Just curious to see what the spread is....The main reason I ask is because I drive a SUV and when I bought it I had a very well paying full time job so gas prices didn't bother me at all (even when I paid $2.25 a gallong once!). Now though, I'm back in school and on a budget and these sky rocketing gas prices are killing me!

Oh and I forgot to add sports car to the poll questions :/

I have a Malibu LS with all the buttons. Gas is ok, I await the hybrid version that is supposed to come out in a few more years. I've been very pleased with it .

I also used to have a Honda Magna. Now that was gas efficient. I filled up about once a month and the tank was 5 gallons. Maybe it was 3 I can't remember.

I'm really liking my little compact car now. Glad I didn't get bitten by the big car bug.

Boring old Honda Civic here. It gets me from point A to point B reliably. Haven't had any non-user created problems with it yet (mental note: a honda civic is not an off road vehicle). And it gets pretty decent mileage.

We're looking into replacing our other car right now. We want all wheel or 4 wheel drive as we do occassionally need it (see mental note above). Right now we're leaning towards the subaru forester. The rest of the SUVs, between mileage and size, seem to be a bit much (one of our criteria is that the next car MUST fit in the garage and still have room for the doors to open.)

I have a 1.8t Passat.

Excellent mileage when I drive "normally"... 180hp when I press the throttle. =) Best of both worlds.

Once had option #3 as an extra vehicle. The best advice I can offer (other than making your guest room *just* comfortable enough for a one or two night stay) is: Three speed on the column!

"I have something I *have* to do that day but you are welcome to the truck! Oh! By the way, you CAN drive a standard column shift, can't you?" Wierd how no one can drive them these days :D

Mercury Cougar here. I love my lil car, enough to fix it when it got smashed by a tree instead of totaling it out. I think I'll keep it forever :)

I love Toyota's 4Runner line, my current one is a 2002 lease. It is a little heavy on the gas, but when I use premium grade, I usually get around 19-20mpg, so it's not that bad (I mostly do highway travel).

However, Toyota's high-end line, Lexus, is planning on releasing their popular RX model as a hybrid later this year as the 400RX<i>h</i>, and I'm seriously considering that as my next vehicle. The stats to this point are 270HP, over 600 miles on one tank of gas, and all of the luxury items that are currently in the "normal" version of the RX. As long as it's not something like $50k, it's definitely on my radar.

<a href="http://www.lexus.com/models/hybrid/faq.html">link link</a>

I like the 4runner line too, although I've never owned one. I toyed with the idea of getting on before I got my first Explorer, test drove it and all that and fell in love but my dad talked me out of a foreign car because repairs cost so much more. (so he said, I have no first hand experience)

I can't see myself ever driving a non-suv type vehicle though, even with the crappy gas mileage. I pile everything in the back of that thing, dog, sports gear, etc. and my kayak on the top. And I actually use the 4WD in the winter or up north. It just sucks it's so bad on gas mileage (get like 8 mpg in the city - which is all I seem to drive these days)

Geo Metro.

If I still had my '91 Dodge Dakota (which was the biggest piece of garbage I'd ever owned) I'd be looking at about $60 a week in gas now.

And I can park the Metro pretty much anywhere.

Jeep Wrangler
4 inch Superlift
Got 33's, will get 35's next rubber
Hard and Soft top, prefer no top

Gets me to where I want to go, 9K winch and hi-lift in case I get stuck there.
Crap gas milage though.

One thing about cars and people.

If you want to increase the size of your inferior posterior adipose collection, buy a minivan. Works every time.

Honda Accord Ex Coupe

Renault 5, old little French thing. I'm often referred to as "an A to B man". Small = good in this case, makes it easier to park or squeeze through gaps ;)

And if you want to increase your frontal adipose collection buy an old Ford truck with a gun rack!

I have a saturn.

Me too. :p Gettin' kind of old now too.

89' ford taurus, gas mileage isn't to bad and I can still drive to work when the snow falls. Doesn't do to good on ice though. Plus its white and people think I'm an unmarked police car....such fun on New Year's Eve!!

http://www.usedcarsmass.com/landing/images/93tempo.jpg

Not my car, but mine is the same but Dark blue.

