Akangl, I've been out of town for a couple of weeks and had almost 200 posts to read to catch up.
The Sebring sounds like a perfect vehicle for you, I know you will have fun with it. $650?? you can't go wrong with that!
How many miles are on the Sebring? From the picture that you posted, I can't believe that car is almost 10 years old... the style still looks new.
The Sebring has a whopping 55,650 miles on it and runs like a new car. Right now it just needs airbags (on order), a driver's side headlight/turn signal (on order), and brakes (will do that in the next week or so). Its a fun car to drive and I figure its pretty much depreciation proof.
I hate VW's. Possibly the least reliable Euro make other than Land Rover. And I'm a guy, so I wouldn't be caught dead in the current Beetle.
The S60....CR actually gives decent reliability ratings to, & "recommends it". If you can find a nice one, with hopefully maintenence records, have it checked out, etc......it would be my choice of the 3. And I assume it has Volvo Safety, which I doubt the beetle or an '84 toyota can come close to. It has new tires? If it has other new "stuff"; brakes, shocks, whatever, & seems nice......sounds like a good Road Trip Car to me.....
Woodyww, I think its funny that some guys say "I wouldn't be caught dead in a Beetle" (or any other car that is considered a chick car).... Sure, I like sporty cars too... but to make a statement like that is silly.......it's just a car. I think you might have more issues than we can help you with here :P
And, I drive a new Land Rover (2006 LR3 HSE)... no problems so far. My brother has a 2003 Discovery.. and no problems there either.
Happy motoring to all. mark156
2010 Land Rover LR4, 2013 Honda CR-V, 2009 Bentley GTC, 1990 MB 500SL, 2001 MB S500, 2007 Lincoln TC, 1964 RR Silver Cloud III, 1995 MB E320 Cab., 2015 Prevost Liberty Coach
Dad wanted a TDI, and first tried to purchase two different Golfs... One in Cincinnati and one in Louisville. Both purchases fell through (in retrospect, he should have taken this as an omen). He tried a third dealer and bought a Beetle TDI, and what a wonderful ownership experience that has turned out to be. :mad: Between that and the Jetta I had, I also hate VWs.
Corvette, I was just kidding with Woody. I wouldn't mind having a convertible VW Beetle myself as I like the car. I also like Mustang convertibles too. A lack of reliability on any car will put a bad taste your mouth.
I buy a car because I like the looks of it, how it drives, power or any combination thereof. If it happens to be a "chick" car... that's ok with me.
I had a really bad Oldsmobile back in 1981 and I showed them! I made them go out of business since I never bought another Olds or any other GM product for that matter!!! :P
mark156
2010 Land Rover LR4, 2013 Honda CR-V, 2009 Bentley GTC, 1990 MB 500SL, 2001 MB S500, 2007 Lincoln TC, 1964 RR Silver Cloud III, 1995 MB E320 Cab., 2015 Prevost Liberty Coach
Dad admitted it wasn't a terribly masculine car when he bought it (and traded his full-size pickup in on it ... A few more issues like VW had with their coilpacks, and they will probably meet the same fate as Oldsmobile.
Well, it's highly opinionated, but it's not just because the Beetle is a Chick Car, it's because I think they look ridiculous (I'm guessing there may be a lot of women who couldn't see themselves in a Beetle either). BTW, did you guys pick your Land Rovers totally w/o being influenced by the "image" they convey?
I've owned one VW (1990 Passat), & one LR ('98 Range Rover). I hated the VW, & it always had at least one serious problem. I loved the RR, except for the fact that I was always taking it in for repairs (usually electrical stuff, 2 dead radios, & a leaking window), & the staggering depreciation, so I bailed on it before the warranty ran out. One of the 2 coolest vehicles I ever owned tho.
FWIW, I felt much differently about the original, 1960's Beetle.....they seemed to have a real purpose then besides looking "cute".
Some cars are girl cars. People should just deal with it.
I have yet to see a male in a modern Beetle ragtop, and I rarely see one in a standard Beetle. That's just how things play out. The same can be said for upmarket small SUVs.
