|
|
Rank: Old Wrench Expert Member
Groups: Old Wrench Member
Joined: 9/4/2008
Posts: 103
Points: 309
Location: mexico, texas
|
You dismissed mini-vans as too big. I have no opinion on that, except to point out our 2002 Toyota mini-van gets 24 mpg at 70 mph on cross country trips. One place in Mexico, the speed limit on a high speed cuota is around 50, and in the hour or so at that speed, I can't see any gas gauge movement, though clearly it must move. Do the vehicles you are evaluating get that good a mileage?
I am guessing you don't like the physical size of the car from the driver's seat?
The newer ones sometimes have seats that fold into the floor.
I presume you have evaluated the mini-vans and know exactly why you don't want one. But, we do not ever want to drive anything else. The main reasons are the upright seating in front, and the large amount of space. Combined with driving like a car.
October 1, we left home, and when we returned on Oct. 31 for Day of the Dead had driven 5,000 miles. Runs great just short of 170,000 miles. A minor failure just occurred, I think I will make a posting on that, just out of curiosity.
|
|
Rank: Old Wrench Regular
Groups: Founding Member
, Old Wrench Member
Joined: 9/3/2008
Posts: 250
Points: 750
Location: Gateway to the West
|
Actually, I haven't started looking at any specific vehicles yet other than a few cursory looks on Edmunds. I'm more in the thinking stage and was garnering info on the comparitive pros and cons of car-platform crossovers vs. truck-platform SUVs and FWD vs AWD, makes and models with comparatively less expensive maintenance and/or mechanical issues, etc.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti minivans per se. They are a great class of vehicles for many purposes and many people. Several friends of mine have them so I am quite familiar with the advantages of them and with, what for me, can be some negatives about them.
It's quite possible that I will end up keeping the present Impala sedan for another 10+ years rather than trade it for something else. And I might end up trading it for a smaller sedan or a hatchback. I've no clue at this point. I was using here as a sounding board for the idea of switching to a small SUV type vehicle in the next couple years.
Even if I do end moving to the Ozarks or anywhere else in the next few years, I may keep the Impala and simply board the cats at the vet for a week while I get moved then rent an SUV to come fetch them to their new home. In the long run, that might be the most feasible solution.
Whatever I do, I'm not turning loose of enough money to trade cars just yet. The Imp is paid for, has ridiculously low mileage, seems to have gotten the several new car defects found and fixed and been running great. So I'm not in any hurry to change just to change. I'll take my time, eventually do lots of test driving and research. And when I do, I'll also test drive a few current model minivans on the theory I just might find myself pleasantly surprised.
As to gas mileage, the Imp actually gets as good or better than anything other than a manual econo-box on wheels, a diesal, or a hybrid. I actually get what the sticker estimates claim for the 2007 model with the 3.5L FF engine. The very worst I ever get is 18 mpg when all my driving has been extremely short hops with multiple stops, i.e. a total round trip of perhaps 2-8 miles in stop and go traffic, lots of stoplights, and stops at multiple stores, barely getting the engine properly warmed up in the process. Mostly I average about 20 mpg for that type of driving with perhaps a longer run tossed in. "Typical" mixed driving on local streets and highway gets about 22 to 23 mpg and all highway driving gets between 26 to 32 mpg depending on the roads, the weather, how much weight is in the car, and if I'm using the high ethanol content gas that is the only gas allowed to be sold in the St. Louis metro area or if I'm where gas isn't high ethanol content. All in all, not great gas mileage but average for a full sized car with a 6 cyl engine. I've noticed the specs on many cars that are actually a bit smaller and less curb weight which get less mg than I'm getting.
Thanks for your input along with that of everyone else here on TOW. I do appreciate it!
Marnet
...still reading, still learning!
|
|
Rank: Old Wrench Long Time Member
Groups: Founding Member
, Old Wrench Member
Joined: 8/27/2008
Posts: 641
Points: 1,926
Location: Dust Bowl of Oklahoma
|
A number of my neighbors own newer model Impalas (defined as 5-6 years old) and they've all been pleased with their cars.
One retired machinist friend of mine here makes trips from this area over to the Table Rock Lake area in MO. and he says his '07 Impala ticks off 32 MPG on the turnpike with the A/C running. That's really not that shabby at all for an intermediate sized 4 door sedan.
It's about 3-4 MPG better than my youngest son's 4 cylinder Camry which on a good day can be squeezed for about 28-29 MPG.
|
|
Rank: Old Wrench Expert Member
Groups: Old Wrench Member
Joined: 9/4/2008
Posts: 103
Points: 309
Location: mexico, texas
|
Marnet, that is a great idea about a one time rental when you actually need it, instead of getting a big vehicle when you really only need it one time. that is good thinking.
In 1998, I think it was, we got smashed, literally, in Austin, and rented a Buick Le Sabre to drive around 1,000 miles to the Midwest. At 70 mph, we got well over 30 mpg and that is not a small car.
|
|
Rank: Old Wrench Regular
Groups: Founding Member
, Old Wrench Member
Joined: 8/27/2008
Posts: 390
Points: 1,170
Location: marion, ohio
|
why is this guy still here?
 
|
|
Rank: Administrator
Groups: Administration
Joined: 8/27/2008
Posts: 211
Points: 633
Location: Canada
|
Sorry guys, not sure how I missed Mr Golf Courses. He's deleted and so are his posts. :)
|
|
|
Guest |
