Yesterday, we explored what happens when people ask you for automotive advice. Today, I'm asking you to self-audit. In other words, you can dish it out, but can you take it? I'll start with myself. I drive a 2006 Subaru WRX Wagon. It's electric blue. OK fine. Subaru Rally Blue. But not because I entertain high-flying rally day dreams; the car's so ugly to begin with, what's the difference? I chose the Subie because it gives me fairly serious performance for just $25K. And even though I'm childless and unmarried (as far as I know on both fronts), the WRX five-door has the utility I need. I play bass and have a big amp (or so I've been told). I also brew beer; I often find myself needing to haul gallons and gallons of beer around (externally). The WRX's beer-hauling record: five 15.5 gallon kegs, a two-tap jockey box, a five lbs. CO2 tank and my best friend's wife. Uh, forget that last bit. Anyway, am I thinking about the new 5-door STI? Almost daily. And now, can you justify driving what you drive?
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By Jonny Lieberman
April 11, 2008 – 3 Views
And now, can you justify driving what you drive?
I’ll take a stab at this.
My Cobalt commuter fits me and most of my children, averages 28mpg in daily driving and 35-40 on freeway road trips, has all the options I want (except an I-pod input to the stereo) and since it’s a domestic I bought it a year old for less than an out of warranty Civic costs now, 2 years later.
The wife’s vehicle is a Suburban, and with 5 kids (who have friends) and a dog we use all eight seats regularly. We use the ground clearance and 4wd several times a month (on average), use it to tow something (project cars and Uhauls, mostly) about 6 times a year, use it for Costco runs monthly, and since we live close to most of our activities we only fill it up every three weeks or so.
They work for us.
I get 32mpg in my wrx. It’s the 2.0 though and not the 2.5. Pulse and glide ftw.
I have yet to experience the need for practicality that almost everybody else seems to have. Since I’m a young (under 25), single male, I don’t feel the need to have a car that can haul a lot of cargo or passengers. If I want to move something big, I’ll borrow a friend’s SUV or rent a UHaul. I want a car that’s good looking, good handling, and above all, fast. My 2006 Vette is perfect for my ‘needs’. I actually like the oft-derided interior as well. The HUD and g-meter more than make up for the use of some cheap plastic in my opinion.
I also have what I would like to think of as above-average driving skills, which is why I was able to drive a 400hp RWD car through a New England winter without incident (except that one time I got stuck and had to get a push back into my parking space and take a taxi to work). I also don’t feel that a 30 min drive (each way) through rush hour traffic necessitates an automatic transmission, so I’m happy with my manual.
In addition, the styling, orange color and ability to take the roof off is also great for attracting the opposite sex, which is a great bonus
There isn’t one other car anywhere near the price range I’d rather drive, so I really couldn’t be happier with my decision. The only other car that even comes close to offering the same kind of package in my mind is the Porsche Boxster/Cayman
Oh yeah, one more thing, I don’t care at all about gas mileage. Although I can get up to 29mpg on the highway, the 11mpg I’ve been averaging in the city is dismal.
Whatever I want to drive since I have such a short commute (less than 10 miles). The short commute (chosen on purpose) is why I want an EV. Technically possible today.
I had been considering selling our ’97 VW Cabrio in favor of returning my Corvair powered ’78 VW van to daily use but I think we might keep the Cabrio for another 50-75K miles with the high price of gasoline. The van has 190K miles, the Cabrio 150K miles. The van ges 22 mpg and the Cabrio 35 mpg.
Wife had been commuting 50 miles round trip in a 25 mpg CR-V but as of Monday we are swapping vehicles. Savings equal $375 a year.
Once upon a time I would have told anyone drive what they want but since everyone’s habits impact everyone’s prices – it is time to better match our consumption habits with your needs.
Whatever the case if gasoline continues it’s rise we’ll come out of this a better country – wiser I mean. How wise depends on how much and how long it hurts.
bomber991: Is that Metric? I had an '02 WRX. And DID NOT get anything near 32 mpg.
No, I can’t justify it beyond the fact that I just feel cool when I drive it. I need a body-on-frame vehicle because I have 5 miles of rough dirt road to get to my house and a unibody would be torn up too quickly. Beyond that, I don’t _NEED_ my lift or 32″ mud tires, but every time I look up from my computer and out of my office window, it makes me smile when I see my truck in the parking lot. I guess I don’t really need much more of a justification than that.
I drive an Audi A4 Cabriolet. I drive it because I like it. I’m at the point in my life I feel I owe no other justification.
I don’t have to justify loving my Suzuki SX4, Jonny, because you’ve already done so.
Funny you should ask that question. After years of owning BMWs I came to the conclusion that I had found better things to spend my money on and have switched to a Mazda3. It’s fun to drive, economical and cheap. When I need more than that I rent a truck, minivan or whatever is required.
I think what’s worse is when you purchase a vehicle for yourself, and after a few months, regret your choice.
How can I effectively answer the inquiries of others seeking my advice, when I can’t seem to get it right for myself?