One of my roomates in 1975 I think (yes I'm 2000 years old) bought the first years Rabbit. It was a real Lemon....I think she got some sort of lawsuit going against VW. A few years later, my then-wife & I almost bought a new Rabbit Diesel (I think VW Diesels were trouble-prone even back then). At the last minute tho we bought a new, stripped down, 1979 Corolla.....after reading a R&T article that placed it Last in a comparison of 12 economy cars, but pronouncing the Corolla "bullet-proof"......
29 mpg. With TWO boats. See also link title; I may have posted that here before. I still get a kick out of that setup, but it is actually quite sturdy.
I'm with you on this one stick. Beth would kill me, but I think I'd have to jump on that deal as well. As I recall the 84 was one of the last good looking Celicas.
Woody, you said: "did you guys pick your Land Rovers totally w/o being influenced by the "image" they convey?"
Well, I picked the Land Rover because the Mercedes I traded was a really good vehicle but the new 2006 ML500 didn't offer seating for 7 anymore. So, I started looking around. I wanted a higher end vehicle that offered a large engine (I drive through the mountains and needed cargo space and power). I looked at the Volvo XC90, the new Jeep Commander and the Land Rover LR3. The LR3 won because of the space in the interior. You would not believe how much this vehicle will hold.
I have two timeshares on the west coast the I spend time at during the summer. I load a lot of stuff that I use for the trip and the LR will fit perfectly. I didn't want a Suburban/Escalade because of the exterior size. I go to Los Angeles a lot and parking space is at a premium. The LR3 seems to fit me perfectly (four wheel drive, ability to travel snow/mountain roads, room for seven, space for cargo).
I picked the Land Rover because if fit my needs, not because it fit an image (maybe a little ). I also like the fact that it had front and rear bumper sensors which are not offered on a lot of SUV's. I would like to get better than the 12.5 mpg that I'm currently getting in the city but hopefully it will improve when the engine breaks-in. I have other cars to drive so I'm not using that vehicle everyday.
A little Beetle convertible would be fun to scoot around town in for short trips.
mark156
2010 Land Rover LR4, 2013 Honda CR-V, 2009 Bentley GTC, 1990 MB 500SL, 2001 MB S500, 2007 Lincoln TC, 1964 RR Silver Cloud III, 1995 MB E320 Cab., 2015 Prevost Liberty Coach
Our F&I manager has a side business that deals with photography. He used to use a discovery to move all of his display equipment and it was always a struggle to get it in there. Many times he would have his wife drive their truck to carry the largest stuff and put the rest in the Disco.
Last time he had a show he put all of the stuff in the LR3 no problem. He still had room left over for more stuff.
The Celica IS a stick, it is rust-free except where all the notchbacks rusted - the base of the rear window (not good) - and it IS the last RWD Celica. But I am just off to look at a '90 Maxima with on ly 90,000 miles. They will let it go for $2000, and it has decent tires, which is all I know so far. It has the Bose stereo though - I wonder if the cassette still works. :-P
The Volvo sold before I could look at it, and the Beetle is black - not my color, so I took a pass.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Hmmm, the Maxima has 97K, not the 90K advertised. Beyond that, the owner has no records, but it seems in decent shape. It's got a squealing A/C compressor belt and very soft suspension - the squat and dive is pretty hectic, but maybe it was just suspended extra soft like that? There's not a lot of extra bouncing or noticeable wheel hop. The auto trans fluid looks and smells good. For $2000, how much more can I really ask? He will smog it. The tires will go two years. Everything works except one rear window, and it has the power seat and moonroof.
He's giving the usual talk of having another buyer on the line, etc etc. I suppose if I do want it I ought to speak up by tomorrow or Wednesday...
I kinda like it. It has a strong engine and good brakes, and the Bose stereo really is good. And OMG - an early 90s Japanese car with an intact power antenna? I should buy it just to report it to the Guiness Book!
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I agree, the last of the RWD Celica's is much more a collectable than the last 90's Maxima with a working power Antenna. The styling of the early eighties Celica's was so clean they don't look outdated today.
I have an '82 Fiat spyder calling my name.I am not looking for a Spyder , but it is at an office complex with 1 for sale sign on it on that I pass on my way home from work.
I stopped just out of curiosity and the owner just happened to be outside catching a smoke. She said she was the original owner and only drives it 300 mile a year now.It only had 55k on it! The black repaint looked pretty bad, but it had no rust.She was only asking $2200.
