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Comments
I had a couple of them back in the 70's when they were considered practical boxy school teacher rides. Luxury items may require a lot of maintenance but they shouldn't break down so much. :sick:
Ooops dang wrong topic. Thought this was the luxury brands topic.
Back to topic had owned a 2003 Ford Ranger that was really boring. Had owned it for like 6 months and was looking really hard for something different. Then I noticed a low mileage C5 in the paper....thought to myself I think this would work out better than the Ranger. Unfortunately, I had to buy the C5 before selling the Ranger cause no one seemed to want to buy it. Eventually sold it to a retired carpenter who paid with an envelope of Benjamins.
So is the Corvette your everyday driver now ?
The Sandman
Nah, the Titan is. In fact the Titan gets the best mileage better than the Ranger. The vette is used for golf on Sundays and Tuesdays. :shades:
Now that is a polite way of putting it!
I figured Acura gave up the luxury market when they didn't develope an 8 for the RL and killed the NSX.
Talked to her more (she is visiting today, so it was easy!). She really likes the RX350, and probably would have gotten that last time but it was just out, and the lease price was nuts. Hence the Volvo. So that is prob. #1 on the list.
She alo like the CX-7 Mazda and RDX Acura, but I don't think she will end up downsizing that much.
ALso told her to check out the new MDX. She didn't like the way the last model drove, but should like the new one.
gas mileage isn't really the issue (work pays for most of it). Being a good eco weenie and "reducing her carbon footprint" is the real issue. But not, of course, at the expense of AC in the house, or dwonsizing to a Focus wagon!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I've read the reviews on the new Jaguar XF, and it looks really classy, but I can't help but wonder how the electrics will hold up.
Sat in a lady's S40 at work and was amazed at how comfortable the seat was after I adjusted it with the power setting...my spine felt no pressure at all where I put the seat!
The Sandman
snobby, brand consious, but no German cars???? I also like the idea for the Lexus hybrid, but I can't imagine the lease payments. The new MDX is real nice, the 2nd year, right, so maybe any 1st year bugs are worked out? Mazda, for someone who's "snobby" about cars?
Another Volvo is an obvious choice probably. Any American iron to consider? They're all going broke, so must be some great deals out there......
On a Jaguar? Take a wild guess. :surprise: On a Jaguar, I'd be more worried about how everything is gonna hold up.
Turbos? AWD? CPO? Leather, etc? I think (???) that V40's/50's don't have great resale value, so that could work for you. I'd bet V-max on the RWTIV board could give you the skinny on V40's.
PS-My EX has a current gen V50 turbo AWD & loves it. But, as she is completely insane, I'm not sure what to think.......
Have you looked at the A3 and the upper trim Jettas? People also say the 9-3 is a pretty nice little car, with lots of GM incentivized backing from what I understand...as for the A3, I LOVED that one when I drove it.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Probably service loaners, base model with the premium(?) package (power drivers seat and moonroof and Alloys). I didn't drive a Turbo, but the base 5 cyl seemed fine to me. And yes, great seats.
I really want a V50, but they are very rare as used cars.
Some of us do have seat issue (back troubles). I origianlly looked at Civics, but the seat was terrible for me, so I ended up with an Accord.
I came close on a Mazda 3, but the seat angle was wrong. The backrest comfort IIRC was OK, but you couldn't tilt the front edge up enough to get any thigh support.
I hate seats that pitch you forward as you raise the cushion, and the Civic and 3 both did that (since they cheaped out and went to a single ratchet height adjustment, instead of individual front and back). The Pro5 had great seats, and perfect f/r height adjustment. Other than that, the 3 was a great car.
At this point, for me, I won't get a car that doesn't have fully adjustable power seats (at least for the driver!)
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
The Sandman
An '07 T5 with premium and auto and ~20k miles is in the low $19k range.
AWD is about a $1500 add.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
YMMV...
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0
Saabs could be an idea if you get a great lease deal (terrible resale).....
Are there any (affordable) Japanese cars with great seats? Also is the "Height" of the car an issue--are you "climbing down" into a Civic class car, & is that bad for your back?
I'm beginning to think that I'll survive this summer and my second daughter will be driving by next which could mean moving the Celica to another driver (my wife wants in ahead of my daughter) and moving into a C70, 9-3 or 3 series convertible.
I should have q start pricing for me now....
Were I in better financial shape I'd push the whole thing up and start shopping now.
Even the Accord (an 00 sedan for anyone not following) is a low thing to get into. Over the years I've had two Volvos and a Saab so I know something of where the good seats are. I had an old Mercedes as well but would be a bit wary of newer ones.
The Sandman :sick:
I think I'll be good for this year. I hope so.
Not that I'd expect great seats, but I wonder how the Solara convertibles are in that regard? I also wonder how much of a dip it is to get into one?
