Hubby's new car

<font color="#990000">Adam, I thought that your Magnum was new. Anyway, it just seems like you have a lot of money to spend by the posts on what you're doing to your truck. Adam, I don't know what you're hauling over there in Texas but here in Coram, NY, the biggest thing that I hauled in 2009 was a 40 gallon Rubbermaid garbage container. It fit nicely in the back seat of my CRV. It would've fit in any of the other cars too. I don't haul stuff but if I needed to haul something huge, I would have to rent a van.<br><br>Yes, they hold their value and when buying a used 5 year old car, you will always find the American car to be cheaper most of the time.. Think about the poor sap that paid full price for it and then traded it in or sold it cheap. So that is a good thing if you're in the market for a used car. Let's just hope that the American car doesn't fall apart.<br><br>On Long Island, the commute into NYC is brutal. It's 60 miles but you do it crawling at certain times of the day. My husband will leave sometimes at 4:30 am just to drive without traffic. He will then sit in a parking lot in NYC for 45minutes to an hour reading a newspaper and drinking coffee. Coming home, he has no choice but to crawl. Every evening , the trip is 2-3 hours average. On the Accord, he was filling the tank every 2 days . Over here on Long Island, there are thousands of Hondas and Toyotas. The majority of Long Islanders travel into NYC for work. It's brutal.<br><br>If my husband's commute were similar to yours, he wouldn't have that Civic Hybrid. He would have something a bit bigger.<br><br>Now , my brother has a similar commute but he drives into Queens. His commute is about 50 miles but since he starts later in the morning, his commute is slower than my husband's. He just bought a 2010 Prius. <br><br><br>maribell</font>

"...a hardon for all things unamerican..."<br><br><img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/roll.gif"> That's just too precious, Adam!!

Adam I agree with the hauling. My Titan gets 15/gal city, but not a problem because I can haul. My big display cabinet wouldn't have fit in my wifes crv. I give up good gas milage for hauling. I also have a 10 min commute each way to train (then hour and 20 minute ride) so no biggie.<br><br>
Most American car will not break down if you take care of them.

Maribell....for hauling, its all kinds of things. My trip back from Cincy after christmas....<br>
2 suit cases, big litter box, 3 antique ammo boxes, hallway wood cabinet, metal garage cart, small anvil, few new pairs of shoes in boces, 3 inch memory foam mattress topper, king size goose down comforter, a box with the stock suspension in it and lord knows what else. Doesn't sound like much but its all bulky stuff and I was so glad to have cargo room....and be able to easily cruise 80. Moh for 16 hours straight and ger 25 mpg.<br><br>
Then there's the first hauling experience I had...day after thanksgiving shopping, me, my grandparents and my aunt....all in the Magnum with a full day of shopping. Couldn't take my aunts Accord, WAY too small....and my grandparents Park Avenue wouldn't have worked either. <br><br>
As for my spending,..I am like everyone else. Make sacrafices elsewhere to do what I really enjoy. I use rabbit ears for TV, don't have a landline, no internet service and I cook instead of going out to eat like a lot of people my age...its all about doing what you want, making choices and doing the best you can while living within your means. If I had kids this would be ENTIRELY different and I know that but I'm not ready for a relationship or kids, so I don't travel the path that leads there lol.<br><br><br>
Anywho, saying US car manufacturers are inferior frustrates me, they catered to what americans wanted and in the last few years that changed DRASTICALLY and the small compact econoboxes that foreign countries fit the bill. Its dumb luck on their part (imports), but discounting american cars altogether is rediculous. Just like anything, it takes time to adapt and the playing field will be level.

I just have to laugh....toyota got over its trucks camshafts that were breaking only to currently recall 9 MILLOIN cars....and they just reported on the news that Honda has recalled 646,000 of its cars. Quality.

The U.S. manufacturers are making some great cars. As it would seem, not ones for what maribell wanted though. I'm a bit dissapointed that the ford Hybrids don't qualify for the HOV lanes but I imagine that will change.<br><br>
I think for what the maribell family needs a hybrid is a great choice. I noted how I believe that more cars should do as well or better but that's not the case. Not something a commuter can do much about right now.<br><br>
I only drive to work 7 days a month. I carpool with another person and they drive the other 7 so I can pretty much drive whatever I please and not go broke. LOL<br><br>
My wife works 3 blocks from home. As far as this topic goes, great choice in cars maribell. I'm sure it will make you a long lasting efficient vehicle. I know the time saved in traffic has to be priceless at that.

Adam - who here has "discounted American cars altogether"? ["American" should be capitalized, btw] Certainly not me; I have expressed a <em>preference</em>. You seem to like making unfounded sweeping generalizations.

I am aware of punctuation but I am typing all this out on a cell phone so excuse me for taking a shortcut or two.<br><br><br>
And the very first post "Detroit needs to buy some, take them apart and study them"....seems like a sweeping generalization to me...does it not to you?

No, it's not a sweeping generalization. It's noting that Detroit does not currently build an adequate competitor to the Honda Civic Hybrid. It's referring to ONE product; not the American car industry as a whole.

"No, it's not a sweeping generalization. It's noting that Detroit does not currently build an adequate competitor to the Honda Civic Hybrid. It's referring to ONE product; not the American car industry as a whole." <br><br><font color="#993300">Yes, that is what I meant. And not just the Civic Hybrid but the regular Civic and the Corolla. No U.S. car company makes a great small car in the USA. Yes, the Fiesta is coming and the reviews are very good but it's not here yet . The CRUZE is coming too eventually. That's expected to be sold in the USA later this year. Chrysler, they have nothing small coming out until the FIAT 500 arrives. <br><br>The FUSION / Milan would compare to an Accord/Camry in size anyway so that's why the economy isn't there for the hybrid version.<br><br><br>Anyway, I want to be patriotic but I can't spend thousands more on a car just to say that I am helping the US auto industry and then get stuck with an inferior product that doesn't deliver the gas milage and will depreciate faster than I can pay off the loan! Let their retired workers make the sacrifices give back benefits to GM/Ford so that they can build a cheaper car. (Opps , if this is about to start another heated discussion, then it's best to start a new thread.) Personally, if you have got to be crazy to pay $35,000 for that Milan hybrid. <br><br><br>maribell</font>