Car gurus, CS to Houston (90 miles one way) commute 3 times a week. Car ego not a big factor, but relative comfort and economy are factors. Got any ideas? TIA

I am in the same boat, look forward to hearing some input from the gurus.

VW Golf or Passat TDI. Maintenance will be more expensive than a Honda but find a local Shop you can trust and it won't be too bad.

Otherwise they have nice interiors, excellent range and mileage, and good handling and power.

An Audi a3 TDI is also a good choice.

Had an Accord for a long time and they're great for this. My only complaint was road noise but I'm to understand the new body design is better.

I did this for 3 months with 2 co-workers. We had a new 2013 Toyota Camry, a 2008 Infiniti G35 sedan, and a 2006 Chrysler 300 SRT. If I cared about features, mileage, and confort I'd go with the Toyota. It was roomier than the Infiniti and got better milage than the 300. It also had satilite radio and a softer ride. The 300 is the best long road trip cruiser since the seats grab you in all the right places and you can stretch out your legs. Were I 5'8" and 170 lb the Infiniti would have been good but I could never get comfortable.

Panther platform from FoMoCo and Done.

There's a reason LOLOlds loved them.

Budget?

Budget @25.

Is the Panther platform the Crown Vic?

Stretch limo.

You don't have to drive as far.

Tee,

yes, the Panther platform is the Crown Vic and all the variants.

Toyota Avalon > > Panther

I bought a 2011 Avalon for this reason. Comfy and quiet although it can put me to sleep at times.

Right now averaging 24.1 mpg lifettime. 50/50 city highway.

I commute two days a week at 60-65 miles each way, about 400 total for the week in a 2012 Focus SEL, comfy, quiet interior, averages about 33. Got it for 15k at one year old.

Whatever Lexus LS $25,000 will buy; although the Avalon would also be an excellent choice.

If you want to be really adventurous, go with E-Class diesel, preferably after '04.

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Panther platform from FoMoCo and Done.

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Mercury Marauder

KY AG - funny you should mention Lexus LS. I am currently doing this commute in a gently used 02 LS 430 (traded cars with a relative for a couple weeks) and it is very nice indeed. If a person is after MPGs, however, it's not the answer, I am getting about 22 or so.

I've commuted ~120 per day for the last 27 months, all in DFW traffic. I had this same concern when I started, and after considering and test driving numerous cars, I bought a certified 3 year old Lexus ES350. It's extremely comfortable, has plenty of power when I need it, and I average about 26 mpg.

[This message has been edited by Txlawdawg (edited 2/17/2014 9:35p).]

Don't get a Civic; they are TERRIBLE!

Im in sales and drive anywhere between 400-1000 miles a week. I had a VW TDI that got great mileage. However, I soon realized that maintenance, both preventative and non, were a PITA and expensive. It got to the point where any savings I got in fuel were negated by the car being in the shop.
I now drive a 2013 camry. Got to this conclusion by asking many mechanics "what car do you never see in the shop. or What is the most reliable car out there." Every single one said the camry. Yes, I sacrifice a bit with fuel but I know that the likelihood of having major work done to the car is minimal. Hoping fluid changes and genera PM will keep it running forever.
Just my $.02

^^^^

Never let a VW stealership service a TDI. Go to the TDI club forums and find out where the competent TDI mechanics are in your area. http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=130044

I do about 100 to 150 miles a day, and I'll probably get some grief for this, but I'm thinking about replacing the gas pig with V6 8 speed 300S. I just keep coming back to it.

I'll give up some mpgs for comfort and some room.



That's still a couple of years away I think. No car payment is awesome and I still enjoy the Grand Cherokee.

Then I start thinking that going back to the 5.7 would make it interesting. That would make a great road-tripper. What's a couple more mpgs?

Well, after that mileage penalty, what the hell, the SRT8 would be fun as **** then I'm back to the same mpg I currently get and it no longer makes any sense.

It's a vicious cycle.


[This message has been edited by p_bubel (edited 2/18/2014 12:31a).]

This thread should have stopped at TDI.

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I do about 100 to 150 miles a day, and I'll probably get some grief for this, but I'm thinking about replacing the gas pig with V6 8 speed 300S. I just keep coming back to it.

I'll give up some mpgs for comfort and some room.



That's still a couple of years away I think. No car payment is awesome and I still enjoy the Grand Cherokee.

Then I start thinking that going back to the 5.7 would make it interesting. That would make a great road-tripper. What's a couple more mpgs?

Well, after that mileage penalty, what the hell, the SRT8 would be fun as **** then I'm back to the same mpg I currently get and it no longer makes any sense.

It's a vicious cycle.

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Now THIS is logic I can get behind.

300C or SRT8 would kick ass as a hwy roadtripper.

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Cirrus SR22.

Great economy and speed. Gets 15 mpg at nearly 200 mph.

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Could have bought 20 Cubs.

Vans RV6. 200 mph and 20 mpg.

Doesnt Cirrus come with a parachute?

Yes it does druggist. But surprisingly more fatalities happen in cirrus aircraft.

http://www.hovding.com/en/how_it_works/

Need this technology for small aircraft pilots.

Havent driven a camry in a while til this week. Mundane as ever. And it bounced much more than ever. Maybe my ass is getting bonier in my middle age or something.

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Yes it does druggist. But surprisingly more fatalities happen in cirrus aircraft.

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This could consist of an entire thread in itself if enough pilot/aviation types are around. Don't get me wrong, I think that the Cirrus is a great plane and would be awesome as a cross country machine, but it has it's flaws (false perceptions). I am of the opinion that the space shuttle level of avionics combined with the parachute give many of the low time pilots flying them (the entire marketing strategy is you buying one as a first plane) a false sense of security and they get themselves into a dangerous situation far too easily. The same false perceptions could be said of many planes out there though, the Bonanza and Mitsubishi MU-2 come to mind.

tldr: go get beat to hell training in an old taildragger or Cessna, then buy something nicer.

Center, absolutely correct on everything you wrote. That's a whole 'nuther thread.

I sucked at landing a cessna 172 in 20 knott crosswind in spring time Texas. I knew I was a danger to me and the society flying a plane. So I bought a motorhome.

I did that on Friday taking 2 guys up for their first time flying in something other than a jet. 23kts directly across the runway in a 172, made for a pretty cool video one of them took.

I regularly land my Cub in 18-25 kts quartering crosswinds, 16 kts is about the most I feel comfortable with in a direct crosswind, not real fun hitting the stops looking for more aileron. Those make you learn what the little pedals coming out of the floor are for!

[This message has been edited by CenterHillAg (edited 2/18/2014 10:57a).]

Dang I miss flying...