Beep, Beep!
May 11th 2008
Suzanne EnochMy Life As A Plebe
I am thinking of purchasing a new car. There’s really nothing wrong with my current car, a Honda Civic, except that it’s 10 years old, but I don’t think it’s too extravagant to want to drive a different car every 10 years or so.
I’ve also decided to be a conscientious citizen, and so I’m planning on getting a hybrid. At the moment I’m torn between a Civic (45 mpg - the black car) and a Toyota Camry (40 mpg - the green car). I’ve checked out some of the SUV-type hybrids, but frankly an improvement to 22 mpg doesn’t sound all that economical.
If I went with my heart, however, I wouldn’t be getting a sensible, fuel-savings sedan. Have you seen the Chevrolet HHR? It’s kind of retro Packard-looking, and I would feel very hip driving it. And then there’s my favorite of the past few years, the Chrysler PT Cruiser. I seem to have a thing for retro cars.
Rick Addison, the hero of my contemporary series, LOVES the cars. He’s got classic Mustangs, a couple of different Mercedes, a Bentley or two, a Jaguar, and other cars we haven’t seen yet. Rick’s more of a car-person than I am. Honestly, if it gets me where I’m going, has A/C and a good sound system, then I’m happy.
What about you? What’s your dream car? And which is the one you end up getting? And what do you think – Camry or Civic?
53 Comments »
Ronlyn on 12 May 2008 at 12:24 am #
ahhh…my dream car. Well, considering my current cars are a 2002 Satrun sedan (my “mommy car”) and…are you ready for this? a 1990 Isuzu pick up which was my high school graduation gift (LOL!) I think it’s safe to say that if it gets me from point A to point B I’m ok with it.
My DH however is more of a car guy and is currently restoring a 1980 Trans Am. I’ll admit it’s a cool car.
My alltime favorite though is a 1969 Shelby Mustang. THAT is a killer car.
Karen Hawkins on 12 May 2008 at 7:06 am #
Wow. That’s a tough choice, Suzanne. I’ve heard good things about both Toyotas and Hondas, so I’m like you — I’d be hard pressed to pick one over the other.
My favorite car? A BMW MiniCooper. I’ve always wanted one, but will probably never get one because the don’t really have a backseat and I NEED a backseat — a real one. Still, every time I see one, I watch it whiz by with a little regret. SUCH a cute car!
Gannon on 12 May 2008 at 7:17 am #
Oh, Karen, I would love a MiniCooper! They are the cutest cars. But with 3 kids, the backseat would never cut it. Now if I could keep my current SUV and also have a MiniCooper for zipping around by myself or with my dh….that would be ideal.
Suzanne, both cars sound great. I had a Honda Accord for years and loved it. Choosing a new vehicle is tough. Good luck!
Jessie on 12 May 2008 at 7:28 am #
I’d have to go with the Mini Cooper, as well. Have you seen the Italian Job with Mark Wahlberg? After you see that movie, it’s like, there are other cars in the world? So cool.
But I would go with the Camry if you’re looking at Hybrids. We’ve had Toyotas in my house for about 15 years, and they’ve always served us well.
Margaret Garland on 12 May 2008 at 7:40 am #
My dream car is a screaming red Jaguar XJ. My reality is a gold 1999 Dodge Stratus. I like the MiniCooper too. So adorable. But I couldn’t live with it, I’m sure. The box shaped cars have grown on me.
I can’t warm to the PT Cruiser altho I’ve never seen the inside of one. They look so much like the fleet of panel trucks my parents had back in the 40’s/50’s. Very retro Karen. Those were such clunky trucks and very uncomfortable to ride in. I guess my brain of today remembers my sore bottom of yesterday and rejects the Cruiser outright. LOL
My daughter has a 1988 Mustang stashed in her garage. It needs work & will soon have it. Her 17 yr old is about to get a license. BUT mom gets the Mustang and DD gets the Jeep Cherokee. Would you believe that is the vehicle of choice among kids around here?
elsiehogarth on 12 May 2008 at 7:43 am #
My dream car would be a 1989 2-door Mercedes Benz 450SEL in Midnight Blue with interior in Biscuit. It’s also a 2 seater. I just love that car. Also I love the 1965 Harley Davidson Electro Glider. In a very shiny electric blue. Aaaahhhhh!
