What car are you buying/test driving?

quote:

Originally posted by patespo1:

She won the 'I'm not a minivan mom' battle, but now has nothing to say about my purchases

I'm in the same enviable position. Though not in the Audi league, we just traded up for a Chrysler 300C with a 5.7 ltr HEMI engine. Needless to say, she now has power to spare. Hopefully I won't hear any protests for a while when I grab a Dom. Serene Evenstad off the shelf.

quote:

Originally posted by mneeley490:

quote:

Originally posted by patespo1:

She won the 'I'm not a minivan mom' battle, but now has nothing to say about my purchases

I'm in the same enviable position. Though not in the Audi league, we just traded up for a Chrysler 300C with a 5.7 ltr HEMI engine. Needless to say, she now has power to spare. Hopefully I won't hear any protests for a while when I grab a Dom. Serene Evenstad off the shelf.

I have a colleague who also bought a fully-loaded Chrysler 300C with the same engine last year, and he loves it. It's a great highway cruiser, lots of comfort and power. I think you get a lot of car for your money with this model.

I'm looking to buy an eco-friendly small car to use in town to drive back and forth to work. What are people's thoughts on the Fiat 500? Any other suggestions?

quote:

Originally posted by DoktaP:
I'm looking to buy an eco-friendly small car to use in town to drive back and forth to work. What are people's thoughts on the Fiat 500? Any other suggestions?

Have a Mini Cooper S convertible in Taiwan and I love it as a city car.

quote:

Originally posted by Seaquam:

quote:

Originally posted by mneeley490:

quote:

Originally posted by patespo1:

She won the 'I'm not a minivan mom' battle, but now has nothing to say about my purchases

I'm in the same enviable position. Though not in the Audi league, we just traded up for a Chrysler 300C with a 5.7 ltr HEMI engine. Needless to say, she now has power to spare. Hopefully I won't hear any protests for a while when I grab a Dom. Serene Evenstad off the shelf.

I have a colleague who also bought a fully-loaded Chrysler 300C with the same engine last year, and he loves it. It's a great highway cruiser, lots of comfort and power. I think you get a lot of car for your money with this model.

Yes, it's solidly built, extremely comfortable, and made in Canada, btw. So don't let it be said that I hold any grudges.

quote:

Originally posted by Seaquam:
I have a colleague who also bought a fully-loaded Chrysler 300C with the same engine last year, and he loves it. It's a great highway cruiser, lots of comfort and power. I think you get a lot of car for your money with this model.

Test drove one last year and enjoyed it, but for not all that much more, got a loaded CTS-V Coupe. If Dodge had a more realistic lease price on the car, I might have gotten it. The V had a sticker price $32k higher.

I am looking to buy a new car for my son, who will soon be getting his driver's license.

Right now it looks like either the Subaru Legacy or the Mazda 6. Both of the new models have an automatic braking system (if the car detects a possible collision), along with lane departure warnings, blind spot alerts, rear view camera, etc...

I figure the new safety technology is worth the price; as much as I wish I could just buy him an old clunker instead, like my first car.

quote:

Originally posted by Rothko:
...Both of the new models have an automatic braking system...

Actually, neither does. Both are available with Forward Collision Warning which provides visual and audible cues in case of impending front end collision. Forward Collision Mitigation (auto braking) is typically found on significantly more expensive makes that Mazda or Subaru.

Having raised (and taught to drive) two daughters, I'll throw this out. There is no technology that is nearly as valuable as a good driver. If you don't have the time or inclination to teach him yourself, find an excellent "advanced skills" driving school in your area and spend a few bucks there. These are not the "teach you enough to pass the state test" schools, but handle things like rain/show/ice driving, dealing with tail-gaters, nighttime issues, etc... Money well spent if you get the right instructor.

PH

quote:

Originally posted by PurpleHaze:

quote:

Originally posted by Rothko:
...Both of the new models have an automatic braking system...

Actually, neither does. Both are available with Forward Collision Warning which provides visual and audible cues in case of impending front end collision. Forward Collision Mitigation (auto braking) is typically found on significantly more expensive makes that Mazda or Subaru.

Having raised (and taught to drive) two daughters, I'll throw this out. There is no technology that is nearly as valuable as a good driver. If you don't have the time or inclination to teach him yourself, find an excellent "advanced skills" driving school in your area and spend a few bucks there. These are not the "teach you enough to pass the state test" schools, but handle things like rain/show/ice driving, dealing with tail-gaters, nighttime issues, etc... Money well spent if you get the right instructor.

PH

edit.... I was incorrect on the Legacy. It apparently can be equipped with auto-braking. The Mazda is FCW only.

Actually the Mazda has Smart City Braking, which is also an auto-braking system. It only works at lower speeds, however. At higher speeds it only gives a warning.

