Perfect commuting car

[280Z Turbo]

Here we go again.  Let's not ruin this thread with this bullshit again.

Fine.

I want a ragtop! Oh sweet Jesus I love ragtops! No need for debate here!

[CALL_911]

I'm kinda hoping I will get into Cornell in about 1.5 years, and then get a car to take to Ithaca.

I'm thinking a WRX, an S4 or an E46. Of course it's not going to happen, and odds are that I won't be getting a car before I'm about 25, but there's always a minute chance.

[ChrisV]

That's good for you, Chris, but unfortunately for you, the rest of the world isn't like you.
If you had fun DD'ing a convertible, cool, but not everyone will feel the same. It's called having an opinion.

Yes, but your opinion is clouded by not having EXPERIENCE. Jesus, it's like you ACTIVELY avoid learning anything. From ANYONE.

[SVT666]

Yes, but your opinion is clouded by not having EXPERIENCE. Jesus, it's like you ACTIVELY avoid learning anything. From ANYONE.

Holy fuck.  STFU about lack of experience and shit Chris.  I've driven verts before and I don't like them either.  Let's not ruin another fucking thread with this childish shit.

[280Z Turbo]

Holy fuck.  STFU about lack of experience and shit Chris.  I've driven verts before and I don't like them either.  Let's not ruin another fucking thread with this childish shit.

IMO, being close-minded and "experienced" is more useless than a lack of experience and open mindedness.

I think any manufacturing engineer would know exactly what I'm talking about.

[Raza]

I was referring to your frequent comments about how much you hate flying.

I know, but I get over it when I need to. 

[Cookie Monster]

Yes, but your opinion is clouded by not having EXPERIENCE. Jesus, it's like you ACTIVELY avoid learning anything. From ANYONE.

Oh, I am so sorry I am not a billion years old like you are and don't have first hand experience with everything.

Just because I don't have experience with something doesn't mean I can't voice my opinion about it. If you like convertibles, cool, but don't try to impose your opinions on me.

[Raza]

I'm really liking the new Cobalt SS.  I'm not sure if it will be, as the SS/SC was, not as polished as the CSi, but I'm certainly interested in it.

I should start a thread...

[Laconian]

My current job is about 40 miles roundtrip, with occasional stop and go on the freeway. I love the Miata but a convertible is not at its best when I'm sitting in traffic sucking in diesel fumes coming from the Power Stroke next to me. The clutch is a little on the grabby side too, making crawling at idle speeds harder than it has to be.

I think a Honda Fit would be pretty great. Excellent MPG, clever packaging, and a smooth progressive clutch for easier first gear engagement. Unfortunately, parking is an issue around my work building, and the underground garage charges an arm and a leg. So I take mass transit.

Should I receive a call from the recruiter in the next two days with a thumbs up, my commute will shrink to five miles each way via unclogged backroads, which is great for my Miata. But I think I'll be rockin' the Motobecane instead on the warmer days.

[Byteme]

No. What else on the market can offer the same mix of lightweight, RWD, excellent handling, and low price?

I would buy a Miata despite the fact that it's a convertible.

I understand your point.  Different strokes and all that.  

Far be it from me to tell you what to drive and not to drive.  You prefer a fixed steel roof, I love driving top down.

[Cookie Monster]

I understand your point.  Different strokes and all that. 

Far be it from me to tell you what to drive and not to drive.  You prefer a fixed steel roof, I love driving top down.

Thank you. I wish ChrisV would understand that.

[Byteme]

Here we go again.  Let's not ruin this thread with this bullshit again.

Too late

[Byteme]

Thank you. I wish ChrisV would understand that.

If wishes were horses then beggers would fly, on clouds of white stallions with bright firery eyes.   

Courtesy of the First Edition.

[SVT666]

I'm really liking the new Cobalt SS.  I'm not sure if it will be, as the SS/SC was, not as polished as the CSi, but I'm certainly interested in it.

I should start a thread...

I really like the Cobalt SS/SC, so I'm really interested in seeing what the turbo can do.

[Northlands]

I'm driving my perfect commuter car right now. I bought it for the very reason of commuting. Civic.

My commute currently consists of 14km's of driving to work. 1/2 highway, 1/2 city. I wouldn't consider anything smaller than what I have currently because there are times that it takes ridiculously long to get home because of traffic ( even in my city.. I'll save that rant for another thread.. ), so having some comfort is needed. The rest... well having awesome mileage and adequate "jam" to keep up with people on the highway ( or pass ) is what I was looking for in a car. Having great feedback in the steering is just a plus. I'd readily buy another Civic for the sole purpose of commuting alone ( for my route. )

[MaxPower]

Well I walk to school, so don't drive during the week.  But I do drive 300 highway miles every weekend, in a pickup truck with broken cruise control.

I'm tempted to say the perfect commuter would be a little car like an Aveo, but I'd want something more substantial for the interstate.  Probably the right car is a Mazda3 or 4cyl Accord/Camry/Malibu.

[akuma_supreme]

I'm late to the party.

I work now as a consultant, so my commute varies.  When I'm at the home office, its 13 miles each way, and a mix between freeways and surface streets, usually in high-traffic.

