handling and maneuvering
It’s time. My resistance to this decision has steadily dwindled over the past months and I know, today, that it would be wise of me to buy a car. Once I became an avid An Inconvenient Truth-ite, my reluctance to ever buy a motor vehicle launched skyward. Not only was the environmental effects poignant, but I was concerned about purchasing a vehicle when I was not fiscally able to support one. But, I’ll be honest, I’ve gobbled up enough bikes and bike gear in the last 12 months to effectively equal the cost of a car (maybe not the insurance on top, though).
By the end of the summer, sometime mid-late-August, I hope to have made the leap. So, I need some help. To assist in any recommendations you may have, here are my expectations: can be new or used, ≤ $20k, manual transmission, super fuel efficiency, capable of moving at least 2 bikes (sorry, Jeremiah’s Aptera), and it cannot be an American car. The Volkswagen TDI vehicles have long been the object of my autolust, but their used prices are now obscene due to rising fuel costs.
My main purpose for the car would be long trips. I will almost never use it around town; that’s what bikes are for (barring precipitation). I’m a careful and steady driver (some can attest to that as truth) so I know how to squeeze the most miles out of a gallon of fuel. I got an average of almost 30 mpg out of Becky’s BMW on the way back from Charlottesville this weekend, so, yeah, I know how to drive for efficiency.
Please make recommendations or sell me your spare car that’s not getting sun in your luxurious garage.
April 1st, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Ryan:
Knowing your distinct taste in design, it’s hard to make a really good recommendation.
Given your stated criteria, I would lean you towards a Mini Cooper 2006 model or higher. The TDI is also a top pick. Don’t give up just yet. You may find a good deal if you have several months to shop.
On the other hand, the best manual transmission I’ve ever used for under $20,000 has got to be a Miata. Although they’re extremely exhilarating to drive and have good gas mileage, it will likely fail your criteria for storage space.
I’m really eager to see which car you will ultimately get. I’m sure you’ll make the best choice.
P.S. Your comment that “it can not be an American car” makes me laugh every time I read it.
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:43 am
I’ll second the MINI suggestion, but take a look at the new MINI Clubman:
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/wagons/112_0712_2008_mini_cooper_clubman_s
Same 37 mpg EPA rating (on the 6 spd manual) as the cooper but with more storage area. I’m sure you would be far better off putting bikes inside the car for both aerodynamic and theft reasons. That is if you could do so without damaging them. Starts at 21K though and 08 is the first model year so it is unlikely you will find any used for a while.
Around here Diesel cost $1 more than regular gas the so the cost per mile is still a penny lower per mile on a 35 mpg gas vehicle than a 42 mpg diesel. The EPA ratings are a little unreliable though, my old corolla which was rated at 23/28 got 40 mpg consistently. My Saturn, rated 24/36, gets around 35-36 mpg. Search for hypermiling and you can find people in hybrids rated around 50 mpg getting double that.
April 2nd, 2008 at 1:19 pm
ok, so the Mini seems like a really good choice. i know that a key to the really high highway fuel efficiency results from that 6th gear, and, according to cars.com, only the 2007 & 2008 Minis had 6speed manual transmissions (it was an option on the 2007 models). a 6speed manual is standard on all 2008 models.
the clubman seems perfect. i wasn’t expecting to be tempted by a new car, but that’s the case. i need to think about how much i will drive it to justify (or not) the depreciation.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Toyota Yaris.
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:30 am
Forget all those — what you need is this.
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:56 am
you left out a very important requirement~~
« capable of moving at least 2 bikes » …plus 1 basset hound.
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:59 pm
jeremiah - yeah, i have been looking at that, too. i am going to try and get over to a dealer soon to take test drives of the new yarises and corollas.
kellan - it can’t hold 2 bikes, sorry. it can’t even hold 2 people.
becky - i assumed that any car having a back seat will be sufficient for 1 basset hound. even the standard mini cooper should have enough space, i believe. the bikes would go on top, obviously, so the entire rear row, for any vehicle i’m looking at, should be good for the pup. if you think he needs more space than that, let me know.
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:08 pm
After watching the video suggested by Kellan, I have begun trying to locate some P50’s for Christmas gifts this year. A few of these cars, stacked nicely in the corner of the room, would make for a memorable gift-giving time. I think the front hood (knee protector) could be modified, with the help of a reciprocating saw, to fold up to create a working surface for a laptop if you drive/drag it into your office. That way, you can eliminate your office desk, store a few folders behind the car’s seat, have a wifi network connection and an iPod, and voila, that would complete the office arrangements. With the desk removed, it frees up space so that you can have a meeting in your office with other mobile colleagues. Hey, what else could be better??
Regarding the Mini Cooper Clubman option (if you would prefer a car with a warranty that had not expired in the 60’s), check out the Edmunds review this month on the Clubman S version. Also, I would suggest not getting the S version. The 6 speed gear ratios for the S-version are much tighter and would not give you the economy goals you desire to achieve (1st: 3.308, 6th: 0.816) than the regular version (1st: 3.214, 6th: 0.683). The fuel economy is about 10% better for the regular version. However, you give up a little acceleration performance.
Now, back to my search for the P50s…. Any preferences in colors??
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Seriously, we like our ‘04 Corolla LE (manual transmission). It gets good gas mileage (don’t know specifics — ask Mike, who thinks about that kind of thing), is small and maneuverable, and is also big enough that we probably won’t get pasted to the road if we’re in an accident with a Hummer.