help with a car recommendation

"OPPOsaurus WRX" (opposaurus) 03/07/2014 at 11:43 • Filed to: None

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All my in-laws believe I know everything about cars. Recently my brother-in-law brought up that he is considering a new car. This decision comes as his job moves from Massachusetts to Georgia. He is en electrical engineers, about 30, and currently drives a Camry. He's a huge Star Trek fan and is pretty frugal with his money. No kids and his girlfriend may make the trip with him(most likely if shes reclassified as fiance) What should he get? His mother said he should get another Camry and I think he is considering that(she recommended the Pilot to me because "its big and comes in nice colors). I thought he should get something more fun before kids and wife and what not. I've given him a ride in my WRX and he was impressed but somewhat uninterested. I also showed him the dealer brochure for the BRZ and again looked impressed but seemed uninterested. What do you think? Is he just destine to drive a refrigerator for the rest of his life? It unfortunately seems to fit him well. budget $20k-25k and should be new as he has 0 car mechanical abilities.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/07/2014 at 11:44

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Miata.

Focus St

Fiesta ST

Golf R/GTI

Anything with manual.

mazdaspeed2 > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/07/2014 at 11:49

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I am in school working towards being an EE, and I am also from Massachusetts. Hopefully I don't end up with a Camry haha. My recommendations would be a Fiesta ST, or a Mazda 3 or 6. The ST should make a car guy out of him, but if not the Mazdas are pretty good value for the money, Skyactiv gets you pretty good fuel economy, and they do have a little bit of the Mazda fun-to-drive gene.

The Dummy Gummy > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/07/2014 at 11:50

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This is going to sound crazy (no not a miata; which I assume will be the normal response), but an Altima. Reliable, nice car, little pep; not a beige Camry . Will solve all the issues if he needs multiple doors.
He wont need a car with AWD; if we ignore the few days everything went to hell down there.

Hooker > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/07/2014 at 11:51

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Mazda 6.

iltaliano > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/07/2014 at 11:54

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I feel like it might not be that useful to recommend "sporty" cars. Rather, try to guide him towards a slightly more involved family sedan.

For example, rather than a Camry, suggest an Accord or a Fusion or something else that's a little less boring.

Meatcoma > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/07/2014 at 11:54

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Factors on a lot of things, is he looking for sporty/comfort/luxury/mpg etc.

Best thing to do is get him to test drive cars that he wouldn't normally consider.

505Turbeaux > The Dummy Gummy 03/07/2014 at 11:54

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Actually came here to say this. One of my employees is a trek fan and drives one. He doesnt give a god damn about cars usually but he loves his 3.5

pfftballer > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/07/2014 at 11:55

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Miata.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/07/2014 at 11:56

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He needs to actually DRIVE other cars to see if he's actually uninterested. If he could care less, and wants an appliance, it sounds like the new Accord actually has a better chassis than the Camry.

If he likes Star Trek, and is an electrical engineer, maybe he should get a Tesla...

OPPOsaurus WRX > mazdaspeed2 03/07/2014 at 11:58

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I could see the fiesta being too small so that would bring me to the Focus ST. I feel like if he wasn't crazy about the WRX then either of the ST's wouldn't do it for him.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/07/2014 at 11:58

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Seconding crazedclay: refrigerator habits ingrained - hard to break. Try to get him into a Solara at least, or possibly a Genesis. The Solara mostly because it's enough of a break from standard Camry equip in a futuristic and/or Star Trek direction - if there were a proper modern AE86, I'd say that.

Edit to point out retardation: a CPO Solara might be available - no longer new, obviously.

Meatcoma > Meatcoma 03/07/2014 at 12:00

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Isn't the Ford Fusion a competitor for this? or is that too big?

Tom McParland > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/07/2014 at 12:01

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This is why I have a survey for my customers-

Tell him he is welcome to drop me a line, I don't charge for consultation

AutomatchConsulting@gmail.com

OPPOsaurus WRX > Meatcoma 03/07/2014 at 12:10

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I think its about the same. The Taurus is bigger by alot. The Fusion is one of my person recommendations for him. I figured I'll bring him to Ford for that and show him the ST's and hope for the wildcard. I think comfort/mpg's is going to be his top concern.

OPPOsaurus WRX > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/07/2014 at 12:12

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Yea he's brought up the Model S in conversation a few times. Its way about his price range.

YoungPadwan > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/07/2014 at 12:14

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XF with a carmax warranty.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/07/2014 at 12:14

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What other hobbies does he have? How does he spend his free time?

OPPOsaurus WRX > mazdaspeed2 03/07/2014 at 12:14

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Where do you go to school? He went to Wentworth and I went to Northeastern.

OPPOsaurus WRX > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 03/07/2014 at 12:27

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Sometimes his habits remind me of Sheldon from Big Bang Theory. Monday night is game night (not world of war craft but something like that) Tuesday is $5 movie night at the theater. Likes comedy shows. Also runs and sometimes bikes places like parks and Cape Cod Canal.

