Yeah they will take just about anyone who can add 2 and 2 and get 4 one out of five times, give them a short course on tax preperation and send them out to do taxes. I haven't seen a Block tax return that I couldn't find errors in.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
you: It seems to me if you are really concerned about winter time traction, then what you should have are winter tires.
me: Yes we agree. But for those who don't buy winter tires people should be aware that their regular tires performance in snow will degrade as the tread wears.
you: Hydroplanning is possible with new tires.
me: Yes, we agree again. Any tire can hydroplane given enough water and speed. But a tire when new will have its best performance at that time in rain. As the tread wears the tires will begin to hydroplane in less and less severe conditions.
I think one of the biggest safety problems is people being cheap and not buying good equipment. I certainly don't want to be on the road with people who have 100K miles on their tires, and sliding all over the place.
>I haven't seen a Block tax return that I couldn't find errors in.
But I found an error on my CPA-provided tax return. He had included T-Bill interest for Ohio state-taxable interest. Embarrassed him. I didn't think that much of it.
Yeah, and the fact is that the IRS advisors all give different answers too. You take a moderately difficult return and give it to 4 IRS employees and I bet you get 4 different results. Many times there is no right or wrong way to do a return; it is only important that a "reasonable interpretation" of the rules was used. Aren't all rules and laws subjective, such that we have to continually employ courts to make rulings?
Anyway, any interesting side-thought. Has anyone ever rented a prestige vehicle to go to an event? maybe a class or family reunion? because you thought your car was a POS.
Your 'error' may be another's election or choice. An outright lie is not an error. Poor judgment by the tax preparer is not really an error as well. An addition error is an error. Use TurboTax.
Does the car the tax preparer drives signal anything?
Yeah, and the fact is that the IRS advisors all give different answers too.
I am not talking about difficult returns, I am talking about basic tax preparation things like thinking they couldn't use a earned income tax credit because the child was born during the year. This is basic stuff that all IRS agents will agree on.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
You also see EICs on some really rich guys' returns, oddly enough. Say you have a trial lawyer, one year he has some big things happen and he nets half a million. The next year he doesn't close any huge cases but he still has client costs. His net income is only a few thousand. He has a wife and three kids and a lot of itemized deductions, so he pays no tax and gets free money in the form of an EIC. It happens sometimes with construction contractors and other small business owners.
Any way, what do CPAs drive? At my office:
Partners - 350Z convertible, BMW X5 Manager - G35 Staff - TSX (no wife or kids), 96 Buick Century (wife and kids), and everything in between
Well, there are tires that are good in snow/ice and tires with poor traction in snow/ice. I submit that a "summer tire" with new tread will have less traction in snowy conditions than an all weather tire rated good in snow that is down to the tread wear indicators.
Hydroplanning is a combination of many factors, and the primary defense is not to overdrive the conditions. That means knowing how fast you can drive, which means that if your tires are worn you will need to drive slower. But there may be times when stopping, even with new tires, is the best plan.
The CPAs in our department drive a Chrysler Pacifica (his choice), Saturn Vue, Honda Odyssey, Buick Regal and my Olds Ciera. The Buick Regas, a personal car, is the one that everyone wants to buy (I have to remind them that it is NOT a company car.)
Most of my CPA friends all pretty much drive domestic midsized or larger sedans. One drives a late model Porsche. He gets more derision than admiration for it. If he would just admit that he got it because he wanted it (no crime), we would not give him grief. However, he insists that he cought it for ... SAFETY reasons ... because other cars bore him so much that he might fall asleep at the wheel.
As for the EIC, there is so much abuse of that provision that I wish that it would be eliminated. I have seen too many people with three kids and $25k incomes with $250k mortgages here in Chicago.
To me, that does not mean only sporty cars with great handling count... I also appreciate good engineering.
