What Car Should I Consider?
February 28, 2019 8:06 AM Subscribe
Considering replacing my current car, need ideas of vehicles to look at.
Lots of details/constraints.
Right now, I have a 2011 Nissan Rogue, which has held up well and is fine. I could easily drive it into its grave, but it has a slight mismatch in my life right now.
Right now, I don't drive a lot. Mostly grocery getting and dad taxi. A small number of times per year, I have to make trips that are several hundred miles, but really not that often. For this usage, the mileage of the Rogue is not too terrific.
There are constraints on my choices.:
Lots of details/constraints.
Right now, I have a 2011 Nissan Rogue, which has held up well and is fine. I could easily drive it into its grave, but it has a slight mismatch in my life right now.
Right now, I don't drive a lot. Mostly grocery getting and dad taxi. A small number of times per year, I have to make trips that are several hundred miles, but really not that often. For this usage, the mileage of the Rogue is not too terrific.
There are constraints on my choices.:
- needs to seat 4
- should be fun
- doesn't have to be new
- quirky is encouraged
- can't be an EV conversion
- muscle doesn't really do it for me, but isn't out of the question
- convertible would be awesome
- needs to fit in a garage.
- land yachts don't do it for me
- Reasonably easy for my daughter with disabilities to get in and out of
- Karmann Ghia - would love this. Doesn't seat 4
- Older Porsche - also out because 2 seats
- Older Mustang
- VW Cabrio
- Mazda RX-7 in a 2+2
- New beetle
- Nissan Leaf
What’s your budget? Does your daughter’s disability rule out low-riding cars? Do you need/prefer AWD? And do adults need to fit in the back seat or only kids?
posted by carmicha at 8:23 AM on February 28, 2019
posted by carmicha at 8:23 AM on February 28, 2019
Honestly the first thing that comes to mind is that you should find out how to ask a "What car should I buy?" on jalopnik. Openly seeking quirky will get you about a zillion recommendations that will probably include a hovercraft and some sort of palanquin with the perfect car for you in there somewhere.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 8:27 AM on February 28, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 8:27 AM on February 28, 2019 [5 favorites]
Does it snow where you live?
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 8:28 AM on February 28, 2019
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 8:28 AM on February 28, 2019
Yeah a Mazda RX7 is neither efficient nor does it actually seat four nor is it easy even for a limber driver to get in and out of. And the motor blows up on the regular.
Given your needs it’s unclear why the Rogue is less of a fit with your life than nearly anything on your list. It’s more efficient by far than most of them. More reliable too. And safer. And more accessible. It’s relatively recent and you don’t drive much so it should last quite a bit longer.
You don’t mention money. What’s your budget? And can you do your own mechanical work or can you afford a lot of maintenance and downtime? “Quirky” almost always entails a sacrifice in reliability and convenience. What level and kind of performance are you hoping for?
Lacking these data the answer is obvious: a mid-90s Volvo XC wagon. There, I saved you writing to Jalopnik. Unless you want a used rusted out Jeep or a classic Mercedes sedan.
posted by spitbull at 9:00 AM on February 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Given your needs it’s unclear why the Rogue is less of a fit with your life than nearly anything on your list. It’s more efficient by far than most of them. More reliable too. And safer. And more accessible. It’s relatively recent and you don’t drive much so it should last quite a bit longer.
You don’t mention money. What’s your budget? And can you do your own mechanical work or can you afford a lot of maintenance and downtime? “Quirky” almost always entails a sacrifice in reliability and convenience. What level and kind of performance are you hoping for?