I drive a 2002 Saturn L200. Gas Mileage is rather good, for a midsize car. I get about 32mpg on the highway and about 25 in the city. Going 448 miles on 14 gallons of gas is dam good for a midsize car with a good amount of pickup. Of course I got it fully loaded. Instead of the SuV route, I took the cheap but decked out car. heh

I've driven many cars, in the snow and rain. I've never driven a car that holds to the road like my saturn. In snowstorms I have to drive my friend to work. And he owns a SuV.

http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/9/web/357000-357999/357906_37.jpg

It's a common misconception that SUVs or trucks are good in wet weather or snow, they're usually worse. Most trucks are so light on the backend, they'll fishtale during even moderately wet conditions. SUVs will get pushed around by high winds because they're so top heavy. The only thing that SUVs and trucks get you are their high torque that can pull you out of those snow drifts or mud banks. And despite what Subaru or those other "all wheel drive" people will tell you, 4WD is much better in those conditions than AWD. The only thing that trucks and SUVs have over sedan types in wet weather is that they're heavier and can "hold the ground" better because of that (and are less likely to hydroplane), but even then, it's not a huge advantage.

storm, I agree with you on most of what you said (and that's not even taking into account the doofi out there who believe that AWD means they can brake on a dime under slick conditions). The one additional thing I would add, living in a very wet area, is that it's been my experience that the tires actually do more for you than the vehicle, with the exception of rear wheel drive cars.

Good wet driving tires help with hydroplaning much more than weight does.

And having some clue what you're doing behind the wheel under wet/snow/ice conditions helps a lot too.

Also AWD is an interesting subject: it is basically a catch phrase for anything that is not rear, front or four wheel drive. The Honda AWD system is essentially an add on to the engine which will transfer power from the front wheels to the back once the front wheel start slipping. Which means essentially you have a Front wheel drive car which will divert some power after slippage has occured. The subaru AWD system always has power going to all 4 wheels but is not locked in like a 4WD vehicle is. The amount of power going to the front or rear wheels will change depending on slippage, but there is always power going to all wheels.

True enough, in snow/ice, 4WD is the way to go, if you know how to use it. The problem seems to be that most urban SUV drivers don't understand it and end up ripping the snot out of their differential because they don't switch out of 4WD mode on dry pavement, or they try to switch back and forth while turning and chew up the mechanics.

Speaking of cars, I like the new pearl white color. It's definitely not pure white, its got just the tiniest hit of yellow to it. Reminds me of pearls. :p And there's a snazzy new blue out that I kind of like too. Other than that, I'm pretty sick of car colors that are out there.

I agree with you on that...no new really good car colors have come out in a while. I used to work across the street from an automotive paint development company, though and they had the coolest display outside. Every week they'd have a new sporty type car out on their little rotating platform with the most original paint colors. Of course, you never saw those colors/designs on "real" cars but it was fun to look out each week to see what new thing they had out there

weeee! first one with a pickup truck!

brand new ford ranger with an extended cab (slightly). black.

Harvey The Dog
Truck owner and driver.

Light car with traction control > all, of course in my opinon. Hasn't been one snow bank I've not been able to get out of. Even when the NYC area got 2 feet of snow. I was one of the few on the road that day driving to work. :(

Best color for a car is forest green!

My first car was an orange/red 1976 Honda Civic. :D Man, those were wee, teeny cars back then. That was one I bought from my parents after college. It had a manual choke. LOL!

Man, those were wee, teeny cars back then.


Ever been to europe?

Never seen a small car until I went to Paris! :-p.

Edit-Fixed Broken Tags

Not to mention the Mini :)
(The original, as in Michael Caine era, not the not-so-mini new age Minis)

heh when I was in scotland I saw one of those 3 wheeled cars on the highway. Talk about tiny

We got a jeep wrangler and a hyundai accent. i drive the accent most of the time. but i like to imagine people see a mercedes 300 sl when they see me in it.
/cackle

Do you also imagine they see a young, stud-muffin, with a full head of hair and rippling abs driving said imagined mercedes 300 sl? :)

Pananananama said -
And if you want to increase your frontal adipose collection buy an old Ford truck with a gun rack!


to which i replied, before bothering to read the rest of the posts, including the above...


weeee! first one with a pickup truck!

brand new ford ranger with an extended cab (slightly). black.


and to which i NOW say...


