Just commented on dressing-the-part and wondered about driving-the-part. I’m a car nut so I may not count but doesn’t it matter? In reading past threads on dress I guess I wasn’t surprised that about 50% of the posts had rather relaxed ideas about dress. I suppose this translates to cars and even the type of houses architects live in. This idea that so long as I’m producing good work nothing else matters seems to have some population. Well I submit that it does matter. Would you invest your money with a financial advisor that drove a junk car?
I realize that there is a matter of economics involved but shouldn’t we dress-the-part, drive-the-part, live in-the-part and overall be-the-part?
Interested to know from you - what kind of car do you drive and/or type of car an architect should drive?
Josh Mings
Sep 15, 16 5:58 pm
N_S, I didn't get the car to pick up ladies. I did so, so that I can be like Gerald Broflovsky.
mightyaa
Sep 15, 16 6:26 pm
I've also been contemplating this for the gas mileage (plus enough leftover to finally fix my LandRover 88)
Josh Mings
Sep 15, 16 6:28 pm
I thought about a Fiat too, but for some reason the insurance is ridiculous on those things. Way more than the other cars I was looking at.
mightyaa
Sep 15, 16 7:12 pm
That's good to know. I tend to buy before figuring out the insurance. :P
shellarchitect
Sep 15, 16 7:27 pm
Just remembered, last time I went to the auto show the girls at Fiat were smoking hot, esp helped that they were next to the b display
archanonymous
Sep 15, 16 8:07 pm
haruki, i'm the kind of person that would love to drive a low-end Porsche with heavy body damage and shitty paint.
Been looking at the Ford Fiesta ST. If they make one with a limited-slip differential, i'll have no choice but to buy it.
situationist
Sep 16, 16 12:19 pm
Recently I had to buy a second car. I have been slowly coming to terms with the fact that I am working class and can't afford to live low-car. I did buy the most obscene clown car I could find becasue If I'm going to be forced into a ridiculous form of mobility, I'm going to drive something ridiculous. Hopefully I can put a smile on people's faces as we collectively creep along in 5mph traffic past strip malls and fast food blight.
gruen
Sep 19, 16 9:13 pm
Been thinking about a second hand hearse. I mean, it's a caddy, with an automatic transmission and a built in intern-holder. Cheap, low miles, gold or powder blue if you are lucky.
Norris Architecture
Mar 3, 17 7:02 pm
Ok. Just bought used a Porche Cayenne. Love the car. Love how it drives. And it is great off road at undeveloped sites. But I worry about the potential "to much" image. Thoughts?
Norris Architecture
Mar 4, 17 12:12 pm
I need a good redliner? You available?
s=r*(theta)
Mar 7, 17 3:10 pm
I was considering upgrading to one of those in a few years, wuts the top speed on it?
randomised
Mar 4, 17 4:55 pm
I only have a cargo bicycle, never needed a car, don't even have a license. I live a 20min. bike ride from my current job, 15min. walk from the train station, busses and trams stop around the corner from my apartment and the airport is a 15min. train ride away. But if I had to get a car, it would have to be the good old Citroën DS: http://static.autoblog.nl/images/wp2015/citroen-ds-1955-550.jpg
Donna Sink
Jul 24, 17 10:25 pm
Traded in my NC Miata for a 2016 ND today! They put out the red carpet for me to drive it away. So cute.
Josh Mings
Jul 24, 17 10:41 pm
White cars are in again - although they are hell to keep clean.
geezertect
Jul 25, 17 7:57 am
Easy compared to black cars.
poop876
Jul 25, 17 9:58 am
Nice! I just got a 18 TLX, also white! Love it.
archiwutm8
Jul 25, 17 10:55 am
NA is life.
Donna Sink
Jul 25, 17 11:52 am
archiwutm8, I loved my NA. Then I loved my NC. Now I'm loving my ND. M.iata I.s A.lways T.he A.nswer.
ddutch
Mar 6, 18 3:43 pm
I am architect in the Netherlands. A real Architects car for me should be a understated car that reflects style, good taste and a passion for design and engineering. Unfortunately, most cars of today look like Transformers and Starwars toys. They resemble the American car design of the 50 and the 60s and are screaming for attention. Most cars are terrible designed, often express ''domination and agression'' and its not just a matter of taste. One of best designers of modern times is Dieter Rams and he is educated as an architect. He has driven Porsche's 911 from the start in 1965 till now. But his latest 911 is an 993 model, the last of the air-cooled cars because he prefers it to the newer watercooled models.