Lacking these data the answer is obvious: a mid-90s Volvo XC wagon. There, I saved you writing to Jalopnik. Unless you want a used rusted out Jeep or a classic Mercedes sedan.
posted by spitbull at 9:00 AM on February 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Actually worth mentioning that there is a reason you so often see minivans used for conversions for disabled drivers and passengers. They are by far the most accessible design for passenger mobility purposes. They are also efficient and reliable in most cases. And boring and square but comfortable and safe. Honda’s Odyssey gets a lot of that business and has an excellent reputation for reliability.
posted by spitbull at 9:05 AM on February 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by spitbull at 9:05 AM on February 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
I would go VW GTI.
posted by Cosine at 9:23 AM on February 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by Cosine at 9:23 AM on February 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
I drive a 1995 Daihatsu Mira kei car. Damn thing is a Tardis - it's bigger on the inside. Four doors, seats four adults. More interior headroom than ms. flabdablet's Subaru Forester because the seats are so crazy low. Motor is 3 cylinders, 600cc of sheer fuel injected power that runs on a sniff. Wheel at each corner so it handles like a go-kart. The world going past so close makes 80km/h feel like 100 so it's also tremendous fun to drive.
Bugger-all ground clearance but I still take it down rough bush tracks; the wheelbase and track are so small that it can be made to kind of tiptoe from bump to bump and not get poked in the belly. I am frequently in awe of the competence of this little city car in the bush.
Test drive some kei cars, is what I'm saying.
posted by flabdablet at 9:34 AM on February 28, 2019
Bugger-all ground clearance but I still take it down rough bush tracks; the wheelbase and track are so small that it can be made to kind of tiptoe from bump to bump and not get poked in the belly. I am frequently in awe of the competence of this little city car in the bush.
Test drive some kei cars, is what I'm saying.
posted by flabdablet at 9:34 AM on February 28, 2019
Also, I am 182cm tall and currently mass something north of 150kg. Watching the reactions of passersby when a man this size emerges from a tiny little car like that just never gets old.
posted by flabdablet at 9:37 AM on February 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by flabdablet at 9:37 AM on February 28, 2019 [3 favorites]
If you are thinking about the Nissan Leaf, have a look at the Chevy Bolt, too.
We LOVE ours. We've had it for one year and it is hella fun to drive (the torque is amazing) and quirky (one pedal driving is cool).
I find it has more than enough leg room in the back for four comfortably. The Leaf has less range than the Bolt, which is rated for 378km vs the Leaf at 243km (and that's only the new models; the older ones are much shorter on range).
posted by girlpublisher at 9:53 AM on February 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
We LOVE ours. We've had it for one year and it is hella fun to drive (the torque is amazing) and quirky (one pedal driving is cool).
I find it has more than enough leg room in the back for four comfortably. The Leaf has less range than the Bolt, which is rated for 378km vs the Leaf at 243km (and that's only the new models; the older ones are much shorter on range).
posted by girlpublisher at 9:53 AM on February 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
You might consider a Mazda3. My 2015 (manual) is fun to drive and gets over 30 mpg in city driving.
posted by coppertop at 10:19 AM on February 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by coppertop at 10:19 AM on February 28, 2019 [4 favorites]
As mentioned above, there are a jillion possibilities. So, I will throw in a random one. The 2019 Mazda 3 Hatchback is an extraordinary vehicle. You can read many many online professional reviews citing same. You might as well drive one. I would not call it quirky, but it might be the best hatchback you can buy all things considered. Certainly in the mix. *2019 being the key here. Previous 3s are very good vehicles but the 2019 takes a giant step forward.
As far as SUV go, Mazda CX5, Subaru Crosstrek, or Honda CR-V are all worthy contenders.
Definitely not an RX7, maintenance.
Convertible could be tough unless your daughter is regularly able to ride in front seat. If so, the Toyota Solara is a great car, slightly odd looking, but terrific nonetheless.
I personally avoid all the German cars, they are great to drive but not so great in repairs in terms of reliability and cost. Also, VW is pretty high on the corporate evil scale in my opinion. Their multi year deliberate betrayal of environmentalists and the environment particularly rankles. Would not be caught dead in one. But, no VW hearse so unlikely eventuality anyway.
