Going car shopping with my girlfriend and her dad today

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno)
04/26/2014 at 10:36 • Filed to: None

Lets see if I can get them away from a Sebring convertible and onto something a little... Better.

DISCUSSION (49)

Alex B > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 10:38

Yes! Please do. A sebring convertible is the worst. If you have to do a convertible maybe a mustang?

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Alex B
04/26/2014 at 10:40

As quoted from her mom "No Mustangs or Camaros, they'll raise your insurance" Even though with their insurance company, liability cost doesn't change from car to car.

Alex B > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 10:42

Oh. What else is there? Does she have to have a convertible? And your shopping used, right?

The man in the iron mask > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 10:42

sebring is what they have right now, or the first choice they want?

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > The man in the iron mask
04/26/2014 at 10:43

Their first choice..

Jacques L' Autre > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 10:43

Kinja'd!!!

'Sup?

dogisbadob > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 10:44

How about a Solara? It's a Camry, so no worries there.

dogisbadob > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 10:44

Kinja'd!!!

oooo gold wheels! Is this convertible available in blue? haha

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 10:45

Miata is the answer

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 10:45

Parent's first choice, or girlfriend's?

If former, facepalm.

If latter, run away.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Alex B
04/26/2014 at 10:45

I'm not sure what else their thinking of. They're just kinda wandering from dealership to dealership looking at cars. She wants a 1st or 2nd gen Vue, but her parents don't want her in a CUV. Yeah, shopping used with a $4,000 max I think.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jacques L' Autre
04/26/2014 at 10:46

That is NOT happening.

Alex B > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 10:46

Miata!

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > dogisbadob
04/26/2014 at 10:46

Not a bad idea, her old car was a Camry V6. Wasn't too bad to drive.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
04/26/2014 at 10:47

If they could find an automatic NA, yeah it would be. She can't drive stick so.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
04/26/2014 at 10:47

Parents. These are also the people who bought an '09 Avenger.

dogisbadob > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 10:48

They exist!

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 10:48

Auto Miata is better than any Sebring.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Alex B
04/26/2014 at 10:48

Would have to be Auto. Which are harder to find than one might think with the "hairdresser's car" stereotype.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
04/26/2014 at 10:50

A used E36 BMW would be best. But she's scared to drive them after crashing her dad's into a tree a few months ago.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 10:50

Sigh...

This is why we can't have nice things.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 10:51

She can be taught to drive stick, yes?

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
04/26/2014 at 10:51

Yet somehow by chance, her dad ends up with a mint E36. He doesn't even realize what he has.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 10:52

He needs that taken away from him.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
04/26/2014 at 10:52

Someone would have to teach her by Monday because she needs the car for work.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
04/26/2014 at 10:53

You're telling me. He can take my van. Fair trade!

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 10:54

Best way to learn is to have to learn.

Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 11:10

How about a Cabrio? It is a convertible, and I think your girlfriend would like it. Mine does very much, and every time I take her girl friends for a ride or something they adore it.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Vicente Esteve
04/26/2014 at 11:16

She's seen them before and likes them. But it's a matter of finding one with low enough miles at a dealership

Clown Shoe Pilot > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 11:19

Miata, naturally. It's available in auto if your girl is missing a leg.

Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 11:24

This isn't a find for a car then. Its a damn Crusade.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 11:30

Ir shouldn't be hard to find something better. Your options are pretty much everything

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > OPPOsaurus WRX
04/26/2014 at 11:34

It's just a matter of her dad listening to me.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 11:40

post the potentials. I'm sure many oppos Can give spring facts to support your suggestions. Keep it logical which might mean no manual. Just remember your dealing with her dad so he will be logical. The mom will probably just be interested in the color.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > OPPOsaurus WRX
04/26/2014 at 11:53

Potentials include:

E36 BMW Coupe, Convertible, or Sedan

First generation Focus 3 or 5 door

Miata

Saturn SC2 (only because they handle like go carts apparently)

Mini if they can find one

Blazer, Jimmy, Bravada

Neon

First gen Vue

Mustang V6 (she doesn't need a V8)

Whatever else Oppo can think of

They all need to be Automatic.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 12:11

Mazda 3 seem to be a popular pick. The minis seem to be expensive to maintain as well as the bmw. Maybe some one else can talk about the reliability for Saturn's. EssExTee has a neon and send to like it. Maybe page him to get info on that.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > OPPOsaurus WRX
04/26/2014 at 12:13

My mom had an SC2 for a while that never gave her a problem. The 3 or Protege would be okay. I figured the Mini might be a bit of an expense to maintain

SVTyler > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 12:14

Honestly man, I'd try to steer them away from any first-gen Focuses you find just because of how unpredictably problematic and temperamental they can be, especially since they're buying exclusively from dealerships. A lot of them are perfectly fine econoboxes, but the number of lemons out there makes it too much of a gamble considering what else you could get for the price (GMT330 S10/Blazer, Civic/Accord, W-body anything, etc.)

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > SVTyler
04/26/2014 at 12:17

She likes the 330 SUVs, and the Pontiac GranPrix. She doesn't want a Civic or Accord because they're too boring looking. I'll probably take the Focus off the list if there's that much risk involved.

OPPOsaurus WRX > OPPOsaurus WRX
04/26/2014 at 12:20

The mom would like u for the 3. Safer in her mind over a mustang. A cousin had an older Saturn and it was craptastic. Impreza? What about a Wrangler?

SVTyler > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 12:37

It's probably best that you did. Opposauruswrx made a great call on the Protege, I know two or three people with one and they've never had problems with their cars. If she can get over the bland looks the 5 door would be perfect for a soon-to-be college kid.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 12:53

See if you can find a first gen vue with the honda v6. Also, what about a CR-V or Rav-4?

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
04/26/2014 at 12:54

Those would work too. The Vue is just the first one I thought of.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 13:02

I was helping a friend shop last year, and she liked the vue. After doing research, it seemed like the 4 cyl models with the cvt may be problematic, so try your hardest to find a v6.

Joel Anderegg > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 13:58

The auto's in the saturn S series cars had problems. The vue.. well they are ok I guess? Mustang v6 are pretty reliable, slow tho. If it snows where you are, is she familiar with rwd and slippery roads?

I had an 07 focus for a while, no idea how the older ones are, but it was kind of a pile of shit. Very reliable, but it was loud inside, handled shitty, and just all around felt cheap.

I have not had an sc2, but have had the sedan version of it.. In a manual however... Great little car for cheap. I got over 40mpg in both of them, and they are cheap to maintain.. Go for the sl2 or sc2.. the sc1 and sl1 have the sohc and no rear sway bar with a thinner front bar.. they all burn oil tho..

Personally I'de go for the bmw out of that list. Fun to drive, usually reliable, good on gas, the auto trans in them ok, its the same one that is in my two ton suv (gm 4l30e)..

Neons are good simple little cars, 1st gens are better IMO..

Skif6996 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 14:31

Did you guys just say that a V6 Camry would be better than a Sebring? Tell me I didn't hear that.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Skif6996
04/26/2014 at 14:33

Edit*

a 98 Camry makes 29* more horsepower than the equivalent Sebring. And it's lighter. Her's was auto and still fun to understeer through corners.

Skif6996 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/26/2014 at 14:40

3.0 V6 in a Sebring puts down 200hp and 205 lb-ft. I can almost (almost) guarantee that it is more fun than a Camry.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Skif6996
04/26/2014 at 14:52

I was only looking at 98 models, and those only had the 2.5 V6