New and Improved How Practical is Your Car Quiz

"Jay, the practical enthusiast" (jay-m) 09/27/2020 at 07:00 • Filed to: None

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Welcome back to the new and improved how practical is your car quiz. This took more time and was a lot harder than I expected. I don’t think it’s going to be possible to please everyone, but I hope this revision more acc urately reflects the practicality of our cars. Enjoy.

400 hp minivan?

1: Fuel Economy (Actual or EPA rated, your choice)

51 mpg or more: 100 points (50 point bonus if not hybrid or electric)

40 – 50 mpg: 75 points

30 – 39 mpg: 50 points

25 – 29 mpg: 25 points

20 – 24 mpg: 15 points

15 – 19 mpg: -5 points

14 mpg or less: -50 points

1.b: Cylinder Bonus & Penalty

8-cylinder (or larger) returning 30 mpg or greater: 20 points

6-cylinder returning 30 mpg or greater: 15 points

5-cylinder returning 30 mpg or greater: 15 points

4-cylinder returning 25 mpg or less: -15 points

2: Aspiration

Turbo returning worse fuel economy than NA option: -20 points

Turbo returning better fuel economy than NA option: 20 points

NA returning worse fuel economy than Turbo option: -15 points

NA returning better fuel economy than Turbo option: 15 points

If no comparison engine: 0 points

3: Body Style

0-doors: -40 points

2-doors: -35 points

3-doors: 10 points

4-doors: 35 points

5-doors: 55 points

3.b: Bonus Points

Hatchback: 25 points

Truck: 30 points

SUV: 30 points

Wagon: 35 points

Van (all sizes including mini): 50 points

Motorcycle: 5 points

Moped: 25 points

3.c: Usage

Tow bar equipped and used at least once a year: 20 points

Roof racks equipped and used at least once a year: 20 points

Bed/trunk/rear storage area used at least once a month: 20 points

Taken off-road at least once a year: 30 points

Take to a race track at least once a year: 50 points

Can hold a full set of tires: 10 points

Vehicle used to help a friend move (or even help yourself move) at least once: 50 points

Can live in vehicle: 1 0 points

4: Wheels Driven

Rear-wheel drive: 0 points

Front-wheel drive: 5 points

All-wheel drive: 10 points

4-wheel drive: 15 points

5: Engine Location

Doesn’t matter unless:

Makes the car more fuel efficient (location optimized for less drag for example): 5 points

Increases the interior volume (cab-over minivan for example or front-wheel drive that allows for a flat floor ): 15 points (some people missed this bonus)

6: Transmission

Auto returning better fuel economy than manual: 10 points

Auto returning worse fuel economy than manual: 5 points

Manual returning better fuel economy than auto: 15 points

Manual returning worse fuel economy than auto: 0 points

Bonus:

Auto with better performance than manual: 10 points

If no option: 0 points

7: Horsepower to Fuel Economy (this is in addition to the cylinder bonus)

0-100 hp: 30 points if 30 mpg or greater

101 – 200 hp: 40 points if 30 mpg or greater

201 – 330 hp: 45 points if 30 mpg or greater

331 hp or more: 50 points if 30 mpg or greater

8: Safety

5   star crash rating (or other country equivalent): 2 0 points

ABS: 1 0 points

Stability control: 15 points

Side curtain air bags: 15 points

Front air bags: 5 points

Crumple zones: 5 points

Rearview camera: 5 points

9: Seats

1 seat: -10 points

2 seats: 0 points

3 seats: 50 points

4 seats: 20 points

5 seats: 25 points

6 seats: 30 points

7 or more seats: 40 points

10: Cup holders including ones in door

0: 0 points

1: 1 point

2: 5 points

3: 10 points

4: 15 points

1 cup holder for every seat: 25 points

more cup holders than seats: 35 points

11: Reliability (unscheduled repairs only, not to include scheduled maintenance)

$1000 or more in average yearly repair costs : -40 points

$500 - 999 in average yearly repair costs : -2 0 points

$250 - 499   in average yearly repair costs: -1 0 points

Up to $249 in average yearly repair costs: 0 points

No repairs: 10 points for each year owned

12: Other (Bonus Points)

Sliding doors: 25 points

Power windows: 5 points

Remote power door locks: 5 points

Air conditioning: 25 points

Rear seat air conditioning vents: 20 points

3rd row air conditioning vents: 15 points

Dual zone climate control: 30 points (in addition to A/C points)

3 zone climate control: 35 points (in addition to A/C points)

Heated front seats: 10 points

Heated rear seats: 15 points

Heated steering wheel: 5 points

Cooled seats: 15 points

Ventilated seats: 15 points

Heated side mirrors: 10 points

Remote start: 5 points

Massaging seats: 50 points

Folding rear seats: 20 points

Seats fold flat to make a bed: 30 points

Video entertainment system for the kids: 30 points

Under seat storage: 15 points

Built in umbrellas: 15 points

Power outlets: 5 points each

Ice scraper (built in): 5 points

power tailgate window: 20 points

Power open/close rear hatch: 10 points

rubber floor mats / covering: 20 points

Point Key:

Negative Points: Yeah, you drive an insanely cool car, impractical, but we’re all a little jealous anyway.

