Finalized My 2-Car Garage Plans for Next Year

"Jay Lauer" (thefaultinourcars)
04/01/2015 at 22:31 • Filed to: None

After putting absolutely, positively way too much thought at work thinking about this, I've finally figured out a good 2-car garage plan that I can easily afford once I'm stable with a salary in the upcoming months.

I'm sure everyone will have their opinion on why my choices are awesome or terrible. Feel free to share. We can debate it for sure, but I'll probably be stubborn.

Daily Driver: 05-09 Mazda 3 Hatchback

I truly think it's hard to match the Fun per Practicality per Reliability per Gas Mileage per Quality of a Mazda 3. Many cars can get two or three of these traits right, but the Mazda 3 nails them all straight on the head.

I've actually owned one of these before, and while it's a bummer that it doesn't have the prestige a young 21-year old wants trying to prove himself as a professional, it's certainly not a laughing stock. The styling inside and out has aged very well and is a riot to drive for a front-wheel drive economy car

2nd Car: C5 Corvette Z06

Jayhawk Jake really got to me on Corvettes, enough so that I eventually bought the black C5 that I have now. However, I can't buy the same car again, so I might as well buy a better one. These cars are unbelievable performance deals. For $20-22k, I can get a 20-40k mile example of a car that does 0-60 in 3.9 seconds and slaughtered everything on the track in 2003. The V8 in mind is like stepping on a American torque bomb, and people can bitch about what they call 'Fisher-Price interior' but I didn't realize we were such discerning enthusiasts to turn our noise at raw performance because their isn't 'soft touch plastics'

Actually, I'm going to keep going here. You know how much time I spend actually touching the dash on my Corvette? 3 seconds per month; That's when I'm wiping the dust off of it. The only thing I care about in interior quality are touch points: seats, shifter, steering wheel, and the various pads where I set my elbows. The dash could be made of sandpaper for all I care. Rant done.

But also, It's an amazingly practical, comfortable sports car. Mine does easily 30-33 mpg on the highway and carries all the groceries and I can manage to through into it. I'd like to do some here-and-there changes (shifter, steering wheel, exhaust, tan recaros in the black interior, and I'm really digging the wheels pictured above) Otherwise, it's plenty car as is.

So there you have it, feel free to tell me why I'm wrong or right. The whole package can be had for $30,000 easily, and I doubt I could find a better. Sure I could spend more money if I wanted, but I think this is a great safe financial choice.

DISCUSSION (7)

bob and john > Jay Lauer
04/01/2015 at 22:37

" people can bitch about what they call 'Fisher-Price interior' but I didn't realize we were such discerning enthusiasts to turn our noise at raw performance because their isn't 'soft touch plastics'"

or
Or
OR

some of us arent after sheer performance. I get my performance from my bikes. I want my car to be comfy, so yes, for me, the first 6 vettes get a fail. If a car aint comfy or feels cheap, i throw it right out the window.

Jayhawk Jake > Jay Lauer
04/01/2015 at 22:41

You're welcome.

Meanwhile I'm hoping I get my grandmothers Subaru so I can afford to trade the Sanic for a C6Z next year

Jay Lauer > bob and john
04/01/2015 at 22:42

The car's plenty comfy. I suppose if your trying to sleep in the passenger's seat with your head against the dash then the plastic dash isn't comfortable, but I spend my time in the seats. The seats and ride and plenty comfortable, miles and miles above my STI.

The touch points are quite good in the car. The only lagging component is the steering wheel where you can't rest your hands at 9 and 3. Otherwise, Chevy did actually cover all the touch points. The steering wheel is at least leather.

Jay Lauer > Jayhawk Jake
04/01/2015 at 22:43

I approve of this message.

I'll have to buy Hoosier bro for the Vette.

bob and john > Jay Lauer
04/01/2015 at 22:48

its not just that. I see cheap plastic and what not and I know they cheaped out on the interior. what else did they cheap out on? + gaps. you can make things fit snug and have almost no panel gaps with soft touch stuff. with plastic, you have to leave a gap or it will squeak.

though granted, its not as bad as 04-09 mustangs. seriously, Fisher price toy have better plastic then the insides of those cars. Its HORRIFYINGLY bad. Makes sunfires look high quality.

gawdzillla > Jay Lauer
04/01/2015 at 22:54

just get the vette.

and maybe a truck if u NEED to haul stuff often.

Jay Lauer > bob and john
04/01/2015 at 23:20

What kind of snobs have we all become to discard a car due to interior panel gaps and not having soft-touch plastics?