Calgary Car Talk

[Tropics]

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

I'm very close to having work allow me to expense my Car2Go. I don't get a car allowance, but I do get to expense parking. As it costs me less than $10 per day to drive back and forth to work, it's pretty much a no brainer. Which means, my request will probably be denied.

How do you park the Car2Go car? If it costs you to park your own car at your office then how do you not pay to park the Car2Go car? Where do you leave it?

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by Tropics

How do you park the Car2Go car? If it costs you to park your own car at your office then how do you not pay to park the Car2Go car? Where do you leave it?

I park it very easily. They have some deal with the City so one can leave it at any legal street parking spot or CPA lot. Today it cost me just over $6 to drive to work and back. The way to work cost me less than transit would have.

[DizzyEdge]

You can also leave it in any residential permit-only area as well.

[floobie]

If I had to buy a car in Germany, I'd probably go for a VW polo GTI. I love the size, the engine is properly cool... A 1.4 liter turbo and supercharged affair. And its properly quick as well. 6.9 seconds to 100. If money were more available, then I'd say a VW Scirocco R. As pretty and passionate as some of those italian cars are, I wouldn't want to maintain them.

As for how people treat me in different cars, I can't say I've noticed a difference in niceness ranging from my old 98 Civic to my dads S4. Though, I have noticed way more people, generally in dodge rams, trying to race me in the GTI. In my old 07 Civic... It never came up.

By the way, I find it wonderfully fitting that I'm typing this on my phone while zooming down the autobahn in the back seat of my uncle's car going 185.

[Me&You]

Originally Posted by MichaelS

This brings up a question for the car guys here then. What car would you want to get, that is not for sale in NA?

For me, it would be the Alfa Romeo Brera. Not the fastest, but man is it gorgeous. Saw a couple when I was in Australia.

Brera's look great. Alfa's coming to NA, so you might get your wish soon enough. The 4C looks awesome also.

I want a Pagani Zonda ... 3 more years

Originally Posted by suburbia

Somewhat of a tangential item, but related to cars. I mentioned that we have two vehicles - mine a little fancier than my spouses. The observation is that people are actually nicer on the road when I'm driving my larger, fancier car, but if I'm driving my wife's more modest vehicle, people cut me off and have no or little respect. In the fancier car, people will actively slow down even when I'm supposed to yield. In the more modest vehicle, I've got to run the gauntlet. When I see people favouring me when in my own vehicle, it actually makes me feel a bit sad - might even be a reflection on how the world works. Anyone else have these types of experiences / observations when driving different vehicles?

I've experienced a lot of this and it's not as simple as "nicer" vs. "modest"... Quite often it seems to depend more on the other driver, rather than what you're driving your self.

Generally though, it seems that BMW drivers get no love... There is a wide spread "douche" tag associated with them, and it seems to be reflected in drivers of other cars and their road behaviour. The only other vehicles that seem to be universally shunned are Escalades...

From my experience, there seems to be a weird reverse curve where the "modest" luxury cars are shunned by other drivers, but this seems to fade as the cars get nicer. For example, I think there's a perception that everyone in a C63 is spoiled and drives like that a-hole last weekend, where the guy in the S-Class is on another level and more respected. Going higher on the automotive spectrum, other drivers seem to be more and more indifferent, until you reach a level of "awe" where the indifference drops and shit hits the fan. There's pictures taken, thumbs up, pointing... hell, they'll even cut other people off for you, if only to get in behind for a better view. Quite weird really.

All of this is extremely genralized and there are assholes driving every type. The asshole in the 20 year old rusted out Hyundai is just as annoying as the asshole in the Bentley.

[CorporateWhore]

MichaelS, that Brera is indeed stunning. Alfas always have been so damn beautiful, I really can't wait till they get here (although watch them "upsize" it for us and slap on a chrome grille to please our 'murican tastes).

The only problem with Alfa's these days is that look way more sporting and fun than they drive. I had a chance to rent a Giulietta a few months back, and man was that thing song and floaty.

