OT: Volvo s40?

[B.Rock]

I would in a heartbeat, but they're all arout 189 inches (which rules out an Outback wagon too).  The Volvo, Corolla, Civic, Scion Box, etc. are 174-177 inches.  The Fit is even smaller.  Makes a difference in for a city car.  Every time I've tried to park a new-generation Camry in the City, it's a pregnant dog.  They're deceptively large.

Enzo an Audi?  Seriously?  Talk about a stereotype --  I'd rather be a douchie Noe yuppie couple in a Volvo with a yippy dog and some blond kids than a douchie Marina consultant in a silver Audi (apologies to all douchebags--Marina or Noe, Audi or Volvo who many have read that line).  Besides, my mom would absolutely kill me if I bought a German car.

As for my balls, there's always Ducati.    

Hey, I'm one of those douchebags with a silver Audi.   
Not a Marina douche though. That's, like, unattainable douchiness for me.

[Michael Moore]

<sigh>  I'd love to just get an old Civic or Corolla or sumptin'.  But they didn't come standard with all the safety gizmos (ABS, side airbags) until just recently.  So, if it's an econobox, it's gotta be a recent version.  For Hondas--because of high resale--it's better to get something new than a 2-3 y/o.  Same price as a used Volvo.   

Airbags, shmairbags. Just get the kid a bitty helmet.

[enzo]

Enzo an Audi?  Seriously?  Talk about a stereotype -- 

Yeah, seriously.  Might as well enjoy being in a car if you can choose a good one.  The A3 isn't huge, is simple, well built, safe, can fit a kid, and yet is still fun to drive.  Who cares if some coked out Marina doods and their cyborg girlfriends like them?  Really, trust fund hipsters in the mission will sneer at you unless you're in a beat-to-hell cargo van anyway, so forget about it and get a fun car.

[remy]

I have a 2001 Volvo S40 that I bought used with 40K (It's at 90K right now) and it hasn't given me a single problem. Maintenance costs suck, but I've found a good non-dealer that is about half as much as dealer costs. Of course, this was built before Ford bought them.

I'm also looking to sell it because I just don't drive it anymore.

[Michael Moore]

Yeah, seriously.  Might as well enjoy being in a car if you can choose a good one.  The A3 isn't huge, is simple, well built, safe, can fit a kid, and yet is still fun to drive.  Who cares if some coked out Marina doods and their cyborg girlfriends like them?  Really, trust fund hipsters in the mission will sneer at you unless you're in a beat-to-hell cargo van anyway, so forget about it and get a fun car.

Heh. He's got the beater cargo van already.

Fun to drive is fine, unless it costs you a lot of money and you're not totally in love with the thing. As an avowed non-car-guy, to me anything on 4 wheels is an appliance; purely a way to get from A to B.  Granted, the nicest car I've owned is an Integra, and it's now 13 years old. It was fun at the start but then the fun wore off and it just became one more thing to take care of. OTOH, my Ducati, which in motorcycle/dog years is much older, I still love dearly.

[datv]

It'll probably last until the kid's 16 and then she can drive it herself. 

And promptly into a telephone pole after consuming copious amounts of Triple Sec.

Ahhhh.... you parent types get me all envious

[Michael Moore]

And promptly into a telephone pole after consuming copious amounts of Triple Sec.

Ahhhh.... you parent types get me all envious

I think at age 16 it's either Southern Comfort or Amaretto. 

But you're right about the tree. 

[Spidey]

If my precious little princess gets a DUI from drinkin' something other than bourbon, I'm gonna kick the shit out of her.

[Michael Moore]

If my precious little princess gets a DUI from drinkin' something other than bourbon, I'm gonna kick the shit out of her.

Kids have no taste.

Besides, if she and her little friends demolish your prized bottle of small batch bourbon you'll wish they stuck to the Jager.

[Drunken Monkey]

If my precious little princess gets a DUI from drinkin' something other than bourbon, I'm gonna kick the shit out of her.

Uncle John's gonna get her hooked on Wine Coolers. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Oh wait, I have two kids you can retaliate on.

Never mind.

As for cars: get a subscription to consumer reports dude.

