What are you Driving?
- Thread starter Covar
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Practical schmactical... I want my damn Porsche GT3!
(I'll never have a Porsche GT3... my next vehicle is destined to be a minivan
)
(I'll never have a Porsche GT3... my next vehicle is destined to be a minivan
)
Unless you are only doing city driving, hybrids aren't that practical. You have to own one for years before they make up the extra cost. For example, a Ford Fusion hybrid is $8000 more than an equivalent regular engine Fusion. You get an average of 10 more mpg (Standard is 23 city / 33 highway; hybrid is 41 city and 36 highway; avg mileage is then approx 28 mpg standard and 38 mpg hybrid). 17.5 gallon fuel tank, so that's 175 more miles between fill-ups. That's one less fuel stop per month, maybe? If gas continues to be around $4 a gallon, each fill-up will run you $70. So each year, you save $70 per month, or $840 per year. That means it'll take 9 1/2 years before the car has paid for itself in terms of savings. That doesn't take into consideration how much higher each car payment will be (at least an extra $133 per month on a monthly car payment, 5 year plan). So actually, by driving the hybrid, you're losing $63 a month.
'97 Nissan Primera GX, bought with very low milage three years ago. Still only 86K. Great car.
2006 Crown Victoria 
with 83301.9 miles on it at this moment.
My wife's car is a 2004 Ford Focus which is in dire need of replacement.
I miss my Nova...
with 83301.9 miles on it at this moment.My wife's car is a 2004 Ford Focus which is in dire need of replacement.
I miss my Nova...
Mustang it is, then! No, but seriously, thanks for the breakdown. Looks like a hybrid Fusion (which is the route I was thinking of going) would be perfect for my current commute, and a waste of money for a smaller city like Louisville, where we're hoping to move.
As far as hybrids go, the most cost effective one looks to be the Prius c, which starts at around $19k, with 53 city / 46 highway / 50 combined mpg, but only a 9.5 gal tank.
There are a number of gasoline powered 2012 cars that get 33-34mpg that are quite affordable.
Ford Fiesta, Nissan Versa, Hyundai Accent, Chevrolet Sonic, Hyundai Elantra and the Honda Civic.
Ford Fiesta, Nissan Versa, Hyundai Accent, Chevrolet Sonic, Hyundai Elantra and the Honda Civic.
I would definitely recommend the Fiesta over the Fusion hybrid. My former boss drives an Elantra and liked it pretty well.
fade
Staff member
Wow, if we're talking old cars, I miss my two VW Buses. 1977 and 1969. Curiously, I was the second owner of both, by complete coincidence. Both had every record, original manuals, and the 69 even had the original sales brochure. I got the second from a german friend who's dad brought it over when they immigrated using VW's Tourist Program, which allows you to buy a VW in germany, drive it for a while, and then they ship it back to the US for you.2006 Crown Victoria
My wife's car is a 2004 Ford Focus which is in dire need of replacement.
I miss my Nova...
Adam, How do they go offroad? Considering a 2 door softop for my new car. Not many people downunder actually take them offroad.
Currently driving a 96 Holden Commodore VR. Nice roomy car with enough luxury features to keep me happy. Nearing 200K KM though, so she is a bit worn out.The only thing I don't like about it is the effing imperial size bolts on everything in the engine bay. WAAARRRGGGBBBBLLLL
Baby, I had to crash that Honda.
Yes, I searched through the thread for a Honda just so I could post that.
MOTHERFUCKER.
They offroad better than they onroad. They are a no-frill SUV. Don't expect heated seats or lumbar support or a soft squishy suspension. You'll feel every bump and twist and turn and that's the point
I would hesitate to take a brand new Wrangler offroad just because I'm a little cheap and would hate to see a nice vehicle get destroyed, but they're very capable. It's fun just to drive down old logging roads around home without requiring a big ass truck.
Love the Isetta Adam! And Vagabond nice ride, nothing else feels like a BMW! Even a broken one feels better than most cars on their best day! I'm currently beating on a 1997 M3 with 183,000 miles every day and looking for the right 2003-2006 Jeep Wrangler to take over daily driver duties and let the M3 be more of a driveway queen. Puts a smile on my face every time I drive it but this is a car I want to keep and not torture. So the Jeep gets to be my convertible, all-weather vehicle and something I can hopefully wash the crazy giant German Shepherd's fur out of more easily. Would love to go for a new Jeep but we also have the wife's BMW X5, my pickup which my son is thrashing on a daily basis and my daughters will be driving this year so I get to buy two cars! Yay!
Officer I would love to know more about that Nova! The picture is not showing up. Worked on and raced against plenty and those Novas were always badass!
Officer I would love to know more about that Nova! The picture is not showing up. Worked on and raced against plenty and those Novas were always badass!
It was a 79 Nova Rally that I got for 1100 from one of the civilian contractors at Camp LeJeune. Only a straight 6 and an automatic, but it was my first car. Unfortunately, the transmission ended up crapping out, and I didn't have enough to repair it, so I parked it in my driveway with the intention of saving up and repairing it.
The city of Savannah towed it from my driveway on Christmas Eve as a result of their "Eyesore" city ordinance - no junkers to be visible from the street. Their main beef? It wasn't registered and had no insurance... BECAUSE IT WASN'T RUNNING!!!
The tow company was going to charge me $500 for towing and storage... I ended up just giving them the car - I couldn't afford anything at the time. God. Dammit.
The city of Savannah towed it from my driveway on Christmas Eve as a result of their "Eyesore" city ordinance - no junkers to be visible from the street. Their main beef? It wasn't registered and had no insurance... BECAUSE IT WASN'T RUNNING!!!
The tow company was going to charge me $500 for towing and storage... I ended up just giving them the car - I couldn't afford anything at the time. God. Dammit.
Dude that sucks!!! That would be a sweeeeeeeeeet car to build up and modify.
Why do cities do such ass-hattery just before a holiday?
I have an 04 f-150. I've had it for three years and it's the first vehicle I've had that hasn't fallen apart from the bumpy dirt roads I live on. I'm contemplating getting a cheap motorcycle to drive for my daily commute to work on nice days though. Gas is getting painful when I only get 15 mpg.
Aaaaand got it.I'm actually getting my first ever car in like 2 days! A 2002 Honda Civic that I'm buying from my grandparents.
Damn OC! That sucks! Sorry you lost the Nova like that, those straight sixes were near indestructible.
Congratulations on the new\first ride Gusto!
Congratulations on the new\first ride Gusto!
Around the end of February, I finally got rid of my exhaust-less '94 Taurus in favor of a 2004 Sable. I only got about 250 trade-in for the Taurus and probably paid $1500-2000 more for the Sable than I should've but I needed it NOW and really didn't have the luxury of waiting any longer. I bought it knowing I'd probably have to put $1500-2000 into it to really fix it up (tires, alignment, flywheel) and make it all better but it's good enough now to be significantly safer with our kid in it (and that's what matters).
Oh, and my identity was stolen at the dealership and (separately) my debit card number (that I used to pay the down payment) was also stolen and my account was cleaned out. But it's all better now and I already put all that into the rant thread.
--Patrick
Oh, and my identity was stolen at the dealership and (separately) my debit card number (that I used to pay the down payment) was also stolen and my account was cleaned out. But it's all better now and I already put all that into the rant thread.
--Patrick
North_Ranger
Staff member
Currently I drive nothing, since what with the fatigue from chemo and deteriorated physical condition, and the lightning-fast needs to urinate due to prostate and kidney issues related to the cancer... well, I just don't trust myself behind the wheel of a vehicle. Not that I have much need for it, as my parents have been quite willing to drive me where I need to go. Mainly the hospital and the rehearsals, really.
Before that... I still didn't drive much, and my folks had two cars so I got to drive the older car when they didn't need it.
Before that... I still didn't drive much, and my folks had two cars so I got to drive the older car when they didn't need it.
My last one was an 01 Century Custom. It was a decent little driver... very comfy.
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