Three years ago, I bought a brand-new '03 Sienna... it fit my needs, it fit my garage, and the price was right. I weighed it against a Subaru Legacy wagon and decided that the extra driving fun in the Subie was not worth giving up the minivan's attributes.
Boy, was I glad to get out of the Sienna when I gave it to the missus a year later... but just cuz it's a snooze to drive doesn't mean I don't like it. The engine is a marvel of engineering; VERY smooth. "Kultiviert" is a good word that's hard to translate. The tranny acts in concert with it... this is the powertrain you'll find in a $35k Lexus of the same vintage. And being a Toyota, it's got great engineering all over it, as well as wonderful switchgear.
Right now, I'm "enthusiastic" about my 210k mile 91 Civic Si. That car has a lot going for it as well, even though it's a little beat up. I can usually find something to like in almost any car... and always something to be entertained by.
I think Andre1969 probably understands where I'm coming from...
Anyway, an "enthusiast" is not a guy who only wants the latest and greatest.
in my rigs, by my own choice. I always trade in before I really see how many miles the rig will go. For example, our 2001 Kia Sportage 4x4 is strong as can be with it's motor, tranny and all associated switchgear, including the automatic 4WD hub system it has. The SUV has 106,919 miles on it and I'm fixing to trade it in in January '06 on a '06 Kia Rio5.
It's value is holding up pretty well and I won't have the upside down problemo going on that is so irritating. The Rio5 reportedly gets 32mph on average city/hiway with the 5-speed model I'm getting. That speaks volumes to me because there's a lot of ghost towns to go visit out west here, plus visiting relatives and friends back in Seattle, which is 900 miles away. The Sportage 4x4 gets 22 mpg avarage and the Rio5 will get 32mpg average. No-brainer, the Rio5 is FWD and should handle Pocatello's icy winter roads pretty well.
That is one thing keeping me interested in keeping the Sportage 4x4. It is built to drive in the ice and snow and Pocatello, Idaho is bristling with ice and snow. We're 4,477 feet up in the Rocky Mountains with 6,500 foot high peaks surrounding the city on three sides. The only open part of the landscape is to the north and you can see a mountain range(still the Rockies)over there that looks to be 6,000 feet up at least. Pocatelllo is on the old original Oregon Trail, too. Nice city to live in.
I'm playing that game right now, with my '00 Intrepid and '85 Silverado. The Trep has 113,000 miles on it and hasn't needed anything major...yet. So far mainly just maintenance and wear-and-tear stuff like tires, belts, coolant flush, a battery, brakes, etc. The biggest "real" repair I had, I guess, was a leaky thermostat housing around the 51,000 mile mark. That was about $210 to repair. Then around the 86,000 mile mark the oil pressure light started coming on at idle when warm, but it turns out there was a TSB for it.
I'm actually pretty impressed with it. When I bought this car a little over 6 years ago, I was really expecting it to be a beat up pile of junk by the time it was paid off. Not a slam against Chrysler, but when I bought it I used to deliver pizzas, and that can be rough on a car. I estimated I'd have around 150,000 miles on it by the time it was 5 years old. Luckilly I quit that job about a year after I bought it, so the miles haven't been quite as rapid or severe. Still, nothing's rusted, cracked, faded, or fallen off yet! :shades:
As for the Silverado, my Granddad bought it new, and it has around 116,700 miles on it now. It hasn't held up nearly as well given the miles, but then I guess you have to consider it's 20 years old now. It has some rust on it, the a/c doesn't work, paint is oxidizing, radio doesn't work, dash cracked, persistent carb/choke problems, crappy fuel economy, etc.