"i fart in your general direction!"

Speaking of cars, I like the new pearl white color. It's definitely not pure white, its got just the tiniest hit of yellow to it. Reminds me of pearls. :p And there's a snazzy new blue out that I kind of like too. Other than that, I'm pretty sick of car colors that are out there.

White Diamond it sounds like. I just happen to work in an automotive painting facility.......yeehaaa :) Seems all the new colors coming out are just sort of replacement colors for what's out there already. We have one color that's just the coolest ever, IMO. Mystic Chrome it's called. Nowhere near a chrome color tho. It's sort of a greeny-purpley color, depending on how the light is. I just love that color :)

At least our options are more than: black, white or avacado green.

Must admit, I could do without that pumpkin/coppery color that some little sports cars are painted. It's like burnt orange with a beer belly and a bad combover. blech.

Toyota Supra, 1987, NA. No big mufflers, no spoiler. No stickers. Just pure car.

If I ever end up getting a "standard" car or van, just shoot me.

I had a friend who worked at a Honda dealership for a while; he said that Honda specifically sends out white, gray/silver, black, red and blue only, because those are the only colors that will sell. He said for every "yellow" that's sold, there will be 50 or more of the "standard" colors. That's why most car lots seem to have fifteen different shades of gray now days. And I'd have to agree for the most part, I'd like my next car to be one of those darker metallic gray shades. I like my '98 4Runner's deep forest green (pretty much black at night), but the new Toyota green is too light for my tastes.

Oh, and I agree with you about tires, Jinjre - but "rain worthy" tires are usually worse for dry conditions. Rain tires work on the premise of channeling water through a valley in the tires, unfortunately that equals less contact with the road so they actually perform worse in dry conditions (not enough that most people would notice, but just stating a fact).

that hurt pana! no, no, the hair is receeding and the abs do more of a jiggle than ripple. /cackle
but then some young kid isn't going to be driving a one-in-a-few-hundred 300 sl, now is he? hehehe

i actually saw one the other day. about the third i've seen total. the crazy guy was actually hauling it though, not enjoying driving the damn thing.... a shame that.

True, true... gotta give up something for such luxuries... too bad it has to be youth!

Personally I'm sick to death of standard white cars. Sometimes I see 5 or 6 of them in a clump.

We've become a white carnation!

not my picture, but what my baby is *cough* :buttrock:

http://www.nissannews.com/multimedia/nissan2003/350z/800px/09350zlemanssunset.jpg

2003 Nissan 350Z in LeMans Sunset Touring edition with 6-speed MT and built-in GPS navigation system

rawr!

I drive a 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix.

95 Honda Del Sol. Front wheel drive, 2-seater, removable targa top, and about 36-38 MPG. It's compact, sporty, fast, and gets people's attention since there really aren't many around anymore. It's also been paid for for quit some time and I could turn around and sell it for exactely what I paid for it 4 years ago.

I wouldn't trade my Del Sol for any other car on the planet. I will always own a Del Sol, even if it's only as a secondary/summer vehicle.

I remember when u bought that Chen - I am still in my Mustang GT w/some Cobra add-ons to push it out - Love my car - I used to have a 94 Cobra Mustang (White) and a 96 Cobra Mustang (Laser Red) - but when I got the GT it was faster then the 00' Cobra (was a big thing and saved some cash when I bought it) - Its white.. I found that less cops watch me in White then Red.. and White is Classy IMO but you have to have ENOUGH black for it to look classy - IE: Black Leather Interior - etc.. etc.. etc.. with a bit of Crome to bring it out.

But now I am waiting on the new version of the Mustang (http://www.fordvehicles.com/2005mustang/index.asp?bhcp=1).. probably won't see the Cobra till '06.. because it will take a year for the SVT team (http://www.svt.ford.com/flash/index.html) to put out the new body style.. will take a pic when it gets light out .. some people don't like the Fords.. and anyone who hasn't seen the Ford GT (http://www.fordvehicles.com/fordgt/index.asp?bhcp=1) .. can't really say much bad about it.. I just don't have 139K + to spend on it.. we can all Dream!!

