Loving a certain car can sometimes have unintended consequences. What will people think of you if you happily own a diesel Volkswagen in a post-Dieselgate world? Can you be seen driving around in that Ford F-350 you’ve always wanted? Do you love big ol’ Dodge cars, but don’t like the meme they’ve become? Here’s a simple answer to all of these questions.
Earlier today, we got a peek at the bones of Dodge’s next muscle cars. They seem to look pretty good and at least for now in these early stages, look pretty close to the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT EV concept car.
New Charger, who dis? pic.twitter.com/2HjbZ0U5JK
— Takuro Spirit (@TakuroSpirit) October 17, 2023
Reader Nsane In The MembraNe is in love with Mopar’s American muscle, but is concerned with the potential image of being associated with people who tear up the streets in a Challenger or Charger:
I really wish that these cars somehow existed independently of the type of crowd that they attract. Say what you will about the ancient platform etc, but the current Challenger is a ridiculously good looking car and the new one seems like it is as well. Pulling off a retro/modern design is very difficult, and yet Dodge of all people somehow knows how to do it perfectly.
I’m also excited to see the ICE variants of this, particularly the hurricane 6 which on paper seems to be a really enticing engine…and I love that you can find nice examples of assorted V8 Challengers in the 35-45 range all day every day. That’s cool! V8s are cool! Affordable performance is cool! This will have EV/ICE/maybe hybrid options. That’s cool! And the Challenger has always had a big trunk and usable back seats.
But every time I see a car doing something incredibly dangerous on the road if it isn’t a Nissan it’s usually a Charger/Challenger. If someone pulls up next to me trying to race through a residential area it’s always a Charger/Challenger. Every buy here pay here lot is chock full of them, Dodge will finance anyone with a pulse, and if there’s a car involved in a crime scene or a viral video running from the cops sure enough it’s usually a Challenger.
It’s lame. There were times when I seriously considered buying an RT or Scat Pack in the past but as a mid 30s professional I just don’t think I want to be associated with the image these things have. People are going to make assumptions, and I’m pretty much on the polar opposite side of the equation to the usual crowd who lusts after these.
Can you separate the art from the artist? I don’t know if I can…but we’ll see what the new one is like. With inflation/gouging likely increasing the eventual prices of these by a substantial margin and the inclusion of electrification, there’s a nonzero chance the new one will appeal to a more diverse crowd.
I feel this so much, our Hyundai N-themed friend!
Back when I was 15 and in high school, I discovered and immediately fell in love with the Smart Fortwo. During one lunch period, everyone at my table was talking about their favorite cars. I heard many typical poster vehicles ranging from the McLaren F1 to classic Chevrolet Camaros. Me? I blurted out “2008 Smart Fortwo.”
From that point forward and lasting through pretty much all of high school, I was mocked for liking a “gay car” (the actual word was far worse). I was told I wasn’t a real car person and that I should be ashamed of myself. Even worse, my own parents hated the car so much that they questioned my sexuality. All of that was just because I professed love for one tiny car. It got bad enough that I started to force myself to consider cars I wasn’t even interested in, just so people would leave me alone.
Amusingly, when I did finally get my first Smart in 2012, my former classmates actually congratulated me for sticking to my dream despite what people told me. So, today, I cannot recommend V10omous comment enough:
Man, life is way too short to worry what others think of your car. Drive what makes you happy.
The most notorious drivers of most of the vehicles I own have very little in common with me politically or socially either. That doesn’t bother me a bit when I’m driving them.
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Let your freak flag fly, I say! Have a great evening, everyone.
It’s funny, I was just discussing something similar with my wife lately. I just picked up a 2012 Infiniti G37x sedan a few months ago, and I absolutely love it. I joined a Facebook owners group to learn about my new ride. One thing I learned right away, to both my chagrin and amusement, is that there is a significant faction of flat-brim behatted tuner douchebro types in that community. I never knew. I’m 51 years old. I thought it was hilarious that that I might risk getting misinterpreted as putting out “how do you do, fellow kids” vibes.
