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Which Car Is Right For Me?
October 15th, 2012
I’ve never been a car person. I really didn’t care what I drove as long as it worked. But here’s the deal. I’m 47 and I’ve driven a minivan for nine years. I was happy to get the minivan despite the asexual, suburbified, edgeless stereotype. I could cram alotta kids in there and the doors slide!
What my minivan looks like in my head.
Before that I drove a Ford, Taurus. Eight years with that sexy baby. I inherited it from my grandpa and couldn’t afford to trade it in for something edgier. There seems to be a theme emerging here.
Here’s that little honey!
Prior to that I drove a Honda Civic DX stick-shift. Best. Car. Ever. I miss that little blue devil that saw me through twenty-two to thirty. Things happened in that car that I’ll never confess (midnight car chase from Ukrainian sex traders. Never smile at a Ukrainian).
I’m a travelin’ man, it’s what I am, made alotta stops all over the world, and in every port I opened the heart of at least one lovely girl…
Something strange has happened. Now I want a status car. I know. Why? Why now have I stooped to such craven, keeping-up-with-the-Joneses desires. Mortality, my friends. It lurks and it skulks. Oh sure, it could be decades away, but who knows? All bets are off after forty.
So here’s what I need to know, do we spend our rainy day dollars on the Infinti G37 sedan? The Lexxus Es? The Audi A6? Or the Hyundai Genesis? I’ve gotta choose right, because, as my father says, I’ll be driving this one until I die. (We Irish are a morbid lot)…
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First of all I had that exact mini-van back in the day. Good times!
I would go for the Lexus. Built by Toyota, it’s a great, reliable brand.
We’ve had two Toyotas for the last 10 years and not once have either of them broken down.
Hello Shannon.. I was looking for a car about 1.5 yrs ago And I had talked to my Mechanic. He suggested the Hyundai. He said they rarely break down. Needless to say I ended up with the 2001 Saturn SL2. It is a smaller car then the Mazda Millinea I had. But It works just fine for me. Plus my dad and his wife owned one for over 10 years with just minimal problems. They traded it in when the company went out of business. But Still I see Plenty still on the road. Doug Peel drives one. I dont know if that helps..lol Hope so
If you’re interested in status more than comfort go for the A6. If you’re interested in status lite the Lexus is the way to go.
If you want to save money and get a great car at a great price the Genesis is the way to go but even a midrange valet will scoff at you.
I’m not a fan of the G37, it’s a kid car to me.
My dad is really pushing the Genesis. It doesn’t have a fancy name, but he says it’s a lot more bang for the buck. I can’t believe I’m turning into someone who was The Brand at this late date.
Also Jessica — I knew you’d be my go-to person.
Audi A6 ALL THE WAY!!! I am currently in my minivan stage of life! =)
We’re going to keep the minivan, it’s just so practical. But my husband swears he’ll start driving it. Hmm, wonder how long that’ll work.
I have a highlander hybrid (2008) that I love, but in I wish I would have picked something smaller. I feel like I’m driving a bus. Especially when my kids throw things at the back of my head.
Love the A6. So pretty.
Oh the A6, the A6, how I love thee.
I had a hard time down sizing from my minivan even though I really didn’t need as much space. I somehow feel like I ‘want’ that space for something. I love my new Mazda CX-9. Comfort and luxury in a car that looks good but I still have a third row of seats just in case I need to haul around five kids. I know Mazda doesn’t scream status but it’s a really great car. And, like you it’s the first time I’ve bought a brand new car that I really wanted, not just felt I had to have. If you want the status then I would say the Audi. Audi makes a wagon too if you want/need more space.
Hello Roomie — Isn’t it nice we can both afford cars now? Remember when we survived on 400$ a week? For like 10 years? I’m going to start driving cars next weekend. I’ll put the Mazda on my list. But I’m sure Henry will be more than willing to let me borrow the minivan back for driving field trips.
hands down the original status car, before all the cars with numbers …Cadillac baby! Ive owned 2 and my mother in laws 2013 cts is a dream.. test drive one. you wont be sorry, or have to grab something to get out of it..Joe
Why do I feel like Cadillacs break down? Is that an urban myth? I am going onto the Cadillac site to look right now instead of writing. Thanks, Joe.
I have a Cadillac SRX. I like it, but I miss my BMW 528. Now that was a nice car.
My husband says BMWs are too expensive to maintain. Sigh.
Get a hybrid or a Leaf. Then you can not only have a status car, you’ll be saving the planet. (Says the woman lusting after a BMW convertible – if only it were socially responsible.)
I had the same choice two years ago and my sensible self told me to get the Hyundai as it never breaks down. Yes the grown up me was starting to overshadow the fun me. While passing by the Mini Cooper Dealer in a pure moment of mental looseness I declared that’s it my car. I now drive my first convertable and I feel like a kid on a go kart track every time I get into it. So my advice is to throw caution to the wind and buy what makes you happy when your sitting in it.