Anyone that asks my opinion, (which seems to be almost weekly.) I turn around and ask them what they are thinking about, and why. This ususally leads to a “needs/wants” analysis, and eventually a recommendation, with the simple: “Drive each of these, which ever one gives you the gut feeling that it’s the right car for you, get it.”
Now if I had just listened to my gut last year…
Absolutely sort of.
My 2007 Civic LX works just fine as a daily driver and occasional road trip vehicle. Good gas mileage (usually 36-40), almost-comfortable seats, and OK ride.
A few months ago I convinced myself that I should buy a shitty old used pickup. Suddenly, a 1990 F-150 with a mighty 300 and a 5-speed showed up in my garage leaking every kind of oil like an old rusted water can. The exhaust bit the dust on day two. The passenger’s window was stuck down about 3 inches and wouldn’t budge. The windshield leaked. But the seat was more comfortable than my Flexsteel couch. And it had cruise control. But no matter what button you pressed, the thing just sped up. Want to coast? “F you: I’m speeding up,” the truck would say. Sadly, she passed on awhile back.
’07 Honda Accord EX-L with the 2.4L I4 and 5-speed manual. When my ’99 Mazda Protege LX was totalled in an accident last summer, we were certain we were going to buy another Mazda, and certain it would be a 6. We wanted a slightly bigger car, but still wanted the fun driving experience that is so Mazda.
We liked the 6. We really did. But we wanted a 6-cylinder model with a 5-speed, and in North America, that’s a combination that just doesn’t sell that much. Also, we didn’t have the luxury of waiting for one to come from the factory; the car it was replacing was in a scrapyard across town.
The Honda dealership down the street had three Accords with manuals (including a V6 with the 6-speed manual – very nice). We really weren’t considering Honda when we were looking, but we felt like we had to give the car a try. We ended up loving it, and even though the 4-cylinder is less powerful than the 6, it has enough power (and enough additional fuel economy) that, combined with a manual tranny, it was more than good enough for us.
Ultimately, the car is a blast to drive – the controls are just where I want them, and the car goes where I want it to go, the way I want it to get there – without losing its practicality. It’s roomy and spacious and comfortable for four, and reasonably good for five. It has tons of room for luggage. It may look a little boring (there are so many Accords on the road, after all) but when I’m behind the wheel, I forget I’m driving a common car. (Maybe the leather-wrapped shift knob in my right hand makes me forget.)
Now, car #2… our ’92 Corolla LX… the car that won’t die… the car that gives us a hundred reasons to upgrade it, but continues to run so well that we can’t quite (…quite…) justify it… well, an impassioned drive it is not, but it works and it won’t be that long before it sees 200K km.
I acutally drive a “sensible car” in the form of a 2002 VW Golf. My wife bought it before we met, and as we get by with one car, have not bought a 2nd one. Luckily, it’s quite fun to drive.
Sure, I’d love a Lancer Evo, or more realistically, an Audi A3 or VW GTI, but I simply can’t justify the expense, and watch my savings grow in the meantime.
I may reveal a dirty secret, but I’m probably more of a car marketing analyst at heart than a rally driving, although I enjoy driving and that seat of the pants feeling of taking a 30mph bend at 60mph instead, and wonder how it’d feel in a Gti. Well, I know that, actually, having drive-tested the beast on the exact same road: it feels great, but not enough to spend $500/month.
My glaring justification at the instant in time when purchasing my 2005 Outback 2.5XT was not to have to endure another summer without A/C in my trusty, yet not-worth-sticking-$-into 95 Explorer (which I retired at 245K miles).
Practicality tried to justify that a 4-cylinder wagon would help ease the pain at the pump and that a wagon can swallow more of my camp/bike/ski/miscellaneous gear than a sedan.
Reality bites when my wintertime gas mileage rivals that of the Exploder (18 mpg), it’s decidedly more cramped inside, can’t haul nearly as much, and has a ride more nautical than the SS Minnow.
But alas, redemption arrives everytime I drop the hammer in 2nd gear, spool up the blower, let all 247 (SAE compensated) ponies fight for a piece of the four contact patches, and watch the jaws drop of countless unsuspecting Minnesotans as they get a rapidly diminishing view of the ass-end of a ubiquitous grocery getter.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely. And that’s why the Green Gods are going to send me packing… to hell. At least I’ll have some space to haul groceries on the way there.
2003 Silverado extended cab
Daily, I wish they had the crew cab short box when I bought it. Even my 4yr old is tight in the back. I’ve moved 6yds of dirt from the front to the back because the dump truck couldn’t get back there. Tow a boat or two at least 4 times a year including a 1200 mile trip this June. Costco runs require it about every other month, Menards/Depot/Lowes almost once a week. It’s more comfortable on long trips than anything else I’ve been in. My current gas budget is based around $4/gal so I tend to ignore that rather than stress over it. I’d still trade it in a heartbeat for a 1/2t crew/short with a 400 ft-lbs diesel (not the 550 they say they’re bringing out). I figure I could average around 25mpg with a 3L-ish diesel that had 200 hp 400 ft-lbs.
My wife’s, don’t go there. It’s more useful than I thought it would be, but I still don’t like it much. The baby is easier to get in an out of in hers but that’s already changed since switching seats.
