Is this a good idea? EDITED

"Haimatox" (haimatox)
09/16/2014 at 15:21 • Filed to: None

I'm sick of owning a damn Prius. It sucks. The only reason I live with it is my parents forced my into it.

EDIT: I should probably point out that we're going to sell the Prius soon anyways, and I am just posting this to state my opinions on a next car. The Prius has had a host of issues lately, both electronic and mechanical.

But I've got an idea. My mom doesn't like small cars, and doesn't want me driving one. It seems to be a matter of size, not so much a matter of weight. That seems strange, because while she has no problem with me driving a Prius, she won't let me drive a Fiesta ST or other small hatchback, which is only a foot shorter and 250 pounds lighter. Perhaps that small difference makes it less safe? Someone please enlighten me.

Here's the thing though. My mom would be fine if I drove a Honda CR-Z, which is strange, because it's roughly the same weight and size as an ST. Perhaps it is because the CR-Z is designated a "small car," while the Fiesta is designated a "minicar." I know the Honda is not a successor to the CRX, and it's not sporty, etc. However, it can be had with a 6-speed manual. It can be bought used for under $15,000. And last but certainly not least, there is an official HPD supercharger, brake, and suspension kit. This results in 197 hp, 175 lb-ft of torque, and better driving characteristics to boot. It also keeps the warranty if installed on a new car.

My dad estimates that my Prius would sell for about $10,000. I have found used CR-Z's with the manual transmission for as low as $14,000. The HPD kit, with all the performance options (including sport exhaust) comes up to over $11,000. That would result in a cost of roughly $15,000. That's a lot. The blower, clutch, and LSD must be installed by the dealership, but given enough time I might be able to install the other components.

Is this even a good idea? Or are there other possibilities I haven't seen?

DISCUSSION (61)

Sweet Trav > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 14:51

Traditional Old Guy answer: Get a job and buy whatever you want.

My answer: Meh, you could do worse.

macanamera > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 14:52

The manual CR-Z, maybe. The kit, absolutely, positively NO.

Haimatox > Sweet Trav
09/16/2014 at 14:52

Worse such as?

Haimatox > macanamera
09/16/2014 at 14:52

Why? Just wondering.

anothermiatafanboy > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 14:53

The blower kit seems very overpriced. But getting into a manual CRZ for 4 grand over the cost of the Prius would be a worthwhile improvement on its own. Or talk some sense into your mom because her viewpoint isn't based in logic.

Haimatox > anothermiatafanboy
09/16/2014 at 14:54

Logic is not my mom's strong suit...

MIATAAAA > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 14:54

Manual Previa.

Haimatox > MIATAAAA
09/16/2014 at 14:55

Um... No?

macanamera > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 14:55

It would be a terrific waste of money. The 10+15 could basically buy you a brand new BRZ or FRS, twice as fun to drive as the CR-Z, bigger, rear wheel drive, and more power to boot. Not to mention its a purpose built sportscar and everyone loves it. Not to mention modifying cars is a mistake in 99% of cases.

Sweet Trav > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 14:55

Old guy says:

"What about a Hyoondai Velociraptor... or whatever its called"

Haimatox > macanamera
09/16/2014 at 14:57

Well it wouldn't be 10+15, it'd be 4+11

Haimatox > macanamera
09/16/2014 at 14:58

But you do make a point.

phrancis5 > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 14:58

197hp - that's what my almost 20 yo prelude has. Do you have to buy a hybrid?

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 14:58

Just dig up the crash test results on small cars vs minicars and show they are just as safe. My FiST is pretty much the same size as a ZX5 focus (2nd gen euro ST).

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Sweet Trav
09/16/2014 at 14:58

Another old guy here. I concur.

Sweet Trav > Sweet Trav
09/16/2014 at 14:59

Honestly, I test drove a turbo one, I'd let my future kid drive one. enough power to be fun, not enough to kill yourself.

Haimatox > phrancis5
09/16/2014 at 14:59

Well I don't have to, but it does kind of make sense economically.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 14:59

Chances are your mom has some weird arbitrary rules not allowing you to get a FiST. Probably one is due to gas mileage. Since the CRZ is a hybrid, perhaps it checks off some imaginary box and its okay. Whatever the reason, I'd think the Honda is a huge step up over the Prius. I'd do that trade and never look back. And I'd probably save my money and not even bother with the supercharger.

Haimatox > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
09/16/2014 at 15:01

I'm hoping that maybe that might change their mind. I've always had the rather morbid thinking: "If it's a big enough crash, you'll be dead no matter what car you are driving. Your body may be more identifiable in a large car, but you'll still be dead."

Textured Soy Protein > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 15:01

1. Your mom has irrational bullshit opinions about what cars are worth driving, that don't make any sense, and are stupid. Here mom, read the damn specs and quit being an idiot.

Kinja'd!!!

2. Point #1 doesn't actually matter, because your parents are paying for the car, so just be grateful they give you any car, and drive it even if it sucks.

3. If you do feel like being an ungrateful little bastard and trying to finagle another car with your parents, you may have noticed the Focus ST that I included in the specs comparison above. You're welcome.

Milky > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 15:02

HERE I AM TO SAVE THE DAY!

Kinja'd!!!

Use the rest on gas.

Haimatox > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
09/16/2014 at 15:02

My thinking is that (almost) any car that isn't a Prius and has three pedals and a stick in the middle is fine by me.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 15:02

Nope, Get a WRX

Haimatox > OPPOsaurus WRX
09/16/2014 at 15:03

That's definitely on my list, but I'm not sure what my parents will think.