Kathy/Cookiedough on 12 May 2008 at 7:48 am #
my dream car is a Kia Sportage. A friend has one and it is a dream to get around in. alas, I don’t make enough money to own a car. sigh.
AFTER school, when I’m a library tech, making videos on the side, THEN I’ll have a car.
It’s never to late to start over!
SuzyQ on 12 May 2008 at 7:58 am #
My ultimate dream car would be the Lamborghini Countach - straight out of Cannonball Run. Love love love that car! But when I float back down to reality, I’d probably go for another Camaro - that’s what I drove before I got my minivan. How sad is that to go from a sports car to a minivan? I did cry when I sold it.
As for the choice between the Camry and the Civic - I’d go with the Camry just on appearance. To me it looks to have a bit more style.
doglady on 12 May 2008 at 8:29 am #
A red Mazda Miata would be nice and gets pretty good gas mileage. However, if I wasn’t worried about that an Austen Healey would be my choice in jet black.
After my dh died I went a little nuts and bought a Mustang GT 5.0 in gun metal gray. I had to get rid of it because it “made’ me get too many tickets. After the third ticket for doing over 90 in a 55 I decided I’d better get something more sedate!
Lisa H on 12 May 2008 at 8:43 am #
My practical dream car is a Nissan Murano, Vanilla white with tan leather interior. My dream, dream car is a Rolls, and model will do.
What I drive? A chrystler minivan. I have three kids, and frankly I love the extra room a minivan provides.
Suzanne, my husband has a PT Cruiser. It is cute, gets 30mpg and he absolutely loves it. We tend to like Chrystlers in our home.
Margaret Garland on 12 May 2008 at 8:48 am #
LisaH, I miss my Plymouth minivan and it’s extra room.
Karen, both cars are nice to look at. I’m assuming you want the 4 door sedan? I never, ever want another 2 door anything. But that’s just me.
LOL, doglady, that would be me getting tickets in a hot little car. It’s also the reason my daughter wants her daughter to drive the Jeep. Can you imagine a 17 yr old in a hot little Mustang? And it is still hot after 20 years. Phyllis never has to wash it. She has too many teen boys drooling all over it when she does take it outside. Personally, if I were the 17 yr old, I’d want the hunk magnet.
Margaret Garland on 12 May 2008 at 8:50 am #
Off topic. The Knightmares lost by one try yesterday. It was heartbreaking. If you want to read a bit about the day, check out my blog at
http://cookeemama.blogspot.com/
You may now return to your contemplation of your dream car vs your reality car.
Michele on 12 May 2008 at 9:03 am #
My dream car would be the Rolls Royce Phantom (black, of course). I think if I’m going to dream, then it’s going to be big. While driving the Phantom I’ll be in high boots, a leather skirt, leather bustier (couldn’t figure out how to spell), big hair and great make-up. A female James Bond sort of thing with the great bod. As for reality, I have a 2001 Dodge truck. Not very gas friendly but small farm friendly. I couldn’t imagine putting sheep or large dogs into the back of a sedan. I understand we need to be more environmentally conscience but they need to be more mindful of the way in which the vehicle might be used. I would choose the Camry.
Buffie on 12 May 2008 at 9:14 am #
Wow, Suzie, you got a tough choice there. I like them both! I am definitely driving a mom-mobile — Chrysler Town & Country min-van. But with my boys and their friends and all the baseball and soccer crap, oops, I mean stuff I have to haul it serves me well.
My dream car would be something sporty with a sunroof or maybe a convertible and it would need to have some hottie guy sitting next to me
cail on 12 May 2008 at 9:24 am #
my dream would be a corvette hybrid. never going to happen. i love the way vettes look but it would be an act of heresy to put a hybrid engine in one.
i’m actually on the market for a hybrid too, and have been trying to convince myself that the prius isn’t as horrible to drive as i thought it was when i test drove it.
as for advice, you have picked a compact and a sedan. i’d go with the sedan for more room. which would be the camry
i like this site: http://www.hybridcars.com/shop-for-cars/sedan which shows combined mileage and describes the advantages of both.