But since I have no plans for overdone wheels and tires, straight pipes, or LEDs and shit; or worse, some monstrosity called a “Tesla screen” that involves a giant stupid touchscreen replacing the entire center stack, including the physical controls that are one of my favorite things inside the car; or worst of all, sTaNcE yO, there’s little chance of that. It’s a grown man’s car and it will stay that way.
…as far as YOU know. Heh.
I fully support that take BUT what a car represents matters to me. Part of why I love Datsun Zs is that they are the every person sports car. They are beautiful but unpretentious, performant but attainable.
Having been raised in a modest household, fancy has never been my style, so this japanese coupe fits me like a glove.
I’ve enjoyed reading the comments to this post as much as any since the site was started.
I’ve always owned something that was my choice. Being able to buy cheap and fix it up helps.
I always loved wagons for their looks, practicality, and because they were usually rarer than their sedan counterparts. Drove one in high school by choice. My sister hated being seen in it, I’d say take the bus and stop making me late every day.
As a kid I also loved most minivans. I say most as I thought the Aerostar was beaten with an ugly stick. But the Gen 1 Chrysler minivans looked great. And the new Gen 1 Dustbuster vans to me were like any other kid’s Corvette. I had pictures of them in my locker.
I have a very short automotive attention span and switch cars often, which gives me a lot of experience with other people’s hot takes on whatever oddball vehicle I might have at the time.
By far, the most vitriol and general derision I’ve gotten is with my current Tesla M3P.
People just can’t help but express their strong opinions about me joining the cult of Elon, having sudden onset Tesla tech bro elitist politics, being a smug climate warrior, giving money to Space Trump, lithium mining environmental horrors, etc.
Pick your stereotype and I’ve heard it, especially on other brand forums.
Plus, they have very strong opinions about the car itself: “I would never tolerate a central screen”, “The battery will fail and you’ll be screwed” “Tesla quality is crap” “What about panel gap” ” Service centers are lousy” “phantom braking” full self driving dangers”
It’s humorous in one sense and disappointing in another.
While I realize some people just can’t accept a new automaker that broke the mold on how things are traditionally done, they seem more emotionally invested in Tesla than actual Tesla owners.
It’s just a car, people. It’s not necessarily a personal identity or political statement for most owners.
EVs are the future, whether we like it or not. Tesla just happens to make the most compelling argument for buying an EV, at least for now.
When I decided I wanted to get myself a RWD V8 with a manual (preferably a coupe), I looked at the Challenger and Mustang. Both are very popular and are often associated with the street racing and takeover problem we have in the area. As such the folks who drive them often find themselves more tightly watched by local law enforcement. Not that one should break the rules of the road, but the scrutiny I would suggest is annoying.
In general, I’m down with drive what you want, damn the others, but if you can get the same basic experience in a car that doesn’t have the stigma, I would say do it.
(Got a well-cared for 2005 GTO, which despite being “look-at-me” yellow doesn’t seem to attract that much attention)
When I was in the car with my dad last year and we passed an early 1990s Pontiac Sunbird, I said I wouldn’t mind having one of those. My dad looked and me and said “Why would you want that piece of shit?”
I told him “Because nobody expects to get left behind in the mountains by a Sunbird.”
I still maintain that getting a Sunbird of that era and doing unspeakable things to it to push it above 250HP is not only a good idea, but a necessary one.
There was also a Chevrolet Beretta GT that came up on Craigslist for $500 recently. I wanted it, but the only reason I couldn’t get it was because I couldn’t convince somebody to roadtrip with me up to New York to buy “a piece of shit.”
I maintain that the lowest rungs of cars need to be cherished and protected and I will not be shamed for wanting things like a Ford Festiva.
I fully support such sleeper shenanigans. As I often say, I dream of getting a 70s Dodge Dart/Plymouth Valiant, a church secretary car, and secretly loading it with a nasty Hemi and suspension goodies. While still rolling on steelies and poverty caps.
I adore my 1968 Beetle. I’ve owned some seriously quick and cool cars in the 15 years I’ve had a license, but nothing gives me joy like that car. I’ve spent 5 years restoring it with my dad, and it’s been my dream car for as long as I can remember (probably since the first time I saw The Love Bug). I have been told numerous times it’s “girly” but I could seriously not care less. I love my bug.
