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armchair
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« on: May 25, 2006, 12:33:29 am » |
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Anyone see this book? I was at Border's tonight and was flipping though it-a book of the 50 crappiest cars from the 60's-current. As expected there were Pintos and Gremlins and the Chrysler TC by Maserati, the K car, etc, but guess what, the 5th crappiest car was the real VW Beetle. The author claimed that the only redeeming quality was the fact that VW finally killed it off-about 50 years after it should have been. Harsh!
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Kafer_Mike
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« Reply #1 on: May 25, 2006, 08:36:58 am » |
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The author probably drives an early Fiero...  |
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ErikTheRed
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« Reply #2 on: May 25, 2006, 12:07:26 pm » |
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The author probably drives an early Fiero... Or maybe a Daihatsu Charade? This reminds me of something I was thinking about several weeks ago........ Back in the early-mid 90's, the Geo Storm was SUPER popular--- seems there was one in every driveway around here, they were all over the place--- you couldnt drive a mile without seeing at least 3 of em. Now, they've all completely vanished, I dont think Ive seen one in 3 or 4 years. Not a single one! I think they all had about a 6-8 year life span, regardless of mileage, then they vaporize. |
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May God forever bless these United States. Amen.
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mmccarthy
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« Reply #3 on: May 25, 2006, 12:13:55 pm » |
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I think I saw that guys picture on "PERVERTED JUSTICE"
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PRO OUTLAW SEVWA
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carapace
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« Reply #4 on: May 25, 2006, 12:28:22 pm » |
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Ahhh, the Geo. I think they just all up and died. The owners manual actually said not to drive it for long distances. Classy, huh?
How 'bout the Hyundai Excel? Those were all over, now I see one a year, maybe. My wife had one when I met her, and it died an ugly death...
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Bruce Tweddle
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« Reply #5 on: May 25, 2006, 12:58:51 pm » |
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How 'bout the Hyundai Excel?
In Canada we were cursed with it's forerunner, the Hyundai Pony. They died off even sooner. We even got Ladas in the mid 80s. A Soviet attempt to copy a bad Fiat (128). I knew a girl who's father bought her one because it was new and cheaper than 3-4 year old Hondas. After 8 mo, the gearbox gave out, and they wouldn't warranty it. |
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logo@dubdojo.com
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« Reply #6 on: May 25, 2006, 03:46:26 pm » |
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Ahhh, the Geo. I think they just all up and died. The owners manual actually said not to drive it for long distances. Classy, huh?  Good one....I didn't know that.... |
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bugnut
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« Reply #7 on: May 25, 2006, 06:19:44 pm » |
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I remember reading that book, and the author's comments infuriorated me as well, although I think that book is more of a tarded novelty than a genuine automotive title.
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Mag00
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« Reply #8 on: May 25, 2006, 10:19:57 pm » |
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Authors of this type tend to crank out books on a number of subjects they know little or nothing about because some editor that knows even less about the subject thinks it will sell a few copies...So from the book about bad cars they go to Gardening, shed building, fuax interiors and books on being gay in the clergy... I pay little heed to any of them...
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so67vw
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« Reply #9 on: May 25, 2006, 10:37:33 pm » |
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Reminds me of a very bad Joke....
Guys goes into the AutoParts store, says "I need a gas cap for my Ugo"
The parts guy replies, "Sounds like a fare trade".....
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"insignificant other"
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Kafer_Mike
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« Reply #10 on: May 25, 2006, 10:39:25 pm » |
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Back in the early-mid 90's, the Geo Storm was SUPER popular--- seems there was one in every driveway around here, they were all over the place--- you couldnt drive a mile without seeing at least 3 of em. Now, they've all completely vanished, I dont think Ive seen one in 3 or 4 years. Not a single one! I think they all had about a 6-8 year life span, regardless of mileage, then they vaporize.
I hear you. I saw a early-80s Chevette parked at WalMart here last week -- in the midwest -- and the thing was spotless. Talk about a rare sighting...  |
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armchair
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« Reply #11 on: May 26, 2006, 01:25:21 am » |
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The Fiero, Chevette, Excel, Yugo, and a Geo (Metro Convertible) you guys mentioned were among those listed in that book. This dude's opinion really doesn't matter, it just got me cause yeah the VW has its shortcomings but it had a lot going for it-quality, reliablity, economy, etc, and was competitive well into the 70s when the price started to get out of hand. the BMW 318i was in there too!