I currently own a 2004 Nighthawk Black Pearl Acura TL with the 6-speed manual transmission. I was an assistant parts manager at a GM dealership at the time and we recieved the TL in on trade. The TL intrigued me, so I grabbed the keys off of the trade-in board and sat inside. I was amazed. I had been used to GM interiors and workmanship, both of which are matters to laugh (or cry?) about. I asked the sales manager if I could take it out for the weekend because I was very interested. Purchased it in June of 2006 and have had ZERO problems and lots of grins. Friends dig it and I’ve had countless grins because of it. I’ve done a few mods to make the drive more enjoyable and have not looked back. I’m currently working in parts at a Mercedes-Benz dealership and I am stunned that my vehicle came standard with Bluetooth connectivity (IN 2004!), and in 2008, Mercedes owners have to purchase Bluetooth adapters. Anyone who has rowed a Honda 6-speed knows that can also induce great feelings of love. I remember my first time rowing an S2000 and was amazed. There has yet to be a rival to Honda’s manual transmissions in both feel and quality.
I’m completely screwed if I have to justify driving a Hot Rod Mark VIII and a 6-speed Cougar. I get enough crap about them from co-workers.
I’m sure my car justifies a few things for me.
I like to do things myself- it has crank windows and a manual shift
I have social phobia- It’s a Saturn
I also like it because it was made in the US by union workers.
I’d truly love to have a full size pickup but it’s not in the budget.
My son has a 20 year old Civic. It runs well especially since we had some work done on it recently. We got it 3 years ago for nothing, saved it from the wreckers actually. Guy that had it replaced it with a Sunfire. The Sunfire is now clapped out and he now has a new G5. I’m betting the Civic will outlast the G5 also. This is the justification for keeping it on the road. Besides it runs well, is in good shape, it’s safe, it’s a gas miser and it has NEVER let us down.
I drive a 2006 F150 crew cab with the 5.4L engine. I average 13 mpg and couldn’t care less. My next vehicle (whenever that is) may or may not get better mileage; I don’t buy for economics.
I bought a truck because that’s what I wanted at the time. I probably don’t use its capabilities often enough to justify it to most, but I don’t have to justify it. I enjoy the fact that the crappy roads locally don’t phase me and I can jump the occasional curb.
I do wish it had a better stereo…
Our 2002 Lexus ES300 gets a paultry 16 miles/gallon in the city, but my 3 mile commute to work is done on my Honda motorcycle which gets 50 mpg. We bought it used last year w/50k on it for less than 20g. Right now, the wife uses it to haul our older one to school and back (5 mile roundtrip).
It’s luxury, safety, and reliability is why I chose it. The luxury for my wife, safety for my two kids, and reliability for my wallet and peace of mind.
DSG. Five door hatch. Wicked fun. Intensely practical. Impeccable interior design and materials. I still think my GTI is the perfect car, and the best hot hatch you can buy. Great gas mileage, too.
But i can’t justify the LGT anymore, which is why i can’t wait for the lease to be up.
I like my 06 Jeep Liberty CRD. Its the only vehicle out there that can get 25mpg on a carbon neutral fuel (biodiesel) while towing a Prius. I’ve used the off road capabilities 5 or 6 times in the 2 years that I’ve owned it. I just wish it had a proper axle up front like the Cherokee or Wrangler, the IFS is no fun.
I like going 400-500mi on a tank. I can drive down to my Dads house in Sacramento, tool around all weekend and come back without having to buy California’s overpriced fuel.
The 2.8L Diesel is awesome on mountain driving. It powers up the bigger grades at 70mph with ease.
After experiencing one winter driving a Regular 2WD Mazda 2300 over Donner Summit on I80 I decided that I needed something in the better in the snow. On longer (2hr+) trips the lack of cruise control and “cozy” cab got old. It was good on gas however; I could get 30mpg freeway if I crawled along at 55.
Base (but not stripper) model Mazda3 bought for $14200. I’ve heard varying versions of “Nice car. How much did that cost you? $25k?”
No, living in Manhattan I can’t justify driving anything, given the cost of parking. Nevertheless I own a 2004 Audi S4 wagon.
What can I say? I just have to have my wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Sajeev:
I was this close to getting a used Mark VIII at the end of high school, before I realized that I would have to spend all the money I had earned in my life until that point (and more) in order to go to college. I love those cars
Twenty-one year old Mazda B2000 pickup with 404,000 km. That’s easy to justify. It runs nice, I’ve owned it forever and know it inside out, it’s extremely useful, and with a recent cheap repaint it still looks pretty good.
Two year old Suzuki V-strom motorcycle. That one is harder, as I bought it instead of a new four wheeled vehicle before I knew I’d be going back to grad school. But it’s the perfect do-it-all bike for me and it gets 50 to 60 mpg (imp). More importantly I can’t seem to do without a motorcycle in my life, I tried for a couple years and couldn’t stand it.
I love my ’06 long wheel-base Rubicon and I run trails with it ever spring, summer, and fall. It isn’t terribly efficient, but it’s better than some. It fits my lifestyle and desires like a glove, so that’s all the justification I (and anybody else) need.