For me personally some real architects cars are; Alfa Romeo's 1960s classic Giulias, Alfasud, unmolested GTV6, Alfa 164 Super, Alfa 156/159, Alfa GT, Audi A5 coupe, BMWs older 3 and some 5 series, Z1, Z4 coupe, Citroen DS,CX,SM,BX,XM,Xantia (all are still very popular Architects cars here in Holland), Jaguars Mk2, older XJ models, Most of the vintage Lancia models, vintage 1960,1970s Mercedes coupes and Pagoda's, Peugeots 504 Coupe, 306 cabriolet, 406 Coupe, Porsche 924, vintage 911's and some Boxster 987 models, Classic Saab's 96 and 900, Volvo P1800ES, 480ES, 780 coupe, Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, VW Golf and Scirocco MkI. Some cars are probably not (well) known in the US. My own car; a 2005 Alfa Romeo GT.
what small country are you planning on taking over with that? Wherever it is, you'll show up styllin!
tduds
Mar 8, 18 12:22 pm
The Oregon Outback. mostly.
OneLostArchitect
Mar 6, 18 11:17 pm
my dream is to one day own a merc g wag!
Donna Sink
Mar 6, 18 11:38 pm
I did it.
LITS4FormZ
Mar 8, 18 12:35 am
Please tell me you autocross on the weekends, that’s badass!
Non Sequitur
Mar 8, 18 9:12 am
Donna... is that a firebird decal on your miata?
Donna Sink
Mar 8, 18 11:33 am
Yes that is a Firebird decal on my Miata...or are you just happy to see me? ;-)
Non Sequitur
Mar 8, 18 11:48 am
can it be both?
Archlandia
Mar 7, 18 3:39 pm
An Audi A4 Avant 2.0T, obviously!
LITS4FormZ
Mar 8, 18 12:24 am
The perfect job site car doesn’t exi-
randomised
Mar 8, 18 3:38 am
.
Archlandia
Mar 8, 18 3:41 am
@randomised hmm.. I think any of the RS versions would disagree
randomised
Mar 8, 18 10:27 am
I don't know what RS means, no expert myself since I don't even have a driver's license. I do however ride a cargo/transport bicycle, with handy rack in the front for my shopping, picking up discarded furniture from the streets or transporting planks of plywood from the hardware store to home, oh and it has a children's bicycle seat to bring my kid to daycare. It is basically the bicycle equivalent of that Volvo posted below.
( o Y o )
Mar 8, 18 9:07 am
Should drive or do drive?
Wilma Buttfit
Mar 8, 18 12:10 pm
the license plate matches the house matches the reflector should match the new leather seats. sunbeam gold.
Almosthip7
Mar 8, 18 12:11 pm
I want The Bandit Trans Am 2017
Donna Sink
Mar 8, 18 2:58 pm
I mean seriously look at how much that thing looks like my Miata!
Almosthip7
Mar 8, 18 4:22 pm
Almost the same!
dhgarchitect
Jan 4, 19 8:02 pm
A ridiculous question: To him or her who asked it and those attempting to seriously answer, ask yourself what is an Architect? Is he or her a flamboyant avant grade dictating matters of taste and style.
It simply speaks to the fact that 90% of university entering freshmen have no philosophy of life, and so are sold an artificial one by the all pervasive upper-education industry, a business and not much more. The architectural grads (but not only these) come out worshipping Gehry (not his real name) or some other sensationalist or relativist humanist producing a thousand empty words for every inch of built design - self marketers all. Hey I know, let's ask what does Renzo Piano drive, or Bernard Tschumi?
Post Modernism and Post-Post Modernism (currently) = cultural worldview where acquisitive desires and personal preferences are the sum and sole measure of success. And we wonder why our political leaders are vacuous and self serving! Go work in the real world for twenty years and tell us what an Architect is.
randomised
Jan 5, 19 2:23 pm
...and what they drive!
chris-chitect
Jan 4, 19 11:18 pm
This played in my head while reading the post above:
Volunteer
Jan 5, 19 9:11 am
Well, here is a fifty year old car, a 1968 Firebird convertible.
Donna Sink
Jan 5, 19 3:35 pm
Volunteer, is that yours? It's beautiful!
Volunteer
Jan 5, 19 4:39 pm
I wish. I had a 75 Camaro for years but not a convertible - sorry I let it go.
Non Sequitur
Jan 5, 19 5:53 pm
I rock the shit out of a 10-year old toyota sedan. At least it's black. Hard to "get into" cars up here with 70% winter
curtkram
Mar 4, 19 1:19 pm
i had a '79 camaro, but drove it under a semi :(
Wood Guy
Jan 5, 19 7:24 pm
I don't have fancy cars, but ones that I think reflect important values. Some find my Prius to be ugly, but it's one of the finest pieces of engineering available, drives great, and since I find efficiency beautiful, I think it's an attractive car. It's a 2011; the newer ones are more normal-looking, but I like mine. I have a lead foot and still get almost 50 mpg. Many of my jobs are 60+ miles away and I mostly do energy efficient design, so I need an efficient car.