The Subaru works at all speeds, although it won't guarantee a full stop at higher speeds. In other words, it may slow the car down, but may not be able to stop an impact.

I appreciate the thoughts about an "advanced skills" course. I agree that that is money well spent.

Although there's not much need for the snow/ice training down here in South Florida.

quote:

Originally posted by Rothko:

Although there's not much need for the snow/ice training down here in South Florida.

Unless he every moves! And hydroplaning skills translate well to ice driving.


PH

quote:

Originally posted by DoktaP:
I'm looking to buy an eco-friendly small car to use in town to drive back and forth to work. What are people's thoughts on the Fiat 500? Any other suggestions?

Fiat 500 (the two door) is a great little thing. If you're looking for small and practical you can never go wrong with a VW golf (or I guess if you want to go there a diesel beetle). A mercedes B class is a nice step up and still gets great gas mileage. I haven't driven one but you could look at a lexus CT200h which is a hybrid.

Of course if you want small none of these are compared to older cars (just put a new Fiat 500 wagon or Mini Clubman next to a car from the 90's or 80's...) and a new car is inherently more ecologically damaging than existing car. So really if you want a little commuter car which is small, eco-friendly, fantastic in winter (lots of weight over the drive wheels), exceptionally cheap to run, had zero depreciation (actually beginning to appreciate in value) and still a lot of fun I will tell you what I tell everyone else.

Buy a 1987-1989 Porsche Carrera. If you need/want automatic buy a 1990-1994 C2 or C4 (4 wheel drive) with the mercedes automatic in it.

Simple, air/oil cooled, dead cheap to run (replace the front brakes for $50 a corner), fantastic in the winter, sounds sporty, not fast but feels it, small and easy to park, huge amount of parts, never break. Buy it, drive it everyday and never loose a penny on it.

quote:

Originally posted by DoktaP:
I'm looking to buy an eco-friendly small car to use in town to drive back and forth to work. What are people's thoughts on the Fiat 500? Any other suggestions?

Well I'm exceptionally biased, but I'd go with a MINI, especially the new generation 3-cylinder. Fiat has the industry's worst customer satisfaction in Canada, if that plays a role..

quote:

Originally posted by shavez:

quote:

Originally posted by DoktaP:
I'm looking to buy an eco-friendly small car to use in town to drive back and forth to work. What are people's thoughts on the Fiat 500? Any other suggestions?

Well I'm exceptionally biased, but I'd go with a MINI, especially the new generation 3-cylinder. Fiat has the industry's worst customer satisfaction in Canada, if that plays a role..

Dok, Mini over the Fiat any day of the week, and I can totally see you in a mini (tweed cap et al)

quote:

Originally posted by Rob_Sutherland:
...really if you want a little commuter car which is small, eco-friendly, fantastic in winter (lots of weight over the drive wheels), exceptionally cheap to run, had zero depreciation (actually beginning to appreciate in value) and still a lot of fun I will tell you what I tell everyone else.

Buy a 1987-1989 Porsche Carrera. If you need/want automatic buy a 1990-1994 C2 or C4 (4 wheel drive) with the mercedes automatic in it.

Simple, air/oil cooled, dead cheap to run (replace the front brakes for $50 a corner), fantastic in the winter, sounds sporty, not fast but feels it, small and easy to park, huge amount of parts, never break. Buy it, drive it everyday and never loose a penny on it.

Hemmings agrees with you, Rob

We just did a twofer in AZ. I bought an AWD Highlander Limited to replace a Buick Enclave. I looked at a few other SUVs, including the Acura MDX. The Highlander has almost all the new bells and whistles and has done a really good job on the electronics which is what helped make the decision.

We also got a 2002 Audi TT turbo/quattro convertible, as we needed another car to get around while my wife's BMW is in Houston. It is a fun little car, with quite a bit of power. It was pretty cheap at $8k, but it has over 100k miles.

Trying to come up with reasons not to buy the new Tesla P85D and not coming up with many. 4-wheel drive, 691bhp, 670ft/lbs, 0-60 in 3.2 seconds and I can get to the cottage and back without plugging in.

I'm probably in the minority, but I think it's time for a makeover of the tesla S body style. I see some many of them out here now for the last couple of year that it almost seems dated at this point. I always thought the interior was better than the exterior of the tesla, but now even more so.

quote:

Originally posted by GlennK:
I'm probably in the minority, but I think it's time for a makeover of the tesla S body style. I see some many of them out here now for the last couple of year that it almost seems dated at this point. I always thought the interior was better than the exterior of the tesla, but now even more so.

GlennK- Southern California and Northern California are the minority- they are very hard to spot in other states. And the car's exterior is not as impressive as the interior, but close. The recessed handles that open as you approach, the exceptional handling of te tires, the low center of gravity- the car is perfect. Rob- there are no reasons not to get the new 85. It will be hard to ever drive another car again.