What made you choose your car?

[TehStranger]

So I was chatting with a few mates this weekend, and the topic invariably ended up on cars. We started discussing why we drive what we do, and the responses were actually quite varied.

For example, a mate of mine got his old beat up Renault Megane 5 or so years ago from a family friend because it was a great deal and he needed a car in a hurry. He's had other financial priorities for the last few years, so he keeps the Megane running despite being a massive petrol head, in the hopes that his upgrade in a few years will make dealing with that french POS worth it.

Another example would be Dolby here on MyBB, who opted for an S-tronic Audi over his manual S4 because he [-]is getting old[/-] deals with clutch-eating traffic on a daily basis.

Anyway, my own story is slightly different:

I spent 4 months in a 2006 Honda Civic 1.8 Sedan before I realised that this wasn't going to work for me. It lacked the grunt and gearing my driving style needed (I've got a heavy foot and and typically always in a rush) due to the "reverse" vtec system. So I decided to set out a budget and some requirements:

Budget: R90,000 to R120,000 (I wanted to buy cash as I had many other commitments at the time)

Requirements:

• Naturally aspirated - I wanted to avoid potential turbo headaches (and the fuel bill of boost + a heavy foot)
• Manual - Because I'm not old enough to give up on life and get an auto
• Enough power to keep my foot happy and stay ahead of most of the general commuting vehicles on the road
• Size - I struggled with the "small sedan" space offered by the Civic and wanted more space
• Reliability - As much as I would've loved an Alfa or the like, this is my transport to and from work
• Tow bar - We enjoy going down to the Drakensburg/Coast and often take a trailer
• Have less than 120,000kms on the clock
• Be a 2006+
• Full services plus extensive records of any additional work

Nice to haves:

• High revving - Because life only starts the other side of 6,000rpm, ideally it needs to go beyond 7,000rpm
• Good looking - If it's going to be my daily it better stand out
• Mint condition - The previous owner needed to care for the car
• All the necessary creature comforts (Aircon, power steering, ABS, power windows)
• Any extra comforts (Sunroof, PDC, Bluetooth etc.)
• Full size spare wheel
• Decent resale value - as long as I got back 70% of my purchase price after 2 years I'd be happy

Needless to say it took me a few months to find what would eventually be my Accord. It ticked all the requirements and most of the "nice to haves" (was just missing the full size spare wheel and the extra comforts), and still puts a smile on my face nearly a year and a half later (especially when something like a Ford Fiesta ST with bling mags, go-faster stripes and a fat exhaust tries to give you gas and you just walk away from him).

While I yearn for an S2000 (that ticks very few of the boxes above), my priorities right now are saving for my planned emigration within the next 2 to 3 years, so it looks like the Accord is here to stay for the foreseeable future.

So, what made you choose your car?

 

[Hamster]

Was car of the year in a couple of countries
The interior looks awesome to me
It is comfortable to drive
All the features I wanted (except a sunroof) for a very good price brand new
5 year/150000km warranty and service plan

Elantra GLS (2012)

...next will be be a bakkie/suv because I want bigger wheels

 

[Messugga]

Cheapish sports car that has a reputation of being a very fun drive and some decent looks. Lacks some power but revs decently and I can drive the living daylights out of it without getting arrested.

Toyota 86.

 

[DominionZA]

Saw it - had a holy **** moment - signed the papers. Repeated this through the years. Only reasons I upgrade.

Oddly enough, one of my big requirements is a sunroof. I say oddly enough because lots if people seem to find that an odd requirement.

 

[werner]

I saw the BBC program about the policeman who had the old audi quattro, so had a look to see if I could get one. I knew nothing of Audi's or their history/current models..I just searched for "audi quattro"

this s4 thing came up on youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09ge8T8T5MY

I thought it looked like fun.
I'm simple like that.

