So Over My Audi.

[eleanor_ramilly]

Stupid fucking piece of shit.

Tonight we took the car to dinner. Put the top down to drive home. Got home, and it won't go up again. Tried all kinds of ways, finally gave up and tried to put it up manually, and the tool they give you for the purpose is so cheap and crappy it bent as soon as Chris tried to crank the roof closed. So now the damn thing

Comments

[catcrocker]

1) Honda Fit. (different kind of fun, maybe, but???)
2) Subaru WRX--utilitarian but super-punchy engine.
3) OH! The Mini Cooper! You could get it as a convertible, too, if you wanted.
4) Mazda Miata--super fun to drive.
5) Nissan 370Z
6) Mazda Mazdaspeed 3--Mazda's answer to the Subaru WRX

If I were you, I'd get either the Mini (because I've always wanted one, ever since they came out, and they are apparently very good cars) or a Mazda. We almost bought the Honda Fit, but it will probably feel too low-end after the cars you've been driving. It's cool, but very much an econobox. Either the WRX or the Mazda MS3 would be great both for hauling pets and zipping around in.

I'm sorry about the shitty Audi. We are never buying an Audi after my family's experience w/ VW cars in general. Fun to drive--but electrical stuff always goes wrong. And stays wrong.

[carolc]

I would totally get a Mini or a hybrid if I had no kids and could afford a new car.

[eleanor_ramilly]

It's funny -- I am almost anti getting a hybrid just out of sheer contrariness. I was playing with the Mini builder site last night. Had no idea how much customizing could be done. BUT the closest dealership right now is in Winston-Salem = 3 hours. I didn't worry about the fact that the closest Audi dealer is in Cary when I was buying that, because Chris has a Lexus and the same issue, and it hasn't ever been a problem -- but then, his Lexus never freaking breaks. After this experience, I'm very wary of buying anything that can't be fixed locally.

[carolc]

I was just reading that the Prius has a great reliability rtaing, which surprised me a little (I guess I figure new technology is bound to have some issues).

Rebecca Verity has a Mini (had, maybe?) and I think she loves it.

[emmawoodhouse]

VW = not reliable, and it's all about the electrical system, which I think is particularly problematic with a convertible.

ITA that if I had no kids I'd get a Mini. Or a Honda Fit. Honestly, I love my Civic -- it has given me ZERO problems since we got it 4 years ago (I think it's been in the shop ONCE. I would tell you to get a Civic but they're not exactly sexy, but the Fits are cute.

Even with kids I'd get a Prius -- they're pretty spacious inside.

[catcrocker]

So, surprisingly enough, when we went test-driving, we were able to "fit" more into the Fit than into the Prius, the various Scions, or the Toyota Matrix. I think you have more passenger space, especially in the rear seats, in the Prius, though.

(our test? fit a cello + the BOB Revolution into the trunk. Really hard in most of these; in the Fit it worked well.)

I did like the turning radius on the Prius, and the backup camera! but the price was too high for what felt like an economy car, and the display kind of drove me nuts--it looked like graphics from 1995.

[blessed02]

I am certain that I read in the last two months that the Mini was a perpetual something-is-breaking car. One of those consumer qaulity lists. Also, I cannot even begin to see you in a Mini.

[eleanor_ramilly]

It sooo depends on the Mini. With the Union Jack splashed everywhere and the white roof? No. All black with aggressive rims and the Sport upgrades? Possible. However, finding out that the closest dealer is 3 hours away and BMW dealers don't service them has put a damper on things.

[emmawoodhouse]

So I asked Kenyon this question (he's a car person) and he said a Lexus IS.

[eleanor_ramilly]

Hee. Good job discovering our taste, K! That's what Chris has. Of course, his isn't under $35,000 because it has absolutely everything you can put on that car.