I had too walk away without even a test drive. If I come home with my 5th car in 5 years there will not even be a trial separation. But, if the Spyder is there again today , who know's it might be worth that chance.
An automatic? Bleh, go get the Celica. Twice the fun for half the price
I agree completely. Think about it. How many hours would it be before you get tired of the Maxima if you get it. There must be some redeeming qualities for an unnecessary purchase, and 3 pedals would go a long way in fulfilling that.
And OMG - an early 90s Japanese car with an intact power antenna? I should buy it just to report it to the Guiness Book!
I hate power antennas, far too fragile. My Sebring's met its demise when it hit the tree. Haven't gotten around to even putting an antenna on the car, can't figure out what to put there, whatever it is it won't be power!
that didn't break a power antenna somewhere along the line. My '88 LeBaron, '85 LeSabre, '86 Monte Carlo, and '79 New Yorker all had failures. The LeBaron's actually broke off, but the other three thankfully failed in the upright position. A few years back though, while it was parked at the curb, someone grabbed my NYer's antenna and bent it back until it matched the rake of the A-pillar. Then last year, on the way to the Mopar Nationals at Carlisle, the thing finally broke off completely. :mad:
Some cars are girl cars. People should just deal with it.
I have yet to see a male in a modern Beetle ragtop, and I rarely see one in a standard Beetle. That's just how things play out. The same can be said for upmarket small SUVs.
I was actually surprised to learn a non-girly girl I used to work with on the other side of the country drove a New Beetle, let alone a man. The thing comes with a flower vase, for cryin out loud!
I'm not one to judge someone for what they drive, but..yikes. Even less-masculine than a New Beetle is the Cabrio, also a VW.
Nobody's saying you shouldn't own a Beetle convertible, if that's what you really want (I'd suggest Yellow, with the flower vase on the dash, & maybe big purple flower decals on the sides). But it's unrealistic to expect that hard-core car nuts, or even ordinary people, aren't going to have strong reactions about Beetle convertibles, or $55K new SUVs that get 12 mpg......
It would be interesting to see you tootle up to some sort of Land Rover meet in your Beetle convertible--say one where they did serious off-roading, with people who do their own wrenching........this board is generally very civilized compared to ones dedicated to older LR's or bmw's.........
A guy who owns 2 high end $50K+ european vehicles, & your point is (I think?) that no one should have value judgements about certain cars? Like, we're all supposed to be so PC, that we're not gonna have strong automotive biases??? Or express them?
But, if you're Above being influenced by what others think about the cars you drive, more power to you. Perhaps it requires owning Two $50K cars to reach that advanced state however......
*A little Beetle convertible would be fun to scoot around town in*
Forget about chick car or what it looks like what I really care about is how it drives.
The beetle drives freaky. They thing just feels wrong with the dashboard longer then the hood. That would keep me from driving either one of them and the fact taht I do not like small convertiables would kill it the rest of the way.
As a male who regularly drove a New Beetle for a few years, I can tell you that in no way did I feel that my masculinity was being threatened.
The wife had wanted one ever since they were released in the spring of '98. Some good friends of ours bought one (red, with beige interior) and we had a chance to drive it. I agree with rover that the length of the dash was odd at first, but we soon got used to it.
So, since we had a car coming off lease, we pulled the trigger on a bright blue GL with a black cloth interior. It was a 2.0L with a stick and the only thing we added was a 6CD changer.
The family (wife, son and I) drove that car for 6 years and 70K miles before we traded it in. While it wasn't perfect mechanically, we were never stranded by it. Since we had purchased the extended warranty, it didn't cost an arm and a leg to repair the things that did go wrong (O2 sensor, AC, power steering, more belly pans than you can shake a stick at).
The only real issue was its lack of ground clearance. Living in a semi-rural area as we do, we encounter a number of unpaved roads and a fair amount of snow in the winter; the NB ("Beauty" was its call sign) didn't like either of those conditions very much.
We used it mainly for in town errands and commuting - since it was a GL, it didn't have cruise so was not taken on too many road trips. It got around 28-30MPG most of the time.
