Talking with my wife tonight…considering gas is getting increasingly expensive, that (despite what some say here) the air is getting worse by the day, we have decided to sell our SUV, and do like the rest of the world that rides…get a normal car with a bike rack…
looking for something with good fuel economy (say around 30mpg, ruling out hybrid…as the acceleration on most of them suck and considering how some people drive sometime being able to accelerate is important…), and a price around $20K, preferably under…
we looked briefly at toyota matrix, honda civic, pontiac vibe, and a bunch of other small cars or compact cars…considering also accord, jetta, golf…
Opinions? (yeah I know audi A3, BMW serie 5 etc…look really neat…)
The car queen says look at the 3 Series BMW, she thinks it gets decent gas mileage. I think you should get a station wagon! Her again - Honda Accord, great mileage plus good acceleration, volkswagen are still considered somewhat problematic, Subaru Forrester or Outback and she her insider tip is that you can talk the bike rack into the deal, toyota but she said look at the honda first. Then she said call her or email her for up to date info from work. (you guys email quite a bit eh?)
I’m looking seriously at the Highlander Hybrid. The 0-60 numbers for the hybrid are better than they are for the Highlander with a conventional engine. You get all the room and comfort of an SUV with economy car mileage. I’ll probably wait for next years’ model, though. My little Subaru Impreza will do us just fine for another year.
Lee Silverman
JackRabbit Sports
Park Slope, Brooklyn
why doesn’t she post this herself eh? 
(still trying to find out…)
huh…well…how to say that…hmmm…embarassing…ok…I don’t drive standard… 
red, ashamed and all …
her again…I wish she would start using her screen name…BMW has an all maintenance included for three or four years special going on right now. She also has a contact in EP to boot.
Toyota Matrix is an awesome car Francois.
Lots of friends have different versions,from the entry level to the type X which is very sporty.They are all pleased.
Plus- Toyota’s live forever.
We had a Camry that had 275K on the odometer when we sold it,and the owner swears by that car.
A Subaru WRX wagon is a tiny bit more than the Matrix,but has AWD, hauls ass(225hp) and still manages good mpg.
It makes for a very cool triathletes car.
I saw a black one(WRX wagon) at IMLP this weekend that was pimped out w/ twin bike racks on the roof,very nice!
yeah, but I want spinners on my wheels too
matrix looks good indeed…
I know nothing of cars other than where the key goes and that nails, screws etc in the tires are not so good. She is the car queen. I’m just the pilot. Oh and she said silly boys you’ll never know who I am.
BTW-
I saw Kim Loeffler’s Lucero up close while it was getting worked on at IMLP…sweet rig.
Kim and Hillary Biscaye looked the most impressive on the bike.
Very slippery and smooth.
LOL - well man enough to admit it…
That is a shocker! Do you have Mektronic on your bike?
the mavic stuff that doesn’t work? nope…
matrix is the best in your list
tried the A3, too small interior - smaller than Matrix
-g
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ok now you have to post a pic or she does not exist - just the invisible woman
.
Mercedes C230 Kompressor…now hear me out here…
So, you are over your $20k number BUT…add it up over 5 years.
The Benz #1 can fit 2, yes 2 bikes in it (back seat and trunk)
You will get over 30mpg on the highway
100% of your service is paid for for 5 years, 50k - that is all oil, fliuds, brake pads / rotors, rotation, wiper blades - everything.
The Benz no question will retain a much higher resale value than that of your other options. So, you are actually spending less in the end (unless you are leasing and planning to just turn the car in).
Insurance is LOWER on my Benz than it is on any of my US cars, even of lesser value - State Farm said that it is a safty thing, and that the key in the Benz makes the car about impossible to steal.
So…for TOTAL COST of ownership, in 5 years a $30k car can cost much less than a $20k car.