"nermal" (nermal)
10/06/2015 at 14:05 • Filed to: conundrums, shopping, mel gibson
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"nermal" (nermal)
10/06/2015 at 14:05 • Filed to: conundrums, shopping, mel gibson | 1
| 49 |
I’ll be starting a new job soon that has me spending the majority of the time driving around visiting customers. Call it an estimated 1-200 miles / day. My pickup truck will not suffice here due to running costs, and I sold my GTI recently so don’t have that. Hooray, new car time!
Requirements are:
- New
- Cheap (Both purchase and running costs)
- Doesn’t suck
- Good seats for a tall person
- Good sound sytem
- Manual
Ideas? A new TDI is obviously out of the picture.
Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:08 |
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An Accord? Civic?
functionoverfashion
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:09 |
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Sounds like a Honda Accord Sport. Or any with a manual, basically.
Pixel
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:10 |
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I’d say look at Subaru Legacy/Outback/Foresters. The ones I’ve had were great long-haul vehicles regardless of weather. You lose some in mpg for the awd, but less so for the newer ones.
Sweet Trav
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:10 |
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If you can skip out on the Manual. The Taurus SHO is one hell of a cruiser.
Of course i manage 20 mpg at best...
Cruise Eco LTZ's are pretty nice/cheap as well.
Saazbaru
> Pixel
10/06/2015 at 14:12 |
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not great mileage because while the AWD is cool, it isn’t necessary
RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:14 |
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Were it me, I’d be tempted to get an older six-cylinder Jag instead. Less likely to break on long drives than stop and go, right?
ly2v8-Brian
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:14 |
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Full size car or truck.
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Saazbaru
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:16 |
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I’d recommend a Fiesta or a Focus. You could even get a Fiesta ST for like $23k which is really fun and gets great mileage off boost
Justin Hughes
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:19 |
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Budget? Location? Type of driving (city, highway, mix)? What I’d recommend depends on all of these things.
HammerheadFistpunch
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:19 |
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I think they are still selling the passat tdi, maybe get a great deal
Scott
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:21 |
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2 Questions (1) where do you live? or at least what region are you in? (2) what is your idea of cheap? in other words what is your approximate budget. cheap is different for different people.
Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
> Justin Hughes
10/06/2015 at 14:22 |
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Apart from perhaps budget, Toyobaru is an appropriate recommendation for all answers to these questions. ;)
Vicente Esteve
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:26 |
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If there are that many miles it would mean you’d be on the highway much, which means a clutch wouldn’t kill you.
I’d say a Passat TDI with a nice discount, or a 3er.
450X_FTW
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:29 |
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an autonomous one
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nermal
> Justin Hughes
10/06/2015 at 14:30 |
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Located in Northeast. Budget is as little as possible to get something decent to spend time in. Will be getting paid mileage thru work. Driving will be mix of city and highway.
Saracen
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:30 |
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Mazda 6.
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nermal
> HammerheadFistpunch
10/06/2015 at 14:31 |
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I thought that they stopped selling all TDIs?
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nermal
> Saazbaru
10/06/2015 at 14:32 |
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Those are on the list to look at.
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HammerheadFistpunch
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:34 |
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Perhaps, I know the Passat wasn’t officially included in the mess, but maybe they did just to be safe.
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nermal
> Sweet Trav
10/06/2015 at 14:34 |
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While a SHO would definitely be awesome, they’re a bit too expensive. Cruze is on the list to look at though.
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Pixel
> Saazbaru
10/06/2015 at 14:34 |
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In the northeast where he is it is very useful if he *needs* to drive ~100 miles a day to customers regardless of the weather.
Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
> Sweet Trav
10/06/2015 at 14:36 |
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Don’t forget the Cruze Diesel exists as well.
Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:36 |
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Kia Optima SX Turbo (although that’s missing the manual part)
Mazda 6
Honda Accord
Tom McParland
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:38 |
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Budget? My go to for this one is the Accord Sport. The 6MT is excellent is is pretty quick IIRC under 7 seconds 0-60, very comfy on the inside, cheap to buy aprox 25k MSRP and cheap to run because Honda. It’s not a performance car, but it is enjoyable and won’t beat you up on a long commute. Not sure about the sound system.
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Justin Hughes
> Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
10/06/2015 at 14:38 |
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Sweet Trav
> Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
10/06/2015 at 14:40 |
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Good point! i have heard excellent things about them. Carry a jug of ADBlu in the boot though!
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Sweet Trav
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:41 |
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Ive got one as my company car, i absolutely love it with the exception of the fact there is no way to completely kill the stability/traction control.
Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:43 |
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Obviously a Mk6 TDI! Specifically a Golf or a Sportwagen ;)
Best seats for a normal car, hands down
If you keep your foot out of it, you can get above 50 mpg at highway speeds (mid 40s if VW goes for a software fix, if you want higher, get a KermaTDI or Malone ECO tune)
crowmolly
> HammerheadFistpunch
10/06/2015 at 14:43 |
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It is.
And that is my answer too. Well, that and the Cruze but that is only available in automatic.
AfromanGTO
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:49 |
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Too easy! I’m 6’2 and this is roomy for me. Plus the sell for way under sticker price, since they sit on the lots for up/over a year.
With the Chevy badges on.
With Holden badges.
BJ
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:49 |
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If it didn’t have to be cheap and manual, the obvious answer for lots of miles is a big Mercedes or BMW.
