"LJ909" (lj909)
02/19/2015 at 17:36 • Filed to: None
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"LJ909" (lj909)
02/19/2015 at 17:36 • Filed to: None | 0
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In my on going saga of me buying a car I think I finally settled on one: the Solstice. But not the Solstice that I had posted a week or so ago. I found one with way lower miles on it (around 88k or so to be exact) and a year newer (the one pictured).
But its a bitter sweet moment. I've gotten backlash from a few people, including my mother and (sigh) my sons mother about how its stupid and irresponsible of me to be getting a convertible with a 4 year old son. Now I realize that the car has two seats and that it is smaller than a regular car and that could potentially be dangerous. But the same could be said for any car on the road, it just all depends on how you drive and how cautious you are. You not only have to watch the road you have to watch the road for others too. And I consider myself a pretty safe driver, especially with my son in the car.
But this backlash has really made me keep thinking twice about getting this car. I feel like i'm doing something wrong, but at the same time I know i'm not because I work hard and I deserve to drive something that myself and my son will enjoy (especially after almost two years of using public transit. At one point I had strictly told myself I did not want to nor was I interested in buying a car. Yea I was on of those millennial's.) being in. I even checked on the Solstice forums and found a lot of owners that have small children with their car seats and were fine, except for one dumbass guy who was driving his infant around in his Solstice.
"You aren't driving my son around in your dumb ass convertible" says my sons mother. "Your crazy" says my mother, and a few other comments from others. So should I be feeling bad about wanting what I want that im buying with my money, or just get the car and be safe?
(Edit:Forgot to mention that this would be my primary vehicle. My son and his mother aren't together and he doesn't live with me. I go and get him. So most of my driving is done alone if I don't have him. So yea there's that.)
Snooder87
> LJ909
02/19/2015 at 17:42 |
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For some reason (some) women have an irrational hatred of two seater convertibles. My mom actually told me once that she thinks any man who buys a two seater is "selfish."
You'll probably will have better traction with a 2+2 vert like a mustang. It has a backseat!
nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
> LJ909
02/19/2015 at 17:43 |
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I mean the biggest concern would probably be getting a bomb dropped on you by a seagull or something.
Sure roll-over has a much higher potential for danger compared to a non convertible but the first question to be asked is what in God's name were you doing that resulted in a roll-over to begin with? And we're not talking about rolling an explorer. I accidentally leaned against one to tie my shoes and it rolled 3 times. Im sure the Solstice would be much more difficult to do so.
jkm7680
> LJ909
02/19/2015 at 17:44 |
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I'd say that a hardtop would be much safer for your son. I'm not even close to having kids, but have told myself that when I do, it'll be time for something safer.
Get something else, like a Subaru or something also.
vchengap
> LJ909
02/19/2015 at 17:47 |
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Just get it and screw what other people think. You and your son will love it. If you compromise with something else, you'll just regret it.
Our society as a whole has become much too safety-concerned. As Al Pacino's character said in the phenomenal film Heat: "You can get killed walking your doggie!"
Life is short - just fucking do it.
Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
> LJ909
02/19/2015 at 17:48 |
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Well, its not going to be the primary car for your family. I assume your SO has a car that is more suitable for family duty. Do your research, understand the risks, minimize them, talk rationally with the people that matter in the equation, buy 'vert, enjoy life.
Maybe go with something with a back seat if its remains a major sticking point.
Nibbles
> LJ909
02/19/2015 at 17:48 |
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Shit, it's no different than a single-cab pickup. What's the mother going to do, take you to court over your purchasing decisions? You can easily point out that the car gets four out of five stars in the following crash scenarios:
Driver front
Passenger Front
Driver Side
Passenger Side
And holds a five-star rollover rating. Those are ratings many other vehicles deemed as "safe" cannot touch.
As far as your mom goes, what did they drive when you were young? I'm willing to bet you spent your fair share of time in cars that could be considered "unsafe" or that they would be "crazy" to drive you around in - Mustangs, Camaros, y'know the stereotypical cars from your early childhood etc.
