Next Car Dreaming

[livingdeb]

Interestingly, Robin and I independently picked out a candidate for my next car today. My current car will probably fine for many more years, especially if I can get the AC to work better, but it's still fun to think about.

I like to buy ten-year-old reliable cars for a few thousand dollars cash, and then keep them for ten years or so until they fall apart. I want good gas mileage, for environmental and monetary reasons, affordability both to purchase and to maintain, and ease in parking. Next time I want a sedan because I like stuff in the trunk to be hidden. I prefer four-door over two-door cars in case I ever drive people anywhere. Ideally it's safe, but that's not so easy in a car with good mileage. I just have to try not to crash it. I like it to look good, but that's not important enough to me to actually pay for, plus I don't like having to be paranoid about dents or shrewish about bringing ice cream into the car--it's easier to be laid back with an old thing.

My candidate is the Toyota Echo, a car that is made fun of for looking cartoonish and feeling like it might flip if you drive stupidly. However it has great gas mileage (30's city, 40 highway), is zippy enough to merge onto the freeway, feels small on the outside (easy to park) and big on the inside. I'd like to get a five-speed four-door sedan with the option that has air conditioning and side airbags. I'm thinking of a 1991 or 1992 in a few years when it's a bit more affordable. [Edited to add: I mean a 2001 or 2002 car. I already have a 1991 car.]

Robin's candidate is the new Fiat 500, perhaps even more cartoonish, yet somehow cooler, tinier, with totally awesome mileage. It's not even that expensive. And since they're trying to compete with the mini Cooper, it is probably even well-made. However it's not even available in the US yet, nor can they even keep up with demand anyway, so it's not even in the running for my next car, though maybe for the car after that!

Comments

[chikuru.livejournal.com]

I like our Toyota ECHO and its 40 MPG, but it's actually a bit of a polluter, getting a score of 2 out of 10 in terms of air pollution. This is a number they don't put on the sticker on the car when they sell it.

[livingdeb.livejournal.com]

Bummer. Major bummer.

[sallini.livejournal.com]

I didn't realize the Toyota Echo was made as far back as 1991. I think of it as a much more recent car.

[sallini.livejournal.com]

Or did you mean 2001?

[livingdeb.livejournal.com]

Doh! 2001.