Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

jayrider

@abacomike said:
$350,000 FOUND IN LAS VEGAS CAB

I heard on the news today that a cab rider left a package in the rear seat of a Las Vegas cab with $350,000 in cash.

The cab driver turned the package in to his boss - when opened, they counted $350,000 in cash. The owner gave the cabbie $1000 as a reward for finding the package and returning it to its rightful owner.

My question is - who would in his right mind be carrying $350,000 in cash in a package and be stupid enough to leave it in the back seat of a cab? Not only that, I am sure the IRS might be just a tad interested in the what, how, why!

Finally, is the reward of $1000 to the cabbie a reasonable reward for being honest enough to return the package of money?

Any thoughts about this news item? Not too off topic considering the money was found in a "car"!

The news said the guy was a professional poker player and 1k was a very cheap reward. 5k would have been fair.

abacomike

@roadburner....The news said the guy was a professional poker player and 1k was a very cheap reward. 5k would have been fair...

I agree! So one would gather from the report that the poker player was either on his way to a big game or on his way back from one.

Either way - $5000 would have been more appropriate. Besides, I have to believe the IRS had to be interested in someone who carries that kind of money around on a package - if I was an IRS agent, I'd have a few questions for the poker player!

stever

@abacomike said:
roadburner....The news said the guy was a professional poker player and 1k was a very cheap reward. 5k would have been fair...

The rest of the story is that the poker guy flipped with the cabbie for the grand and the cabbie doubled his money, and then rode it to $100k on the horses.

(My AK experience is sort of like your winter tale btw, but I got my thyroid fixed and I'm back shoveling - another 8" today).

crkyolfrt

@abacomike Given the guys profession, I really don't think 5k is enough, and 1k was certainly too weak. The reward should be 'life changing'. 5k makes a cab driver's life just a little easier..that's all. I think 20k or even 50k would have been much much more appropriate. Cuz consider the alternative..a 350k loss for the other guy.. just like that..

Speaking of honesty...the other day I had some frozen stuff from M&M's..some wings and chicken strips. Bill was 43.95. Noticed later the credit card was 3.95.

So I went back in...drove outta my way to make up the 40 bucks to them. I decided to buy another 3 boxes of wings while there cuz there was a 3 box limit the first time around and she thanked me about 3 times and said that honesty should be rewarded. I thought to myself that given the amt I guess a reward is optional..but had she said here's a box of wings on us, I'd have graciously accepted..given the price of gas lately...(about 16 bucks raw gas-only cost for a round trip in the winter cold). But she didn't...just thanked me one more time for coming back in and I knew then that I guess honesty wasn't gonna get rewarded that day..

breld

Wife told me I should get out and have some fun today. So I went looking at bicycles and cars! I just sold my bike via craigslist this morning, so was ready to go out shopping.

On the car front, I test drove a used Touareg. It's a nice alternative to the other "luxury" SUVs out there, as it doesn't hold its value nearly as well as an Audi or BMW, but had a very upscale feeling to it. I drove a 2011 Sport model with Nav. New, they sticker for about $47k - this one was CPO with about 30k miles on it, listed for $30.5k. I was pretty impressed - very smooth and quiet with ample room (if you don't need a 3rd row). Nice big touchscreen.

Also looked at some used Q5's - those seem to hold their value much better than the VW. Hard to find one with decent miles for less than low-$30k's. I drove a 2010 3.2l model with about 30k miles - a bit tighter and sportier feeling than the Touareg (makes sense as it's smaller). CPO, listed for $34k. Doesn't seem like as good a deal as the VW, but perhaps better in the long run for resale.

Anyone have personal experience with those Touaregs?

tifighter

@breld

What kind of bikes are we talking about here? My wife and I have 10 in the house, so if you want to help start a CBBA club, it would make me feel like I have less of a problem...

