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Smart Shopper What's the best vehicle for my needs?
1145 messages, Last post on Sep 17, 2009 at 12:59 PM
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Replying to: jeffyscott (Jan 23, 2009 12:10 pm) Anyway, I'm not wedded to the traditional wagon concept, just looking for spacious interior without ending up with something huge. Thanks for the advice on the mileage thing. Let me make sure I understand -- since I'm getting 17mpg in the old car, which is that car's listed hwy mgp, I could expect to get the hwy mpg in any newer car I buy? Wow. Go figure. |
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Replying to: shawbeg (Jan 23, 2009 11:31 am) With all that city driving though a hybrid wouldn't be bad but I don't think you can get into one with that price point. Another thought is a Chevy HHR. I had one as a rental awhile back and really like it. Great room, big back seat, more like a mid-size, kind of cool really IMHO. I drove all over vegas for several days plus a trip out into the desert with some high-speed runs and averaged 28mpg. Computer was showing 34mpg out on the highway holding steady at 70mph. It's a little quirky to drive with the flat windshield but driving a Vanagon for 10+ years it sounds like you don't like the mainstream cookie-cutter vehicles anyway 
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Replying to: shawbeg (Jan 23, 2009 12:24 pm) That doesn't really work well when comparing apples to kumquats. One reason is because the difference between city and hwy mileage isn't that great on trucks/vans/etc.. For example, my truck is rated 14city/17hwy and I tend to average around 16mpg. A Vanagon is rated 15/17. So they're basically saying it doesn't matter how or where you drive, these things get terrible mpg. On other more aerodynamic vehicles (i.e. not bricks) they can get far better mpg on the highway. I would say someone comparing newer vehicles can easily expect to get a similar % of EPA mileage when going with a similar style vehicle. Around town it's very hard to get extremely good mileage. It basically comes down to how much fuel does the car burn when idling. This is where hybrids and diesels do well because they use far less fuel to begin with. The rest just comes down to engine size....smaller engines burn less fuel when idling.
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Replying to: sebring95 (Jan 23, 2009 12:32 pm)  Haven't yet had either kid actually SIT in the rear seats of the 5, but you make a good point about leg room. Oldest is already 5'6 and likely still growing since she's only 14. We both have the legs of someone much taller. The bucket seats give the appearance of being roomier, but maybe not.
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Replying to: sebring95 (Jan 23, 2009 12:43 pm) On the "around town" driving, the thing is, where we live it's not like we're doing a ton of idling. We're in a rural area with long runs between towns. I'm back and forth between the town where I live and the town where all the kids' activities take place (about 20 miles r/t) at least 5 days/week. But, it's not like driving in a city where every 100 yds you're at another stop light. But, generally, I know that in town mileage will be poorer than hwy, and since that comprises the bulk of my driving, I didn't want to "settle" for a car that only lists 20mpg in town. That's what turned me on to the Matrix.
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Check these out...nice looking vehicle with acceptable mileage and comfortable seating with room in the rear for gear. If I were looking for a car but didn't want a minivan and needed some room, I'd go got the Freestyle myself. The HHR might be a good choice also. Very comfortable seating with good storage out back and "fun" to drive and with GM pricing...another good choice. The Sandman
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Replying to: shawbeg (Jan 23, 2009 1:14 pm) |
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Replying to: shawbeg (Jan 23, 2009 12:24 pm)
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Replying to: shawbeg (Jan 23, 2009 11:31 am) And right in your price range. Another good choice is a 4 cylinder Altima. Larger and consistently gets 30mpg highway.
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Replying to: cccompson (Jan 23, 2009 6:10 pm)
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