I have owned 45 cars or so in my lifetime so a bit obsessive about topic, sorry.
posted by jcworth at 10:25 AM on February 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
As far as SUV go, Mazda CX5, Subaru Crosstrek, or Honda CR-V are all worthy contenders.
Definitely not an RX7, maintenance.
Convertible could be tough unless your daughter is regularly able to ride in front seat. If so, the Toyota Solara is a great car, slightly odd looking, but terrific nonetheless.
I personally avoid all the German cars, they are great to drive but not so great in repairs in terms of reliability and cost. Also, VW is pretty high on the corporate evil scale in my opinion. Their multi year deliberate betrayal of environmentalists and the environment particularly rankles. Would not be caught dead in one. But, no VW hearse so unlikely eventuality anyway.
I have owned 45 cars or so in my lifetime so a bit obsessive about topic, sorry.
posted by jcworth at 10:25 AM on February 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Honestly, I would keep the Rogue for your everyday use and just rent a more mileage-efficient car the few occasions you need to go on these road trips. You already know the Rogue suits your overall situation well and you like it.
It's not clear how severely your daughter's disabilities affect her ability to get in or out of a car, but if she's comfortable with the Rogue, I wouldn't mess with what works unless you absolutely *have* to. And she should get veto power on anything that's less comfortable for her.
posted by Pandora Kouti at 10:55 AM on February 28, 2019
It's not clear how severely your daughter's disabilities affect her ability to get in or out of a car, but if she's comfortable with the Rogue, I wouldn't mess with what works unless you absolutely *have* to. And she should get veto power on anything that's less comfortable for her.
posted by Pandora Kouti at 10:55 AM on February 28, 2019
Even if you have to take a 500 mile trip six times a year, that's only 3000 miles, and the difference between a Rogue that is operating poorly and only getting 20MPG, and a gas-sipper that hits none of your other marks but gets 40 mpg, is 75 gallons of gas. Even if that gas is $4 a gallon, that's 300 bucks. Over the average annual usage of 12,000 miles, that's 1200 bucks. Is that worth the hassle of a new car? (and that's best case mileage delta, again, for a new car that doesn't do what else you want).
If you want to justify something more funner, get something else for fun and keep the Rogue for the purposes you need it for.
posted by notsnot at 11:16 AM on February 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
If you want to justify something more funner, get something else for fun and keep the Rogue for the purposes you need it for.
posted by notsnot at 11:16 AM on February 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks all!
To answer some questions:
My daughter can sit in the front seat. She would have trouble getting in and out of a "fold the front seat forward" kind of car. The Rogue was too tall off the ground, so I put on after market running boards as step ups which she no longer needs at this point. Deep bucket seats aren't impossible for her, but they aren't easy either.
It does snow where I am, but I have a garage.
I don't need AWD (this is the first car I've had with it, previously I've had a Tacoma extended cab).
Budget - up to 35K maybe?
posted by plinth at 11:20 AM on February 28, 2019
To answer some questions:
My daughter can sit in the front seat. She would have trouble getting in and out of a "fold the front seat forward" kind of car. The Rogue was too tall off the ground, so I put on after market running boards as step ups which she no longer needs at this point. Deep bucket seats aren't impossible for her, but they aren't easy either.
It does snow where I am, but I have a garage.
I don't need AWD (this is the first car I've had with it, previously I've had a Tacoma extended cab).
Budget - up to 35K maybe?
posted by plinth at 11:20 AM on February 28, 2019
Seconding Bolt over Leaf. In addition to the better range, it has better battery management, so should have fewer problems with degradation, and it is more fun to drive. On the other hand, the *most* fun EV I've driven (from a company that doesn't begin with T) was the VW e-Golf. Shorter range again though. Those several-hundred mile drives will be a pain in most EVs; 50kW charging is not great, and public chargers often have spotty reliability and availability.
