~sudsshane
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Scion XB, Honda Element~
Those are good choices I had not thought of Rich..Thanks for your input.
Those are good choices I had not thought of Rich..Thanks for your input.
Time to buy a new car....suggestions??
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pturo
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Sudshane,no disrespect, but do try to get a fuel efficent vehicle if SUV is the choice, it is less we support the middle east arabs oil and the US oil companies who think they have a stranglehold on this nation, and better for our air quality. Have you changed out your lightbulbs to the efficent ones yet? Don't get me started on green. Thanks for the feed back, I have dogs, they fit in the back of the Saturn Station wagon just fine. Phil
~sudsshane
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Hi Phil~
no disrespect taken..I too try and do my best to go green whenever I can. I will most definately get a fuel efficient SUV since that is of concern to me, if not a hybrid. As for the light bulbs, no I haven't gotten around to that yet,but will be doing it in the very near future.
Another pet peeve of mine are people who choose plastic bags at the Supermarket. It takes up to 1000 yrs for them to biodegrade into the landfills! I am there at Publix or Whole Foods Market with my canvas bags, (usually 4 of them) in tow.
If one is going to choose plastic bags at Supermarkets,at least always remember to bring them back and recycle them.
no disrespect taken..I too try and do my best to go green whenever I can. I will most definately get a fuel efficient SUV since that is of concern to me, if not a hybrid. As for the light bulbs, no I haven't gotten around to that yet,but will be doing it in the very near future.
Another pet peeve of mine are people who choose plastic bags at the Supermarket. It takes up to 1000 yrs for them to biodegrade into the landfills! I am there at Publix or Whole Foods Market with my canvas bags, (usually 4 of them) in tow.
If one is going to choose plastic bags at Supermarkets,at least always remember to bring them back and recycle them.
If you want a fuel efficient SUV-How'bout the Toyota Highlander Hybrid?I have one and I am pleased with it.I am not normally a "Green" type person,but at the prices of gas its a good alternative.I know a fellow worker here at the site that has a Honda element-he is pleased with it.Its less expensive than the Highlander.Don't know the Hondas fuel specs.YeS,I do use Compact Flourescents-not for energy saving-but BETTER light than incandescents.
Personally I think the plastic bag issue is somewhat moot in face of all the plastic water bottles that don't get recycled. Some plastics can be made to biodegrade rather readily, also, and perhaps those will start making an appearance in groceries. I think it's a draw between the energy/eco friendliness of plastic vs. paper grocery bags, as each takes a lot of resources to produce. However obviously the paper can be composted no problem. In my town, I can put the plastic grocery bags in the rcycle bin where presumably they will be put into a recycling stream to produce more plastic items of some sort. I also like to use the plastic bags to deliver back yard garden veggies/fruits to friends coworkers and neighbors.
The Ford Escape Hybrid seems to get fairly decent mileage, so I'd probably look at that one as well.
The Ford Escape Hybrid seems to get fairly decent mileage, so I'd probably look at that one as well.
I HATE plastic grocery sacks-they don't stand upright as paper ones do-and dump their contents all over the back of your car-at least with paper bags those hold the groceries better.No chasing apples from under the seats!Better than bags-were the stores that had a pile of boxes in the front you could use instead of bags to carry your things.these were even bettter!And you could leave the boxes in the car for the next shopping trip!The bad part of plastics is that they are not as easy to recycle as beleived-esp if the market is weak.This happens.Metals are the easiest to recycle.
My two cents . . .
As far as I’m concerned, the first rule of car buying is to buy what you enjoy driving. If you don’t like to drive it now, you probably never will. If efficiency and safety matter a lot to you, though, you might think carefully about SUVs. The two main determinants of mileage in a car are weight and aerodynamic drag. Weight matters most at low speeds and drag matters most at high speeds, which is why a large sedan with reasonable aerodynamics can sometimes get pretty good mileage on the highway but rarely in town. SUVs have a double whammy here, in that they tend to be very heavy due to having chassis designed to cope with off-road conditions, and have poor aerodynamics because of excessive ground clearance and large frontal areas. The result is that they rarely get good mileage in any circumstance compared to cars of the same size.