If I had to pick something from Europe for us to have here, it woudn't necessarily be a specific model, it would be a type of a car: An enjoyable to drive 4WD station wagon with a manual transmission. Something that's pretty damn rare (if not impossible) to buy these days. It doesn't have to be some ultra special model that costs 50k either. Now that Subaru has gone full-on ugly, there's not a lot of options left.

One wagon I kept seeing that I thought looked fantastic was the Volvo v60. Sure would be nice to have these here instead of their crossovers.

I also would love to have Skoda's here. They look and drive as nice as a VW, but are more affordable and have better built quality. My aunt/uncle in Europe seems to always have a Skoda, and they are pretty damn great. Their Skoda Octavia wagon drove

[CorporateWhore]

Originally Posted by suburbia

Somewhat of a tangential item, but related to cars. I mentioned that we have two vehicles - mine a little fancier than my spouses. The observation is that people are actually nicer on the road when I'm driving my larger, fancier car, but if I'm driving my wife's more modest vehicle, people cut me off and have no or little respect. In the fancier car, people will actively slow down even when I'm supposed to yield. In the more modest vehicle, I've got to run the gauntlet. When I see people favouring me when in my own vehicle, it actually makes me feel a bit sad - might even be a reflection on how the world works. Anyone else have these types of experiences / observations when driving different vehicles?

I could see that. The two cars I drive are relatively far apart on the niceness spectrum, and I definitely feel it on the road. People treat one with more respect, and the other, well that one doesn't even exist, ha.

Although there is something liberating about driving an old beater....you don't have to worry about scratches, accidents or idiots on the road. Half the time I'm driving my Cayman in town, I'm paranoid about people driving too close to my bumper.....and not without reason. Some lady wasn't paying attention and drove into me at a light my first week back in Calgary.....thank god it was in the Protege though.

[CorporateWhore]

Originally Posted by suburbia

Regarding vehicles in general, I've really been surprised by what the Korean companies have been coming up with. Kia and Hyundai have some excellent cars - and exceptional values too.

I'm less impressed than I used to be. When my wife was looking at getting a car, we looked at both Kia and Hyundai as options.

The Hyundais were pretty disappointing in person. While they are miles away from where they used to be, to me the build quality still feels cheapish. They seem to be put together well enough, but I got the feeling that they are using Walmart-level materials that look good for a couple of years and then just fade. The metal on the cars felt like it was paper thin. It wouldn't take a very powerful hailstorm for it to get destroyed.

Drove a couple of the cars as well, and they felt soft and squishy and just really generic. Great for the "cars are just appliances to get me to work and back" crowd, but other than that....no soul.

Kia we had a better experience, they looked better (much better styled....thanks to formed Audi guy Peter Schreyer), and seemed to have a little more soul. Still felt the same thing about the driving and build quality though. But at least they looked great.

Ended up with the used V50. In terms of value, used car is the way to go! A 3 year old certified 35k-40k car that feels a crap more solid, for the price of a new tin-can Kia Rio? Yes please.

[Innersoul1]

Originally Posted by floobie

If I had to buy a car in Germany, I'd probably go for a VW polo GTI. I love the size, the engine is properly cool... A 1.4 liter turbo and supercharged affair. And its properly quick as well. 6.9 seconds to 100. If money were more available, then I'd say a VW Scirocco R. As pretty and passionate as some of those italian cars are, I wouldn't want to maintain them.

As for how people treat me in different cars, I can't say I've noticed a difference in niceness ranging from my old 98 Civic to my dads S4. Though, I have noticed way more people, generally in dodge rams, trying to race me in the GTI. In my old 07 Civic... It never came up.

By the way, I find it wonderfully fitting that I'm typing this on my phone while zooming down the autobahn in the back seat of my uncle's car going 185.

I like your selections! I always forget about the Scirocco R. The Europeans do great small cars that are peppy and sporty to drive. For me some cars that i like the sound of are:

Citroen DS3 Racing
Renaultsport 200 Cup

[Tropics]

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

I park it very easily. They have some deal with the City so one can leave it at any legal street parking spot or CPA lot.