The only con I can see is that the Solstice isn't equipped with LATCH.
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LJ909
> Snooder87
02/19/2015 at 17:48 |
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My grandma said the same thing! But it was ok for her and my grandpa to every weekend to Palm Springs from LA in his yellow Mustang convertible..but anyway & I thought about 2+2's but there are none really that I like that would be enjoyable to drive. Mustang convertibles have too much cowl shake for me, and other 2+2"s are either sedan based (200, Solara, etc) or suck entirely, well to me.
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LJ909
> vchengap
02/19/2015 at 17:50 |
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Nicely said. If I wasn't worried about personal space with us being men and all I would hug you.
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LJ909
> Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
02/19/2015 at 17:53 |
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I just edited the article and put this that I had forgot to mention:
Forgot to mention that this would be my primary vehicle. My son and his mother aren't together and he doesn't live with me. I go and get him. So most of my driving is done alone if I don't have him.
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LJ909
> Nibbles
02/19/2015 at 17:59 |
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I had seen those crash test videos for the Solstice and came away impressed because one of the main things I was worried about was rollover and side impact.
But when I was younger my mom drove mostly conservative cars. Had the oval Taurus from the late 90s then as a late teens she had an 07 Sonata. My dad was the one with the crazy shit: Mustang GT's with mods, first gen C32 AMG, and various 911's.
But the good thing is that the Solstice does come with the air bag off sensor for the passenger.
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Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
> LJ909
02/19/2015 at 18:03 |
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Ah, I was wondering what the dancing around words was for. Def go for a 4 seat 'vert.
Both the Mustang and Camaro a decent options with good engines and lots of choice in the used market. If its still an issue look at maybe getting a Volvo C70, its not rwd but they have that reputation of being safe.
f86sabre
> LJ909
02/19/2015 at 18:03 |
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solstice crash ratings:
http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Shoppe…
2007 Civic
http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Shoppe…
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Nibbles
> LJ909
02/19/2015 at 18:05 |
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You can also make mention that (as long as you're not getting a GXP) that the Solstice, despite its looks, is a bit on the anemic and wheezy side. It's not a powerhouse, it's not a sports car, it's just a little car with a removable top
Hell my nearly-30-year-old Saab has a better power/weight ratio than the Solstice
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LJ909
> f86sabre
02/19/2015 at 18:10 |
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Almost the same.
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LJ909
> Nibbles
02/19/2015 at 18:11 |
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Yea its just a cruiser mainly. Something to drive nicely and be looked at while your in. A sports car in the Miata sense (as far as handling and low power go.)
T5Killer
> LJ909
02/19/2015 at 18:18 |
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Nope not one bit. Once youngest is a bit older (8 and 2) I am getting a '03-'04 Cobra Convertible and I will be driving them around in it all the time. I also current cart them around in a "unsafe" 95 Cobra Coupe.
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Snooder87
> LJ909
02/19/2015 at 18:23 |
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Buy it. Free yourself from the feminine tyranny :)
Seriously though, you just have to ask yourself how much the fights over the car are worth. Personally, I'd get it anyway and just remind her that we don't live together so she doesn't get a say. But I'm just that kind of stubborn asshole.
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LJ909
> Snooder87
02/19/2015 at 18:29 |
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Exactly. And im just that kind of asshole, (without being stubborn). Seriously, she tells me that I am every few days lol.
ZacMS
> LJ909
02/19/2015 at 19:10 |
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Buy the car and show your son that life is for fun. It isn't about doing the the safest thing all the time, its about doing what you enjoy.
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f86sabre
> LJ909
02/19/2015 at 20:04 |
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Yeah, it is a modern car and performs like one. It is actually, really, a modern European car with American skin (sort of) so it was built to the NCAP standards. Basically, the claim that it is unsafe doesn't hold water. That said, it doesn't matter to them. Sounds like you have issues that you are facing here that are well beyond what kind of car you drive. I wish you luck with those.