911e46z06
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:54 |
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If you toss out the ‘new’ requirement, a straight 6 e39 would fit the bill perfectly.
Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 14:54 |
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While normally I prefer stick, that sounds like the type of thing where I would NOT want to shift constantly. And if I’m going to spend that much time in the car everyday, doing chore-driving (instead of mountain road driving or scenic cruising), I want something less sporty in terms of engagement or suspension.
You, my friend, have found the question to which we do not answer Miata. And both of my preferred choices don’t come with a manual option:
Lexus LS 400 or Panther. I mean, honestly, if you’re spending HOURS in the car, daily, can you think of cars with better suspensions for that kind of time? (If you really need the manual, you could, in theory, hunt down the unicornish SC300 with the six-speed.) Those cars check every single box except for the transmission (the Panther may require a better head unit to check the sound system box...but that’s a cheap fix, really).
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nermal
> AfromanGTO
10/06/2015 at 14:58 |
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While I like the thinking, that’s basically the same as my truck in car form, with the exception that my truck is a 5.3 instead of the 6.2. The fuel usage would be a smidgen on the excessive side.
Skamanda
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 15:13 |
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You said you’re in the northeast. That makes the answer Subaru. Pretty much any model will suffice, depending on what you’re looking for.
Bandit
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 15:18 |
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A 1974 Falcon XB
Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 15:32 |
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I’m going to assume you don’t have any kids, won’t drive much in snow and can afford the car payments on a car that costs $25K to $40K. So from that basis I’ll suggest:
-Mazda MX-5
-Scion/Subaru FRS/BRZ
-Ecoboost 4cyl Mustang
-Camaro with the 2L turbo
-Cadillac ATS with the 2L turbo
-Buick Verano or Buick Regal with the 2L turbo
-Honda Civic SI (sedan, coupe or 5 dr hatch)
-Mazda 3
-Ford Focus ST
If these are too expensive, then I suggest:
-Mazda 3 (lower trim)
-Ford Focus
-Honda Civic
-Honda Fit
And if being good in snow matters, then just get a Subaru Impreza.
Not all of these may come standard with a good sound system. And I don’t know what your idea of good involves. For some, ‘good’ has to include at least 900W and at least one 12” sub.
Van Man, rocks the Man Van
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 15:32 |
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The Outback/Forester that someone else mentioned is a great choice. I’ll also throw out the Jeep Renegade as a wild card. Stick, efficient, doesn't suck. However, there are literally tons of options that fit your criteria.
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Van Man, rocks the Man Van
> AfromanGTO
10/06/2015 at 15:34 |
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6’7” and I've got plenty of space in one too.
HONDAD
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 15:34 |
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How about a new Mazda6? That seems to check all the boxes.
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AfromanGTO
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 15:38 |
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With the manual transmission you’ll be in the mid to high 20s if not 30s on the highways.
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Saazbaru
> Pixel
10/06/2015 at 18:22 |
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Now I’m not from the northeast but I do know a thing or two about cars. AWD is cool yes but unnecessary. What it does is help you GO. Going isn’t the problem in the snow, its stopping. And the only thing that will do that for you is good snow tires. So tl;dr drive doesn’t matter because to safely drive in really inclement conditions, you need a great set of winter tires like some Pirelli Sottozeros or a set of Nokkians.
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Saazbaru
> AfromanGTO
10/06/2015 at 18:26 |
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I love this thinking and this is the sort of car I am personally most for. I think the mileage is a contentious point. Yes, while cruising big displacement motors can get great mileage because they produce enough torque at very low RPM that a lot of revs aren’t necessary and it lets you commute in a higher gear than in something like an M3. However, if he is really spending a lot of time on the highway, I think a small turbo motor is truly better as without significant load it won’t build boost. A FiST get’s really good mileage in town. Now don’t get me wrong, if you are accelerating a lot and not really cruising, your mileage in a downsized turbo car is going to be crap. Just my 2 cents.
CaptDale - is secretly British
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 18:50 |
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I commute 84 miles a day in my 06 GTO. it is freaking comfy, manual, and power to get around anything.
Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
> nermal
10/06/2015 at 19:07 |
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My FR-S is the most comfortable car I’ve had. I’ve done 9+ hours in it with no pain or anything. Great seats and good mileage, easily 30-35 or more on the highway
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Pixel
> Saazbaru
10/06/2015 at 20:52 |
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You keep saying the AWD isn’t “necessary”, despite me never claiming it was. I stated it was a good long haul vehicle in any weather, and that the AWD is useful in bad weather. I don’t know why you seem to have the bizarre obsession with dubbing AWD vehicles unnecessary and arguing against them.
Also I live in the Northeast, and going in snow is often the problem, saying it isn’t is completely and utterly wrong. If you can’t go, nothing else matters.
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Saazbaru
> Pixel
10/06/2015 at 21:50 |
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No need to get in an argument. For the record, I drive a Saabaru and I love it. But Subaru’s get terrible mileage and running and purchase costs aren’t great.
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Saazbaru
> Saazbaru
10/07/2015 at 12:03 |
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*edit: I meant that the FiST gets good highway mileage but crappy comparatively in town if you ever get on the gas
Mattbob
> Pixel
10/08/2015 at 13:40 |
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Subaru seats are terrible for a tall person IMO. Terrible.