What car do you drive? (Houston, Dallas: sales, live in, restaurants)

[10scoachrick]

By the bye, some of those crazy 'drive away' leases would be mighty tempting IF I were starting fresh, needed a roadworthy vehicle and wasn't sure what it should be. Really low monthly payments, two or maybe three years, and if you love the vehicle, you buy it at lease-end. It's certainly NOT for everybody, but you don't have to tie up a bunch of cash to drive a nice, new, fully warranted vehicle--IF that fits your lifestyle.

[supernaut112]

I have a Lexus Sedan, but I rarely drive it. It's a great car, but it sucks down the fuel.

I live in the city, so I walk most everywhere. When I don't, I take public transportation. It's so much cheaper to live in a walkable area!

[mickey65]

Too bad Austin is the only city in the vicinity with public transportation.

[donnaaries]

You should probably buy a Prius or a Subaru to fit in. Bonus points for a NPR sticker.

[G Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by donnaaries

You should probably buy a Prius or a Subaru to fit in. Bonus points for a NPR sticker.

Originally Posted by OpenD

One thing the thread so far should have well informed you of is that Texans are CRAZY for their big trucks. Even the maybe 80% who have never even touched a bale of hay in their life.

Austin seems to be torn between the worlds of the gas guzzling, powerful pick-up and the highly efficient, less powerful small car. Personally, I will go with the small car. I will sacrifice the "king of the road" feeling for the savings at the pump and the feeling that I am doing the right thing. Maybe it would be different if I owned a ranch or even a couple of horses. Many years ago, I owned a larger car for a few years. I hated hauling all that space along with me - and paying for it at the pump.

[andrewcool]

Main car is a Prius.

[Jink]

2001 honda civic :T

[eepstein]

Since Austin is about "as Texas as it gets", this spills over into the vehicle purchases that people make. People love to buy big, gas guzzling vehicles because they know that Texas is big. This is the same reason why everyone drives smart cars in Rhode Island

Metro Austin has among the highest per capita ownership of truck based vehicles of any major metropolitian area in the nation. (Metro Houston and SA are comparable) That would include full size trucks, and SUV's. You tend to see more cars once you get closer into central Austin, as well as hybrids too. Prius' also dot the landscape further into central Austin.

Just buy yourself a Suburban or Tahoe (two of the favorites around here) and you'll fit in just fine

Originally Posted by texan2yankee

Just curious as we will be buying a car after not having one in New York City and moving in two months to Austin. Thanks!

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by eepstein

Since Austin is about "as Texas as it gets", this spills over into the vehicle purchases that people make. People love to buy big, gas guzzling vehicles because they know that Texas is big. This is the same reason why everyone drives smart cars in Rhode Island

Metro Austin has among the highest per capita ownership of truck based vehicles of any major metropolitian area in the nation. (Metro Houston and SA are comparable) That would include full size trucks, and SUV's. You tend to see more cars once you get closer into central Austin, as well as hybrids too. Prius' also dot the landscape further into central Austin.

Just buy yourself a Suburban or Tahoe (two of the favorites around here) and you'll fit in just fine

Facts or link please on your repeated ad nauseum per capita statement about trucks etc. I don't believe it at all.

You don't get to use your "it's an opinion' excuse since you are citing a statistic. If you have the data and source, post it or quit saying it.

[buffettjr]

We all know he makes up his statistics and never links to sources. Just put his username on ignore and you will be so much happier! Although, you still see his comments in quoted replies unfortunately. (P.S., Eepstein I'm still waiting for your source on when the city of Austin was forcing people to not have Christmas lights on their houses because rich people didn't like the traffic).

As for the original discussion, if you're going to be spending any time in and around downtown, I think you'd be happier with a smaller car. They are easier to park, easier to maneuver, and get better gas mileage. If you live in the suburbs it probably doesn't matter as much, although then you will be driving a lot more so the mileage may be important.