Would we buy another? Not a coupe, as the 'been there, done that' mentality exists, but the wife wouldn't mind a convertible. However, since she has her car ('04 Saturn VUE), whatever we buy would be mine to drive and I think that it's too 'cutesy' for me. That, and at the moment, the only engine that is available is the 2.5L 5-cylinder. Throw the 2.0L turbo and DSG into it and then it becomes a more difficult decision.
One of my friends is about to buy a high-mileage 2000 model Beetle. No word on whether it's the overpriced in the used market TDI, the sludge-prone 1.8T, or the oil-burning 2.0-liter. I know she will not service or check the oil level regularly or use synthetic oil, or bother to replace a timing belt, which is why I urged against it. And, no chance of selling her Dad's, as she requires an automatic.
Is she aware of the ongoing 'girl car' issue with the New Beetle? Would she say it is more manly than a Mustang V6 convertible with an automatic? Surely she would say it is more manly than a Miata with an automatic transmission?
Is she aware of the ongoing 'girl car' issue with the New Beetle? Would she say it is more manly than a Mustang V6 convertible with an automatic? Surely she would say it is more manly than a Miata with an automatic transmission?
No way. The Mustang looks like a Mustang, regardless of what's under the hood. The Miata reminds me of the old MGs, which are kinda manly cars from the "fun to drive" aspect. I'd buy one in British racing green, and paint a stripe right down the middle.
That was tongue in cheek...but I can spot the little tailpipe and skinny wheels from a mile away, not to mention it sounds like an old Aerostar when you get close to a V6 'Tang.
the Maxima, then called the Celica guy back, and OF COURSE.....he sold it.
There is a guy down the street with a really well-kept '85 Supra. I keep thinking of just going down there and making him an offer even tho he isn't selling! :surprise:
His is a stick.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Doesn't really matter, you will have to pay up or roll the negative equity into the next car one way or another. In these situations, it is usually best to stick with what you have until you dig yourself out of the hole. If you have the cash, just pay it off and move on.
Here are the details: 2000 VW New Beetle GLS 2.0 (the one prone to oil consumption) 131,000 miles(!) Automatic, leather, sunroof. Supposedly in good condition except it needs tires. No indication of when the timing belt was changed, and it's an interference engine.
Asking $6800, willing to take $5700. I told her it's a $5,000 car, and even then, budget $2000 or so per year in repairs, if it's just the usual stuff and nothing major goes wrong (i.e., snapped timing belt).
If you paid any money down on the car you might not be in really bad shape, but either way you're flushing money down the toilet. I'd try to trade for something that's going to hold as much value as possible.
I think the color has a lot to do with the masculinity or femininity of the New Beetle. A friend of mine (older gentleman) has a silver beetle, and it suits him nicely. I could possibly see myself driving one in silver, red, black, or the bright blue. However, you take one and apply that baby blue color to it and YIKES!
Another big issue I see with the Beetle is fuel mileage. I looked at a couple of them the other day and noticed that for the size car, the mileage figures are a little low. I believe your money is better spent on the Jetta with the 2.0T engine. You'll get both better mileage and a much more fun driving experience.
As for the Mustang. I wouldn't settle for anything but a V8 in the Mustang. IMO, Ford should call only the GT a Mustang. As far as I'm concerned the V6 model is a gelding! :P I saw a lady driving a GT today in that purpley-blue color (I prefer red). The car has got a sweet exhaust note - just idling through the parking lot it sounded fast. I could definitely see myself driving one. But that's going to have to wait a long while. :mad:
Kind of what I was thinking. I would drive a New Beetle because of the huge headroom, but only if it was black. Black seems to take away some of the feminist side of it. It would have to be the TDI also, the gas version would not be worth it for the size of the car.
A V-6 Mustang would be plenty for me. I won't be going anywhere that I need more than 210 hp. But, like you my 2 door coupe days are on hold for awhile.
Got an appt at the dealer this week to dump the PT Cruiser....which way
Well, which dealer do you have an appointment with? Doesn't that pretty much determine what manufacturer(s) you have to look at? Or are we talking used? And, if so, what kind of used cars does the dealer usually have?
