# General Discussion **URL:** https://community.cartalk.com/c/general-discussion/8.md?page=351 [Latest](https://community.cartalk.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://community.cartalk.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://community.cartalk.com/tags.md) **Page:** 352 --- ## [Less expensive, more miles 2007 Subaru Outback vs. pricier, fewer miles 2009 Outback?](https://community.cartalk.com/t/less-expensive-more-miles-2007-subaru-outback-vs-pricier-fewer-miles-2009-outback/73041)
**Author:** [@MM\_Mom](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MM_Mom)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/less-expensive-more-miles-2007-subaru-outback-vs-pricier-fewer-miles-2009-outback/73041 "2012-07-03T00:10:28Z")
I am going to sell my 2002 Honda Accord with 150k miles (which has been wonderful and 100% reliable) and want to get a good trusty wagon for family, dog, camping, adventures. I have a golden retriever who needs to go in … --- ## [Smart Car](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smart-car/73165)
**Author:** [@mooseconn](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mooseconn)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smart-car/73165 "2012-07-02T21:58:06Z")
I want a Smart Car. My husband says I'm a fool! What do you think? --- ## [What suvs/cars are available for bad backs?](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-suvs-cars-are-available-for-bad-backs/73233)
**Author:** [@AquaticSnoopy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/AquaticSnoopy)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-suvs-cars-are-available-for-bad-backs/73233 "2012-07-02T20:35:50Z")
Let me explain my problem first a little. I'm 20 and underwent multiple lumbar punctures (spinal taps), which resulted in permanent damage in my lower back and frequent sciatica. I drive a 1999 Ford Taurus, and the its c… --- ## [A Trip Down Memory Highway](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-trip-down-memory-highway/73308)
**Author:** [@meaneyedcatz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meaneyedcatz)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2012, 6:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-trip-down-memory-highway/73308 "2012-07-02T06:30:06Z")
As I was out driving for work down highways, biways and unstriped blacktop roads I saw a semi trailer from a trucking company I had not seen in years. It had the marking of Campbells 66 Express. A running camel was paint… --- ## [Road trippin' home in a new used car](https://community.cartalk.com/t/road-trippin-home-in-a-new-used-car/73290)
**Author:** [@Trickster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Trickster)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2012, 10:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/road-trippin-home-in-a-new-used-car/73290 "2012-07-01T10:38:17Z")
I am in east Lansing Michigan for a summer internship and at the end of it i need to get home to Tucson for school. One option I am considering is buying a used car and driving it the 2000 or so miles back home. My requi… --- ## [Catalytic converters vs. the danger of inhaling exhaust fumes?](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converters-vs-the-danger-of-inhaling-exhaust-fumes/73273)
**Author:** [@UsedEconobox\_2\_UsedBMW](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UsedEconobox_2_UsedBMW)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2012, 8:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/catalytic-converters-vs-the-danger-of-inhaling-exhaust-fumes/73273 "2012-07-01T08:56:52Z")
"An oxidizing reaction converts carbon monoxide (CO) and unburned hydrocarbons (HC), and a reduction reaction converts oxides of nitrogen (NOx) to produce carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen (N2), and water (H2O)" What is t… --- ## [Do winter weather conditions generally create more aerodynamic DRAG against your moving car?](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-winter-weather-conditions-generally-create-more-aerodynamic-drag-against-your-moving-car/73310)
**Author:** [@mareakin](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mareakin)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2012, 8:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-winter-weather-conditions-generally-create-more-aerodynamic-drag-against-your-moving-car/73310 "2012-07-01T08:45:06Z")
I was thinking, there might be TWO reasons why the answer might be 'YES.' The air is denser, therefore more 'viscous' (wrong word perhaps, we're talking about air, not liquid.) It takes more energy to push through. … --- ## [Volvo s60 steering problem](https://community.cartalk.com/t/volvo-s60-steering-problem/73318)
**Author:** [@Alistairm](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Alistairm)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/volvo-s60-steering-problem/73318 "2012-06-30T19:43:15Z")
I have a 2003 volvo s60 that is hard to steer while driving straight down the highway. When your driving around town it's fine but when you drive it straight for a few minutes the steering becomes very stiff as if the po… --- ## [Replacement vehicle for a Honda Element](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacement-vehicle-for-a-honda-element/73252)
**Author:** [@loves\_my\_element](https://community.cartalk.com/u/loves_my_element)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [June 29, 2012, 3:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacement-vehicle-for-a-honda-element/73252 "2012-06-29T03:23:57Z")
I drive a 2006 Honda Element, standard transmission, with 125,000 miles on it. My hubby drives a 1999 Honda Accord, with 200,000 miles on it. We are both young 60-somethings who need to replace one or both cars. What… --- ## [Tire Size?](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-size/73180)
