Welcome to General Chat - GAW Community Area
This General Chat area started off as a place for people to talk about things that are off topic, however it has quickly evolved into a community and has become an integral part of the GAW experience for many of us.
Based on its evolving needs and plenty of user feedback, we are trying to bring some order and institute some rules. Please make sure you read these rules and participate in the spirit of this community.
Rules for General Chat
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Be respectful to each other. This is of utmost importance, and comments may be removed if deemed not respectful.
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Avoid long drawn out arguments. This should be a place to relax, not to waste your time needlessly.
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Personal anecdotes, puzzles, cute pics/clips - everything welcome
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Please do not spam at the top level. If you have a lot to post each day, try and post them all together in one top level comment
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Try keep things light. If you are bringing in deep stuff, try not to go overboard.
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Things that are clearly on-topic for this board should be posted as a separate post and not here (except if you are new and still getting the feel of this place)
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If you find people violating these rules, deport them rather than start a argument here.
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Feel free to give feedback as these rules are expected to keep evolving
In short, imagine this thread to be a local community hall where we all gather and chat daily. Please be respectful to others in the same way
Question of the Day…
What was the make and model of your first vehicle and how old were you? I’ll go first…
My first car was a Sunbeam Alpine white, 4speed manual, convertible. I was 18 years old, and my best friend and I loved driving around in that car. The alternator went out on it, and her and I repaired it ourselves. One night I was driving down the 405 freeway in California, and I was racing somebody and we threw a rod. That was the end of that adventure. My following two vehicles were all manuals. I finally settled into a 1987 Mazda MX6 automatic.
My first car was a 1969 Mercury Cougar. It was beige with a black vinyl top. It had a 350 engine with dual exhaust. It was in great shape and was well taken care of. I bought it for 800 dollars from my boss at Baskin Robins. I also went to church with his family so it helped. I was so excited to drive it to school and soon as I turned off my road the battery died. I left it sitting there and walked back home.
Started out a great story and then ended up a bummer. I’m sure that you went ahead and got a jump for your battery. But a mercury cougar yay - bad ass!
Yeah I loved that car. It did not have power steering so I wore my self out turning that sucker. Would give anything to have another one, but wouldn’t be able to afford one now.
Mine was a AMC Matador. Rust colored. Was driving to a friends wedding with another friend and the engine fell out. Literally fell out! My Dad came and got it while my friends Dad loaned us his Caddy. My friend picked a guy up at the wedding and she wanted to ride with him to her house about 15 miles away. Just so happens the road was being repaved and was closed. I drove the caddy off the road into the construction zone. Got it stuck and had to walk to the local pig farmers house for help In the dress I wore to the wedding. The farmer put me on the tractor and drove me back to the car. He pulled it out the caddy and sent us on our way. I still beat my friend to her house with the guys friend and the two of us sat about an hour on the front porch until she showed up. Lol I tease her about it all the time. Even though it been like 45 years. Oh and Dad got me another car... a1980 Olds omega. No more engine falling out for me!
What a great story! that’s how it was - back of the old days. if you broke down, neighbors would help out, if you broke down again, neighbors would help out again. Thanks for sharing that. It put a smile on my face.
Ps… that was a cool looking car.
Had a 78 Chevy Monte Carlo at 17 years old. It was pee yellow with a 💩 brown pinstripe. Flipped the air cleaner cover upside down so it would sound like it had slightly more than 160 hp out of a smog choked 305ci (5 liter) engine.
Had super deep tread snow tires on it and when it snowed heavy in Boston, I could make it spin both tires so the "noodles" of snow flying out the back of the car would land on the hood of cars tailgating behind me. They usually backed off quickly. 😂
The metal center caps held on to the steel wheels with very weak clips, so hitting any pothole deeper than the thickness of a nickle would jettison the caps deep into the woods. I could usually find them after a few minutes of fighting off mosquitos and ticks.
Sounds like a wonderful experience. I’m sure the tailgaters got the message definitely. 👏👏👏
Edit: my boyfriend had a car like this and I loved it. It really took off. Vroom
My first car was a 1976 Jeep CJ7 and I was 21. I was a late bloomer in many ways...
It had a loose alternator belt, so I left it running a lot or made sure I always had jumper cables! That got my feet wet for fixing my cars myself and still do to this day.
Loved that thing, had a blast in it. That was in 93.
Just bought an 08 Mini Cooper S for commuting, okay and fun, at a great deal. Turbo needs work which I'm tackling this weekend.
Soooo basically… A real Jeep not one of these new chincy ones 😂😂😂
Exactamundo!