Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
Okay so here's the deal. I'm back in the fray after about 25 yrs, i.e. single again (widowed actually) since 2012 and at the point where I want to get back in the game. Been out a few times but nothing serious just the meet-them-there lunches. Okay enough of the Lifetime Channel part and into the Speed Channel (or Spike) part. The Forester made sense when I bought it in 2008, was married and there was a tight budget, hence its a base model w/ manual transmission, low quality sound system (Subaru base sound equipment is particularly tinny and flat sounding, think 1977 here). I'm thinking if I was in my 20's, might be able to get away with picking her up in a stick shift Subaru. Or even if I lived in Colorado and had ski racks on the top. But I'm 51 and live in the eastern midwest flatlands of the farm belt. Yeah the Soob is handy as heck when we get bad winter weather, and it's handly for hauling bags of mulch or assorted smaller things from Home Depot. But it just doesn't seem to click as the ride want to pick up a date in. Now, I'm not talking gweedo territory here and donning gold chains, putting a rug on my bald head and pulling up in a Vette. Ah... no. But I'm thinking along the lines of a car that fits my personality, which is reserved and leans conservative, and which says I'm not struggling financially but not trying to flaunt anything either. I've always had a soft spot for the newer Chrysler 300's, and rented V6 one last month for a short highway trip and really liked it. But there's also this little voice in the back of my head saying there needs to be some utility for those occasional trips to Home Depot. Another little voice says about the idea of the Chrysler: "You'd be buying a dinosaur..." You know what I'm talking about... full size rear drive sedan layout. But its still a nice car. Sure a Mustang and I like the new ones a lot, but impractical and again, the bald middle age guy in a sport car thing again.
So, what say the BITOG advisory panel about this? Keep the Soob and if she makes a character judgment based on what I show up in then she's being shallow and better to find out early than later on? Also, I would buy pre-owned like the 2014's you see with several thousand miles on them... program cars I think they're called. Max of $26,500 out the door.
Something like an F150 or Silverado truck would not be out of the question but don't know how the womens react to trucks these days. Been out of it too long.
I dont know how you feel about it, it seems like you are looking new, but a used Magnum R/T or SRT with low miles would be awesome, as well as a 300 SRT. On another note, a Mercury Marauder is kind of unique, and if done right a cherry Impala SS is awesome. I also have a soft spot for lincoln continentals (32V DOHC 4.6) or MKVIII, same deal, basically mustang cobra engines in low slung, mean looking packages. As far as trucks go- my wife LOVES my F250 4x4. Most new trucks are pretty pricy. You might be able to swing a 4x2 single cab like a Ram Express with a Hemi for around that much. Depends on what kind of girl you want. I like countryish girls (not chicks that dip skoal or anything), and my wife is kind of country. Practical country, not redneck country if you get my meaning. If you want a new sporty coupe, I really like the Altima coupe, really nice looking.
