Help me pick a car.

[Hobster]

I am tired of $50+ fill ups!. I am thinking of trading in my Dakota Quad Cab V8. I really like the truck in every way except the gas mileage. Was thinking of some type of cross over vehicle. No SUV.
Needs to be good on gas, be able to haul some Home Depot type stuff, good safety rating. not real small. You know a perfect vehicle. :)
Something like a Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe, Mazda 3/6. Dodge just came out with something Caliber?.
One of those Mini Van things are probably the most practical vehicles but I don't think I'm ready for one of those.:rolleyes:

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Price range?

I'd call most of the vehicles you posted "real small" especially compared to a pickup.

[Stephany]

Get a vespa.

[der_wille_zur_macht]

http://www.vespa.no/typo3temp/pics/8855e44a1d.jpg

Velkommen til Vespa!

[Stephany]

http://www.pasqualinonet.com.ar/images/Vespa-siciliana-765w.jpg

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Wow, now that's art on wheels. :D

Who wants to go for a ride?

http://moped2.org/i/vespa.jpg

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Beware though. If you end up with a vespa, you'll probably wind up in one of those mod squad gangs.

http://www.cinemas-online.co.uk/films/quadrophenia/1.jpg

http://www.quadrophenia.net/thefilm/screencaptures/Mods.jpg

[Stephany]

Nah, he might get a totally hot chick!
http://www.montecastelli.it/gfx/images/Vespa.jpg

And then he could use this for the anklebiters.
http://www.drivein24.ch/fotocamion/Moto/Piaggio%20Vespa%20Car%20P%20500%20V.jpg

[der_wille_zur_macht]

I'm partial to Isettas if we're getting into the microcar segment. Gotta love the classic German engineering!

http://www.1motormart.com/gallery/57bmw01.jpg

[Red_Six]

Honda Ridgeline

4-door pickup
5 stars for both frontal and side-impact crash tests
5,000-lb. towing capacity and 1,550-lb. payload capacity
247-hp, V-6 engine
16 / 21 MPG

[Stephany]

But is that carseat compatible? I'm no parent, but I'd think it'd be much easier and safer to just pad the walls, get a cover and throw them in the truck of that other one.

[der_wille_zur_macht]

The Ridgeline is an attractive vehicle but has nearly nothing in common with the other stuff he posted. (not that Vespas do either I suppose!) It doesn't get nearly as good of gas mileage either.

If you're looking at stuff like the Matrix and Mazda 3, you need to check out Scion, too. The xA and xB are MUCH bigger on the inside than they seem - especially the B. The backseat has more room than my big Audi. Cheaper than the 3 and Matrix too, unless you totally strip those two down, at which point you're under-featured compared to what the xB comes with stock.

If you want to look more upscale, check out the newly released VW Rabbit, which replaced the Golf (which replaced the Rabbit in the first place!). A little nicer than the Matrix and 3, only a hair more money.

If you're in to Mazdas, then check out the 5, too. It's similar overall to the 3 in size and features, but much more utilitarian (with sliding doors for the back). It's a mini minivan in essence, without quite the same negative stigma.

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Gasp! I just posted something serious in the lounge. That hasn't happened in like 8 billion years!

[VoidRaven]

Pontiac Vibe or Toyota Matrix.....both are exactly the same car except for some body features. They were a joint build venture between the two companies. Mileage is like 28/32 I think, but don't quote me on that without researching it more. I've crammed all kinds of Home Depot type stuff into the back of mine. What I like about my Vibe is that the back seats fold perfectly flat with the "trunk" and are backed with the same "floor" like the truck area so it becomes continuous trunk. The front passenger seat can also fold flat and thus you can fit something like an 8-foot ladder in the car. Plus the glass on the hatch pops up separately from the hatch itself incase you need to haul something longer.

It's a great car.....take one for a test drive just to get a better feel for it. Dodge has the Magnum which is really cool but I don't know much about it.

[reefpeep2004]

I looooove my Scion xA. Power windows, locks, mirrors, A/C, and ABS brakes. If you get the manual you'll have plenty of power on the freeways and it's much bigger than it looks inside.

Mega gas mileage, and low, low cost. :D

[der_wille_zur_macht]

The Magnum is much bigger, more expensive, and gets worse mileage.

