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What will be your next car?
- Thread starter gloryofgreece
- Start date
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I disagree. Regulating maximum power for young, inexperienced drivers is a great idea. For most teenagers 300 HP is a really bad idea. I teach Street Survival School. My last student had a M3 his dad gave him. He had no idea what he was dealing with, so I had to show him. Hopefully he learned enough to keep himself out of trouble. High horsepower cars can be very unforgiving when mistreated and disrespected. They don't belong in the hands of inexperienced drivers (i.e. teenagers). I drive a 333 HP M3 myself and there is no way I would put a teen behind the wheel of it. I remember putting it into a 180 spin on the track the first time I had it there, so I know how quickly it can get dangerous if you don't know what you're doing.
The M35/45 is a beautiful car.
My parents will probably be replacing our 05 Touareg soon. Its a really nice car but it is complete crap reliability wise. We know a couple other people with them and they'll agree. My parents I know really like the G35x but after looking at the M35x the M35 is a much better looking car. We live in New England so no RWD so the FWD Acura TL is also a consideration. AWD in a sedan isn't really necessary because traction control works good enough and AWD just kills your fuel economy. They're also interested in the XC70 and XC90. There is also always the LR3 option but we already have 2 other Land Rovers.
I personally won't be getting a new car for a while because I just got a 2000 Discovery.
Well, my wifes car should be paid off in the next few months (mini-van) and I'm currently driving a 2001 Ford Escape (around 110,000 miles). So I most likely won't be getting anything new for a few years.
Which allows me to dream a little bit about what will be available 2-3 years from now.
My dream would include the following:
-Something very similar in size to my current Ford Escape or the new Ford Edge (which is kind of a cool lookin' ride as well)
-Since the current Escape Hybrid gets 35 miles to the gallon (6 cyclinders), I am hoping to see at least that or as high as 45-50 MPG in the next 2-3 years (I could be dreaming, but I would LOVE to see that)...So my next ride will be some kind of Hybrid, bur I really would love to see the MPG go up another 5, 10 or even 15 MPG within the next 2-3 years (That's my DREAM, 50 MPG in a small SUV...wow, that would make sooooo happy
-Must be some kind of small FRONT WHEEL DRIVE SUV with 4 wheel and all wheel drive (I use both my 4 wheel and all wheel drive A LOT...but that's just part of living in MN and being required to do a lot of driving with customers in questionable weather for my work)
-Must have a built in GPS system (I use and need it for my job and currently use a 3rd party or after market system, would love to just have it built in)
-In dash Internet capability for checking my email (I currently use my cell phone for this while on the road, but would love to be able to check it from the dash of my car and have it read to me...I think there are already a few systems that do this, but this shoudl even get better within the next 2-3 years)
-Must have some kind of integrated iPod type of system
-Must have more comfortable seets than what I currently have
-Must have really cool looking wheels (I don't know what it is about the look of wheels, but they can either make or break a car for me)
-Sounds dumb but good cup holders (some manufactures are simply trying to get tooooo creative with their cup holders, and some of them simple don't work worth a darn)
-A good power supply to plug a laptop in (standard 3 prong/grounded input...starting to see this in a few cars today)
-Sun roof
-100,000 mile transmittion warranty!!!
-Well designed arm rest (some arm rest systems are either to small or simple are placed to far back for me...I like the big, built to store things and a little more forward so that I don't feel like I am adjusting myself to reach it...I should be able to simply put my arm down and at least 75% of my elbow to palm should naturally find the arm rest, and it needs to be wide enough for 2 people, NOT just one)
-------------------------------
So all in all something like the new Ford Escape Hybrid would would meet a lot of those needs (I've had a lot of luck with my current Escape), but I would like it all to be stepped up a notch with a killer 100,000 warranty, better gas millage (that one is huge to me), better seets and all around comfort, and any other good things that they can come up with in the next few years
Which allows me to dream a little bit about what will be available 2-3 years from now.
