Scion xA would be a good option, too, and the price is great. Fit & Yaris are intriguing, but it just seems to me the gas mileage on vehicles like those should make it into the 40s. I do bet the Fit would be fun to toss around a little.
Speaking of MPG, my wife drove our new Legacy to Portland & back (+/- 3.5 hours of highway driving each way) over the weekend and averaged 33 MPG!! It's an AT, and we use regular 87 octane. 10% over the EPA estimate, and the car's only got 1200 miles on it. Can't wait 'til it's really broken in. She could've gone over 500 miles on a single tank... that beats the pants off of our '04 Outback.
Congratulations, Colin, fatherhood is wonderful and hopefully a role you'll enjoy as much as I do.
Fit, Yaris, how 'bout a Versa? 6 speed manual and a bit more power and room than either. Plus, Yaris has that annoying center-mounted gauge pod. I can't stand those.
My issue with cars in that class is that the price is so close to the cars one class above. You can get a Scion tC for nearly the same price as a Fit. Or an Outback Sport.
Remember something in general - the space required for a kid is inversely proportional to their size. In other words, babies need the most space, and kids need less and less as they grow. A van is great for when you have a baby, a wagon for when you have a pair of toddlers, and when they're teens it could even be a coupe!
I was too. Hey look, it's a comfy, 5 door, bluetooth-enabled salesmobile. Everone in my industry should drive one instead of an Accord, the official car of the American Sales Force. But it isn't engaging to drive from a handling perspective, and isn't as well laid out as Fit. I say wait for Fit 2.0 next year. It ought to be an all-new car.
Yeah, Fit has been around for something like 6 years, though I'm not sure ergonomics have made any progress in the last 6 years. It seems like everyone just added a bunch of shiny silver plastic.
I appreciate the well-wishes from everyone. Don't get me wrong, I am trying to determine if I can keep my Evo without compromising other things. And no matter what, I'll be here.
I noticed today that I've got what appears to be some pretty large (and pretty sticky) sap droppings from pine trees on my hood and roof. What the best thing to use to remove that stuff?
When it happened to me this past winter, I used bug & tar remover. But I was too late as it had already eaten thru the clear coat. So DON'T wait! Get it off asap.
I've got some etching I guess you can call it on my F-XT hood, either from rain or sap or both. I do keep up with the Klasse AIO on it, so I'm surprised. But, it does sit out in the sun for 8 hours while at work, guess it's plausible. A new application of AIO didn't remove much of the marks, nor did ScratchX (Meguiar's I think). None of the sides have it, roof has a couple spots as well.
But it wasn't my fault... It... It rained almost every day... It was too dark to wash after work... It... It was a very wet winter... It... It... It's not my fault..... I didn't know...
yeah yeah yeah ... I have COMPANY .... so I was busy when you guys were in chat .. you'll just have to be content without me for ONE night ... (bob is SO glad they have me to rag about trying to chat on the wrong night so they have a topic to hang on to forever - instead of his helmet!)
I beg to differ on the argument that kids take up less space as they get older. Whilst they might have loess baggage, there seem to be more of them. So you go out with one and find you are carting home six, one of whom always seems to be carrying a tuba.
However, I can confirm three things
1 2 door cars are really not a goer with a baby seat 2 Washable interiors have a lot going for them 3 You are going to drive a lot slower now so don't even think of the hot coupe
I guess my kids are still too young for sleep overs and that type of thing, so that hasn't started yet. When it does...
See? This is why I keep asking for that small people mover, a Subie to compete with the Mazda5. The Mazda5 actually drives nicely and you can get NAV on it.
They set a target autocross time at Zoom Zoom Live, and you had to try to get closest to that time. Some people were 3 seconds too quick in the Mazda5. It's a VAN for crying out loud.
Subaru needs to be in that segment, with AWD and the 2.5l, it could be a great little people mover. Here's a sketch from the web just for kicks.
End-of-the-model-year incentives were too good to pass on. As my daughter is about to start driving on her own (and the plan is that she'll use my old Forester), I've decided to take a plunge and get a new Forester while there is a cash back available.
I have not actually picked the car from the dealer yet, I selected one on the lot, test-drove it and left a hefty deposit. Dealer will clean it up a bit, and I'll pick it up tomorrow, new and shiny.
My new baby is Crystal Gray Metallic 2.5X automatic. It's quite basic, with only options installed being cargo mat, protective bumber cladding and body-colored splash-guards. A bit of downgrade from my S Premium 2001 optioned to the gills, but look at the price: all in all - I've got it for $2750 below invoice.
Almost $3K below invoice - is it a sweet deal or not?
yep, Santa Cruz. They're nice, and their "customer for life" program - with 10% discount on service and parts plus free loaner -- is great.
I've tried the Livermore dealer once - and was stung by $49 charge for a one-day loaner! I have to drive extra 45 mi to Santa Cruz, but I think it's worth it.
All sales force there is pretty new, so they need to run to Bruce (who's now a general sales manager but used to be in service) with every question, but Bruce is very nice and accommodating.
well, I brought my new baby home today!!! It rides quite well. It feels a bit noisier than my old 2001 Forester, but I think it's tires.