For non-small sedans they recommend:
Chevrolet Malibu 4-cyl.
Chevrolet Malibu V6
Ford Fusion 4-cyl.
Ford Fusion V6
Honda Accord 4-cyl. AT     
Honda Accord 4-cyl. MT
Honda Accord V6    
Hyundai Sonata 4-cyl.
Hyundai Sonata V6    
Kia Optima 4-cyl.    
Mercury Milan 4-cyl.    
Mercury Milan V6    
Nissan Altima Hybrid    
Nissan Altima V6    
Saturn Aura XR    
Subaru Legacy 2.5i    
Toyota Camry 4-cyl.    
Toyota Camry Hybrid    
Toyota Camry V6

For upscale sedans they recommend:
BMW 328i Sedan
Infiniti G AWD
Infiniti G RWD
Lexus ES
Lexus IS250
Saab 9-3 Sedan 2.0T
Saab 9-5
(The Volvos did not get the nod from them)

Best of the best used cars:

These are models that have performed well in CR road tests over the years, and have proved to have several or more years of better-than-average reliability. Listed alphabetically.

Acura Integra,Acura MDX,Acura RL,Acura RSX,Acura TL,Acura TSX,BMW M3,Buick LaCrosse
Honda Accord,Honda Civic,Honda Civic Hybrid,Honda CR-V,Honda Element,Honda Odyssey,Honda Pilot,Honda S2000
Infiniti FX,Infiniti G20,Infiniti G35,Infiniti I30, I35,Infiniti QX4
Lexus ES,Lexus GS (RWD),Lexus GX,Lexus IS,Lexus LS,Lexus RX,Lexus SC
Lincoln Continental,Lincoln Town Car
Mazda Millenia,Mazda MX-5 Miata, Mazda Protegé,Mazda3
Mitsubishi Endeavor,Mitsubishi Outlander
Nissan Altima,Nissan Maxima,Nissan Murano
Pontiac Vibe,
Porsche 911 (except '03)
Scion tC,Scion xB
Subaru Baja,Subaru Forester,Subaru Impreza,Subaru Legacy,Subaru Outback
Toyota 4Runner,,Toyota Avalon,Toyota Camry (except '07 V6),Toyota Camry Solara,Toyota Celica,Toyota Corolla,Toyota Echo,Toyota Highlander,Toyota Land Cruiser,Toyota Matrix,Toyota Prius
Toyota RAV4,Toyota Sequoia,Toyota Sienna,Toyota Tundra (except '07 V8 4WD)
Volvo S60

Worst of the worst

These models have multiple years of much worse than Used Car Verdicts in the 1998 to 2007 models. Listed alphabetically.

Buick Rendezvous (AWD),Buick Terraza
Chevrolet Astro,Chevrolet Blazer,Chevrolet Colorado (4WD),Chevrolet S-10 Pickup (4WD),Chevrolet Uplander,Chevrolet Venture
Chrysler Town & Country (AWD)
Dodge Grand Caravan (AWD)
GMC Canyon (4WD),GMC Jimmy,GMC S-15 Sonoma (4WD),GMC Safari,Jeep Grand Cherokee,
Kia Sedona
Land Rover Discovery, LR3
Lincoln Aviator
Mercedes-Benz SL
Nissan Armada (4WD),Nissan Titan (4WD)
Oldsmobile Bravada,Oldsmobile Silhouette
Pontiac Aztek,Pontiac G6,Pontiac Montana, Trans Sport, Montana SV6
Saturn Relay
Volkswagen Cabriolet,Volkswagen Jetta Sedan (turbo),Volkswagen Jetta Sedan (V6),Volkswagen Touareg

[Michael Moore]

After reading that list, I had a little chuckle thinking about the CEO of GM blaming all their misfortunes on the economy. Duh.

[Drunken Monkey]

After reading that list, I had a little chuckle thinking about the CEO of GM blaming all their misfortunes on the economy. Duh.

No shit. 

That's why I only buy American cars like Toyotas or BMWs 

[Fast Elvis]

<sigh>  I'd love to just get an old Civic or Corolla or sumptin'.  But they didn't come standard with all the safety gizmos (ABS, side airbags) until just recently.  So, if it's an econobox, it's gotta be a recent version.  For Hondas--because of high resale--it's better to get something new than a 2-3 y/o.  Same price as a used Volvo.   

  Your concern for "safety gizmos" brings up an interesting point. As your friend I would like to add "Let Chris Drive" to your list.

[Spidey]

I read that to the Blonde.  She's think you're pretty funny.  I think you're a dick.   

[Drunken Monkey]

That's not a dick thing to say.

"Oh look Spidey. Consumer Reports has a section for short drivers!"

See. Now that's a dick thing to say