'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
Maybe the only half-way sensible way to buy a New Beetle--if someone "has to have one", & doesn't care about lousy VW reliability, 'girly car' issues, or whatever--is to get a good deal on a brand new one, with a warranty? Corvette's dad did great, as far as resale, by buying a new TDI, it sounds like. Do they still put the TDI in the New Beetle? If you bought a new TDI, drove a lot of miles, saved a ton of $$ on fuel.....it might be less damaging to the wallet than buying a used one w/no warranty.....??
I agree with Jeffreyg... the color of the Beetle would make a big difference. But, I would ONLY consider a convertible if at all.
The reason why I couldn't care less if the Beetle has a "girly" tone is that I belong to a southern California antique car club and I'm so used to seeing the guys driving up in anything from a vintage pink Cadillac to a vintage 1960s muscle Mustang. I have a 1964 antique that I drive to the car club gatherings (1st Wed. of every month). I would really like to find a prestine 1976 AMC Pacer..... or a 1979 Lincoln Town Car or maybe even a 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham. I like goofy cars, what can I say?
Happy Motoring! mark156
2010 Land Rover LR4, 2013 Honda CR-V, 2009 Bentley GTC, 1990 MB 500SL, 2001 MB S500, 2007 Lincoln TC, 1964 RR Silver Cloud III, 1995 MB E320 Cab., 2015 Prevost Liberty Coach
A pristine 1976 AMC Pacer? This is where the teenage girls would go eeeeeuw! Come on, you are just kidding us with that one. That has to be the most ridiculed car in the 50 years of automotive history. I guess it would bring a smile to alot of people's faces as you drive by though.
I know where you are coming from though on the offbeat cars. If the right deal came along on a later model Pontiac Aztec(the second most ridiculed car in the last 50 years) I would seriously consider it. It's ugly enough to be kind of cool, and it has a ton of utility. But, it would have to be a heck of a deal.
Comments
The Sebring sounds like a perfect vehicle for you, I know you will have fun with it. $650?? you can't go wrong with that!
How many miles are on the Sebring? From the picture that you posted, I can't believe that car is almost 10 years old... the style still looks new.
mark156
The Sebring sounds like a perfect vehicle for you, I know you will have fun with it. $650?? you can't go wrong with that!
How many miles are on the Sebring? From the picture that you posted, I can't believe that car is almost 10 years old... the style still looks new.
The Sebring has a whopping 55,650 miles on it and runs like a new car. Right now it just needs airbags (on order), a driver's side headlight/turn signal (on order), and brakes (will do that in the next week or so). Its a fun car to drive and I figure its pretty much depreciation proof.
I hate VW's. Possibly the least reliable Euro make other than Land Rover. And I'm a guy, so I wouldn't be caught dead in the current Beetle.
The S60....CR actually gives decent reliability ratings to, & "recommends it". If you can find a nice one, with hopefully maintenence records, have it checked out, etc......it would be my choice of the 3. And I assume it has Volvo Safety, which I doubt the beetle or an '84 toyota can come close to. It has new tires? If it has other new "stuff"; brakes, shocks, whatever, & seems nice......sounds like a good Road Trip Car to me.....
And, I drive a new Land Rover (2006 LR3 HSE)... no problems so far. My brother has a 2003 Discovery.. and no problems there either.
Happy motoring to all. mark156
I buy a car because I like the looks of it, how it drives, power or any combination thereof. If it happens to be a "chick" car... that's ok with me.
I had a really bad Oldsmobile back in 1981 and I showed them! I made them go out of business since I never bought another Olds or any other GM product for that matter!!! :P
mark156
I've owned one VW (1990 Passat), & one LR ('98 Range Rover). I hated the VW, & it always had at least one serious problem. I loved the RR, except for the fact that I was always taking it in for repairs (usually electrical stuff, 2 dead radios, & a leaking window), & the staggering depreciation, so I bailed on it before the warranty ran out. One of the 2 coolest vehicles I ever owned tho.
FWIW, I felt much differently about the original, 1960's Beetle.....they seemed to have a real purpose then besides looking "cute".
Just my 2 cents
I have yet to see a male in a modern Beetle ragtop, and I rarely see one in a standard Beetle. That's just how things play out. The same can be said for upmarket small SUVs.
Meet the "Millenium Chicken":
It did pretty well, and the climate control is still alright... but I'm $800 into the front suspension and will have to double that before it's over.
Great highway cruiser, though. 24 mpg @ 70 mph with the canoe.