In its defense though, Granddad died way back in 1990, and the truck really hasn't been used much since then. It sat around alot, and since it was a spare vehicle, it usually sat out of the way, off the driveway, and on the grass, which isn't exactly good for rust resistance! Back in college I'd drive it maybe 1 day a week just for variety, and my uncle used it every once in awhile. My uncle works in construction, and for some reason, thought the truck was too "nice" to drive back and forth to work, throw all his tools in, etc, so instead of using a truck that was paid off, free-and-clear, he went and bought a new GMC! Soon after that, Grandmom gave it to my Mom and stepdad. They didn't use it much, except to haul hay, firewood, and other junk, and tow their boat. Eventually, Mom bought a new '03 or so F-150 and then sold me the truck. Oddly, it turned out the Silverado was a better hauler than the F-150! I dunno how the payloads compare, but their F-150 really squats down on its haunches when you load it, where the Silverado just takes it without strain, it seems.
I don't really drive a whole lot anymore, so I doubt either one will ever see truly high mileage. I'm guessing old age will get to them before high mileage does!
Oh come one you can't say that without telling us what your record is.
My record was my 1983 Plymouth Reliant hit 192k - which was more a matter of sheer endurance than the quality of the ride. Put 50k in the 1st two years as my wife was commuting 65 miles each day each way.
My current ride has 112k ... I am falling behind Andre as I have cut back my driving since the $3 gas hit.
Hhhhhmmmm..... I definitely wouldn't be caught alive driving an Escalade or a Hummer. If you want to put my dead body in one and attach a brick to the accellerator pedal and aim it towards a new Hummer lot... that's another thing!
I would not want to own/drive: 1) Cobalt( Not a tC, that is for sure) 2)Malibu( festival. of plastics, like Tupperware..among other things). 3) Neon( there's a reason why they are discontinuing it) 4) Fusion(Nothing against the car, but to me, I'd rather have the 500, despite it being bland looking, think it's a waaay nicer car). 5) Any car under 14 foot total length, including the Mini(sorry, I like a chance out there, in an accident). 6) About anything say 20K or more....(rather pay off my house, instead of the dealership people's homes and bills). Plus, we drive 30-40 K miles per year. pay 80K in 10 years, between 2 people, buying a total of 4 cars, in 10 years, or pay off our credit cars,Hmmmm.....LOL... Rather take the extra cash, pay off debt, or take a vacation, instead of lining a salesperson's pocket. Anyhow... Take Care-Not Offense:
Disabled American Veteran(DAV): 83-94 Buy What You Like. We do.
this Obvio 828 is about mid-way down this links page, along with another(actaully interesting looking) small car.
ZAP is working with Obvio to bring these cars to USA.
The 828, in the Real Photo on this link, looks too small, and not my cup of tea, so-to-speak. The sporty looking car, though...... wild looking vehicle, like something from the year 2,100! Good or bad, though, is up to the onlooker.
post the contact stuff, for the site. I found some info,, but nothing like you have.
How long is this thing? 3 feet?
Looks like a Japanese cartoon car, of sorts. If this thing were say Accent-sized, and 40 MPG, you could bet it would be looked at by many people. As a 2 seater? Well, they sell Miata's and that Satrun Sky or whatever coming out.
The doors are kind of cool idea, i fthey last say 10 years/300,000 miles. (guess ya can say the same for the car)
the Obvio!North America website. You will find the whole story told here and they have described their intentions and planned layout for these two cars pretty thoroughly on this website I'm posting.
Oh, the 828/2 will be available for sale here in the U.S.in early 2007, not the fall of '06 like I stated earlier. That's an update from them from the last time I talked about their cars on this website(it's been several months now).
...but is there some sort of conspiracy afoot (without mentioning names ) that's causing us to even discuss this thing, and in no less than two forums? Let's see, a Brazilian-made, lime green, three seat, eight-and-a-half-foot long, 1300-pound car that gets about the same mileage, and costs the same, as a base Toyota Corolla? Sounds like a sure winner, I can see the orders piling up now. :confuse:
That picture gets posted every couple of months by the same person. I can't see why it is any more interesting than the latest little Chinese car or some such.