Sandman6472

Never got back to the VW store to test the Tiguan and a bit sorry about that...the one I saw yesterday was pretty sweet looking. It's a nice package and did like the tallish windows though vision out of my Tuscon is pretty great actually. Maybe it's all for the best as my twin drives a Tiguan I've heard so why have two in the family. Did notice more than a few Tuscon's on the roads yesterday so I guess Hyundai does sell their fair share of the small crossovers. I am assuming here that it's based on the Elantra platform as it seems to be the same size which is probably the same as the new Forte. Seeing more of those also especially in the rental lots. We did move about 40 of them a few weeks back for hertz...brand new ones that had just been put into service so it was very nice driving vehicles with like 6 miles on them. Love that new car smell baby!!!

_The Sandman _

oldfarmer50

@abacomike said:
$350,000 FOUND IN LAS VEGAS CAB

I heard on the news today that a cab rider left a package in the rear seat of a Las Vegas cab with $350,000

A smart cabbie would know that it was probably dirty (mob) money and keeping it wouldn't be god for his health.

jayrider

@breld said:
Wife told me I should get out and have some fun today. So I went looking at bicycles and cars! I just sold my bike via craigslist this morning, so was ready to go out shopping.

On the car front, I test drove a used Touareg. It's a nice alternative to the other "luxury" SUVs out there, as it doesn't hold its value nearly as well as an Audi or BMW, but had a very upscale feeling to it. I drove a 2011 Sport model with Nav. New, they sticker for about $47k - this one was CPO with about 30k miles on it, listed for $30.5k. I was pretty impressed - very smooth and quiet with ample room (if you don't need a 3rd row). Nice big touchscreen.

Also looked at some used Q5's - those seem to hold their value much better than the VW. Hard to find one with decent miles for less than low-$30k's. I drove a 2010 3.2l model with about 30k miles - a bit tighter and sportier feeling than the Touareg (makes sense as it's smaller). CPO, listed for $34k. Doesn't seem like as good a deal as the VW, but perhaps better in the long run for resale.

Anyone have personal experience with those Touaregs?

Sat in one once and really liked it. Reviews are good. Here in St. Louis, they have a 2013 CPO VR6 Sport listed for 33k with 19500 miles. You can find in on Cargurus.com.

abacomike

@oldfarmer50 said:

A smart cabbie would know that it was probably dirty (mob) money and keeping it wouldn't be god for his health.

I don't think he opened the package. I think he turned it into his boss at the cab company - he then returned it to the individual who left it in the cab.

breld

@tifighter said:
breld

What kind of bikes are we talking about here? My wife and I have 10 in the house, so if you want to help start a CBBA club, it would make me feel like I have less of a problem...

Pretty recreational on the bike front. I tend to like these "hybrids" that have road bike size wheels but are a bit more rugged for occasional dirt paths and such. Looking at a Specialized Crosstrail and learning all about disc brakes and other fun stuff.

Now my brother on the other hand - he's a very serious road biker and could definitely start a chapter of a CBBA club. He literally has spent more on some of his bikes than I have on some cars. He just told me about some pedals he bought that cost twice as much as the bikes I'm looking at.

He used to give me a hard time about the car purchases - but he now understands the obsession.

breld

@abacomike said:

The reviews of the car itself (Touareg) are indeed really good and support the notion of it competing well with luxury SUVs. And you're right, I've noticed some 2013 models for low $30's in my area as well. Compared to similar offerings from BMW and Audi, it does seem like a great buy.

My main apprehension comes from reliability and gas mileage. If this were my main commuter, we're talking a lot of miles. I've owned enough VWs to be comfortable with them, but I've read a few things criticizing the Touareg specifically on reliability issues, though much of that may relate more to the last model, which apparently had a lot of off-road intentions. The current model was "softened" up and became more mainstream, so to speak.

Mr_Shiftright

I'm in! I got 5 of 'em. Disc brakes on a cross-bike are definitely cool. It makes those downhill streaks much less scary. I clocked 44 mph one time going downhill. (by the way, that's stupid).

