[ShortcutToMoncton]

Yeah, that really bothers me to. A friend's BMW X3 has it and it just feels more annoying than anything else.

My Accord has a Econ button that just appears to slow/soften the pedal response and let the CVT use a lower gear. I like that idea better for boring daily commutes, and it gives noticeable mileage gains.

[subego]

The Mazda3 had it, but it was much smoother than the Mini. Verging on tolerable even.

The Mini just felt like it was dying.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton 

super-practical

Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton 

4-door sedan

Hatttttttch.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

I like hatches too.

On the other hand, the shallow trunk space on hatches also annoys me - you're just forced to pile your trunk stuff vertically.

[subego]

Ever since I got the van, I've lost all sense of how the "little people" deal with cargo concerns.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton 

I like hatches too.

On the other hand, the shallow trunk space on hatches also annoys me - you're just forced to pile your trunk stuff vertically.

Don't get mad because you have to, be glad because you can.

[subego]

Since no one is going to bag on the Veloster, I will.

Or at least what seems to be a growing trend.

Does anyone actually like the shitty, tiny-ass rear windows which are all the rage?

[andi*pandi]

Perhaps they are counting on the backup camera replacing the need for a visible rear window view?

[P]

Originally Posted by subego 

Since no one is going to bag on the Veloster, I will.

Or at least what seems to be a growing trend.

Does anyone actually like the shitty, tiny-ass rear windows which are all the rage?

No. It is a consequence of other considerations. Basically, you want the entire car to be low for better aerodynamics, you want the roof to slope a bit for aerodynamics (and looks), you want the front hood to be a certain minimum height for pedestrian safety in a crash, and you want a consistent shoulder line. Even better, the rear of the car is a bit narrower than the front these days, again aerodynamics. All of this put together means that the height in the rear of the car just disappears, so the Q-glass windows turn into tiny triangles and the rear window is squished.

And yes, backup cameras are going to be standard anyway, so why bother.

[subego]

What bothers me more is the rear-view mirror telling me nothing. It's close to the point where the optics need to be full time.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by subego 

Since no one is going to bag on the Veloster, I will.

Sorry, forgot about that. They're garbage.

[Cap'n Tightpants]

Yeah, utter shit.

[subego]

I thought things were quiet on that... too quiet.

Are there huge suck vectors past the weak base engine?

[Laminar]

TrueDelta shows more repair trips vs. the Mazda3. Car and Driver rates it #16 out of 21 compacts. Mazda3, Golf, and Civic are 1-2-3.

The style says obnoxious boy-racer-wannabe. One of them showed up to an autocross last year with the entire exhaust pulled. He and a Genesis Coupe sat in the staging lanes revving at each other, then proceeded to come in nearly last out of 80 cars.

[subego]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but the major complaint about it seems to be the lawnmower engine they put in the base model.

As for whether it's a problem the car makes her look obnoxious...

She's drawn to it like a moth to flame, and you guys are already sick of her without even having met.

Do the math.

[subego]

She's so drawn to it, I'm going to flat-out demand she try a different car first. Hopefully the up-engined Mazda3 hatch.

[Cap'n Tightpants]

My issue with Hyundai, looks aside, is the general quality isn't there compared to other manufacturers. No, not initial quality, which is what you experience when something is new, but how something wears and how durable it is over time, also the non-turbo models make inadequate power, esp compared to others in their class. Essentially it's a rebodied Accent (same powertrain and subframe), which is historically one of the worst subcompacts ever made. Stats aside, I wouldn't touch one with a 12' barge pole, just going on what I've seen regarding mechanical issues over time.

An aggregated 2 out of 5 reliability index doesn't exactly inspire confidence (#31 out of 35, right above the Smart FourTwo): Hyundai Veloster Reliability | U.S. News Best Cars. On the plus side, when it does break (which seems to be almost all the time), it's pretty cheap to repair.

[subego]

Aaaaand... she was laid off.

[andi*pandi]

oh, bummer.

[subego]

I kinda think it's better this way.

They had a six hour long company meeting, and then fired a bunch of people at the end.

This masterful understanding of psychology was just perpetrated in a... mental health facility.

[Cap'n Tightpants]

Good news, at least she didn't already buy a car on credit (told ya so).

[Laminar]

Or a car requiring constant maintenance and upkeep (told ya so).

[subego]

Or a car to take her to work.

[Cap'n Tightpants]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

Or a car requiring constant maintenance and upkeep (told ya so).

You mean any car, ever (when you don't have an income)? Yeah, okay.

[subego]

She's actually still thinking about the car. I kinda think she's looking for something to look forward to. She's pretty depressed right now.