My dream would include the following:
-Something very similar in size to my current Ford Escape or the new Ford Edge (which is kind of a cool lookin' ride as well)
-Since the current Escape Hybrid gets 35 miles to the gallon (6 cyclinders), I am hoping to see at least that or as high as 45-50 MPG in the next 2-3 years (I could be dreaming, but I would LOVE to see that)...So my next ride will be some kind of Hybrid, bur I really would love to see the MPG go up another 5, 10 or even 15 MPG within the next 2-3 years (That's my DREAM, 50 MPG in a small SUV...wow, that would make sooooo happy
-Must be some kind of small FRONT WHEEL DRIVE SUV with 4 wheel and all wheel drive (I use both my 4 wheel and all wheel drive A LOT...but that's just part of living in MN and being required to do a lot of driving with customers in questionable weather for my work)
-Must have a built in GPS system (I use and need it for my job and currently use a 3rd party or after market system, would love to just have it built in)
-In dash Internet capability for checking my email (I currently use my cell phone for this while on the road, but would love to be able to check it from the dash of my car and have it read to me...I think there are already a few systems that do this, but this shoudl even get better within the next 2-3 years)
-Must have some kind of integrated iPod type of system
-Must have more comfortable seets than what I currently have
-Must have really cool looking wheels (I don't know what it is about the look of wheels, but they can either make or break a car for me)
-Sounds dumb but good cup holders (some manufactures are simply trying to get tooooo creative with their cup holders, and some of them simple don't work worth a darn)
-A good power supply to plug a laptop in (standard 3 prong/grounded input...starting to see this in a few cars today)
-Sun roof
-100,000 mile transmittion warranty!!!
-Well designed arm rest (some arm rest systems are either to small or simple are placed to far back for me...I like the big, built to store things and a little more forward so that I don't feel like I am adjusting myself to reach it...I should be able to simply put my arm down and at least 75% of my elbow to palm should naturally find the arm rest, and it needs to be wide enough for 2 people, NOT just one)
-------------------------------
So all in all something like the new Ford Escape Hybrid would would meet a lot of those needs (I've had a lot of luck with my current Escape), but I would like it all to be stepped up a notch with a killer 100,000 warranty, better gas millage (that one is huge to me), better seets and all around comfort, and any other good things that they can come up with in the next few years
Just bought my first new car last week. 08 Toyota Tacoma 4-door 4x4. Love it! It's a total pleasure to drive.
My next one will be an Audi A6 Avant, of course would love an RS6 Avant but no way I can afford £75,000 so a year old S-Line 3.0 TDi is the most likely.
i test drove an IS250 auto last year because the dealership didn't have a 350 or 250 manual. i felt that it was a reliable, jack-of-all-trades car - reasonably sporty, elegant interior, reassuring sound when you shut the door, smooth engine, etc. just about everything one would expect from a lexus.
however, i also felt that the steering was light and disconnected at times (not as light as the LS, but light for a "sports" sedan). the very nice saleswoman assured me that one of the car's many computer modules adjusts the firmness of the steering wheel according to vehicle speed (well, most modern cars do. it just happens that the IS is geared towards the luxury side). and that's another problem - there are just way too many electronic nannies (that can't be completely turned off, btw) to make you feel like you're not driving a sports car. push the car a little in the corners; however, it leans. while there's nothing wrong with borrowing a few parts from its parent company, lexus chose to put some hard plastic buttons that belong in a corolla to furnish the somewhat bland interior. the engine is quiet (and low on torque), but that's hardly something to write home about unless one is also considering a buick or lincoln.
overall, i think the IS (or lexus itself) is like a good, reliable but vanilla gf/bf. s/he works hard to please you, at times s/he'd even fake it (like the fake exhaust design on the IS-F). it's not a bad thing, though. because it also translates to unreal, top-notch dealership experience. i walked into the dealership with a pair of shorts and i received more attention and less attitude than expected (i'm still in college, btw). don't get me wrong, the IS is doing very well and i'm sure a lot of folks are happy with their purchases. but when the dealership experience is more impressive than the test-drive, that says quite a bit about the car.
edit:
i test drove a TL type-s and a RL. imho i'd pay extra gas money for SH-AWD, and the type-s needs it really bad.