@tifighter said:
breld

What kind of bikes are we talking about here? My wife and I have 10 in the house, so if you want to help start a CBBA club, it would make me feel like I have less of a problem...

stever

@breld said:
learning all about disc brakes and other fun stuff.

My cheapo craigslist Raleigh MTB has discs and they do spoil you. Put commuter tires on it but right now I'm antsy for a fat tire bike, but even the used ones are $1,300 and I probably wouldn't ride summers on the beach. Another road bike would be nice; been too many years since I've had one.

Car manufacturers have nothing on the annual "upgrades" the bike industry comes up with.

roadburner

@breld I have a Raleigh Grand Prix that I bought in 1973. I found a local bike shop that will do a full mechanical restoration for a reasonable cost:

stever

I "graduated" from a Varsity to a Belgium Libertas (Reynolds 531, Campy hubs, Lyotard platform pedals) around ~71ish and dumped it on my b-i-l in the mid '90s. He finally ran it into the ground (brinelled BB even when I had it, etc.). Fun memories but the new stuff is lighter and works better. I do have a bell that was a souvenir from Luxemburg in '73 that gets moved to my newer rides. Also drug a front rim home from that trip (customs didn't even blink) and rebuilt the front wheel. Here's a fun site.

breld

So talk me off the ledge (yeah, right).

As often happens, I've looked enough and test drove that I'm getting more serious about another change. So, basically, both my 3 series have been more or less sitting in our garage at work for weeks now while I choose to drive around the Odyssey. With taking kids around to sports, school and such, often logging 80-100 miles a day, I find myself longing for the larger, comfortable (for everyone), automatic choice (being the Ody). The idea is that I basically have a lot of money into just a "fun" car, and perhaps I'd rather have a nice comfy commuter (other than the van), and a cheaper fun car.

Here are the options I'm thinking of:

1) Trade the 335xi for a nice commuter (SUV or wagon) - something around $30k so it's around a straight trade. Then probably eventually trade out the 330ci for a proper "fun" car (i.e., with a stick).

2) Trade the 330ci for a lesser priced commuter - ideally in the mid to high teens, so I'm not putting too much money on top of it. Then keep the 335xi as the fun car.

So, on the higher end (option 1), something like a Touareg, Q5, X3, maybe an older X5, 5 wagon.

For option 2, it gets tougher - maybe a slightly used CX-5 (though they hold their value so well), or most likely, an Accord Crosstour (used). Then I actually keep the 335xi.

My biggest heartache would be letting the 335xi go, since it's a pretty unique one and hard to come by.

Of course, there's another option of not doing anything and continuing to use the Ody for this purpose - which does indeed make the most sense. But since when does "sense" come into play?

breld

On another note - my MIL, not surprisingly, has already grown a bit weary of the 530i she bought from us, saying it's a bit hard for her to get in and out of. She feels bad, since I had told her it's not the "luxury" car she may think it is. But she's gracious about it - just asking if I'd help her sell it after she gets the necessary maintenance on it completed.

I am mildly interested in buying it back, but probably won't. If I got another older BMW for a fun car, I think I'd want an E46, preferably ZHP.

breld

@roadburner said:

Cool bike!

I'm basically down to deciding on a couple of Specialized Crosstrail models - $725 for a 2012 model with hydraulic disc brakes, or $630 for a 2013 model with mechanical disc brakes. Or $550 for a 2012 Giant, similar model with mechanical discs. Not sure if the hydraulic brakes are worth the extra dough (I'm just learning about all these features this week).

Trying to limit the endless options by sticking with a local small bike shop that we like, even though there are some better deals around.

roadburner

@breld You are smart to stick with a local shop; they will almost always take better care of you than a bigger shop that doesn't have time for you once you buy their bike...

breld

@roadburner said:
breld You are smart to stick with a local shop; they will almost always take better care of you than a bigger shop that doesn't have time for you once you buy their bike...