Safety is negatively affected by the high ground clearance because it raises the center of gravity, and this reduces stability in emergency situations. One of my best friends is a high level accident investigator who is accepted as an expert witness in court regarding vehicle dynamics. According to him, newer SUVs are better than older ones, but they still have a significantly greater tendency to turn over in accidents. That results in much higher rates of head and spinal injuries, because there is pretty much no crush space in a roof, unlike the rest of a car body, and of course once you’re upside down it’s likely to be your head that takes a direct hit.
The Scion Xb and Honda Element are good suggestions. If you don’t mind spending the extra money then a BMW or Mercedes wagon might be very nice. I work frequently with a landscape designer who has a large dog that often spends the day with him both at his office and when he checks his projects. After having two Range Rovers he got a Mercedes E-class wagon. He really loves it because it is smooth, comfortable, handles well, and holds the dog. I should add that this is his second identical wagon, because the first one had an electrical glitch which caused the engine to die with no warning. M-B replaced that car with the current one, which seems to be fine.
A few other thoughts: there was some mention of Mazda. My sister has had a Mazda truck (made in New Jersey of all places) for the past three years. It has been very reliable, and the servicing is cheap, way less than my Volkswagen. VWs are usually OK to drive and well finished, but actual build quality can vary a lot and so can dealer service. My warranty was pretty good, and that turned out to be a very good thing when the turbo blew and took the engine with it. BMW does have a very nice service program - the cars are expensive but at least once you’ve paid the premium price you get treated like a premium customer. At the other extreme, I’d avoid Chrysler in general and Jeep in particular. From 1992-2002 there was a Jeep/Eagle product in my family, and while the warranty was quite decent parts availability was a complete crapshoot. Parts would be on backorder for months, even those under warranty, the dealer’s parts manuals were just plain inaccurate, and in one case they refused to ship a small part (O-rings to install a new water pump) via second day air even though I volunteered to pay for the shipping (“Chrysler doesn’t do that except in special circumstances”).
Happy hunting!
As far as I’m concerned, the first rule of car buying is to buy what you enjoy driving. If you don’t like to drive it now, you probably never will. If efficiency and safety matter a lot to you, though, you might think carefully about SUVs. The two main determinants of mileage in a car are weight and aerodynamic drag. Weight matters most at low speeds and drag matters most at high speeds, which is why a large sedan with reasonable aerodynamics can sometimes get pretty good mileage on the highway but rarely in town. SUVs have a double whammy here, in that they tend to be very heavy due to having chassis designed to cope with off-road conditions, and have poor aerodynamics because of excessive ground clearance and large frontal areas. The result is that they rarely get good mileage in any circumstance compared to cars of the same size.
Safety is negatively affected by the high ground clearance because it raises the center of gravity, and this reduces stability in emergency situations. One of my best friends is a high level accident investigator who is accepted as an expert witness in court regarding vehicle dynamics. According to him, newer SUVs are better than older ones, but they still have a significantly greater tendency to turn over in accidents. That results in much higher rates of head and spinal injuries, because there is pretty much no crush space in a roof, unlike the rest of a car body, and of course once you’re upside down it’s likely to be your head that takes a direct hit.
The Scion Xb and Honda Element are good suggestions. If you don’t mind spending the extra money then a BMW or Mercedes wagon might be very nice. I work frequently with a landscape designer who has a large dog that often spends the day with him both at his office and when he checks his projects. After having two Range Rovers he got a Mercedes E-class wagon. He really loves it because it is smooth, comfortable, handles well, and holds the dog. I should add that this is his second identical wagon, because the first one had an electrical glitch which caused the engine to die with no warning. M-B replaced that car with the current one, which seems to be fine.
