Working on an automobile
June 2, 2008
When I was in my early teens, I wanted an Eagle Talon. When I was 15, a home video captured me saying that the car of my dreams would be a Honda Civic hatchback, a CX or DX. Today, I am not so specific in my desires. Buying a car is a preemptive thing: soon (well, “soon” is relative; we move at a different pace from most people in their 20s) my three siblings will be driving and I don’t want to have to fight three other people for the car.
My only accomplishment yesterday was to narrow my list down to 6 cars I’d like to test drive, based on the recommendations of the esteemed Consumer Reports (CR) magazine. I went this route because if left to me, I’d go to every dealership and test drive every car in my price range and then become frustrated that over 20 cars meet that criteria of Cheap Enough to Prevent Jummy from Having a Stroke. Then I’d try to come up with some sort of chart and scoring system for each car and conclude that they’re all great for different reasons and none of those reasons mean more to me above the other, leaving me with a 20-way tie. Then I’d give up on owning a car altogether and decide that the bus isn’t really that bad after all, and every few months I’ll moan on here about how I still haven’t picked a car. My future progeny will buy their own cars before me, as will their children.
So anyway, I’ve picked six autos (2 Hondas, 1 Mazda, 1 Hyundai, 1 Ford, 1 Toyota) and we’ll see how it goes. I’m hoping I’ll pick one of those and be done with it. If not, I’ll pick a few more and repeat. But really? I should know which one I want by the end of the month. A coworker bought a car over the weekend and her tip was to shop on a rainy day and near the end of the month because that worked for her—she got a fabulous deal. All of this to say that in a few short weeks I could be haggling over a car!
I can’t deny that I’d love to cross something off my list, which has now been finalized and is up there.
My tip would be to but a very good condition used one. The value of the car goes down SO much after they are used, it's such a better deal to get one second hand (and nobody would even be able to tell the difference). I'll never buy a new car again.
Wait a second, there's six cars on your list, and the only American one is a FORD???
Joomy, Joomy, Joomy.
I think I'm going to need a drink.
(Good luck with your decision. And if you're going to pain me so horribly by buying foreign, could you at least get a stick shift? Please???)
But Amanda,
American cars haven't really rated all that well in the past few years. There's a reason why they aren't doing well.
Just a reply to your post on US vs. Japanese car makers:
American car makers aren’t 'doing well' because of costs (nearly double those of either Toyota or Honda), the decline in trucks/SUVs and performance vehicles (where American cars are MUCH better rated and proven) due to higher gas prices.
Ford lost it’s #2 spot to Toyota by cutting it’s costs…not by making inferior vehicles!
Suffering from poorer word-of-mouth (sometimes warranted, sometimes not) shows how powerful marketing can be.
US car makers were once the leaders in electric and hybrid energy. They were always the leaders in innovation (and still are). Here's the real nugget:
- US auto makers move their efforts onto the newest vehicles…which doesn’t always help maintain a brand long-term. This happened with the Sunfire/Cavalier and other lower-profit vehicle lines. The US makers bring out newer, more innovative vehicles quicker and more often
- Japanese auto makers, by contrast, rarely release new vehicle lines and spend years evolving their existing lines (Accord, Camry, Civic, etc.) before releasing to the public and allowing them to incorporate ideas and technology that the US car makers released years prior. This is why a model can looks the same and rarely offers more even years later (7-year design cycles)!
Some would rather have fresh, innovative vehicles that may or may not be perfect right from the get-go…others are willing to wait for that. I would prefer a mixture of both…but if I had to choose, I would pick innovation. I love driving and have a genuine passion for cars…I don't want to ever lose that.
In the mind of consumers who increasingly care LESS about innovation, design, and performance and only want an ‘A-to-B’ vehicle…they are choosing Japanese. However, there is a difference between ‘preferring’ one car-maker to another and outwardly ‘hating’ other brands without reason and going to the effort of telling others this. Differences are smaller than people think. Choices are most often based on preference.
There are definite benefits to both approaches. Some Japanese vechicles are released too early and have major issues, some US vehicles spend years in R&D before being released with amazing quality (Focus, Impala, Explorer, etc.).
All vehicle makers can be smart at times, and really dumb at times. I keep an open mind and form my own opinions….and am waiting on reasons why they should be different from what they are.
good luck which ever ya go with ! woohoo!
change the oil alot that helps hehaw