"Goodspeed23" (Goodspeed23)
02/11/2014 at 09:39 • Filed to: None
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"Goodspeed23" (Goodspeed23)
02/11/2014 at 09:39 • Filed to: None | 24
| 29 |
Friend: "I am looking to buy a new car to replace my 15 year old Honda"
Me (cautiously excited to talk about cool cars): "Well what are you thinking?"
Friend: "The new Camry."
Me (deeply saddened, yet with a shred of hope): "Oh, well what are your requirements?"
Friend: "I just want a reliable car with good gas mileage and heated seats."
Me: (pretentious sigh)
The Set Up
This goes right up there with "I only need enough HP to merge on to the highway" in phrases that ensure a lack of enthusiasm for driving. But you know what? I get it. People have different passions, and not everyone cares about cars. I have plenty of friends who party to electronic dance music, and I'd rather punch myself in the face than muscle-spasm around on a dance floor for a few hours.
Instead of snobbishly giving up and allowing another Camry on the roads, I decided to at least try and push him towards the more interesting midsize sedans. As much as I praised the Fusion, he refused to believe that Ford quality has improved since 1998 and didn't want an American car. I assume he is also blasting "Truly Madly Deeply" through his Discman. He also refused to buy used because he hates saving money, presumably.
"Well at least test drive the Mazda6 for a comparison." "The what? I've never driven a Mazda." "You'd be surprised."
The Test Drives
That weekend he test drove the Camry, the Accord, and the Mazda 6.
The Camry: 'It was fine. Had features. Very spacious. Cool entertainment center with apps and buttons.'
The Accord: 'It was ok. Pretty much the same as the Camry but felt less roomy.'
The Mazda 6: 'Wow this car was so cool! The styling was way better, it felt more like a sports car. Thanks, man. I never would have test drove this car if you didn't tell me about it.'
Conclusion (TL/DR):
Friend is now buying a Mazda 6 instead of a Camry. Baby steps towards a better world.
markshkim
> Goodspeed23
02/11/2014 at 09:42 |
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CalzoneGolem
> Goodspeed23
02/11/2014 at 09:45 |
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I approve of this, all of it.
Tom McParland
> Goodspeed23
02/11/2014 at 09:47 |
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Well done +300 Jalop points!
Audi-os, amigos
> Goodspeed23
02/11/2014 at 09:48 |
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You're doing God's work, son.
Dsscats
> Goodspeed23
02/11/2014 at 09:49 |
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You, sir, are doing god's work.
Jayhawk Jake
> Goodspeed23
02/11/2014 at 09:52 |
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But...Optima?
I like the Optima more than the 6, but I haven't driven the 6
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Goodspeed23
> Tom McParland
02/11/2014 at 09:55 |
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Why thank you. Hearts and minds. Hearts and minds...
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Goodspeed23
> Jayhawk Jake
02/11/2014 at 09:57 |
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You know I actually thought about this though I have never driven an Optima. I figured, however, that if I could not change his perception of Ford in the last 10 years, there was no way to convince him of newfound Kia quality.
PS9
> Goodspeed23
02/11/2014 at 10:00 |
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At 1,000,000 Jalop points, you get a complimentary RS4 Avant.
You'd have to permanently move to Germany if you want to use it, though.
dinobot666
> Goodspeed23
02/11/2014 at 10:01 |
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Is Mazda still having premature rusting issues?
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Tom McParland
> PS9
02/11/2014 at 10:03 |
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How many Jalop points for the RS6 in the picture?
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Goodspeed23
> dinobot666
02/11/2014 at 10:04 |
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I hope not. Car recommending can be stressful. I don't want to be "that guy who told me this car would be a good purchase" if the car falls apart at 10,000 miles.
Brewman15
> Goodspeed23
02/11/2014 at 10:08 |
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I'm pretty surprised about the Accord. The interior of that car is cavernous, and I'm pretty sure it has more interior room than the Camry. Then again, I'm clearly biased as my wife drives a '13 Accord Sport.
Still, good working steering your friend to the 6 over the Camry. The Mazda is a great car.
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Jayhawk Jake
> Goodspeed23
02/11/2014 at 10:08 |
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Which is a shame, because Optima's are ridiculously nice for the money
Takuro Spirit
> Goodspeed23
02/11/2014 at 10:12 |
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There's a 10 year 100k rust warranty, if he keeps it that long. Not that he'll need it... maybe.
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Takuro Spirit
> Goodspeed23
02/11/2014 at 10:14 |
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YES. I came here to make that exact suggestion.
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Goodspeed23
> Takuro Spirit
02/11/2014 at 10:16 |
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Yea the 100k mile warranty is awesome. As is the 0.9% APR for up to 60 months. Pretty solid deal.
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Takuro Spirit
> Goodspeed23
02/11/2014 at 10:18 |
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Yeah Mazda's on a roll lately, and trying to get as much metal on the road as they can. Lots of good offers out there.
If I was in the market...... I really liked the '14 6 GT Tech I borrowed for a weekend from work.
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Goodspeed23
> Tom McParland
02/11/2014 at 10:19 |
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-Hi, I am interested in the car in your ad, but the picture is of a different model.
-Oh do you want the car in the picture?
-No, I want the one in the text of the ad.
-Well that one just got sold off the lot. Why don't you come down to the showroom and see what else we have, like the car in the picture?
-(click)
Joe_Limon
> Goodspeed23
02/11/2014 at 10:25 |
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Next you have to inform him that the fusion was originally on the same platform as the 6, and that he could have had a 4 door Aston ;)
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Goodspeed23
> Joe_Limon
02/11/2014 at 10:28 |
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vicariousILive
> Jayhawk Jake
02/11/2014 at 10:34 |
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I ended up with an Optima as a rental car last year. Very impressive I might say. Was not expecting much however
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vicariousILive
> Goodspeed23
02/11/2014 at 10:49 |
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I'm one of those asshat Camry owners. When my wife married me she had an 89 camry. I loved that car and it was solid. I ran into a deer going 55 miles and no damage. I was convinced Toyota camry was "the shit" of cheap cars. I bought a 2004 camry when I graduated college and got a real job. It's an SE and an ugly golden tan color so I get some jalop points for that right? Well, its a 4 cylinder so I guess that puts me negative.
Point of my story is I had convinced myself my next car would most likely be a Mazda 6 wagon without ever researching it. So I was pretty pissed when I somewhat recently found out that they are not sold in the US.
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Goodspeed23
> vicariousILive
02/11/2014 at 10:52 |
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A deer at 55mph? no damage? I don't think anyone could be blamed for brand loyalty after that experience.
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vicariousILive
> Goodspeed23
02/11/2014 at 11:06 |
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I might have been exaggerating "no damage," there was a very small dent next to the left headlight. I also breaked before I hit the deer. But I was truly amazed. Although I don’t think my '04 would have had the same fate as the '89.
The deer surprisingly survived and ran off but I doubt it was alive for much longer
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Goodspeed23
> vicariousILive
02/11/2014 at 11:11 |
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Rico
> Jayhawk Jake
02/11/2014 at 12:14 |
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That actually looks pretty good.
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Rico
> Brewman15
02/11/2014 at 12:15 |
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Accord and Mazda 6 are definitely at the top end of the midsize class. All they need is a Mazda Speed 6 and they'll be rolling in dough.
LuczOr
> Goodspeed23
02/11/2014 at 13:59 |
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GOOD WORK, SIR.