I have an automatic 2002 4 door Ford Focus sedan. I bought this car roughly 5 yrs ago, and just days prior to my purchase i had conducted research for what cars under $20,000 are the highest rated, most dependable, etc.
I was surprised to learn the Focus was higher rated than the Honda Civic, which I have nothing against Civics at all, except the fact that they are a hot theft item..and I personally dont want to own a car that I have to consistently worry about being the target of a future theft.
Not to say that someone wouldnt steal my ride,.its a great car and well taken care of, but its nothing special either...just the way i like it.
Unlike some people, I dont chose a car based on style or image. I dont view the roads as an automotive fashion show,.but just a route to take to get from point A to B.
That being said, I basically chose an automobile based on its dependability, how economic it is (both fuel and maintenance), and how versatile it is. I dont care if the car is shaped like a dill pickle, as long as it covers the qualities aforementioned.
Due to the unstable oil economy, with gas hovering around $3.00 per gallon..Im sticking with 4-cylinder engines. I await the advent of when cars will soon have hydrogen fuel cells, I have read that General Motors was supposed to be conducting extensive research into this technology and even is supposed to have their first line of these cars ready in the near future.
It intrigues me to see the different types of cars that people drive. some choose their cars for the same reasons i do, ..others chose a car solely for style, strength, horsepower, torque and speed. some care so much about how they will look in their car.
There is an abundance of stereotypes out on the road. Im sure somewhere that I fit into one too. You have these middle-aged women who drive oversized SUVs that are glossy clean,.and have never encountered a spackle of mud in its automotive lifetime, as these women are seen driving these huge beastly tank-like SUVs all the while chanting endlessly on their cellphones.
Then theres the stereotypical image of the highschooler who has the modded-out Japanese Import with mufflers, steel radials, intake, spoilers, etc.
Then of course, the redneck who has the huge pick-up truck.,.at least a V8,.maybe even diesel, with the iconic sticker of Calvin pissing on the competitors logo in their back windshield. this is usually accompanied by the late Dale Earnhardt's Nascar racing number and/or a Confederate Flag emblem.
A few years ago, my sister was involved in an automobile accident that clearly wasnt her fault, she recently got her insurance settlement and wasted no time in going to the dealership to get a brand spanking new Lexus complete with moonroof, leather and all the fancy goodies.
I should mention that my sister is a licensed real estate agent, and it serves her well to sport an elegant set of wheels, as she may need to transport her clientele from time to time. While I can certainly understand these needs, I felt she could have also bought a comparable car for less dollars than what she got.
Im not too knowledgeable when it comes to actual sticker prices, but if I had to guess, Id say my sis wound up with a car that exceeds $30k easily. I feel that she could have bought a different car for say, at least $5k less..and it would have still met the requirements,.albiet not as elegantly. For example: A Ford Taurus with cloth seats minus the moonroof and excessive panel gadgetry.
anyways. Im curious to know what cars other chefelfers sport,.why they chose that particular car,.if youre happy with it,.or its something youre stuck with for the time being?
This post has been edited by mireaux7: 01 December 2007 - 08:08 AM