Mrs. Bernse and I are slowly getting into the new car market. We want an AWD vehicle (not necessarily and SUV) as 1/2 the year is winter conditions up here.
We’ve pretty much narrowed it down to a new:
Honda CRV - Oozes quality and very roomy. The VTEC engine gives it respectable power and the mileage is pretty good too, especially considering it’s a small SUV.
-or-
Subaru Impreza RS Sedan - It’s not a belly-button (not everyone has one) and its got balls behind it, even not being the WRX.
We briefly considered the Matrix/Vibe twins, but in the AWD config, they’re terribly underpowered. The interior seems to scream “tacky” to me, too.
We came really close to buying a Jeep Liberty, but got a Jetta instead. I know, totally opposite ends of the spectrum, but since we already have an AWD mini-van, we didn’t need a SUV too.
But…as our deal with the Jetta was getting done, I was wandering around the dealer and fell hard for the New Beetle Convertable. The only thing that changed my mind was it needed more power, but they are coming out with a turbo model this summer. So that’s what I’d look at - a Beetle convertable turbo.
I keep changing my mind on the specific year and model, but I definitely want an older car. Something old, sinister, black and fast (like I like my women - badump).
Now, if only I could decide between the 55 Chevy and the 41 Ford Coupe and the 68 Firebird and the 69 Roadrunner and the…
Well, I’m just finishing paying off my Accord - 6 months left! Then, I don’t want to buy a car for many more years. When I do, I’ve got a craving for a Miata, which I almost bought this time.
My next car is probably the Peugeot 307, probably in the 110 BHP diesel version. A good car, suits my needs (not too big, as I live in Amsterdam), looks good, excellent roadholding and superb seats. With a bit of luck, my employer will provide it as a lease car.
I am sort of in love with the new Honda Accord, but I’m afraid it’s a little above budget (cars are more expensive over here - think $30K for a base model), plus it doesn’t have a diesel or LPG option (if it’s a lease car, I have to pick either one of those fuels).
If I don’t get a lease car, I’ll probably buy a second hand Peugeot 307 in about 10 months or so. Maybe 2 years old or so. Cut back that first chunk of depreciation!
I haven’t decided if it will be an “old man’s” car or an “Tree Hugger” car. If the former it will probably be a low-end Lexus. If the latter, it will probably be the Honda hybrid.
I probably won’t buy another car for 4-5 years, since I just got one in July (VW Golf TDI), but I’ve got my heart set on a hybrid.
By then I hope to have a few more models to choose from, but in all likelihood it will be Toyota or Honda. Definitely NOT the Insight though, as it’s a little tiny and weird looking for my tastes.
My actual “next car” will be the '666 MGB, when it is finally restored. As for my next new car, I want a Toyota Tacoma extended-cab pickup. I’d rather have something that got better mileage, but I need to be able to haul stuff. (The Cherokee does this very well, but it can’t haul the motorcycle.) I’ll go with the four cylinder and the five-speed standard transmission because it’s not for going fast and I don’t need the six cylinder engine. It will have the SR-5 package.
But that’s sometime in the future. Got other eggs to scramble at the moment.
I’m very seriously thinking about buying a new Dodge 3/4 ton diesel truck. I have a half-ton truck now, but the gas mileage is a bit hard to handle, and the diesel gets twice the mileage with cheaper fuel prices. I had intended to keep this truck until it wore out, but my fuel bill is causing a serious checkbook hemmorhage, AND the darn thing is having unidentifiable transmission problems. I’ve looked at Fords and Chevys too, but their diesel motors don’t get quite the mileage. I’ve had a great price quoted too, since my SO is also planning on buying one.
I need a truck for work and hobbies, so I can’t downsize the vehicle itself. I think that I am going to have to get the small dent in my truck fixed, and sell it myself rather than trade it in. Finding the time to do this could be a problem though. I can see my procrastinating self just giving up and trading it in, and then kicking myself for a few years.
I really like the new Altimas right now, especially the V6 ones. They are currently just out of my price range I think, especially if I get all the options I want. So, I hope to keep my eyes open and get a slightly used one in a year or so. At least, that’s my plan for now.
Crash safety ratings. While the Honda hybrid hasn’t been tested, I expect it to perform as the standard Civic, which rates Excellent for crash safety. The Prius is rated Average and Good.
Since the SO hates SUVs, I won’t be getting the Honda CRV or Kia Sportage that I really want:(. Just one compromise that I don’t mind making…because I really don’t like SUVs and I’ve always said I’ll never buy one - but I have a soft spot for those two.
Right now, I drive a Kia Rio which I only have because I didn’t have a car in NYC and I needed something cheap and quick. When I finish grad school in a couple of years, I’ll pay it off and probably go for a Volkswagen Jetta. With the kids on the way in the next three years, I’ll need something slightly larger than the Rio.
The next car in the Racinslinger family will be a mid-'60s convertible. Make, model and year are currently up in the air and will be decided upon when Gunslinger finds the right car. It’ll be his decision, though, so it’s not my next car.
My next car is going to be a 1952 Hudson Hornet. I just have to find one.
An Audi S4 Avant… I almost got one this time around, but thought better of it and bought a new Civic hatchback instead - relatively fun and a third the cost (my bank account and the environment love me for it too ).
That’s of course assuming I’m still single when it’s time to buy another car (or I marry someone rich :D). If I can’t afford it for whatever reasons, well, maybe an Infinity G35, or an A4 Avant if I have kids. Or another Honda…