My other vehicle is a Ford F-150 pickup. I think it's the best looking utility-grade vehicle on the market. Mine's silver, with a sleek cap, so it looks almost like an SUV. And it's a beast, so I can use it for my construction business and my farming hobby, then drive it to a client meeting it necessary.
I've also owned several Volvo 240s, which were great cars. Just too hard to keep them running well and looking good after 20+ years.
Miles Jaffe
Jan 5, 19 8:00 pm
There are four options:
1) drive something that appears to put you on par with your clients. Residential = late model Tesla or Range Rover. Corporate = late model MB / BMW
2) pre-discount your fee by driving something that makes you look like the poor working slob you are. Ford / Chevy / Yota etc.
3) keep them guessing by driving an offbeat, reasonably priced classic - but not an exotic or collector car. This puts you in an ambiguous artist / non-conformist category. Volvo / MB / Saab in excellent condition and at least 20 years old
4) never drive anywhere. Make the clients come to you. If necessary get heloed to meetings / site and bill the client accordingly
Non Sequitur
Jan 5, 19 9:51 pm
I take an uber for business.
randomised
Jan 6, 19 7:32 am
I don't drive but if I would it would be in a Citroën 2CV Électrique, there's a place here in Amsterdam that converts old Citroën 2CVs into electric cars. Basically what Tesla did with Lotus cars they do with this classic.
axonapoplectic
Jan 7, 19 2:46 pm
I'd really like to convert one of my cars to electric - but I suspect it would cost as much as a new chevy volt.
JLC-1
Jan 7, 19 3:38 pm
I hope they don't change the struts, was the best part of riding these!
kind_stranger
Jan 7, 19 3:18 pm
I drive a fiat. Everybody thinks it’s cute and that I’m an idiot for getting it.
My friend drives an Acura sedan. It’s obviously a way better car. So smooth.
Next car will be a Tesla.
mightyaa
Jan 7, 19 3:38 pm
Found my next for my wish list... 2019 Volvo S60 plug in hybrid. Seems like a optimal architect ride. Euro, quirky, can be switched to full electric or elect can be used to boost the gas engine performance... and no fear of range limitation (or corporate overlord attitude) like the tesla.
garylawes
Feb 28, 19 9:58 am
This problem has been vexing me since the tragic, and arguably criminal loss of SAAB (the only car for Architects!), my last 9-5 is reaching the end of its practical life - too old to look appropriate. And although my Land Rover Defender is perfect, you need a backup for those days, when the old girl (1993 110) just refuses to play ball.
So what makes an Architects car? If you take the SAAB as the ultimate, then the criteria would be - Quick, but not silly performance. Safe, but not staid. Stylish, but subtle. Well built, but not a tank. Delivers everything BMW, Audi, and Mercedes can, whilst not being a BMW, Audi or Merc.
I am really struggling, but one car is looking good at the moment - A subaru Legacy. Not quite there with the styling, but ticks most of the boxes. Plus of course the Defender will keep on running, occasionally, for ever.
Donna Sink
Feb 28, 19 6:36 pm
I like the new Subaru orange paint very much.
Volunteer
Feb 28, 19 10:11 am
I think the Subaru Outback has inherited the mantle of the SAAB for most architects with a realistic budget.
axonapoplectic
Feb 28, 19 5:41 pm
a couple months ago I was cut off by a late-90s purple corolla with a “worlds greatest architect” license plate surround.
That’s the gold standard, in my opinion.
Miles Jaffe
Feb 28, 19 6:24 pm
Location please to narrow down suspects.
wynne1architect@gmail.com
Mar 2, 19 9:22 pm
My car before I sold it, and it was paid off!...only way to travel.
randomised
Mar 3, 19 2:28 am
Those are Dutch plates
wynne1architect@gmail.com
Mar 2, 19 9:25 pm
This was my other car before I became rich, and bored as an architect.
archiwutm8
Mar 4, 19 10:48 am
Architects should not be driving, they should be chauffeured with their air of arrogance.