/drool Chen

The car's not bad either! fnar fnar

2003 Subaru Impreza WRX

It was a toss-up for me between the Acura RSX, Nissan 350Z, and the WRX. I picked the WRX because it was faster the the RSX, had more room than both, and was the best bang for the buck. The 350Z is a very nice car, but I like AWD, even if it does hold me back off the line.

SOBE! that new mustang is nasty as all hell. I currently drive a 2001 "pull me over" red mustang and a 2004 Mitshubishi Lanser OZ rally edition. The lanser owns the mustang for gas efficiency and snow driving here in WI. However, the mustang blows the lanser away in style and speed.

Ok, I was day dreaming today of buying a new car. I could refi the house and do it. Actually, I was thinking truck, because I do find myself needing to haul stuff fairly often.

I remember back in the 70's and 80's there were little economy trucks, like the Datsun (ok, Nissan now) and so on. Does anyone still make little trucks like that with good gas mileage? It seems like they've all gotten a lot bigger.

Peregrinus - The WRX is fast, but the WRX STi is the "top end" of that series of cars. My only problem with the WRX line is that they're ugly as sin IMO. I think that weird plastic-gold looking hubcap is the only standard option on the STi's. Plus, I get stuck in stop-n-go traffic so much that I don't want to deal with a manual transmission, automatic all the way!

I also wanna say I /agree with Tweil :P

Chen - I looked at the 350Z but was put off by the interior. It felt very "plastic" to me, and strangely cheap while the rest of the car was pretty solid. On the other hand, the one I fell in love with Infiniti's version - the G35 Coupe. Much nicer interior, and a bit "peppier" on the line.

sounds kinda like what Sobe REALLY wants is a Saleen S281-E!

/cackle

Peregrinus - The WRX is fast, but the WRX STi is the "top end" of that series of cars. My only problem with the WRX line is that they're ugly as sin IMO. I think that weird plastic-gold looking hubcap is the only standard option on the STi's. Plus, I get stuck in stop-n-go traffic so much that I don't want to deal with a manual transmission, automatic all the way!


I'm familiar with the STi. There's a big difference between it and my car that has nothing to do with trim or power: price. When you see that I was considering three cars the RSX (~19-21k) the WRX (~22-24K), and the 350Z (~27-31K), you see a price range that seems to include the STi, but it did not. Other than AWD, the other major factor was price. I didn't want to settle for anything less than the touring trim 350Z, and that was above 30K. The STi, of which there was not a single for-sale model in town at the time I bought my car, starts above 30K. If I was going to pay more than 30K for a car, I'd probably just shell out the money for a top-end Vette.

As far as transmissions go, I hate automatics. I'm in stop-and-go traffic every day, but it doesn't bother me as much to drive a stick through it than would to drive an automatic the rest of the time. Unless you're going to go with a high-stall torque converter and drag a lot, buying a sports car with an automatic in it is a waste of money, IMO.

I got smoked by a WRX Sti on the freeway once. I had my boyfriend with me, but this dude had 3 other people in his car...he blew past me like nothing and we were doing 130....

Nos is cheating!

Storm - yeah, I've heard several people come to the same conclusion between the G35 and Z350. While I will concede that the interior of the G35 is nicer in some regards and there is that whole "back seat"/more room thing, I think the Z just looks sooo much sexier than the G35. Oh, and the G35 doesn't come in ORANGE!

The WRX and WRX Sti get their power in the midrange, which is more suited to blowing past people on the highway than it is off the line.

Well then I'd pwn him off the line. /flex

Well, if he throws his manual diff into all-power-to-the-rear, he can probably get a good jump taking it up to 4-6K off the line, but I'm not sure how good. That is one of the big advantages the STi has over the non-STi in that you can change the power distribution to the wheels on demand.

