My little Honda Civic, which I love, is closing in on 100,000 miles. It has been a steady, sturdy, reliable car so far, requiring little more than oil changes, new tires, and new brakes. I still like the way it looks. I still enjoy driving it. And yet…the minor inconveniences are starting. Neither of the alarm remotes works anymore. The automatic door lock on the passenger door is broken. It makes an ominous creaking noise if you take a curve or corner too fast. John insists that creak is just the car getting older, but it makes me nervous. The engine doesn’t run as quietly as it once did, and on top of that added noise, mystery rattles make an appearance from time to time. Every once in a while, it sort of hiccups between gears, which makes me wonder if the transmission is starting to go. But like I said, it has been a great car so far.
Lately, John and I have been talking about getting a new car. I have a long drive every day, and as John points out, I won’t love the car very much the first time it breaks down and strands me on the side of the highway. Part of me feels like it is dumb to get rid of a car before it breaks down – I mean, it’s working fine right now. Part of me feels like it is smart to get rid of a car before it breaks down. I mean, we all know it will someday! Part of me is sentimentally attached to this car. Part of me likes not having to make a car payment every month. We can afford it, but not having to spend that money is better.
So I guess you could say I’m conflicted.
Then there’s the problem of what car to get. I like cars like these:
Volvo C30
Honda CRV
Honda Civic coupe
Porsche Boxster
Ok, fine, so the Boxster is a complete fantasy that a) I can’t afford. Hell, I probably can’t even afford the insurance on it. and b) far too impractical for me to buy even if I could afford it. But I do like the other cars. Another Civic coupe would be acceptable. I think those new Volvo hatchbacks are really cute and they aren’t planning on selling a ton of them, so I’d have a car that wasn’t like everyone else’s, and I just plain like the shape of the CRV. It may be too much of an SUV for me though, in reality.
John wants to get a hybrid, and I know he’s right. I drive a lot, so we probably would make up the extra expense with savings in fuel costs. I do care about the environment, and none of the cars above get spectacular gas mileage. Oh, my current Honda isn’t bad, but it’s no hybrid. He’s specifically interested in a:
Toyota Prius
Or
Honda Civic Hybrid
because they have the best gas mileage and yet are still decent sized cars. It’s kind of funny, because you would expect him to be whining about not getting a sedan – the man loves to drive, and drive fast – but no, he’s fine with the idea. The design of the Prius is probably closer to the type of car I like than the boring Civic sedan, however, my brother’s girlfriend has one and it beeps at you A LOT. I think that might get on my nerves. You don’t have to tell me when I’m in reverse. I know when I am in reverse, because I am not a moron. Plus, I already know Hondas to be quality cars. Of course, I think my mom is closing in on 300,000 miles on her Toyota, so I’d say that’s a pretty good mark of quality too.
For now, I think I’ll probably waffle indecisively for a while until either my car breaks down and I get pissed off enough to take action, or I start to feel better about one of my options. Maybe take a couple of test drives. Perhaps if I try that new Volvo C30, I will hate it, and then not want one any more. And I could take a Prius out for a spin and fall madly in love. We'll see.
My assvice? Since you plan to expand your family, go with a sedan rather than a coupe. My sister loved her quad-cab truck, which she bought just two years ago. But once my nephew arrived they realized he takes up a lot of room so they traded it in for a Durango.
I'm all for the Prius. Sure the beeping is a pain - but you get used to it after a while. Of course, John might go slightly postal on the beepey thing.
Let me know if you test-drive the volvo. They're so cute!
Also, the current consumer reports has a couple really good articles about which car to buy if you want it to last 200k miles.
I like the civic hybrid for what it's worth. but i LOVE my saab 9-3 i bought this summer. and for a non hyybrid, turbo, the gas mileage is fantastic. way better than my last jetta was.
Know what I'd probably get if pressed? A new Civic. I loved mine and I dig the look of the new ones.
OOH!
I just remembered that volvo has a factory-direct program where they fly you to Sweden and you get to drive around Europe for 10 days with your new car, and then they ship it back to the States for you. I think that you still have to pay the import duties, though.
But it would be really cool to travel around Europe, right?????
Get the Honda Civic Hybrid. We have had one for close to a year and we love it ! We got in on the tax credit and carpool incentive. We are in California. Not sure if there are any tax credits left. They are roomy inside ( nice fit for our family of four). The gas milage they get is great. Negatives;
I do have to say that the horn is whimpy... and there is not a lot of pep off the starting line. Other than that, it is a very quiet ride. We have owned several Hondas. We also have an Odessey. Love them Hondas. Good luck.