I've always traded cars in the past before they had any major problems but with the Civic I've decided to keep it (with gas prices going up, it never hurts to keep a 3rd car around for small stuff) and see how many miles I can pile on it before it dies. It's currently at 99,900 something... (and still running great)
Snake, you're right! I think my son got a car just like that in a hot wheels set he got for Christmas.
I believe that anyone who buys one of these things - if it ever makes it to market - will be getting a lot of those, "what were they thinking" looks from other motorists. It looks more like a cute golf cart than a real car.
good for you with your Civic. I have a hard time hanging on to the same Kia for much more than 80,000 miles. I want to try another one but the one I trade in is always going to give it's new owner thousands and thousands of more miles. For instance my '99 Kia Sephia was traded in on Sept.29, 2001, with around 82,000 miles on it. It was running like a top when I traded it in.
My current Kia, a 2001 Sportage 4x4, has 107,100 miles on it but there are two 2006 Rio's screaming at me to come drive them at Robert Allen Kia here in Pocatello. The latest manual-trannied '06 Rio to hit the Robert Allen sales lot is the Blue Sapphire color, a nice blue metallic that blends nicely with those big black side mouldings Kia is going with on this new Rio for 2006. That Rio is the LX model, which would work nicely for us. It's a 5-speed manual Rio LX, selling for only $13,055! Yikes, I like that price, men!
The Rio5 SX is also a 5-speed manual, and is Tropical Red in color. I'll probably try whichever one is still there in early February and get the one I like the most. I really like Kia's design for both the sedan and the Rio5 SX. One possible negative with the Rio LX 4-door sedan is the 14-inch tires, which reviewers are saying are a tad too skinny and they wander on certain streets. I would probably replace them eventually with 15's, but that's not for sure. Hence, a test drive is required for both.
Gonna be interesting to see if you can hold onto your Civic for very much longer.
it just gets boring to hold onto the same car for a really long time. You get tired of the same old thing and just want something new, no matter how reliable your current ride is.
I think one reason that I've been able to keep my Intrepid around so long is that I have other cars to drive. If I had to drive it every single blessed day, I'd probably get bored with it real fast. And even with having other cars to drive, I have gotten the urge on occasion to trade the Intrepid for something else. Usually it's the financial ramifications that help me talk myself out of it! :shades:
Sounds almost like me with my Seville. My Seville has also got a lot of life left in it. I would feel foolish trading it at this point though the DTS and Lucerne are singing their siren song. I've got to block my ears, because I don't want to crash my financial ship on the rocks! I intend to keep the Park Avenue just to see how many miles I can rack up. I had planned to do that with a 1979 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Regency I had many years ago, but a box truck put an end to that experiment.
I had originally planned to try keeping my Grandma's '85 LeSabre, just to see how many miles it would rack up. I would have too, but then I bought my NYer, and my Mom started talking about selling me the Silverado, and it just didn't make sense to keep that many cars around.
I had planned on driving it until the 307 blew, and then try to find an old 350, 403, or even 455 and have it put in. But alas, the engine proved that it was going to be the LAST thing to go on that car! It had around 157,000 miles on it, had no brake pressure, needed new tires and probably at least $1000 worth of other work by that time.
it just gets boring to hold onto the same car for a really long time. You get tired of the same old thing and just want something new, no matter how reliable your current ride is.
And writing checks to make car payments, paying sales tax, paying higher insurance is more exciting?? :P
none of that financial stuff is exciting...at least, not exciting in a good way! But sometimes, I guess, the urge to get something new (or just different, if you're dealing with mainly used cars) is just too overwhelming.
I'm on an early retirement kick right now though, so I find the prospect of that more exciting than a new ride.
There is an 01' Deville (white) for sale down the street from where I live. He wants 8700 bucks for it and it has 67k on the odometer. I thought about buying it for a winter beater, but "I wouldn't Be Caught Dead Driving One"... :P
there's a '94 Park Avenue for sale for $2600. I forget how many miles it has on it...I want to say 70K but don't hold me to it. I'd almost be tempted, as I've always liked this style. It's a nice, dark green, too.