PJ on 12 May 2008 at 9:31 am #
I don’t know, Suzanne. I don’t think you could go wrong with either car. My brother has owned Hondas for the past 20 years and loves them. A friend swears by the Camry. My youngest brother drives a Scion XA (made by Toyota) and loves it. It comes loaded with lots of standard equipment, including a great Pioneer sound system, and gets great mileage.
I drive a ‘98 Chrysler Town & Country minivan and I love it, although I’d sure like to own something with better gas mileage. I used to drive a Pontiac Trans-Am and would love to have something sporty again but, with all the kids, dogs and “stuff” that I cart around, it just wouldn’t be practical, not to mention expensive with the current price of gas.
Good luck with the new car search!
Karen Hawkins on 12 May 2008 at 9:36 am #
Oooh, cail, that’s a useful site! My Jeep Cherokee has at LEAST another 40-50k miles left in her, but one day, I’m going to follow in Suzanne’s footsteps and buy a newer car.
And YES, I LOVE THE ITALIAN JOB! A wonderful movie. My kids bought me the video after they saw the movie at a friend’s house and both yelled, “That’s Mom’s car!” when they saw those scenes.
They’ve always wanted me to get one. My son’s bought me a bunch of MiniCooper models, and he always points them out on the road, even today.
I would get one, but then my kids wouldn’t fit in it! Sheesh!
Kim on 12 May 2008 at 9:42 am #
A 1964 1/2 Mustang. Cherry Red. Pony seats and steering wheel. 289 engine. Hardtop, I don’t like convertibles. Everything orginal except for the sound system.
For newer cars I totally want a Navigator. Not very gas friendly but I love them.
Suzie–I don’t think you could go wrong with either the Camry or the Civic. Have fun!
Kim on 12 May 2008 at 10:21 am #
I interupt Suzie’s blog to announce to debut of The Wizard of Mt. Oly on the forum. Check out the fun contest this week!
http://thegoddessblogs.com/theforum/index.php?topic=523.0
And YES, there are pictures
Back to your regularly scheduled blogging:D
Suzanne Enoch on 12 May 2008 at 10:41 am #
Oh, you guys are mentioning some very cool cars! My dad used to have a ‘69 Mustang. It was so uncomfortable to sit in, had no A/C, and no power steering or brakes, but I always felt very cool when I drove it. There’s just something about a Mustang.
Kay on 12 May 2008 at 10:47 am #
I always wanted a Jag–British racing green. My real-life car is a ‘01 Honda Odyssey. It’s gray. DH has a ‘01 Subaru. We keep cars FOREVER, so it will be 4 or 5 years before we’re in the market for something new.
I would love to have a hybrid when it’s time to get my next car. My neighbor has a Prius and it gets amazing mileage. She says that her driving habits have changed, because the readouts help her see when she’s getting the best mileage.
Freshechelle on 12 May 2008 at 10:49 am #
With apologies to the legions of Camry drivers out there, go with the Civic. Camry is Japanese for “slow moving vehicle”. The HHR, PT Cruiser and Mustang all drive like lumbering sedans (I’ve rented each of them). You don’t appreciate the body when you’re sitting inside it (that’s not meant to be euphimistic).
My practical car is an Audi A4, my dream car right now is Mercedes C300 with a manual transmission. My “I’ll never pay for it but would love to have it” is Audi R or S with an empty left lane on the highway and no speed limits.
The smart choice would be a black Crown Victoria, everyone moves out of the way for a Crown Vic.
Suzanne Enoch on 12 May 2008 at 11:16 am #
That’s interesting about the Camry, Freshechelle. I was looking through the site that Cail recommended, and it calls the Camry numb. A good car, but not very exciting.
I do like the way I can park my Civic in the compact spots without any trouble. Hm.
Paula on 12 May 2008 at 11:31 am #
I drive a VW Touran 5 seater( with 2 ‘pop-up seats in the boot!) it is my mummy/childminder car. My DH has a BMW 3 series company car - I don’t like it and I hate driving it even more!
My dream car is a VW Golf 1.8 GTI - I had one before I got my touran and loved it. I traded it in for the Touran as I neede something bigger with my 2 plus the extras that I look after. One day I WILL have another GTI.
Suzie I don’t know anything about the civic otr the Camry so i can’t help you there.