Thought y'all might be amused.
-Mathias
That's pretty amazing... What did the Vibe get with the canoe?
With TWO boats.
See also
link title; I may have posted that here before. I still get a kick out of that setup, but it is actually quite sturdy.
-Mathias
Well, I picked the Land Rover because the Mercedes I traded was a really good vehicle but the new 2006 ML500 didn't offer seating for 7 anymore. So, I started looking around. I wanted a higher end vehicle that offered a large engine (I drive through the mountains and needed cargo space and power). I looked at the Volvo XC90, the new Jeep Commander and the Land Rover LR3. The LR3 won because of the space in the interior. You would not believe how much this vehicle will hold.
I have two timeshares on the west coast the I spend time at during the summer. I load a lot of stuff that I use for the trip and the LR will fit perfectly. I didn't want a Suburban/Escalade because of the exterior size. I go to Los Angeles a lot and parking space is at a premium. The LR3 seems to fit me perfectly (four wheel drive, ability to travel snow/mountain roads, room for seven, space for cargo).
I picked the Land Rover because if fit my needs, not because it fit an image (maybe a little
A little Beetle convertible would be fun to scoot around town in for short trips.
mark156
Last time he had a show he put all of the stuff in the LR3 no problem. He still had room left over for more stuff.
The Volvo sold before I could look at it, and the Beetle is black - not my color, so I took a pass.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
He's giving the usual talk of having another buyer on the line, etc etc. I suppose if I do want it I ought to speak up by tomorrow or Wednesday...
I kinda like it. It has a strong engine and good brakes, and the Bose stereo really is good. And OMG - an early 90s Japanese car with an intact power antenna? I should buy it just to report it to the Guiness Book!
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
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I have an '82 Fiat spyder calling my name.I am not looking for a Spyder , but it is at an office complex with 1 for sale sign on it on that I pass on my way home from work.
I stopped just out of curiosity and the owner just happened to be outside catching a smoke. She said she was the original owner and only drives it 300 mile a year now.It only had 55k on it! The black repaint looked pretty bad, but it had no rust.She was only asking $2200.
I had too walk away without even a test drive. If I come home with my 5th car in 5 years there will not even be a trial separation. But, if the Spyder is there again today , who know's it might be worth that chance.
But if the Maxima still has the original 4DSC(Four Door Sports Car) stickers in the back passenger windows then it pulls up to almost even.
I agree completely.
Think about it. How many hours would it be before you get tired of the Maxima if you get it.
There must be some redeeming qualities for an unnecessary purchase, and 3 pedals would go a long way in fulfilling that.
I hate power antennas, far too fragile. My Sebring's met its demise when it hit the tree. Haven't gotten around to even putting an antenna on the car, can't figure out what to put there, whatever it is it won't be power!
I have yet to see a male in a modern Beetle ragtop, and I rarely see one in a standard Beetle. That's just how things play out. The same can be said for upmarket small SUVs.
I was actually surprised to learn a non-girly girl I used to work with on the other side of the country drove a New Beetle, let alone a man. The thing comes with a flower vase, for cryin out loud!
I'm not one to judge someone for what they drive, but..yikes. Even less-masculine than a New Beetle is the Cabrio, also a VW.
A coat hanger always worked for us back in the old days(70's). Just make sure to use a wire one,plastic dosn't work quite as well.
It would be interesting to see you tootle up to some sort of Land Rover meet in your Beetle convertible--say one where they did serious off-roading, with people who do their own wrenching........this board is generally very civilized compared to ones dedicated to older LR's or bmw's.........
A guy who owns 2 high end $50K+ european vehicles, & your point is (I think?) that no one should have value judgements about certain cars? Like, we're all supposed to be so PC, that we're not gonna have strong automotive biases??? Or express them?
But, if you're Above being influenced by what others think about the cars you drive, more power to you. Perhaps it requires owning Two $50K cars to reach that advanced state however......
*A little Beetle convertible would be fun to scoot around town in*
Forget about chick car or what it looks like what I really care about is how it drives.
The beetle drives freaky. They thing just feels wrong with the dashboard longer then the hood. That would keep me from driving either one of them and the fact taht I do not like small convertiables would kill it the rest of the way.
