A few of the car criteria

A big thanks to all those who added their comments to yesterday’s post. It’s true, I have not made a decision matrix. And since I’m updating this from an airport, you’ll have to settle for a list of criteria. I’ve ordered them roughly on importance

Let’s do this:

1.Sedan
I don’t really have much of a desire for anything else. Hatchbacks, wagons, coupes… Eh. Since part of my search is based on finding something that conveys a professional front I think the sedan is the only way for me.

2.New-ish
Nothing before 2008. Nothing with more than 30,000 miles. These criteria might be tough to hold as I play brand games.

3.Budget
I have one, though it’s somewhat fluid

4.Manual transmission
As Nick mentioned in one of yesterday’s comments, this is proving to be tricky. Way more tricky than I had expected actually.

5.The Anti-brand
There are a few brands I don’t want to touch. Audi, because of Jesse’s traumatic Audi experiences a few years ago. Suburu for absolutely no reason except that they don’t appeal to me.

6.I don’t want to go crazy
Smetimes I go way overboard with large purchases. I’d like to stay grounded with this decision.

7.Prestige
This one is a bit twisted. I want a respectable car but relative to what i have now this will be no challenge. Also, for a company in our industry, there’s a heavy bias amongst our executives towards the car companies with whom we do business. Something I should keep in the back of my mind.

Hopefully that provides some insight to those of you making recommendations. Please keep them coming, its great to get additional feedback. For now, I must board a flight. Speaking of travel, keep an eye out for a new skyline challenge next week per Adam’s request.

12 thoughts on “A few of the car criteria

  • Pingback:MikeD vs the Newish Car

  • 7/22/2011 at 11:36 am
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    A part of me still thinks this is a belated April Fools’ Day joke, but I’ll roll with it.

    “Since part of my search is based on finding something that conveys a professional front I think the sedan is the only way for me.”

    Do we really live in a world where the only vehicular badge of professionalism is a sedan? What about a nice wagon? Crossover?

    Also, manuals are becoming really hard to find. I’ve always owned a manual, but I think I’ve decided that my next car (I still have 10 years to go with my Fit, though) will be an automatic with the manu-matic levers or whatever. Manuals will be even harder to find in 10 years, and that also means that my wife and I can share driving duties (she doesn’t ever drive my car).

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    • 7/22/2011 at 11:56 am
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      Amen! A wagon or hatch says… I am professional, but I still need a car that can get things done.

      Cadillac CTS V Wagon, that’s the ticket.

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  • 7/22/2011 at 11:54 am
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    OK, I’ll present three options… budget, mid, reach…

    Budget:
    Hyundai Sonata, the new one… $19k new, 6-speed manual, well made with a killer warranty. Surprisingly good looking as well. You could find a low-mileage used one with a lot of warranty left as well.

    Mid:
    Mazda6… it’s got a good look, well made, good to drive, comes in manual, and is not a honda or a toyota. New they run $21k, so a reasonable used should be moderately expensive.

    Reach:
    BMW 328xi… the king of sedans, and you’re not buying a badge you’re buying the engineering prowess that the badge represents. If you’re feeling sassy, step up to the 335 and really have fun.

    EXTRA

    Super-reach: BMW M5 – $50k-$70k for the greatest sedan ever made? A steal. Or go a little budget minded and get an M3.

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    • 7/27/2011 at 6:06 pm
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      MikeD does NOT need an M5. Or even want it. He got queasy when doing some 20 mph snow drifts in my car. A 550 hp V10 is going to cost a lot and not get any use in MikeD hands.

      And actually, I’d argue against any mere mortal getting a car like that. Unless you have oodles and oodles of cash, it simply doesn’t make sense. An M5 is a great car – combining handling, usability, and lots and lots of power.

      But WTF are you gonna use all that power for? To go fast? What, 4 seconds or so and you’re breaking any speed limit? If you want to go fast, get the 328 and spend the extra $30k on a used sporty car ($20k, like an STI) and $10k on fast parts, and you’ll have both a practical car, and a car that will push 550 hp and dominate the M5 anywhere, and fit a number of competitive classes so you can actually do something with that speed.

      Which brings me back to oodles and oodles of cash. To me, that’s the only way the M5 makes logical sense – if you simply want the bragging rights of practical and fast in one car and can afford it. You’re paying for the “cool, my 4 door car has a V10” factor. Very very cool indeed, but you can get practical and fun in one car, and mind numbingly fast in other for buckets less cash.

      Anyways, I don’t recommend the 335i either, for similar reasons. Less power and more practical, but not going to get MikeD usage anyways.

      But otherwise, yes, those recommendations are good.

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      • 7/27/2011 at 7:09 pm
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        To be fair, it was a joke… if a Nissan Sentra is too fast for Mike, I wasn’t REALLY suggesting he buy an M5.

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        • 7/27/2011 at 7:27 pm
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          gotcha.

          joke = right over my head. doesn’t take much sometimes, haha.

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  • 7/22/2011 at 7:26 pm
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    I think that Mike D is capable of anti-prestige. With such a dynamic personality, youth, and rugged good looks, I feel like BMW and Mercedes would actually be eroding your personality–selling out if you will. Given that this is the US of A and our cars are a reflection of our personality I don’t know that either of the German brands are a good option.

    Two quick things. First is don’t fall prey to the American cars suck attitude. Over the last 5-7 years the quality of American has gone up significantly. Both in reliability and fit-and-finish of the cars.

    Second. One more car on the list: Mini Cooper. Surprisingly roomy, lots of fun to drive. Manual. Inexpensive. Get the S! And to those in the know, I’m aware that BMW makes Mini, which isn’t a bad thing since the quality is good.

    Reply
    • 7/24/2011 at 12:17 am
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      Yeah, I really like the new Ford line as well… not on Mike D’s list, but I really think the Fiesta is a great car as is the new Focus.

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  • 7/22/2011 at 11:51 pm
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    Greatest sedan ever made? I think BMW is automatically out of the running here, thanks to no less than 10 other Italian or Japanese models that’d leave any Bimmer in the dust thanks to kickin engineering that wasn’t based in a region known for it’s cream pies.

    Secondly, short of Cadillac, Dodge trucks, or Corvette, while American cars have been “coming up in the world” the rest of the world has been busy excelling for 20 years and honing their designs of luxury or sport ridiculousness that will cause your eyes to pop out of your head no matter how many cup-holders they put in the Ford Fusion.
    That all said, I can say thanks to first-hand on-site engineering experience of every major automotive country that Japan’s fundamental need to make sure everything is no less than beyond our simple American expectations is all the reason you need to buy from them.
    Plus, with the money you have left, over, you could mail out like 100 Spice Girls posters to all of your coworkers and friends, which would nearly make up for the immediate loss of respect you’d receive for buying a Mini Cooper.

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    • 7/24/2011 at 12:16 am
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      Yes, the M5 is the greatest sedan ever made… would love to hear what your list of 10 better sedans is.

      Reply

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