0 points: How with all these options and variables could you end up with exactly zero points?

1 – 100: It’s a start but there are better options out there.

101 – 200: You’re trying to balance practicality with other needs.

201 – 300: Passengers love riding in your Civic.

301 – 400: Modern luxury SUVs are fantastic.

401 or more: Minivans and Priuses are awesome, aren’t they?

Slant6 > Jay, the practical enthusiast 09/27/2020 at 07:10

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This is good, but it’s way too much math for someone like me to be doing in my head.

My Sportwagen TDI was getting close to 400 points when I stopped counting at the safety category. 

Napoli > Jay, the practical enthusiast 09/27/2020 at 07:12

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2015 Alfa Romeo 4C: 85 points. It should be noted that it got 40 bonus points for 100% reliable during my four years of ownership. 

shop-teacher > Jay, the practical enthusiast 09/27/2020 at 07:21

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365 for my ‘06 Sierra crew cab , and that’s being as harsh as possible. A point for every day of the year, not too shabby for a base model pickemup truck that's pushing 15 years old. No points for y'all's fancy shmancy heated/cooled/happy ending seats!

Now, if I use my EPA highway mpg rating instead of actual observed mileage , I could +20. I j ust got a roof rack, but I haven’t installed it yet. That will definitely get used more than once a year, so +20. If I count the tailgate as a 5th door, +20. If I count driving through grassy fields as “off road” then +30. That would give me a quote hefty total of 455 points.

If I count all the time I have used the truck to move or help someone else move, I could add 500 more points! :D

Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' > Jay, the practical enthusiast 09/27/2020 at 07:43

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I loved this, very fun to do. I always act like I hate it when I have to bring out the calculator and pencil and paper but secretly I’m loving it...

My 98' Volvo S70 - 315 points. Pretty good for a 3 box sedan, I think.
I just got it though, so all the MPG and costs are my estimates. W e’ll see how that changes next year. The wagon would score MUCH more, on account of all the extra equipment it had which my wagon doesn’t (like cupholders, heated seats, etc...).

Thanks for sharing, good job on this!

Svend > Jay, the practical enthusiast 09/27/2020 at 07:52

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555 points.

Nice, you included the umbrellas, mats and ice scraper.

i should probably be banned from this quiz by now. 

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jay, the practical enthusiast 09/27/2020 at 08:37

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My motorcycle is 100% more practice than a moped. Here’s why

1 the fuel economy isn’t really that far off. 60mph of 2 stroke, which means buying oil as well as gas. Vs 40mph

2. The motorcycle can meet or exceed and US speed limit so it isn’t limited to 35 mph roads

3 the motorcycle can vary a passenger

4 the motorcycle has nearly 3 times the cargo capacity. My moped only has 1 milk crate. The motorcycle has a top bad, and two panniers, plus a cubby under the seat

5 the motorcycle should be at least slightly harder to steal. Because 1 it has a key, and 2 you’d need a truck, to haul it away. 3 it weights at least 500lbs not 85 so it can’t be hauled off by one person.

My point is that if you’re going to claim that mopeds are practical you’re Probably  only looking at fuel economy, Which is something most motorcycles do pretty well to. 

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jay, the practical enthusiast 09/27/2020 at 08:44

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My e90 328i xdrive Sedan got 315.  I’ll take it.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Slant6 09/27/2020 at 08:48

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If you could buy an AWD TDI Sportwagon/ Alltrack I’d go trade in my e90 today. But I didn’t want to give up my AWD.

The other day I was pull my boat out of the water, and the front wheels spun a bit getting up. The landing was gravel. I was very glad I had 4 (well 3 at least front diff is  open) whelks first get me out of there. 

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Napoli 09/27/2020 at 08:48

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Wow that is impressive. 

