#9692651 - 12/04/19 03:16 PM
car shopping is frustrating ...
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4Three
Post Master Sr
Registered: 12/21/00
Posts: 5365
Loc: Markham, ON, Canada
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So my 16 year old car might be on it's last legs. Just did a bunch of brake work on it, but it seems its now leaking oil and coolant so I'm guessing the head gasket. Kinda tired of band-aid fixes. So I'm looking for something new and hassle free.
Looking at a broad range of cars. Only real must haves are manual, heated front seats, and decent rear seating. Nice to have would be USB ports for the rear, decent gas mileage, some kinda of nicer phone connectivity, altho I'm more concerned about the cost of ownership than bells and whistles.
Jeep Wrangler - I like the look, the interior feels nice. For what you're getting, the price feels ridiculously high. Everything needs to be added as a option. NOT good on gas. I do a lot of camping so its a nice vehicle for that. Lease/Finance rates are dumb.
Tacoma - Exterior looks purpose built, interior is a snoozer. Cannot find a stick shift to try. The double cab still seems stuff in the back. Also not great on gas, but again, a good camping kinda car. Lease/Finance rates are slightly better.
WRX - Apparently, dealers do not stock these things so you'll never be able to test drive one. All their inventory is spoken for. And even if they have one in stock, they won't let you test drive it because it comes with summer tires. Is it me, or does that seem completely stupid? Don't people want to try cars before they buy? And aren't Subaru's sold on the premise that their AWD system is great for winter? Wouldn't you want to showcase that? I think I have to scratch this off my list just because I don't think I'll ever get to test one first.
Golf GTI - Looks nice inside and out. Not great for rear seat room. Not great for camping and hauling stuff. Felt solid tho, driving it around. Would be a safe car to hand-down to my kids when they're old enough to drive. 5 yr Finance at 0% ... wtf? Supposed to be decent on gas.
Corolla - This would be a pure 'bridge' option to hand down to the kids. Won't be exciting in anyway, but probably great on gas, reliable as all hell, and super affordable. Would be no better or worse at filling my camping needs compared to the WRX and GTI.
Honda Civic - Not much different than the Corolla. The rates seem higher tho. Again, not a whole of lot of fun to be had here.
Any input and thoughts?
_________________________
Fake right, cross-over, shoot lefty
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#9693235 - 12/05/19 11:28 AM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: Hatorade]
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Risky Business
Provides a Great Work Environment. he/him
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 05/17/10
Posts: 44790
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Your car list is all over the place and you are trying to satisfy way too many variables which is not possible with a single car.
Rate what's most important and pick based on that.
If I was you I'd go for the tacoma (not manual) for reliability/camping/resale/last forever/hauls shit/kids can use it.
GTI would be the next choice, but my first priority would be to have a proper every day car before a "fun" car. I am of the conclusion after chasing this 1 car fits all thing that it's not possible, there will always be a compromise.
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#9693275 - 12/05/19 11:55 AM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: Risky Business]
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Senor Eduardo_82
miataist
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 01/09/03
Posts: 38036
Loc: Ca�ada
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#9693686 - 12/05/19 07:19 PM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: Hatorade]
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Screamin Type ARGH!
High Value Poster
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 02/20/01
Posts: 47662
Loc: T.O. - Canaduh
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Meh Civic is ugly AF. New corolla looks much better, especially the hatch.
put
the
drugs
down
_________________________
 "Ban low performance drivers, not high performance cars"
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#9693821 - 12/06/19 03:15 AM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: titty sprinkles]
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hyper-s2k
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 12/01/05
Posts: 14556
Loc: T dot O dot, Canada
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how high of a priority is a camping car? i.e. if you end up picking from wrx and down (on your list) - will you still be able to do camping?
if i recall, i think your older one is about the same age as mine - so i would spring for an a2b car, and putt around for 4-5 years until its depreciated enough that it becomes my kid's hand me down (shared) car so i don't twitch over dings and scratches (though i probably would); then find something more palatable after - if you can wait that long.
IMO, the cx-5 doesn't really have that much more cargo room than a mazda3 - its just jacked up in height -- so i wouldn't put that on the list
As for WRX - I don't think they drastically redesigned a new one? maybe go test drive a used one / lease return and see if it meets your needs?
Good manuals are hard to find.
Good luck in the hunt.
_________________________
'08 //M3 - now @ 90,xxx km - wtf did i do?
'13 x1 - now @ 99,xxx km - a2b car
'10 x3 - now @ 123,xxx km - time 2 go?
'03 s2k - now @ 80,xxx km - a2a car
'08 535i - sold @ 149,421 km - cashed out just in time!