I thought small-ish side mirrors will be an annoyance (after 6 years of looking into bigger Premium mirrors) but they're actually quite ok. I am thinking maybe smaller mirrors would equal less drag and hence better mileage? (let's hope).
Once family budget is back on track, I'll probably splurge for nice alloy rims and a seriously good sound system. But for now steelies and stock stereo is fine.
Comments
How about a Scion xB- very roomy, economical. Kinda slow though. Oh, a Toyota Matrix is a nice practical car- about the same cost as a Fit.
Good luck selling the Evo!
tom
Bob
Scion xA would be a good option, too, and the price is great. Fit & Yaris are intriguing, but it just seems to me the gas mileage on vehicles like those should make it into the 40s. I do bet the Fit would be fun to toss around a little.
Speaking of MPG, my wife drove our new Legacy to Portland & back (+/- 3.5 hours of highway driving each way) over the weekend and averaged 33 MPG!! It's an AT, and we use regular 87 octane. 10% over the EPA estimate, and the car's only got 1200 miles on it. Can't wait 'til it's really broken in. She could've gone over 500 miles on a single tank... that beats the pants off of our '04 Outback.
~Colin
Fit, Yaris, how 'bout a Versa? 6 speed manual and a bit more power and room than either. Plus, Yaris has that annoying center-mounted gauge pod. I can't stand those.
My issue with cars in that class is that the price is so close to the cars one class above. You can get a Scion tC for nearly the same price as a Fit. Or an Outback Sport.
Remember something in general - the space required for a kid is inversely proportional to their size. In other words, babies need the most space, and kids need less and less as they grow. A van is great for when you have a baby, a wagon for when you have a pair of toddlers, and when they're teens it could even be a coupe!
-juice
Why put in a 6 speed if you're not going to tune it for an entertaining ride? I was hoping for a modern '92 Sentra SE-R.
-juice
Well wishes to Mommy also
-Dave
It's retro 80s in that way.
-juice
~Colin
The Edmunds Member Chat is on tonight. The chat room opens at 8:45PM ET Hope to see YOU there! Check out the schedule
Serge
Bob
Jim
-Brian
Cheers!
Paul
But it wasn't my fault... It... It rained almost every day... It was too dark to wash after work... It... It was a very wet winter... It... It... It's not my fault..... I didn't know...
-juice
Link's on the left.
Oh, no! I'm not going to get sued by Pat, am I?
Jim
I beg to differ on the argument that kids take up less space as they get older. Whilst they might have loess baggage, there seem to be more of them. So you go out with one and find you are carting home six, one of whom always seems to be carrying a tuba.
However, I can confirm three things
1 2 door cars are really not a goer with a baby seat
2 Washable interiors have a lot going for them
3 You are going to drive a lot slower now so don't even think of the hot coupe
Cheers
Graham
Cheers Pat.
Cheers!
Paul
(father of one said teenager, 5-10, 170#, size 14 shoes that he hasn't grown into yet!)
~Colin
Cheers Pat.
At 20 below?! How do you keep the car from becoming an ice sculpture?
Jim
That's a lot of air that one is taking, holy cow! :surprise:
-Brian
Bob
Congratulations! Now I know which message I missed when I asked the question back in the Crew forum.
Which highlights something else you can expect once you have kids -- less time browsing.
Ken
I guess my kids are still too young for sleep overs and that type of thing, so that hasn't started yet. When it does...
See? This is why I keep asking for that small people mover, a Subie to compete with the Mazda5. The Mazda5 actually drives nicely and you can get NAV on it.
-juice
Subaru needs to be in that segment, with AWD and the 2.5l, it could be a great little people mover. Here's a sketch from the web just for kicks.
-juice
I have not actually picked the car from the dealer yet, I selected one on the lot, test-drove it and left a hefty deposit. Dealer will clean it up a bit, and I'll pick it up tomorrow, new and shiny.
My new baby is Crystal Gray Metallic 2.5X automatic. It's quite basic, with only options installed being cargo mat, protective bumber cladding and body-colored splash-guards. A bit of downgrade from my S Premium 2001 optioned to the gills, but look at the price: all in all - I've got it for $2750 below invoice.
Almost $3K below invoice - is it a sweet deal or not?
Bob
Congrats on the new wheels.
One of you Crew members needs to visit northern Calif so we have an excuse to get together and checkout Kate's new ride.
Jim
Congrats again! $3K under invoice is a screaming deal.
Santa Cruz?
Ken
I've tried the Livermore dealer once - and was stung by $49 charge for a one-day loaner! I have to drive extra 45 mi to Santa Cruz, but I think it's worth it.
All sales force there is pretty new, so they need to run to Bruce (who's now a general sales manager but used to be in service) with every question, but Bruce is very nice and accommodating.
I thought small-ish side mirrors will be an annoyance (after 6 years of looking into bigger Premium mirrors) but they're actually quite ok. I am thinking maybe smaller mirrors would equal less drag and hence better mileage? (let's hope).
Once family budget is back on track, I'll probably splurge for nice alloy rims and a seriously good sound system. But for now steelies and stock stereo is fine.
Interesting that you think the new car is noisier. I bet it is tires just need to break in a bit.
Now, are you going to do us OCDers proud and clay and detail your new vehicle?
Ken