I feel like this about the Prowler. I love the way it looks and sounds. I don’t care if people think the engine isn’t as powerful as it could be. I mean what other car comes with a matching trailer like that? I would jump on one in heart beat if I could afford it. (Only in purple though. Not only my favorite color, but it looks so cool in that dark purple!)
Purple is indeed the correct color for a Prowler!
Honestly one of the best parts about getting older is just not giving a shit about what other people think anymore. It’s actually very empowering and kinda fun!
Slightly before vanlyfe/vancamping, etc.. took off I was daily driving an Astro that always had a bed in the back of it.
I would park it every single day in a lot full of my co-workers Teslas and some BMWs.
Every day some people would make fun of me for it, and I remember one specific day where a coworker got out of his i8… for real….an i8 and he started making fun of my Astro and I waited until they were finished. Then I said “Ok, are you finished? Good.. because your fly has been open this entire time you’ve been talking…”
…his face turned pretty red, and shuffled away. That was a fun moment for me.
That line about “concerned with the potential image of being associated with people who…” sums up the reason I have never been to a C&C or Autopian carshow. I drive one of those cars the Internet loves to show misbehaving when the owner departs the event.
If you are one of the people who drives like a normal human being, I think judgment would be withheld at an Autopian show. C&C? Not so positive about that one. They’re really not my vibe.
Adolescents can be real shitheads. Homophobia can be extra scary because (like a lot of misogyny) it often carries an implicit threat of violence. So, Mercedes, I’m sorry you had to go through that.
And now, with the courage from this article, I am here to say:
(1) Grey is my favorite exterior car color! I HATE almost all “cool” colored cars! Grey forever!
(2) CUVs are the bestest, most practical vehicles on the road! Eat me!
*hulks out*
No, that honor is reserved for the minivan. 🙂
I’m with you on grey, though… I unapologetically like grey cars.
(And I, too, am sorry Mercedes had to deal with that.)
Maybe it is nostalgia, but the fake wood paneling just does it for me.
Doing my best here, but if you like Teslas… let…you…be…you…
//collapses
I have mixed feelings about Teslas. I love that they’re electric and relatively sero compared to everything else on the market. The integrated capacitive touch screen controlling everything, all of the tech, the car able to snitch on its owner, the Elon cult and Tesla able to disable your car for you, the expensive repairs… not so much.
The automotive landscape today is so bleak that in spite of all of the glaring flaws, Tesla is among the most appealing of car brands to me. But it’s not nearly appealing enough, because I have zero intent of buying one, unless it is a salvage yard wreck to strip components from for my own project.
Can we all agree that “who cares what anyone else thinks” doesn’t mean you can be an asshole because you “don’t care about what anyone else thinks”.
I think there is a not so fine line between not letting the judgment of others dictate what it is you enjoy… and being a complete ass because “F U I don’t care what you think”.
One perspective means you can drive a Scat Pack Charger and not care that others will judge you. To each his (or her) own.
The other perspective means you can drive a Scat Pack Charger at 100mph while weaving in and out of traffic. Or, do hard pulls to 60 mph through a 25mp residential street, or rev your (shitty sounding) exhaust down the parkway constantly at 12:30 at night.
I think the line is drawn where one’s actions/choices bring harm to others. The way I see it: no harm, no foul. Otherwise, “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.” If someone wants to hoon the crap out of their car, just don’t hurt or kill someone or even so much as interrupt their sleep. If you fuck up, take responsibility for it.
On the subject of committing random acts of jackassery with a motor vehicle, a lot can be learned from Japanese Bosozoku culture. Deliberate effort was made not to harm anyone.
Also, given your name is about your Goat eating your homework, I think a Baphomet avatar would be apropos.
The first is definitely what I meant.
The unfair judgements I don’t like are the ones against the car and its owner, not the ones against the behavior.
I drive a Viper in the summer. The modal Viper owner is a blue collar worker or small business owner, often hardcore MAGA. None of which describes me.
I drive an F350 in the winter. The stereotypical F350 driver rolls coal, runs bicycles off the road, squats the truck on wide tires, etc. None of which I’ve done.