So, Jonny, you brew your own, eh? Did you catch today’s American Voices in the Onion today? I like the middle guy’s response. It’s a stereotype, I guess.
RedStapler:
I know a guy who got a bad load of diesel in his KJ CRD in New Mexico on the way to Moab this year. It ruined all four fuel injectors which had to be shipped in from Italy and cost $1000 a pop. He loved his diesel til that point, so watch where you get your fuel so you don’t end up stuck in Cortez, Colorado for six days…
Let’s see.
I am 6’3″ in the morning (6’2″ by dinner).
That means the lame back, and the tall frame like the large roomy cabin and no flexing to get into the LC.
The LC practically does not depreciate. And, since I do about 8k a year, doesn’t use much fuel.
It handles all my trips to Home Depot, carries 6 when family visits, carries all our stuff for canoe trips (used to carry stuff to the slopes, but now we like the X3 better for snow). Gets me around town when the flooding shuts down the city.
Ya, it’s great!
I do miss flattening all the snow in the street so neighbors could use it in Denver, but we don’t get snow in Houston.
Jonny,
I’m thinking about trading my ’02 WRX WRC blue wagon for a new WRX 5 door. Maybe we can go in together and get a group discount? Oh, and you summarized why I have such well. Actually, I’ll add that WRXs are easy and cheap to add performance upgrades to. I’ve got a larger intercooler, massaged ECU, cold air intake (now gone), turbo back stainless exhaust, hi-flow muffler etc. I even did the wrenching on alot of it.
My 99 Miata justifies itself on days like today in beautiful (and twisty) Austin, TX :) I actually counted “convertible days” for the last 6 months of the year leading up to the purchase of it a while back, and ended up with right around 2/3 of the days being topless-friendly (the 1/3 was basically centered around August, as that was one of the hotter years on record). And it gets 24MPG with a fairly heavy foot. Can’t stand leather any more though. I’ve seen a few in accidents in the recent past, and that’s enough to un-justify it, so it will probably be gone soon.
The 06 Civic Coupe was a bit of a mistake; I love everything about it except the lack of a hatch or 4 doors. It has averaged over 30MPG with 60% suburban commute (3/4 stoplights, 1/4 stop-and-go highway), which I’m happy with. It’ll probably turn into a Civic Si Sedan, goofier looks and all.
I drive a RX8 with snow tires in MI. It’s perfect for the weather here and still allows for a easy school run for my 7 year old.
My wife has the much loved in this forum 05 Legacy GT wagon manual. It’s perfect for towing our boat, taking to norther lower pennisula for skiing and coincidentally, toting 6 gallon carboys around.
I can’t think of a better combination for our needs and budget.
I drive either an Impulse XS or RS
Why I love them:
XS makes 80MPH at 3000 RPM on the highway, gives 12 km/lt everyday, it’s stylish and hauls ass
RS the turbo and AWD makes you smile everytime you punch the gas
Cornering is very good on both… thanks lotus tuned suspension
thetopdog : smart move, these days they are all money pits…unless the seller has a stack of receipts for new rubber bushings, springs, etc.
My TSX does everything I want it to do while the old 1989 F150 is always ready for those lumber and dump runs.
The truck is easy to justify. I paid little for it, spend little to keep it on the road and it is always ready when I need it, which is a few times per month. It’s fuel economy is horrible, but I only buy fuel for it three or four times per year.
The TSX is honestly harder to justify. A Civic, Corolla or 15 year old Volvo 240 would serve me just as well. Don’t get me wrong, I like my TSX and feel it represents a lot of value and capability, but it is really an indulgence.
I sold my ’06 997 C4 because my car is, and has to be, my daily driver. I really loved the Porsche, but it is not, nor was it intnded to be, a daily driver. I now drive a ’08 335i which is the best daily driver imaginable because I can, and because I want to. I am not a YUPPI (OYP?)but have sent my kids to school and now it’s time for me. I’m even thinking of trading up to a M3, for all the BMW haters out there. Because I want to.
Because I like them?…
My daily driver is an M3 and I just bought an H2.
Other than needing four wheels to get to work… yea, no justification here except my mom who works all of 2 miles away drives the H2 and I drive it on the weekends or when I need to haul or tow. So yea, basically no.
To the poster above may I make a suggestion… Do yourself a favor and stay AWAY from the M3. I find the E46 M3 to embody the M3 spirit more than just about any other one except for possibly the E30, and even I WOULD choose an E92 335i over this thing, a V8 M3 has even LESS appeal to me. Its noisy, expensive to maintain, and the powerband is designed for racing, completely the opposite of what a DD should be, and not the smoothness I remember from my old 330i. Thats even with the SMG and a convertible top. It would be like getting your 996 all over again but without the Porsche-cool.
I got my Bonneville for all the ladies I could get with it.
I got the Grand Prix because I am trying to own every version of the 3800 V6.
I got the Firebird because I’m a mullet enthusiast.
So in conclusion: no I can’t justify what I drive.
my 06 GTI seems sensible enough. its quick. i average 28mpg in mixed driving. seats 4 comfortably enough. i love it.
yup, I own 20 yr old cars that I can fix in my driveway. The 528es arent the fastest BMWs ever made, but they are reliable as hell. When the Grand Wagoneer gets too rusty, I will replace it with either an older Jeep or a Toyota. 21st century, I fart in your general direction.