'08 impreza 2.5i - sold @ - 64,147 km - smh POS
'01 rav4 - killed @ 155,879 km - RIP old friend
"Driving in the snow is like sex. If you want to avoid accidents, abstinence is the best policy. If you're gonna take her for a spin, use protection." - Rick Mercer
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#9693822 - 12/06/19 03:17 AM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: Screamin Type ARGH!]
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hyper-s2k
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 12/01/05
Posts: 14556
Loc: T dot O dot, Canada
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Meh Civic is ugly AF. New corolla looks much better, especially the hatch. put the drugs down
stop
drinking
the (Honda)
kool-aid
... new civics are still ugly - since the days after the EK/EMs
_________________________
'08 //M3 - now @ 90,xxx km - wtf did i do?
'13 x1 - now @ 99,xxx km - a2b car
'10 x3 - now @ 123,xxx km - time 2 go?
'03 s2k - now @ 80,xxx km - a2a car
'08 535i - sold @ 149,421 km - cashed out just in time!
'08 impreza 2.5i - sold @ - 64,147 km - smh POS
'01 rav4 - killed @ 155,879 km - RIP old friend
"Driving in the snow is like sex. If you want to avoid accidents, abstinence is the best policy. If you're gonna take her for a spin, use protection." - Rick Mercer
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#9693914 - 12/06/19 08:14 AM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: hyper-s2k]
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Screamin Type ARGH!
High Value Poster
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 02/20/01
Posts: 47662
Loc: T.O. - Canaduh
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Meh Civic is ugly AF. New corolla looks much better, especially the hatch. put the drugs down stop drinking the (Honda) kool-aid ... new civics are still ugly - since the days after the EK/EMs
wrong (esp vs corolla).
but if you put it that way (you stuck in oldskool like me yes), then every new car is ugly vs. those gens lol
_________________________
"Ban low performance drivers, not high performance cars"
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#9693973 - 12/06/19 09:27 AM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: Screamin Type ARGH!]
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4Three
Post Master Sr
Registered: 12/21/00
Posts: 5365
Loc: Markham, ON, Canada
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Camping is a pretty big priority. Especially with a 16ft canoe and big hiking backpacks. Sometimes I go alone, but sometimes in a group of four, which means 4 backpacks and four people and possibly a dog in the car too.
The CX5 was actually a huge size-up from the wife's previous CX3. Its an actual 5 seater, and the kids like not being cramming up next to each other.
The WRX, I asked about test driving an off-lease or trade in, but apparently, they either don't exist, or they don't trust me enough to let me try. Again, seems stupid to me. I get dealers not letting people test drive an NSX or Supra, or even an STI.
And ya, our older kids are about the same age, so that's exactly my thinking with the smaller cars; something to hand down in a couple years and I won't be anxious about minor damage.
I actually like the styling of the Civic hatch, but the Corolla looks a touch nicer to me (although considerably less practical in terms of interior/trunk space). And the finance rate for the Civic is 4.99% vs 1.72% for the Corolla.
The current accord looks weird to me. The profile is decent, but that front end was beaten with an ugly stick.
A4 is nice, but it doesn't really suit me. I'm much too practical of a person to put money into luxury/branding.
Waiting on the pricing on a Tacoma vs GTI right now, and after the test drive with the GTI, and the nice customer service at Maple VW, I'm leaning pretty hard that way. 0% financing plus way better on gas. I guess I should check insurance rates too.
I wish they still made the Toyota FJ Cruiser.
_________________________
Fake right, cross-over, shoot lefty
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#9694208 - 12/06/19 12:36 PM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: Hatorade]
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Risky Business
Provides a Great Work Environment. he/him
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 05/17/10
Posts: 44790
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Basically when Screaming started working there?
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#9694281 - 12/06/19 01:33 PM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: Risky Business]
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zc911
Ferrari4Sale 😎
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 01/01/00
Posts: 16449
Loc: toronto
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Did you check out the Ford Ranger? my parents just got one, and i have to say, it's pretty nice.
I was trying to get them to check out a tacoma, but that is one dated platform.
I know the ranger platform has been around in other markets for a while, but it;s way better than the Toyota. And the 4cyl turbo motor moves it at a good clip.
Edited by zc911 (12/06/19 01:36 PM)
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#9694452 - 12/06/19 04:12 PM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: Risky Business]
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Hatorade
pheggit
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 11/05/99
Posts: 26894
Loc: Toronto, ON
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Basically when Screaming started working there?
Lmfaoooo
_________________________
'07 997.1 GT3
'08 E90 M3
'11 E90 d
'02 Rota Grid - 195-55-16FR (RIP)
'04 Volk GTC - 245-35-19F/275-35-19R (Sold to a farm boi)
I thought Spark was a robot from the old movie and I kind of remember seeing him telling some engineer showing the equation for a clear metal that the guy would event years later - porschetr
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#9694494 - 12/06/19 05:33 PM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: Hatorade]
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Screamin Type ARGH!