Unless something else comes up, the plan is for her to try that Mazda3 hatch and then a Veloster Turbo. I made one last play for the Focus, but the sister-in-law thing wrecks it.

It's too bad. I kinda want to try an ST. Unlike her, I can't drive stick, so taking a manual base model for a spin is out of the question.

[Cap'n Tightpants]

I get that she's depressed, but making big purchasing decisions w/o steady income is always a bad idea.

The ST in stock form is rather quick, though I stop short of calling it fast. Ours is a Tanner Foust Ed, with even more Cobb tuning bits on it (making @330hp/tq), so I sometimes forget how the OG ST car drives, the super-grippy handling is by far the best part, though.

[subego]

In general, I'd agree 100%, but she has a few life rings available if she starts to sink, and it's going to help her job prospects. Right now she's limited to places she can reasonably get to by public transportation.

[andi*pandi]

If she needs a car to get a job, she also needs to face the music, give up the cute, and start looking in the much lower price range. Hello 2009 honda civic.

[Cap'n Tightpants]

Used Toyota Corolla For Sale Chicago, IL - CarGurus

For real, check it out.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by Cap'n Tightpants 

Used Toyota Corolla For Sale Chicago, IL - CarGurus

For real, check it out.

XRS!

For an actual enthusiast, that'd be a great car. Peppy engine, six speed manual, it's the closest Toyota ever came to making an acceptable Corolla!

[subego]

Originally Posted by Cap'n Tightpants 

Used Toyota Corolla For Sale Chicago, IL - CarGurus

For real, check it out.

Yet another great find!

I'm selling it!

[Cap'n Tightpants]

Yeah, you guys have 24 hours before I set my hound to grab it and drag it back (provided it's still there).

[subego]

Then you are given leave.

She takes her own sweet time about things.

[Cap'n Tightpants]

I was just kidding. But seriously, that won't last long (if it's even still there).

[subego]

That is a spectacular deal.

I'm giving her the hard sell. Paying less than a third of what she had worked herself up to appeals even to her capricious nature.

[Laminar]

It doesn't look sporty or project the image of sportiness like she wants, but it's legitimately sporty - 0-60 in the high 6s is pleeenty of pep, right on par with the 2.5 Mazda3.

[subego]

It actually passes her cute test.

[Cap'n Tightpants]

Also it has a pretty trick suspension, given what it is, and beefy factory anti-roll bars, meaning the handling is going to be much better than most other econoboxes (but first thing I'd get a new set of BFGoodrich g-Force COMP-2 A/S tires and ditch those Chinese Falken clones.

[subego]

Tried a CR-V...

Meh. Dash was nice.

While I can swing without a cup-holder, I wouldn't have minded if there was one.

[subego]

As for our intrepid car-owner to be, she's a few inches away from being institutionalized (I wish I were kidding), so things are definitely on hold.

She's not taking the job loss well.

[Cap'n Tightpants]

"Institutionalized"? Is this someone who lives with you?

[subego]

She is as of a couple hours ago. General agreement is she isn't an extreme risk, but shouldn't be alone with her thoughts for extended periods.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

Originally Posted by subego 

Tried a CR-V...

Meh. Dash was nice.

While I can swing without a cup-holder, I wouldn't have minded if there was one.

Not sure what you mean. Was this an older model? There are the standard two front cupholders in the CRV in the normal spot - in the console between the front seats. I suspect also in the door panels, but I can't remember if it also has the middle-rear-seat-back-panel pull-down as well (like my Accord).

For non-luxury crossover vehicles the CR-V, the Mazda CX-5 and the Subaru Forester were the nicest options IMO - I pretty much tried all off them except the Tiguan (which I've heard is also nice). I wanted more off-road ground clearance and went with the Forester.

The CR-V is scheduled to be re-designed for the 2017 model year I think, so that should be interesting later this year.

[subego]

Turns out there are inserts... which had been jacked.

Saw it because our heroine also rented a CR-V... but for her emergency psychiatrist appointment.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

Ahhh okay.

I liked the CR-V. Interesting gearshift placement - takes away the traditional "junk box" underneath the media panel in exchange for a nice large space between the seats. The engine performs fairly well for the segment - they make you step up to an Acura instead of having a larger option though - and Honda has done a typically nice job with their CVT, which is noticeably better than the one in my Forester.

Too bad they haven't put Apple CarPlay in it, yet. Maybe they're saving it for the new '17. I really enjoy it on my Accord although it's still pretty underdeveloped at this point - hopefully Apple does well with it.

[subego]

For the last two days I've felt like Max von Sydow in The Exorcist.

[subego]

She's off "suicide watch", so that's a definite improvement.

[Cap'n Tightpants]

Is this your girlfriend?

[subego]

Platonically.

[Cap'n Tightpants]

Dude...