So in this case, I WOULD be caught dead driving it! Hey, wait minute...that doesn't sound quite right! :P
When I have that "new car" urge, I head to the local lots, make friends with the manager and haggle for a rental. They have weekends where they have almost no business and will cut you a deal on a weekend rental.
As the Wizard always says, "You don't get what you don't ask for."
When I have that "new car urge" I take my more sensible girlfriend with me as the voice of reason. She has on more than one occassion prevented me from committing fiscal suicide.
sounds like a good ride to me for a winter car especially. You could always duct tape an altima grill on it and put some maxima taillights on the rear and you'd have a real Buick there. Whoa.
Actually I've driven enough loaner PAs when car was in for service I respect the earlier design they have there. I think the green was in lots of brochures of that time as a cool color.
Comments
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
me: Yes we agree. But for those who don't buy winter tires people should be aware that their regular tires performance in snow will degrade as the tread wears.
you: Hydroplanning is possible with new tires.
me: Yes, we agree again. Any tire can hydroplane given enough water and speed. But a tire when new will have its best performance at that time in rain. As the tread wears the tires will begin to hydroplane in less and less severe conditions.
I think one of the biggest safety problems is people being cheap and not buying good equipment. I certainly don't want to be on the road with people who have 100K miles on their tires, and sliding all over the place.
But I found an error on my CPA-provided tax return. He had included T-Bill interest for Ohio state-taxable interest. Embarrassed him. I didn't think that much of it.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Anyway, any interesting side-thought. Has anyone ever rented a prestige vehicle to go to an event? maybe a class or family reunion? because you thought your car was a POS.
Does the car the tax preparer drives signal anything?
I am not talking about difficult returns, I am talking about basic tax preparation things like thinking they couldn't use a earned income tax credit because the child was born during the year. This is basic stuff that all IRS agents will agree on.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Also wouldn't be caught dead driving anything lowered.
Any way, what do CPAs drive? At my office:
Partners - 350Z convertible, BMW X5
Manager - G35
Staff - TSX (no wife or kids), 96 Buick Century (wife and kids), and everything in between
Hydroplanning is a combination of many factors, and the primary defense is not to overdrive the conditions. That means knowing how fast you can drive, which means that if your tires are worn you will need to drive slower. But there may be times when stopping, even with new tires, is the best plan.
Most of my CPA friends all pretty much drive domestic midsized or larger sedans. One drives a late model Porsche. He gets more derision than admiration for it. If he would just admit that he got it because he wanted it (no crime), we would not give him grief. However, he insists that he cought it for ... SAFETY reasons ... because other cars bore him so much that he might fall asleep at the wheel.
As for the EIC, there is so much abuse of that provision that I wish that it would be eliminated. I have seen too many people with three kids and $25k incomes with $250k mortgages here in Chicago.
And yes there is wide spread abuse of the EIC.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
To me, that does not mean only sporty cars with great handling count... I also appreciate good engineering.
Three years ago, I bought a brand-new '03 Sienna... it fit my needs, it fit my garage, and the price was right. I weighed it against a Subaru Legacy wagon and decided that the extra driving fun in the Subie was not worth giving up the minivan's attributes.
Boy, was I glad to get out of the Sienna when I gave it to the missus a year later... but just cuz it's a snooze to drive doesn't mean I don't like it. The engine is a marvel of engineering; VERY smooth. "Kultiviert" is a good word that's hard to translate. The tranny acts in concert with it... this is the powertrain you'll find in a $35k Lexus of the same vintage. And being a Toyota, it's got great engineering all over it, as well as wonderful switchgear.
Right now, I'm "enthusiastic" about my 210k mile 91 Civic Si. That car has a lot going for it as well, even though it's a little beat up. I can usually find something to like in almost any car... and always something to be entertained by.
I think Andre1969 probably understands where I'm coming from...