A few other thoughts: there was some mention of Mazda. My sister has had a Mazda truck (made in New Jersey of all places) for the past three years. It has been very reliable, and the servicing is cheap, way less than my Volkswagen. VWs are usually OK to drive and well finished, but actual build quality can vary a lot and so can dealer service. My warranty was pretty good, and that turned out to be a very good thing when the turbo blew and took the engine with it. BMW does have a very nice service program - the cars are expensive but at least once you’ve paid the premium price you get treated like a premium customer. At the other extreme, I’d avoid Chrysler in general and Jeep in particular. From 1992-2002 there was a Jeep/Eagle product in my family, and while the warranty was quite decent parts availability was a complete crapshoot. Parts would be on backorder for months, even those under warranty, the dealer’s parts manuals were just plain inaccurate, and in one case they refused to ship a small part (O-rings to install a new water pump) via second day air even though I volunteered to pay for the shipping (“Chrysler doesn’t do that except in special circumstances”).
Happy hunting!
I don't drive any more,
but if I did, I would seriously look at Subaru.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
but if I did, I would seriously look at Subaru.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
irishwashguy
Well-known member
Hey there Shane!!
I would never, and I do mean never buy American Cars, they unreliable, plus a good majority of them are built in Mexico anyway. BMW are really nice, they are kind of spendy to maintain although, the BMW dealer that I went to was really clean, professional, and they do the matinence for the first 50k, even oil changes. Plus I am sure that you would look so good in one.Compared with a Ford Focus, or a Taurus, , there is no contest----and Mercry, well, I thought that they were Grandma cars,yes, all of them,Plus they are really not built for longevity.i have watched many people i know go though problems with them, Steer clear.. I have had four Hondas--- one 79 Prelude, 88 Civic, 92 Civic and currenty 03 Civic. When it was time to get rid of them, they were at, and this is usually 240k and still going strong. My 92 was bought from the auto aution for 300 bucks, had 69k and drove it five years and sold it for 1000.The 88 was total in a rear end colision. Enough about me, they are great, especially now that they have the hybrids out, they are Fabulous. I drove the Accord Hybrid before I bought my 03, and was very temped, although for me a bit steep for me. They are very reliable. I just did my front brakes, it was not 500. i just change the oil, wash it, and do the regular maintenence, no problems to speak of. Listen to your partner, he is just looking out for you.
PS: My Aunt Betty bought a Brand new Jeep Grand Cherokie----at 500 miles, the trans went out. Although it was covered under the waranty, they were not very happy with it.As i said, I am not a big dometic car person, I never owned one..............Getting into Honda and driving away now.....................
I would never, and I do mean never buy American Cars, they unreliable, plus a good majority of them are built in Mexico anyway. BMW are really nice, they are kind of spendy to maintain although, the BMW dealer that I went to was really clean, professional, and they do the matinence for the first 50k, even oil changes. Plus I am sure that you would look so good in one.Compared with a Ford Focus, or a Taurus, , there is no contest----and Mercry, well, I thought that they were Grandma cars,yes, all of them,Plus they are really not built for longevity.i have watched many people i know go though problems with them, Steer clear.. I have had four Hondas--- one 79 Prelude, 88 Civic, 92 Civic and currenty 03 Civic. When it was time to get rid of them, they were at, and this is usually 240k and still going strong. My 92 was bought from the auto aution for 300 bucks, had 69k and drove it five years and sold it for 1000.The 88 was total in a rear end colision. Enough about me, they are great, especially now that they have the hybrids out, they are Fabulous. I drove the Accord Hybrid before I bought my 03, and was very temped, although for me a bit steep for me. They are very reliable. I just did my front brakes, it was not 500. i just change the oil, wash it, and do the regular maintenence, no problems to speak of. Listen to your partner, he is just looking out for you.