Yeah, that's how I'm feeling. I bought a used bike for my son this past summer and took it there to get a tune-up. They looked it over and told me it was in great shape and it really didn't need any tune-up. Thought that was refreshing.

corvette

I'm more of a nerd than a cyclist. I broke one of the connectors on my cheap multimeter (which came from a big box store), and ordered a nice Fluke to replace it. The Fluke has more features than I will ever use and is one of those things that will probably last forever, as they have a reputation for being robustly constructed, and a video teardown of the lower end model which I purchased confirmed that it was also well built. Can't wait for it to get here (yeah, I really need to get out more)…

Sandman6472

Breld, personally, I'd take a break for model year 2014 and sit and do nothing. See which of the fleet needs to stay...and which really needs to go. Then you can make a much more informed decision. Obviously buying on the spur of the moment has gotten y'all to this point where vehicles are just sitting while y'all pay for their upkeep...a silly financial move really. Decide which vehicles are the best of the bunch and dump the others and then, just do nothing for a couple of years. I know, I know...in this forum I am talking crazy but the amount of small amounts of $ that y'all are throwing out on fees and such is getting to the ridiculous point and at some point there needs to be some fiscal restraint shown here.
Just a suggestion here but there must be three of your vehicles that will suffice for a certain time period. But maybe I am just too logical here...would never want so many vehicles that some sit for weeks or months at a time not being used...cars need to be driven, not collected unless the collection is made up of really fantastic vehicles!
A bit jealous here as I'd still love my toy and from what I've seen, that BMW drop top is still sitting on their lot...calling out to me!!!

_The Sandman _

nyccarguy

@breld

I know you've got an idea in your head on how your fleet is going to be used. Don't give up on the 335xi just yet. You do seem to love it even though it is sitting in your garage.

It's definitely not the right time of year to get rid of the drop top, but it is "old enough" that you probably won't loose your shirt on it either.

Do you detest driving the odyssey? Or just don't like the idea of logging miles in a minivan when it could be something cooler?

Have you thought of trading in the odyssey & selling the 330Ci for an MDX? Or if you want another BMW, maybe a 2011 X3 (new body style, N52 Inline 6 like in your wife's wagon)?

crkyolfrt

@corvette said:

I broke one of the connectors on my cheap multimeter (which came from a big box store), and ordered a nice Fluke to replace it.> snip

If you mean the wire that attaches to the probe, that is very common cuz the gauge wire inside is super tiny and finely stranded. A guess is maybe 24ga or even 26 ga. Have you ever tried soldering? Re attaching that probe would be a super easy first project to get your feet wet. If you can't find info you like by Googling, or have questions after - ask..I'll see if I can unmuddy the waters.

tifighter

@MrShift

Well, let's see. We have-

-2 Road bikes (one of which is a Litespeed Ghisallo I've had for 10 years and is still among the lightest frames ever made)

-2 breakaway touring bikes (with cases)

-2 mountain bikes (getting the most activity recently)

-2 folding bikes (the most fun to ride of all)

-1 beater bike for using around town

-1 tandem

CBBA, dude. CBBA.

breld

@nyccarguy said:
breld
Do you detest driving the odyssey? Or just don't like the idea of logging miles in a minivan when it could be something cooler?

I don't detest the odyssey at all really, but I would like something a bit more cool and fun to drive when it comes to family duties. For the weekends and other times we have all four kids, we definitely need the Ody, so it's not going anywhere. It's the rest of the time when I'm taking my two boys down to school and sports - which is turning into more and more time and miles. There are some weekends when they have sports both days, and I am driving them 30-40 miles away each way from our home - so something a bit more enjoyable to drive, yet roomy and comfortable would be nice.

Accepting the Ody for all those duties does allow me the flexibility for a couple of fun cars, like I have now. So it's certainly a nice option.

breld

Thanks for the advice, nyc and sandy.