I’m in the phase of life where I’m buying vehicles by the cubic foot -> 2 minivans.
The inexpensive Mazda5, for daily commuting and regular ferrying of a kid, sometimes all 3 in car seats. The Toyota Sienna LE-8, for family outings, road trips, and carrying relatives & in-laws when in town.
I currently drive a 2006 Acura TSX with a 6-speed manual. I’m young and single, but wanted the utility of a 4 door and the economy of the 4 cylinder engine. It’s great fun, and the manual is awesome. Sure, I could have gotten a Civic Si, but I “needed” the luxury brand. Next time not so much.
My previous car was a mistake. I had a 2004 Accord V6 sedan. I thought I wanted to switch to an automatic, but I was wrong. Boring! Plus the Honda gave me more problems than I was expecting. I still bought a Honda product afterwards because compared to the Lexus IS250 and Volvo S40, the Acura was the most appealing and the best value.
I’ll never get an automatic again!
I have a hard time justifying the Honda minivan, ’cause the city mileage blows and I usually have three passengers or less on board. I could easily use less gas (yes, I think about that) and have lots more fun in something smaller and sportier. Which includes just about every other car made. BUT nine weeks or so per year, I’ve got four girls under my roof and we do road trips. At that point, with six or seven people on board and the DVD fired-up, with drinks, snacks and luggage stashed in the way back and the cubbies; making mileage in the mid twenties, it all makes perfect sense. Plus, it’s paid for. Cheap miles. I have no problem whatsoever justifying the Boxster S. First, ’cause it’s a bit of a garage queen (thanks TTAC), so it burns no gas at all most days. Second, it goes like Hell, stops like pause button and corners like a Ferrari. It’s as much fun as you can have with your clothes on– unless you drive naked. Which I don’t. As for the expense, I learned long ago I could never be too rich or too thin.
Only on Saturday night. My 1999 C43 will still do sub 14 second quarter miles.
Jonny Lieberman, yes 32mpg american. It’s all just driving style. Google cleanmpg.
Like starlightmica said, cubic feet are sometimes needed. The Mazda 5 is my choice because it’s the only minivan with a manual, and it has Mazda 3’s handling. It’s a minivan but it helped my wife “discover” driving (she hates cars).
Now, if they could only stuff the MS3 turbo 2.3 and 6-speed in there…
I drive whatever car my dad gives me the keys to, so, yeah, I can justify what I normally am driving (a ’96 Grand Prix GT right now).
Unfortunately, I couldn’t justify buying it for myself. It’s not that bad of a car. I mean, it’s reliable (110k miles, no problems), the ergonomics aren’t too bad, and it can be fun to drive sometimes (the V6 has a little less than 200 horses, which, for a teenager especially, is definitely adequate for a small bit of hoonage). On the other hand, though, I wouldn’t buy this car because a) it’s FWD, b) the gas mileage sucks, c) I blew the front speakers and I’m too cheap to buy new ones, d) it’s ugly but is unexplainably growing on me, e) it’s portly, f) the interior materials are pretty much crap, and g) it’s got an automatic.
@RedStapler:
How much does a Prius weigh?
My ’84 Volvo Diesel wagon makes a Liberty CRD look silly. Can a Liberty seat 7? No. Does a Liberty get 33city/40hwy? No. Does the Liberty have 76 ft^3 of cargo space? No. Does the Liberty tow 1500kg? Beats me.
I love my car. All the power doodahs work, the a/c is ice-cold R12.
Two years ago I paid $1k for it. Put 22,000 miles on it since, including moving cross country. I changed the oil twice, with synth. I could sell it for $1k easy to one of the greaseheads.
Hmmmm… until recently I drove a 1998 VW Jetta TDI with an upgraded sound system, 5-speed, sunroof, and power nothing for my commutes.
I had about $3k in it, sold it for $4000 and a 2002 Kia Spectra GS hatchback with 85k. I’ll likely sell the Kia for $3k…. so overall I will probably make $4k overall on the Jetta. I drove it for 3 months where I averaged a little over 50 mpg and waited for gas to hit $110/barrel before selling it.
I bought a ton of subcompacts and 5-speeds during the first two months of this year, but my daily driver right now is a 2002 Mercedes S500 that I bought for $12,600. Once I get rid of the pointless 20″ Velocity wheels and replace them with Mercedes stock, my cash basis on the car will be around $11,500.
In the past I pretty much bought and sold whatever I wanted. But with a nasty recession I try to keep most of my purchases to no more than $3500. Of course the Mercedes was the exception but there was no other money at the sale on that day and with a credit union rep no-showing and that inventory being about six months old, I figured why not.
I drive a 2005 Ford Taurus SE. Do I need to justify it?
’02 Acura RSX Type-S:
Enough power (if I can stand keeping the revs above 5000rpm), enough space (fold down those rear seats – where no one sits – and open up the hatch to load some serious cargo), enough fuel efficiency (keep it under the aforementioned 5000rpm and watch the mileage crest 30mpg), and enough fun (tight suspension + grippy tires + power when I need it = big grin, even for a FWD) for me.
bomber991:
Never!