PS: My Aunt Betty bought a Brand new Jeep Grand Cherokie----at 500 miles, the trans went out. Although it was covered under the waranty, they were not very happy with it.As i said, I am not a big dometic car person, I never owned one..............Getting into Honda and driving away now.....................
rexaircollector
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- Joined
- Jun 29, 2006
- Messages
- 79
Suds
How about considering the Nissan Murano? My partner & I pondered several before the final decision was made on his vehicle in 2004. Considerations were, cargo space, fuel economy (we get 24 mpg), handling, cost of repairs and reliability. Naturally, style also had a hand in our choice and after 3 years and 41,000 miles, there have been no trips to the Nissan Service Department other than for scheduled maintenance. We have replaced the tires but are still on the original set of brakes. We have all the bells and whistles (leather, chromed wheels,leveling headlights, sunroof, Sirius radio & navigation system) and nothing has failed us. The CVT transmission is great too! That is far from what our experience was with our Jeep Grand Cherokee(s). We had a 1998 that had so many problems, Chrysler replaced the vehicle after a year and many hours of grueling discussions. The 2000 replacement was not much better as it had frequent stays at the service department for issues with the transmission and brakes. We got so frustrated with it and decided rather than go through round 2 with Chrysler, it got dumped for the Murano.
We have been very happy with Nissan. I drive a 2006 350-Z and love it. Don't get me started with Mercedes as I had an E-Class before the Z and would NEVER own another. Very tempormental, expensive to repair(mechanics hourly rate $125 per hour) and service ($100 for an oil change!!). OUTRAGEOUS. I discovered my sunroof leaked after a heavy rainstorm, which caused a myriad of other electrical problems. The headlights began flashing on and off as if it were an emergency vehicle, which resulted in many obscene finger jestures from other motorists on my way to the service department. The car was in the shop for a week getting all the issues rectified. Affordability is not even a matter of contention but we could not justify wasting money on something that depreciates. We like to enjoy and drive our vehicles, not loaner/rental cars while ours are in the shop. Yeah, Mercedes does provide free loaner cars...but coupled with the repair bills, adding rental car fees would be even harder to swallow.
Attached a pic...not ours but the same color
Robb Castaldo
How about considering the Nissan Murano? My partner & I pondered several before the final decision was made on his vehicle in 2004. Considerations were, cargo space, fuel economy (we get 24 mpg), handling, cost of repairs and reliability. Naturally, style also had a hand in our choice and after 3 years and 41,000 miles, there have been no trips to the Nissan Service Department other than for scheduled maintenance. We have replaced the tires but are still on the original set of brakes. We have all the bells and whistles (leather, chromed wheels,leveling headlights, sunroof, Sirius radio & navigation system) and nothing has failed us. The CVT transmission is great too! That is far from what our experience was with our Jeep Grand Cherokee(s). We had a 1998 that had so many problems, Chrysler replaced the vehicle after a year and many hours of grueling discussions. The 2000 replacement was not much better as it had frequent stays at the service department for issues with the transmission and brakes. We got so frustrated with it and decided rather than go through round 2 with Chrysler, it got dumped for the Murano.
We have been very happy with Nissan. I drive a 2006 350-Z and love it. Don't get me started with Mercedes as I had an E-Class before the Z and would NEVER own another. Very tempormental, expensive to repair(mechanics hourly rate $125 per hour) and service ($100 for an oil change!!). OUTRAGEOUS. I discovered my sunroof leaked after a heavy rainstorm, which caused a myriad of other electrical problems. The headlights began flashing on and off as if it were an emergency vehicle, which resulted in many obscene finger jestures from other motorists on my way to the service department. The car was in the shop for a week getting all the issues rectified. Affordability is not even a matter of contention but we could not justify wasting money on something that depreciates. We like to enjoy and drive our vehicles, not loaner/rental cars while ours are in the shop. Yeah, Mercedes does provide free loaner cars...but coupled with the repair bills, adding rental car fees would be even harder to swallow.
Attached a pic...not ours but the same color
Robb Castaldo
Hybrid
I agree with hyralique on all points. SUV's have an aura of safety, but the roll over stats certainly contradict that.
I used to love cars, and still subscribe to Motor Trend. But at this point I don't really care that much. They are almost all way overpriced, considering that basically it is an engine/transmission, body, seats and some glass. Add in the safety features and there is only about $10,000 worth of stuff in any of them.
But at this point I would put gas economy very high on the list. While there will be blips both up and down the trend will be constantly up. If there is any, and I mean any sort of further disruption in the production or transportation of oil, the upward trend will probably shock all of us.