Note to self: If I ever go anywhere with Chenier, I will do the driving. :D

I agree about the price, but the WRX (and the G35 Chen ;)) My infatuation was during my "sportscar moment." I'm a SuV'ey myself, and I like the overall usefulness of my 4Runner. However, having never owned a sports car, I had a bit of sports car envy - and I fell in love with the G35 when I went to a dealer with a friend - but I will say that the FX45 was daaaaaaaaaaaaaamn sexy (unfortunately the "45" apparently stood for $45k).

What's interesting about what you guys are saying about the WRX off the line is that I've always heard the opposite. Since the "rice burner" line of cars were always so light conpared to their American counterparts, I heard they always smoked off the line because of their high RPMs, but the "musclecars" always caught them on a long stretch of road.

the muscle car lives!

that was the best sales pitch i saw in recent years... forget if it was for a firebird or a camaro, though (holy **** i can't even put into words yet the '68 i just saw a few doors down from my fiance's house! smoooooooth. that's all i got so far. /cackle)

Still, what you guys are all talking about for power distribution, who'll beat who off the line, weight, yada yada yada..... really now. chen's car is nice. but it's not a 68 camaro. it's not an ac cobra. no mustang fastback. it's no benzo 300 sl!

style, peoples. style! if you drive 130, then i only have half the time to admire your car, than i would if you were only crusing along at 65.... now sobe's car has style, and history!

you own a sports car for two reasons. To enjoy it, and for others to enjoy seeing you enjoying it. hell my accent will do 110. and it was like 30 grand less than those things.

look good. live in style. die old. drive a convertable. cackle a lot.

Since the "rice burner" line of cars were always so light conpared to their American counterparts, I heard they always smoked off the line because of their high RPMs, but the "musclecars" always caught them on a long stretch of road.
I wouldn't even try to go against vintage Detroit muscle, at least not in a straight line. Would prolly pwn them on twisty, mountain roads though.

http://www.pacificislandtravel.com/north_america/western_usa/california/greatdrives/wpe51.jpg
The drive is basically a mountain cliff. Big Bear is @ 5-6k elevation. Fun stuff. =D

Note to self: If I ever go anywhere with Chenier, I will do the driving.
Bah, I'm a good driver. While you have to get silly sometimes, I normally drive very conservatively.

While you have to get silly sometimes,

I used to own a Subaru Loyale (horrible car btw, dunno what they did to their normally reliable mechanics, but they screwed this model up pretty good). This is not a race car. This is not a sports car. This is a take the kids to soccer car.

Driving to my sister's (Portland OR to Albuquerque) there is a long stretch of I40 which crosses the Mojave. Straight flat nothingsville. I found out that my car topped out at about 105 mph. The engine could have gone faster, but at 105 the body shimmy was so bad it felt like I was floating on the road and was shimmying all over it, having a hard time keeping the car in my lane. But it was kinda fun for about 2 minutes before I scared myself silly thinking about how long it would be before they got medical help out there (it was about 2 in the morning when I did this).

I also discovered on my typical drive to work that if I hit it just right, I could take a corner on 2 wheels at about 30 mph.

But yeah, normally I'm a really boring driver. Haven't yet tested my Honda the same way, maybe I will, maybe I won't.

I told Iagoe that although I would love to own a motorcycle, I think I would get myself killed on one because that urge to 'see what it can do' would be too much to control.

Note to self: Jinjre too... ;)

My 1971 Corvette:

http://www.allthatisgold.com/images/Corvette-01.jpg

And the Back:

http://www.allthatisgold.com/images/Corvette-02.jpg

Other images

http://www.allthatisgold.com/images/Corvette-03.jpg
http://www.allthatisgold.com/images/Corvette-04.jpg

Summer time weekends I drive my 1966 Shelby GT350

Daily driver is a 2002 BMW 330XI, M3 package special order. All wheel drive monster =D

Nice Paldor and Trevize!

Volvo v40 T4 SE atm...geting a V50 T5 SE this year (small picture below)

http://www.volvocars.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/6549DA5D-C9CF-431B-A3AB-B2B7D5F7F941/0/V50_5_main_ex.jpg

Tils

You forgot a choice: NO CAR!
I don't own one; never did.
When I need one, I rent it (about 3 times a year).
Otherwise I use public transportation.

Note to self: Jinjre too...

