I drive a DC5, lol. Only Tosh would find offense in such a mundane reference.
Pleasantly surprised w/some new economy cars...
- Thread starter Quattro Pete
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Wife's '01 Gran Marquis gets 27. Tell me again what we'd gain to trade?
Bob
I don't think anyone here claimed you'd gain in fuel economy. But if anything, gains in nimbleness and fun-to-drive factor come to mind. If that's not of any importance to you, then obviously you should not trade. It's the whole car vs. boat debacle.
Wife is a travel nurse. 100+ one way not unusual. Travel strain in "fun" car takes all the fun out. Arriving fresh enough to pull 12hr shifts is main concern.
Just blows my country boy mind to hear people happy with mid 20's mileage from a crackerbox!
Bob
Just blows my country boy mind to hear people happy with mid 20's mileage from a crackerbox!
Bob
Like I said. Different people, different priorities. It's all good. I for one need a little more fun just so that I don't fall asleep behind the wheel.
Probably no diesel, but the 1-series is coming to the US. I forget what the low-end one will be, but the high-end on will be a 135i!
That is the only regret I have about buying the Focus. I should have kept the Festiva another couple of years...
Oh, and that Gran Marquis can be made to handle pretty darn good. Just takes a set of PI springs and sway bars, Monroe Severe Service shocks, and some good tires.
You cant compare someone else's driving habits and car to yours. You wont know anything about the differences in cars until YOU drive a car the same way in the same enrironment with the same kind of trips.
You will see improvements if all variables are kept equal.
Exactly! What's the fatigue factor worth on a "fun" A to B transporter. It's not hard to find a mid to high 20 MPG more compliant vehicle...
I've gotten as high as 39 mpg while highway driving with my 2.3L Mazda3. I've averaged 31 mpg in the 30K miles I've had it. One of the reasons I bought it is that it fits me as good or better than anything else I've driven, and I find it to be very comfortable on long highway trips, including a 900 mile one-day trip I made last year. The seats are firm enough and have good adjustability, the armrests and headrests are in the right place, I have lots of leg and arm room, the tilt and telescopic steering is set to the perfect spot, and the car is very stable and requires minimal steering input (variable power steering is pretty much off at highway speed). I actually look forward to getting out on the highway with it. 0-60 in 7.3 seconds isn't bad either!
Maybe it's that I'm not particularly tall or large as an average American, but I can be comfortable even in a small economy car.
Today's "economy" car's don't strike me as small. I cut my driving teeth in a '73 Corolla, back when they were small. My last car was a Miata.
Just noticed Bob's comment on the fuel economy. I can promise you I would not get anywhere near 27 MPG in the Grand Marquis. Like I said, "I drive it like I stole it."
That said, I simply did not want a large car when I was shopping for a beater. I wanted a small, lightweight car.
I have a '96 Impala SS for when I need a big car. I average about 17 MPG with it. I have seen 24 with it though, after Hurrican Rita, when I really needed the range. 500 miles on a tank of gas was pretty cool. So was giving it full throttle after I filled it up, once I knew I could find gas again.
I averaged about 36 with the Festiva, and 26 with the Miata.
Just noticed Bob's comment on the fuel economy. I can promise you I would not get anywhere near 27 MPG in the Grand Marquis. Like I said, "I drive it like I stole it."
That said, I simply did not want a large car when I was shopping for a beater. I wanted a small, lightweight car.
I have a '96 Impala SS for when I need a big car. I average about 17 MPG with it. I have seen 24 with it though, after Hurrican Rita, when I really needed the range. 500 miles on a tank of gas was pretty cool. So was giving it full throttle after I filled it up, once I knew I could find gas again.
I averaged about 36 with the Festiva, and 26 with the Miata.
Only 900? Amateur. I did 1400 miles in 22 hours straight, once. I've done the same trip many times, often straight, but 22 hours was my record.
You definitely need a good night sleep the night before, and you're certainly getting one when you get there...
Personally, I couldn't imagine making a trip like that in anything smaller than my Monte Carlo, though. I'm usually cranky after about an hour in a smaller car.
Personally, I couldn't imagine making a trip like that in anything smaller than my Monte Carlo, though. I'm usually cranky after about an hour in a smaller car.
I couldn't imagine a Monte Carlo *making* it that far!
JK, dude...
I don't know why everybody is fawning over the new Mazda3. I drove a new Mazda3 and was very unimpressed with it. Granted, I did find the steering and suspension to be enjoyable, and the engine was reasonably peppy as well, but the chassis and interior just simply REEKED of cheapness. There was a lot of road noise and roar, the body panel sheetmetal is as thin as a soda can's skin, and the interior plastics are unrefined, with sharp edges on many components. I really don't understand all the fuss and hullaballoo with that car.
Most of the fuss and hullaballo regarding the Mazda3 has to do with the steering, suspension, and engine. It is a fun car to drive in an age of appliances.
I found the Focus ST to be even more fun, being lighter, torquier, and more responsive, but it does have an even cheaper feel to it.
The day after I bought it, I drove the Impala 1,200 miles in 20 hours or so. For that long of a time behind the wheel, with a passenger, I can't imagine a much better place to spend it, but it was still a long freakin' drive. I don't plan on ever doing anything like that again.
I routinely make 400 mile drives, so that is my benchmark. The only car I've owned that I did not find comfortable enough on that trip was the '00 Miata. I've done the same drive in a '06 Miata and it is fine for that.
I regularly spend 12 hours flying to Brazil in first class. I'm not comfortable there after 6 hours or so, so I don't think there is a car that would be.
I found the Focus ST to be even more fun, being lighter, torquier, and more responsive, but it does have an even cheaper feel to it.
The day after I bought it, I drove the Impala 1,200 miles in 20 hours or so. For that long of a time behind the wheel, with a passenger, I can't imagine a much better place to spend it, but it was still a long freakin' drive. I don't plan on ever doing anything like that again.
I routinely make 400 mile drives, so that is my benchmark. The only car I've owned that I did not find comfortable enough on that trip was the '00 Miata. I've done the same drive in a '06 Miata and it is fine for that.
I regularly spend 12 hours flying to Brazil in first class. I'm not comfortable there after 6 hours or so, so I don't think there is a car that would be.
I've not driven the Mazda3, but the comments made by poster Aldaris pretty much echo what I've read in auto reviews. Great handling, responsiveness, and drive train...not so great attention to detail and materials on the interior.
I have no dog in this fight...that's just what I've read.
I have no dog in this fight...that's just what I've read.
When I test drove the Mazda3, I thought the interior was pretty good, no worse than a comparable Sentra, Civic, or Corolla. The only thing I did not like personally was the instrument cluster design, but that's a personal preference, naturally.
JTK
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A shifting CVT?
Joel
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