Wife and I did actually take a long look and drive of a 2013 Touareg this afternoon. Part of me was tempted as I really do like the SUV, but I couldn't really see letting the 335xi go. That may change as I warm up to the idea, but definitely wasn't ready yet.

And yes, certainly not the season to let the 'vert go, so that option would likely wait at least a few months.

breld

After walking away from the Touareg, I did go and buy a bike though. So that was fun!

Sandman6472

Checked online today and yes, the BMW drop top has been sold...I knew when the dropped the price to $14k that it would be gone in a matter of days. And I was right but part of me would've liked having it for a toy. And truthfully, I think the wife would've ended up really liking it and using it when the weather was nicer. Funny that I started wanting a 3rd vehicle as a toy and ended up with a crossover vehicle...I was kinda all over the place but My basic concern was comfort while driving, having a power seat where entry/exit was very easy with me sliding in and out...and that's exactly what I ended up with! Funny how things work out and I can't wait to see where my wife ends up...will it be a Mazda3 again, an Accent or something totally different like what I did?

_The Sandman _

corvette

@crkyolfrt said:
If you mean the wire that attaches to the probe, that is very common cuz the gauge wire inside is super tiny and finely stranded.

No, the plastic housing broke, but thanks for the suggestion. I could probably glue it back together but never really liked that meter anyway. If that's a good excuse to replace a car, it's a good excuse to replace a test instrument.

oldfarmer50

MrShift

CBBA, dude. CBBA.

Chronic Bike Buyers? Yikes! I lost all interest in bikes the day I got my license @ 16. These days I only exercise if there is money involved.

tifighter

@oldfarmer50

C'mon farmer, there's still time. We can throw you on the back of the tandem. You can sit back there and have a mai tai. I'll even block the wind for you...

oldfarmer50

@tifighter said:
oldfarmer50

C'mon farmer, there's still time. We can throw you on the back of the tandem. You can sit back there and have a mai tai. I'll even block the wind for you...

I'd rather have the wind blocked by the windshield of one of the two 650i convertibles my neighbor just bought.

gouldn

I test drove a few more cars yesterday:
CPO CT200h 2011, well equipped $27.8 asking. I really enjoy the handling and seat comfort of this small hatch. The power deliver ... well it's Prius like, but when I think about it with traffic around here, it may be all I really need. However 27.8K for a used car that could be bought new for 35k three years newer .... just not a good value proposition in my book.

While there I also test drove a '11 RX350. Of course it was completely different than the CT, and really not as bad as all the reviews say driving dynamic wise. Sure it was no sports sedan, but the steering had some feel, and the car was actually a delight to drive. I think I'm going to put this one higher on my list. Of course it gets rotten mileage compared to my other choices, but maybe it's worth it.

Lastly was a Fusion Energi. OK this is an interesting car. It was almost completely in electric mode during the drive, and that was a trip. Silent smooth driving. Not fast though, great around town, but really winded feeling on the highway. When the ICE kicked in it was fine. However at $39k for a lightly equipped SE ... wow this thing is expensive, and dosesn't provide much utility with the huge lump in the trunk where the battery goes. But this car DOES get the HOV sticker which is worth something out here...

jayrider

@gouldn said:
I test drove a few more cars yesterday:
CPO CT200h 2011, well equipped $27.8 asking. I really enjoy the handling and seat comfort of this small hatch. The power deliver ... well it's Prius like, but when I think about it with traffic around here, it may be all I really need. However 27.8K for a used car that could be bought new for 35k three years newer .... just not a good value proposition in my book.

While there I also test drove a '11 RX350. Of course it was completely different than the CT, and really not as bad as all the reviews say driving dynamic wise. Sure it was no sports sedan, but the steering had some feel, and the car was actually a delight to drive. I think I'm going to put this one higher on my list. Of course it gets rotten mileage compared to my other choices, but maybe it's worth it.

