Automobiles.

[LenexatoKCMO]

can you really haul that much shit in a 3-series wagon? 

you would be amazed if you compare the loadable cubic footage of a lot of small wagons to comparable SUV's.  A lot of those SUVs, especially a lot of the new entry level ones, have a lot less usable capacity than you might imagine. 

[chrizow]

no matter, just looked at the inventory at Baron online and it looks like 3-series list from 38-50K!!!  i don't know why i thought they were more in G35 territory.  f that!

[BurningMustard]

can you really haul that much shit in a 3-series wagon? 

Last I heard, cargo room of a 3-series wagon is greater than a X5.

[mean]

tangent: what is it about wagons that i/we like so much?  my father (a former owner of three 1970s vettes and all around Duder) cannot understand whatsoever what the appeal is, and i can't really explain it to him.  there is some measure of practicality to it i guess, but i think for me it is some sort of unconscious "granola, but classy" appeal or something, as lame as that sounds. 

I admit I lean a bit towards your dad. I like the practicality of being able to haul a 4x10 guitar cabinet plus 4 guitars and miscellaneous accessories, but were it not for that I'd much rather have a 2-seater. The smaller and more fuel-efficient the better, while retaining a respectable power to weight ratio.

I dunno where the granola thing comes from, wagons tend to have worse gas mileage than their coupe counterparts just by virtue of being larger / heavier. Unless that's not what you meant by granola.

[LenexatoKCMO]

I dunno where the granola thing comes from, wagons tend to have worse gas mileage than their coupe counterparts just by virtue of being larger / heavier. Unless that's not what you meant by granola.

Yeah but if a person is looking to haul on a regular basis - there is little doubt that the fuel economy is likely going to be quite a bit better than the SUV alternative. 

[mean]

Oh, no doubt. But I don't think most people haul more stuff than you can fit in an average trunk or back seat very often.

[Beermo]

if you want to haul band equipment around either buy a van or an hhr panel van. starts out at less than 20k

http://www.chevrolet.com/hhr/

[BVC]

Alfa Romeo has plans to bring a killer sports sedan to the US soon.  If I can't hold out that long, next will be a Saab 9-5.  That will at least bring the money back to America.  (GM owns Saab, btw)

[HalcyonKC]

after looking at the Jettas (and GTI ) at Baron, i think i might just pay 100-150 more a month and get something that really kicks ass.  what unamerican vehicles do you all like in the 30-36k range? 

Aren't you looking for a house too?  Or did I imagine that.

The problem with a new car is that it depreciates so quickly.  I try to avoid being overly tempted.

[chrizow]

Aren't you looking for a house too?  Or did I imagine that.

yep, although i am so ridiculously undecided on what route to go there that it is pretty clear that i probably won't get it together until late 08.

[chrizow]

while i am still torn between going upscale or staying more conservative, i think the new Benz C300 and C350 are pretty awesome.  the iffy thing is reliability since the previous incarnation of the C-class was fraught with problems, but reportedly the divorce from Chrysler has done the C-class a lot of good and early reviews cite a marked improvment in build quality, performance and most obviously styling.

[KCLofts]

I looked at the new C class on a dealer lot out in California several weeks ago before they started the big advertising push.  I wasn't aware that a new model was coming out.  It is a really good looking car - especially the Sport model.  The front end looks a lot like a BMW 3 series or a Lexus IS.

Once you add on some options, the price ends up in the mid to upper 30s.

If you're going to buy, I'd wait until early next year for the newness to wear off and inventories to increase.  You'll be able to get a better deal and there should be some very lightly used ones available at that time as well (much better to let someone else take the depreciation hit).

[kard]

the smart car will be in kc for a test drive this weekend...sunday and monday at oak park mall.

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[nota]

I am not old enough to drive a car that looks like that. No 4 door sedans for me.

[chrizow]

give me a break.  you're not old enough to drive a small sport sedan with 250 hp?

i think the C300 is more "youthful" than your Trailblazer.

it's the 2-door roadsters and convertibles that spell "mid-life crisis" to me.  a classy, fast sports sedan or sports wagon is where it's at.

[HalcyonKC]

I am not old enough to drive a car that looks like that. No 4 door sedans for me.

Are you sure something like this big floaty Roadmaster wouldn't help you cast your cares away?  Surrender!

[Stockton]

Those cars are so ugly. It looks like a cross between a police car (Chevy Caprice) and Cadillac.

[nota]

give me a break.  you're not old enough to drive a small sport sedan with 250 hp?

i think the C300 is more "youthful" than your Trailblazer.

it's the 2-door roadsters and convertibles that spell "mid-life crisis" to me.  a classy, fast sports sedan or sports wagon is where it's at.

I don't drive a Trailblazer.

If I spend that much money on a vehicle, I'll want something besides a sedan. But then I wouldn't spend that much money.

Mid life crisis??? I guess that would have been my Mustang. Since then I've had several vehicles of different types including a Corvette and  Datsun station wagon and a Jeep Cherokee, a Safari van and a couple of big Chryslers.

The funnest car we ever had was an '85 RX7. Of course a stick-maybe even a 5 speed, I've slept since then.

[nota]

Are you sure something like this big floaty Roadmaster wouldn't help you cast your cares away?  Surrender!

I call those sleds.

Foodster cars. Those are the cars you see all the old people driving at restaurants on Sunday after church or at 5PM on weekdays.

[chrizow]

I don't drive a Trailblazer.

If I spend that much money on a vehicle, I'll want something besides a sedan. But then I wouldn't spend that much money.

could have sworn you said you drive a trailblazer back in one of the bickering SUV-hating threads about parking.  my mistake. 

i shouldn't spend that much money on a car either, but it's awfully tempting.