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best car to carry gear?
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geohey



Joined: 01 Jul 2008
Posts: 3

PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

the three cars you've narrowed it down to are all good choices. I had considered the Mazda3 several yrs ago and test drove one, but found torque steer to be annoying. ymmv. i had also driven the wrx and that was an amazing car for spirited driving on back country roads but found the interior to be a little chintzy and i don't like the styling of the new ones.

fwiw, i haven't driven the jetta wagon, though i love the feel of vw's both new and old. One of the stand-out features of the jetta wagon is the huge optional sunroof. regarding gas vs diesel, it's a personal choice, but i would go for the diesel - it's quick, torque is higher and available at lower rpms, the new diesels are clean, and mileage is 30% better than gasoline.

if gas prices shoot up again to $4, $5 or even $6 a gallon, you'll be glad to visit gas stations every 500 miles instead of every 300 miles. The diesels also hold their value extremely well - price out a used VW tdi and you'll see.

but drive them all and get what feels the best to you. good luck!

p.s. just found this on the VW website.... tax credits up to $850 available on TDI purchases through Dec 31.

http://tdi.vw.com/tdi-clean-diesel-tax-credit-update/
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upwind



Joined: 06 Oct 2015
Posts: 68

PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

geohey wrote:
I had considered the Mazda3 several yrs ago and test drove one, but found torque steer to be annoying.


I had the same reaction. You would think they addressed this in recent releases.
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swchandler



Joined: 08 Nov 1993
Posts: 10588

PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 3:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Mazda3 is certainly a choice, but the front styling of the latest version is laughable. Sometimes Japanese styling is "off the top" strange.

The vehicle that I've been considering, in addition to my trusty Chevy van which is a keeper, would be the VW Jetta TDI Wagon. It's arguably the biggest wagon out there in the price range, and the mileage is absolutely stellar. While I've always been down on diesels because they're well known in the past for being ungodly loud and dirty, the VW TDIs are very quiet and exceptionally clean. Also, the reliability of diesels are hard to beat over the long run. The downside is price, as it does slightly exceed the targeted budget of $22K, but I would think that the extra cost would be washed out over time in fuel and maintenance costs.
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kmf



Joined: 02 Apr 2001
Posts: 503

PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 9:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My wife has the Subaru Impreza Sport Wagon. Good car. 102000 with only minor problems, (windshield washer motor replaced).

Subaru's all wheel drive, (mine's an automatic), is killer. The best you can buy.

It's small. Gas milage is 27 MPG highway max. If you drive like my wife. Four wheel drive, four cylinder motor and 3200 pounds do not make a fast car. By any measurement. The manual transmission model feels faster, but it's still 3200 #, four wheel drive and a four cylinder.

Buy the WRX if you get the Suby. I have driven a couple of them, Great fun.

KMF
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keycocker



Joined: 10 Jul 2005
Posts: 3598

PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 9:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

How about best two ?
My minivan has all the gear inside all the time. It improves my chances of time on the water, stores my gear inside so I have a garage now, and means I always have everything with.
It is a 99 Grand Caravan and would cost about US$900 buy. You can sell it when you don't need it for $800 one day. Drives like luxury car. 22 MPG
My other cars are a Porsche 911, a Miata and an old Can am racer I am converting to the street. Naish showed me his Porsche just like mine with a ski rack he uses for the gear.
His 200 MPH Canam car is already converted to street but he doesn't have a rack for it.
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swchandler



Joined: 08 Nov 1993
Posts: 10588

PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 3:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've always wanted a Porsche 911. Unfortunately it not the best windsurf vehicle, so I'll continue to dream.
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johnson_brian_j



Joined: 09 Jul 2007
Posts: 163
Location: Ventura County, California

PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 4:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A friend of mine drives a Scion hatchback. He fits all his gear inside: 200+ L longboard, multiple sails, booms, masts, etc. It's amazing to watch him pull up to the beach and start unloading all that gear from that little car.
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pikovsg



Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 37
Location: Boston, Cape Cod

PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 7:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Scion TC - the best windsurfing car that's also fun to drive. Double moon roofs and turbocharged. You can fit 6 10.5 sails into it.
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isobars



Joined: 12 Dec 1999
Posts: 20935

PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 9:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

kmf wrote:
Buy the WRX if you get the Suby. I have driven a couple of them, Great fun.


Bingen Bart, a car and bike buff, calls the WRX a "four-wheeled motorcycle". I've been very impressed with mine; my Mustang GT was a dog by comparison, and on snow everybody else appears parked, by comparison.

In a recent test drive of the 2010's, the salesman had me take a 90-degree turn posted at 15 mph at 45 mph; except for the g forces and the rapid change of scenery, it felt as smooth and controlled as 15. Then he had me slam on the brakes as hard as possible at 60 mph; it felt like ramming a padded building. An on-ramp at full throttle from 5 mph shamed my Mustang and my '65 GTO; I backed off when it hit 100 halfway through the ramp, just in case there were any cops in sight. And here's what impressed me most: with Blizzak tires it accelerates at about 80% of that level on a foot of snow. I can be literally a block away from a red light before most AWD/4WD cars/SUVs/trucks clear the intersection we just left. Safe? Rational? Of course not. Fun? You bet your ass. Practical? Absolutely, because it demonstrates world-class winter hill climbing capability.

HOWEVER, it is a cop magnet. I don't know about where you live, but driving a WRX at 40% of its capacity on a rural highway or 20% in town will get you busted, maybe even arrested, in WA state. It frosts my butt to own a world-class car and have to drive it like a damned Pinto!

They cost 24 grand new, and resale values are very high. I hope to almost name my price if I sell my '03 to get an '11 with electronic stability control.

Mike
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windoggi



Joined: 22 Feb 2002
Posts: 2743

PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 10:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

isobars wrote:
100 on twisty two-lane blacktops.

Mike \m/


And you have the gall to call out some kiter for dangerous behavior. Go to a racetrack, kook.

_________________
/w\
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