High Value Poster
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 02/20/01
Posts: 47662
Loc: T.O. - Canaduh
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Basically when Screaming started working there? Lmfaoooo
_________________________
"Ban low performance drivers, not high performance cars"
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#9694664 - 12/06/19 10:38 PM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: titty sprinkles]
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A2B-Lexus
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 04/19/01
Posts: 45550
Loc: Raptors Land
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Used 2016 Honda Pilots seems to go for under $25k. Can haul plenty of canoes.
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#9694697 - 12/07/19 12:37 AM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: A2B-Lexus]
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LNXGUY
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 08/06/00
Posts: 106936
Loc: Barrie, Ont,
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Golf Alltrack.
_________________________
-Bill The GN would OWN you, your children and your children's children. '09 E90 335 d 
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#9695022 - 12/08/19 09:17 AM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: LNXGUY]
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ehko
Quit being gay...
Post Master Sr
Registered: 10/16/01
Posts: 5399
Loc: Barrie, Ontario
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I just picked one up... can fit 3 young kids in the back seat and 2 retrievers with the seats up. They're discontinuing them so they're going for decent prices with 0% financing.
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#9695039 - 12/08/19 10:07 AM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: ehko]
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Hatorade
pheggit
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 11/05/99
Posts: 26894
Loc: Toronto, ON
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I just picked one up... can fit 3 young kids in the back seat and 2 retrievers with the seats up. They're discontinuing them so they're going for decent prices with 0% financing.
I want the 6spd so bad!!!
_________________________
'07 997.1 GT3
'08 E90 M3
'11 E90 d
'02 Rota Grid - 195-55-16FR (RIP)
'04 Volk GTC - 245-35-19F/275-35-19R (Sold to a farm boi)
I thought Spark was a robot from the old movie and I kind of remember seeing him telling some engineer showing the equation for a clear metal that the guy would event years later - porschetr
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#9695114 - 12/08/19 02:06 PM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: Hatorade]
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Screamin Type ARGH!
High Value Poster
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 02/20/01
Posts: 47662
Loc: T.O. - Canaduh
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I just picked one up... can fit 3 young kids in the back seat and 2 retrievers with the seats up. They're discontinuing them so they're going for decent prices with 0% financing. I want the Aztek so bad!!!
_________________________
"Ban low performance drivers, not high performance cars"
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#9695187 - 12/08/19 04:39 PM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: Screamin Type ARGH!]
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Lafora
Post Master Sr
Registered: 12/16/01
Posts: 4623
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why no fords 
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#9698028 - 12/13/19 09:20 AM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: Screamin Type ARGH!]
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Lost^
Lost^
Unregistered
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any dealers offering 0% or 0.9% financing?
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#9698047 - 12/13/19 09:38 AM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: ]
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RIC3BOY
Jr Member
Registered: 07/07/03
Posts: 612
Loc: Toronto, Ontario
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Doesn't come in manual and somewhat terrible in gas (given today's standards), but I'd go 2020 4Runner.
- Reliable
- Good resale
- 2020 has CarPlay/AndroidAuto
- Will satisfy your camping/overlanding needs
FWIW - I've had 2 4Runners - 2011 Limited and 2019 TRD OffRoad. Both solid, boring SUVs to drive 
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#9698558 - 12/14/19 05:48 PM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: iamfob]
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4Three
Post Master Sr
Registered: 12/21/00
Posts: 5365
Loc: Markham, ON, Canada
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I like the 4Runner, but I'm sticking with a manual. This car will likely get handed down to the kids and manual is the only option for them to learn on.
I've talked to a couple people about their Lexus/Toyota SUVs getting stolen off their driveway. It's rampant. One other guy had his key inside a RFID shielded wallet hanging by his front door inside his house. Said he woke up in the morning and saw car was attempted (door pried open), but the thieves were at it for over an hour trying to fire it up, and just gave up. I guess those RFID shields work!
VW is the one maker (that I'm interested in) offering 0% financing over 5 years.
Having sat back to back, Golf vs Tacoma, the interior space seemed better on the Golf. And the materials and finishes were far superior, not even the same ballpark. Unless something comes out of left field over the next couple days, I'm gonna go with the VW. The amount of truck-bed use would be minimal for the foreseeable future vs the tactile feel and fuel efficiency of the GTI.
_________________________
Fake right, cross-over, shoot lefty
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#9698765 - 12/15/19 12:23 PM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: 4Three]
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LNXGUY
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 08/06/00
Posts: 106936
Loc: Barrie, Ont,
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ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLTrack. Have you driven one?