**Author:** [@Duran\_Duran](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Duran_Duran)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [June 28, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-size/73180 "2012-06-28T20:31:44Z")
What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of installing 205/50R16 tires when the manufacturer recommends 205/45R16? More or less should this option even be considered? \*For the record I drive a 2010 Kia Rio5. --- ## [Is it possible to pop locks from under the hood?](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-possible-to-pop-locks-from-under-the-hood/73234)
**Author:** [@jmargaretd](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jmargaretd)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [June 28, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-it-possible-to-pop-locks-from-under-the-hood/73234 "2012-06-28T17:36:47Z")
I'm posting for my co-worker, because I love CT and I've had great advice from you all before. She has a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. Great car. The other day she left her lights on, and the battery died. AAA came to jump it,… --- ## [Someone reported my driving](https://community.cartalk.com/t/someone-reported-my-driving/73074)
**Author:** [@iPistonhead](https://community.cartalk.com/u/iPistonhead)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [June 28, 2012, 8:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/someone-reported-my-driving/73074 "2012-06-28T08:49:00Z")
Hi all, Today i had a visit from the police officer, who has received a complaint about my driving yesterday. I remember the situation exactly. I was on the way to work when a guy pulled out in front of me who was driv… --- ## [Huge price paid for our clunker... WHY?](https://community.cartalk.com/t/huge-price-paid-for-our-clunker-why/73189)
**Author:** [@TimM](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TimM)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [June 27, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/huge-price-paid-for-our-clunker-why/73189 "2012-06-27T19:43:56Z")
We had a ten year old Lumina van that was rapidly dying. The last time we took it for inspection, they told us that it needed new ball joints, a major steering part, a new catalytic converter, and about a dozen other th… --- ## [Island Car?](https://community.cartalk.com/t/island-car/72954)
**Author:** [@Maui\_Gecko](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Maui_Gecko)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [June 27, 2012, 1:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/island-car/72954 "2012-06-27T01:05:36Z")
I live on a smallish island where parking spaces and roads are small and gas is almost $5 a gallon. I am retired and am looking for the smallest vehicle that can carry 4 sets of golf clubs (about 50" in length and 12" ro… --- ## [Used car buying tips for the economically challenged](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-car-buying-tips-for-the-economically-challenged/73190)
**Author:** [@vanburen](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vanburen)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [June 26, 2012, 9:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/used-car-buying-tips-for-the-economically-challenged/73190 "2012-06-26T21:47:15Z")
my girlfriend and i currently live in Brooklyn, NY. we do not own a car. in fact, i have not owned a car since 1996 ('87 Subaru wagon). we are moving to Asheville, NC in September. we will then need to own a car. i … --- ## [Do higher speed limits cause more car accidents?](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-higher-speed-limits-cause-more-car-accidents/73049)
**Author:** [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Replies:** 95\ **Last updated:** [June 26, 2012, 10:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-higher-speed-limits-cause-more-car-accidents/73049 "2012-06-26T10:01:34Z")
Considering how many people have complained about lower speed limits, I wonder what they have to say about this article, and the assertion that "Accidents that occur at high speeds are more often fatal...." Here is a l… --- ## [Someone asked what the most reliable domestic car was. What's the least reliable 'foreign' car?](https://community.cartalk.com/t/someone-asked-what-the-most-reliable-domestic-car-was-whats-the-least-reliable-foreign-car/73100)
**Author:** [@oblivion](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oblivion)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [June 26, 2012, 6:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/someone-asked-what-the-most-reliable-domestic-car-was-whats-the-least-reliable-foreign-car/73100 "2012-06-26T06:21:20Z")
Someone asked what the most reliable American car was. What do you feel the least reliable foreign car is, either currently available vehicles or vehicles of the past? Incidentally, I don't mean to imply that I think f… --- ## [Should I do some preventive maintenance on my 10 year-old-car?](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-do-some-preventive-maintenance-on-my-10-year-old-car/73201)
**Author:** [@unohoo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/unohoo)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-do-some-preventive-maintenance-on-my-10-year-old-car/73201 "2012-06-25T17:45:53Z")
I bought a new 2012 Subaru Impreza Sport Outback while I was still working and piling on the miles. Then I retired and now only put 5000 miles or less on the car each year. It currently has just over 100K miles and is in… --- ## [Ethics, Friends & Other Liabilities](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ethics-friends-other-liabilities/72255)
**Author:** [@Beartracker](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beartracker)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2012, 1:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ethics-friends-other-liabilities/72255 "2012-06-25T13:45:35Z")
Against my better judgment, I sold a car to a friend's daughter last year. It was a BMW 330 that I purchased new in 2002. The car was in excellent condition, and I got a fair price. My problem is this. While I owned … --- ## ['09 Grand Caravan, lug nuts or part of the hubcap?](https://community.cartalk.com/t/09-grand-caravan-lug-nuts-or-part-of-the-hubcap/73166)
