by clint jones » Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:31 pm
Thanks everybody,
So I've "narrowed" it to, not "limited" it to these 2. The Volvo V70 in the 2002-2004 range or a 2007 Subaru Legacy 2.5i. It's in the sub $25K range. The reasons are many.
First of all, I'm a surfer who takes more than 1 board with him, so it's either a van or a wagon for me. Sedans are not an option. And when I said Volvo's are old people's cars, I didn't mean performance wise. The V70r is a sleeper and can outperform lots of cars on the road. But it still doesn't look like a sex machine like a Porsche. For your info, you lose about 60hp with the automatic V70r. And I'm really getting lazy because I will only buy automatic from now on.
Both the V70 and the Subaru get nearly 30 mpg and can store a longboard while I'm on the short board. They have some style. I'm a single guy and neither are a form of birth control like a Pontiac Aztek or Prius would be.
I'm not into pickups. I think they are pointless unless your hauling debris, which I don't. My old Yukon Denali got better gas mileage, was more comfy, and I could sleep in it. Sleeping in the back of a pickup is also one of my least favorite forms of camping for some reason. Not sure why, but I hate sleeping in the bed under even a canopy. But mainly I just don't want to get that crappy mileage anymore. So I guess my junk stays in some purse somewhere.
Audi's are too expensive for me.
Had a VW before. Not really into them since I'm a hetero male.
Toyota FJ thing is kinda growing on me, but it gets crappy mileage and it can't stow a 9'0" while I'm on the 6'6". Plus it's over $30K. The 4 Runner, Sequoia, etc all get bad mileage.
I would never buy a bottom of the barrel Mercedes. I'm fortunate enough to drive 4 of the top of the line Mercedes almost every day for one of my jobs (S55 AMG, G500, ML55, SL500). I know the cost of upkeep for those, and I sure as hell couldn't afford it unless I meet my sugermama.
So there's a bit of my thoughts, simplified.