OPPOsaurus WRX > 505Turbeaux 03/07/2014 at 12:31

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I'll add it to the list.

Jeffrey > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/07/2014 at 12:44

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I'm sure plenty will poo-poo the thought, but take a look at the Veloster with or without turbo. More of a "warm hatch" then a hot one. But lots of tech goodies, decent space in the boot and back seat when needed, great warranty, low cost of ownership. And while the cosmetics are polarizing I think it looks fantastic.

Enginerrrrrrrrr > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/07/2014 at 12:59

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This was said before, but the Fusion would be a good choice for him. Maybe even an Accord. The Accord actually has good steering feel and acts a bit sportier than the camry.

The Fusion obviously has much better styling.

mazdaspeed2 > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/07/2014 at 13:09

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That makes sense for the STs, but have him check out the mazdas, I've only heard good things about them. I go to UMass Lowell, but I have friends that go to Wentworth, and I believe my uncle went to Northeastern.

McLarry > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/07/2014 at 13:55

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As another EE in a similar stage of life.... I went with a Saab 9-3 2.0T - comfy, fun, manual, good gas mileage, very reliable (kinda techy too). I chose it because I had a very long commute, so gas mileage and reliability were a bit of a premium for me; if he's into appliance cars, I wager those sorts of factors are important to him as well. Not to mention the fact you can get a real nice one for well under 25...

As it is now, I've been looking around for stuff in the 20-30k range...I'm married now, so my mindset is more 'I need to get a car that's more fun before I end up hauling a car seat' so perhaps my priorities aren't as in line with his, but I've been leaning towards something with 2 seats and no roof. There's always Miata, then of course Boxster S, BMW M Roadster, or Lotus Elise (all of these used and >5 yrs old to get them in that price range, of course). Other solid options in that range if you're not into roadsters: E46 M3 or E39M5, Jag XJR, and maybe even some late 90's 911s if you look hard enough. If he's really into 'new' cars I'd say a toyobaru or a Focus ST, but in my mind the used options are better.

Brewman15 > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/07/2014 at 14:00

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Accord Sport

Mazda 6

Both costs roughly the same as the Camry but are MUCH better looking and are MUCH more engaging to drive. With these two as competitors, I don't know why you would end up with a Camry.

The base Accord is good too, but the Sport model is a major step up in my book.

McLarry > Tom McParland 03/07/2014 at 14:00

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Thought about just saying "ask Automatch...he's a pro at this" but I knew you'd already be at it :P

Tom McParland > McLarry 03/07/2014 at 14:01

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Thanks man

OPPOsaurus WRX > Brewman15 03/07/2014 at 14:48

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The Mazda looks nice and I think it might have a chance. The Honda looks too much like the Crosstour and still seems pretty bland.

OPPOsaurus WRX > McLarry 03/07/2014 at 14:55

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I think used is out because he would't be interested in working on it. You should do the Elise. Its not a typical car and looks fun as hell and that's what I'd go for. As for your doom of minivan life with kids... its not true. I have 2-21 month old girls and I just got a WRX hatch. I havn't had a problem with it yet. The stroller fits and the car seats do too. Leave the major baby hauling to the wife's car. I'm pushing for the Flex with the 3.5 Ecoboost but that's while down the road.

OPPOsaurus WRX > McLarry 03/07/2014 at 14:56

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The Saab would be a great move if they were still around. I'm not sure what the headaches are for owning one now that there are no dealers.

McLarry > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/07/2014 at 15:22

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I'm not all doom and gloom :P The carseat quip was more just because there's no way that'll work in a 2-seater, which is kinda what I've always wanted. A relative of mine with a couple kids just got a Focus ST and seems to do just fine with it, so I haven't quite resigned myself to a minivan when the younglings come along :P

The Elise is really my favorite choice...especially if I just hang on to my current car too, which would mitigate all the impracticality of it - would be a pure 'drive for fun' car. The only thing is the M Roadster (2nd choice) is pretty competitive with more creature-comforts. I think I'd be very happy with either one. Another option I've been kicking around is something like an old MGB - not a performance car, but good, wholesome topless fun and something to wrench on.

McLarry > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/07/2014 at 15:26

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GM still honors the warranties. I just had my front coil springs replaced for free a month or 2 ago after one of them snapped (Saab had extended the warranty on those to 10yrs, 120k miles). They may not sell any new cars, but the dealers are still around as part of the GM conglomerate, so parts can still be had as well (there's also plenty of online resources). The old girl is starting to show her age at 110k mi, but honestly the car never darkened a shop floor for anything more severe than routine maintenance until she broke 100k (and this is a 2005 model).

coqui70 > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/07/2014 at 23:28

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Ok, if he's going to live in the South: Dodge Charger or Challenger V6, Mustang V6, Camaro V6, 2wd Pickup Truck ... hell ya'll if yer goin' to live below the Mason-Dixon line you need you some 'Merican iron. Tell the boy to up his price to $30k so he can spring for V8s before they disappear like beer on a hot summer day!