I mean… what’s the point of driving a WRX?
Mcloud1:
You poor, poor man…
A 2007 Honda Accord Coupe EX V6:
Bought for $16,500 with 3500 (three thousand, five hundred) miles on it from a person who died.
What other justification do I need?
PJungnitsch- I need spark plugs, a distributor cap and rotor for a 1982 Chevy Citation, a water pump for a 79 Volvo, and a rear muffler for an 81 Accord.
(any fans of the Mazda B2000 will understand this request)
MCloud- If you bought a 2005 Taurus new you might have to justify it. If you bought it used no.
What’s the point? Still a fun car to drive, but you can get good fuel economy on those times you get stuck in traffic and save the fun stuff for the weekends.
2004 Oldsmobile Alero sedan, Sandstone Beige with the V6. It’s not the flashiest car on the road, but I got a really good deal on it (An older couple bought it new, kept it four months and traded it back in, and I got it for $13800 w/5000 miles). Other than a few very minor problems, it has been one of the most reliable cars I’ve ever owned. The six-way power seat fits my behind perfectly, the stereo has the kind of clarity that allows me to hear parts in songs that I didn’t know were in the songs, and it makes for a pleasant long distance cruiser. It has almost 66000 on it now, and it still drives like new and looks amazing. I mean seriously, this car is so far aging beautifully! The down side is that the fuel economy is not great in winter, and it seems that lately the resale on it drops by $500 a month! I was thinking of trading, but I think I’ll hang on to it, besides, it just suits me.
It’s not my dream car, but I love my ’99 Accord EX 5speed. It doesn’t complain when I rev it hard, and I love tossing it, and it gets decent gas mileage. Still reliable at 140k. It’s practical–when I go to the cape for a few weeks in the summer, or go on road trips alone or with friends, I can easily carry everything I need.
And I bought it in 04 with 67k on the clock for $5500. Not something I could pass up.
I like it enough that I recently passed up the opportunity to get a 2002 3-series for a good price (not nearly as good as I got on the Honda, relatively speaking).
That said, I’d love to have a Cayman. Or maybe a Miata.
2000 neon: practical, and cheap to fix. 160k miles. Got 39mpg average from chicago -> milwaukee staying in the right lane between 55 & 60mph.
(35k miles in 3 years)
2005 STi: My motorcycle before I discovered motorcycles. Now it’s my “winter motorcycle” in the city. (24k miles in 3 years)
2005 gsx-r 600: The speed demon. Faster than 95%+ of stock cars and incredibly fun and costs almost nothing for gas. (7k miles in 3 years)
2004 Oldsmobile Alero sedan, Sandstone Beige with the V6. It’s not the flashiest car on the road, but I got a really good deal on it (An older couple bought it new, kept it four months and traded it back in, and I got it for $13800 w/5000 miles).
This reminds me;
I almost bought a brand new 2004 Alero GLS coupe in black for $21,500, but backed off on it the very last second. I wound up buying that exact same car with 8,000 miles on it for $13,700 a year later. Two months later while gassing up, a kid and his dad come over to ask me what kind of car it was. I told them. They started to look it over, admiring the two tone leather interior. I casually mentioned that it was for sale. They looked at the mileage (now a little over 10,000) and we made a deal for $15,500 right there.
The Alero was a good looking car that was very well equipt for the money. When you compare the Alero to the overwrought Pontiac Grand Am of the time, as well as the Intrigue and Aurora, it seems as though GM killed off the wrong division.
I have a 2003 Evo.
Nothing cheaper is faster. And I can’t afford anything more expensive.
Justification enough?
2008 GTI
Easy to justify. I’m partial to hot hatches, as they provide the best fun/practicality ratio for any car. My GTI gets great gas mileage (just refilled after a 27 mpg tank), seats 4 easily and 5 in a pinch. Good interior space when needed, good power from an engine that can be easily upgraded for peanuts. Love the feel of working the 6-speed tranny. Doesn’t have more options than I use. Looks good and a great handler. Only drawback? No LSD. There have been a couple occasions where I could have used one.
I drive a forest-green 2002 Chevrolet Malibu. It has beige cloth seats and a pushrod V6 that’s good for 21 MPG. It handles in a benign, predictable, boring manner. The transmission is excellent. 4th gear is useless above 80 MPH. The build quality is terrible. It starts every morning.
I know this car backwards, forwards, and every other direction. It has never surprised me.
I can justify it because I don’t love it. It’s a parental hand-me-down. I don’t baby it, but nor do I abuse it. If I wrecked it tomorrow, I would feel absolutely no sense of loss, provided my insurance covered the fair market value. It is an appliance to stop me from having to walk to law school.
It will be replaced with an Evo X, an E46 M3, a G8, the coupe version of the G8, or a Volvo S40 if the manual ever becomes an option on the T5.