Ideally, I'd like the fuel-efficiency of a Prius embedded in the body-shell of a HUMMER H1.  Since that's not possible, I think I'l stay with my Civic Coupe.   

[Soup DeVille]

Perfect commuter car? I really have to say the the Si comes damned close at meeting the exact things I need and my own sensibilities.

A lot of people would think it rather spartan: no automatic climate control, power seats, nav, or heated folding mirrors; a rather basic radio. Some may think of it as ugly, although I don't.

But honestly, I don't really rate a lot of those things as highly important. What I really want is there and works well. The car is comfortable, yet compact. It is nimble, yet stable at speed. It is comfortable, has excellent visibility all around, and you can pack a surprising amount of stuff into it on the rare occasions when i need to do so. It is powerful enough for normal work and still sips the gas leisurely enough to hover around the 30 MPG mark despite common cruising speeds well above the posted limits.

BTW, my normal commute varies between 25 and 45 miles each way each day, the ride in usually being in moderately heavy traffic, and the ride back usually being in very light traffic.


Oh, and I used to do it in a car with a ragtop and I can't see what people are complaining about.

[CALL_911]

A lot of people would think it rather spartan: no automatic climate control, power seats, nav, or heated folding mirrors; a rather basic radio. Some may think of it as ugly, although I don't.

In my commuter car for 12th Grade (Subaru), let's see.

Automatic climate control? Yeah. Just so long as you take it without the A/C and the automatic part.
Power seats? No, and I'd like to keep it that way.
Nav? Commuter car. You commute. It's not like you need to find a new way to get to the same place everyday.
Heated folding mirrors? Yeah, in summer.
A rather basic radio. So basic that it sounds better when it's off.

[Cookie Monster]

A lot of people would think it rather spartan: no automatic climate control, power seats, nav, or heated folding mirrors; a rather basic radio. Some may think of it as ugly, although I don't.

1) The EP3 looks awesome.
2) That car is not spartan at all, especially compared to a bicycle (my commuter vehicle).

[Eye of the Tiger]

I told you that I've driven and ridden in a convertible before. It's not that great, especially for a DD.

The few things I did like is the infinte visibility and headroom as well as the sound of the exhaust.

It must have been a Solara or some other turdvertible.
You should try riding top down in a TR8 with a set of Flowmasters. It's enough to make you wet yourself

[Vinsanity]

Nav? Commuter car. You commute. It's not like you need to find a new way to get to the same place everyday.

Actually, I do switch up my route to work sometimes. When the freeway gets packed and crawling, I'd take the next exit and hit the parallel side street.

A regular nav wouldn't help much, but one that provided traffic info (like XM navtraffic) would.

[280Z Turbo]

It must have been a Solara or some other turdvertible.
You should try riding top down in a TR8 with a set of Flowmasters. It's enough to make you wet yourself

1963 Chevrolet Corvette with a 327 and a 4 speed.

Much better than some British Leyland piece of shit.

[Madman]

I'm shocked nobody had mentioned the one car that was designed specifically as a commuter car: the Smart ForTwo.  Hey, they even make a Cabrio version!

Seriously, for the back-and-forth slog to and from work, what else do you need?  It has enough power to cruise at highway speeds, a decent-sized cargo area, can be parked nearly anywhere, uses very little fuel and you can ever carry a passenger if you have to.  If this isn't the ideal commuter car then what is?


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[Soup DeVille]

In my commuter car for 12th Grade (Subaru), let's see.

Automatic climate control? Yeah. Just so long as you take it without the A/C and the automatic part.
Power seats? No, and I'd like to keep it that way.
Nav? Commuter car. You commute. It's not like you need to find a new way to get to the same place everyday.
Heated folding mirrors? Yeah, in summer.
A rather basic radio. So basic that it sounds better when it's off.

I think when somebody says "perfect" they're talking about a car they would choose, not one they need to put up with because of circumstance.

[CALL_911]

I think when somebody says "perfect" they're talking about a car they would choose, not one they need to put up with because of circumstance.

I think you're right.

[Soup DeVille]

1) The EP3 looks awesome.
2) That car is not spartan at all, especially compared to a bicycle (my commuter vehicle).

Well, it's spartan compared to many other cars in its same class on sale now.

[Soup DeVille]

I'm shocked nobody had mentioned the one car that was designed specifically as a commuter car: the Smart ForTwo.  Hey, they even make a Cabrio version!

Seriously, for the back-and-forth slog to and from work, what else do you need?  It has enough power to cruise at highway speeds, a decent-sized cargo area, can be parked nearly anywhere, uses very little fuel and you can ever carry a passenger if you have to.  If this isn't the ideal commuter car then what is?


Cheers,
Madman of the People

1: ugly
2: too small for my needs
3: underpowered
4: ugly
5: unjustifiably expense for what it is
6: ugly.

[Cookie Monster]

1: ugly
2: too small for my needs
3: underpowered
4: ugly
5: unjustifiably expense for what it is
6: ugly.

Agreed on all accounts.
It's also auto only.

[the Teuton]

Yarises and Versas seem like great commuter cars to me.