OT- Cars

[Coronita]

[quote=LAAFTERHOURS]41k for a volt? Wow, who would toss that kind of money at that thing (apologies to anyone who has). When the volt was originally in concept, it looked solid. Once it hit the market, it looked like the rest of chevy’s plastic arsenal. My personal opinion is they could have really done some damage with that car if it was visually striking but they failed miserably. If you are truly interested in electric, why not hold out for a tesla model s? I am putting off a second car for the household as long as I can and that is hopefully long enough to get in on a second phase of the model s (helps to work from home and have my parents handicap van as a free car when necessary).[/quote]

You know, I’m not particularly a big fan of the volt. But it could be worse. You could be in florida, where Toyota dealers are marking up the Prius C by $7000 ABOVE msrp… That’s on top of an already bend over on dealer installed options that you probably don’t want… Um, hmm $30,000 for a Prius C out the door (including tax…)… Um…. Pass….

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/21/miami-toyota-dealer-tacks-7-000-onto-price-of-prius-c/

[an]

[quote=flu]
You know, I’m not particularly a big fan of the volt. But it could be worse. You could be in florida, where Toyota dealers are marking up the Prius C by $7000 ABOVE msrp… That’s on top of an already bend over on dealer installed options that you probably don’t want… Um, hmm $30,000 for a Prius C out the door (including tax…)… Um…. Pass….[/quote]
Fools and their money are soon parted. For that price, you can get a Fit. The money you saved will be more than enough to pay for the gas difference for the life of your car. Not to mention it’ll be a lot cheaper to maintain a simple I4 engine compare to the hybrid power train when your pass the life of the battery (100k miles)?

[paramount]

2012 Model Year

Volt = approx. $0.63/mile for 1st 75k over 5 years

Prius 5 Door = approx. $0.61/mile for 1st 75k over 5 years

Fit (base) = approx. $0.48/mile for 1st 75k over 5 years

Expedition = 0.88/mile

Denali XL = $1.15/mile

Camry = 0.56/mile

[svelte]

[quote=briansd1]

Americans sure are spending a lot of money on cars and fuel.
There was a thread earlier about real estate investment. If a family took one car out of service (or drove cheaper more fuel efficient cars) they could buy an investment property, that when paid off, would become a cash cow. Do that several times over a working career and you can have a nice real estate portfolio.

Instead Americans sink all their money in wasteful automobiles.
[/quote]

Weren’t you the one who started the “it’s only money” thread? And now you are poo-pooing how people use their money?

Some of us want to enjoy our dough. Some of us choose to do that with autos. After all, that’s part of the reason I work so hard.

My goal is to have enough $$ to live comfortably in retirement, not to have the biggest hoard of cash possible. You should visit the British Museum and see all the displays on the hoards they have discovered stashed around the UK. Then think about how the person who left that hoard could have enjoyed life more had s/he spent it instead of burying it.

[Navydoc]

Gotta disagree with everyone on the 3rd seat option. I use it on my X-5 all the time. When my wife’s family was over for Christmas we drove with all seats full on several occaisions. Actually passed up on the Cayenne because it didn’t have a 3rd set of seats. When we get back to San Diego this summer this usage will only increase. Different strokes I guess.

[Coronita]

[quote=Navydoc]Gotta disagree with everyone on the 3rd seat option. I use it on my X-5 all the time. When my wife’s family was over for Christmas we drove with all seats full on several occaisions. Actually passed up on the Cayenne because it didn’t have a 3rd set of seats. When we get back to San Diego this summer this usage will only increase. Different strokes I guess.[/quote]

Do you have a car seat? Hell I hate putting the car seat in the X5..I can’t even put it in the middle even ..’cause it covers both belt buckles on the left and right side. Well, maybe it’s just because the car seat I’m using is wide… I’m using a Recaro young car seat, and maybe the profile is wider than others… Anyway, it’s such a pain to have it installed, I never take it out, and therefore I can’t recline the 2nd row for people to get in easily. and the leg room is tiny.

[UCGal]

[quote=Navydoc]Gotta disagree with everyone on the 3rd seat option. I use it on my X-5 all the time. When my wife’s family was over for Christmas we drove with all seats full on several occaisions. Actually passed up on the Cayenne because it didn’t have a 3rd set of seats. When we get back to San Diego this summer this usage will only increase. Different strokes I guess.[/quote]
I agree. I use the third row in my highlander a lot.
I agree that it would be a PITA for carseats. But it worked great with booster seats. I could put two graco turbo boosters in the back row – leaving room for 3 adults in the middle row. (I only have 2 kids).

I also agree that the leg room is lacking – which is why I stick kids back there more than adults. But I’ve ridden in the 3rd row with another adult and I’m tall and large… It can be done.

[outtamojo]

Maybe cause I grew up ghetto, but when I see parents bent over with their backs to the world putting kids in car seats all I can think about is how vulnerable they are to a snatch and run or mugging. With a minivan, you take the kid(s) inside, lock the doors, and then fix them in the cars seats. When you are done, you just go thru the center aisle to the driver’s seat and then off you go without having to go outside again.

[Navydoc]

Yup, I have a car seat, and I put it in the middle. I guess the one I use has a pretty small footprint, as I’ve never heard any complaints about belt fastening. I find if you shift it slightly to the left you can still fold down the right seat to access the back. I have found the car amazingly convenient. Even fit 4×8 sheets of plywood in the back for my man cave project (couldn’t close the gate, but they fit)

Wrecking the 911 wasn’t a good day, but the replacement has been a great car.

[an]

[quote=flu]Well, maybe it’s just because the car seat I’m using is wide… I’m using a Recaro young car seat, and maybe the profile is wider than others… Anyway, it’s such a pain to have it installed, I never take it out, and therefore I can’t recline the 2nd row for people to get in easily. and the leg room is tiny.[/quote]
I agree, the Recaro doesn’t help. I have that in my wife’s MDX and I’d have to give it some slack and push it to one side to access the 3rd row when we had the car seat in the middle. With that said, I’d still buy that Recaro seat again in a heart beat. It looks to much more protective than all the other ones.

[an]

Talking about cars, I find this kinda funny:
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/16/bmw-owners-twice-as-likely-to-be-adulterers-as-drivers-of-other/

[paramount]

[quote=AN]Talking about cars, I find this kinda funny:
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/16/bmw-owners-twice-as-likely-to-be-adulterers-as-drivers-of-other/%5B/quote%5D

Oh just a BMW hater, probably someone who regrets buying 2nd best (Mercedes, Audi, Infiniti, Lexus, etc…)

[sdrealtor]

I fail to see thie problem…..

[an]

[quote=sdrealtor]I fail to see thie problem…..[/quote]
I never said it was a problem. I just find it funny 😀

[briansd1]

I’ve always maintained that the car culture is central to modern American identity.

I’ve never been much of a car person but I conform to people’s expectations.

This is a an interesting article by George Will

Are you a Prius or an F-150?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-american-dream-in-an-automobile/2012/05/11/gIQAhEWzIU_story.html

[Author]

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