Lastly was a Fusion Energi. OK this is an interesting car. It was almost completely in electric mode during the drive, and that was a trip. Silent smooth driving. Not fast though, great around town, but really winded feeling on the highway. When the ICE kicked in it was fine. However at $39k for a lightly equipped SE ... wow this thing is expensive, and dosesn't provide much utility with the huge lump in the trunk where the battery goes. But this car DOES get the HOV sticker which is worth something out here...

You can buy a 2010 Prius IV [leather] with 30K miles CPO for 17k [asking price] --- I have one [not for sale] and it has been trouble free ---- really pleasant roomy car. Highly recommended based on my 3.5 years of ownership.

nyccarguy

@gouldn - what was the asking price & mileage of the RX you drove?

Sandman6472

I almost bought a 2011 Lexus CT200h also and really liked it...the low seating position was just something I couldn't live with...the slow spooling up of the hybrid I'm used to with my daughters Versa SL hatch and could've lived with one. I saw it at Carmax and though it only had just over 31k on the clock, the $26.8k price tag was a bit too high for me for a used vehicle. Did love the mileage figures though and the dark gray color was beautiful but in the end, just couldn't go through with it. If the driving position would've been the same as my Tuscon, I would've bought it. Lexus did do a good job here but yes, it's basically a Toyota Prius...a pig with lipstick!

__The Sandman

gouldn

@nyccarguy ... It was a 2011 FWD CPO with about 40k on it. Pretty well optioned with nav, wood steering wheel etc. They had it at $32 which seemed high to me. If I go this route I think I can find a sub 30k example with less miles. CPO doesn't matter too much to me with a Lexus as I would expect it to be reliable and unlike BMW you pay for the maintenance anyway.

gouldn

@sandman ... I have driven regular priuses before and I feel the handling on the CT200 was worlds better than the Prius. Obviously the drivetrain is identical. The basic problem is they hold value too well and do not make compelling used car buys.

Sandman6472

Very similar to the one I almost bought though your price is way higher. Also looked at the local Lexus stores and couldn't find much for resale right now. They don't sell in large numbers but seems those that buy or lease them, keep 'em for awhile. Great vehicle overall but just couldn't deal with the low seating position.

The Sandman

nyccarguy

@gouldn - I agree that the CPO warranty on a Lexus isn't worth the premium over a plain old used Lexus, but any dealer is going to slap that CPO warranty on any low mileage cream puff they get their hands on. Keep looking, you'll find something;)

Sandman6472

Just got back from the VW store and did drive the Tiguan SE. Nice enough vehicle with great view out all the windows but felt underpowered with the 2.0 turbo engine...like my 2.4 better and they have almost identical mileage figures. The lack of a backup camera was a bit disturbing as was the price...the Tiguan comparably equipped is a whole lot more and a price I didn't want to pay. The Rav4, Mazda5 and Rogue are probably closer in price/features to my Tuscon actually but I didn't want a CVT tranny and felt that Hyundai gave the most bang for the buck!

The Sandman

breld

gouldn - I'm starting to see more and more CT200h's, even CPO, in my area for $24k or so (2011's with reasonable miles). They're starting to get down there. I like them myself, but have decided I need a more usable backseat.

breld

Did a bunch of looking and test driving myself yesterday, in search of a secondary family car. That's what my wife and I discussed for quite awhile last night - out of five cars we have, only the Odyssey is comfortable for anyone in the backseat. We both agreed it would be nice to have something else that would serve family duties. Either a small SUV or a roomy sedan.

So here's what I looked at yesterday:

Stopped at a nice indoor warehouse that carries almost exclusively German. Looked at a couple of used Q5's. They also had a nice 2008 A6 wagon - reasonable miles at about 50k, priced around $25k. Didn't take any for drives, as these higher priced options would likely require letting the 335xi go, and just don't think I want to do that.

Took a long test in the Accord Sport - great salesperson who let me take it out on my own. Really like this car - roomy, comfortable and sporty for what it is. Sharp looks IMO too. The CVT takes a little getting used to, but it's pretty darn good, particularly in "sport" mode. Real world pricing seems to be right at $23,000 (about $2,400 off). Lots of car for the money I think.