The wife had wanted one ever since they were released in the spring of '98. Some good friends of ours bought one (red, with beige interior) and we had a chance to drive it. I agree with rover that the length of the dash was odd at first, but we soon got used to it.
So, since we had a car coming off lease, we pulled the trigger on a bright blue GL with a black cloth interior. It was a 2.0L with a stick and the only thing we added was a 6CD changer.
The family (wife, son and I) drove that car for 6 years and 70K miles before we traded it in. While it wasn't perfect mechanically, we were never stranded by it. Since we had purchased the extended warranty, it didn't cost an arm and a leg to repair the things that did go wrong (O2 sensor, AC, power steering, more belly pans than you can shake a stick at).
The only real issue was its lack of ground clearance. Living in a semi-rural area as we do, we encounter a number of unpaved roads and a fair amount of snow in the winter; the NB ("Beauty" was its call sign) didn't like either of those conditions very much.
We used it mainly for in town errands and commuting - since it was a GL, it didn't have cruise so was not taken on too many road trips. It got around 28-30MPG most of the time.
Would we buy another? Not a coupe, as the 'been there, done that' mentality exists, but the wife wouldn't mind a convertible. However, since she has her car ('04 Saturn VUE), whatever we buy would be mine to drive and I think that it's too 'cutesy' for me. That, and at the moment, the only engine that is available is the 2.5L 5-cylinder. Throw the 2.0L turbo and DSG into it and then it becomes a more difficult decision.
Is she aware of the ongoing 'girl car' issue with the New Beetle? Would she say it is more manly than a Mustang V6 convertible with an automatic? Surely she would say it is more manly than a Miata with an automatic transmission?
No way. The Mustang looks like a Mustang, regardless of what's under the hood. The Miata reminds me of the old MGs, which are kinda manly cars from the "fun to drive" aspect. I'd buy one in British racing green, and paint a stripe right down the middle.
There is a guy down the street with a really well-kept '85 Supra. I keep thinking of just going down there and making him an offer even tho he isn't selling! :surprise:
His is a stick.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
2000 VW New Beetle GLS 2.0 (the one prone to oil consumption)
131,000 miles(!)
Automatic, leather, sunroof. Supposedly in good condition except it needs tires. No indication of when the timing belt was changed, and it's an interference engine.
Asking $6800, willing to take $5700. I told her it's a $5,000 car, and even then, budget $2000 or so per year in repairs, if it's just the usual stuff and nothing major goes wrong (i.e., snapped timing belt).
Another big issue I see with the Beetle is fuel mileage. I looked at a couple of them the other day and noticed that for the size car, the mileage figures are a little low. I believe your money is better spent on the Jetta with the 2.0T engine. You'll get both better mileage and a much more fun driving experience.
As for the Mustang. I wouldn't settle for anything but a V8 in the Mustang. IMO, Ford should call only the GT a Mustang. As far as I'm concerned the V6 model is a gelding! :P I saw a lady driving a GT today in that purpley-blue color (I prefer red). The car has got a sweet exhaust note - just idling through the parking lot it sounded fast. I could definitely see myself driving one. But that's going to have to wait a long while. :mad:
A V-6 Mustang would be plenty for me. I won't be going anywhere that I need more than 210 hp. But, like you my 2 door coupe days are on hold for awhile.
Well, which dealer do you have an appointment with? Doesn't that pretty much determine what manufacturer(s) you have to look at? Or are we talking used? And, if so, what kind of used cars does the dealer usually have?
'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
The reason why I couldn't care less if the Beetle has a "girly" tone is that I belong to a southern California antique car club and I'm so used to seeing the guys driving up in anything from a vintage pink Cadillac to a vintage 1960s muscle Mustang. I have a 1964 antique that I drive to the car club gatherings (1st Wed. of every month). I would really like to find a prestine 1976 AMC Pacer..... or a 1979 Lincoln Town Car or maybe even a 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham. I like goofy cars, what can I say?
Happy Motoring! mark156
I know where you are coming from though on the offbeat cars. If the right deal came along on a later model Pontiac Aztec(the second most ridiculed car in the last 50 years) I would seriously consider it. It's ugly enough to be kind of cool, and it has a ton of utility. But, it would have to be a heck of a deal.