Today on NPR's Talk of the Nation there was a lively discussion about the problems of American automakers. One of the panelists (I think it was the LA Times' Dan Neil) said he was fairly bullish on their prospects; the other two, not so much.
I drive a 1997 Geo, which was made by GM in partnership with Suzuki. Mine's a four-door sedan which really does seat four fairly comfortably and has a reasonably good-sized trunk. It has about 45,000 miles on it (no, the odometer hasn't tripped over); when I bought it it had 13,000 miles already in its previous life as a National/Budget rental car. I bought it in May of 1998, and it's been a good little car.
So what do you drive? American or import? Big boat or sub-compact?
Posted by Linkmeister at September 21, 2006 04:25 PM | TrackBackWe drive Honda's in our family...not because of some big belief in Honda's but because it just turned out that we ended up with that make. I used to drive a Volvo...one that when I pulled out in front of a Geo Metro that was driving along at about 35mph crimped the little thing in half...the long way. The good news is that the driver was fine. The car...totaled. My only accident and I killed a car.
Posted by: Karan at September 21, 2006 05:30 PMMy dad was a Pontiac man, but my Hub's family were Chrysler drivers. My first car of my own was a '92 Dodge Dynasty -- huge, almost luxurious, very safe. Next came another Dodge and a Chrysler, then I traded in for a Pontiac Vibe. I love it -- it's actually a twin of the Toyota Matrix -- because I can haul all the gear that goes with being a sports mom, and the mileage is good (~28 mpg). And it's RED... And in December we got Hub a Pontiac of his own -- the Torrent. Stylish but not showy.
Posted by: Skatemom at September 22, 2006 05:38 AMI drive a 1984 Mazda, light duty pickup. I got it from a couple I am close friends with (our kids are also close friends), because they really appreciated a lot of work I did on their house - which I did because they are very good friends, the hub', as it were, used to be the drummer for my old band.
I get an average of 30mpg, up to 34mpg on my trip to Seattle from Portland. It goes down a little when I'm pulling a loaded trailer, but not signifigantly. Unfortunately, I have had to replace the transmission, clutch, starter, battery and still need to replace a U joint - but it's a rockin little beast and the price was right. When she finaly dies for good - a bloody long way off - I will definately be getting another. She has nearly 200,000 miles now. I expect to get another 100,000 out of her.
Posted by: DuWayne at September 22, 2006 06:25 AM'72 VW Karmann Ghia. If I can find a time machine, I expect it'd get me lots of babes, in the 70's. Although I'd need new clothes, too.
Posted by: Andrew Shimmin at September 22, 2006 02:25 PM