So it’s time for a new car. My beloved VW Cabrio has served me well, but mounting issues have made it clear that it’s time to pass it on and let someone else drive it into its junker years.
I would have bought a new car a long time ago if I had found one that I loved, but I really haven’t. Here’s a bit of what I’m looking for:
–Personality. Hard to define, but essentially I want a car that doesn’t bore me. A small SUV like a Honda CR-V might be the most practical choice, but I want something that makes me smile when I see it.
–Small. 95% of the time this car will transport me alone with minimal cargo, and our other car (a Fit) is there when I need to haul stuff. More room is just more space for crap to accumulate. (We don’t have kids and aren’t going to.)
–Nothing too ridiculously expensive. I can afford a nice car, but I don’t really want anything in the “luxury” range.
The top two contenders so far (with the caveat that I’ve driven neither):
–The Honda CR-Z sport hybrid. It’s nothing you’d mistake for a sports car, but it looks good and is reportedly fun to drive. That 39mpg is attractive. We love our Fit. The price is certainly right. Then again, it’s a brand-new model so who knows what problems might come up.
–The Mustang V6 (possibly convertible). I mean, it’s a Mustang. I hear good things both about Ford these days in general and this generation of Mustangs in particular. Fuel economy isn’t bad on the highway. Main drawback is that if I went with the convertible and got it optioned up the way I want it I’d be into the upper limit of what I want to spend. I have pondered whether a 35-year-old guy buying a Mustang just looks like he’s trying to recapture his fading youth.
I’ve rejected a few so far. I’ve always wanted a Jeep Wrangler, but that 15/19 mileage makes it a lousy choice for a daily driver. (I will eventually buy a old one.) I considered a Mini Cooper, but I’ve talked to several people who had issues with theirs and I live three hours away from the nearest dealer.
So, any thoughts on these? Any others I should be looking at? I’m going test-driving this weekend.
Funny. I just bought a CR-Z EX the day before yesterday, when my Toyota died. Read my post about it here.
After two days, I have to say it doesn’t really knock my socks off, but that’s not what I was going for. It’s a commuter car; a little more plasticky than I prefer, but it’ll do, I guess.
As I said in the other thread, it has three driving modes. So far, I’ve only driven it in Econ mode, and have achieved an average 48 MPG, which is much better than the specs say. 95 percent of my driving is highway, however, so YMMV.
It’s not bad, for a girly-man car, I guess. It certainly aint no Mustang.
Onomatopoeia–thanks! I had missed your thread on the subject. Your impression of the CR-Z is pretty close to mine so far. It’s clearly the more practical choice, but honestly, I could use a little less practicality in my life.
What about the Nissan Juke? The looks are not for everyone, but it supposedly has lots of personality. Although it’s shaped like an SUV, the back is tiny so it’s functionally closer to a sports car.
My parents have a Mustang (actually they’ve leased several over the last few years). I’ve driven it, and it’s a fun car, but definitely not to my taste. Of course, YMMV. But my observations:
It’s a big heavy car, almost in land-yacht territory. It’ll be much harder to park than your Fit.
Obviously it’s powerful, even the base v6 has plenty of torque and is great for laying down rubber or stop-light drag races. But it also has big heavy car handling. I can take corners faster in my little Fiesta.
But some people like a big car. The front seats are quite roomy. The back seats won’t do you much good since you don’t have kids, but in a pinch you can put adults back there for short trips. Plenty of trunk space for routine shopping trips.
And Ford is making very reliable, well-built cars these days. So if you like the Mustang, go for it.
I’ve heard rumbles about the transmission in the 'Stang, but perhaps it’s the manual tranny, not the auto. You may want to do some online research about it.
You guys really think the CRZ is a “practical” car? It’s a 2 seater! Plus the fuel economy isn’t even particularly good compared to any non-hybrid car of the same size, although the EPA rating does understate the city number for hybrids a bit.
