So, what, besides "funky looking" do I want in a vehicle? Well, safety is always something that's good to have. I also need room--I have the dogs, the grandkids, the husband(I sometimes let him in the car), the Costco run. And last, but most certainly not least, TUNES.
I will be retiring my Aztek--I have a 2001 which through the last 8 years has been my lifesaver...and a money drain, at times. I've been able to move almost anything, all 3 dogs, enough supplies to replumb a cottage in Michigan(husband had to refit the plumbing in the cottage), 3 grandkids, 2 kids--you name it, I can haul it! I get good gas mileage(21-27 mpg, using CA-40) and I've got a load of upgrades(sun roof, heads up display, 10 speaker surround sound system w/6 CD system, just to name a few...yes, I was spoiled.
On the other hand, I also replaced the gaskets, the heads, the condenser, the BOC or BCM(part of the computer), wheel bearings, transmission, wiring harness. Some of this I paid for, some of it Pontiac, but I did feel as I had the hypochondriac vehicle after 36K miles and before 50K...it seemed to run smoothly then until about 130K miles and then another round(I had a rebuilt transmission and wheel bearings since 130K). She's now about 160K miles and its time to replace...the maintenance is more than a car payment is at this time...so what to buy that won't break my "bank"? I also would like an american car...if the price and gas mileage work out.
So...start pricing....Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda--OUT. Nothing in my price range and/or body style. Suburu gone....Saturn gone....VW buhbye....Hyundai has vehicles in my price range, but nothing that stands out; plus I owned a Hyundai in the past and was not impressed!
I narrow it down to 4:
Look, I said I liked funky and ecclectic!
So, I start going to dealerships. I stopped at Nissan first. They had one Cube and I sat in it--great head room, neat feature for the back seat--the back seat can be adjusted just like the front seats, allowing extra leg room when you need it! Two drawbacks, not alot of cargo space unless you have the back seat down and the back door swings out, not up. But the feel is nice and I could probably get by with it.
Second, I go to the Kia dealership. They have a Soul available, again a lot of head room and a bit bigger than the Cube, but the driver's seat is cheap---feels like all foam rubber or something...and the sales person was a real jerk! I explained to him that I was still only in the research phase, was comparing 4 makes, told them what they were and then he started bad mouthing the other cars along with doing a hard sell on what it would take to get me into the car on that day...on the HHR, his words were "well that's gone anyway and its an ugly car"...first I remind him that I'm looking at the SOUL, not cookie cutters and then say that I do believe GM will come back and that I'm a union member and try to buy union made....he says, "That's your problem". I then say, "No, that's yours" and walk off the lot. Guess what car I won't be buying?
The next car I look at is the Scion xB--used to be known as "the toaster"...Scion has restyled for last year and it has less of a box look. Again, great gas mileage, and completely tricked out, its still under $25,000. With what I want in it, I'm still right at $19-20K. I take it for a test drive--it handles nicely, they've upgraded the engine during the restyle, but it still gets around 30 mpg. Right now, they are offering $300 off list on the 09's to try to get them off the lot before the '10's show up.
I still have to look at the HHR. I have friends that have them and they love them, both of them report higher gas mileage than what is rated(37 mpg on highway!). Also, at this time GM is offering some incentives: $1000 just for buying and another $1500 loyalty bonus. I'm waiting to see if I'll be able to claim the $4500 for "cash for clunkers" the government might be offering. Although I get better gas mileage than the ratings, the average for Azteks is 19 mpg--the bill is looking at 18mpg as the cut off for the credit, but since my tek is 9 years old, it may still qualify.
Just receiving the $2500 tho brings the HHR, with options, to under $20K, again, in my price range....well, wish me luck on my vehicle adventures!
1 comment:
GO KIM!!!
Post a Comment