I’ve owned a VW New Beetle and MR2 Spyder (chick cars, duh), I’ve owned a 911 (douchebag dentist), I have a minivan now (boring, not enthusiast), I have a Cadillac on order (old man), I’d buy a Corvette instantly if I could (New Balance, jean shorts) and so on.
I used to care. I don’t anymore.
What’s the difference between a porcupine and a Porsche?
….with a Porsche the pricks are on the inside!
(I fucking love Porsches but I’ve always gotten a kick out of this one)
This joke was always about Lambeau Field when I was a kid in MN.
I also got in trouble when I proudly told it to my parents before I knew what a prick really meant.
I think that is what most people here mean by it.
But I just had to say it, because that’s what it’s come to. If we don’t stand up and make such a comment someone, somewhere will be like “that’s right I don’t give a F what you think” and pretend that is what we all are subscribing to. They hear what they want to hear unless we are crystal clear.
“I have a minivan now (boring, not enthusiast)”
An contraire! Minivan enthusiasts DO exist for I am one!
The point of all listing all the stereotypes is that they aren’t always accurate.
Not in my case anyway.
FUCK YOUR FEELINGS!
One is just not caring about social judgement from other people who don’t even know you. The other is being antisocial to psychopathic depending upon how far one goes with it. The first is positively considering yourself in a secure way to enjoy yourself at nobody else’s expense, the second is a negative that comes from a place of damage, fear, and anger—an aggressive disregard of everyone else and gaining a kind of satisfaction at others’ expense. While the shorthand can sound the same, they are polar-opposed.
Dammit. I’m inspired. This is my coming out day. Here it is..
I like the PT Cruiser.
This is the way.
I’ve already shared this smoldering take repeatedly here and I’ll say it again: I don’t loathe crossovers and the vitriol directed at them from enthusiasts is ridiculous. I’ll certainly never drive an anonymous grayscale egg shaped blob with a CVT personally, but to act like it’s a total fluke/anomaly/everyone but me is DUMB type of situation that they’re so popular is ridiculous.
Everyone wants them because they work. I know that many enthusiasts are still firmly in the YOU SHOULD EITHER DRIVE A MANUAL TOYOBARU OR MINIVAN NOTHING ELSE IS ACCEPTABLE camp but people need the extra space, the extra ride height is handy for folks who aren’t flexible/if you live in a place with terrible roads, and even if you don’t NEED all wheel drive some people feel better knowing they have it…and seeing as I see idiots slamming their cars into telephone poles as soon as there’s a single drop of rain, I’m okay with normies having an extra traction fail safe.
If you lowered CUVs/crossovers by a few inches, gave them all manuals, and marketed them as hatchbacks enthusiasts would line up around the block to buy them and proclaim that these are the best of times.
Most of them would have to lose at least 1 ton of mass as well before they caught my attention. Hot hatches used to weigh around 2000 lbs. Such a light thing with a modern powertrain would be amazing.
And crumple like a soda can should you misuse that modern powertrain.
Depends on how it’s designed, and what materials are used. There are no shortage of cars overseas that fit this description which still pass the standards of their own countries, some of which are more stringent in many ways than FMVSS. Some of these subcompacts, you can crash at 120 mph on the Autobahn and have a good chance of walking away without injury.
What most people want and need is a transportation appliance. A CUV carries stuff, gives them the heightened seating position / h-point they want, and might once or twice in its life do a little soft-roading.
Look, it’s not for me, but when my son and his wife needed another car I approved of their decision to buy a RAV4 because it does exactly what they need. And it’s not even like their car enthusiast credentials are lacking – my daughter-in-law daily drove an F-150 for over a decade and she and her family are very into older American iron. My son is still driving the ’92 Honda Civic I got him as his first car (and we’ve put quite a bit of love into that car over the years). Someday my son and I will do an electric conversion on an interesting car.
Point being is that it makes a lot of sense to have at least one safe, boring, reliable car in a household.
My wife dailies a CRV. It’s perfect for her and us. It gives us extra space when we need it and it’s a bit comfier/softer than my Kona N for road trips. It’s also all wheel drive and does pretty well in the snow. It’s on the older side (2015, about 70,000 miles) but it’s been bulletproof and hasn’t needed anything other than routine maintenance and the usual wear items like brake pads etc.
