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WDWFreak53, car discussion
- Thread starter EchoOfOphelia
- Start date
So.. my last bout with the R32's "reliability" have put me in the market for a new car. I'm putting the R32 on the market and looking at getting a new car within the next 90 days.
So what should I get? I'm looking at spending no more than US $35K (bear in mind that cars in PR are about 20-25% more than in the US, so I'm really looking for a car at no more than $27-30K) with a few guidelines:
1- Must be somewhat economical. I'm looking at 25mpg highway MINIMUM
2- Must be practical... enough
3- Must have a footprint that's somewhat easy to park
4- Must be more reliable than my R32
5- Must be fun, or feel special.
My list right now includes:
BMW 128i
Pro: Fun, Small, economic enough
Con: Not the most practical, unknown reliability
Honda Civic Hybrid
Pro: Economic, Small enough, Reliable
Con: Not really fun
Mazdaspeed3
Pro: Fun, Small enough, Practical, Reliable
Con: Not the most economic, expensive to insure
Mazda RX8
Pro: Fun, surprisingly practical, reliable
Con: Not the most economic
Mini Clubman S
Pro: Fun, small, practical, economic, should be reliable
Con: ugly rear
Mini Cooper S
Pro: Fun, small, economic, reliable
Con: not very practical
Scion xB
Pro: relatively economic, practical, reliable, much better looking than its predecessor
Con: not small anymore, what the hell is with the one rear reverse light?
smart fortwo
Pro: economic, small... really small... like no parking issues small
Con: not practical, spotty reliability on first gen fortwos, possibly too small
Subaru WRX
Pro: Practical, reliable, FUN
Con: barely does 25mpg highway, expensive to insure (but not as bad as the sti), dealer in San Juan is horrible so the dealer next door in Bayamón has inventory issues (selling like hotcakes)
Toyota Camry Hybrid
Pro: Practical, Reliable, Economic
Con: BIG, possibly too expensive, not fun at all
VW Jetta TDI
Pro: Practical, economic, small enough, fun to drive
Con: Diesel availability, VW reliability
Volvo C30
Pro: Small enough, fun enough, economic enough, based on my experience with an S60 and S80 in the family it should be reliable, should be practical
Con: Same idiot dealer as the Subaru with the problem of no other alternative, UGLY from the back, wheels are too pretty for real life roads (ie- they will scuff and scratch and cost a fortune to repair or replace)
So what should I get? I'm looking at spending no more than US $35K (bear in mind that cars in PR are about 20-25% more than in the US, so I'm really looking for a car at no more than $27-30K) with a few guidelines:
1- Must be somewhat economical. I'm looking at 25mpg highway MINIMUM
2- Must be practical... enough
3- Must have a footprint that's somewhat easy to park
4- Must be more reliable than my R32
5- Must be fun, or feel special.
My list right now includes:
BMW 128i
Pro: Fun, Small, economic enough
Con: Not the most practical, unknown reliability
Honda Civic Hybrid
Pro: Economic, Small enough, Reliable
Con: Not really fun
Mazdaspeed3
Pro: Fun, Small enough, Practical, Reliable
Con: Not the most economic, expensive to insure
Mazda RX8
Pro: Fun, surprisingly practical, reliable
Con: Not the most economic
Mini Clubman S
Pro: Fun, small, practical, economic, should be reliable
Con: ugly rear
Mini Cooper S
Pro: Fun, small, economic, reliable
Con: not very practical
Scion xB
Pro: relatively economic, practical, reliable, much better looking than its predecessor
Con: not small anymore, what the hell is with the one rear reverse light?
smart fortwo
Pro: economic, small... really small... like no parking issues small
Con: not practical, spotty reliability on first gen fortwos, possibly too small
Subaru WRX
Pro: Practical, reliable, FUN
Con: barely does 25mpg highway, expensive to insure (but not as bad as the sti), dealer in San Juan is horrible so the dealer next door in Bayamón has inventory issues (selling like hotcakes)
Toyota Camry Hybrid
Pro: Practical, Reliable, Economic
Con: BIG, possibly too expensive, not fun at all
VW Jetta TDI
Pro: Practical, economic, small enough, fun to drive
Con: Diesel availability, VW reliability
Volvo C30
Pro: Small enough, fun enough, economic enough, based on my experience with an S60 and S80 in the family it should be reliable, should be practical
Con: Same idiot dealer as the Subaru with the problem of no other alternative, UGLY from the back, wheels are too pretty for real life roads (ie- they will scuff and scratch and cost a fortune to repair or replace)
Pumbas Nakasak
Heading for the great escape.
