc. Very comfortable ride too. And it looks pretty damn good too.

Then I flew to British Columbia and drove a Ford Freestyle. Same class of car, but the Freestyle was no where as refined or luxurious as the Pacifica.

darkman · #42 (**permalink**) 10-31-07, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawfive

Yes and yes. Between the Los Angeles area freeways and the San Francisco hills, my love affair with shifting is wearing thin.

I can tolerate stop and go traffic but I don't think my tolerance would be the same in a hilly area. This is particularly true in the V since you do not have a hand brake to keep you from rolling while at a stop.

JimmyMack · #43 (**permalink**) 11-01-07, 01:15 AM

What I wouldn't do for a decent gearbox for our V. It's nothing like my last sports car, the Mazda Miata. That thing's shifter was like an extension to my arm it was so smooth and the clutch was like butter. I originally thought it was a chick car, but boy was I wrong. I'd prefer a steering wheel paddle shifter to the manual we have now on the V.

theloanman219 · #44 (**permalink**) 11-01-07, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkman

I can tolerate stop and go traffic but I don't think my tolerance would be the same in a hilly area. This is particularly true in the V since you do not have a hand brake to keep you from rolling while at a stop.

We don't have many big hills here in FL

but we do have a lot of houses (like mine) with steap drive ways. And when I need to sit on it I just ride the clutch at idle and don't even need a hand break.

Jon · #45 (**permalink**) 11-01-07, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theloanman219

We don't have many big hills here in FL

but we do have a lot of houses (like mine) with steap drive ways. And when I need to sit on it I just ride the clutch at idle and don't even need a hand break.

yeah... When the car has so much power, on a hill, I can go from the brake to the gas and into gear in about 1 second and the car will roll back maybe an inch at the most. I don't have to ride the clutch either. Just give it gas and go.

When I first got the car I thought it was really hard to use the park brake since it's hard to release the brake and the clutch at the same time, but I was still learning to drive stick at the time. Now I only use the park brake when the car's parked.