Car choices

[cjsmith]

Test-drove a 2007 Corolla. If I buy one of those, I know exactly what I want on it. (Well, almost. Undecided about sunroof: just another thing to go wrong?) Spent lots of time fiddling with it in the parking lot and on the road, and it passed almost all of my tests.* That's pretty good.

Not at all firm on the decision for a Corolla though. Should drive a Yaris too. Better turning radius, a tinch better mileage, fewer frills available. Want to compare the two on trunk space. Would have done that today if I didn't have to get to the airport.

Should also drive that 2001 Prius before somebody buys the dang thing. Financially stupid to consider it, I know. Its batteries have half their useful life gone already, and I know darn well I don't drive enough to warrant a Prius even at used prices. Ah well. I may drive it anyway. :-)

____________
* Failures:
- No way to get cassette-playing capability. Would have to replace the radio right off the bat to get it.
- Cup holders suck. They're there but they can't be retracted and they fit only one size of object.
- Recirc exists only when the windshield air vents are turned off. Stoopid interlock.
- Timer turns rear window defrost off. Every car will fail this, though, and I know I can change it.
- Right-side mirror does not fold.
- Turning radius is distinctly mediocre compared to what I'm used to.

Comments

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

it always opened smoothly so that I could watch the clouds in the sky while waiting for a tow from AAA.

HAHAHA! Man, that's awful.

I don't think it's true of my Scion xB.

Hey, cool! Not that it's much of an issue since my move to California, really. I'm too finicky for my own good.

Aren't cassette tapes getting difficult to acquire?

They're becoming less common, yeah. We have a large collection of language-learning tapes and lectures/books on tape that I'd like to be able to use. You're right that a third-party radio would cost me less than the upgrade. Sadly, I am told you can't get a Corolla in this region without the upgrade ANYWAY. (grr. need to check on veracity of this.) Still, this is a small piece of a big picture.

[therobbergirl.livejournal.com]

"I don't think it's true of my Scion xB."

Hey, cool! Not that it's much of an issue since my move to California, really. I'm too finicky for my own good.

It just occurred to me that manufacturers might think that we consumers think that having the defrost on a timer is some sort of benefit. If I'm right that my Scion's defrost doesn't automatically shut off (unless I turn off the ignition), then the timer's absence could be part of the way they keep the features and costs down on a Scion. Toyota offers very few extras for Scions. Things like cruise control and moonroofs are not even available as add-ons. The only extras available for Scions from the dealers and manufacturers are flash -- color-changing LED light in the cup holder ($300!), LED lights around the footwells, and other cheesey stuff.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yes, I suspect they do think the timer is a benefit. I'm not often in agreement with them about what's of value. Color-changing LED light in the cup holder? Power windows (far less reliable than manual)? An antenna sticking up out of the middle of the roof, rather than along the side and retractable like it used to be? Bleh. :)

[therobbergirl.livejournal.com]

An antenna sticking up out of the middle of the roof, rather than along the side and retractable like it used to be?

I don't think they make many cars with exterior antennae anymore. It's worked into the back glass.

I do like my power windows, though, and am glad that stripped-down as the xB is, it has them. I hate going through tollbooths and having to deal with a window crank.

I wish someone would manufacture and sell a reliable vehicle where nearly everything is extra. I want to select everything and then wait six to twelve months for them to make it just for me. The lack of instant gratification in exchange for exactly what I want would be a worthy trade.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

The Corolla has its antenna smack in the middle of the rear edge of the roof. Stoooopid.

If I dealt with tollbooths more often I'd be more in favor of the power windows. That sure is helpful.

I like your idea of a reliable vehicle, lots of extra options, and a special order. I suppose people in my situation (car just got totaled, need another) wouldn't be likely to enjoy the wait, but there will always be someone to supply instant gratification.

[therobbergirl.livejournal.com]

The Corolla has its antenna smack in the middle of the rear edge of the roof. Stoooopid.

That is stupid! What were they thinking? It's not like we don't have the technology and experience to make a nonstupid contraption for radio reception.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

It reminds me of some of the drawbacks to the design of the human, um, the human uh... er... Except that with an antenna, there's really no bonus to being able to fiddle with it.

[plymouth.livejournal.com]

The Corolla has its antenna smack in the middle of the rear edge of the roof. Stoooopid.

I have one of those on my Passat and I've never had any problems with it whatsoever. What makes you say it is stupid? Maybe there's something about having a wagon that makes it work better than a sedan, I honestly don't know, it just never occurred to me to complain about it and in fact I think it looks kinda cute there!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Hmm, a fair enough question! I figured it would prevent mounting anything on the roof (say, to carry a canoe) and would be much more prone to being snagged, bent, or broken (say, in a car wash or driving under low stuff) than something that could be retracted. The old A-pillar retractable design seems more protected.

Thanks for the sanity check on my perspective. Since it seems fairly reasonable to assume I'll wind up with a new Corolla, I may want to remind myself that the antenna placement is also cute!

[plymouth.livejournal.com]

I suppose it might get in the way of carrying a canoe. I hadn't thought of that. But since I don't own one I don't expect it to be too much of a problem.

The problem I've heard of with the retractable antennae is that if they ever get bent even a little bit they stop being able to retract.

My cadillac has one of those antennae that are integral to the windshield. The reception is ASS. Though I imagine they've improved on the technology somewhat since the early 70s :)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I had a manually retractable antenna -- you could bend it quite a bit and I'd still force it back down into the frame. :) I can imagine that the electric thingummies would be a bit more fragile.

Yech, I didn't know the windshield ones were so crappy.