You move to the USA, what car do you buy?
Discussion
I've recently moved from France to live in Florida, and this week I will finally be able to get a Floridan driving licence and buy a car. So after nearly two months of renting two cars, the time is coming to make a choice.
The family + dog lugger - one of the cars we rented was a Dodge Grand Caravan. Clever seats that disappear into floorpan recesses, 280 hp V6, a bit clunky but not bad. Certainly more fun than the diesel Espace, so a reasonable compromise.
So now the fun but practical car - sold my 993 turbo in France and now want a propulsion with enough room in the back for a couple of kids. This is my opportunity for a bit of american muscle, so have been debating the option. Currently have a Dodge Challenger on rental and it's good looking and OK to drive, even if the engine is a bit lazy and needs another 150 hp and I'm not crazy on automatics.
So all that to ask, if you were looking for a fun 4 seater, propulsion, front engined in the US, what would you go for? American muscle like a Mustang, Camaro or Challenger? Big engined BMW or Merc? Another option is a Porsche Panamera - ugly (IMO) but loads of them on the roads here. Any other ideas welcome.
Hopefully later it'll be time for the purely fun car, but I want a garage first. Current rental only has a car port.
The family + dog lugger - one of the cars we rented was a Dodge Grand Caravan. Clever seats that disappear into floorpan recesses, 280 hp V6, a bit clunky but not bad. Certainly more fun than the diesel Espace, so a reasonable compromise.
So now the fun but practical car - sold my 993 turbo in France and now want a propulsion with enough room in the back for a couple of kids. This is my opportunity for a bit of american muscle, so have been debating the option. Currently have a Dodge Challenger on rental and it's good looking and OK to drive, even if the engine is a bit lazy and needs another 150 hp and I'm not crazy on automatics.
So all that to ask, if you were looking for a fun 4 seater, propulsion, front engined in the US, what would you go for? American muscle like a Mustang, Camaro or Challenger? Big engined BMW or Merc? Another option is a Porsche Panamera - ugly (IMO) but loads of them on the roads here. Any other ideas welcome.
Hopefully later it'll be time for the purely fun car, but I want a garage first. Current rental only has a car port.
Thanks for replies - I've been scouting the classifieds. My conclusions so far are:
- it's time to own some yankee muscle car. Seems a shame to come all the way over here to the land of cheap "gas" and buy a European car.
- Camaro, not convinced by styling. Monster power version is a ragtop.
- Mustang, only the Shelby GT500 will do, but it really is a 2+2. I have 3 kids, and the Challenger does actually have room for 3 in the back.
- Challenger, the SRT8 models with the 6.4 litre V8 would be hard to say no to, particularly as it comes with a manual gearbox.
- Caddie CTS V - my neighbour has one. I liked the huge central exhausts hanging out the back of it and did a bit of research. Apart from it's appetite for gas (all of my choices will guzzle anyway), owners complained about nasty, shunty transmission. Looks are bit too angular for me.
- older muscle - my brother had a '66 Mustang when he lived in Houston. I think the word I'm looking for is between agricultural and rustic - let's say rusticultural. But that Bullit look is cool....
- budget, could stretch to $50k easily enough, so European cars used, US cars would have the option of new.
- am living in Coconut Grove in Miami and would prefer tintop to convertible due to extraordinary heat in summer and tropical rainstorms, no garage, etc.
Funny thing over here is that people are telling me to lease to build up my credit history. I'm maybe a bit old school, but have always preferred to buy the things that I want outright rather than on credit, the exception being houses of course. Maybe will have to overcome my stubborn principles as if we want to buy a house (to stop paying EXORBITANT rental rates) then a credit rating might be handy.
Thanks for the replies - you've given me plenty of food for thought unlike my wife. I asked her what sort of car she wants and she said "A yellow one..."
- it's time to own some yankee muscle car. Seems a shame to come all the way over here to the land of cheap "gas" and buy a European car.
- Camaro, not convinced by styling. Monster power version is a ragtop.
- Mustang, only the Shelby GT500 will do, but it really is a 2+2. I have 3 kids, and the Challenger does actually have room for 3 in the back.
- Challenger, the SRT8 models with the 6.4 litre V8 would be hard to say no to, particularly as it comes with a manual gearbox.
- Caddie CTS V - my neighbour has one. I liked the huge central exhausts hanging out the back of it and did a bit of research. Apart from it's appetite for gas (all of my choices will guzzle anyway), owners complained about nasty, shunty transmission. Looks are bit too angular for me.
- older muscle - my brother had a '66 Mustang when he lived in Houston. I think the word I'm looking for is between agricultural and rustic - let's say rusticultural. But that Bullit look is cool....
- budget, could stretch to $50k easily enough, so European cars used, US cars would have the option of new.
- am living in Coconut Grove in Miami and would prefer tintop to convertible due to extraordinary heat in summer and tropical rainstorms, no garage, etc.
Funny thing over here is that people are telling me to lease to build up my credit history. I'm maybe a bit old school, but have always preferred to buy the things that I want outright rather than on credit, the exception being houses of course. Maybe will have to overcome my stubborn principles as if we want to buy a house (to stop paying EXORBITANT rental rates) then a credit rating might be handy.