Haimatox > Textured Soy Protein
09/16/2014 at 15:04

Ungrateful little bastard? Not entirely false, but a bit harsh at the same time.

CalzoneGolem > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 15:07

Are you paying for this Prius?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > macanamera
09/16/2014 at 15:13

and the first time I've read an argument for a BRZ/FRS on the internet that included "more power".

Congratulations for being the first to use that description in regards to BRZ/FRS on the internet.

RazoE > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 15:13

The real question is: Why is your mother choosing what you drive?

If you're young enough that it matters then get whatever shes says, as she's probably paying for it. If you're old enough to get whatever you want then your mother's opinion shouldn't matter.

Just saying.

Haimatox > RazoE
09/16/2014 at 15:14

Good point.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 15:14

how old r u. show them the 'they lived' commercials. i pointed those out every time when i was looking for mine

RazoE > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 15:15

Not trying to sound like an ass, honestly. But after a point, your mother needs to realize you're capable of making your own decisions. While she doesn't have to agree with them, she should respect them.

Trust me, I have an 18 year old. It's a fine line.

Haimatox > OPPOsaurus WRX
09/16/2014 at 15:16

17, almost 18.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 15:16

The normal civic gets nearly the same mpg, the CRZ is a fail in just about every metric.

mcseanerson > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 15:18

crashtest videos

Haimatox > RazoE
09/16/2014 at 15:19

Oh I apologize on behalf of all 18 year olds in the world.

phrancis5 > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 15:20

Well kudos for choosing a more entertaining hybrid with a stick, but the gas savings will probably be moot when you hoon it and eventually pay for a battery replacement. Cars are a depreciating asset, so unless you have tons of disposable income, I'd consider something more pragmatic and moderately fun. I've been driving a 2nd gen manual Fit sport and that old Prelude SH for a long time now and while they're small enough to be considered "deathtraps", they're also nimble enough to have avoided many many collisions over the years. You of course have to be uber vigilant all the time with good driving reflexes...

Haimatox > phrancis5
09/16/2014 at 15:21

Of course. This was just a thought I had last night.

Haimatox > mcseanerson
09/16/2014 at 15:23

Of which car?

Haimatox > CalzoneGolem
09/16/2014 at 15:24

I am paying for gas, if that's what you mean. They pay for insurance, which is a lot more than gas to be honest.

mcseanerson > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 15:27

The ones she wants you to get and then the ones you want to get. My wife has always said bigger is safer and my Miata is so dangerous. My Miata does better than her WJ Grand Cherokee or the Silverado we thought about buying. Some of these big vehicles are downright scary in crashtests. Mazda builds some damn safe cars.

Matt@ShiftCarBlog > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 15:29

Can you bump up to a Focus at least? I really struggle to see the point in the CRZ. You could buy a different easily tunable car to go F/I for less money without all the battery weight and numbing regen brakes. I have a used 2014 FR-S for sale with a 6-Speed Manual and 9600 miles that'll suit you much better ;).

macanamera > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
09/16/2014 at 15:30

Ya lol, but hey, it does.

PatBateman > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 15:30

Stop all of that. I'm going to give you a plan. You must try this, otherwise you will look back at this moment for the rest of your life and think "What if I had tried that?!"

The plan: talk to your dad about what cars he liked as a kid, and what he always wanted. Most likely, he'll answer Mustang or Camaro. Ask him to help you look for an old [whatever car he said] to build up and restore. It might not completely work, but I swear he'll thinking about this as a viable option no matter what his mouth says.

And then BOOM Fox Body.

jariten1781 > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 15:31

Based on all of this I'm gathering that you're still in HS. Suggestion: Get something large enough that you can haul stuff to and fro if you're planning on heading off to college. CRZ is limited in that capacity.

Haimatox > PatBateman
09/16/2014 at 15:31

I'm not sure if my dad gave two shits about cars as a kid... I'm not sure... But I shall try.

Haimatox > jariten1781
09/16/2014 at 15:31

I am indeed. Senior.

PatBateman > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 15:33

He did. Every 15 year old dreams about some kind of car when they turn 16. This is science.

CalzoneGolem > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 15:35

Kinja'd!!!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > macanamera
09/16/2014 at 15:38

Oh I'm not denying that.

Just enjoying that it's finally accomplished it.

I've been making fun of it's lack of power since it was released.

Haimatox > CalzoneGolem
09/16/2014 at 15:39

I have some money saved up, but not enough for this car. I have about $6.5k

Textured Soy Protein > Haimatox
09/16/2014 at 15:57

'twas meant in jest. Also was said before your update about the Prius being on its way out the door anyway. Which is very different than "I have a perfectly good car that my parents paid for but I don't like, and I want to talk my parents into trading it for something I like more."

I can understand how you might want a non-Prius. But I can also give you the benefit of a few years of experience in which I've learned that the best car is a free car.

I'm the oldest of three siblings. We each got hand-me-down cars from our parents when we started driving: a '90 Acura Legend coupe for me, a '96 Chrysler Town & Country for my brother, and a '97 Mercedes E420 for my sister.

My brother was pretty annoyed about having to drive the minivan. But my folks sold the Legend after I went to college, and at various points when I was home from school the van was my primary vehicle, and I was perfectly happy to have it. Because it's a free car. Free cars are good.