**Author:** [@EllyEllis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/EllyEllis)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2012, 5:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/09-grand-caravan-lug-nuts-or-part-of-the-hubcap/73166 "2012-06-25T05:47:48Z")
My '09 Caravan has what looks like lugnuts holding the hubcaps on. Id this true or are they part of the hubcap, with lugnuts under the caps. I don't want to twist one off if it is. Anyone out there know. --- ## [1998 Subaru Forester Failing -- Should We Trade In?](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-subaru-forester-failing-should-we-trade-in/73194)
**Author:** [@TenderT](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TenderT)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2012, 9:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-subaru-forester-failing-should-we-trade-in/73194 "2012-06-24T21:36:38Z")
Our 1998 Subaru Forester with 250,000 miles on it is starting to have what I think is transmission trouble -- at 45 mph it catches as I try to speed up -- it's as if it is coughing. But it doesn't happen all the time and… --- ## [2012 Golf TDI: Breaking in the Engine](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-golf-tdi-breaking-in-the-engine/73174)
**Author:** [@snam](https://community.cartalk.com/u/snam)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [June 23, 2012, 1:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2012-golf-tdi-breaking-in-the-engine/73174 "2012-06-23T13:51:24Z")
Hi All, Just got a new 2012 Golf TDI, 6-speed manual transmission with 280 miles and I am so confused about breaking in the engine. It seems to run the gamut of there is no break in period to very specific instructions… --- ## [VW School Bus](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-school-bus/73176)
**Author:** [@HRG](https://community.cartalk.com/u/HRG)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 23, 2012, 4:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-school-bus/73176 "2012-06-23T04:50:14Z")
This was parked in Ventura, CA this week. --- ## [Help with a hit-and run](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-with-a-hit-and-run/73083)
**Author:** [@J\_Sug](https://community.cartalk.com/u/J_Sug)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-with-a-hit-and-run/73083 "2012-06-22T22:57:54Z")
Last night we had a presumably drunk hit and run driver smash into two of our cars parked in front of the house. Did a TON of damage. We know the following: It's a dark green, probably smaller SUV. It left behind some… --- ## [Saab lives to die another day](https://community.cartalk.com/t/saab-lives-to-die-another-day/73033)
**Author:** [@GSragtop](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GSragtop)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/saab-lives-to-die-another-day/73033 "2012-06-22T19:41:59Z")
Just like Kenny from SouthPark.. Saab lives to be killed again.. "Those rats" http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/13/us-saab-idUSBRE85C0AT20120613 --- ## [Safe Car Options for a New Driver](https://community.cartalk.com/t/safe-car-options-for-a-new-driver/73150)
**Author:** [@akhan135](https://community.cartalk.com/u/akhan135)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/safe-car-options-for-a-new-driver/73150 "2012-06-22T13:44:07Z")
I need help picking a good safe car for under $3000. I want something that's older but not too old, so '94-'04 would be good. Nothing too big but not a car that's very lightweight. Most important it should be a car made… --- ## [What's the worst car you ever owned, "foreign" or "domestic?"](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-worst-car-you-ever-owned-foreign-or-domestic/73121)
**Author:** [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2012, 12:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-worst-car-you-ever-owned-foreign-or-domestic/73121 "2012-06-22T00:49:13Z")
We've recently had a discussion about the most reliable "domestic" car (although oddly, that definition includes Chrysler - don't ask me why). We've also had a discussion about the least reliable foreign car. I'd like … --- ## [Air Bag longevity](https://community.cartalk.com/t/air-bag-longevity/73077)
**Author:** [@redM5](https://community.cartalk.com/u/redM5)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2012, 11:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/air-bag-longevity/73077 "2012-06-21T23:20:32Z")
I'm shopping for a low-miles, 8 to 10-year-old Acura, Lexus, BMW or similar. Assuming there are no related tech buletins on a specific car, is there any general issue with the reliability of air bags of that age? Parti… --- ## [Car recommendations for cheap guy moving to LA](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-recommendations-for-cheap-guy-moving-to-la/72976)
**Author:** [@doogiehowsah](https://community.cartalk.com/u/doogiehowsah)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-recommendations-for-cheap-guy-moving-to-la/72976 "2012-06-21T19:21:44Z")
Hi. I'm a pretentious car-free San Francisco guy who's going to be moving to LA for a couple months (3 at least) and really need a car. (Also I kind of want one for when I come back). I've only owned motorcycles (or rode… --- ## [Car decision help needed - weird requirements, please help](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-decision-help-needed-weird-requirements-please-help/73130)
**Author:** [@manosque](https://community.cartalk.com/u/manosque)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-decision-help-needed-weird-requirements-please-help/73130 "2012-06-20T20:06:05Z")
I have a weird life - weekly i commute 500kms each way (1,000km in total) along a major highway between Montreal and Toronto - so I need a car that travels well on the highway and gets decent gas mileage. Further, for t… [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/c/general-discussion/8.md?page=350) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/c/general-discussion/8.md?page=352)