Realistically Speaking...

XMENPorsche · Post by **XMENPorsche** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 8:51 am

What do you think your next car is going to be? I know that it's easy to fantasize and say, "I'm getting the Bugatti Veyron...." (or something like that), but most of us don't really live in a world where we can buy a $1.2 million dollar car that tops out at 253mph.

What do you really think you'll buy next? Speaking for myself, I'm 42 years old with a wife and son (who, at 10 years old, is already 5'3" tall). Given the fact that I'm 6'5" and need legroom and my son will need room in the back, a 4-door sedan is a must. I currently drive an '03 Camry XLE which I plan on handing down to my son when he's 16. However, it's paid off in the next 2 years at which point I'll garage it and buy something new. As of today I'd have to say that my next ride would be a Toyota Avalon. I love Toyota's reliability, plus this car has all the room in it I'll need. It looks kind of plain but it has 280hp under the hood and will get to 60 in 6.1 seconds (not bad for a family hauler).

Ambush Bug · Post by **Ambush Bug** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 3:01 pm

Right now Mrs. Bug and I have a Ford Escort (2000-2002-can't remember) and a 96 Honda Civic.

Barring another wreck with the Civic (knock on wood!), we're hoping to get a few more years out of it, at which point the idea is to replace it with one of the hybrid Civics. Hopefully by then most of the bugs will be worked out.

As for the Escort, we're thinking of replacing it in the future with a small pickup truck. Nothing huge, just something that's got a 4-banger and a truck bed so we can haul things around ourselves when the need arises. I wouldn't have minded getting hold of my dad's '73 Rabbit truck (complete with push-in-to-use-reverse stick shifter). But alas, it was sold a few years ago. Great little truck, tho.

TimberWolf · Post by **TimberWolf** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 3:19 pm

There is a 1989 Ford Aerostar sitting at my Grandparents house right now. Its transmission is acting up. My parents are hoping to finacially get back on their feet, trade in the Aerostar, and then buy my mom a small SUV that can handle the winters around here and taller to ferry their own parents around. From there her current car, the 1999 Protoge, will become mine. But right now it doesn't look like it will happen for a couple of more years due to job and health problems for my mom.

X Rogue · Post by **X Rogue** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 3:27 pm

ATM I'm thinking some sort of sedan. I don't have to worry about leg or head room, but Gambino is 6'1'' and looks like our 12 yrold is headed the same way. Makes it interesting to find something with the leg room that I can still see out of.

BlackRider · Post by **BlackRider** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 3:34 pm

Funny you should bring this up. Looking at the bills climbing for my current cars ('85 & '91 MR2s, finnaly sold my '92 Grand AM) I've decided that I need something newer (2000+) that'll just need regular maintenance until I get out of college. But I can't live w/o a sports car. We already have 3 pickup trucks in the family, so I don't have to worry about hauling things. People moving isn't a priority either.

I'm a poor college student so $$$ is a factor too. I really only can afford $12,000 but may go up to $14,000. So now I'm looking at MR-S's and Miatas.

These are the two particular cars I'm looking at right now.

The miata has more options and costs less, but I'm still leaning towards the MR2. I'm out for test drives today.

Still not exactly "realistic" given my part-time income, but I'll manage if I have to drop all of my hobbies.

MegaDeath70 · Post by **MegaDeath70** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 5:48 pm

This past summer i bought a 2005 Dodge Dakota Laramie. Love it !

Only negative thing about it, is it sucks the petro.

I couldnt see buying a little bug of a car as above^^^^ i dont want to be eating someones bumper when i get in a fender bender. Those little cars are a coffin waiting to be buried with you in them.

XMEN Iceman · Post by **XMEN Iceman** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 6:25 pm

After I get into a new house...and wear out the 4Runner for like 4 more years...who knows. Probably a small, fast, but comfortable car.

BlackRider · Post by **BlackRider** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 6:37 pm

lol MegaDeath, little coffin, big coffin... at 60 mph you can die in anything. Just learn about crash avoidance... like motorcyclists.

Ice needs a Lotus Esprit...

MegaDeath70 · Post by **MegaDeath70** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 7:39 pm

less likely my man, in a big coffin. In other words..... less likely to receive a life threating injury or a injury at all in a larger vehicle. Unlike when in a soap box derby car.

Although anything is possible...

XMEN Iceman · Post by **XMEN Iceman** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 8:01 pm

Ice has been dreaming about an Lotus S8 Turbo Esprit for the last 20 years. I might just get one when I grow up...or when I retire...which is only about 10-15 more years away.

I have enough sick leave that if I retired with it I can buy one with cash.

X Rogue · Post by **X Rogue** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 9:04 pm

And if you invest that money, you can almost pay for your nursing home by the time you'll need one.

Sharpster · Post by **Sharpster** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 9:21 pm

My Mom is looking at either a Camry or 4-runner for me... She can't decide... (even tho im paying for it in the long run... she gets to decide) She wants it to be Toyota for sure because her like 87 pickup still runs without anything major wrong with it. Well except for the rusted out body

. She said I had to pick some sort of a Toyota... I only liked the Camry for a car... I didn't want a truck since thats what i've grown up in all my life. Then she threw in the 4-Runner idea because it is 4x4 and would be excellent in the snow... So now I dont have a choice in the matter, it's up to her.... I just want her to get somthin soon, driving this minivan around is so uncool

.

TimberWolf · Post by **TimberWolf** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 9:44 pm

Driving a Minivan to High school wasn't bad for me and it wasn't uncool. The reason was because the seats in the back layed flat to make a bed and the ladies liked that. In fact people would hang out at my van until all the busses left and the traffic died down.

XMEN Ashaman DTM · Post by **XMEN Ashaman DTM** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 10:08 pm

Something with good gas mileage and can get going. My current car does fine, but I've racked up 27,000 miles since I moved to Kaleyfornya.

I've been considering a Tacoma, Jeep, Subarus, Acuras, and Hondas. A guy I work with bought a Volvo S4, and I like it, but I'm not sure if I'll be wanting to do that financially.

XMEN Iceman · Post by **XMEN Iceman** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 12:03 pm

I have owned about 8 Toyotas now and I can honestly say they are hands down the most trouble free vehicles I have ever owned.

Other than a lady backing into my current 4Runner I have had zero issues with it.