its different... Just filled up and got just over 30mpg on the first tank. It drives nice, shifts are fast and smooth. Power is adequate considering its size. I knew it was no V8 when I bought it.

It is a bit noisy at speed as the exhaust system is louder than I thought. The auto doesnt waste anytime getting to 4th gear... but it drops down quick enough with the go pedal.

Seats are not too bad but I dont think I will be taking it on any long trips.. besides the buzzy exhaust would be annoying. Around town its fine, actually kinda fun to drive as it handles better than it looks :)

It was nice having the box to run around in for the rainy weather... Visability is great and the headlights work great. Throws a nice filled in pattern. Glad I didn't spend any money for fog lights...

So far so good... but as soon as the the sun returns... I'm taking the other car out for a drive..
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It is a bit noisy at speed as the exhaust system is louder than I thought. The auto doesnt waste anytime getting to 4th gear... but it drops down quick enough with the go pedal.

You will get used to this. its really not that noisey compared to other cars i have had.

Seats are not too bad but I dont think I will be taking it on any long trips.. besides the buzzy exhaust would be annoying. Around town its fine, actually kinda fun to drive as it handles better than it looks :)

I think you will find, its not the seats, but the suspension. The stock suspension is very stiff, and choppy. I used to go for rides before i installed aftermarket springs, and my back would hurt after a half an hours ride. Now i can ride all day ( i have ) and dont have the back aches any more.

It was nice having the box to run around in for the rainy weather... Visability is great and the headlights work great. Throws a nice filled in pattern. Glad I didn't spend any money for fog lights...

You might even want to go a step further, and install the Sylvania Bright Star head lights. The difference is night and day; no pun intended. Do a search, and you can get the part number and who has the best price.

So far so good... but as soon as the the sun returns... I'm taking the other car out for a drive..
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Glad to hear you are enjoying your box. Definately dont waste money on the fog lights. They dont work to well.

Like all the accessories, but the best part is when people almost rear end the car in front of them because they are staring at the box!!!

I am getting checked out all the time in the box, for a middle aged dude with four kids it is kind of fun to have teenage girls pull up next to ya gauking and then see the aging balding dude behind the wheel and give you that, "oops I was checking out your ride" look. And my daughters think it is the bomb!

Stock springs soften after a few thousand miles. Don't worry.

Like all the accessories, but the best part is when people almost rear end the car in front of them because they are staring at the box!!!

I am getting checked out all the time in the box, for a middle aged dude with four kids it is kind of fun to have teenage girls pull up next to ya gauking and then see the aging balding dude behind the wheel and give you that, "oops I was checking out your ride" look. And my daughters think it is the bomb!

Yeah, I'm a 40-something, with two daughters, and they LOVE riding around in the "milk truck", as they like to call it. It's easy to spot in the parking lot, has lots of rear seat room for them, and with the 10" DVD drop-down monitor and wireless headphones I had installed, they're in heaven on those commutes from home to school and the other extra-curicular activities. Can't beat a box shape for maximum utilization of space, and the manual trans gives it an added fun factor when driving. The boxy shape is one of those "love it or hate it" reactions, and with the baby moon full wheel covers I recently added, people are doing double and triple takes when they pass the "milk truck"!

it really is a love or hate...i dont ever see people saying thats its ok. its either ugly or really cool. i thought it was the coolest thing..and you really have to see it to appreciate it, when i describe it to people...nobody likes it...then i show them :clap:

it really is a love or hate...i dont ever see people saying thats its ok. its either ugly or really cool. i thought it was the coolest thing..and you really have to see it to appreciate it, when i describe it to people...nobody likes it...then i show them :clap:

Agree 100%. I've had complete strangers strike up conversations with me about the car, and I open the doors, show them the inside, let them sit inside, pop the hood and "trunk", tell them it gets in the low 30's for mpg, DOT rates it as a station wagon so insurance is cheaper, etc. Then their eyes REALLY pop open when I tell them how little they cost...

I have absolutely no regrets about buying mine. It was a blank canvas, and as you can tell from my sig block, it's definitely a work in progress!

Install some tein h techs , about an inch lower and the ride is both softer and smoother.

I just got my box last thursday, closing in on the first week with it in a few days, and I gotta say I have the same reactions... people come up to me, stare, give me funny looks... it drives fine on the highway, kind of stiff, maybe I'll fix it, maybe not. I don't know one thing about modding a car :) I know I want some little aesthetic things like lights... short shifter, etc.

But my black box is the definite awesome car of the century. :)