I'm awake and pissed off, not a good combo if you have my attention.

[lowend1]

Sorry guys. Nobody writes "car songs" about Subarus and Volvos.

[gweimer]

Sorry guys. Nobody writes "car songs" about Subarus and Volvos.

That said, my 2002 Saturn Vue, at 194K miles, is actually getting better gas mileage than when I bought it.  I've done all the routine maintenance, along with standard replacement over time, but the powertrain has been the best vehicle I've owned, and I've owned a LOT of cars.

[Denis]

I don't remember the specifics, but didn't Vegas have a major flaw in the motor?  I may be wrong here, so edjumacate me!

The regular Vegas didn't have much of an engine problem because the block was cast iron, but the COSWORTH Vegas had issues because they used aluminum blocks. If the overheated they were done

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosworth_Vega.

[Hörnisse]

It's been so long since I owned that '75 Astre I'd forgotten.  The heads were aluminum and thus the big clouds of white smoke trailing behind the car.  That happened only when it was at temp.  I was lucky to sell that car but I sure loved driving it.  Mine had the 4 speed and I broke a few clutch cables on that car and was still able to get it home.   

And what's this nonsense about no songs that mention a Subaru?   

[Dave W]

Sorry guys. Nobody writes "car songs" about Subarus and Volvos.

Au contraire! This was played on Dr. Demento back when Subarus were small.

[TBird1958]

Sorry guys. Nobody writes "car songs" about Subarus and Volvos.

Much like Gary's Saturn mine gets way better milage now that my commute has changed, I now have a 21 mile drive each way every day, 19 of which are freeway miles I put the car into Cruise Control at 67mph and let it go. I used to get 290 miles to a tank, now I'm at 345 easily.  Subies aren't glamourus, they're just quietly great cars - at least for me 

[gweimer]

Au contraire! This was played on Dr. Demento back when Subarus were small.

I can attest to my '73 Opel on that...

[patman]

I've got 160K on my Saturn SC2...uses a little oil, but not much...maybe a quart between changes.  cost $5700 maybe 8 years ago, and was worth every penny. I've put 80K of the mileage on it, a previous owner put on another 80. Probably needs a clutch, but that's about it.

[dadagoboi]

The regular Vegas didn't have much of an engine problem because the block was cast iron, but the COSWORTH Vegas had issues because they used aluminum blocks. If the overheated they were done

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosworth_Vega.

ALL Vega engine blocks were aluminum with 16% silicon content, the heads were cast iron.  The cylinder walls were pure silicon plated.  The Cosworth was a twin cam variant with 16 valve aluminum heads.  Oil and temp control were more important to keeping the engines from failing than in a cast iron block.

I used to know this by heart but had to look it up:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_2300_engine

[Pilgrim]

My cousin had a bright lime green mid 70s Vega that he drove from upstate NY to northern NJ every day. One day he pulled into the repair shop because the car was handling funny. The rear end seemed to be wallowing around and he figured he had probably blown out a shock absorber or something. Turns out that the rear section of the frame / unibody had rotted away and separated from the rest, with the car essentially being held together by the body panels. Wallowing indeed.

Yup, the unibody on the Vega was not robust, and its other major downfall was rust.

[gweimer]

My first keyboard player had a Vega.  He bought cheap oil by the case, and kept it in the back.  He was burning a quart of oil about every couple hundred miles.  He was so cheap, that he'd "draft" behind the semis on the interstate when he drove them.

[jumbodbassman]

ALL Vega engine blocks were aluminum with 16% silicon content, the heads were cast iron.  The cylinder walls were pure silicon plated.  The Cosworth was a twin cam variant with 16 valve aluminum heads.  Oil and temp control were more important to keeping the engines from failing than in a cast iron block.

I used to know this by heart but had to look it up:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_2300_engine

my older sister had one.  biggest POS i have ever seen.  major engine issues.   always in the shop.   She traded it in to get a Datsun B210 which ran forever and ever....except the rust of course

[Pilgrim]

My dad had a rough B210 - the fenders had holes you could stick a finger through and one door was roped shut, but it ran great.

[lowend1]

Oooooh.... was it a Honey Bee?

[Freuds_Cat]

We (The Smokin' Crocs) have a song that includes Volvo's and Subaru's and just about every other major car company. Its called the Door Handle Blues. Its about the 80's Aussie Ford Falcons and how their door handle used to always break.