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:

 

[ultrarunner]

I've got a Thing somewhere... it's been under wraps for years.

I think you will enjoy the Golf... my German rental cars are almost always Diesel and I like driving them a lot... plenty of torque for the mountain grades and thrifty too!

 

[daugen]

thanks guys.
Ok, she's all white with a black interior.
She is moaning in agony for a pin stripe, anything to make
her less homely. Not an easy task...

White, charcoal grey, red, tan? :confused3::confused3:

I went on tirerack.com and ordered a set of top rated Continental tires for it, and got them for a lot less than the 800 bucks allowed. LRR, but still has grip and comfort. They had put a set of low end Falkens on the car and were fully understanding why I wanted them off. 225/45/17 seems to be a fair amount of rubber for that size car.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...tireModel=PureContact+with+EcoPlus+Technology

 

[IslandTractor]

thanks guys.
Ok, she's all white with a black interior.
She is moaning in agony for a pin stripe, anything to make
her less homely. Not an easy task...

White, charcoal grey, red, tan? :confused3::confused3:

I went on tirerack.com and ordered a set of top rated Continental tires for it, and got them for a lot less than the 800 bucks allowed. LRR, but still has grip and comfort. They had put a set of low end Falkens on the car and were fully understanding why I wanted them off. 225/45/17 seems to be a fair amount of rubber for that size car.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...tireModel=PureContact+with+EcoPlus+Technology

I don't think the Golf is homely at all. Very clean, fresh and functional looking. Looks like the attractive but not quite sexpot girl that lives next door. Her looks will grow on you.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Not to bash tires, but I would look at Michelin on a Golf. Will be interested to see how the Continentals hold up.

Nice car BTW. great choice.

 

[daugen]

I don't think the Golf is homely at all. Very clean, fresh and functional looking. Looks like the attractive but not quite sexpot girl that lives next door. Her looks will grow on you.

I think the four door has nice lines, the two door hatch, well....yes, just as you say, clean, fresh and functional,
just like my Kenmore refrigerator...

She has a nice front, and a pleasant curvy rear...
but her sides are, well, this is no Fisker...which actually I saw today for the first time.
Now there's a wild looking thing, being sold right near the VW dealer, up from Reedman's in Langhorne.
She was gorgeous, but a little wild for me...

 

[dave1949]

One drawback to diesel that drives me nuts is not many stations around here have pay-at-the-pump diesel.

Some stations want to hold the credit card, or you need to prepay. PITA. Even at places like the New York Thruway, to buy diesel you are off in the boondocks from the pump islands.

 

[daugen]

Not to bash tires, but I would look at Michelin on a Golf. Will be interested to see how the Continentals hold up.

Nice car BTW. great choice.

thanks. My first choice is always Michelin but in this case the Continentals scored a lot higher, and came with both a wear and damage warranty built in. Actually the top scoring tire in this category was a new Pirelli P7, which I never would have guessed. That I passed on, besides, German shoes for a German car right? Made in Mexico...

 

[IslandTractor]

I think the four door has nice lines, the two door hatch, well....yes, just as you say, clean, fresh and functional,
just like my Kenmore refrigerator...

She has a nice front, and a pleasant curvy rear...
but her sides are, well, this is no Fisker...which actually I saw today for the first time.
Now there's a wild looking thing, being sold right near the VW dealer, up from Reedman's in Langhorne.
She was gorgeous, but a little wild for me...

Watch out for those "lookers". If you want to be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife etc. Applies to cars too. Otherwise we'd all be driving Shelby Cobras or Ferrari GTOs and be penniless. The pleasant but unspectacular car next door is the one to rely on!

 

[IslandTractor]

One drawback to diesel that drives me nuts is not many stations around here have pay-at-the-pump diesel.

Some stations want to hold the credit card, or you need to prepay. PITA. Even at places like the New York Thruway, to buy diesel you are off in the boondocks from the pump islands.

Funny, I've never come across that down here in MA. The biggest issue I have getting diesel for my tractor is that about half of the diesel pumps have the wider nozzles that don't fit inside the yellow 5 gallon jugs so I have to screw around with funnels etc. But, I've always been able to use a CC or debit card right at the pump.

 

[ultrarunner]

Not to bash tires, but I would look at Michelin on a Golf. Will be interested to see how the Continentals hold up.

Nice car BTW. great choice.

My German car came with all season continentals and no problems over the last 12 years...

I generally buy Michelin for my trucks and found the Continentals a better value for my car.