Thinking about buying a newish car

[Mike]

Protege5 - hotter than the Mazda3 IMO.

I was seriously looking at them recently. They're not quite as reliable as the 3.

[Mike]

only reason i didn't put the dc on my list is theft. otherwise, they're perfect.

[.RJ]

- 92-93 Integra - always on the list
- E46 - not sure I want to own one, those things are like a fucking virus around here
- Mazda 3
- WRX Wagon - may get axed due to 93 octane/avg MPG
- 00+ Celica - if I can fit a bike in the back... will investigate

Celica is out - I dont want to deal with blown up engines or transmissions.

On the fence about the WRX... I guess I'll go to carmax on sunday.

[Apoc]

You can always go with me to Soobahroo if you don't work Saturday.

[Evan]

heh
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[BLINGMW]

:lol: gaywheels.com? That's great. Makes me... a little confused inside... that the Yaris was #1 for so long, I like that car! :lol: Also a bit surprised the Mini isn't on the list.

[Maengelito]

heh
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haha!

Interestingly, Joe LaMuraglia from Gaywheels.com points out, "60% of the vehicles on the most-researched list are hatchbacks and four of those six have a MSRP starting at under $16K."

so basically what they're saying is that gay drivers are poor and like it in the ass?

[Maengelito]

okay, now i've figured out RJ's next car:

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[Evan]

back to your roots
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[.paul]

where is rj "moving" to now?

mazda 3 are reliable as hell, somewhat nimble, can throw all the world in the back, tow's two bikes no problem.

i liked mine, just wnated something more sporty

[.RJ]

Same place I've been planning to move - but that has nothing to do with the price of tea in China.

[Feersty]

What happened to the F-150?

[Sijray21]

What happened to the F-150?

i saw it on CL, when i was looking for a truck ;-)

[Jeff]

No domestics. They do trucks well, but epic fail at cars.

fool.

[.RJ]

Almost a year later... thought about something smaller, like a Mazdaspeed 3 or WRX, but I like having a truck and it makes going to the track with the bike easy.

I drove some stuff today. First off, going to Carmax was a mistake - the experience was miserable. The sales guy was really pushy, kept wanting to "run the numbers" after I told him I would not be financing with them and tried to corner me into only driving one car, and he smelled awful.

What I didnt like - '06 Tacoma and 4Runner. Both felt very cramped inside, very cheap and did not drive as well as I thought they should. The backseat of both of them was far too small for a bicycle, and the Tacoma bed was very narrow. The Ford escape I rented last fall in Denver was much nicer and roomier than the 4Runner was. In a word, rubbish. Both of them.

What I liked - '06 F150 Lariat and Honda Ridgline. The F150 was very, very nice inside (although a little plain) and also pretty big - it was the 4 door cab with a regular (6') bed. It drove well, like my old truck only better. The Ridgline was also really sharp - the ride/comfort was better than anything else and had plenty of room inside and in the bed. The honda dealer had a couple of leftover '08 Ridgelines too, I could get one for $7-8k off of MSRP ($33k) if I want to go new.

[Sijray21]

don't forget to wait till Prez signs that Stimulus package with the tax-deduct for new car purchases if you decide to go new

[Chris]

what model 4Runner did you drive? I understand the front seats might feel a little constrained... some of my larger friends have to move the seats back a bit. I'm surprised the back seemed small, I've been able to fit quite a lot in mine (both with and without the rear seats folded), although I haven't put a bicycle in.

[.RJ]

I'm not sure which model it was, but it was an '06 with cloth seats. The seats themselves were fine for me, but there wasnt much elbow or storage room compared to the Honda. I was really surprised at how good the ridgeline was.

The bicycle would fit just fine if I folded the back seats down in the back, but its a bit of an odd sized thing to have to fit into a car.

Having room for the bike in the backseat is pretty appealing to me so I can leave it in there and not worry about theft, and the ridgeline has a lockable 'trunk' in the bed that keeps smelly/muddy gear out of the cab.

[D_Eclipse9916]

RJ you might want to also go and look at the Toyota Tundra. I have been looking for a truck too and I frankly found the F150 interior very bland too. My favorite was the GM Sierra Denali but the doors seemed very cheap as well.

Toyota has a nice interior, and tons of amenities that were very high price options on everything else.

My three high priorities
1. Tow at least 6500 lbs
2. Leather
3. Sunroof

Yes the leather and sunroof may sound stupid, but Ive never liked a vehicle without it and I hate the way cloth looks and feels, never had a vehicle in my family growing up without leather.

The toyota tundra crewmax also has an INSANE amount of interior space, makes all other trucks seem cramped. Same length as a double cab but shortens the bed for the cab. Since I dont need much bed aside from shoving dirty random shit (thats not that big typically), id rahter have the room.

Just got a quote from Koons on an 08 Toyota Crewmax
Leather
Sunroof
Entire Rear Power Window
Navigation
20" wheels(who cares? its a truck)
Red Rock Interior
5.7 V8 motor

37,000 out the door with taxes, title, and va registration. Now im sure you could knock that down even more considering it sounds like you would want a double cab and not need leather and some options I specified.

[.RJ]

I do like the new Tundras but its just way more than I need - I've ridden in a friend's '08 and its quite nice. It really feels like its larger than the F150, almost as big as the F250. At $33k the Honda is overpriced, but at $26k I'm listening intently I wouldnt tow a car with one, although it will tow 5k lbs without any hassle.

I'm with you on the leather, but more because its easier to clean them.

You should be able to get a much better deal on that Tundra, like under $30k.

Edit - careful with the 20" wheels - tires will be $$$$$