Thanks for the replies - you've given me plenty of food for thought unlike my wife. I asked her what sort of car she wants and she said "A yellow one..."
swerni said:
A yellow one you say
Like your style
French friends here are running around in a Hummer - they wanted a Jeep Wrangler, found them expensive, then saw the price of used Hummers now that petrol is getting a bit more expensive (still fill a big tank with "gas" for $60, so cheap as heck as far as I'm concerned!).Like your style
Matt Harper said:
Welcome to FL - hope you settle in well.
Couple of points: ZL1 Camaro is available in coupe - just a bit cramped in the back.
The Tremec manual trans in the 392 Challenger is just as recalcitrant and the Caddy's, unfortunately.
Building credit is a challenge, though not helped with an auto lease. It would help your credit to finance a car purchase, which is do-able, assuming you have a visa that is current for the duration of the loan, or you are a LPR.
Hi Matt - thanks for that. 3 year visa for my wife's job, while I flit overseas and work wherever while waiting for the right to work in the USA.Couple of points: ZL1 Camaro is available in coupe - just a bit cramped in the back.
The Tremec manual trans in the 392 Challenger is just as recalcitrant and the Caddy's, unfortunately.
Building credit is a challenge, though not helped with an auto lease. It would help your credit to finance a car purchase, which is do-able, assuming you have a visa that is current for the duration of the loan, or you are a LPR.
So you mean building up credit history would only be aided by a new car purchase?
deltashad said:
LotusOmega375D said:
I hear that the Toyota Prius is a very popular choice on the other side of the pond.
The Prius is somehow very California - don't know how a Prius air-con would cope with Miami.
2 doors doesn't have to rule out kids in the back, so that increases the options a bit. I know what you mean about dynamically challenged, but that doesn't stop them being fun.
Went and had a look at pictures of Pontiac G8s - it isn't very exciting is it? Looks a bit like a BMW, i.e. not very muscle car. It's the looks that keeps bringing me back to the Challenger even if the V6 version I'm driving is a very lazy thing after a Porsche turbo!
Went and had a look at pictures of Pontiac G8s - it isn't very exciting is it? Looks a bit like a BMW, i.e. not very muscle car. It's the looks that keeps bringing me back to the Challenger even if the V6 version I'm driving is a very lazy thing after a Porsche turbo!
Matt Harper said:
Remember your Pentastar V6 Challenger is hauling a 4000lb car around, so is a little horespower deficient. The current R/T has a 375hp 5.7 liter engine that responds very well to a couple of grands worth of Mopar upgrades, but the "Daddy" is the "392" Hemi - 6.4 liter 470hp elephant in the SRT-8 that is pretty much the epitome of mass production muscle. No blower or turbo, just a mountain of torque that morphs from docile burble around town to bellowing monster on WOT.
Funny that - I started looking at specs, thought the R/T looks interesting, only to arrive at the conclusion that I NEED an SRT8. Will have to shop like hell at Winn Dixie to get the gas savings I suppose. Has to be manual even if the changes need to be slow and sympathetic - auto has it's benefits around town but I don't like having a torque convertor between the engine and the wheels. When they start doing DSG/PDK type affairs I'll maybe think again.My son will be delighted to hear what you say about Sebring. Other than leaving his girlfriend the idea of losing our annual foray to Le Mans 24 hours was high on the list of major concerns. With his french/english accent the girls are wowed, and now you confirm that the racing is good too, he'll be made.
Plymouth Barracuda huh? I know nothing about them, but do like my classic cars. When I have a garage for toys there will be plenty of possibilities, but the first of the toys will have to be a 911.
That V10 M5 looks the business, but I really feel like it has to be yank tank. Maybe I'll try a muscle car and yearn for German automotive sophistication - the option is always there to sell and try something else.
That V10 M5 looks the business, but I really feel like it has to be yank tank. Maybe I'll try a muscle car and yearn for German automotive sophistication - the option is always there to sell and try something else.
Dave Hedgehog said:
this will do me
So a quick update, final result was that I bought:
- a 2012 Honda Odyssey for the family and the dog, 8 seats, 3.5 ltr V6 petrol engine, efficient and winning prizes over here.
- a lime green (my wife wanted something BRIGHT) 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 as above, 6.4 ltr V8, 470 lazy hp, nice noise, manual 6 speed.
8 days later the Dodge has already broken down and is back being fettled.....arghh
After a thread currently on PH I am now looking at E39 M5s and am very tempted to buy one with the view of then selling on the Dodge after half a year or so. I like the look of the Challenger, but reading about the problems owners are having it might end up driving me mad.
Matt Harper said:
Wow! That's not good. What broke?
Car had a brain fart as I was accelerating away from a toll booth - lots of dash lights came on (ESP, traction control, electronic throttle, check engine) and it lost all power. Turned the engine off, restarted and it was OK for a short distance. Limped home like that then got it towed to the dealer the next day.Dodge have replaced a faulty wheel speed sensor but are running further diagnostics, so wife is running around in a smashing Toyota Corolla loan car. Once we get it back I'm going to take it down to the long, straight, cop-free farm roads of Homestead to "test" the repairs.
I shouldn't have given into wifey's bright colour demands - the Challenger should be matt black to go with the noise it makes!
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