Sister of fhrblig needs a car

"fhrblig" (fhrblig) 07/21/2019 at 12:02 • Filed to: None

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Her 2007 G6 convertible that she bought several years ago is starting its death rattle, though she’s gotten a whole lot of miles out of it. She recently rented an Outback and loved it, so naturally I’ve been sending her links to purple Challengers. (I know what she likes. I happen to like them too.)

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On the more serious side, I did suggest a Regal TourX to her. All she’s ever owned were GM cars so it’s not really a stretch. Problem is, it’s even longer than the Outback (by about 8 inches) , and the parking lot where she lives is really kinda narrow. It’s putting her off of the O utback, even.

Any suggestions? She would consider a Crosstrek, but I haven’t heard encouraging things about them and I’ve told her to be sure she takes it on a long test drive first because CVT. I’ve suggested a Buick Encore since it’s quite a bit shorter than the Outback. She doesn’t like the cheap-feeling interiors of Hyundai/Kia, although she said the brand new Santa Fe a recent Uber driver had was way better than she expected. I’m also showing her the Jeep Renegade which I suspect she’ll like (and I’ll tell her to make sure she gets lots of warranty).

Also, what should she know  about Crosstreks? I don’t know much about them.

smobgirl > fhrblig 07/21/2019 at 12:12

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My usual helpful self would like to suggest a Veloster :)

But in all seriousness, make her test drive a Mazda.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > fhrblig 07/21/2019 at 12:12

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If she rented an Outback and liked it she has already determined that she doesn't mind the CVT (and Subarus CVT is honestly the best on the market by quite a margin). A Crosstrek is basically a smaller Outback with the 2.0 instead of the 2.5.

Captain of the Enterprise > fhrblig 07/21/2019 at 12:16

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RAV4?

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > fhrblig 07/21/2019 at 12:22

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Golf sportwagen/alltrack? They’ll be gone next year. Good time to get one if she likes wagons.

jimz > fhrblig 07/21/2019 at 12:36

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Cruze hatchback?  They’re still out there. I don’t think GM has stopped production yet.  or there’s a lot of inventory left over.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > smobgirl 07/21/2019 at 12:37

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I second the Veloster motion! :P

I would tell her to actually check out some Kia or Hyundai products, they aren’t cheap feeling anymore.....I mean....mine is, because it’s a stripper model from 2009....but modern ones are pretty well appointed. :)

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 07/21/2019 at 12:38

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Seconded

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > fhrblig 07/21/2019 at 12:40

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The problem with the Crosstrek isn’t the CVT so much as it’s so underpowered no transmission can help. Subaru CVTs are fine. I’ve had one in an Outback for 90k miles now and I don’t mind it. I’ve driven other Subaru’s with it and I never wished it was an regular automatic. If she can put up with the slowness they are otherwise very nice and a very good deal for the money which is why they sell so well.

The Encore and Renegade are both MUCH smaller than a Crosstrek... they are subcompacts and the Crosstrek is a compact.  What about a Compass - or is it not fun and funky enough? Honestly it sounds to me that an Equinox might be the perfect car for her - I’ve had the current gen as a rental and it’s a seriously nice car when optioned right especially for the prices they actually sell for.

This reminds me that I started and never finished a review of the Crosstrek loaner I had a few weeks ago. Hopefully tonight.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > fhrblig 07/21/2019 at 12:40

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The Crosstrek is great, just slow, boring, and overpriced.  But everyone who owns one loves them.  Family member of mine just bought a brand new one, coming from a Tucson.

The Outback is only 189”, which is damn diminutive in today’s car world. Alltrack/Sportwagen is 180. BMW X1 or Mercedes GLA are 175ish.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > fhrblig 07/21/2019 at 12:43

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XC40?

ttyymmnn > fhrblig 07/21/2019 at 12:44

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CB > fhrblig 07/21/2019 at 13:00

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I have nothing nice to say about the Encore (feels cheap, poor fuel economy, just buy a Trax).

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > fhrblig 07/21/2019 at 13:36

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Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > fhrblig 07/21/2019 at 13:43

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I think she’ll be perfectly happy with the Crosstrek. Hell, I'd just get an Impreza hatch and save a nice chunk of change 

fhrblig > smobgirl 07/21/2019 at 13:46

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She’s getting up there in years, so I think the Veloster is a bit too low for her knees. Otherwise I’d agree.

She is checking out the CX3 though. They just feel a bit flimsy inside to me.

smobgirl > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 07/21/2019 at 13:47

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I second this. They’re just heavy and slow.

fhrblig > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 07/21/2019 at 13:47

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That’s what I'm worried about, so I told her to take it on a long test drive and flog the gas pedal a lot. If she can tolerate it, it'd be fine.

fhrblig > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 07/21/2019 at 13:49

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I think she liked the Outback more for the ride height, as  she said no to the TourX because it looked lower. The Alltrack might be possible though.

fhrblig > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 07/21/2019 at 13:50

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I know she'll look at the CX3, for sure.

fhrblig > jimz 07/21/2019 at 13:51

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I should remind her about those. She doesn't seem to mind the Cruze.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > fhrblig 07/21/2019 at 14:15

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Mazda CX-5

The new Kia Sportage doesn’t feel cheap on the EX or SX models

Honda HRV

A bit left field, but 16-17 Infiniti QX50?

fhrblig > ttyymmnn 07/21/2019 at 14:19

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Substitute that guy with me showing her muscle cars.

Then again, she sent me a link to a '37 Oldsmobile with a Corvette V8, so...

fhrblig > Captain of the Enterprise 07/21/2019 at 14:20

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Mmmaybe. I think she doesn't like the styling though.

Wobbles the Mind > fhrblig 07/21/2019 at 14:26

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I feel like something between the Crosstrek and the Outback would fix all the cons of each while keeping the pros. Maybe a Forester or something.

fhrblig > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 07/21/2019 at 14:30

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She’d love that, but it's about $15k more than she'd be willing to spend. 

fhrblig > Wobbles the Mind 07/21/2019 at 14:44

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I’ll see what she says, since those are a little shorter.

smobgirl > fhrblig 07/21/2019 at 15:11

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Considering how rattly the plastic is in the Fiat, I might be more easily im pressed than some.

I also reaaalllly liked the rental Kona I dro ve, if you can change her mind o n Hyundai s. Like my top three rentals this year (of 16 so far)  were the Veloster, the Kona, and the TDI wagon.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > fhrblig 07/21/2019 at 17:18

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I thought the interior of the CX-5 (and even the CX-9) were a bit cramped compared to my Mazda5, so I assumed a CX-3 would be even tinier inside. Maybe I'll have to check one out the next time I'm in for an oil change.

CaptDale - is secretly British > fhrblig 07/21/2019 at 19:04

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We have a lot of customers that rave about their Crosstreks. That being said the 2 lower of the 3 trim levels can still be bought with manual trans. If I was buying a Subaru I would buy that. The customer service from Subaru as a brand is ridiculously high.