OT: Cars

[Nick Pappageorgio]

So the AC went out on my car and replacing the AC would cost about 3x what my car's is worth. I generally drive the family shit shaker and pass up the nicest car to my wife to drive because I don't care that much. I'm being somewhat economical and looking at some moderate used cars....I think I want something small but a little sporty (though I did take a porsche cayman for a test drive today.....I was up-front with the salesman that I couldn't afford it but the salesman, a 25 year old kid who's been selling cars for a week, insisted I drive the car because it just came on the lot and he wanted to ride in it as bad as I did). It was actually a great deal at $36k (only 8000 miles).

Anyway I looked at some volkswagen GTIsthat I liked, subaru outback, honda civic, some small suv things (really not into them I'm looking more for something smaller with great gas milege) and a Mini Cooper....all sport models and manual transmission except the outbacks. I'm looking some Audis tommorrow.

Two questions:

1) any ideas?

2) my wife said the Mini-Cooper is a chick car and my brother agrees....I've always liked them but don't want my man-hood being in question every time I get gas. Thoughts on this?

[Panoptes]

Out here, its pretty common knowledge amongst the beer swilling, testosterone jacked males, that Subaru's (the Outback in particular) are considered lesbian rides.

Mini-Coopers are all the rage in So Cal. Never really considered them chick cars like any VW (any model) or as previously mentioned, any Subaru.

Right now Mini-C's are being blown out on lease from dealerships in So Cal. I think its a Memorial Day sale thing going on at the moment. Now would be the time to strike if you really wanted one. I'm not in the market for another car right now, but even I had to do a double take when seeing their advertised pricing right now. Definitely a good time to steal one off the lot.

Beyond that, I can highly recommend a Ford Focus to you (or anyone). Affordable, 5 star crash ratings, xlt gas mileage, sporty enough and generally come well equipped. Heck, if you want to go even smaller with smoking MPG, look at the new Ford FIESTA (edit: not Festiva). Its supposed to be all the new rage in style and next gen American quality even though its been a huge world seller over seas for years and years.

I don't know where you stand on American v Import but don't go off old knocks against American if you have any concerns. Today's late model Ameican cars are even leading customer and quality satisfaction surveys in several styles. My brother says his auto shop highly recommends late model Fords for best quality.

Best of luck in your hunt for a new ride.

[bimmer84]

I have heard the same thing about Outbacks as Gonz, but it is considered a great car with a strong record of reliability. Keep your hair short and I doubt you'll be mistaken for a lesbian.

What about a Miata? Sporty. Inexpensive to own, and you can get a good one for around 5k. Ah, but it is a two-seater, so not so good as a backup car for the family.

Be careful with the VW's. I would check Consumer Reports. Some models/years have issues. I wish I had checked on my wife's Beetle before buying. She loves it though. Turbo. Fast. But in the shop a lot. And VW likes to force you back to the dealer for routine things. It cost me $35 for a gallon of "special" VW antifreeze, and $100 to get a second key activated. There have also been 2 recalls on it.

[Malto Marko]

I concur on the Focus however, I am not sure you will be able to pick up a used one.

[Drew]

I buy Chevy. That's my brand. I can't bring myself to buy Honda, Toyota, Suburu. I know they have plants in the US and employ American workers, but isn't it true that the majority of your buck will go overseas?

We've had 2 non Chevy vehicles, a little Suburu that we paid $800 for back in the eighties, and an Izuzu pickup we still have that we paid $500 for.

[CGVT]

What about a Miata? Sporty. Inexpensive to own, and you can get a good one for around 5k. Ah, but it is a two-seater, so not so good as a backup car for the family

Now that's ^^^^ a chick car.

I have driven Toyotas for quite a while now. Had a 90 Camry wagon and drove it until it had 375000 miles on it before I gave it to my brother in law. His kids are driving it now and it still gets 30 mpg. I have a 2002 Camry 4 door and a 2005 Sienna now. The Camry has 135000 miles on it, is running strong and gets over 30 mpg. Neither car spends any time in the shop other than routine maintenance.

If I was going to buy another car I would buy another Toyota. My Fords all turned into pumpkins at 100000 miles...

[Deacon Blues]

love the chevy Cobalt, the HHR, the Malibu... and a Cooper is not a chick car..........

[Dan V]

Get a Dodge Challenger. Mercedes guts and a good hemi with cylinder deactivation (the 5.7 L) . 18 MPG city, 25 highway Almost too much attention . Strange people will shake your hand and even a few older women ask if you are married...an absolutely gorgeous fun fast car that is not common like the camaros and mustangs and vettes.