Drove a Forester too. Very competent, and with the larger 2.5l engine, much better to drive than the Impreza. And decent value - seems you could get a Premium CVT model for about $23-24k. But to me, the interior just has a "generation-behind" feel to me compared to competitors.

Spent a lot of time at the VW dealer. I was curious about the 1.8t engine so took out a Jetta. I agree with Stick - this is a great vehicle. The engine, not unexpectedly, feels like a slightly less potent 2.0t from the GTI, GLI, etc., but gets up to 36 mpg. Not caring too much about a sunroof, I focused on the "SE w/connectivity" model, which basically gets you alloys, bluetooth, leather-wrapped steering wheel and heated seats. $22.4 sticker - they were advertising $20,800 - again, seems like a good value.

I liked the drive of the Jetta a bit better, but preferred the extra room in the Accord, so asked about the availability of the 1.8t in the Passat. Drove a Wolfsburg edition 1.8t Passat - equipped much like the Jetta. Boy, I really liked this - not quite as nimble as a Jetta (naturally), but worth the trade off for the huge backseat. 34 mpg on the highway. Stickered for about $24.8, dealer offered $22.7k. I know VW scaled back on the interiors on both the new Passat and Jetta, but they've been adding back some of that quality over the past few years. Like the Accord, the Passat does offer a lot for around $23k.

My preference - I'd love to get into either the Passat or Accord. Not sure which one I prefer yet. They both have pretty distinct personalities. The wife though, for once, is being practical and suggests a 2-3 year old model to "test" out to see if it's a good answer. Problem is, I'm not fond of the previous gen Accord, and I like the 1.8t in the Passat. Maybe that just means, hold your breath, that I actually....wait!

Thanks for indulging me in my ramblings!

Sandman6472

Test drove the Tiguan today and was unimpressed, like the power of my Tuscon so much better. The 2.0 turbo engine just seemed way underpowered to me and the mileage figures were the same as my Tuscon so what would be the point. I got a more powerful vehicle for less money which I like more. I am happier now that I actually reprove the Tiguan! Eventually will get with the Rav4 and Mazda5...was a backseat passenger in a new Rav4 awhile back and it was comfortable back there...since I just sat behind the wheel and did't drive it, can't really give a personal opinion yet. In time, I will.
Breld, might as well stay the course and just use the Ody for the time being. Personally, why look for another similar vehicle when you've got all you need right now? Makes zero sense to look and spend even more $ on any more vehicles. Just stay the course and possibly get rid of one of the others due to the duplication in vehicles already owned. What is the point to have a couple of vehicles just sit in a garage...isn't the point of owning a vehicle is being able to drive it? Your garage is too full and y'all are throwing out $ needlessly here and for what? Just isn't logical or practical sir!

The Sandman

Sandman6472

Sorry Breld, I just do not like waste or throwing away $ one bit, just makes no sense to me. Why have more than y'all need when so many others have so much less? I know, crazy talk for a guy who loves cars but in your case, things are just a bit out of whack here! Not judging, just don't understand the logic!

The Sandman

breld

Hey Sandy - well, logic and practicality are often overrated.

Hard to argue a "need" here since we do have the Ody, but this move actually would provide a more "usable" fleet. The current thought is to trade the very limited use 'vert for something like the Passat or Accord, which would be very usable for family hauling.

But, I'll never deny the fact that I may be creating a "need" to fit a car that I'd like to have.

breld

BTW, glad you're enjoying the Tuscon. I keep getting nervous for your sake that you'll test out one of these other models and have a little remorse, but so far so good. Looks like you made the right choice.

breld

Another option on the VW front - if we were to decide the Jetta offered good space in the backseat, used GLIs are starting to show up in our area for sub-$20k. 3 mpg sacrifice over the 1.8t, but cheaper to buy and, well, it's a GLI.