Smart Car advice please

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I keep seeing people get tied up in mpg instead of "cost per mile". For a 15,000mile a year driver and the price of fuel. A difference of $50 a month in fuel is nothing when the vehicle is already $1000 a month for payments and insurance.
For my family we purchase larger heavier vehicles. A minimum of 3500lb or more Trax/Encore or 4300lb Terrain instead of a 2300lb Chev Spark. My sister is a Paramedic and the Father-Inlaw a retired Firechief. Time and time again they see the persons in the large vehicle walk away from a wreck while the encobox passengers are injured of killed.

I agree. Safety. Another parameter to consider. People buy life insurance and pay $$$ and turn around and buy el cheapo tires for their econobox instead of Michelins or similar.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

guy camping next to me has a jeep he pulls on a trailer behind his RV. ramps on the trailer very short and steep, but it works for them.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Saying it again... Honda s2000.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

guy camping next to me has a jeep he pulls on a trailer behind his RV. ramps on the trailer very short and steep, but it works for them.

pic of the trailer, and the pond at the campground outside of Gettysburg.

 

[daugen]

If I had picked out a diesel pusher with a really big engine, I would not skimp on the weight. Hey, I drive a 2500 Suburban and thoroughly agree with safety in weight, might has right. But I want to keep the load as light as I can, so that when I cross the Rockies, I'm not spending all day at 35mph and 4000 rpm. I'm very pleased with how "peppy" the motorhome is, and of course, that is a very relative term. But in traffic, I can actually keep up, which sort of amazes the folk around me.

I think half the towed vehicles are some kind of Jeep, and I understand that, but I'm not going up Pikes Peak with this thing, or if I do, it's in a procession behind the other tourists...not headed to Baja California for sure.

The mini might do, if I can fit into it. It's all about how big that driver door is, height of the roof, etc. I have to dip and do some gyrations even getting into our XTS, kinda concerned about my arthritis and mobility if shoehorned in. I've read that the higher performance minis, the JPS for example, have a very hard ride, basically a skateboard on wheels. Both the mini and 500 have weird interiors, vs the VW which has a plainer interior but likely better quality. And no, I don't need intelligent cruise, lane departure buzzers, etc on a toad. The Volvo C30 also catches my eye, though it's getting heavy.
A good safe car though and interesting looking.

 

[turnkey4099]

but they are "lubed for life", so you don't have to worry...:shocked:

ok, I promise, not going to put a car in this trailer, but if I did, my nice greasable trailer bearings sure are a convenience, and if I got the ones that roll in oil, well, let's head to the Rockies. Too bad bearing assemblies don't have temp gauges on them; that would be slick, pun intended...

Nothing like getting into a nice tub of grease and playing with bearings.

Or pulling the big wooden wheels on old farm wagons and slathering on the axle grease.

Jeez, I had forgotten all about that job.

Harry K

 

[daugen]

well, in the words of the country western singer, I gone and done it.
went to look at a VW GTI, and saw this instead. Very basic, which is fine with me, 26K miles,
VW certified, and in my budget.
Boy does this thing accelerate more than one would expect, the torque is a hoot. I drove the Passat with the same engine and was impressed, in the lighter Golf, it's not zoom zoom but not bad at all.

The two door hatchback was easy to get into with the large door and my head cleared the roof entirely. It isn't the prettiest car but it really is functional. Now I need to get a dolly.

 

[IslandTractor]

well, in the words of the country western singer, I gone and done it.
went to look at a VW GTI, and saw this instead. Very basic, which is fine with me, 26K miles,
VW certified, and in my budget.
Boy does this thing accelerate more than one would expect, the torque is a hoot. I drove the Passat with the same engine and was impressed, in the lighter Golf, it's not zoom zoom but not bad at all.

The two door hatchback was easy to get into with the large door and my head cleared the roof entirely. It isn't the prettiest car but it really is functional. Now I need to get a dolly.

The GOLF TDI is a great vehicle. 45-50 mpg is routine and Vdubs reliability has been great over the past five or six years. The flexibility of the cargo space with the hatchback is wonderful too. I had a Rabbit and could get nearly anything that would fit into a station wagon into that thing. Also, should you choose to sell, the TDI holds its value extremely well.

 

[CliffordK]

guy camping next to me has a jeep he pulls on a trailer behind his RV. ramps on the trailer very short and steep, but it works for them.

Perhaps my Ferves Ranger would do the trick. But, they are a bit rare.

You could, however, pick up a VW Thing.

The Amphicar would also be good, and you could take it fishing too.

 

[dave1949]

The Golf should be a great car. I put over 100K on the one I bought in '85. It liked to be hard on alternator/fan belts, but nothing else. Like Island says, the hatchback cargo capacity is surprising.

I think you chose wisely Grasshopper. :laughing: