New Car Lust is Back

[Sheryl]

Anyone want to offer an opinion on the new Mazda CX-7?

 

[yakers]

I like it but not as much as the RX-8 which I almost bought. Mazda makes rally interesting cars. If you have the money go ahead and buy. If not .....
I sometimes make fun of my wife "window shopping", I'm more tha male who goes in and buys the same pants/shoes/whatever as the last set quickly & for a good price.
But...every year I go to the LA Auto Show and can spend hours sitting in cars that I should have no interest in. Never bought a car there. But I love cars, dreaming about them, playing with them and even have owned some interesting ones. (Ford Falcon, Plymouth Fury III, Opel Kapitan, Pontiac Tempest OVC 6, Datsun 2000, Mercedes 200 diesel, a real Austin Mini, Austin America, and more recently wife & I had a couple Honda Civics and my all time favorite 1992 Ford Taurus SHO. Current fleet: a Mazda Miata, 1985 VW Westfalia camper, older Jeep Cherokee, and a recent Ford Focus.

 

[Nords]

Anyone want to offer an opinion on the new Mazda CX-7?

Yeah-- how much did they pay to develop that name?!?

"OK, folks, it's time to retire RX-7 and RX-8. This think tank needs to come up with a new naming paradigm. Let's brainstorm!"

 

[Sheryl]

Yeah,  real creative name.    Sounds like the Honda CRX crossed with the RX-7.

At least it's not a B-9 Tribeca  (which sounds like a nuclear sub that crashed in Manhattan).

I've been leaning toward the new RAV but since I have a 9-year old RAV now that seemed a little boring.  I'm feeling ready to throw a little money around while I can still enjoy it.  And this baby looks like just the ticket.... since Yarkers says, 

If you have the money go ahead and buy....

What's to stop me?

 

[Texas Proud]

I also liked the RX-8, but it had major engine problems...  and the gas mileage is the worst for such a small engine.. and the car is not as fast as it should be...

The problem I have with Mazda does not have anything to do with Mazda, but Ford...  a lot of the cars are more Ford than Mazda now and I got burned with an '85 Cougar which had a number of problems Ford would not admit it had.. but after 18 or so years lost a case saying it had problems (along with others in their fleet)...  so I will not buy a Ford, even with a Mazda badge.

 

[brewer12345]

I think you'd be nuts to buy the first year of any new model from any manufacturer.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I think you'd be nuts to buy the first year of any new model from any manufacturer.

Absolutely:

if you wait a year or five you'll get:

A much better price

A car with the bugs worked out

probably a few more features thrown in and maybe a better engine.


Besides if you wait 5 years or so much of the new car lust dies away. Just look at that car you just had to have 10 or 20 years ago. Don't they seem kind of silly now.

On the other hand.

you don't want to die without having spent all of that money you are saving.

When you are old you'll regreat more the things you didn't do ratther that the things you did do.

- So if you want that bright shiny new car - you have my permission

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

...and at the end of the day, its a Ford.

I'll never...ever...ever buy another Ford or ford owned product.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Go drive a nissan murano...

 

[brewer12345]

Go drive a nissan murano...

Heh, that's almost exactly what it looks like! And they both look like something beamed down from the mother ship. But there is no accounting for taste...

 

[rs0460a]

Heh, that's almost exactly what it looks like!  And they both look like something beamed down from the mother ship.  But there is no accounting for taste...

That's what you get when you have a French designed car (Nissan ownership is shared with Renault)..

 

[HFWR]

Look like roller skates to me...

 

[lazygood4nothinbum]

if you're putting another one of those big-ass ugly things on the street at least have the courtesy to not block the vision from my little two-seater at intersections. it's not like yer gonna beat me off the red. how's this for a deal: you don't block my vision on surface roads and i won't cut you off on the highway. zoom zoom.

 

[Dawg52]

I wouldn't know what to recommend. I have been all over the map trying to figure out my next purchase. One moment I want a Camry for good gas mileage and the next moment I want a truck which I would need if I decide to do some traveling using a camper. Probably just keep what I have for another year until I retire.  

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Andre1969]

I don't think the CX-7 is really all that big overall. I just looked up some specs, and it's about 185" long, 73" wide, and maybe 64-65 inches tall. It's powered by a 2.3 4-cyl, so it can't be THAT heavy!

I'd imagine that it's somewhere in between a Nissan Murano and a Dodge Caliber or Toyota Matrix in overall size.

Hmmm, 2.3 liters. Hey, that's not the old Pinto 4-cylinder, is it?

 

[Sheryl]

Heh, that's almost exactly what it looks like!  And they both look like something beamed down from the mother ship.  But there is no accounting for taste...

Hey now!   Have I ever dis'ed your dreadlocks     

KWYM about the first year, etc. It's not logical.  I just  waaaannnnnaaa new caaaaaar!!!! 

As far as size, it is one of the "smaller" SUV's if you don't find that an oxymoron.   I think that type of vehicle is the best combo for me - being able to haul "stuff" but still being presentable enough for driving clients around.

I think I need to replace the vehicle I have before I retire, just to be comforable enough with not having an unexpected cash outlay in the first year when/if repairing the RAV becomes a loosing proposition.   

 

[brewer12345]

Hey now!   Have I ever dis'ed your dreadlocks     

KWYM about the first year, etc. It's not logical.   I just  waaaannnnnaaa new caaaaaar!!!! 

As far as size, it is one of the "smaller" SUV's if you don't find that an oxymoron.   I think that type of vehicle is the best combo for me - being able to haul "stuff" but still being presentable enough for driving clients around.

I think I need to replace the vehicle I have before I retire, just to be comforable enough with not having an unexpected cash outlay in the first year when/if repairing the RAV becomes a loosing proposition.   

Like I said, no accounting for taste. I can't imagine the appeal of casinos, but the arrival of millions of people a year in Las Vegas suggests others don't feel the same.

It seems like there are lots of interesting-looking vehicles hitting the market these days. Have some fun and go on a few test drives. See what you like. You know you are going to buy something, so try out the CX-7 and several other cars.

 

[laurence]

Hey, I want a convertible someday, no practical rationale for that. But the thought of crusin' Pacific Coast Highway with the top down and two pretty women along for the ride sounds like a great answer to "what are you saving for?".

 

[FI@35]

A little over a year ago I decided to buy a fun car. I was planning on the Mazda RX-8 or BMW Z4 but once I drove the Nissan 350Z I was sold.

Make sure you test drive the 350Z before going with the RX-8. I found the 350Z to be a lot faster from 0-35 than the RX-8. I've since heard that this is because the Mazda uses a rotoray engine.

The 350Z is fast, corners great, and handles very precise. It almost feels like a big go-cart due to the short wheel base. The other thing I like is that there aren't a zillion of them driving around.

Can you tell I don't regret buying the 350Z? If I was to do it all over again, I would make the same decision.

 

[Dawg52]

I bought an RX-7 back around 1980. The model was fairly new and considered hot. I paid $8,800 for it brand new and sold it 5 years later for close to $7,000. That car held it's value better than any car I ever owned. Also was a lot of fun. 

 

[BunsGettingFirm]

Hey, I want a convertible someday, no practical rationale for that. But the thought of crusin' Pacific Coast Highway with the top down and two pretty women along for the ride sounds like a great answer to "what are you saving for?".

I did that 10 years ago. Drove my Miata from Sacramento to SF and then all the way down to SLO. I did not regret having bought the car or having done the trip. I still have fond memories of the Monterey Aquarium, Big Sur, Hearst Castle, and Pismo Beach. The best part was that my friends rented a Mustang convertible and drove with me. Just imagine the difficulty of trying to put together a trip like that now that I'm living on the East Coast.

Oh, yeah, back then, the car was quite the babe getter. Come to think of it, so was I ten years ago.

 

[saluki9]

A little over a year ago I decided to buy a fun car. I was planning on the Mazda RX-8 or BMW Z4 but once I drove the Nissan 350Z I was sold.

Make sure you test drive the 350Z before going with the RX-8. I found the 350Z to be a lot faster from 0-35 than the RX-8. I've since heard that this is because the Mazda uses a rotoray engine.

The 350Z is fast, corners great, and handles very precise. It almost feels like a big go-cart due to the short wheel base. The other thing I like is that there aren't a zillion of them driving around.

Can you tell I don't regret buying the 350Z? If I was to do it all over again, I would make the same decision.

I finally decided the same thing this year. As I approached the big 3-0 I realized that for somebody who loves cars as much as I do I had never owned a true sports car. I really wanted a Boxster, but 55K for a new one seemed a little too much and buying a used Porsche is asking for trouble.

I settled on my second choice which was a Honda S2000. I got a 3 year old model with hardly any miles on it. It was hard waiting for the winter to end, but now that summer is here the car is a total joy. I only drive it on the weekends, but boy do I look forward to the weekends!

 

[lazygood4nothinbum]

in a t-bird now. considering next year's ride to be either the 350z, s2000 or gt stang. 350z will have to be used though because it seems they don't make it in yellow anymore and i need yellow to match the bicycle.

fi@35, do you happen to know if i can put a hidden hitch on 350z for road & mountain bike? i'm considering summer travel around the country over the next few years. i've googled 350z hitch but don't find much.

 

[mathjak107]

just ordered a bmw x3 last week....cant wait to get it

 

[AltaRed]

Hey now!   Have I ever dis'ed your dreadlocks     

KWYM about the first year, etc. It's not logical.   I just  waaaannnnnaaa new caaaaaar!!!! 

As far as size, it is one of the "smaller" SUV's if you don't find that an oxymoron.   I think that type of vehicle is the best combo for me - being able to haul "stuff" but still being presentable enough for driving clients around.

I think I need to replace the vehicle I have before I retire, just to be comforable enough with not having an unexpected cash outlay in the first year when/if repairing the RAV becomes a loosing proposition.   

Sheryl, DW just bought a loaded AWD RAV4 Limited, V-6, leather and all. Wow...what a neat machine. Dual auto A/C, multiple JBL speaker sound system, traction control, stability control, hill control, moonroof, etc, etc. Those 269 ponies launch just over 3600 lbs like it was nothing. It's noticeably bigger than the old RAV4 and not at all the same animal. It cruises the highway effortlessly. DW better not let me loose with it on the open highway when she is not looking.