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JMPVW73
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« Reply #12 on: May 26, 2006, 02:03:43 am » |
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The VW Beetle has no place in that book. These cars were ahead of thier time for the first half of thier production run. They are practicly indestructable, for many years they would run and go any where when other cars simply could'nt includeing Antartica. MagOO is 100% right on this one. The cars have to be recignizeable(sp?) enough that any idiot can relate to them. The Renault Reno is no where near as recignizeable as a Beetle and therefor probably wasnt even in the book. My parents bought one because it was Motor Trend Car of the Year.  Cars I think belong- All Chrysler Corp mini vans. Ford Taurus, Explorers, 97-04 full size, Aero Star van |
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62 Beetle
73&74 Beetle
73 Squareback
98 Jetta G
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youngnstudly
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« Reply #13 on: May 26, 2006, 11:51:24 pm » |
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The list of factory options for a Yugo (new) included the following: A passenger side (door) mirror (I think it was around a $25 option). |
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-Andy
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Gas Cap
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« Reply #14 on: May 27, 2006, 08:07:39 am » |
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The list of factory options for a Yugo (new) included the following: A passenger side (door) mirror (I think it was around a $25 option). The funny part is Yugo's are very popular around here. I see them all the time and go for quit a bit of money. -Jacob- |
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East Coast Burnout King
98'GTI VR6
91'JettaGLI
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Kafertoys
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Posts: 98
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« Reply #15 on: May 27, 2006, 08:43:32 am » |
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How can anyone think that air cooled VW's are not one of the best cars ever made. My reasoning behind this is the fact that VW's were meant to be amoung the cheap cars made like yugo's,Geo's ladas and such and got very abused and neglected from the start. But look how many are still on the road. I have been getting a new customer aday on average for as long as I have been in business. Unlike everything else it doesn't take much to take much to get an old VW that has been sitting 10 yers or more back on the road, or just an understanding that now if you take bugs like my 64 beetle thats been around 40+years with alot of prior abuse with proper care (yea like I have time to work on my own) that it can last another 40 yrs.
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sinikl
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« Reply #16 on: May 27, 2006, 12:13:35 pm » |
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Cars I think belong- All Chrysler Corp mini vans.
next time you smell burning oil (after you look in the rearview... i can't help myself, i worry  ) look for the chrysler minivan in front of you. i GUARANTEE there will be one hangin a cloud like a crop duster. |
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JMPVW73
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« Reply #17 on: May 27, 2006, 03:37:32 pm » |
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Yea, my parents replaced the Renault with a 88 Grand Caravan in '90. The Renault sold for $800. LOL
They kept the van for 10 years, replaced the engine 3 times and the transmission twice.
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62 Beetle
73&74 Beetle
73 Squareback
98 Jetta G
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Mitch Pullen
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« Reply #18 on: May 27, 2006, 04:55:45 pm » |
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YUGO is coming out with a 4-door car it's called a WEGO.......
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Hold The Line Racing...(TOTO 1978)
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Craig Merrow
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« Reply #19 on: May 27, 2006, 08:44:27 pm » |
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My parents had a Geo Metro a few years back, a little purple job. It was totaled in a church parking lot when a Cadillac backed into it, and that's no joke.
I haven't seen a Yugo in ages, although I can recall finding several of them in a junkyard once upon a time, and they were only a couple years old! I think Car and Driver subtitled their impression of Yugo "Revenge of the K-Mart Shoppers".
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armchair
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« Reply #20 on: May 28, 2006, 03:36:53 am » |
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I will admit that at one point I came VERY close to buying a Yugo. My senior year of high school I was quite broke and my daily driver was a very worn '76 Beetle. It had a gaping hole in the drivers side floor that left me soaking wet more than once including the time I was wearing a suit on the way home from graduation practice. The heater channels were gone as well so during the winter it was brutally cold inside. That incident with the suit finally did it for me, I needed a car with heat and no holes in the floorpan. I saw a Yugo for sale in the paper for like $600 and I went to test drive it, and was planning on buying the thing as the heater really worked and it ran pretty ok too. But when my dad heard I was actually serious about buying a Yugo, he agreed to loan me the $2500 I needed to buy a very clean 64 Bug-rust free and with a truly decent heater.
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Tom Simon
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« Reply #21 on: May 29, 2006, 11:36:31 am » |
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Authors of this type tend to crank out books on a number of subjects they know little or nothing about because some editor that knows even less about the subject thinks it will sell a few copies...So from the book about bad cars they go to Gardening, shed building, fuax interiors and books on being gay in the clergy... I pay little heed to any of them...
point, set and match goes to Magoo! That was beautiful Dan... I know what you mean about books like this... what is the author thinking? I guess the definition of "worst" is up to the guy writing. Driven a Pontiac Aztec lately? The board members who approved that body style need to work on the next Chevy Chase Vacation movie... I haven't seen anything as ugly as the Aztec since the eight headlamped, twin-chrome-moulded, "Family Truckster"... |
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Bruce Tweddle
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« Reply #22 on: May 29, 2006, 01:28:52 pm » |
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Driven a Pontiac Aztec lately? The board members who approved that body style need to work on the next Chevy Chase Vacation movie... I haven't seen anything as ugly as the Aztec since the eight headlamped, twin-chrome-moulded, "Family Truckster"...
Careful Tom, Erik The Red has one of those in his driveway. |
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Dave Galassi
Junior
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Posts: 118
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« Reply #23 on: May 29, 2006, 02:56:00 pm » |
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A quote from the Autoweek article on the Aztec when it came out:
"and the Aztec comes with a tent for camping. Too bad it's not big enough to cover the whole car."
