Brief impressions of cars

[cjsmith]

Advantages

• Toyota Corolla: I know how reliable these cars are.
• Toyota Yaris: Ditto, plus MPG to rival some hybrids.
• Honda Fit: Man, the STORAGE SPACE. This thing is a hauler.
• Honda Civic: The only decent cup holders I have seen since I began looking. Nifty dash design.
• Honda Civic Hybrid, 2005 used: Yellow stickers are transferable. Different nifty dash design.
• Subaru "Impreza Outback" (no, not the Outback): All-wheel drive. Also, decent stereo. Also, available in a pretty color. Also, 2006, and they're eager to get it off the lot.

Disadvantages

• Corolla: Ugly. Mirrors don't fold. Dumb climate control interlocks.
• Yaris: All of the above and uglier.
• Fit: There is one of these on the entire peninsula and I will not decide this instant.
• Civic: Seat fold-down design nearly pessimal: trapezoidal opening from trunk aims everything at the center, and in the center, there's a big metal protrusion out of the back of the seat.
• 2005 Civic Hybrid: High mileage for its age. Dumb climate control interlocks. SEAT DOESN'T FOLD AT ALL; cannot haul anything. Used car means I would have to haggle, at which I suck.
• Impreza: Low MPG. Can't pop the hatchback even from inside the car.

I also failed to drive the Subaru Impreza WRX wagon: the seat design is a deal-breaker, and it's so sporty that the insurance on them is high.

Disadvantages of ALL of these

• Big, big, big. Significantly wider than my mangled car. Awkward turning radius compared to my mangled car.
• Impossible to get a keyfob that will pop the trunk.
• Impossible to get (without ripping the whole radio out and replacing it) the ability to play a cassette.
• No room for a full-size spare.

Comments

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Well, ok, I'm a wuss in certain limited and specific ways. To wit, multi-ten-thousand-dollar decisions made quickly, or haggling. :-) :-)

Interesting that you sold the car because of the mileage. One of the cars I'm currently considering has noticeably lower MPG than the others. Food for thought.

The tradition of the doughnuts and coffee sure is a welcoming one! I definitely like the way Saturn dealerships treat their customers, past and current both. When Rob bought his first Saturn I told myself I would never deal with a "regular" car dealer again. I am relieved that few dealerships I see today are like the ones I saw seventeen years ago.

[rampling.livejournal.com]

My Saturn just hit the 10-year mark (137,000mi), and is still doing well. I plan to keep it for many more years. :)

Plus I put a Darwin Fish over my trunk keyhole 'cause the keyfob takes care of opening it. :)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh interesting. Rob's just kept falling apart! I think it took them about a week to start rattling in various places. However, I'm more willing to do major maintenance when indicated, while he's more willing to trade in the car and buy another. That accounts for a chunk of the difference between his Saturn longevity and my Toyota longevity, I'm sure.