That is interesting, the sunroof/solar/nav package was only available on the IV in October and now it can be had on the III too.Craig Naylor wrote:...
But to be totally honest, I'd settle for the Prius (CVT) III w / solar if a compromise of "fun" vs. "efficient" was necessary with the wife.
...
Help me pick a car
Moderator: Mike Simanyi
- Kristoffer Gjevre
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Re: Help me pick a car
- Tom Berry
- Former CSCC Overall Champion
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Re: Help me pick a car
Wow.. I had no idea that there were so many Prius haters out there.
Theresa and I both drive them daily. Its not a rocket ship, but its quiet, comfortable, holds lots of people and stuff, and gets great mileage,
( and I hear it handles great in the rain too. ) Both of ours have the car pool lane stickers which is also a wonderful thing.
once you are used to getting almost 50 mpg, its really hard to drive anything else, and to say that it doesnt handle well is not really the case.
Tom
Theresa and I both drive them daily. Its not a rocket ship, but its quiet, comfortable, holds lots of people and stuff, and gets great mileage,
( and I hear it handles great in the rain too. ) Both of ours have the car pool lane stickers which is also a wonderful thing.
once you are used to getting almost 50 mpg, its really hard to drive anything else, and to say that it doesnt handle well is not really the case.
Tom
- Mako Koiwai
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Re: Help me pick a car
It's weird hearing Tom use the word "hate."
- Attachments
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- TomPrevia.jpg (148.47 KiB) Viewed 9326 times
Re: Help me pick a car
Freudian slip, Mako? You named that pic "TomPrevia." I guess Mako's a hater too. 

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Oversteer is better than understeer because you don't see the tree you're hitting.
Oversteer is better than understeer because you don't see the tree you're hitting.
- Steve Ekstrand
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Re: Help me pick a car
Could Tom take down Marshall's Evo in a Previa? A new match in the making!
Dr. Conemangler
aka The Malefic One
2015 Wildcat Honda F600
aka The Malefic One
2015 Wildcat Honda F600
- Randy Chase
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Re: Help me pick a car
Thanks for the replies! We are still sifting through options, but I can tell you that she wants a new car and is leaning to the Hyundai Genesis still.
http://www.chasecam.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; VIDEO + DATA
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- Max Hayter
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Re: Help me pick a car
Talk to Annie Bauer - she just bought one.Randy Chase wrote:Thanks for the replies! We are still sifting through options, but I can tell you that she wants a new car and is leaning to the Hyundai Genesis still.
- Jason Isley BS RX8
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Re: Help me pick a car
And chances are in a matter of weeks you could pick up Annie's at a substantial savings.Max Hayter wrote:Talk to Annie Bauer - she just bought one.Randy Chase wrote:Thanks for the replies! We are still sifting through options, but I can tell you that she wants a new car and is leaning to the Hyundai Genesis still.

- Annie Bauer
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Re: Help me pick a car
Ha ha - funny one Mr. Isley
Randy - to answer your question on SCCAForums, the bigger engine Track is in FS - you get to play with Sammy Strano with that.
The suspension on the Tracks and R Spec is quite stiff, and getting in and out of the back seat on the driver's side is something she'll want to consider with it being something to haul people regularly in the back.
Email me if you want more info - mine is the 2.0T R Spec, but it has the Track suspension, etc.

Randy - to answer your question on SCCAForums, the bigger engine Track is in FS - you get to play with Sammy Strano with that.
The suspension on the Tracks and R Spec is quite stiff, and getting in and out of the back seat on the driver's side is something she'll want to consider with it being something to haul people regularly in the back.
Email me if you want more info - mine is the 2.0T R Spec, but it has the Track suspension, etc.
- Randy Chase
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Re: Help me pick a car
Well, today we called an audible and mixed it up. It now looks like she will be getting a 2010 JCW Mini Clubman.