I never ever do stuff like that with anyone in the car besides myself. I figure if I wanna risk my own life, that's fine, but I won't risk someone else's. With my luck, I'd live, they'd die and I'd get to carry the guilt with me for the rest of my life. See....it's all about me ;)

OOOOOOOOH get at you lot with your "mine's bigger than yours" FLASH cars :clap:

Check out MY old banger :moon:

http://www.cloudk.clara.co.uk/storage/banger.jpg

Yeeeeah, have some of that. Sad b**ards :p

lol cloud...that pass its MOT? :P

Tils

I can't vote on anything..... I have to make more than one choice. We have:

1997 Chevrolet Silverado Extended Cab Pick-Up

1997 Audi A4 Station Wagon

1989 Audi 90 (V5)

1994 Yamaha Virago.

Passed MOT just fine last month :p

May look like a shed and have all the performance of a wood-elf ranger, but as long as it moves and can fit at the other end, that's all I need!

What's interesting about what you guys are saying about the WRX off the line is that I've always heard the opposite. Since the "rice burner" line of cars were always so light conpared to their American counterparts, I heard they always smoked off the line because of their high RPMs, but the "musclecars" always caught them on a long stretch of road.

The prototypical "rice burner", ie. a Honda Integra / Civic (and a load of other cars popular in those circles) all suffer from weak off-the-line performance. Hondas especially are typically top-end cars. Since they get all their power at the top-end, they will normally do the opposite of what you described. They will lag off the line and make a comeback in the second half of the quarter. The WRX doesn't actually fall into that category. It's at the bottom end of the middle tier that includes the Lancer EVO and Dodge Neon SRT-4 (that's right...a Dodge). This tier manages to get their power arc down so that they have better take-off than the first tier and reach peak in the midrange, rather than the top-end. You move up from there to high tier with Supra, 300ZX, 3000GT...etc, all of which have pretty good launch ability.

The predominant "rice burner" cars that you see, though, all fall into the low-end, suck-off-the-line, have-to-wrap-it-out-to-get-power category. The real reason the WRX sucks off the line, though, is AWD. You have to break all 4 wheels free on an AWD car to get a good launch, and that requires a high RPM take-off. That's very hard on the car, especially on the non-Sti WRX since it has a manufacturing defect in the drive-shaft that can cause it to shear off teeth if you launch at high RPM frequently. Another aspect of AWD is added weight, which doesn't help it any in the take-off department either.

All that said, my WRX will still eat my CRX Si for breakfast off the line.

http://pic11.picturetrail.com/VOL387/1848219/4327418/53997335.jpg

2 Bikes during the nice weather. A 2003 Kawasaki ZZR600 and a 1979 HD Sportster 1000.

When it rains I have to use either my old 1986 Dodge truck or my wifes 1995 Olds.

haha I love your vet's plates Paldor! :)

Subaru Outback :)

When the snow's 6-8 inches deep on the road, I'll be the one easing by you guys with my big old dog lounging happily in the back! Not only that, but my rear end will be toasty warm from the heated seat!

Last winter, I drove into the parking lot at work, parked with ease, and then lent my shovel to someone with a sports type car to dig herself in. (Yeah, so I keep a shovel, a sleeping bag, and emergency food in my car.)

One final note: I can do 65 mph just as well as you can!!! Not only that, but the cops don't look twice in my direction!

Chen, you live in LA! Where the heck do you find that you can go over 35 anyways????

Currently 2001 Mistubishi Eclipse GS, before that, 95 Mustang and 95 Eagle Talon,

Yeah I'm stuck on the small sports car types.

I see several categories that should, right about now, be jealous of the mileage I get with my Honda Accord. :rolling:

I don't even pay attention to mileage. I'm going to top it off with whatever the highest octane is when I get to the station (unless stations start carrying > 93, which would probably be a worthless increase for me). That's a given. In my opinion, you shouldn't buy a vehicle if you can't afford to ignore the mileage on that vehicle. If you really need to worry about mileage, you should be buying the most efficient economy car you can find or you should be looking for another form of transportation. I recommend the 1991 Honda CRX HF, a bus pass, or a 10-speed.