You can also leave it in any residential permit-only area as well.

Wow, the city really did step up bigtime to make Car2Go feasable in Calgary with the ability to park the cars like that.

[DizzyEdge]

Originally Posted by Tropics

Wow, the city really did step up bigtime to make Car2Go feasable in Calgary with the ability to park the cars like that.

Yeah, my only complaint at all is the shallow north reach of the 'home area'. The only places you can't leave it for free are a) private property (unless you're just doing a stop over, you just can't end a rental on private property) b) any curb spot that becomes a towaway zone during certain hours, since it's unknown how long the car will sit there. I'm not completely clear on whether zones which are 2h during some hours and no parking (but not 'no stopping/towaway) during others are acceptable. Also I park it in the hourly spots of CPA lots, since I'm guessing if you parked in a monthly reserved spot there'd be trouble.

[MichaelS]

Do you guys think there would be value with allowing them to go to the airport? That was the first thing my dad said when I described the system to him. Drive to the airport to catch your flight and leave it in a spot there. Someone else arriving back home can just pick it up and take it into the city. Seems reasonable to me, but have a feeling Associated Cabs would lose their $h!t if this was allowed.

[Bigtime]

Maybe when they add another 100 cars, right now it can be difficult to find one close. I'd hate to have a bunch all the way up at the airport waiting for people to come back to use them.

[CorporateWhore]

Funny, I was driving by airport yesterday and had the same thought....that they would be great as rides to and from the airport. Associated can go eff themselves.

Although the thought of a Smart Car on Deerfoot makes me shudder a bit.

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Maybe when they add another 100 cars, right now it can be difficult to find one close. I'd hate to have a bunch all the way up at the airport waiting for people to come back to use them.

I wouldn't want the airport included for the same reason.

Is anyone else having trouble with their app? I find it flaky as hell. When it works it's great, but it's very unreliable.

[Tropics]

Originally Posted by MichaelS

Do you guys think there would be value with allowing them to go to the airport? That was the first thing my dad said when I described the system to him. Drive to the airport to catch your flight and leave it in a spot there. Someone else arriving back home can just pick it up and take it into the city.

If that was doable I would sign up not now but RIGHT NOW!!! That would actually be phenomenal if that were possible and it would be used like crazy. You "should" have as many people taking the cars back into the city as are taking them out to the airport so that there is a decent balance. Might get a few more parked there over the weekend and have a tough time finding on at the airport late on a Sunday night though.

Still, I am not much of a Car2Go fan and probably would not use it as it stands, but if they added the airport as a place you could drop one off and pick one up I would be all over it.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

I wouldn't want the airport included for the same reason.

Is anyone else having trouble with their app? I find it flaky as hell. When it works it's great, but it's very unreliable.

Yup, it is very flaky. It's like it won't update and all the cars will disappear. Have to close and open the app a few times to get it working again. I hope they get it updated to eliminate that problem. When it does work it is excellent.

[Bigtime]

If Car2Go does prove to be quite successful here in Calgary do you think we'll see another one like Zipcar show up? The fact that Zipcar offer larger vehicles could make it an excellent addition to the car-sharing scene here in Calgary.

[srperrycgy]

Signed up and have been approved for Car2Go, just waiting for the membership card. Looking forward to using it for those errands that aren't practical to use transit for.

[CorporateWhore]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

If Car2Go does prove to be quite successful here in Calgary do you think we'll see another one like Zipcar show up? The fact that Zipcar offer larger vehicles could make it an excellent addition to the car-sharing scene here in Calgary.

I sure hope so. Honestly, I think it's much more useful than Car2Go. Great for day trips, Home Depot/Ikea runs etc. Their variety is usually really nice (plus it's fun to drive cars like A3's, Minis, 3-series etc).

Pretty much every big city out there has it too, so I use it quite a bit whenever I travel in North America and need a car for a few hours and don't want to go through the hassle of renting.