Non Sequitur
Mar 4, 19 10:54 am
.
randomised
Mar 4, 19 11:01 am
I'm being chauffeured at 160 kph
Non Sequitur
Mar 4, 19 11:06 am
^shut up you with your fancy socialist rail transportation... we're 2+ billion deep in the first phase of our (socialist rail project) and they've just released info saying the trains aren't tested for winter... We're only one of the the coldest capital in the world... You figured someone would have put that in the specs.
archiwutm8
Mar 4, 19 11:24 am
You haven't lived until you've been chauffeured at 603 km/h.
randomised
Mar 4, 19 12:59 pm
But I get chauffeured CO2 emission free :)
geezertect
Mar 4, 19 1:58 pm
Didn't FLW have a chauffeur driven red Lincoln Zephyr?
Stasis
Mar 6, 19 4:17 pm
Any car that can comfortably fit up to 8 rolls of ARCH E1 sized drawings and 8 copies of 400 pages project manuals, if requested.. One silly city division i work with requested to deliver 8 sets of drawings...... 4 sets for the building dept..
I used a print service to deliver next time, LOL.
archiwutm8
Mar 6, 19 5:24 pm
Send PDF
ggmm
Mar 12, 19 8:18 am
kinda like this one
Non Sequitur
Mar 12, 19 9:05 am
no thoughts as it's pretty boring.
Donna Sink
Mar 12, 19 11:07 am
It was 35d.(Fahrenheit) and sunny this morning so I put the top down for my drive out to rural Indiana. If I *have* to go to rural Indiana at least it's a fun journey that way.
Non Sequitur
Mar 12, 19 11:15 am
35F is pretty damn chili to be removing layers of clothing Donna. Had you specified 35C, then that's a different story.
urbanstudio
Jul 4, 19 11:59 am
Jaguar jx12 1975. I love this car.and i think it is pefect for a architect.
2006 Infiniti G35. It took me months to find one in good condition but this year range was styling perfection. Plus it met my other requirements of rear wheel drive, manual transmission and good amount of HP.
Non Sequitur
Jul 8, 19 8:39 am
Gah... those rims tho.
Archlandia
Jul 8, 19 12:09 pm
2013 Audi Allroad Quattro . Revo stage I and recently put on coilovers. One of my favorite cars ever made and I’m so happy I was able to get one.
whistler
Jul 8, 19 2:20 pm
Nice.. I had a 2008 and a 2012 great cars, but once the kids started to drive I had to downgrade to a Subaru Outback, moved onto a Tacoma for several years but passed that on to my son last year. Now that they all have their own cars I can start to shop for something new... or used
Archlandia
Jul 8, 19 2:26 pm
Lucky kid, those are excellent trucks. Sounds like your time to come back to the dark side.
whistler
Jul 8, 19 2:38 pm
Yeah they are a perfect family vehicle for carting around skis, bikes and pretty much everything else. Currently commuting in a 2016 GTI, fun but a bit intimidated by larger vehicles most everywhere. Easy to park, and Jeremy Clarkson claims it to be the perfect "hot hatch" ( he even owned one ). But I am afraid I am just feel a bit too old to be driving it now
...... oh look a Defender!
Volunteer
Jul 8, 19 2:39 pm
I had an Audi once. It had the build quality of a Chevy Chevette. Caught fire twice. Last time was on the DC Beltway. A truck driver (Russian emigre, in fact) stopped and put out the fire with a fire extinguisher. Left the fire extinguisher with me when he left in case it exploded in flames again. He must have owned one once also.
Non Sequitur
Jul 8, 19 2:53 pm
On of the partners here has an audi and he keeps complaining that there is always the mandatory 4-zeros (as in their logo) in every one of the service bills.
whistler
Jul 8, 19 3:02 pm
I have to say that the last one I owned was a bit of a dud. The last year of the lease it burned a litre of oil every tank of gas, no leaks, no blue smoke just couldn't figured it out. Service guy just told the ring job would cost $1500 - $2000 and to continue filling it with oil would be about $300 - $400. No brainer, but just gave it back to them once the lease was up!
Archlandia
Jul 8, 19 3:20 pm
@whistler Clarkson is right @Volunteer which year and model was this ball of flames? I've never heard of that issue. @Non Sequitur every single time... which is why I do most of the work myself now or head to a local shop.
Volunteer
Jul 8, 19 3:39 pm
It was a 1994 - had the five cylinder engine. The first fire was in the left front of the engine compartment - wiring to the fan motor. The coup de grace was about a year later in the right rear of the engine compartment with the main wiring harness. Melted and burned the whole harness extensively and the replacement harness would have cost more than the car was worth. You never, ever see that model style, which encompassed several years, on the road anymore.