I couldn’t agree more. If you’re going to have more than one car one of them might as well be an appliance…and as a result her attitude with me is that she’s fine with me having fun cars as long as they’re not hella compromised. Thus why I’ve been going from hot hatch to hot hatch.
Yeah man, couldn’t agree more…my wife has a CR-V and I have an Accord…and we both drive them and love them (I love Hondas a lot- they are so reliable in my opinion- depending on the year/transmission) They are perfect for daily drivers…and at the same time my true love is in all classics especially muscle cars, classic trucks, etc which I’ve never had! …but it’s a huge dream. 2 of my dream Hondas are CRX & Prelude…I’ve come close as I have previously owned 2 late 80’s Accords, both 5spd’s w/ flip up lights and loved them (didn’t even care to fix the A/C even in TX since I worked outside all day so it didn’t matter)
I have to say that even though I am very opinionated about cars, & will admit sometimes I fall for the stereotypes, etc I am trying to stop passing judgment to others and I think since finding The Autopian (the best site ever in my opinion) it has helped me since it’s such a more positive place!
(I wrote that & it sounded like I was in an AA group or therapy! Ha ha…but seriously…I love cars more than anything in the world, am obsessed w/ them and The Autopian community REALLY does help me in my daily life…so THANK YOU everyone- also Nsane- didn’t mean to put that all in your comment; also can’t even tell you have much I love that song!)
Oops- I meant “how” much I love that song
Thanks, and I’m glad you’re happy in this big, unapologetically weird, relentlessly kind community! I’m a big fan of old school hip hop and I drive a Hyundai N, so it fits perfectly 🙂
Crossovers are fine. When you want a wagon and there aren’t any, a crossover is the next best thing.
The PT Cruiser looked interesting, came in great colors, and had an insanely practical interior. No one should sh!t on it.
Except birds. They can’t help it.
I like it when a manufacturer takes a risk on appearance like that. Sometimes it works for me, sometimes it doesn’t. Nissan Cube, Nissan Juke, Kia Soul, Nissan Leaf (there’s a pattern here) – I’m sure there are others that aren’t springing to mind right away.
What’s supposed to be wrong with it, again? It’s cute. They tried something. It sold by the boatload.
It is almost as good as the HHR!
I hated the HHR. But it’s growing on me. Particularly the panel van version.
Man, I love crappy cars. I think the fact that a 1994 Geo Metro can (in theory, according to KBB) get 51 mpg on the highway is awesome. I wish the Suzuki Samurai/Jimny was still sold in the US. The Del Sol is one of Honda’s best designs and the fact they don’t sell anything analogous currently is criminal. Toyota’s coolest truck is the ’88 pickup with the 22r engine.
The Metro’s Cd value was way higher than it needed to be for the type of car it was. If maximizing fuel economy for the given degree of practicality that the car provided without dramatically increasing build cost was the goal, a more slippery version could have gotten upwards of 80 mpg.
The car was already ridiculed for its subcompact size, its aesthetics, and its lack of safety anyway, so it was really a missed opportunity for GM to give it a CdA value like the EV1. If anything, it might have helped sales by increasing its biggest strength: fuel economy.
Except that not a single one of the cars you mentioned is what I would call crappy.
I can sort of relate to this. In the early 2000s when I was in high school, before Tesla was even known, one of my dream cars was an AC Propulsion TZero, which was EV conversion of a Piontek Sportech kit car capable of 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds. Another was the Opel Eco Speedster, a 94 mpg US capable turbodiesel badge-engineered Lotus Elise with slippery aero(0.20 Cd) and only 112 horsepower that could still reach 160 mph. I got some shit for those choices, but it’s not like it bothered me because I was already an outcast anyway.
Today, I drive a “bicycle” while I work on finishing up my Triumph GT6 EV conversion/restomod. This “bicycle” is closer to being an electric microcar than an actual bicycle but is perfectly functional as the latter when you need it to be. It is set up this way to get around various motor vehicle definitions and remain unregistered without insurance, legally. Now with 13 horsepower, it has enough acceleration to take a V6 Dodge Charger(tried it at a stoplight and pulled ahead of the Charger to about 30 mph), and costs so little to operate it’s cheaper than taking mass transit.