My list right now includes:
BMW 128i
Pro: Fun, Small, economic enough
Con: Not the most practical, unknown reliability
Mazda RX8
Pro: Fun, surprisingly practical, reliable
Con: Not the most economic
Mini Cooper S
Pro: Fun, small, economic, reliable
Con: not very practical
1. No problems with mine, goes back this Dec / Jan looking at the new 1 series cabriolet. Unless you have a family of lard arses or larger than 4 it is practical enough
2. Still getting good reviews on Top Gear one thats on my stand bye list
3. Great car, but its a woman's motor Mrs Sak is very happy with hers even with two speeding tickets in 6 months.
On my list:
Mercs :
CLC / CLK have a test drive booked at 11 today. Great deals on Mercs in the UK at present making them a great option to look at. Mate has just picked up the CLK AMG, really nice I cant stretch to the AMG pack, well I could but Id need a new wife too as a result.
BMW:
1 Series cab, 3 series Coupe, Beemers are really over priced at present but IMHO still have the best diesel engine, a must for us high mileage folk.
Audi
New A3 cab, test drove last week great car, well priced. Probably in pole postion with the Sports model or S tronic.
A4 Cab, a bit over priced but really like the handling.
WDWFREAK53
Well-Known Member
Rob, what about the Astra?
Brian: Saturn isn't sold in PR, and it won't be offered as a rebadged Chevy (unlike previously expected), and bringing one in stateside is a not a good idea here, since no GM dealer here will even touch a Saturn for warranty work.
Sak: I do love the A3, however I'm offloading it's high performance VW sibling, and as much as I love how the R32 dries, I've opted for no VW group performance or lux/nearlux cars. And Mercs are absolutely overpriced in PR... no Mercs (other than a Smart) make my list.
Sak: I do love the A3, however I'm offloading it's high performance VW sibling, and as much as I love how the R32 dries, I've opted for no VW group performance or lux/nearlux cars. And Mercs are absolutely overpriced in PR... no Mercs (other than a Smart) make my list.
Pumbas Nakasak
Heading for the great escape.
Not in PR. The excise taxes on cars are based on several factors, one of which is whether or not the brand has perceived as a "prestige" brand.
ie- Bentley can introduce a $15k hatchback... but if it's got a Bentley badge, you can rest assured it's going to pay a higher tax than an equivalent Honda hatchback. The same if Honda were to make a Honda badged luxo-barge to compete w/ the Conti Flying Sport.
WDWFREAK53
Well-Known Member
I added another car to the list today...
I can't believe what kind of car I'm looking at now.
A Prius. But only like the one I saw at the dealership. Black, black tinted windows,with gunmetal wheels and black frosted taillights. It looked about as badass as a Prius can look (it actually looked like something out of a futuristic apocalypse movie) while still getting 50 mpg. They said that one belonged to the owner of the dealership, so I'm waiting to see what they'll charge me to spec one like it.
Now to shower... I can't believe I like a prius.
I can't believe what kind of car I'm looking at now.
A Prius. But only like the one I saw at the dealership. Black, black tinted windows,with gunmetal wheels and black frosted taillights. It looked about as badass as a Prius can look (it actually looked like something out of a futuristic apocalypse movie) while still getting 50 mpg. They said that one belonged to the owner of the dealership, so I'm waiting to see what they'll charge me to spec one like it.
Now to shower... I can't believe I like a prius.
WDWFREAK53
Well-Known Member
We're going to look at Acadias and Enclaves tonight.
WDWFREAK53
Well-Known Member
...and she bought an Enclave.
Not "Fully" loaded...but pretty well equipped.
No sunroof or Nav...and no polished rims...but it has the DVD player, rear-view camera, HID's, heated leather seats...
It's VERY nice...I was shocked at how smooth it drove.
We left the dealership, I turned to her...and said, "EWWWW, We own a Buick! Are we OLD?!?!?!?"
Not "Fully" loaded...but pretty well equipped.
No sunroof or Nav...and no polished rims...but it has the DVD player, rear-view camera, HID's, heated leather seats...
It's VERY nice...I was shocked at how smooth it drove.
We left the dealership, I turned to her...and said, "EWWWW, We own a Buick! Are we OLD?!?!?!?"
WDWFREAK53
Well-Known Member
both of these stories are depressing
Eh, what are you gonna do? It gets the best fuel economy in its class...and drives very nice.
A newish car has been purchased
R32 has been replaced by an 06 Acura RSX Type S; I love that gearbox... good god I love that gearbox.
The 4Runner is next to go. I'm looking at replacing it with either a Nissan Rogue or Scion xB. I'll consider an FJ if I can get one cheap enough to offset the high fuel costs.
R32 has been replaced by an 06 Acura RSX Type S; I love that gearbox... good god I love that gearbox.
The 4Runner is next to go. I'm looking at replacing it with either a Nissan Rogue or Scion xB. I'll consider an FJ if I can get one cheap enough to offset the high fuel costs.
garyhoov
Trophy Husband
WDWFREAK53
Well-Known Member
Oh dangit...and here I was all set on the Camaro. :lol:
I like it, evolution, NOT revolution.