The beginnings of Eco modding. (What car should I get?)

[freebeard]

Put a Recaro seat and a roll cage in the Golf?

Chargers are owned by

5. People who didn't see the trick L-shaped rear hatch on the Magnum 500 before they purchased.


https://i.forbesimg.com/images/2004/...ch_420x262.jpg

[Isaac Zackary]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Put a Recaro seat and a roll cage in the Golf?

And a grill guard!

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Originally Posted by Ecky

Honestly an Avalon isn't that much bigger than a Camry to my eyes, either.

Exterior, no, but passenger and cargo space is noticeably larger interior-wise.

[Isaac Zackary]

Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy

Exterior, no, but passenger and cargo space is noticeably larger interior-wise.

Interesting. Looks like the Avalon can have 3 or so more cubic feet inside, and about another cubic foot more in the trunk than the Camry. The Avalon generally weighs about 200lbs more. But depending on options, the Camry can weigh slightly more than the Avalon even for the same year.

It looks like the main attraction is that the Avalon is supposed to be more confortable than the Camry.

Pricing a used Camry Hybrid and a used Avalon hybrid (up to 5 years old and 60,000 miles), the Camry costs as much as $3,000 less ($14,000 vs $17,000). Oddly, both are rated to get 39mph on the highway. The Camry gets 43 instead of 40 in town though.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Even though I'm not unfavorable to your switch from the Golf to a full-size sedan, I still think maybe I'd reconsider it if I were on your shoes. You know, an older car that is not subject to the more stringent requirements will often sound as an excuse to upgrade the hell out of it.

[Isaac Zackary]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Even though I'm not unfavorable to your switch from the Golf to a full-size sedan, I still think maybe I'd reconsider it if I were on your shoes. You know, an older car that is not subject to the more stringent requirements will often sound as an excuse to upgrade the hell out of it.

I've often thought of this myself. Instead of buying a $15,000-$20,000 car, what would happen if I poured $15,000 to $20,000 of improvements in the car I have?

And at any rate, the most economical choice for me would be to just keep the Golf. If it needs a new engine or transmission, that would be a whole lot cheaper than a new(er) car that gets worse fuel mileage.

Still, I think the one big reason for me personally to make a change is the wife factor. Time for something that's not "an experiment."

[19bonestock88]

I’m not against either approach, either ALH/6speed swap the Golf, or go to a newer Prius or Camry, or even a Suburban if you want... you can spend $20k in the Golf and make it much more capable than it presently is, or spend equal money to get a more comfortable platform that you feel is safer, at the expense of *some*mileage... cars have come an awfully long way since your Golf was new, and even a full size FWD car can get mid-upper 30s mileage while doing a low 15 sec quarter mile, and being safer than anything preceding it...

[freebeard]

Time for something that's not "an experiment."

Doing what everyone else does is not?

Dodge Magnum 500.

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by Isaac Zackary

I've often thought of this myself. Instead of buying a $15,000-$20,000 car, what would happen if I poured $15,000 to $20,000 of improvements in the car I have?

That's exactly what I'm up to lately.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Isaac Zackary

I've often thought of this myself. Instead of buying a $15,000-$20,000 car, what would happen if I poured $15,000 to $20,000 of improvements in the car I have?

Even if you pour less than half that amount, it may already lead to some substantial improvements.

And at any rate, the most economical choice for me would be to just keep the Golf. If it needs a new engine or transmission, that would be a whole lot cheaper than a new(er) car that gets worse fuel mileage.

And even if you get a TDI to swap into the old Golf, backed by an automatic transmission just to please your wife, it's most likely the fuel-efficiency will remain better than most of the other options you're looking at.

Still, I think the one big reason for me personally to make a change is the wife factor. Time for something that's not "an experiment."

What's her major complain about the Golf?