JLC-1
Jul 8, 19 4:53 pm
I was a skeptic of audis forever, (although I had a 1995 VW Passat wih an audi engine that was awesome) and then we found this incredibly well kept 2003 A4 quattro 1.8T when my 17 yr old was looking for cars, he's had it for a year now, and it's been perfect (except for when I drive it, I forget to turn off the lights and the battery is dead in the morning,oops!)
whistler
Jul 8, 19 5:02 pm
I had one of them too. Its was the best out of all of them, new body style was on point and decent ummph! to be a fun car on the highway or in the city.
JLC-1
Jul 8, 19 5:04 pm
or in the mountains! really fun car, impressive kick of the turbo.
atelier nobody
Jul 8, 19 7:09 pm
Designed by a famous architect...
Volunteer
Jul 8, 19 7:48 pm
This is FLW's 1940 Lincoln Continental
Non Sequitur
Jul 8, 19 8:07 pm
Can I fit it with a toddler seat?
JLC-1
Jul 9, 19 10:40 am
this notion that architects can design anything is very misguided - plenty of examples of ridiculous cars designed by le corbusier and mies as well.
poop876
Jul 8, 19 10:54 pm
I just purchased a new Acura MDX and love it. It's actually my 5th Acura as they have bee. Very reliable to our family.
robertjone336
Jul 9, 19 7:12 am
I need to ship BMW M3 to Dubai someone please refer me any good freight forwarding company that help me out to send safely.
Non Sequitur
Jul 9, 19 8:52 am
Send me $50 and I'll give you the name of the shady guy standing by the docks.
JLC-1
Jul 9, 19 10:33 am
In the financial run of 2008-2009 overpaid expats left their leased lambos and ferraris abandoned in the road to the airport.
Jaetten
Jul 10, 19 12:59 pm
Lincoln Continental with suicide doors, in blue.
mightyaa
Jul 10, 19 2:57 pm
You mean like Dax Shepard's car
Jaetten
Jul 10, 19 3:21 pm
If you're buying
Liz_Lf
Jul 12, 19 3:47 pm
I would guess something expensive, or a Bike. Ha
RValu100
Apr 15, 21 7:17 pm
The ideal architect car is a black Citroen Traction Avant.
Donna Sink
Oct 28, 21 9:54 am
gibbost
Oct 28, 21 10:31 am
Sweet ride, Donna. But I need more context to this photo. Did you get out of the vehicle literally in the middle of traffic to take this picture? ;)
Donna Sink
Oct 28, 21 12:03 pm
Yes, gibbost, I did. The standstill traffic was caused by construction on the last project I worked on at my former firm, so I hopped out to take a picture to show them. We talked about cars a lot in my last office!
mightyaa
Oct 28, 21 12:15 pm
Very nice Donna!
JLC-1
Oct 28, 21 12:26 pm
wawoo! it's not an m3 though, right? looks fantastic anyway. congrats. I can attest to the engineering, I recently bought a 2011 Mini Cooper countryman, made by bmw, superb machine.
Just commented on dressing-the-part and wondered about driving-the-part. I’m a car nut so I may not count but doesn’t it matter? In reading past threads on dress I guess I wasn’t surprised that about 50% of the posts had rather relaxed ideas about dress. I suppose this translates to cars and even the type of houses architects live in. This idea that so long as I’m producing good work nothing else matters seems to have some population. Well I submit that it does matter. Would you invest your money with a financial advisor that drove a junk car?
I realize that there is a matter of economics involved but shouldn’t we dress-the-part, drive-the-part, live in-the-part and overall be-the-part?
Interested to know from you - what kind of car do you drive and/or type of car an architect should drive?
N_S, I didn't get the car to pick up ladies. I did so, so that I can be like Gerald Broflovsky.
I've also been contemplating this for the gas mileage (plus enough leftover to finally fix my LandRover 88)
I thought about a Fiat too, but for some reason the insurance is ridiculous on those things. Way more than the other cars I was looking at.
That's good to know. I tend to buy before figuring out the insurance. :P
Just remembered, last time I went to the auto show the girls at Fiat were smoking hot, esp helped that they were next to the b display
haruki, i'm the kind of person that would love to drive a low-end Porsche with heavy body damage and shitty paint.
Been looking at the Ford Fiesta ST. If they make one with a limited-slip differential, i'll have no choice but to buy it.
Recently I had to buy a second car. I have been slowly coming to terms with the fact that I am working class and can't afford to live low-car. I did buy the most obscene clown car I could find becasue If I'm going to be forced into a ridiculous form of mobility, I'm going to drive something ridiculous. Hopefully I can put a smile on people's faces as we collectively creep along in 5mph traffic past strip malls and fast food blight.