Why do they make Hyundai's with rear window defoggers? To keep your hands warm when you have to push them.........
I don't recall the car mag, but it had a great article I have posted in my office regarding the 10 worst cars ever. Here are a few, followed by the author's quote regarding their characteristics:
Renault Dauphine - "Truly unencumbered by the engineering process"
Aspen/Volare - "Owning one of these cars was total ego death- the theme song, the vinyl landau roof, the inability to pass another car"
Chevette - "An engine surrounded by four pieces of drywall"
Gremlin - "It was possible to read an entire Russian novel during the pause between stepping on the gas and feeling any semblance of forward motion"
VW Bus - "no heat, unless the engine or the auxiliary gas heater caught fire"
Here in So Cal, there are self help junkyards. There are a number of vehicles you can find in there with all the parts on them.......and the keys. Geo, Excel, Sonata, Topaz/Tempo, Escort/Lynx, Beretta, Cadavalier, Lumina, Corsica, Horizon, Lebaron, any K car and that includes Kia.
Can you tell I like this thread?
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JMPVW73
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« Reply #24 on: May 30, 2006, 11:58:34 am » |
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Guess what they had before the Renault.
An Aspen Wagon!
The other car they thought of buying when they got the Caravan was a Beretta!
I swear I'm not making this up.
After the van was a '92 Roadmaster Estate. I think that '91-96 GM's were the best full size cars ever built. I'm constantly looking for a little old lady '95-96 Roadmaster sedan to buy.
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62 Beetle
73&74 Beetle
73 Squareback
98 Jetta G
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sinikl
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« Reply #25 on: May 30, 2006, 11:52:46 pm » |
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Aspen/Volare - "Owning one of these cars was total ego death- the theme song, the vinyl landau roof, the inability to pass another car"
this reminds me of this time wheni was in junior high band, and this poor girl was mortified when her dad pulled up to pick her up from marching band practice. dude drives up a wood-sided aspen wagon, ginger beard, hair and brown aviators (you know, this is when they were uncool, not this current second wave of cool they got goin)... smoking a pipe... BLASTING elvis costello. not cool in 1987, but this guy just. didn't. care. he was embracing the aspen-ness of the ride! also, i saw the kia mention and wanted to share my kia product line theory... all the cars are named after strippers. think about it.... "Ok gen'mun putyourhands tooooogether andwelcometothestaaaaaaaaage.... RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIO... comin up on the satellite stage we got... SEPHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAAAA. and don't forget Sedona, visiting you tableside for dances. tip your waitstaff! [dj plays acdc, you shook me all night long] |
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Tom Simon
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« Reply #26 on: May 31, 2006, 01:12:33 pm » |
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A buddy of mine's dad on the diesel Chevette...
"That long sleder pedal to the right? Well, you can't call it an 'accelerator' because it does nothing of the sort. As far as I can tell it's the volume control, the only thing it seems to do is make the car a bit louder"
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Craig Merrow
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« Reply #27 on: May 31, 2006, 05:11:55 pm » |
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A buddy of mine's dad on the diesel Chevette...
I had to drive one of those once...it had four things against it 1) it was a Chevette, 2) it was a four-door, 3) it was a diesel, and 4) it was an automatic. Man, that thing was SLOW!
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Doug Johnson
Junior
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Posts: 175
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« Reply #28 on: May 31, 2006, 05:28:35 pm » |
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I'll admit it I owned a Yugo for brief time. ;)Although I did not buy it, I won it from a radio station promo. What a piece of crap!!
I felt much safer diving my Manx on the street than that pile. They do fly over speed bumps pretty good. I ended up selling it after about a month to some chick who beat the hell out of it and used the money to pay off my Mustang.
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so67vw
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« Reply #29 on: May 31, 2006, 08:40:28 pm » |
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"insignificant other"
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65vw
Newbie
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Posts: 48
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« Reply #30 on: June 01, 2006, 01:01:35 pm » |
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Yeah, I can't figure that out either. I liken it to some movie star or singer getting voted to both the best and worst dressed celebrity list. I've seen VWs from the 60's being voted to the top 20 or 50 cars of all time as well. What can you do...
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Tom Simon
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« Reply #31 on: June 01, 2006, 03:13:33 pm » |
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A buddy of mine's dad on the diesel Chevette...
More Chevette news... My Mom bought a used one against my advice. I swear it spent more time parked in the driveway broken down than it ever did ready to serve. At 40k miles the rear end was growling like a cat about to fight, I cautioned her not to drive it anymore. You'd have to know my mom, she didn't drive it any more, of course she didn't drive it any less, either! Knowing this condition is just getting worse, she hooks me up with her neighbor who also has a "shove-it" (my pet name for the rolling turd by now) who has one (also parked) that she'd love to just get rid of. I'm thinking "Free rear end..." So I talk with her son as to why it's parked "The ring and pinion need replacing..." he says. Go figure. Remends me of the 1989 Dodge Caravan that is perfect, it just needs a rebuilt transmission... "Of course it does, don't they all?" |
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