Yes, I am still on the bus but realistically speaking, I have to figure out the how/what/when about a car. There are just times when I need one. To be smart, or so I thought, I would check into getting an inexpensive used car like a Honda Civic and save money for my fantasy Mini Cooper. Boy was I wrong! Turns out my need for a car matches the law of supply and demand which means 1) everyone wants a Honda Civic so they are hard for dealers to keep on the lot and 2) they cost almost as much used as a new Mini now anyway! One place I hadn’t browsed yet was the Car and Driver site. The first thing I found was a bunch of lists! This one names the Top Ten Stingiest Sippers, not to be confused with the top ten most fuel efficient (if you are a bit confused I am too lol). Anyway, here is the list:
1. The Toyota Prius. They can’t keep them on the lots and are apparently being redesigned.
2. The Honda Civic Hybrid. Sigh.
3. The Smart4Two. I saw this car a few winters ago in London and was enamored. Someone drives a white one in the Ohio City area on occaision. Great price ($12k?) and so small you can park it in a motorcycle space (okay I may be exaggerating a bit).
4. Nissan Ultima Hybrid.
5. Toyota Camry Hybrid. I have to admit I haven’t liked the body design of this car since the mid ’90s when they (IMHO) tampered with a good thing. But heck who cares, it gets great mileage and in this day and age that’s what counts. I mean seriously, is the Civic sexy like a Mini? Nope! But I was considering it!
6. VW Jetta TDI. It gets (supposedly) 30 city and 41 highway - and this is for a six speed manual - makes sense it would get better mpg if it’s a manual I didn’t like that my last car was going to cost a fortune if I got a manual transmission. It should be a standard option and I think manuals, because of their fuel economy, are going to become more popular again.
7. Ford Escape Hybrid. I just sent my Ford to the great beyond (okay the junk dealer) and at one point I had a Mustang. I feel like I did my duty as the daughter of a Ford worker and now I’m done. I know, never say never.
8. The Toyota Yaris. Car and Driver says this one is more responsive than the Smart4Two and the price is about the same, $12k. I saw my first Yaris parked in front of my office yesterday - it’s really what got me to the Car and Driver site tonight. Seems like an economical decision. But don’t they (whoever ‘they’ are) tell you not to buy a car when the model is new and wait for the kinks to be worked out?
9. FINALLY the Mini Cooper/Mini Clubman. The Clubman is larger and is already selling well (according to the Mini dealer I harass frequently). Good mileage on the Mini (37 highway) and the price, which includes lots of good standard ’stuff’ (like manual transmission!) is based at $18,700. Not bad….not as good as $12k. But not bad. When I look for used Mini’s the prices are almost the same as the new ones, which shows you how popular they are. And it’s so far been impossible to find a used yellow one. Okay and I still haven’t made up my mind….and we still haven’t done number ten which is…
10. The Honda Fit. I don’t think I’ve seen one of these out on the roads yet but Car and Driver voted it most likable, er, best economical easy on the gas car. They say the base price is around $16,400 and I just have to reprint their quote on the style: “…oodles of usable space—this thing is like a clown’s bottomless suitcase….”
Tomorrow I have an office meeting, client work, a broker’s open - so I probably can’t do this until Wednesday, but….I’m going to make one more attempt to see if City Wheels and I can come to a meeting of the minds. I’ll keep you posted. Peace Out - 3C
3 responses so far ↓
1 Elaine Reese // Jul 1, 2008 at 10:54 am
Great list! The WEENR-mobile is 10 yrs old and still looks good and runs OK, but I’ve been getting itchy to buy a smaller car. I, too, love the Mini Cooper and of the tiny cars, it seems to be the one capable of hauling yard signs.
I’ve seen a couple of the Smart cars and they’re really, really cute - but VERY, VERY small! Probably not a good agent car.
Oh, well, with only 120K miles, the WEENR-mobile (a Cherokee) is just broken in. Plus, it’s just so handy for throwing in the signs and trudging through the snow.
I really think you should get that cute yellow Mini that you sometimes use in your photos. You “look good” in it.
Elaine Reese’s last blog post..There are still fewer homes for sale, but at higher prices than 2007
2 Carole Cohen // Jul 1, 2008 at 3:49 pm
LOL 120k just broken in I love it
I’m checking out all the used mini’s Elaine, and only found three yellow ones so far that were not convertibles; not that any of them are in Ohio of course…. lol
3 Linda Davis // Jul 1, 2008 at 8:09 pm
I think I own a gulper.
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