[Stephany]

Ewww... isn't the magnum that sports hearse lookin' car?

My friend's got a mazda 6. I like it.

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Yeah that's a pretty good description Steph!

6's can be had waaaay under sticker if you're not picky about options. A dealer around here had some sitting on their lot for so long they stuck them out front with "$6,000 Off!" in the windshields.

[tkeracer619]

im getting a saturn sky. Im going to keep my jeep for when i need to fit stuff or bad weather and going to take the convertable when its just me. Is the truck paid off?

[Hobster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7529883#post7529883 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Red_Six
Honda Ridgeline

4-door pickup
5 stars for both frontal and side-impact crash tests
5,000-lb. towing capacity and 1,550-lb. payload capacity
247-hp, V-6 engine
16 / 21 MPG

Yes, a reallly nice truck but way more than I want to spend.

[Hobster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7529988#post7529988 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by der_wille_zur_macht
Gasp! I just posted something serious in the lounge. That hasn't happened in like 8 billion years!

Must be ill or something.:D

Suprised no one posted one of those Cushman Scooter Cab with a bed

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Get a Harley with a side car for the curtain climbers.

You can rent a truck from HD when needed. :D

[Hobster]

Maybe just get a white Ford Crown Vic. No one will be able to tell if I am Cop or retired. Either way everyone will get out of my way.:D

[DHyslop]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7530633#post7530633 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hobster
Maybe just get a white Ford Crown Vic. No one will be able to tell if I am Cop or retired. Either way everyone will get out of my way.:D

Or everyone in front of you will drive really, really slow.

I imagine that's the worst thing about being a cop--you want to go ten over like everybody else, except no one will let you :)

Dan

[peregrinus]

FX45.......

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Um, if a Ridgeline is too expensive, an FX45 is probably, oh, about twenty grand out of reach. :D

Not to mention he did designate no SUV's!

[Ocicat]

I LOVE my Mazda 6s! I love Mazda anyway, but I also got it because I wanted a V6 + a stick shift, which isn't that easy to find in a sedan. I got it in December '03 (best time to buy a car is the end of the year!), and t's been awesome.

I don't know how much "Home Depot type stuff" you want to haul, though... the seats fold down, which helps, but naturally it still won't hold anything like what a truck will. Although, I think there may be a Mazda 6 hatchback now - perhaps that is what you're considering. I'm sure that would help a great deal in the cargo department.

[der_wille_zur_macht]

The Mazda 6 is available in Sedan, 5 Door (sedan with a hatch), and Wagon. Luckily for people who like to haul things, the wagon and 5 door are slow sellers.

[Mr.Nudibranch]

Now everybody needs to go and get a Subaru WRX wagon if you want room to haul or tow or just plain speed around not being too noticed:) I have a WRX sedan and I love it I will always own 1 and it gets good gas too 25 on average no bull.

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Impreza wagons are *teeeeny* on the inside, once you're behind the front seats! I'd probably own one otherwise. The xB has far more rear room.

[otolith]

Get a magnum. :) Almost as useful as a minivan, but much cooler. :cool:

[Mr.Nudibranch]

well I am 5'10" and 200 pounds and I have more then enough room too move around now if you are talk about the back of the wagons (back seat, trunk etc.) I am not sure but I fit plenty in my sedan trunk and yes the back seats of my seden are small but I always make plenty of room:eek1: and I have never had any problems as far as repair go and the 1 thing I like also is that it does not feel cheap ethier. But hey I quess love is blind:p so the onlything I can say is verybody has to just go drive 1.

[Jamesurq]

I was in a Ridgeline today - it is a nice truck.

Get yourself a basic extended cab toyota truck with the 4 cyl. It'll last forever, run well on gas...

[Mr.Nudibranch]

Ocicat I love that aviator, thats a great cd my favorite song is right in two ( I think thats the name) anyways sorry too hijack could not help it I am like TOOL alot, call me:crazy1:

[O'Man]

I recently got a Toyota RAV4, to replace my old RAV4, with a V6 & towing package. So far, 21-23 mpg depending on how bad the stop & go traffic I deal with every day is. I just did a long highway trip & got 28-29 mpg. The V6 has good power. My old
4 cyl RAV got 23-35 commute & 29-30 on the same highway trip. I hear the new ones are better.

I have not used it for towing my boat yet.