Been thinking about a second hand hearse. I mean, it's a caddy, with an automatic transmission and a built in intern-holder. Cheap, low miles, gold or powder blue if you are lucky.
Ok. Just bought used a Porche Cayenne. Love the car. Love how it drives. And it is great off road at undeveloped sites. But I worry about the potential "to much" image. Thoughts?
I need a good redliner? You available?
I was considering upgrading to one of those in a few years, wuts the top speed on it?
I only have a cargo bicycle, never needed a car, don't even have a license. I live a 20min. bike ride from my current job, 15min. walk from the train station, busses and trams stop around the corner from my apartment and the airport is a 15min. train ride away. But if I had to get a car, it would have to be the good old Citroën DS: http://static.autoblog.nl/images/wp2015/citroen-ds-1955-550.jpg
Traded in my NC Miata for a 2016 ND today! They put out the red carpet for me to drive it away. So cute.
White cars are in again - although they are hell to keep clean.
Easy compared to black cars.
Nice! I just got a 18 TLX, also white! Love it.
NA is life.
archiwutm8, I loved my NA. Then I loved my NC. Now I'm loving my ND. M.iata I.s A.lways T.he A.nswer.
I am architect in the Netherlands. A real Architects car for me should be a understated car that reflects style, good taste and a passion for design and engineering. Unfortunately, most cars of today look like Transformers and Starwars toys. They resemble the American car design of the 50 and the 60s and are screaming for attention. Most cars are terrible designed, often express ''domination and agression'' and its not just a matter of taste. One of best designers of modern times is Dieter Rams and he is educated as an architect. He has driven Porsche's 911 from the start in 1965 till now. But his latest 911 is an 993 model, the last of the air-cooled cars because he prefers it to the newer watercooled models.
For me personally some real architects cars are; Alfa Romeo's 1960s classic Giulias, Alfasud, unmolested GTV6, Alfa 164 Super, Alfa 156/159, Alfa GT, Audi A5 coupe, BMWs older 3 and some 5 series, Z1, Z4 coupe, Citroen DS,CX,SM,BX,XM,Xantia (all are still very popular Architects cars here in Holland), Jaguars Mk2, older XJ models, Most of the vintage Lancia models, vintage 1960,1970s Mercedes coupes and Pagoda's, Peugeots 504 Coupe, 306 cabriolet, 406 Coupe, Porsche 924, vintage 911's and some Boxster 987 models, Classic Saab's 96 and 900, Volvo P1800ES, 480ES, 780 coupe, Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, VW Golf and Scirocco MkI. Some cars are probably not (well) known in the US. My own car; a 2005 Alfa Romeo GT.
I can dream
what small country are you planning on taking over with that? Wherever it is, you'll show up styllin!
The Oregon Outback. mostly.
my dream is to one day own a merc g wag!
I did it.
Please tell me you autocross on the weekends, that’s badass!
Donna... is that a firebird decal on your miata?
Yes that is a Firebird decal on my Miata...or are you just happy to see me? ;-)
can it be both?
An Audi A4 Avant 2.0T, obviously!
The perfect job site car doesn’t exi-
.
@randomised hmm.. I think any of the RS versions would disagree
I don't know what RS means, no expert myself since I don't even have a driver's license. I do however ride a cargo/transport bicycle, with handy rack in the front for my shopping, picking up discarded furniture from the streets or transporting planks of plywood from the hardware store to home, oh and it has a children's bicycle seat to bring my kid to daycare. It is basically the bicycle equivalent of that Volvo posted below.
Should drive or do drive?
the license plate matches the house matches the reflector should match the new leather seats. sunbeam gold.
I want The Bandit Trans Am 2017
I mean seriously look at how much that thing looks like my Miata!
Almost the same!
A ridiculous question: To him or her who asked it and those attempting to seriously answer, ask yourself what is an Architect? Is he or her a flamboyant avant grade dictating matters of taste and style.
It simply speaks to the fact that 90% of university entering freshmen have no philosophy of life, and so are sold an artificial one by the all pervasive upper-education industry, a business and not much more. The architectural grads (but not only these) come out worshipping Gehry (not his real name) or some other sensationalist or relativist humanist producing a thousand empty words for every inch of built design - self marketers all. Hey I know, let's ask what does Renzo Piano drive, or Bernard Tschumi?
Post Modernism and Post-Post Modernism (currently) = cultural worldview where acquisitive desires and personal preferences are the sum and sole measure of success. And we wonder why our political leaders are vacuous and self serving! Go work in the real world for twenty years and tell us what an Architect is.
...and what they drive!
This played in my head while reading the post above:
Well, here is a fifty year old car, a 1968 Firebird convertible.