Anyway, an "enthusiast" is not a guy who only wants the latest and greatest.
-Mathias
It's value is holding up pretty well and I won't have the upside down problemo going on that is so irritating. The Rio5 reportedly gets 32mph on average city/hiway with the 5-speed model I'm getting. That speaks volumes to me because there's a lot of ghost towns to go visit out west here, plus visiting relatives and friends back in Seattle, which is 900 miles away. The Sportage 4x4 gets 22 mpg avarage and the Rio5 will get 32mpg average. No-brainer, the Rio5 is FWD and should handle Pocatello's icy winter roads pretty well.
That is one thing keeping me interested in keeping the Sportage 4x4. It is built to drive in the ice and snow and Pocatello, Idaho is bristling with ice and snow. We're 4,477 feet up in the Rocky Mountains with 6,500 foot high peaks surrounding the city on three sides. The only open part of the landscape is to the north and you can see a mountain range(still the Rockies)over there that looks to be 6,000 feet up at least. Pocatelllo is on the old original Oregon Trail, too. Nice city to live in.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I'm actually pretty impressed with it. When I bought this car a little over 6 years ago, I was really expecting it to be a beat up pile of junk by the time it was paid off. Not a slam against Chrysler, but when I bought it I used to deliver pizzas, and that can be rough on a car. I estimated I'd have around 150,000 miles on it by the time it was 5 years old. Luckilly I quit that job about a year after I bought it, so the miles haven't been quite as rapid or severe. Still, nothing's rusted, cracked, faded, or fallen off yet! :shades:
As for the Silverado, my Granddad bought it new, and it has around 116,700 miles on it now. It hasn't held up nearly as well given the miles, but then I guess you have to consider it's 20 years old now. It has some rust on it, the a/c doesn't work, paint is oxidizing, radio doesn't work, dash cracked, persistent carb/choke problems, crappy fuel economy, etc.
In its defense though, Granddad died way back in 1990, and the truck really hasn't been used much since then. It sat around alot, and since it was a spare vehicle, it usually sat out of the way, off the driveway, and on the grass, which isn't exactly good for rust resistance! Back in college I'd drive it maybe 1 day a week just for variety, and my uncle used it every once in awhile. My uncle works in construction, and for some reason, thought the truck was too "nice" to drive back and forth to work, throw all his tools in, etc, so instead of using a truck that was paid off, free-and-clear, he went and bought a new GMC! Soon after that, Grandmom gave it to my Mom and stepdad. They didn't use it much, except to haul hay, firewood, and other junk, and tow their boat. Eventually, Mom bought a new '03 or so F-150 and then sold me the truck. Oddly, it turned out the Silverado was a better hauler than the F-150!
I don't really drive a whole lot anymore, so I doubt either one will ever see truly high mileage. I'm guessing old age will get to them before high mileage does!
My record was my 1983 Plymouth Reliant hit 192k - which was more a matter of sheer endurance than the quality of the ride. Put 50k in the 1st two years as my wife was commuting 65 miles each day each way.
My current ride has 112k ... I am falling behind Andre as I have cut back my driving since the $3 gas hit.
If you want to put my dead body in one and attach a brick to the accellerator pedal and aim it towards a new Hummer lot... that's another thing!
1) Cobalt( Not a tC, that is for sure)
2)Malibu( festival. of plastics, like Tupperware..among other things).
3) Neon( there's a reason why they are discontinuing it)
4) Fusion(Nothing against the car, but to me, I'd rather have the 500, despite it being bland looking, think it's a waaay nicer car).
5) Any car under 14 foot total length, including the Mini(sorry, I like a chance out there, in an accident).
6) About anything say 20K or more....(rather pay off my house, instead of the dealership people's homes and bills).
Plus, we drive 30-40 K miles per year.
pay 80K in 10 years, between 2 people, buying a total of 4 cars, in 10 years, or pay off our credit cars,Hmmmm.....LOL... Rather take the extra cash, pay off debt, or take a vacation, instead of lining a salesperson's pocket.
