[Cialug] OT: safe/reliable fuel-efficient cars.

[Nathan C. Smith]

Elantra is a great car.  I know there are a lot of weird physics involved in an accident but the truck that hit us and the ford focus we hit both came away - at least looking - pretty well, I'm thinking about something a little bigger.

The prices have also gone up.  I think mine was around 11K in early 04 .  It wouldn't surprise me if I could get a lot better deal in this economy though. 

I now there are trade-offs between economy and performance but I wouldn't mind something a little more robust too.  I was just wondering what other people have and are happy with to try to reconcile my performance-efficiency tradeoff and newfound concern for safety.

I will probably end up back at the Hyundai dealership and the Honda dealership at some point.  Thinking about Subaru too. 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: cialug-bounces at cialug.org 
> [mailto:cialug-bounces at cialug.org] On Behalf Of Major Stubble
> Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 12:14 PM
> To: Central Iowa Linux Users Group
> Subject: Re: [Cialug] OT: safe/reliable fuel-efficient cars.
> 
> I'm surprised that you don't want to go with another Elantra. I've  
> been driving mine for three years now. I'm about to hit 60k 
> miles, and  
> have had no problems that I can blame on the car (though I 
> will blame  
> the pot hole my wife hit in Cedar Rapids - worst roads ever).
> 
> I do 60 miles (highway) a day, and average 36 mpg. My wife 
> gets about  
> 30, so it is definitely based on how you drive. I find it a little  
> cramped for long drives, but my 6'4" frame has a lot of leg - 
> so there  
> are very few cars that fit me comfortably.
> 
> I don't think there is a better car for the 12k I spent 
> (new). If you  
> are looking at the Honda Fit, I would try to wait until Earth Day.  
> Honda is releasing their remodled Insight hybrid. Supposedly, if you  
> utilize their eco-assist to modify your driving behavior, you 
> can get  
> 50 mpg. It's supposed to be under 20k as well.
> 
> Back to the Elantra, what about it don't you like that has 
> you looking  
> elsewhere?
> 
> -Nick
> 
> --
> Nathaniel N. Petersen
> Assistant Application Admin
> University of Northern Iowa
> 
> 
> On Feb 27, 2009, at 10:06 AM, "Nathan C. Smith"  
> <nathan.smith at ipmvs.com> wrote:
> 
> >
> > If you were headed westbound on 235 after 5:00 PM last 
> night and hit  
> > slow traffic because of an accident you can blame the guy that hit  
> > me.  (email me for his phone number).  We got rear-ended 
> last night  
> > and my Hyundai Elantra is  probably not revivable.
> >
> > Faced with the painful prospect of a new (at least to me) car, I'm  
> > looking at options.  My primary constraints are:
> > * manual transmission (because I feel it keeps me focused 
> on driving  
> > - my mind tends to wander)
> > * reliable
> > * safe
> > * fuel-efficient (The hyundai was a commuter and I would go 
> exactly  
> > 2 weeks between refuels 27 )
> >
> > I realize this is a bit of a shot in the dark but is anyone 
> driving  
> > something they are happy with or would recommend  that meets these  
> > constraints?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > -Nate
> > _______________________________________________
> > Cialug mailing list
> > Cialug at cialug.org
> > http://cialug.org/mailman/listinfo/cialug
> _______________________________________________
> Cialug mailing list
> Cialug at cialug.org
> http://cialug.org/mailman/listinfo/cialug
>