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I think the 2018 Honda Accord Sedan (47 MPG, plenty of room and pep) is the best car one can buy.
And, of course, I hate SUVs.....from the first day I looked at a Ford Explorer in the 80's. We had minivans and the Explorer had no room in comparison, cost vastly more, was less stable, etc....
But, then again, I've lived through the era of where many Americans think that driving a Hummer is cool because it makes you a "killer" type. When I was a child, I did childish things....but I put that stuff away in the toy closet (my cardboard forts, etc.).
If a truck doesn't have an 8' bed, it's not a real truck.
My beef with some cars is poor visibility out of the back window. I don't care how sexy it looks. I don't want it. (And don't get me started on stupid back up cameras.)
It's not because it looks sexy, it's for safety. So when you're rear ended by a "real truck," your backseat passengers (likely kids) won't be hurt or killed.
German cars are not special. In fact, they are inferior in many ways, reliability being the main one.
The older ones tended to be superior in all the ways that matter to me: performance, driving dynamics, comfort, and style. And both of mine have been quite reliable, even for 12-17 year old cars.
Finally, I think we expect too much from a car lately. I read an interview about a German car company once where the owner said something like - let cars be cars, & let tables hold your cups. Meaning he didn't care about putting cup holders in a car because why even expect a car to hold your drink for you. Cars should be focused on driving performance not being your living room. Seems lately we want a vehicle that gets 32 mpg, with 45 cubic feet of cargo space in the back with seats up, perfect safety scores, 9 cup holders, easily seats 5, high quality interior, yet costs under $27k & won't break down for at least 10 years. Oh & it better have AWD, bluetooth, back up camera & seats more comfy than my living room couch.
I think if you're a parent who constantly has to lug small humans and all their things, or even do roadtrips often enough, all of that is exactly what you want in your $35k+ investment. If you're younger, that's much less important.
Also, on the topic of need, you buy up to what you can afford because it will have use at some point. Most obvious example - nobody buys a 16GB iPhone when they can smartly choose 64/128GB instead. In the car world, when you're spending tens of thousands only once every ~5 years, you should not only account for the bare minimum. Those who say to go rent a bigger car only when you need it have never done it. Instead, they find alternative means (ie. phone a friend/relative) and it's a PITA to do so every time, guaranteed. Spend more if you can afford it for the convenience of having it. Same as the phone analogy.
- AWD: majority of drivers in Wisconsin don't need it even though many think it's a necessity here. Due to global warming it snows much less now & we get more ice than anything. Plows do a great job of quickly clearing the road & most roads already have salt on before it starts snowing. Why have to deal with the expense of awd year around when you only need it 6 days out of the year.
I love AWD in Florida. As long as you keep tires fresh enough to have proper tread, it really, really helps in handling in our usual summer monsoon rain conditions. And for nice grippy handling in general.
I think if you're a parent who constantly has to lug small humans and all their things, or even do roadtrips often enough, all of that is exactly what you want in your $35k+ investment. If you're younger, that's much less important.
Also, on the topic of need, you buy up to what you can afford because it will have use at some point. Most obvious example - nobody buys a 16GB iPhone when they can smartly choose 64/128GB instead. In the car world, when you're spending tens of thousands only once every ~5 years, you should not only account for the bare minimum. Those who say to go rent a bigger car only when you need it have never done it. Instead, they find alternative means (ie. phone a friend/relative) and it's a PITA to do so every time, guaranteed. Spend more if you can afford it for the convenience of having it. Same as the phone analogy.
Exactly. I have two kids. But I routinely haul around two more, as we do carpools a lot to and from school / practice. So I've got to get 4 kids and all their gear in my car. And since they have been practicing, sometimes outside in the heat, for an hour, they are all thirsty and have water with them. So I need lots of seats, lots of cup holders, and lots of cargo space.
That big men look totally stupid in tiny sports cars.
I have to agree with you although I Have a Jensen Healey and I am 6'1" and in the 230s. I know I look silly in it. But I love to drive it anyway. I am old enough not to care about looking silly.
- AWD: majority of drivers in Wisconsin don't need it even though many think it's a necessity here. Due to global warming it snows much less now & we get more ice than anything. Plows do a great job of quickly clearing the road & most roads already have salt on before it starts snowing. Why have to deal with the expense of awd year around when you only need it 6 days out of the year.
I thought that here too (SE Michigan). However we have had several record snowfall years recently. We have also had some record cold years. It does not snow less here, just different. Now is snows and melts snows and melts. It used to stick around longer and build up. Now the temperatures seem to bounce around more. We have had some really cool things I have not seen before like freezing fog (hold out your hand and it is covered in ice in seconds), thunder-snow, unusual ice storms (different from the normal ice storms - more dramatic), and unbelievable temperature changes like 70 degrees change in the same week or 40 - 50 degrees in 24 hours.
AWD is not necessary. However it is still useful. It was never necessary. For decades people here drove on 2wd with no snow tires and they survived (most of them), so really nothing is "necessary"
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