 

[Sinbad]

Knew the car's history. Love the sleeper aspect and the power, and the vario roof (and the low mileage, and the price was right too)

 

[gelid]

Full service history excellent condition and a desperate seller. Also lots of power

 

[Kal86]

Low KM, Vario roof, automatic with tiptronic. And having no kids and only my SO, a 2 seater was perfect for us

 

[Shah33m]

Very simple for me. I wanted a car with some power, my wife said she did not want me to kill myself (i had a heavy foot). She saw a hyundai getz and that was that. For the past 2.5 years i have been driving this getz :-(

 

[Rouxenator]

First car that I had a say in was for my 19th birthday. It could either be a used car to the value of R40k or a new single cab bakkie to the value of R75k. The reason being it would be purchased as a farm vehicle and over the course of 3 years we could effectively claim back 50% of the value against tax. I opted for a Bantam 1300 but when my dad (with the cheque book) went to the dealer he saw a 1600i Bantam and wanted a test drive in both first. Since I would have to "overtake taxis" on my way to Cape Tech each day I ended up with a Fazda Bantam 1600i. I did not have a lot of freedom of choice here but beggars can't be choosers and did love my bakkie.

Second car came 4 years later when I wrote off the bakkie (and two other cars). I needed a car and I needed it in a hurry. Budget was R100k (R65k insurance + finance) and my requirements were modest, 1.6 minimum, fuel injected, rev counter, less than 50,000km on the clock. After 3 hours in Somerset West I narrowed down my choices to a 2001 Corolla 160i GLE with 50,000km and a 2001 Astra 1.6 CS with 30,000km. I liked the Corolla because I was used to a Japanese car but picked the Astra cause it had lower mileage and alloy wheels.

Third car was given to me/my wife since my folks felt that my siblings got better cars than I did. They shared a Corsa Lite and when they got nicer cars (Jazz and Hilux) the Lite was given to my wife. She did not like it so I ended up with it. Traded it in a few months later for a Corsa Essentia which I still have.

Forth car I got based on feedback by helpful and friendly forumites here on myBB. Planning to settle the finance at the end off the month then all my cars are fully paid off.

Edit : Automatic has nothing to do with age. I also thought I was too young for it but trust me, once you have it you will love it.

 

[creeper]

Very simple for me. I wanted a car with some power, my wife said she did not want me to kill myself (i had a heavy foot). She saw a hyundai getz and that was that. For the past 2.5 years i have been driving this getz :-(

Needed a nice little SUV type car. Waited for a while. Along came the EcoSport (and R100 000 cheaper compared to the slightly bigger SUVs). Bought it. Wife drove it. Wife took it. Ended up with her old Yaris.

 

[Priapus]

Ticked all the boxes for me (Sunroof, Turbo, MFS, and of course the power I was looking for) but ultimately it was due to the fact it was not a common GTi and a car you don't see on the roads often. Being 7 years old, it still turns heads and hands out a few surprises when a GTi tries his luck.

 

[F1ve_Claw]

Wanted something to give me the feeling that only Alfa could while being small and understated. So I got a MiTo
Really does help that I leave being polo GTI's, Fiesta ST's, GT86's

 

[Hitchcock]

My latest car - a MyBB post - to see if this was simply Toyota haters or if there was any substance to claims - and so far I think it is the first...

 

[Gtx Gaming]

Following made me choose mine.

Must have basics , air-con,power steering and electric windows.
Must be small so i can make my own parking spot if there is none.
6L/100km real world consumption.

 

[Drifter]

I had the MK6 Fiesta ST, was sitting on +/- 260 000 km's, so when the MK7 Fiesta ST came out, was a no brainer.

 

[Priapus]

I had the MK6 Fiesta ST, was sitting on +/- 260 000 km's, so when the MK7 Fiesta ST came out, was a no brainer.

260k.. was the car still reliable and driving fine?
I find mileage irrevlavant on cars if they have been taken care of.

 

[Drifter]

260k.. was the car still reliable and driving fine?
I find mileage irrevlavant on cars if they have been taken care of.

Yep, only thing ever replaced was battery and one clutch, besides normal wear and tear like tyres. Still did not use a drop of oil and performed as a new car. I also believe if you look after your car, it will look after you.

 

[Priapus]

Yep, only thing ever replaced was battery and one clutch, besides normal wear and tear like tyres. Still did not use a drop of oil and performed as a new car. I also believe if you look after your car, it will look after you.

This is where I am getting at. I hate this whole sense of if the car has more than 150k+ on the clocks its time for a new one. I believe a well looked after car will see 300k+ easily and still be in good shape.

 

[seanyp00h]

Because #autoEmocion