New Car Fever
While my car was getting its routine maintenance, I went car shopping. All of the dealers are on the same street, so that makes it easier to shop, not to say that car buying is ever easy.
I test drove the Mazda Miata, Mazda RX-8 and Nissan 350Z. With the temperature at 102, I couldn't stand to look at any more cars or meet any more salesmen. (Why do the cars have to be outside?) The Miata was so small that I felt a little uneasy surrounded by the SUVs on the road. The RX-8 was bigger and sporty enough for my taste, but both cars have what I consider to be a fatal flaw. There is no spare tire, just a tire repair kit.
Having no spare tire scares the hell out of me. It wasn't that long ago that I was driving home around midnight when one of my tires shredded to pieces. A tire repair kit would be worthless in that circumstance and I have no idea what I would do. You can't buy tires in the middle of the night and I hate to think of having my car towed someplace and then waiting in the parking lot all night until the store opened. And, if I really wanted to go home and come back the next day, how would I do that? No spare tire is a deal-breaker to otherwise nice cars.
The Nissan 350Z was a souped-up, loaded version that was a couple of years old. New, there is no way that I would spend that kind of money for a car, but used, it was highly affordable. It was one hot car, both literally and figuratively. I drove it with the top down and remembered what it felt like when I had my Porsche 914 in my youth. But this car, unlike the 914, had more power than I knew what to do with. I got such a rush.
What I didn't like about the car was the manual transmission. I can drive a stick, but I prefer to be lazy and drive an automatic. After the drive, my clutch foot ached a bit. The seats were also a little hard. None of those things are real deal-breakers, though.
I have no idea what I'm going to do. When I get around to it, I suppose that I'll look at some more cars, unless the Z car calls out to me. What's that? I think I hear it calling my name right now.
Written by Melissa on 6:57 PM
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Melissa blogging from sunny Santa Clarita, Southern California, United States.
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12 Comments:
No spare tire? That's the goofiest idea I've heard yet. The less time spent stopped on the side of the road the better and safer. Popping a few lug nuts and swapping tires is fairly quick. So now we have to find the hole, hope it's not a slice, patch it, and air up the tire? Try that on a dark rainy night. But, I guess the automakers save a couple of bucks in manufacturing costs.
I've always found the little temporary spare tire idea to be annoying. I typically remove it and carry a full size tire. Generally they seem to fit in the spare location.
I commute in an '88 Jeep Cherokee which has a really heavy clutch. I may be a bit soft, but man, is my left calf in good shape.
Alan, that is a great idea to carry a spare full-size tire. I didn't know that it would fit in the spare tire location. I'm also glad to get feed-back on my unwillingness to buy a car that doesn't have room for a spare tire. I thought that perhaps I was being too picky.
I used to drive a jeep too, but it was an automatic transmission.
I can't guarantee all cars, but the full size spare fits on Dodge Caravans and Ford Escorts.
I used to drive the mountain passes a lot in a full size Dodge van. I'd carry a pair of mounted snow tires plus another pair with chains already installed. I could stop, swap the two rear tires and be back on the road in 15 minutes. So including the original, I was technically carrying five spares.
How about a Corvette? My dad has one and it drives nice, and it's pretty sporty. Not sure about the spare tire, though.
That's the strangest thing i have ever heard, no spare tyre!
It would freak me out, i live a good half an hour out of town, so that would be the last thing i needed......no car is worth that.
My girlfriend has a Jaguar something or other, it's magic to drive :o)
Just a general evaluation note: Each year's April issue of Consumer Reports (note: not Consumers Digest) is the Annual Auto Issue. Evaluations of all the new vehicles plus a tabulation of users' experiences for the past 8 years.
Specifically on the "couple of years old" 350Z: serious (much worse than average) trouble spots on the '03 were: transmission, suspension, power equipment. The overall 'used car verdict' was 'much worse than average'. I'm not picking on Nissan.
The CR Reliability Ratings are instructive as to the probability of one's getting a satisfactory car.
Predicted Reliability / Satisfaction are:
MX-5 Miata: much above average / above average
RX-8: average / average
Both: Depreciation is 'NA' (cars are too new). The RX-8 is 'CR Recommended'
no spare tyre...that is just wrong. I have had so many flats in my past... I once got a flat on a dirt mountain road in the night... I had a Nissan 4X4. I got my lamp out and changed it myself... what would I have done way out there w/o a tyre? I would love to have a sweet sports car... hmmmmmmm
Lisa, I don't know what Corvettes cost, but I'm almost sure that they are out of my price range. Maybe in another life. :)
Michelle, a Jag would be nice. Too bad they cost so much, but I bet they would have a spare tire. :)
Paul, I really appreciate your research. After reading your comment, the Nissan has stopped calling my name. Did the article mention the Honda S2000? That is next on my list to test drive.
Madwag, you can change your own tire? Living in such a populated are, I've never had to do that. Men tend to come to my rescue or failing that, Auto Club will come.
Yes... he he he... I am a tom boy. My dad taught me how to work on cars... change oil, tyres, fluids...even brakes... I don't do it anymore now but I used to. We never took our cars to a garage because dad knew how to fix everything.
My daughter's 19 (*sigh*) and she can change a tire and jump-start a car. Not having a spare is crazy. I've never heard of that.
I like Alan's idea of carrying spares with the chains already on. Now there's a programmer for you. I must have known Alan in another life. :)
Honda S2000 -
New - CR Recommended. Reliability, Satisfaction, Depreciation all 3 much better than average. Price $34,050. Overall MPG 25; requires premium fuel. Trans 6-spd manual. Convertible; seats 2.
Used - [Came out in '00] Overall, all Much better than avg. Individual weak spots (worse than average): '00 - engine; 02 - ignition; '05 - body integrity. Otherwise avg. or above avg., or (mostly) much above avg. No areas shown as Much worse than avg. (There are 15 grade points for each used vehicle, for each year.)
On the new Mazdas: Both need premium fuel; MX-5 no mpg data, RX-8 18 mpg. Prices: MX-5, 20,435-26,700; RX-8, 25,935-32,260.
The cover touts: Unbiased Ratings and Reviews, 228 models.
Shall I scan and email you cars' data of interest? How?
Would your local library have a copy?
Dave, you taught Debbie well. Or was it Connie who taught her? :)
Paul, thanks. I appreciate the research. I'm at cocekm@aol.com.
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