LauraR on 12 May 2008 at 12:19 pm #
I got my dream car for my 50th birthday. It’s a 97 BMW Z3 and it is *so* fun to drive. No tickets yet since it is cool blue, not arrest-me-red. Mileage is great, but getting out of it shows my lack of grace but who cares!
Freedom Writer on 12 May 2008 at 12:29 pm #
I would like a VW Beetle in metallic purple. They do not make it in that color so I would have to get a custom paint job. I had a beetle several years ago and still can’t figure out why I traded it in.
As for the Camry/Civic debate, I don’t know much about either car, but I hear that Toyotas are good cars in general. I, however like the look of the Camry better than the Civic in the pictures provided.
Claudia Dain on 12 May 2008 at 12:42 pm #
I’d go for the Honda. Do Hondas ever die? I don’t think so! My main requirement is reliability, even in a dream car.
I had my dream car, a black Porsche Turbo Carerra, and I loved every second I spent behind the wheel. I sold it 18 months ago and bought a Nissan Altima, which I adore for different reasons. Comfortable, roomy, pretty, reliable, effortless. I’m going to drive it until it dies.
Karen Rose on 12 May 2008 at 12:43 pm #
Suzie, I have a 13 year old Honda Accord that’s pushing 200,000 miles. I’ll be shopping for a new car in 6 months or so. Given the choices of Honda or Toyota, I’d get another Honda.
However, I want a convertible and I also need a back seat. Honda doesn’t have one that fits my needs. Toyota does, but it’s a boring looking car.
Besides, I can never settle on whether I want to vroom in a Mustang GT or be sleek and sophisticated in a Saab or Volvo convertable.
I don’t think you’d be making a bad choice with either a Honda or Toyota.
Kerri on 12 May 2008 at 12:55 pm #
When I turned 16 (way back in 1985) I bought a one-owner 66 teal blue Mustang. I ended up driving that car for over 20 years. It went through a move from sunny California, to snowy Indiana (I would not take it out when they had salted the roads!), and endured 2 kids and their multiple car seats. I still love that car! Sure, there was no air conditioning or power steering, but it was just so unique and easily recognizable - no one else out here has one! Guys were constantly coming up to me in parking lots to ask about it, and reminisce about cars they had. And it was great for racing off the line (not that I ever did that! haha!)
I finally bought a Buick Rendezvous for a family car, and shipped my Mustang back to my parents in Arizona. It is officially in retirement! I love the Rendezvous for other reasons, but I still miss my Mustang!
Suzanne Enoch on 12 May 2008 at 1:08 pm #
I got my current Civic after my sister had a bad accident in her old one. The EMT’s said they’d never seen an accident so bad with so little interior intrusion. That pretty much sold me on them. After one broken ankle and a totaled Civic, my sister bought another one, herself.
Margaret Garland on 12 May 2008 at 1:09 pm #
LOL LauraR. If your Z3 is hard to get out of, be sure you don’t pull a Brittany Spears and flash the world. Get some sexy new underwear.
I never wanted a car that I would need a shoehorn to get into. I like room and power. I loved the old dinosaurs like the big Caddies, Lincolns, Buicks, etc. They made you feel safe even w/o seat belts. I think every old car has it’s own club of people dedicated to it’s survival. I had a neigbor some years back who wouldn’t drive anything newer than a 1965 Chrysler of some particular model. Can’t remember what it was. He belonged to one of those clubs. Talk about fanatics!
Anybody remember when fights could break out over whether a Ford or a Chevy was the best car?
Ellen on 12 May 2008 at 1:18 pm #
The best car I ever drove was my 64 Chevy Nova with the back door taped on. Imagine the electrical tape holding that bomb together. BUT…it got great mileage and had six cylinders.
I currently drive the Nissan Murano. It handles beautifully but costs a small fortune to fill the tank.
Truth be told…I don’t have a dream car. Cars mean nothing to me as long as there are no flashing lights on the dashboard and the back doors stay on without tape.
I do like red cars.
Go with the Toyota Camry. It’s prettier.
Karen Hawkins on 12 May 2008 at 1:18 pm #
What about cup holders? Which has the most? Are they reachable? Are any of them in stupid places, like under the seat or too close to the gear change stick?