Loreen, thank you for supporting my excitement. I feel spoiled to be getting a new car, but thrilled too. It feels a little like positive change is coming. Like when you cut all your hair off to change your life!
I hope my next car is a sexy car. Right now I have Ford Fusion (which I ADORE- Vegas and back on les than a tank of gas and it’s NOT a hybrid) and before that a little Ford Focus.
oh yeah, my huz is a Ford employee
I think Fords’s look fantastic. But I gotta tell ya, that Taurus was a lemon right out of the gates. Well,it was a Taurus.
I would go for a Gucci-themed Fiat, but the Lexus is a close second
I’m popping over to Fiat as I type this.
Audi A6!
I am beginning to see a pattern here.
We have a G37S and I LOVE driving it. And don’t feel guilty about splurging on yourself! You deserve it!
Thank you!!
Hey Shannon, we just bought an Audi A6 from a good friend…a year old and show room pristine! And the price!…gotta love a good friend
She to stepped up to the Audi A5 convertible.
And we’d owned a number of Audi’s over the years which was a big push too.
My first choice had been a hybrid because of the environmental aspect, but when a deal smacks you in the face…well a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do
A few things I had to adjust to:
*Premium gas…yikes! I know, I know…technically one could use regular but if the recommendation says premium, well by gawd according to hubs, premium it’ll be. (he’s a car guy, gotta respect that)
I “felt” the road more, but it’s because of the low profile tires that are on it…just not used to regular old air filled tires
The car sits lower than my PT Cruiser so I’m having to get used to “crawling” out of it…We’ve owned Porsche’s in the past, but that was when I was a bit more limber
All in all though, I’ve had the car for almost 2 months and I’m falling in love with it more every time I drive it. The get up and go is incredible! And really, the reputation of Audi speaks for itself.
*
I say, whatever makes you feel best while you’re driving it! Go for it and have a good time
We recently bought our dream car, a Mercedes CLK350 convertible. It was used but seems like brand new. It is pure heaven. Now that we are in our 50′s it seemed like the time to buy the car that we had always dreamed of. I still can’t believe it’s ours everytime we drive it. Go for the dream!!!!
Thanks Carol. I really want a Mercedes, but my husband is concerned about upkeep. You are inspiring me to jump! (in a good way)
I drove the Lexus RX Hybrid and the CT Hybrid for a week and I’m jonesing for either one of those. They are fun to drive, get a gazillion mpg, have all the great goodies and they are reliable. I’m getting one next year for sure!
Popping over to look now!
Mini Cooper.
I love looking at cars! As a mom of 3, I am proud to report that I’ve never been forced to drive a minivan! I have been able to fit all my tots in 5 point harness carseats all in the back of my little red Mazda 3 sedan. Great gas milage, zippy and lots of cargo space. I am eying cars again for my next one, and as my hubs drives the larger family car, the Ford Flex (awesome), I want to continue having the smaller, more gas friendly, cuter car. I am thinking Mini Cooper Countryman, Volvo sportwagon, Fiat or something similarly fun. Life’s too short to drive grocery-getters!!
Keep me posted on what you get!
Elle @SeeMomWorkBlog.com
All work and no play makes mommy a dull chick
My husband got me a Mini as a gift(!), probably to make me (even more
sexy and so he could drive it too sometimes. I never really appreciated car-love before. It is super-fun, has an awesome stereo, and gets excellent mileage. I, too, paid my dues in a minivan.
It’s always so reassuring when someone else expresses the exact same train of thought. Over the past couple of years, I have chastised myself for being so shallow, but I’ve become obsessed with a nicer house, better furniture, and a *nice* kitchen. I realize I can make my current house nicer with furniture and other decor. (Have had to put it off until now for $$ reasons.) It still won’t be bigger, or swanky, or have real character, but it can be a lot nicer. (And I feel I have to say here that this really is urgent: we have a dresser sans handles b/c it was my husband’s from his college days (many, many moons ago), unfinished folding bookcase as a bedside table, a sofa that is starting to sink, etc.) But the bleeping kitchen I can’t do anything about b/c this house is a rental. I realized the other day that I have only had a modern and pretty kitchen for 3 years out of my adult life. The rest were all really old and ugly. I didn’t mind when I was single, because I was living the carefree, semi-bohemian life, and my apartments (e.g., garrets) were supposed to be that way. I prioritized lots of sunlight and older charm. After marriage and kids, well, who has time? The sad thing is I finally renovated my previous kitchen and never got to use it because we moved across the country. Sigh. So even though I feel shallow about this, it really bugs me. And it definitely has to do with turning 50! So thanks, Miss Shannon, for sharing the thoughts we are too ashamed to confess ourselves. (And BTW, my vote is Mercedes. Yes, repairs are expensive, but on the other hand they can last a long time — and a vintage Mercedes has cachet. My dad is still driving a 1986 Mercedes. Granted, it’s more acceptable on the East Coast, where cars need not be new and shiny as they apparently must in L.A. But still, the car endures, and looks good.)