Volunteer, is that yours? It's beautiful!
I wish. I had a 75 Camaro for years but not a convertible - sorry I let it go.
I rock the shit out of a 10-year old toyota sedan. At least it's black. Hard to "get into" cars up here with 70% winter
i had a '79 camaro, but drove it under a semi :(
I don't have fancy cars, but ones that I think reflect important values. Some find my Prius to be ugly, but it's one of the finest pieces of engineering available, drives great, and since I find efficiency beautiful, I think it's an attractive car. It's a 2011; the newer ones are more normal-looking, but I like mine. I have a lead foot and still get almost 50 mpg. Many of my jobs are 60+ miles away and I mostly do energy efficient design, so I need an efficient car.
My other vehicle is a Ford F-150 pickup. I think it's the best looking utility-grade vehicle on the market. Mine's silver, with a sleek cap, so it looks almost like an SUV. And it's a beast, so I can use it for my construction business and my farming hobby, then drive it to a client meeting it necessary.
I've also owned several Volvo 240s, which were great cars. Just too hard to keep them running well and looking good after 20+ years.
There are four options:
1) drive something that appears to put you on par with your clients. Residential = late model Tesla or Range Rover. Corporate = late model MB / BMW
2) pre-discount your fee by driving something that makes you look like the poor working slob you are. Ford / Chevy / Yota etc.
3) keep them guessing by driving an offbeat, reasonably priced classic - but not an exotic or collector car. This puts you in an ambiguous artist / non-conformist category. Volvo / MB / Saab in excellent condition and at least 20 years old
4) never drive anywhere. Make the clients come to you. If necessary get heloed to meetings / site and bill the client accordingly
I take an uber for business.
I don't drive but if I would it would be in a Citroën 2CV Électrique, there's a place here in Amsterdam that converts old Citroën 2CVs into electric cars. Basically what Tesla did with Lotus cars they do with this classic.
I'd really like to convert one of my cars to electric - but I suspect it would cost as much as a new chevy volt.
I hope they don't change the struts, was the best part of riding these!
I drive a fiat. Everybody thinks it’s cute and that I’m an idiot for getting it.
My friend drives an Acura sedan. It’s obviously a way better car. So smooth.
Next car will be a Tesla.
Found my next for my wish list... 2019 Volvo S60 plug in hybrid. Seems like a optimal architect ride. Euro, quirky, can be switched to full electric or elect can be used to boost the gas engine performance... and no fear of range limitation (or corporate overlord attitude) like the tesla.
This problem has been vexing me since the tragic, and arguably criminal loss of SAAB (the only car for Architects!), my last 9-5 is reaching the end of its practical life - too old to look appropriate. And although my Land Rover Defender is perfect, you need a backup for those days, when the old girl (1993 110) just refuses to play ball.
So what makes an Architects car? If you take the SAAB as the ultimate, then the criteria would be -
Quick, but not silly performance.
Safe, but not staid.
Stylish, but subtle.
Well built, but not a tank.
Delivers everything BMW, Audi, and Mercedes can, whilst not being a BMW, Audi or Merc.
I am really struggling, but one car is looking good at the moment - A subaru Legacy. Not quite there with the styling, but ticks most of the boxes. Plus of course the Defender will keep on running, occasionally, for ever.
I like the new Subaru orange paint very much.
I think the Subaru Outback has inherited the mantle of the SAAB for most architects with a realistic budget.
a couple months ago I was cut off by a late-90s purple corolla with a “worlds greatest architect” license plate surround.
That’s the gold standard, in my opinion.
Location please to narrow down suspects.
My car before I sold it, and it was paid off!...only way to travel.
Those are Dutch plates
This was my other car before I became rich, and bored as an architect.
Architects should not be driving, they should be chauffeured with their air of arrogance.
.
I'm being chauffeured at 160 kph
^shut up you with your fancy socialist rail transportation... we're 2+ billion deep in the first phase of our (socialist rail project) and they've just released info saying the trains aren't tested for winter... We're only one of the the coldest capital in the world... You figured someone would have put that in the specs.
You haven't lived until you've been chauffeured at 603 km/h.
But I get chauffeured CO2 emission free :)
Didn't FLW have a chauffeur driven red Lincoln Zephyr?
Any car that can comfortably fit up to 8 rolls of ARCH E1 sized drawings and 8 copies of 400 pages project manuals, if requested.. One silly city division i work with requested to deliver 8 sets of drawings...... 4 sets for the building dept..
I used a print service to deliver next time, LOL.
Send PDF
kinda like this one
no thoughts as it's pretty boring.