I think cup holders are THE most important accessory a car can have, next to A/C.
Karen Hawkins on 12 May 2008 at 1:20 pm #
And Ellen, at my family reunions, fights STILL break out over the Ford/Chevy question.
Sigh.
Julia London on 12 May 2008 at 1:22 pm #
My dream car is one that comes with a driver. I drive an infiniti cross-over — it sort of looks like a tennis shoe. I wanted it because I need something that could accelerate fast for all the highway driving I have to do. I love it! I’ll put it up against LauraR’s beemer
Sheridan LA on 12 May 2008 at 1:32 pm #
I am with all of you on the Mini.. I think that will be my next car. I have been looking at them since they came out. So. darned. cute.
I drive a blue RAV4 now… appropriately named the Blueberry. I dig it, it works great, payed off and hold all my cycling, diving, photography crap.. gets decent mileage AND fits into compact spots
I am not into the fast race cars.. they are fun (some of them) but I would rather spend the money on my trips
Suzanne, I have owned a Camry.. loved it, but as stated before, not too exciting.. I have owned Hondas (though not the Civic) and loved those as well… I would say drive both again and go with what feels better to you.. one will feel more “right” then the other.
Sheridan LA on 12 May 2008 at 1:33 pm #
course, those Audi convertibles are gorgeous…
Margaret Garland on 12 May 2008 at 1:48 pm #
I was thinking of something that should be put into new cars. Of course, they may already be as my car is far from new or fancy. Few people use their cigarette lighters for anything but charging some gadget anymore. Yesterday, I had my GPS plugged in as we drove down to Lansdale, PA. It was still plugged in when we started home from the hospital in Abingdon. I might insert here that it was a godsend in getting from the ball fields to the trauma unit 30 minutes away. And the cell phone was another one that came in handy so Phyllis and I could find one another in that big hospital. I
Anyway, my brainchild is they should put in a unit that has at least 4 cigarette lighter thingies. They need to call them something else. Wouldn’t that be cool?
Karen, you are wise about the cup holder. Mine is right behind the gear shift & I can put McD’s sweet tea there as it’s too tall.
Margaret Garland on 12 May 2008 at 1:50 pm #
Duh. What I started out to say was that my GPS was still plugged into the lighter outlet as we started home. Phyllis had taken her portable DVD player and wanted to watch a movie while I drove along. If the GPS hadn’t been charged, she couldn’t have done it.
Do you know it’s hard not to watch the movie when it’s in the passenger seat? Just saying………….
Nicole Jordan on 12 May 2008 at 2:10 pm #
What fun to be shopping for cars, Suzanne! And I applaud your green principles.
Where we live, we have to have four-wheel or all-wheel drives, plus I have to have something heavy enough to pull my 2 horse aluminum trailor. So we have an older Ford Explorer to pull my horses, and a newer Nissan Murano, which we love… has lots of room, is all wheel drive, and drives like a luxury car. But none of those are priorities in your situation.
You’ll have to let us know what you decide!
And Ellen, I’m with you about filling up the Murano gas tank! Only it isn’t as bad as the Explorer. Luckily we get 15 cents/gal gas discounts by buying our groceries at Smiths. And Costco’s prices are always lower than the norm.
Sabrina Jeffries on 12 May 2008 at 2:23 pm #
I am SO not a car person. I usually can’t tell one car from another. I have trouble recognizing my own car in a parking lot (a Honda Odyssey).
So I don’t think I HAVE a dream car, unless it’s the one that flies in Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang. Or a luxury limo I don’t have to drive. *G*
Suzanne Enoch on 12 May 2008 at 2:42 pm #
I know where you’re comin’ from, Sabrina. I’ll admit, the first thing I looked for online after I clicked on “hybrid” was to see if the two cars had an iPod adapter. Yep.
That higher mpg with the Honda is starting to look better & better, especially after checking out more sites and seeing that the Camry average looks to be about 33 mpg, not 40. Shoot. I see that I’m not the only one who likes the Camry’s look better.
Paula on 12 May 2008 at 2:42 pm #
Claudia my DH would be soo envious of you his dream car is a Porsche. For christmas I bought him a 1 1/2 hour drive in a Porsche around a race track, he has yet to do that!
