Monday, September 06, 2010
The object of desire
According to Yahoo, today is the best day all year to buy a car. I'm still very happy with my car (a Mazdaspeed3), but that doesn't stop me from dreaming about the next one.
Right now, the object of my desire is the Subaru Outback. It would be a silly car to get in Texas, but here in Minnesota it would make a lot of sense. It's a great road car, has four-wheel drive, and I like the style of it. I've never had a Subaru, but always admired them. They seem to age gracefully, for one thing. It's a good performer, but not pretentious. I see a lot of them on the road up here, and their drivers seem content and happy. (That's something I look for, actually, in a car-- happy drivers. You rarely see a happy guy in a 1987 Geo Metro).
So, what is the object of your (automotive) desire? If you could have any car under $45,000, what would it be?
Comments:
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2010 Ford F-150 King Ranch 4X4...
What? I'm from Texas!
(In reality, I drive a Ford Escape)
What? I'm from Texas!
(In reality, I drive a Ford Escape)
# posted by 
: 1:14 AM
: 1:14 AM
My husband loves his Subaru Forester. Great on the hilly roads in Durham and the icy roads in the winter time. Also very reliable with few or no problems.
I love my Passat and would desire another VW when the time comes.
I love my Passat and would desire another VW when the time comes.
I'm with you on this one professor. My wife's family bought a 2003 Outback while living in Vermont, and it got them safely through numerous blizzards. I find it telling that people who live in areas with rough and dangerous terrain (Colorado, Vermont, Min-e-soda) swear by them.
Also, you can tell a lot by the quality of a car and the satisfaction of their drivers by how many used models there are on the market. To get a Subaru of any kind, it almost always has to be a brand new one because they're driven until the wheels fall off after 250,000+ miles.
Even in Texas, with its less than treacherous road conditions, the all wheel drive is great. It's like being velcroed to the road. Rather than getting a BMW, Lexus, or Audi, I say it's better to pocket the difference in cost and go with real quality rather than a status symbol.
Also, you can tell a lot by the quality of a car and the satisfaction of their drivers by how many used models there are on the market. To get a Subaru of any kind, it almost always has to be a brand new one because they're driven until the wheels fall off after 250,000+ miles.
Even in Texas, with its less than treacherous road conditions, the all wheel drive is great. It's like being velcroed to the road. Rather than getting a BMW, Lexus, or Audi, I say it's better to pocket the difference in cost and go with real quality rather than a status symbol.
# posted by : 11:21 AM
: 11:21 AM
I've never understood how anyone could pay more than about $35,000 for a car, no matter how nice it is.
# posted by : 2:11 PM
: 2:11 PM
We recently bought a car and I lusted after the Subaru myself Not quite ready to give up my minivan but if I were in your shoes? That subaru would be THE PERFECT CAR for you with the AWD to help get you thru the MN winters not only That? They do not die.
Under 45K Hmmm Probably woudl just replace my minivan with a better minivan Like an Odyssey or a Sienna.
i'm a strong supporter of your subaru outback choice. have known several people who've owned them in climates needing that kind of all-wheel action-- denver and milwaukee-- and they all loved them.
like some have already pointed out, too, they last forever.
another car along the same vein, and one after which i lust, is the audi A3 wagon. cool looking wagon, all-wheel drive, i believe they make a diesel model that gets unbelievable gas mileage, and they're affordable at around $33k-$36k. (affordable is a relative term, of course. i meant affordable for a law school professor/lawyer.)
like some have already pointed out, too, they last forever.
another car along the same vein, and one after which i lust, is the audi A3 wagon. cool looking wagon, all-wheel drive, i believe they make a diesel model that gets unbelievable gas mileage, and they're affordable at around $33k-$36k. (affordable is a relative term, of course. i meant affordable for a law school professor/lawyer.)
# posted by : 7:30 PM
: 7:30 PM
Back in the day, I sold my '88 T-bird coupe 5-speed turbo - black with gray interior & moonroof - to pay for an overseas missions trip. Perhaps in the mid-2020s when I have an empty nest, I will be able to buy another one. By then, it'll be a classic!
Toyota Prius-awesome gas milage, cool tech features, and it has a solar powered fan that circulates air when the car is off...perfect for Texas summers.
# posted by : 3:48 AM
: 3:48 AM
Oz, I once had a one-week rental of a Subaru Outback, a car I had coveted for a very long time. Like you, I love the look, the styling, and the practicality.
What I found on that one-week rental was that my 6' 1" frame didn't fit into the driver's seat very well.
I had only about an inch of headroom, and (worse, I felt) I was required to sit in more of an "L-position", by which I mean legs straight out at a 90-degree angle from my torso, than I prefer. I like to sit with the seat moved up a bit, and my knees bent... there simply wasn't enough leg room in the Outback for me to sit that way, and I found it uncomfortable.
Bummer, too, because I still love the look of an Outback. So, consider what Christine said, and look at the Forester!
What I found on that one-week rental was that my 6' 1" frame didn't fit into the driver's seat very well.
I had only about an inch of headroom, and (worse, I felt) I was required to sit in more of an "L-position", by which I mean legs straight out at a 90-degree angle from my torso, than I prefer. I like to sit with the seat moved up a bit, and my knees bent... there simply wasn't enough leg room in the Outback for me to sit that way, and I found it uncomfortable.
Bummer, too, because I still love the look of an Outback. So, consider what Christine said, and look at the Forester!
# posted by : 6:33 AM
: 6:33 AM
BMW 328i sedan w/6-speed manual transmission and the sport and luxury packages
Miss my last one . . . [sniffle]
(In reality, I drive a 2006 Toyota Tundra)
Miss my last one . . . [sniffle]
(In reality, I drive a 2006 Toyota Tundra)
Seems you like you would like the Subaru Outback a lot But probably you would like the Audi wagon too. Seems like the Audi would spend more time in repair though. And all the stuff on it is more expensive.
There are some cool Toyotas that have AWD too. Did you realize that? Like the RAV4? The CRV by Honda? or the Honda Pilot (the Pilot is kind of a Gas Pig, though.)
Seems like the Subaru or Audi wagon would be the perfect car for you, really. FYI I think the Subaru forester is actually smaller than the outback..
There are some cool Toyotas that have AWD too. Did you realize that? Like the RAV4? The CRV by Honda? or the Honda Pilot (the Pilot is kind of a Gas Pig, though.)
Seems like the Subaru or Audi wagon would be the perfect car for you, really. FYI I think the Subaru forester is actually smaller than the outback..
AWD IS an option on the Lexus RX Probably on the Toyota Venza as well. WHat about a Toyota 4Runner? Though, that is more of a TRUCK type thing....
Have you ever considered one of these? Youc an get a great used one for like 25K
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ctd/1933149615.html
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http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ctd/1933149615.html
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