It was 35d.(Fahrenheit) and sunny this morning so I put the top down for my drive out to rural Indiana. If I *have* to go to rural Indiana at least it's a fun journey that way.
35F is pretty damn chili to be removing layers of clothing Donna. Had you specified 35C, then that's a different story.
Jaguar jx12 1975. I love this car.and i think it is pefect for a architect.
An unreliable car for an unreliable profession?
My money's on the Tartan Prancer, the Honda of Albania.
2006 Infiniti G35. It took me months to find one in good condition but this year range was styling perfection. Plus it met my other requirements of rear wheel drive, manual transmission and good amount of HP.
Gah... those rims tho.
2013 Audi Allroad Quattro . Revo stage I and recently put on coilovers. One of my favorite cars ever made and I’m so happy I was able to get one.
Nice.. I had a 2008 and a 2012 great cars, but once the kids started to drive I had to downgrade to a Subaru Outback, moved onto a Tacoma for several years but passed that on to my son last year. Now that they all have their own cars I can start to shop for something new... or used
Lucky kid, those are excellent trucks. Sounds like your time to come back to the dark side.
Yeah they are a perfect family vehicle for carting around skis, bikes and pretty much everything else. Currently commuting in a 2016 GTI, fun but a bit intimidated by larger vehicles most everywhere. Easy to park, and Jeremy Clarkson claims it to be the perfect "hot hatch" ( he even owned one ). But I am afraid I am just feel a bit too old to be driving it now ...... oh look a Defender!
I had an Audi once. It had the build quality of a Chevy Chevette. Caught fire twice. Last time was on the DC Beltway. A truck driver (Russian emigre, in fact) stopped and put out the fire with a fire extinguisher. Left the fire extinguisher with me when he left in case it exploded in flames again. He must have owned one once also.
On of the partners here has an audi and he keeps complaining that there is always the mandatory 4-zeros (as in their logo) in every one of the service bills.
I have to say that the last one I owned was a bit of a dud. The last year of the lease it burned a litre of oil every tank of gas, no leaks, no blue smoke just couldn't figured it out. Service guy just told the ring job would cost $1500 - $2000 and to continue filling it with oil would be about $300 - $400. No brainer, but just gave it back to them once the lease was up!
@whistler Clarkson is right @Volunteer which year and model was this ball of flames? I've never heard of that issue. @Non Sequitur every single time... which is why I do most of the work myself now or head to a local shop.
It was a 1994 - had the five cylinder engine. The first fire was in the left front of the engine compartment - wiring to the fan motor. The coup de grace was about a year later in the right rear of the engine compartment with the main wiring harness. Melted and burned the whole harness extensively and the replacement harness would have cost more than the car was worth. You never, ever see that model style, which encompassed several years, on the road anymore.
I was a skeptic of audis forever, (although I had a 1995 VW Passat wih an audi engine that was awesome) and then we found this incredibly well kept 2003 A4 quattro 1.8T when my 17 yr old was looking for cars, he's had it for a year now, and it's been perfect (except for when I drive it, I forget to turn off the lights and the battery is dead in the morning,oops!)
I had one of them too. Its was the best out of all of them, new body style was on point and decent ummph! to be a fun car on the highway or in the city.
or in the mountains! really fun car, impressive kick of the turbo.
Designed by a famous architect...
This is FLW's 1940 Lincoln Continental
Can I fit it with a toddler seat?
this notion that architects can design anything is very misguided - plenty of examples of ridiculous cars designed by le corbusier and mies as well.
I just purchased a new Acura MDX and love it. It's actually my 5th Acura as they have bee. Very reliable to our family.
I need to ship BMW M3 to Dubai someone please refer me any good freight forwarding company that help me out to send safely.
Send me $50 and I'll give you the name of the shady guy standing by the docks.
In the financial run of 2008-2009 overpaid expats left their leased lambos and ferraris abandoned in the road to the airport.
Lincoln Continental with suicide doors, in blue.
You mean like Dax Shepard's car
If you're buying
I would guess something expensive, or a Bike. Ha
The ideal architect car is a black Citroen Traction Avant.
Sweet ride, Donna. But I need more context to this photo. Did you get out of the vehicle literally in the middle of traffic to take this picture? ;)
Yes, gibbost, I did. The standstill traffic was caused by construction on the last project I worked on at my former firm, so I hopped out to take a picture to show them. We talked about cars a lot in my last office!
Very nice Donna!
wawoo! it's not an m3 though, right? looks fantastic anyway. congrats. I can attest to the engineering, I recently bought a 2011 Mini Cooper countryman, made by bmw, superb machine.
She a beaut!