Mine must have some vague respect for the environment... something missing from a few American driver's posts *hides*
*hides*Mine must have some vague respect for the environment... something missing from a few American driver's posts
Like all those Diesels!
And I've already disagreed with you, except I have the facts to back up my assertions. I'm asserting that such absolute terms, such as never, are incorrect because they are such over generalizations. I agree with you, many (probably even the majority) of new drivers aren't ready to handle a very fast car, but you can't be so black and white with it. I was. Some of my good friends were. I have never gotten a speeding ticket or a moving violation, and have not once gotten into an accident. Can you say the same? Even if you can, many can't.
I hope sincerely you mean parent regulation, and not government regulation.
There you go again. Such absolute terms. YOU don't think they belong in the hands of inexperienced drivers, that doesn't mean they shouldn't. YOU wouldn't put a teen behind the wheel of a 333 HP M3, but maybe you teach a lot of teens who are reckless or lack common sense? Just because it's your opinion that high horse power cars should not be allowed to be driven by teenagers shouldn't mean I have to give up my car (which I have handled very responsibly) to appease your whims.
Hmmm, should I get a supercharger? ...
My next car will be either this one:
or this one:
And after that, I'll go for it5five's solution, a bike, or a Smart.
I edited your list and created my own from it. The one in bold is at the top of my list as it's probably one of the easiest for me to be able to buy. Dead sexy IMO.
^^^but how come you don't like the CTS-V?
edit:
not true, a few of us mention that we are considering hybrids.
edit:
Mine must have some vague respect for the environment... something missing from a few American driver's posts
not true, a few of us mention that we are considering hybrids.
Get upset all you want. Be mad at me all you want. I stand by what I say -- absolute terms and all. High horsepower cars just plain don't belong in the hands of teen drivers with none or just a couple years experience, period. OK, there is a small group of exceptions -- those who have been Karting since childhood and are training as race car drivers, assuming they're mature enough to understand that public roads aren't the track.
Most of the teens I teach at Street Survival School are good responsible kids with positive attitudes. Even when we're done with them they don't belong in high performance cars, and I'm not shy about telling a parent if I think the car is an inappropriate choice. We do tell the students they can come back when they are 18 and join us for a high performance driving school where they can learn to drive at speed on a road course. If I ever I sell my M3 (not likely), I would turn away any buyer that is a teen.
And to answer your question, yes I've been in two auto accidents...many years ago...when I was a teen driving a Datsun 240Z. Since then, no accidents, and 2 speeding tickets (less than 20+ MPH on a highway). But that's all in 30+ years of driving.
You are standing by your "absolute terms and all" in the face of contradicting evidence.
Again, your ill-informed opinion. I'm not saying you're ill-informed in general, you do work at a driving school, I'm talking about this opinion. You talk like there are no kids out there with faster learning curves, who don't do stupid things like street race, who don't get tickets, who don't get in accidents, who haven't skillfully evaded accidents about to be caused by others many times when other, older drivers would have gotten into those collisions.
BTW: The power of my car has also gotten me out of one accident for sure that I can remember.
We'll just have to agree to disagree.
FYI: I don't work at a driving school (never said I did). I volunteer my time teaching Street Survival School. It's run by the BMW CCA Foundation. Google it. It's a great program for teens. Probably saves lives. The local police love that we do it.
You mean GM stepping out for 2008? Yeah, hopefully they'll be back with their new CTS for the 09 season. I will miss the level of competition they brought to the series. Can't wait for the start of this season at Sebring. I'll be there next month.