So, I would definetly look into hybrids. Have you actually sat in a Toyota Prius, they are pretty roomy. Honda Civic Hybrid is really nice. These would both make great daily drivers. If you need to haul on a daily basis, something larger would be nice. Toyota will eventually have Prius wagons, etc. But for now those two get great mileage. I really think that less than 40 mpg will be a grave mistake.
You might check out the Scions also, although they are not Hybrid drive.
Martin
I agree with hyralique on all points. SUV's have an aura of safety, but the roll over stats certainly contradict that.
I used to love cars, and still subscribe to Motor Trend. But at this point I don't really care that much. They are almost all way overpriced, considering that basically it is an engine/transmission, body, seats and some glass. Add in the safety features and there is only about $10,000 worth of stuff in any of them.
But at this point I would put gas economy very high on the list. While there will be blips both up and down the trend will be constantly up. If there is any, and I mean any sort of further disruption in the production or transportation of oil, the upward trend will probably shock all of us.
So, I would definetly look into hybrids. Have you actually sat in a Toyota Prius, they are pretty roomy. Honda Civic Hybrid is really nice. These would both make great daily drivers. If you need to haul on a daily basis, something larger would be nice. Toyota will eventually have Prius wagons, etc. But for now those two get great mileage. I really think that less than 40 mpg will be a grave mistake.
You might check out the Scions also, although they are not Hybrid drive.
Martin
washerboy
Well-known member
volvo's
I noticed not much has been said about Volvo...I'm looking to buy something new or new/used after Christmas..my 10 year old turck is pushing 170k..my other half insist I should get a Volvo for safty sake..but it seems like he's always taking his S60 to repari shop...and the expense is..well.. in my book a lot. Anyone have any thoughts on Volvo's..yes..no..maybe?
I noticed not much has been said about Volvo...I'm looking to buy something new or new/used after Christmas..my 10 year old turck is pushing 170k..my other half insist I should get a Volvo for safty sake..but it seems like he's always taking his S60 to repari shop...and the expense is..well.. in my book a lot. Anyone have any thoughts on Volvo's..yes..no..maybe?
zipdang
Well-known member
Volvo
From what I've read about them and what I've been told by friends who own them, Volvo has improved their reliability in recent years. I don't think they're on par with Toyota or Lexus (which typically top the charts in most quality assessment ratings), but are at least about average. I really like the upcoming 2008 V70 wagon, which will supposedly go on sale in North America in February, and am considering that for my next car, depending on the final fuel efficiency numbers. The new XC70 is already available, but is rated at only 15 mpg city. The V70 will get a few mpg better since it's lighter without the AWD hardware, but still, we get around 20 mpg city with our Saab and BMW and don't wish to take a step backwards with fuel efficiency.
From what I've read about them and what I've been told by friends who own them, Volvo has improved their reliability in recent years. I don't think they're on par with Toyota or Lexus (which typically top the charts in most quality assessment ratings), but are at least about average. I really like the upcoming 2008 V70 wagon, which will supposedly go on sale in North America in February, and am considering that for my next car, depending on the final fuel efficiency numbers. The new XC70 is already available, but is rated at only 15 mpg city. The V70 will get a few mpg better since it's lighter without the AWD hardware, but still, we get around 20 mpg city with our Saab and BMW and don't wish to take a step backwards with fuel efficiency.
For the last thirty-five or so years, Volvo has spent a lot of money publicizing their commitment to safety. I believe it's real and they're unlikley to make an unsafe car, but it doesn't mean that other manufacturers don't make safe cars. Some of the new smaller Volvos share platforms with Ford and Mazda too, which may mean better safety for those makes or worse for Volvo, depending on how things shake out. I'd look at some crash test results (both American and European) for anything I was interested in and base my decision on that.
Right after Christmas is traditionally a great time to buy, especially if you can get it before Jam. 1. Most people are too wrapped up in the holidays to car shop or don't want to spend for a big-ticket item then, and car salesmen see their incomes drop right when their holiday expenses hit. It's a great incentive for good deals.
