Comments | metasilk: more than you want to know about the car we don't have yet

metasilk

more than you want to know about the car we don't have yet

Jun 02, 2007 22:30

We drove 2 more Matrixes today: the one with the silly wheels (and ick, some door dents that must be fixed), and then a super-basic version. The super basic version was ruled out, partly on the toddler-plus-non-locking windows = bad news for things stayin in car, partly on the transmission feeling uneven ( Read more... )

walkabout world, far too much gear

Comments 5

bcy475 June 3 2007, 04:30:38 UTC

As my brother asks me: How much is the replacement car going to cost me each year to pay off, compaired to repairing onces current car? For me I've spending $2000-$3000 a year So if $3000 then it's $250 a month. Still cheaper then a car payment depending apon what one gets ( ... )

metasilk June 3 2007, 14:44:24 UTC

How much is the replacement car going to cost me each year to pay off, compaired to repairing onces current car?
Exactly. In our case, we are focusing one ones for which we will not have to get a loan. (We may wind up getting a loan after all, and actually putting that money toward a different loan with a high interest rate, but that's a financial management schtick, rather than a car-necessary thing). This is why I was comparing purchase cost + estimated running cost in my spreadsheet. This means used, yes, but we're also seeking "under 100,000 miles", which -- given what we're looking for -- should give us a year or 2 of "normal" things. Having less (probably) hassle is a big part of operational costs for me. Part of the reason I don't want to repair the Subie again is because it's just a royal pain to take it in to the shop every other month for whatever damn thing it needs now. Not a financial cost per se (except I usually have to do that on days when I would be working), but definitely a cost. Getting away from that for at ( ... )

turbocat June 3 2007, 04:37:29 UTC

Well, since I _do_ find car shopping fun... here's my $.02 ( ... )

metasilk June 3 2007, 14:27:42 UTC

*I* would feel more secure in the world knowing that you're driving an AWD car.
You and R both! Me too, actually. But enough to have another LegacyOutback? The Impreza is just a shade too small -- it's actually physically larger than the Matrix by cargo, but it packs differently, and that difference is important. And Toyota took the AWD off the Matrix off the market for a year or two (it might be back next year), because they just hadn't ironed out all the issues, apparently. (Not to mention that we've only found 1 used AWD Matrix (Auto), and that's the same price as a new Versa. Yow. Maybe a LegacyOutback now, and Matrix next time, 4-5 years from now?

Matrices: Is the correct pluralization of the Latin wordI know, but something in me says because Matrix is the NAME of the car, I should pluralize it the other way. I hope I'm wrong about that ( ... )

bcy475 June 3 2007, 23:03:56 UTC

Talking about hybrids: That Prius mod is now up to 120-180mpg for first 60miles after a full charge, then back to the model's avg as purchased. But guess I was wrong, Toyota says the mod voids the powertrain warrenty.

Well my kuzen web buseness has kept him busy full time so no longer time to do conversions but sent me these links:

California Cars Initiative for Plug-In Hybrids
http://www.calcars.org/

W I R E D : Making a Plug for Hybrids
http://www.wired.com/cars/energy/news/2005/07/68101

EVWORLD FEATURE: Meet the World's First 150 MPG Plug-In Prius
http://www.evworld.com/article.cfm?storyid=818