Car shopping, part 1

[dvandom]

My current car has lasted me about six years, and is at 95,000 miles, so it's time to start looking for a new one. And, for once, I'm starting to shop while my current car still works (I bought my second car when I did because I wasn't sure my first would get back home from the dealership, and I ended up having to walk to a dealer to get my current car). Because the class was in something of a fallow period last time I was shopping, I've decided to look at station wagon-ish things first.

Dodge Magnum (test-driven Feb 25): Pluses include really nice power, looks cool, no taller than a regular car (I don't want an SUV or anything too much like one), lots of storage space. And it's Red Alert's altmode. The main minuses are that the sight lines on the sides and back are too blocked for my tastes, and it's also pushing at the top of my desired price range (set roughly at a year's after-tax income). Also, the positions of some of the controls are moderately annoying, but nothing I couldn't get used to. I have tentatively taken this one off the table, with a twinge of regret.

Dodge Caliber (test-driven today): Dude, this is a 2007 model year car. WTF? Will the 2010 cars come out in 2008? Anyway, good handling, I felt a lot more comfortable with the interior and the sight lines, and it's a lot less expensive. However, it really strained going up hill (and yes, there are some serious hills here in town). Granted, it's not fair to compare its engine power to the Magnum or to my current V6'ed Buick Regal, so I'm going to wait until I've tried a few other cars more in its class before calling it. I also sit higher than I'm used to, it's creeping into mini-SUV territory on that mark. (Edit: Caliber, not Calibur, sigh.)

Toyota Matrix (only sat in one): I need to get around to test-driving one. Last time I stopped by the Toyota dealership, they only had the XRS, and I don't drive stick (nor do I really want to learn in a town this hilly). thandrak has the XRS and likes it, though, so I won't make any decision until I get a chance to try one of the automatic transmission models. Nothing about the interior really bothered me.

Mazda3 Wagon: I've only seen pictures, but it's another in the Caliber/Matrix size that's gotten good reviews. I'll try to get to it over spring break.

Subaru Impreza Wagon: Another one I haven't really done anything with, but it's still on the list of possibles. Edit: Oops, no Subaru dealers within 50 miles. Guess it's off the list unless I stumble on a nice used one.

PT Cruiser, Scion xB, Pontiac Vibe, Chevy HHR, Kia Spectra, Ford Focus: All of these have been stricken from my list for various reasons.

And, of course, if I find I don't really like any of the wagon options, I'll go back to sedans and start poking at those. Given that all three of my cars have been Buicks, I'd probably check out the current Century.


I will note that the only car dealership within a reasonable walk of my home is the Dodge dealership, so I plan to test drive some of their other offerings when I get time, just so I have a good idea what their range is in case my current car dies suddenly and I need to repeat my 2000 experience. :/

Comments

[5eh.livejournal.com]

I have the Impreza Wagon.

I am a biased Subaru owner.

I love all-wheel drive. I love passing people in the snow. I love the fact that I can take corners almost twice as fast as a two-wheel drive car. I love the way it handles and its solid build. I love that it has so much power in all gears, which is amazing for a four cylinder car. I also love that when I was in a wreck with it, I didn't feel hardly a thing (the wreck was driver-error, not the car's fault).

I also love rally racing, which Subaru does really well in. If I had the money, I'd get the WRX :-)

[dvandom.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, there's no Subaru dealers in town (the nearest is over an hour away), so it looks like the Impreza Wagon's only going to happen if there's a used model somewhere here.

Manhattan's pretty well-stocked with dealerships for a town its size, but there are gaps. No Saturn dealer either, for instance.