Right after Christmas is traditionally a great time to buy, especially if you can get it before Jam. 1. Most people are too wrapped up in the holidays to car shop or don't want to spend for a big-ticket item then, and car salesmen see their incomes drop right when their holiday expenses hit. It's a great incentive for good deals.
andrewinorlando
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2004
- Messages
- 1,392
Shane - how about a nice Yugo?????
Volvos
IF Volvo still made the 240, I would buy one without so much as a test-drive. In my own head, the 240 is the perfect car. Reliable, easy to maintain, comfortable, and good-handling. Sadly, they stopped making the 240 in 1993 and nothing else has come close. Volvo has fallen a long way from its high 20 years ago. They are now much more trouble-prone, complicated, and expensive to repair. I don't trust most domestic cars based upon personal experience, and since Volvo was bought by Ford, it seems that many of them are suffering from terminal cases of Blue Oval Syndrome.
I think that Honda has the market cornered now for reasonably simple, very reliable, and pleasnt vehicles. The Element is my pick because of its flexability and comfort, plus its fuel economy is on par with that of the Volvo 240.
I am not a fan of any hybrids, however. Ask yourself how much gas you would have to save over how long a period of time to make up the cost difference, also figure in additional maintainance and repair costs. Although the hybrids do get excelent fuel economy, how much more energy and resources are used to make them in the first place, when compared to a conventional car? Also, what do we do with the batteries when they wear out? Batteries aren't cheap and a rechargable battery goes bad after a period of time and use. Battery replacement is very expensive, likely as expensive as an engine or a transmission (which the hybrids also have). When the hybrid is 7 years old, it may be worth replacing the batteries, but when its 14, or 21, the car will likely be worth so little that the repair is not cost-effective. I think that the additional electrical and mechanical complexity of the hybrid puts it at a distinct disadvantage when compared to conventional cars, both in therms of reliability and long-term durability.
Sorry for the rant, but I just don't think hybrids are the answer,
Dave
IF Volvo still made the 240, I would buy one without so much as a test-drive. In my own head, the 240 is the perfect car. Reliable, easy to maintain, comfortable, and good-handling. Sadly, they stopped making the 240 in 1993 and nothing else has come close. Volvo has fallen a long way from its high 20 years ago. They are now much more trouble-prone, complicated, and expensive to repair. I don't trust most domestic cars based upon personal experience, and since Volvo was bought by Ford, it seems that many of them are suffering from terminal cases of Blue Oval Syndrome.
I think that Honda has the market cornered now for reasonably simple, very reliable, and pleasnt vehicles. The Element is my pick because of its flexability and comfort, plus its fuel economy is on par with that of the Volvo 240.
I am not a fan of any hybrids, however. Ask yourself how much gas you would have to save over how long a period of time to make up the cost difference, also figure in additional maintainance and repair costs. Although the hybrids do get excelent fuel economy, how much more energy and resources are used to make them in the first place, when compared to a conventional car? Also, what do we do with the batteries when they wear out? Batteries aren't cheap and a rechargable battery goes bad after a period of time and use. Battery replacement is very expensive, likely as expensive as an engine or a transmission (which the hybrids also have). When the hybrid is 7 years old, it may be worth replacing the batteries, but when its 14, or 21, the car will likely be worth so little that the repair is not cost-effective. I think that the additional electrical and mechanical complexity of the hybrid puts it at a distinct disadvantage when compared to conventional cars, both in therms of reliability and long-term durability.
Sorry for the rant, but I just don't think hybrids are the answer,
Dave
liberator1509
Well-known member
Buy a Subaru
Forget the Saab and get a Subaru- try an Outback or the new revised Tribeca. I had a Saab and it was the worst car I have ever encountered - poor handling and unreliable - I've returned to the Outback and can't understand why I ever changed from Subaru - I've had four and love them.
Over here the Outback and Legacy wagons are the vehicle-of-choice for the landed gentry when pootling around their estates...someone told me that the Outback is America's second-favourite gay car after the Jeep Wrangler - which is cool and in my case rather appropriate too!! In his Sunday Times article last weekend, the BBC's main car-reviewer, Jeremy Clarkson said of the brand new Volvo XC70 'I'd save myself £14,000 and buy a Subaru Outback instead..."