Currently I have an 07 STI Limited. I really love it except I wish I had it in Bad Ass Blue, a huge wing on the back and if it was a wagon… and it’s a pain to haul lumber in it (2x4x8s are a hard fit). Jonny, I saw your rant about spending tons on extra parts and many speeding tickets and I feel your pain. Though I haven’t upgraded it much, within 1 and a half years of having her, I’ve gotten 3 speeding tickets and the DMV telling me that I can’t get a total of 4 tickets in a 2 year period, so I have to cool my driving until December.
I’m quite drawn to the new WRX and the STI. Yes, the STI has the much better looks and speed (and I have a hookup with Subaru to get a good deal), but with gas getting more expensive, and having gone through my 30k tune up on mine – which included new tires, new brake pads, brake rotors, and the full maintenance… my pockets are emptying pretty quickly… the new WRX would be more “economical” while still having the fun factor. No, it’s not an STI, but I’m sure I could live with it.
I can’t wait to see what Subaru does to the Legacy GT Spec.B or the new coupe. But by looking at the Tribeca and the Forester, I tremble inside.
Justifying LOVE??? That’s an oxymoron.
Thanks for the heads up. I only use Biodiesel from a refinery ~40 South of Reno in Minden
http://www.bentlybiofuels.com/
I have toured their facility and have full faith their quality control.
We are living in a brave new world when Bio is cheaper than Dyno.
I know a guy who got a bad load of diesel in his KJ CRD in New Mexico on the way to Moab this year. It ruined all four fuel injectors which had to be shipped in from Italy and cost $1000 a pop. He loved his diesel til that point, so watch where you get your fuel so you don’t end up stuck in Cortez, Colorado for six days…
Eggsalad
Comparing a 2WD car to a 4WD SUV/Truck to a car is apples to oranges.
The CRD is very conservatively rated to tow 5000 lbs. Given that the engine has 295b/ft of torque and the transmission is the same that goes into the 1/2 Ton Ram Pickup it could tow significantly more.
Curb weight on a Prius is 2920 lbs. With the addition of a transmission cooler and gauges on the A-pillar I’d be comfortable towing TWO Prii.
However from a liability standpoint DaimlerChrylser set the bar low as they don’t want Joe Six Pack having his 4200lb SUV wagged by the tail of 8000lbs of trailer.
@RedStapler:
>>>
How much does a Prius weigh?
My ‘84 Volvo Diesel wagon makes a Liberty CRD look silly. Can a Liberty seat 7? No. Does a Liberty get 33city/40hwy? No. Does the Liberty have 76 ft^3 of cargo space? No. Does the Liberty tow 1500kg? Beats me.
I love my car. All the power doodahs work, the a/c is ice-cold R12.
Two years ago I paid $1k for it. Put 22,000 miles on it since, including moving cross country. I changed the oil twice, with synth. I could sell it for $1k easy to one of the greaseheads.
I drive an ’05 F150 Regular Cab V6 STX RED with a 5-speed manual. For my family of 3, along with our ’07 Focus, its fits us perfectly. I can haul stuff in the rear, it seats 3 of us with ease (the 3rd is just 5 years old, however) and no, I’m not getting 35mpg, but it returns a solid 20 thanks to the 5-speed on my 60 mile/day commute.
And it offers a reasonable amount of performance for a full-size truck shod with factory alloys and Michelin 255-65’s. I love it and its $16500 out the door price tag… thanks to the rebates of 2005.
Did I mention that Bright Red paint. With its lack of fender appliques & typical gaudy chrome and trim that almost all trucks in the South seem to inherit, it is almost, SEXY!
1500kg is 3300# so a Jeep Liberty tows more than that.
The short wheelbase of the Liberty prevents it from towing more than 5000#
2005 Mustang 5 Speed. Brings a smile to my face everyday—that is the only justification I need—-especially after a bad day at the office
I drive a 2006 Azera Limited that I traded my Sonata for. It had 18,000 miles as a dealer’s program car when I traded and was just like new.
The Azera is a lot of car for the money, all the power I want (263 hp), handles nicely, gets reasonable mileage (23-24 mixed driving), and, the back seat is especially spacious and comfortable for our friends who, like me, are in our 70s.
Justify Shmustify! I likes what I like, and I agree with Andy D’s preference for 20+ year old cars. BTW – I’m sorry for the length of this post, I have a lot of justifying to do –
I currently have 9 cars; 3 of them basically split up the commuting duty, a 1969 MB 280SE, a 1984 BMW 633csi, and a 1991 Mazda 323 hatch. Beyond that, I have 3 more MB 108/109s (two parts cars and a restoration project), two Fiat 124 spiders (these will be sold soon to make room for a Locost like project) and a big 1991 Dodge work van.
The vintage MBs I like for their fabulous build quality, excellent ride, precise low speed steering, and fabulous 1960s looks. When I drive them, I like to pretend I’m wafting along the highway in some 1968 European film…
I bought the BMW 633 on the cheap with the intent of reselling it for a profit. Somehow, it become a long term member of my fleet. It just looks sooooooo good, with perfect coupe proportions, and it is one the best highway cruisers I have ever driven.
The Fiats are summer toys, one of which I have had for 10 years, far and away longer than any other Car I have ever owned. Sadly, I no longer have time to give them the love they deserve.