_________________________
-Bill The GN would OWN you, your children and your children's children. '09 E90 335 d
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#9702556 - 12/22/19 09:15 PM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: Senor Eduardo_82]
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LNXGUY
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 08/06/00
Posts: 106936
Loc: Barrie, Ont,
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Good kill!
_________________________
-Bill The GN would OWN you, your children and your children's children. '09 E90 335 d
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#9702910 - 12/23/19 07:11 PM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: c2k]
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LNXGUY
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 08/06/00
Posts: 106936
Loc: Barrie, Ont,
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Will TDI ever come back to North America?
I doubt it, but who knows.
_________________________
-Bill The GN would OWN you, your children and your children's children. '09 E90 335 d
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#9703029 - 12/24/19 04:34 AM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: LNXGUY]
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JEFFOS
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 01/27/00
Posts: 29150
Loc: Toronto
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I’d look more into the Mazda’s. The interior and styling is getting much better for the level of car and the new ones can come in awd. Fwd sucks.
_________________________
-Jeff
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#9703222 - 12/24/19 03:43 PM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: JEFFOS]
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LNXGUY
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 08/06/00
Posts: 106936
Loc: Barrie, Ont,
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Listen here pizza boy.
_________________________
-Bill The GN would OWN you, your children and your children's children. '09 E90 335 d
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#9703267 - 12/24/19 07:15 PM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: JEFFOS]
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Risky Business
Provides a Great Work Environment. he/him
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 05/17/10
Posts: 44790
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I’d look more into the Mazda’s. The interior and styling is getting much better for the level of car and the new ones can come in awd. Fwd sucks.
Mazda over a GTI? Does not compute.
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#9704139 - 12/28/19 07:54 AM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: Hatorade]
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4Three
Post Master Sr
Registered: 12/21/00
Posts: 5365
Loc: Markham, ON, Canada
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After a week with the GTI, just some observations.
- I've never had a car with any amount of decent torque. This is a nice feeling.
- European designed cars feel very solid and reminds you they were engineered with the autobahn in mind.
- While the design is German, these things are assembled in Mexico (I believe). I don't know if this is a German vs Japanese car thing, or an assembled in Mexico thing, but there are tiny little hints that remind you of this, like cut-outs in plastic pieces that have just a slight roughness to the edges.
- I've been toying with the idea of having the insurance company monitor my driving to potentially "save 25%!". Its 100 days of monitoring your driving behaviour via a phone app. So as an experiment, I've tried to drive as close to a model driver as possible. Driving AT the speed limit is infuriating. Especially in 50 zones. I wanna kill myself for being a D-bag on the road. I THINK I can do it for 100 days, but unless I'm guaranteed that the potential for getting a full 25% off is high, and that the app won't lead to an increase in your rates, I probably will forego this.
- Along the same lines, I've been going really easy on the car for the most part to see what kind of mileage I can squeeze out of this, in comparison to my element. My first tank of gas has me at about 8.8ltr/100km with the first 50km on the car not being driven by me. A considerable different to the 11.5ltr/100km with the Element.
- There are some nicely thought-out features like lights in the foot-well and interior door handles, and gear selection suggestion in economy mode (which essentially suggests short shifting every gear to get you in 6th as soon as possible). The headlight know is clever in that to activate the fog lights, you pull the same knob towards you, instead of having a separate control for the fog lights. There are also lots of gadgetty electronic things you can pull up on the screens like a track timer, boost gauge, and oil temp; kinda cute to have type things.
All in all, it's nice to drive a small, fun car again. Something that is good on gas, with a nice feeling cabin that's small enough to get up to temp quickly, and is built with a solid feel.
And I did look at the Mazdas. While the interiors felt classy and elegant, they were just too simplified for me. I like having buttons, and switches, and sharp lines.
_________________________
Fake right, cross-over, shoot lefty
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#9704189 - 12/28/19 12:22 PM
Re: car shopping is frustrating ...
[Re: Hatorade]
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Risky Business
Provides a Great Work Environment. he/him
Post Master Supreme
Registered: 05/17/10
Posts: 44790
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So true, particular German brands (benz/audi imo) really killed it, BMW unfortunately has fallen off for me in the past half decade, but the new offerings are looking promising. GTI is the perfect "little" daily imo, I feel the same way about the S4, I think that's the "perfect" small sports sedan to date for daily here in the GTA.
Gotta say Acura has stepped up too, the RDX A spec is a neat little crossover, I wish I could say the same about the MDX but these fucking wallies are still using halogen bulbs in the tails, are they dumb? Lighting game has to be on point, fucking Kia's come with LED's on base models.
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