http://www.chasecam.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; VIDEO + DATA
Official provider to SCCA ProRacing, V8Supercars, Mazdaspeed, and more....
http://www.theadrenalinegallery.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Your California dealer for Rossion and Caterham
Official provider to SCCA ProRacing, V8Supercars, Mazdaspeed, and more....
http://www.theadrenalinegallery.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Your California dealer for Rossion and Caterham
Re: Help me pick a car
Sweet! I love my new Mini. Crapload of torque steer, but a hell of a lot of fun!
==============
Oversteer is better than understeer because you don't see the tree you're hitting.
Oversteer is better than understeer because you don't see the tree you're hitting.
- Mako Koiwai
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Re: Help me pick a car
You owe it to her to try out a four door WRX. Clubman might be longer (the standard Mini), but with kids four doors really are nice.
Last edited by Mako Koiwai on Sun Dec 20, 2009 8:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Help me pick a car
I agree with Mako , with twin boys four doors are a practicality. Unless she is planning to have the car for a shorter time than Annie . :}
And the do not like list said torque steer.
And the do not like list said torque steer.
- Randy Chase
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Re: Help me pick a car
I hate dealing with any kind of crap with people that sell cars. So.... the Mini is now not being considered. May go look at the WRX again.
http://www.chasecam.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; VIDEO + DATA
Official provider to SCCA ProRacing, V8Supercars, Mazdaspeed, and more....
http://www.theadrenalinegallery.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Your California dealer for Rossion and Caterham
Official provider to SCCA ProRacing, V8Supercars, Mazdaspeed, and more....
http://www.theadrenalinegallery.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Your California dealer for Rossion and Caterham
- Larry Andrews
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Re: Help me pick a car
(I know Randy already knows this - but for the sake of the discussion...)
It's not at all unusual to have to find alternate salestwits in order to get taken seriously. I don't bother with anybody at that level and just walk into the sales manager's office and lay out the deal I want. Either I get it or I don't, but usually get a yes/no answer quickly.
The usual advice of going late on the last day of the month applies - never fails to act as a deal lubricant.
It's not at all unusual to have to find alternate salestwits in order to get taken seriously. I don't bother with anybody at that level and just walk into the sales manager's office and lay out the deal I want. Either I get it or I don't, but usually get a yes/no answer quickly.
The usual advice of going late on the last day of the month applies - never fails to act as a deal lubricant.
- Mako Koiwai
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Re: Help me pick a car
I've used car buying services that charge two to three hundred dollars ... that was 6 years ago. They deal with the Fleet Sales Manager and typically get the car for a few hundred over dealer invoice. You just go in to sign the papers and drive off with your new car. Last time, the Suby person that had me signed the paper only said, "I know you're probably not interested, but would you like the additional undercoating?"
Most internet car sales reps for dealerships are the Fleet Sales persons.
If you are interested in doing this with a Suby, let me know and I can probably help. Andi Mast and her boy friend just bought a Black and a White, his and her's STI's.
Of course our own Tom Berry finds great deals. Henry bought his wife a beautiful BMW recently.
Most internet car sales reps for dealerships are the Fleet Sales persons.
If you are interested in doing this with a Suby, let me know and I can probably help. Andi Mast and her boy friend just bought a Black and a White, his and her's STI's.
Of course our own Tom Berry finds great deals. Henry bought his wife a beautiful BMW recently.
- Mako Koiwai
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Re: Help me pick a car
Desiree at Irvine Subaru is their internet sales person. I bought my WRX from her, by emial ... and she gets rave reviews from NASIOC Southern CA. You can also pop in and deal with her directly. Best to know your Dealer Invoice costs ... available from Consumer Reports .com
http://www.irvine.subaru.com/contact-form.htm
http://www.irvine.subaru.com/contact-form.htm
Re: Help me pick a car
For the G35, I used a family friend who also happens to be a buyer: Bud Wegge. He found me the only car on the West coast in my color with a manual tranny and no sunroof, and I got it for $29,900. I highly recommend him. No charge from him because he doesn't make his money from the buyer, but from the dealership. If you're interested, let me know and I'll pass on his digits.
==============
Oversteer is better than understeer because you don't see the tree you're hitting.
Oversteer is better than understeer because you don't see the tree you're hitting.
- Tadd Ekstrand
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Re: Help me pick a car
The clubman is a great car!!!!! Lots of fun to drive and there is plenty of space.
Tadd Ekstrand
STS 91 Honduh Civie Si Iamokwithmysexuality blue
New avatar courtesy of Mako Koiwai.
Speed never killed anyone; suddenly becoming stationary... that's what gets you
STS 91 Honduh Civie Si Iamokwithmysexuality blue
New avatar courtesy of Mako Koiwai.
Speed never killed anyone; suddenly becoming stationary... that's what gets you
Re: Help me pick a car
I love my new Mini, but if two of the criteria are no torque steer and ingress/egress easy enough to put a kidlet in the backseat repeatedly, it's got two strikes against it.Tadd Ekstrand wrote:The clubman is a great car!!!!! Lots of fun to drive and there is plenty of space.
==============
Oversteer is better than understeer because you don't see the tree you're hitting.
Oversteer is better than understeer because you don't see the tree you're hitting.
- Tadd Ekstrand
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- Location: Unknown
Re: Help me pick a car
True! Glad to hear you are loving your new Mini. We love ours!! Just have to get those damn run flats off.Kurt Rahn wrote:I love my new Mini, but if two of the criteria are no torque steer and ingress/egress easy enough to put a kidlet in the backseat repeatedly, it's got two strikes against it.Tadd Ekstrand wrote:The clubman is a great car!!!!! Lots of fun to drive and there is plenty of space.
I don't think it would be hard to get a kid in the backseat of the clubman because of the extra rear half door thing on the passenger side.
Tadd Ekstrand
STS 91 Honduh Civie Si Iamokwithmysexuality blue
New avatar courtesy of Mako Koiwai.
Speed never killed anyone; suddenly becoming stationary... that's what gets you
STS 91 Honduh Civie Si Iamokwithmysexuality blue
New avatar courtesy of Mako Koiwai.
Speed never killed anyone; suddenly becoming stationary... that's what gets you
- Mako Koiwai
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Re: Help me pick a car
Tadd ... you might have missed it ... but Kurt came with in a whisker of winning SK2 in his first race with his Mini ... with those Run Flats! Perhaps their stiff side walls make them semi worthy on a otherwise softly sprung car?
- Steve Ekstrand
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Re: Help me pick a car
Trust me... There is NO performance benefit from a runflat.
Dr. Conemangler
aka The Malefic One
2015 Wildcat Honda F600
aka The Malefic One
2015 Wildcat Honda F600
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Re: Help me pick a car
Sure there is ... for the balance sheet of the dealership that sells them.Steve Ekstrand wrote:Trust me... There is NO performance benefit from a runflat.

- Mako Koiwai
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Re: Help me pick a car
So you think Kurt would have won SK2 by 1.5 seconds with "proper" ST tires? How do you explain his times, first time out with a completely stock mini? Adrian would have beat him with his stock Mini w/ ST tires if he hadn't coned his last run ... but he's been running and winning with his Mini for quite a while now.