General Car Conversation 2025 - Part 1
Lead Lap
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,587
Likes: 93
From: CA, Mid OC
my gripe was that the LHS was a standard size car, not a luxury car. It had a weird oscillating sound coming from the back seat. It sounded like when you ride in a car with one window down. Putting windows down didn’t really help. Maybe it was just that specific car, but it really seemed more like a design flaw. We also had a crappy Olds 98 that rented as a luxury car but I wouldn’t rent it to my customers as a luxury car. I kept flagging it as out of service and I reported intermittent CELs, which did occur with a slight stumble at idle.
Thread Starter
CL Community Team
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,359
Likes: 608
From: IL
I would pick any of the cloud cars over the equivalent GM product as they simply held up better, less things falling apart inside and less stupid issues like the rear subframe rusting off the body etc. Interiors are "meh" but thy hold up fine over time, the main thing I don't like is the horrific crash performance.....perfectly fine cars otherwise and dead easy to work on.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,642
Likes: 4,045
From: Maryland
my gripe was that the LHS was a standard size car, not a luxury car. It had a weird oscillating sound coming from the back seat. It sounded like when you ride in a car with one window down. Putting windows down didn’t really help. Maybe it was just that specific car, but it really seemed more like a design flaw. We also had a crappy Olds 98 that rented as a luxury car but I wouldn’t rent it to my customers as a luxury car. I kept flagging it as out of service and I reported intermittent CELs, which did occur with a slight stumble at idle.
1994 LHS was 207 inches long, same length as my S Class so definately noy a standard sized car
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,238
Likes: 1,592
From: FL
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 17,087
Likes: 514
From: Knoxville, TN
Ive not felt the same tbh, the 3.3 has an initial jerk then the throttle does nothing/there isn't any midrange yet alone peak.
Also the 3800 is about a second slower 0-60 in all equivalent cars vs the 3.5 unless have the supercharged version that trades blows.
EDIT, I looked them up and the 3800 numbers were 170/210 hp/tq vs 214/221 hp/tq for the initial series 1 3800 and first version of the 3.5. The supercharged engine made 205 initially, later versions of the SC has 225 but in 1999 the Chrysler rose to 252/250 beating all versions of the GM engines. Only the very last version of the supercharged 3800 made 10hp more than the 3.5 and at that point Chrysler wasn't making it anymore and the whole generation from 99 up was all aluminum vs the much heavier 90* 3800.
The 3800 is much easier to tune for more output though as it has a factory super, it also is quite reliable if you update the intake gaskets and get rid of the fire hazard fuel rail. It's still very gruff though being both a V6 (cursed engine configuration) and 90* being a non-native bank angle.n.
Also the 3800 is about a second slower 0-60 in all equivalent cars vs the 3.5 unless have the supercharged version that trades blows.
EDIT, I looked them up and the 3800 numbers were 170/210 hp/tq vs 214/221 hp/tq for the initial series 1 3800 and first version of the 3.5. The supercharged engine made 205 initially, later versions of the SC has 225 but in 1999 the Chrysler rose to 252/250 beating all versions of the GM engines. Only the very last version of the supercharged 3800 made 10hp more than the 3.5 and at that point Chrysler wasn't making it anymore and the whole generation from 99 up was all aluminum vs the much heavier 90* 3800.
The 3800 is much easier to tune for more output though as it has a factory super, it also is quite reliable if you update the intake gaskets and get rid of the fire hazard fuel rail. It's still very gruff though being both a V6 (cursed engine configuration) and 90* being a non-native bank angle.n.
That 3.5 was wimpy. Like I said the base engine with like 40 less horsepower felt stronger.
My Grandfather's last car was a Chrysler 300 with the 3.5, that engine also was trash. Not smooth, just ok power.
Last edited by AJT123; Mar 25, 2025 at 02:20 PM.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 18,225
Likes: 1,773
From: Ohio
Damn you're right lol! They all sorta blend into one cab forward blob to me....I like the versions with the 3.5 pointing the correct direction
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 18,225
Likes: 1,773
From: Ohio
The 170hp/225tq 3800 we had in a 1994 minivan felt more powerful than the Dodge 3.5 in the 1996 Intrepid. I remember getting annihilated by a 3800 Camaro leaving school one day lmao. I leave that car off my list lol bc I only had to drive it a few months as a temporary measure.
That 3.5 was wimpy. Like I said the base engine with like 40 less horsepower felt stronger.
My Grandfather's last car was a Chrysler 300 with the 3.5, that engine also was trash. Not smooth, just ok power.
That 3.5 was wimpy. Like I said the base engine with like 40 less horsepower felt stronger.
My Grandfather's last car was a Chrysler 300 with the 3.5, that engine also was trash. Not smooth, just ok power.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 17,087
Likes: 514
From: Knoxville, TN
The better driving car was the one with the base engine.... That 3.5 was nothing special, AT ALL. In that 2006ish 300 it had the typical Chrysler gear/drivetrain whine, motor was not smooth, not quick to rev, and when it did rev it didn't seem like it wanted to. Granted I'm used to LS430s as a sedan to drive around so my standards are high. I wish my Grandfather got the Hemi, but he was frugal. WW2 gen.
Last edited by AJT123; Mar 25, 2025 at 03:40 PM.
Lead Lap
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,587
Likes: 93
From: CA, Mid OC
Lead Lap
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,587
Likes: 93
From: CA, Mid OC
I’m not sure customer service was ever wonderful in the rental car industry. I took care of my luxury car customers. They were almost always from Europe, so they already had to buy all the insurance crap and I got spiffed on all of it, so if they were cool, they got a break on the car rental rate. I punished people who were verbally abusive. There’s no reason to treat people that way. One guy complained that I called him an *** hole when I actually hadn’t (yet). Crazy how the 93 Cavalier destined for the scrap heap suddenly became available just for him 😂. My coworkers didn’t want to deal with the Euros due to language challenges. I’ve spent most of my life studying and working with people who are not originally from the US. I absolutely love it.I was a fuzzy foreigner as a student in Germany, so I always lead with empathy. Most of my work colleagues at Shell are not from North America. I enjoy it. It feels like getting paid for going to grad school…again.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,238
Likes: 1,592
From: FL
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 19,693
Likes: 3,766
From: California
I’m not sure customer service was ever wonderful in the rental car industry. I took care of my luxury car customers. They were almost always from Europe, so they already had to buy all the insurance crap and I got spiffed on all of it, so if they were cool, they got a break on the car rental rate. I punished people who were verbally abusive. There’s no reason to treat people that way. One guy complained that I called him an *** hole when I actually hadn’t (yet). Crazy how the 93 Cavalier destined for the scrap heap suddenly became available just for him 😂. My coworkers didn’t want to deal with the Euros due to language challenges. I’ve spent most of my life studying and working with people who are not originally from the US. I absolutely love it.I was a fuzzy foreigner as a student in Germany, so I always lead with empathy. Most of my work colleagues at Shell are not from North America. I enjoy it. It feels like getting paid for going to grad school…again.
Last edited by AMIRZA786; Mar 26, 2025 at 09:12 AM.