The Mazda 323 is a cheap beater, fun to drive in a slow car way, and averages in the neighborhood of 35-37 on the highway. It exists for making weekend runs to other cities and commuting.
The Dodge Van is the easiest to justify. Along with automobile design, I also do installation artwork, so the van lives to tow, carry and move loads. It may be the least glamorous car in my fleet, but it is the one I could not live without.
Its not that I don’t like newer cars per say, but few of them are very flavorful, and for the most part, they have low annoying greenhouses (see the BMW 135i review), and limits so high I don’t feel like I’m driving as much as just riding along. A guy I work with has an Audi S4 that is fabulous in every way, but in daily driving it can’t go any faster than my cars do – and has limits so high that it feels about as involving as a Camry to commute in. My 38 year old MB280SE makes every drive feel like a small event, something special in and of itself. THAT is what I look for in a car.
2005 Audi TT 3.2L Quattro S-Line. Love it and hate it.
It corners on rails in wet and dry. I love the steering feel, ride, and solid feel at high speeds.
When I have a bad day. I get in the TT and drive the blues away.
My new MINI gets me 40mpg on my weekly commute out of town every weekend. I walk to work most days. And then my other ride on the weekends is a 65 Ford Falcon Squire. We are working on upgrading my partner’s 95 Volvo 850 with 250k miles on it, but it recently clocked about 30mpg in mostly highway driving. So reading these comments has been great for understanding what people like/dislike about their cars…
GBG
http://www.autoclay.blogspot.com
I use a 2001 loaded Grand Am GT 2 Dr for rainy/snowy/sleet/cold/slushy days.I run it 10,000 klms a year.It looks good runs good and its resale is a joke.
The rest of the time I drive a 2000 base model
Firebird rag top.3800 V6 auto.White with a black top.
Yeah Yeah I’ve heard it all at one time or another. Whats a 54 year old paunchy,balding,beer drinking factory worker doing driving a chick car?
Fact, is I love her.There is no greater feeling than criusing along, top down gazing over her long hood.
The Grand Am I’m not sure about,but the Firebird is mine forever.
Mikey, hey I resemble that, except I’m 57. I have always wanted a convertable. I’ve settled for a car with a sunroof.
I have had to justify more than once why I purchased a 2007 Civic Si sedan over a 2007 GTI 5-door. Here goes: 1) Transmission 2) Transmission 3) Transmission.
It also helps that I feel more confident with Honda’s reliability reputation; I happen to prefer its sci-fi interior styling over VW’s conventional (yet gorgeously-crafted) interior; and the Si is 5k less.
I do miss the hatch versatility though…
Mine is a 1997 Toyota Tercel 2-door pushing 175k with ZERO issues to date, beyond normal wear/tear and upkeep. It’s actually my 16 year-old’s car, given to him by his more than generous aunt(my sister), but until he has his license, I use it for work. She isn’t flashy, but I never worry when I get in to start it. Everything works on it (of course, beyond the AC, there aren’t too many options that can fall apart on her to begin with!) and the upgraded stereo sounds awesome. And being that I’m not in a financial position to buy what I want (2003 of so Wrangler) my next vehicle purchase in three months or so will only be justified by the amount of cash I can save up to make the purchase (no payments for me!)…
I commute on a 2003 Honda VFR800. Given my 4 mile commute, mileage of just north of 30 is not bad, but seems a little thirsty for a 100 hp motorcycle. When it’s raining, I jump in a 2003 S2000 which delivers about 24 mpg for the same kind of driving and will gust to 26 or so for long highway drives.
This is easy.
My wife has a 2008 Civic SI Sedan for carting around the herself and baby, I have a 2006 BMW Z4 for road trips with me and my wife (the trunk is a massive 9 cu. ft., we can do a 5 day weekend to the beach no problem), or sunny days around town, and a 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo to play with (and hey, it also has 4 seats . . sort of . . AND a hatch back – that’s totally practical). All totally justifiable in my warped mind.
I’m pondering a winter beater as well – I’m torn between a TT Quattro or a 964 era Carrera 4.
xantia – you made the right decision. The new GTI can’t even come close to the Civic SI in terms of precision or driving enjoyment. We drove both extensively. The GTI is a nice docile little car, the SI makes every drive feel like a Grand Prix.
And that shifter . . . so sweet.
And lets not even get into the reliability issues (I’ve owned 5 Civics with 0 problems, one VW with a billion problems and one Audi with a billion problems).
I recently switched out an 05 C-Class for a new G35S 6MT and I do get asked to justify leaving a “Mercedes” for an Infiniti.
My own rational in order of importance:
1. More hoonage
2. Improved luxury interior
3. Safety
4. Reduced cost of maintenance
5. Decent Gas Mileage
6. Low emissions
Personally I felt it’s the best value for a luxury sports car at the price.
What I tell everyone else: “Because I wanted it.”
Thanks, LUNDQIK – I’e been really happy with the Si, driving it like I stole it. I was all set to choose the GTI until I drove the Civic and experienced the sweet & precise gearbox and perfectly placed pedals. I looked at a “Mazda MAZDASPEED Mazda3” as well and wasn’t impressed with the coal hole interior & toilet plunger-feeling gearstick.