In Search of the Elusive New (to us) Car
Last Saturday Erin and went to Salt Lake to pick up some clothes and then Erin graciously agreed to suffer with me as we stopped at a Honda dealership to look at cars. She agreed to one dealership - almost as much so we could start getting an idea of what we want - which is why we stopped at the Honda place.
For a couple of years now I've been saying I want an updated version of the car I've been driving. Essentially, I wanted a 2003 Honda Accord EX, standard transmission, and (if possible) six cylinder.
As we pulled into the dealership and parked the car, one of the dealers came over and started talking to us about what we were looking for. He (almost immediately) told me that in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 Honda did not make a Sedan (4 door) with a standard transmission. However, he was more than happy to walk us around the lot, answer questions about cars, let us crawl into the cars (sit down), and finally drive a 2008 Honda Civic 4 door with a standard transmission. Erin didn't like the feel of the car, I liked how it drove; but neither of us were too hip on paying in excess of 20,000$ for a car that was smaller than what I like to drive.
The Honda Accord is a midsize car and, granted, my now dead mid-size is about the same size as a modern compact; I still prefer to drive and buy midsize cars.
A few weeks ago, before the whole: We have to buy a car fiasco came to be, we started talking about the kinds of cars I like. I like Honda, Volkswagen, Toyota, and Jeep (in case anyone was keeping record). I've enjoyed the Porsches, BMW's, and Mercedes I've driven, but come one here, we have to be realistic.
Since Erin doesn't like the boxy nature of the Jeep (I prefer a Jeep Cherokee which means we go back 10 years to find what I want) she asked what alternatives to the Jeep I liked. I pulled up (since I am pretty tied to my computer) the Honda CR-V and showed it to her. Really, a vehicle that is closer to the Honda Odyssey than to an SUV.
We also discussed the Subaru and I looked at compact and mid-size cars. The Subaru mid-size is the Legacy. Interestingly, the kids that live upstairs each have (relatively) new Subaru's. One drives the Impreza WRX, the other drives the Legacy.
What I was not hip on was a station wagon. I can agree with an SUV, but station wagons are so last decade (and, incidentally, last millennium). So, looking at most of the Subaru's on the road, a five-door vehicle (fifth door is the hatchback - Erin drives a three door vehicle) was not really an option. I pretty much said, "No," to any vehicle that even sort of resembled a station wagon. Too bad we can't get a Vista Cruiser.
Anyway, Erin asked me to look (again) at the Forester. She did not want to consider the Outback, which, honestly, is a pretty good looking (even if it is an S.W.) car. So, I looked into the Forrester.
Here's what I found. The Forester is an altered Impreza body with a taller roof and more of an SUV mentality without the lift and size of (overall) the SUV. It is rated among the SUV's in the world; but is now being touted as a CUV (compact utility vehicle). When I noted not only the styling of an SUV, but also that the car comes, standard, with a manual transmission (something Honda could not guarantee in a four-door), my interest was peaked.
Now, my interest was actually very peaked the other week when we started the process of looking (not sure if this is pre- or post- death to car) and discovered that power to RPM ratings and other factors actually lean toward the Subaru across the board over almost every other car maker out there. Granted, with the rising fuel costs, buying a car that gets something like 70 mpg would be better than something that gets sub-30 mpg, but Subaru like Honda and Toyota actually rotates (highway) above the 30 mpg mark. A Honda or Toyota would be better, but at the same time (for the name) you will spend a great deal more.
On top of some of my requirements (and why we are buying something newer) is that we want something baby friendly; something that Erin can drive (though she does need to be more comfortable in a stick); and something that is better on ice/snow than the car I was driving or the car Erin drives.
One of the draws (for me) of the Subaru (brand) is what Subaru calls the Boxer engine. This is an engine that is horizontally opposed. No V's, no I's, either four or six cylinders that are perpendicular opposed to each other. The mechanic geek in me would love to have one of these engines to take apart and see (rather intimately) how it works. I understand the principle, though it is in the grease and oil that understanding comes.
Anyway, Erin and I will probably test drive some. The sad thing (for me) is that I can see that Subaru by default, produces manual transmissions and in Utah it looks nearly impossible to find a pre-owned manual transmission. Though, given the desires we have (and Erin's wickedly good fortune) when we finally decide what to do and what to buy the car (year, model, make, and other aspects) will show up and we will buy it.
John Hattaway | smokingpen | Alicia Grey | Clockwork Princess | Cassandra West
Real Heroes Fly