What about the Mazda Miata? Does everything you need it to, can be had with a nifty folding hardtop, great fun to drive, has your precious independent rear suspension and women might actually take a second look at the car too (if you like women that is. If you date men then the Mustang will ganer more attention).
It’s “practical” for someone who doesn’t need to carry around a lot of people or stuff. And you have a point about the mileage.
Funny you should bring that up. You’re right that the Miata hits a lot of my check boxes, and it’s been on the list since I started thinking about a new car.
The problem: two of my friends in high school got killed in one.
This actually doesn’t bother me that much, personally. For one thing, it was 20 years ago next summer. For another, it’s a shame to blame the car when said friend was kind of a moron when he got behind the wheel and I don’t think either of them were wearing seat belts. But when I’ve suggested it to other friends from back then they recoil in horror that I would consider such a thing.
I’ll probably test drive one (since I’ll be at the Ford/Mazda dealer anyway), but the negative association is a big mark against it.
We bought a 2012 Mustang about a month ago - I’ll send Dread Pirate Jimbo in here to tell you about it, since he’s driving it, but my impression so far is this is a very, very fun car. I’ve never cared about what other people think about what I’m driving (or driving in), but I can’t believe how many heads turn at the Mustang.
We were concerned about the problems they were having with the transmission, but all other reviews of the car were very good, so we paid our money and took our chances.
Jimbo is 42, by the way - he freely calls it his Midlife Crisismobile.
my excitement died way back when I saw it was a 2 seater. Looks good on paper but if I’m giving up the rear seats it should either get better gas mileage or be quicker. With that said the 20 electric hp would make it feel like it was more powerful and actually be fun to drive around town when you want a little more zip without breaking the bank.
I’d look at all the versions of the Ford Focus and Chevy Cruze, and Mazda 3 and turbo version (speed 3). I actually liked the previous version of the Mazda 3. It was more subtle and had better lines IMO.
Not sure what you are looking for in terms of a “year round” car as the Mustang is a rear wheel drive, not very good in the winter, sorta car. If you’re looking for “fun”, spending perhaps at least $25,000 then I would suggest looking at a Suzuki Impreza WRX. Four wheel drive with power galore that will “put a smile on your face”.
S2000s are gone. They were a hard core sports car as well. The ride was way firm (painful on cement expansion strip highways) and the engine had no torque. Driving hard with the revs way up was a blast but there are too may police out to make a traffic stop out my way. The car was no fun around town.
Definitely drive the Miata (yeah - it’s supposed to be an MX- something or other). The Mazdaspeed 3 is a gas but not particularly efficient. It brings a real smile with your foot to the floor once you get used to the car’s desire to head away from the straight-and-narrow. The torque steer is reduced but still present. Don’t know if used interests you? A three year old Porche Boxter makes every drive (except for traffic jams) fun. And it’s low maintenance for a Porche.
Should have asked if you drive a stick or a slushbox (yeah - they are better now).
Not real sexy looking but a VW Golf GTI is great drive. Good economy (if you lay off the go-fast stuff) and teriffic torque from the 2.0 turbo. You can get it with the dual clutch transmission so you can do automatic in traffic and slap paddles when you want fun. Feels like a sports car with the seating and road feel but has room for another pair of folks and cargo without seeming big.
Being a longtime Honda lover (but not so much with the recent models) and someone who still has his 1991 Honda CRX as a second car (though with a few modifications that wouldn’t fly if my state did inspections), I personally wouldn’t spring for the CR-Z.
And being a longtime Ford hater (but not so much with the recent models), and never having owned a Ford, I would seriously consider saving a few grand and getting a Ford Fiesta. By all accounts, it’s a fun little car to drive, and has quite a bit of Euro inspiration in it’s soul.
Oh yeah BTW, from what I understand, the CR-Z’s A/C turns off when you’re stopped. Not sure if there’s a way to override that feature(?!?), but if there isn’t, there’s no way in hell I’d even consider that car.
The rear seat is deleted for the American market, 'cause it’s too small for us and our fat kids anyway, but IIRC you can have it back as a no-cost option.