[Dan V]

Actually, looking at practicality the Focus , Civic, or even the little chevy aveo are nice (yawns)

[bimmer84]

Originally Posted by Deacon Blues

love the chevy Cobalt, the HHR, the Malibu... and a Cooper is not a chick car..........

...and neither is a Miata a chicks car. Check out your local SCCA event! Male driven Miata's rule their class.

[Frank Van Dusen]

Never heard of the Cooper as a chick car, that designation is reserved for Eclipses and the Beetles

[SeattleLionsFan]

Nick, I bought a new GTI and think it's a lot of fun to drive. Plus there's a very active community that will be happy to help you make it sportier.

That said, its pretty frivolous. It's already been to the dealer more in 6 months than my carolla was in 10 years.

Among the other names listed, I'd check out the new ford fiesta. Its the first year in the states, but they appear to be pretty reasonably priced, and the styling (if not the guts) appear to be pretty sporty and fun.

[DanO]

I concur the Cooper is not a chick car.

GO LIONS "10" !!!!!!!!!!

[Islair]

What about a Subaru WRX or a Mitsubishi Evo? All-Wheel drive, 4 doors for kids and lower insurance, and plenty of get up and go, or if you are looking used you could go with a Dodge SRT-4. Nice little tuner cars that keep you young.

[Malto Marko]

Originally Posted by CGVT

If I was going to buy another car I would buy another Toyota. My Fords all turned into pumpkins at 100000 miles...

Yup, that was not uncommon with the cars they built in the 80's and early 90's.

It is not true with the ones they are building now.

[-Deborah-]

I've heard bad things about the Cooper's quality...

Love the new Fiestas! Saw a caravan of them driving down Rotunda. They're sharp. Dad drives a Focus for his everyday beater (and an Explorer for when the snow is above his knees) and loves it. After being in a SUV for the past several years, I don't think I could go back to a car. But if I did, it'd be the new Taurus. Love the styling on that thing.

[Nick Pappageorgio]

Curious about the cooper quality deb......I've heard a mix bag of reviews from love to hate.

Dec......problems with the GTI? Good to know....one of the reasons that I've been looking VW is because of mine. 98 Jetta that been to the shop 2 times, the thing is a tank mechanically......though I will say there's been a host of cosmetic problems. The AC is the 1st thing on the car that cost more than $200 to fix.....but they want like $3500 to do that (and I think that's for the re-build compressor).

Bimmer....I've had long hair since I was 17.

BTW there's new dark horse on the table.....porsche boxter. Wanted a porsche all my life and the boxters can be a little bare bones but the late 90's early 00's get decent reviews. There have been a few in my price range with pretty low milage an 1 owner.

[CGVT]

http://www.cartalk.com/content/featu...ars/chick.html

Thousands of you e-mailed us with your nominations for the ultimate guy cars and chick cars of all time.
The results have finally been tabulated by our staff of exhausted lackeys. Here, now, are the winners--along with some of your profound, scintillating and downright whacko comments.

Presenting...
The Ultimate Chick Cars of All Time

5. Dodge Neon

"Neons are Barbie cars: little and cute and rounded in the hips. Even in black, they are feminine and adorable, only just a bit tougher, like Tattoo Barbie."

4. VW Jetta

"Anything by Volkswagen is a chick car. VW realized this years ago and joined forces with another company to sell guy cars--they called that company Porsche."

3. Mazda Miata

"I discovered this phenomenon when I got a Miata. "Girlie car." That's all I heard."

2. VW Cabriolet

"All teen-age girls classify them as cute. 'Nuff said."

1. VW Beetle

"The VW Beetle. A chick car, definitely. And made to be so. How? I know of no other automobile with a FLOWER VASE as standard equipment

[chemiclord]

Interestingly enough, the VW Beetle (along with the VW "bus") was more iconographic towards "hippies" than "chicks".

The flower vase, presumably, became a feature for the "flower power" hippies to keep their flowers that they would eventually put into the barrels of soldier's guns. *shrug*

(second hand information from grandma... take it for what its worth)

[Panoptes]

NP,

FWIW, my brother (who now owns 2 auto repair shops) talked us out of buying a VW during our last buying round (2007). He said routine maint. on VW's cost an arm and a leg. Oil changes alone will strain the wallet over time. That's what did if for me. My wife want's a Beetle in the worst way but when she heard that about VW she said she could put off on her (HS)dream car needs for awhile longer.

NP with long hair and driving a VW for a long time? Hmmmmmm, who knew (even though I remember now that you told us many times you drive a VW).