Its major downside is all of the attention it draws. Nearly every random jackass with a smartphone hangs out the window of whatever vehicle they are in to yell mostly mumbled things while recording it. I’m locally known in the hood as “That Little Rascals Guy”. Fucks given? Zero.
Old random footage of an earlier unmotorized prototype:
https://vimeo.com/284616898
https://vimeo.com/284616919
When I add motors to the front wheels and upgrade this thing to AWD and maybe even 25+ horsepower, I’ve got my sights set on potentially trolling the local Hellcats.
“When I add motors to the front wheels and upgrade this thing to AWD and maybe even 25+ horsepower, I’ve got my sights set on potentially trolling the local Hellcats.”
I’d be concerned the bruised ego of the Hellcat owner in the heat of the moment would convince him to make an incredibly tragic, life alteringly stupid choice like this moron:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/16-old-driver-truck-ran-202200623.html
An incredibly tragic, life alteringly stupid choice like … using Yahoo?
lolololol
Um, OK whatever.
Here’s the linked update from the law office handling the case:
https://www.bikelaw.com/2021/11/felony-charges-for-waller-driver/
Happy now?
I was happy before too, but thanks!
I’m happy for you.
Carry on.
That could happen without someone having a bruised ego.
This vehicle is getting a roll cage because of how vulnerable it is. It’s not the hoons and illegal street racers that scare me. Nor is it the drunk/drugged drivers that scare me.
The drivers I fear the most are boobus Americanus in their SUV/CUV/truck staring at their damned phones instead of the road. They’re ubiquitous. They maintain the appearance of following traffic law driving oversized vehicles, while being the largest risk factor for everyone else on the road. The drunks/druggies and the hoons are generally NOT trying to wreck, while boobus Americanus doesn’t care because they feel “safe” in their oversized road hippos.
One does not preclude the other. Unfortunately those risks are additive.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t have fun, just please be careful. Dodge purposefully cultivates the anti-social asshole element in its customers:
“Dodge is about muscle, attitude and performance, and the brand carries that chip on its shoulder”
– Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis
While there is certainly something to be said for owning whatever car you want, nothing exists in a vacuum. If I were to, say, buy a Jeep Wrangler, not only do I recognize the image it puts forth, but I also know that some Jeep people might see me as one of their own and engage me as such. For some, that community is part of the goal. For others, it is a potential downside.
Even if Harley Davidson made a motorcycle that suited my needs and budget perfectly, I’ve been around enough bikers to know that I don’t really want to be accepted by or associated with the Harley or nothing crowd. Doesn’t mean it would stop me, but it would be a consideration.
So I get what Nsane is talking about, at least in some cases. I don’t think the Dodge driver reputation would stop me from owning one, but it’s certainly not unreasonable to consider.
That said, if the problem is judgment in the way you dealt with, Mercedes, I absolutely think the best thing is to ignore the bullshit and get what you want. Letting people control you through mockery and bullying, especially using homophobia, just makes you miserable and normalizes shittiness. Many of us (myself included) have spent too much time and energy keeping our heads down and “fitting in” (not really, of course), only to find it keeps us from pursuing our happiness.
Also, I’m sorry you went through that and I’m glad you came out on the other side of it.
My brother was shamed into trading in his Fiat 500 Abarth by the suits he worked with because it was “too loud and unprofessional”. It was stock, but those cars didn’t come with mufflers so it was loud, but also awesome. He then got a gray Audi A3, which was nice, but also boring.
My daily is boring, but I still get crap because the “boss” shouldn’t drive a 12+ year old minivan with a jillion miles on it and a stickshift. I own wacky shit and drive them all because I give zero Fs what people think about what I drive.
🙁
Haters gonna hate.
Worked at a Mercedes dealer years ago, GM told me I had to park in the back because my W8 was lowered on big wheels and had an exhaust and it was “unprofessional”. I parked in the front row beside the lot from then on and cruised through the lot instead of pulling in the back. One day he called my personal phone from a blocked number and told me I was a piece of shit for answering the phone “hello?” instead of a “formal greeting” and threatened to fire me and “ruin my reputation” for having such an unprofessional car and being so rude. He was fired ~a week later (and like 3 days before his custom ordered GLS came in, which was hilarious). Wasn’t related but I felt vindicated. And all my customers fucking loved my car. Moral of the story, let your freak flag flyyy.