Anyhow... Take Care-Not Offense:
Disabled American Veteran(DAV):
83-94
Buy What You Like. We do.
Looks pretty sharp, huh?
Who wants one of these babies?
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
this Obvio 828 is about mid-way down this links page, along with another(actaully interesting looking) small car.
ZAP is working with Obvio to bring these cars to USA.
The 828, in the Real Photo on this link, looks too small, and not my cup of tea, so-to-speak. The sporty looking car, though...... wild looking vehicle, like something from the year 2,100!
Good or bad, though, is up to the onlooker.
How long is this thing? 3 feet?
Looks like a Japanese cartoon car, of sorts.
If this thing were say Accent-sized, and 40 MPG, you could bet it would be looked at by many people. As a 2 seater? Well, they sell Miata's and that Satrun Sky or whatever coming out.
The doors are kind of cool idea, i fthey last say 10 years/300,000 miles.
(guess ya can say the same for the car)
Oh, the 828/2 will be available for sale here in the U.S.in early 2007, not the fall of '06 like I stated earlier. That's an update from them from the last time I talked about their cars on this website(it's been several months now).
http://www.obvio.ind.br/obviona/home.htm
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
For a Toyota Yaris if this thing is going to be $14K, then the Yaris or Corolla will be a steal.
I believe that anyone who buys one of these things - if it ever makes it to market - will be getting a lot of those, "what were they thinking" looks from other motorists. It looks more like a cute golf cart than a real car.
My current Kia, a 2001 Sportage 4x4, has 107,100 miles on it but there are two 2006 Rio's screaming at me to come drive them at Robert Allen Kia here in Pocatello. The latest manual-trannied '06 Rio to hit the Robert Allen sales lot is the Blue Sapphire color, a nice blue metallic that blends nicely with those big black side mouldings Kia is going with on this new Rio for 2006. That Rio is the LX model, which would work nicely for us. It's a 5-speed manual Rio LX, selling for only $13,055! Yikes, I like that price, men!
The Rio5 SX is also a 5-speed manual, and is Tropical Red in color. I'll probably try whichever one is still there in early February and get the one I like the most. I really like Kia's design for both the sedan and the Rio5 SX. One possible negative with the Rio LX 4-door sedan is the 14-inch tires, which reviewers are saying are a tad too skinny and they wander on certain streets. I would probably replace them eventually with 15's, but that's not for sure. Hence, a test drive is required for both.
Gonna be interesting to see if you can hold onto your Civic for very much longer.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I think one reason that I've been able to keep my Intrepid around so long is that I have other cars to drive. If I had to drive it every single blessed day, I'd probably get bored with it real fast. And even with having other cars to drive, I have gotten the urge on occasion to trade the Intrepid for something else. Usually it's the financial ramifications that help me talk myself out of it! :shades:
I had planned on driving it until the 307 blew, and then try to find an old 350, 403, or even 455 and have it put in. But alas, the engine proved that it was going to be the LAST thing to go on that car! It had around 157,000 miles on it, had no brake pressure, needed new tires and probably at least $1000 worth of other work by that time.
And writing checks to make car payments, paying sales tax, paying higher insurance is more exciting??
I'm on an early retirement kick right now though, so I find the prospect of that more exciting than a new ride.
I would rather drive a 5 year old Chevy with no payments than a brand new Lexus with $500 payments.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
My recent acquisition of an old, cheap car with "potential" interesting nice shade of purple the missus turned the day I brought it home.
CCB syndrome need not be expensive.
-Mathias
So in this case, I WOULD be caught dead driving it! Hey, wait minute...that doesn't sound quite right! :P
As the Wizard always says, "You don't get what you don't ask for."
Actually I've driven enough loaner PAs when car was in for service I respect the earlier design they have there. I think the green was in lots of brochures of that time as a cool color.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,