Lots of EVs coming out in the next year or two though (eg nice long-range small SUVs from Hyundai and Kia), and we should start seeing other manufacturers get their charge rates over 100kW too, so I think the market will look pretty different in 2020 if you keep the Rogue running for a bit.
posted by rhamphorhynchus at 11:26 AM on February 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Lots of EVs coming out in the next year or two though (eg nice long-range small SUVs from Hyundai and Kia), and we should start seeing other manufacturers get their charge rates over 100kW too, so I think the market will look pretty different in 2020 if you keep the Rogue running for a bit.
posted by rhamphorhynchus at 11:26 AM on February 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
I traded in my 2011 5 speed Mazda 3 hatchback last year for a Rogue Sport AWD. The Mazda 3 was hecka fun most of the time except in the snow. Perhaps snow handling has improved in the past 8 years, but I found it very difficult to get around in our PDX snow/ice/freezing rain with hills winters.
I like the styling on the Rogue Sport. I like that it is smaller than the Rogue and that I don't see that many of them on the road. When I looked at this car, I also looked at the Mazda CX-3 and CX-5. I like the exteriors of the Mazda, but not the interior. The fit and finish on the leather interior didn't seem as good in the Mazda, and the center screen position seemed weird to me. I've had the Rogue Sport now for 1.5 years, and I still really like it. It is not as fun as the Mazda but then again, I haven't gotten a speeding ticket in it (yet! :)).
posted by elmay at 1:01 PM on February 28, 2019
I like the styling on the Rogue Sport. I like that it is smaller than the Rogue and that I don't see that many of them on the road. When I looked at this car, I also looked at the Mazda CX-3 and CX-5. I like the exteriors of the Mazda, but not the interior. The fit and finish on the leather interior didn't seem as good in the Mazda, and the center screen position seemed weird to me. I've had the Rogue Sport now for 1.5 years, and I still really like it. It is not as fun as the Mazda but then again, I haven't gotten a speeding ticket in it (yet! :)).
posted by elmay at 1:01 PM on February 28, 2019
Prius. Boring because they just run. Exciting to save gas. Pretty roomy. My next car will be a used Prius because you can run stuff off the battery so it's excellent for camping and places where I want to play music, like for dancing in non-traditional venues. There is a RAV4 Hybrid, too, well out of my price range, but maybe in yours. Get the sunroof. I used to have a RAV4 and it was a pleasure.
posted by theora55 at 1:13 PM on February 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by theora55 at 1:13 PM on February 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
Metafilter loves the Mazda3. I own a 2014 that I adore. The 2019 is a nice new version but it isn’t radically better except it has available AWD. The third gen 2014-18 is excellent if you’re looking for a used car. And yeah the FWD version is a bit squirrelly on ice. The right tires are mportant. I can get 40+ mpg on the highway easily but also have fun in more spirited driving settings. I just hit 60k with no mechanical issues whatsoever, just oil and tires and brakes.
posted by spitbull at 3:13 PM on February 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by spitbull at 3:13 PM on February 28, 2019 [2 favorites]
Well, since you say up to $35k, and mentioned an EV, the $35k base model Tesla just became available for order today. I have one. It's terrific.
posted by rhamphorhynchus at 5:14 PM on February 28, 2019
posted by rhamphorhynchus at 5:14 PM on February 28, 2019
The larger-size Prius ("Prius V") might be worth checking out. Seats 4, hatchback cargo area, good mileage, comfortable, quiet, easy to drive.
posted by Weftage at 6:58 AM on March 1, 2019
posted by Weftage at 6:58 AM on March 1, 2019
Response by poster: I had a long talk about this with Mrs. Plinth and we decided to put off this decision until either my son learns how to drive or the car dies (whichever happens first).
Thanks for the input - some great ideas here.
posted by plinth at 12:15 PM on March 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
Thanks for the input - some great ideas here.
posted by plinth at 12:15 PM on March 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
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posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 8:22 AM on February 28, 2019