OhCrikeyTheRozzers > Jay, the practical enthusiast 09/27/2020 at 09:46

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I’m happy to report that the 2014 Cayenne GTS will, in fact, baby . And pull 0.95g on the skidpad with a V8 exhaust note Jalopnik described as  a “swarm of Africanized killer bees stuck inside an angry grizzly bear which, in turn, is stuck inside a dryer.” Over 401 points

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Jay, the practical enthusiast 09/27/2020 at 10:20

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R500 - 590

E55 - 220 how dare you call this a civic! 

Africa twin - 180

Monster - 90 if we're counting warranty repair costs

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Jay, the practical enthusiast 09/27/2020 at 10:46

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Zero points for my practical, cheap, reliable, manual pickup that I use for pickup things on largely weekly basis? Pssssssh

VincentMalamute-Kim > Jay, the practical enthusiast 09/27/2020 at 11:41

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R eference points for you from my two drivers. I guess your system works. And I’m an overly practical guy for being unmarried.

395 - Transit cargo with no windows but a bed in the back.

580 - Base 2011 Toyota Sienna

Taylor Martin > Jay, the practical enthusiast 09/27/2020 at 12:09

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Got 490 points this time around, which is quite a lot. This system seems to favor wagons a lot mainly because of the seat stuff. A truck doesn’t have a second row of seats to fold flat/fold into a bed, but even still, I’m happy I have a practical motor vehicle.

Tohru > Jay, the practical enthusiast 09/27/2020 at 12:19

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How do you classify “seats”?  My truck has a bench seat (not 60/40) so it’s just one seat, but has seat belts for 3 people.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jay, the practical enthusiast 09/27/2020 at 15:19

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30 – 39 mpg: 50 points

NA returning worse fuel economy than Turbo option: -15 points (yes but I don’t have to put up with the maintenance nightmare of the turbo)

4-doors: 35 points

Bed/trunk/rear storage area used at least once a month: 20 points (how can you not get these points?)

Taken off-road at least once a year: 30 points (if you count my muddy driveway and bumpy unpaved parking lots, yes, but I don’t think that’s quite what you meant. Still, year 1 I got it stuck in the mud so that’s every other year so far)

Can live in vehicle: 10 points (I’ve tested it and you can take a nap in it seats folded without much discomfort but I wouldn’t want to live out of it)

Front-wheel drive: 5 points (why?)

Makes the car more fuel efficient (location optimized for less drag for example): 5 points (cab forward transverse engine with low front end counts I guess?)

Auto returning worse fuel economy than manual: 5 points (not sure why I get points for this but OK)

101 – 200 hp: 40 points if 30 mpg or greater (haha no)

5   star crash rating (or other country equivalent): 20 points

ABS: 10 points

Stability control: 15 points (can be turned totally off too!)

Side curtain air bags: 15 points

Front air bags: 5 points

Crumple zones: 5 points

(I’d like to add that I have an NCAP 4 star pedestrian impact safety rating which is good for mowing down protestors

5 seats: 25 points

more cup holders than seats: 35 points

Up to $249 in average yearly repair costs: 0 points

Power windows: 5 points

Remote power door locks: 5 points

Air conditioning: 25 points

Rear seat air conditioning vents: 20 points

Folding rear seats: 20 points

rubber floor mats / covering: 20 points

Verdict

340 points! Somehow. My Cruze is just a basic car that does its job with no frivolities .

301 – 400: Modern luxury SUVs are fantastic.

Jay, the practical enthusiast > Tohru 09/27/2020 at 21:55

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D efinitely the number of passengers. 

Jay, the practical enthusiast > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 09/27/2020 at 21:59

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I'm afraid this test is based on years of cold hard scientific data. You'll just have to accept that your practical truck is impractical. 

Jay, the practical enthusiast > OhCrikeyTheRozzers 09/27/2020 at 22:00

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That is the best form of practicality. 

Jay, the practical enthusiast > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 09/27/2020 at 22:01

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I didn't realize all this. If I ever post this again I'll update it.

Tohru > Jay, the practical enthusiast 09/28/2020 at 00:09

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in that case,
1986 S10 (originally 2.5L 5spd manual, now 5.0L 3spd. automatic): 35 points (if the bench was counted as a single seat, -15)
1994 Buick Century 2.2L automatic: 145
2003 Saab 9-3 2.0T 5spd : 225

i86hotdogs > Jay, the practical enthusiast 09/28/2020 at 17:27

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Quick clarification:

does a rallycross course count for taking it off road or taking it on a track? or both?!

If both: the RallyVan gets 470; if off road: 420; if track: 440; if both don’t count: 390

Chrysler 200-335

Jay, the practical enthusiast > i86hotdogs 09/28/2020 at 19:30

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That sounds like both! That's a practical vehicle.