Words can’t express how much I want this story to be about a Vector W8.
If I ever get into the business of dealing/doing coke, it’s going down.
Well said on this COTD. I see and think the same thing but it might not stop me from buying one.
How about you get a 300C instead? That way co-workers dont know about your inner-hoon but also dont think you are a criminal with 0 credit?
Obviously the Hyundai lover has not seen a mustang owner feeling self conscious about his ride and thus overcompensating with open exhaust and attempting to hoon at every corner….well maybe you missed it because they tend to only do it once and then have to send said Moustang to Copart.
That being said, if he wants to be associated with professionalism, while still having a fast and somewhat reliable cheap car, the Genesis G70 get way more respect from most over anything as plebian as the Hyundai line up. 😉
And, yet, here you are, the one who is writing for the best automotive site in the world. LOL on them. You rock Mercedes. Being young is mostly being dumb. I’m sorry you had to go through that in your life.
My comment led to some quality discussion, which is what this site is all about. We’ll see what the next few years hold for me! I’ll remain in the Kona N for the foreseeable future since the wife and I are trying to have kids, but I’ve told her that if we succeed I’m getting a sporty coupe of some sort once the little ones can safely be crammed in small back seat. Maybe the new Challenger will be on my list alongside the M2.
Can you fit a rear-facing carseat in the Kona? I got so excited when mine were big enough to go in the front-facing seats. Now I can shove them in the back of a Porsche if I want!
It can, but it’ll be tight. My wife has a CRV and will eventually be getting a nicer midsized SUV to replace it, so my car isn’t going to be the full-time hauler. Her one requirement is that my car needs to be able to serve in that role in a pinch.
So a hot hatch is as good as it’s going to get for now unless I want to spend $50,000+ on a luxury performance sedan…which will be tempting in a few years but I’ve only had my Kona N since June of 22 and it’s about half paid off/I’ve gotten a sizable raise since I bought it so it’s well under budget, which is nice. I don’t really even have to worry about the payment every month. I could pay it off today if I really wanted to but the interest rate is low so I’m not going to bother until the balance is only 4 figures.
I also ditched my GTI after only 2 years to get into the Kona N…which is fine because I got a huge upgrade in pretty much every way in the process but it was objectively stupid financially and there’s no way my wife is going to be cool with me pulling that nonsense a second time.
The absolute earliest I’d consider getting out of it will be when it’s paid off. I’ll never be jumping from a not fully paid off car to another again. It was fine-ish because I had a lot of equity in the GTI and I went from one low interest rate to another…but objectively speaking it was extremely dumb financially. My wife and I make good enough money that we don’t really need to stress about finances right now but not enough that we can just go out and make multiple unforced errors…
I’d deal with a tight fit for a Kona N. They’re on my “If they ever make a hybrid …” list.
Best of luck with the whole baby-making endeavor!
The COTD is what the Autopian is about. Like what you want to drive.
A Ford Pinto is your dream go for it.
While I may not like the car, I appreciate your passion.
Funny you should use Pinto as your example. I would actually love to resto-mod a Pinto. If it weren’t for a serious lack of time and talent, I would.
That darn lack of talent holds me back from doing so many things I would like to do haha
There’s a guy around where I live that has a shit brown Maverick that’s cammed to the point where you can count the firing order. Every time I see it I’m like “you know what dude? Good for you.” I wouldn’t own it in a million years, but I can appreciate it
https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/classic-cars/g1781211/restored-1978-ford-pinto-turbo-coupe-engine-swap/?slide=8
The turbo Lima engine is exactly what I would do with a Pinto. I’d prefer the orange to be a little more burnt (no Pinto joke intended), but I love the plaid seats!
Even though I took auto shop in high school, I really learned to wrench on a pumpkin colored 1972 Pinto. It had the 2.0 Lima engine with a cam and a four on the floor.
I wants it. And the Volvo 480, and the C30. I’m a sucker for a big glass hatch.