I had my eye on an older Volvo recently (at a local indy used lot). Only saw the ad, not in person.
a 2001 Volvo V70 2.4T. Silver over (I think) gray (not black). Loaded up with the usual goodies. Think it has about 85K on it, listed for about 8K.
Strange car I know to lust after, but I really like smaller wagons. And this one has the best seats of any Volvo, IMO, although the new S80 is pretty close.
Not vouching for the price of course, but I just like these! I don't need a car now, and if I was to get one, it would be something for a new long bad traffic commute (and I don't think this would be the one).
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
How long ago did you spot that? Has to be a couple of months now, no?
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
This guy is funny. He's got an 03 Outback on his lot that he's had for two full years now. I looked at it when he first had iit and it was insanely overpriced. If he'd been selling it then for what he's selling it for now it would have been gone. Of course he can't sell it at the current price because it's too much for what is now a two year older car!
Funny lot. Always has some great looking German stuff on the lot and things look good but they hang there and cost way more than market.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Saw upclose a Mini S convert. today, dark green. Looked very tempting, on a sunny new england day. Owner said she loves it. (What are Mini seats like?).
The Sandman
That said, daughter number two turns 16 in a couple of weeks and is drooling over Minis. I tell her it's good to have dreams.
No mas!
She's quite happy with "Steve" - the name she's given to her Storm Grey '06 Saturn ION. Two years and 17K on the clock. I believe she's going to keep that car until the doors fall off.
No mas!
I've never understood the reasoning behind that so-called logic. Let's assume the Mini gets 28 mpg and is driven 15,000 miles per year. Let's further assume that the difference between regular fuel and premium is $0.25. The additional cost of premium will amount to $134 per year- or $0.37 cents per day. If an extra $134 per year is going to bust your step-daughter's automotive budget she NEEDS to stay in that Ion. I'd say she's got a good 2-3 years before the doors fall off...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
However, it's cruel to say that the ION will be junk in 2-3 years - it won't rust (at least, not the vertical panels), it's only been to the dealer once for a non-maintenance visit (loose bolt in the driver's door power window mechanism) and returns about 30MPG. Has everything she needs in a car - OnStar (for Mom and Dad's piece of mind), AUX jack for the iPod, reasonably powerful engine (140HP). I have to admit that, for an appliance, it does the job pretty well.
Yeah, it'll have the resale value of week old lettuce, but, as previously mentioned, she'll drive it forever - at the rate she's piling on the miles, it'll be 10 years before she gets to 100K.
We took it on a trip from CO to UT in May and it got 32-33 MPG with three teenaged girls and all their stuff.
Premium gas used to bother me more when it was 10% more than regular. At 5% I think I can live with it if it is a car I really want.
I was just joking. I wouldn't mind owning a Sky Red Line. Heck, I'd even consider an Astra if GM would bring the VXR over:
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Maybe it'd be worth it for you to at least test drive a Mini, check out the seats, etc?
I also read that the Mustang Bullitt has very good seats--from the GT500. Edmunds described them as a "kind of thickly upholstered, leather-covered La-Z-Boy version of a Recaro".
I mean hey, if it becomes Medically Necessary for one of us aging boomers with bad backs to order a new Bullitt, well, sometimes sacrifices have to be made. oh & then the necessity to adjust to going 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds......handy tho for those last-minute appointments with the chiropracter......(think your spouse'd buy any of that?) :surprise:
I looked at a Bullitt when I was in one of my ambivalent moods concerning the Mazdaspeed. The local dealer had a $12K ADM sticker plastered on each of the two Bullitts in the showroom. For $45K I'll take a CPO M3 ZCP, thank you. That said, the seats in my MS3 are very comfortable. And Mini owners will even let MS3s park beside them at track events:
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Just a wild guess here: there are a certain # of people out there with some kind of "premium gas phobia". I'm not sure the facts or the $$ spent really matter?
You can put my wife in that category.
Several years ago, when we were looking for cars, we drove the (then new) Subaru Outback XT - turbo engine that takes premium.
She had already driven the NA version and pronounced it slow, the XT, in comparison, was a rocket. She liked very much.
However, when she found that it took premium, it was pretty much crossed off the list. Tried to get her to explain her reasoning to me .. was a conversation I'd rather not remember.
So, we bought the '04 VUE, which, as you all know, got traded in on an '08 VUE last August. Both have the V6, and both take RUG.
I can plan what the car costs and account for that expense. I don't know what gas prices are going to be like - except, I know that premium is going to be more expensive to buy than regular.
The concept that I can get better mpg with one car that burns premium over another that gets worse mpg on regular (and thus costs me less to operate) just doesn't penetrate my skull - all I know is that I can fill up for a buck or two cheaper with RUG.
The differential around here is usually 24 cents a gallon.
God help me--I just read the review of the Dinan 335i S2 in the Roundel.......whatever you do, don't read that article on p. 54 of the April 2008 Roundel.....