Karen cup holders, my touran has like a gazillion of them, in each door pocket(4) in between the two front seats(2), in the back of the front seats there are two tables that pop up each with a cup holder in (2) and for the two seats that pop up in the boot two more (2) and also one in the glove box in the front(1) total of 11 cup holders in a 5/7 seater car!! The other thing that i like about my car is all the cubby holes. There are 3 in the roof abetween the two front seats, each of the front seats has a drawer under and there is a hidden cubby hole in the front two and back two floor pans!! You could actually lose things if you couldn’t remember which cubby hole you had put things. I forgot the one cubby hole on the centre dash between the dashboard and the glove box!!
Meg on 12 May 2008 at 2:49 pm #
I drive an ‘06 Subaru B9 Tribeca. While it only gets 23 miles to the gallon, I LOVE it! My nephew calls it a spaceship because of the puddle lamps and the dash is shaped to look like the cockpit of a jet.
While I fully realize that gas prices are on the rise what I look for FIRST in a new car is safty!! And the Subaru has it. There is a website (sorry, I can’t name it) that lists every car available along with their crash tests and ratings. (you can even see the videos) That’s how I narrowed my search. So as far as casting a vote for either Civic or Camry I would go with which ever one is the safest.
Judy F on 12 May 2008 at 3:37 pm #
my dream car would be a Porsche 911 but sadly its never to be. LOl
I drive a CHevy Cavalier. Love the car. Its so me. LOL
Good luck on the car search
Meg on 12 May 2008 at 4:31 pm #
I know this is off topic, but…
Karen H — I finished To Catch A Highlander earlier today and I LOVED it!!! The only thing that sucks is that it just came out in January and I/we have to wait HOW LONG until the next one? Oh well. I’ll just have to appease myself with your backlist.
Claudia Dain on 12 May 2008 at 5:22 pm #
I did love my Porsche 911. It was Sex on Wheels. *G* And what a guy magnet! I couldn’t stop for gas without every guy in the place coming over to talk me up about my car.
Paula and JudyF, you never know. Never give up the dream! With gas prices the way they are now, you might be able to buy one for a song.
Suzanne Enoch on 12 May 2008 at 5:35 pm #
If only a cool car would actually make me more hip — I would stop looking at hybrids, for sure. *g*
Laidybyrd on 12 May 2008 at 8:03 pm #
Funny, I’m going through the same thing. Can’t decide if I should do the socially conscientious thing and get a Prius (husband is leaning this way) or get the car of my dreams (ever since it came out in 2003) - Mini Cooper. I just love the car and it drives like fun on wheels. Sigh.
Karen Hawkins on 12 May 2008 at 9:04 pm #
Suzanne, my hot red, window-tinted, Jeep Cherokee Classic makes ME cool. Just sayin’.
I had no idea there were so many Mini Coop fans out there. I AM NOT ALONE! We need to start a Goddess Mini Cooper Fan Club!
PS Meg, glad you enjoyed TCAH! The final two will be out next spring, back to back. It’s a wait, but then you’ll have Hugh’s and Alexander’s stories almost together! WOOHOO!
Suzanne Enoch on 12 May 2008 at 9:32 pm #
K-Hawk, I believe I’ve ridden in your hot red Jeep Cherokee, and yes, you do look cool in it. Of course it’s not just the car — and I wouldn’t say that just because I’m rooming with you in San Francisco this July. *g*
TinaLouiseF on 12 May 2008 at 10:46 pm #
My 79 Bronco (acquired in 93) has more space than my 92 Explorer (purchased in 03). I still use the Bronco if I need to haul anything.
My next vehicle will also be something old; have to be able to afford the insurance.
I’m not sure about a dream car. If I can’t see the back end of the vehicle, I’d rather not back up anywhere. I have distance preception problems. I’d have something that ends at the rear window like my current vehicles.
cail on 13 May 2008 at 12:52 am #
Suzie, i meant to ask before, why aren’t you looking at the prius?
i drive a 97 volvo station wagon named Boxy Lady. I love her. Car before that was an 86 volvo sedan. my 97 has nearly 150,000 miles and is still going strong, and the 86 had god knows how many when we sold her. pity ford bought them and the products took such a nosedive.