Test drivin'

[averygoodun42]

Test drove two cars tonight to catch up from missing last week due to stomach bug and this weekend due to the oncoming storm. (Page's school's been canceled, and my school closes at noon. Which means I need to go in for both my classes.)


Nice little car. I really liked how it handled, and it had pretty much all the little extras I could ask for. Unfortunately, the driver's seat sucked. By the time the test drive was over (about 20 minutes of driving), my hip was aching. So that's a no go.

Booo!

There goes my dream of buying American ('cause GMC is NOT gonna happen).

A 2009 Civic LX.

Daaang.

Granted, this was a pretty cherry (chary?) car (except for the overwhelming smell of fabreeze), with under 30K miles. But yeah. I see why the Civic has been getting all the accolades in recent years.

First of all, it feels solid in a way none of the other cars did (only rivaled by our Camry). The steering is tight, and the pedals not at all squishy (which was something else I wasn't thrilled about on the Focus. Pressing the brake felt like you had to stomp it to actually engage the disks, though I'm sure tapping the bakes lit up the lights). Also, the seats were the most comfortable by far. I only drove for about ten minutes, but there was no discomfort whatsoever, and as a passenger (for the next ten minutes) I was starting to actually relax. Something that doesn't happen easily.

It was niiiiiiiice.

It was also way out of our price range.

Ach well.

However, I was impressed by the dealership. They did not tie us up for an hour before or after the test drive, getting our info and every tidbit they could. They chatted, got our basic info (driver's license) but were really, really low key. Also, our sales guy was good. (Amazingly pleasant for how much pain he must be in. Oof, just watching him walk was painful!)

So, I think we at least found our dealership, which is nice. It's also kinda nice narrowing down our list of cars to look for over there.

Now just to figure out the financial aspect. That is, how new a car we'll be able to afford... *sigh*

Now I better get the kid to bed. And do my accounting problem for the morning, since I'm assuming there'll be class. Because that's how my accounting professor rolls...

Comments

[timestep.livejournal.com]

Or ford cost us so much in repair bills, I was thrilled to go back to Honda. Mazda is equally reliable. Good luck.

[timestep.livejournal.com]

Our ford . . .

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

It's funny, isn't it, when you find just the right car. And YAY! for a dealership that treats you with respect.

[zalena.livejournal.com]

I would advise against the Ford Fuck Up for the same reason your friend also sites. They are not known as reliable vehicles and the repairs they have are expensive. Still better than a Volkswagon, though!

I'm on my 2nd Honda. The first one was a 1985 Civic I bought for $2000 w/my brother. When we finally gave it up, it was because the frame had rusted through and not because the engine, which was still going strong somewhere over 250,000 miles. (The odometer stopped working, too.) I am now a Honda girl because it is with gratitude that it did not let me down where similar cars in age, mileage, and price range left me stranded. Toyota assembles many of its vehicles in the states, if that's a concern. I think they are not quite as good as Honda, but still make a very good economy car.