Forget the Saab and get a Subaru- try an Outback or the new revised Tribeca. I had a Saab and it was the worst car I have ever encountered - poor handling and unreliable - I've returned to the Outback and can't understand why I ever changed from Subaru - I've had four and love them.
Over here the Outback and Legacy wagons are the vehicle-of-choice for the landed gentry when pootling around their estates...someone told me that the Outback is America's second-favourite gay car after the Jeep Wrangler - which is cool and in my case rather appropriate too!! In his Sunday Times article last weekend, the BBC's main car-reviewer, Jeremy Clarkson said of the brand new Volvo XC70 'I'd save myself £14,000 and buy a Subaru Outback instead..."
Dave I'm with you on the old Volvo 240's. I drove an 82 240GL for about 12 years since new and it barely cost me a dime in maintenance. Had over 200k miles on it when I sold it to my niece and they drove it for a few more years and regreted having sold it. Amazing cars, they could almost literally turn on a dime (tighter than a Honda Civic I'm told) and could leave most cars behind on the hairpin curves out in the rockies. The other thing, after all those years the cloth seats still looked like they had just come out of the factory, not a sign of wear anywhere on the drivers seat, nothing. I don't know what kind of material they used but it was indestructible.
perc-o-prince
Well-known member
but my partner is insisting I buy import
But who's car is it and who will be driving it the most? No disrespect intended to your partner, but if I ever insisted that Rich buy this or that, he'd surely have something to say to me... and rightly so!
Cudos to you for remaining loyal to American brands when possible, even when part or all of it may not be American. But, if you come across an import that you like and it serves you well, go for it. It doesn't sound like you're likely to get caught up in a "status" buy ('Oh, muffy, I couldn't possibly drive anything less than a Beemer...') so that's a good start for you. Weigh out what you're looking for in style, mileage, space, etc., and get out there and test a few!
I, too, have the "hauler" in the family, or I probably wouldn't have bought the Pontiac Trans Sport (LOVED IT to 150+K miles) then the Pontiac Aztek. But, we need one car that has room for traveling and buying up so much crap.... I mean goodies!!! ;-)
Best of luck,
Chuck
But who's car is it and who will be driving it the most? No disrespect intended to your partner, but if I ever insisted that Rich buy this or that, he'd surely have something to say to me... and rightly so!
Cudos to you for remaining loyal to American brands when possible, even when part or all of it may not be American. But, if you come across an import that you like and it serves you well, go for it. It doesn't sound like you're likely to get caught up in a "status" buy ('Oh, muffy, I couldn't possibly drive anything less than a Beemer...') so that's a good start for you. Weigh out what you're looking for in style, mileage, space, etc., and get out there and test a few!
I, too, have the "hauler" in the family, or I probably wouldn't have bought the Pontiac Trans Sport (LOVED IT to 150+K miles) then the Pontiac Aztek. But, we need one car that has room for traveling and buying up so much crap.... I mean goodies!!! ;-)
Best of luck,
Chuck
~sudsshane
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2007
- Messages
- 1,250
Thanks Chuck...
and tell Rich I said hi...
as far as my partner insisting, maybe I should rephrase that. His main concern is I get the most for our money. He is of the mindset that American cars have a lower resale value than imports and aren't as well made. Not sure if I agree with him totally, but given his track record with being right, I am cautious to doubt him LOL.. I am the more sponatenous,fly by the seat of my pants type.He is the more grounded,think things through totally type. He keep me grounded and I keep his life exciting! LOL =)
and tell Rich I said hi...
as far as my partner insisting, maybe I should rephrase that. His main concern is I get the most for our money. He is of the mindset that American cars have a lower resale value than imports and aren't as well made. Not sure if I agree with him totally, but given his track record with being right, I am cautious to doubt him LOL.. I am the more sponatenous,fly by the seat of my pants type.He is the more grounded,think things through totally type. He keep me grounded and I keep his life exciting! LOL =)
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