Volvo C30 might not be a bad choice. The world's most comfortable seats in an economical package.
Volvo C30 might not be a bad choice. The world's most comfortable seats in an economical package.
I've always had a soft spot for those things.
I'd be looking into the first gen Insight with that kind of drive.
That said, an Avalon or Accord is going to be way more comfortable.
I like the C30 quite a bit too, but I imagine that it's an order of magnitude more expensive at the moment.
Matt B wrote: I'd be looking into the first gen Insight with that kind of drive. That said, an Avalon or Accord is going to be way more comfortable. I like the C30 quite a bit too, but I imagine that it's an order of magnitude more expensive at the moment.
Wife owned an Avalon when we got together, it's a big couch on wheels and handles like one too. Not a fun car by any stretch of the imagination. 28mpg hwy sucks IMHO. The Accord with a 5spd would be a better bet out of these two.
Sonic wrote: I regularly do 6-8 hour drives in our Mazda3 with no issues, seats are more comfortable than my M coupe. Volvo seats are usually great, as said before, but mileage is worse than the Fit or 3 that you suggested.
Another vote for the Mazda3 - first gen or the new 2014. The seats are pretty nice and the first gen car is definitely fun to drive. They feel as nice as those in my Mini w/o the headaches that come with German 'engineering'.
Regarding the Volt, I own a 2013. My commute is 130 miles roundtrip daily. I get 42-50 mpg pretty much all highway except for about 5 miles. With the 2013, you can now switch between full electric mode and electric mode supported by the engine charging the batteries. I use the all electric in stop/go and also on hills to save gas.
Elantra hatch. Done. 39mpg, nice ride, great seats, lots of doo-dads to make the ride less tedious, 10/100 powertrain warranty, 5/60 B2B. How can you go wrong?
Volvo C30 and Mazda3 are mechanical cousins? (Or so I have heard....)
Rog
emodspitfire wrote: Volvo C30 and Mazda3 are mechanical cousins? (Or so I have heard....) Rog
I thought it was more closely related to the Focus.
Hadn't consideredthe Elantra, and have a buddy who loves his. Thanks for the suggestion.
DaveEstey wrote:emodspitfire wrote: Volvo C30 and Mazda3 are mechanical cousins? (Or so I have heard....) RogI thought it was more closely related to the Focus.
They are cousins. Both on the second-gen focus platform, I think. IE: the focus we didn't get in the US.
I considered a Volvo C30 at one point. If I have bought it, it wouldn't surprise me if I'd still have it, great visibility for such a new car.
One plus of the Fit, it is easier to get in and out of than most other cars its size class, since its a bit taller than most of them. That, and its relatively good visibility helped sell me on it. I just don't consider it a great "trip" car, despite having a few Ohio-Florida and Ohio-Missouri trips on it.
I would suggest a Mazda 6. Those are a really fun mid-sized car to drive and the seats are ok. Of course, she should get the 4 banger with the 5 speed for fun and mpg.
I also like the Jetta diesel idea too. The seats are good, its fun, and very hard to beat 45+ mpg. Diesel engines also last longer than gas engines for an added benefit over 40 mpg gas powered cars.
The seats that fit me the best is the 96 Thunderbird. I almost want to buy one and put a Mustang 5-speed in it for cruising. But bottom line, she has to drive several cars to find the best combination of seats,mpg, and fun. I would also suggest an E36 or E46 3-series if they were reliable.
To echo the sentiment here, yes at this point we are accumulating a short list of candidates to take on extended test drives.
I would stay away from the new Forte5 SX. The ride will likely be way too stiff.
Mazda 3
Mazda 6 is a cheap fun comfy car. There one of those Volvos around here that is blue with a swedish flag painted on the roof. Really sharp car. Nothing has more comfortable seats and seating position than an old TR7 or TVR 280i. I can't tell you how many times I fell asleep driving home from my overnight job in those things. Like laying in a recliner.
I am a large gentleman, so the seats in my 2012 Mazda 3 are a little cramped, but it's not bad. I do a lot of highway driving, and they haven't made my back hurt or anything like that. My wife drives a 2010 3 and she loves the seats. Mine has the 6-speed manual and hers has the old 5-speed automatic. Both drive great. The 6-speed feels better stock than both of my previous WRX's did, and both WRX's had poly shifter bushings and short throw shifters.
Everything else about the car is great. It's the appliance car for people who enjoy driving.
If she isn't too tall the Fiat was surprisingly comfortable. The Wife and I put 3800 miles on it in just over a week going to Florida and back.
The mileage was a bit lower than I expected though as it runs out of steam at about 65 mph. With the cruise set at 80 we were getting 33 according to the computer.
Also, as of note on the Accord: it's the only car that I've EVER owned that doesn't make my ass/thighs go numb and my back hurt after an hour or two of driving. I can drive this thing for DAYS if needed. This is pre- and post- major back surgery and Bilsteins/Skunk2 springs. My '98 V6 Accord Coupe wasn't nearly this comfortable, and none of my parents cars have ever been this comfy. My '88 Subaru Wagon Turbo may have been, but I only drove it for 3 hours before it ignited it self and burnt to a crisp on a mountain pass. The seats in this car are absolutely amazing, the only thing I wish they had was more leg and side bolstering.
I'm just hung up on the 180 miles/day. Is she in sales? That's massive miles such that a 45mpg car (Prius) is saving ~$4/day over a 35mpg car which is the high end o what is being thrown around.
I like my elantra GLS and imagine the limited is only better. I'm getting 32mpg average in central Illinois winter over the 3000 miles since I got it in December. It hasn't been over 35 degrees since I bought it with the average temp during comute being low teens. I liked it better than the hatch for the larger rear seat room, the dash layout gives more room for taller drivers than the hatch and the longer wheel base with softer suspension resulted in a better ride. Also all 2014 hatches have the 174hp motor which drops gas mileage from a 37mpg rating to 35.
I would look at used Prius and the new Fiesta eco boost if 45-50k miles per year is your normal. I like the elantra but damn that's some miles and the extra 7-15 mpg over a 38 rating makes a difference.
If she is not in sales why don't you move closer to her work or is your work nearby or opposite direction?
My brother has a VW golf TDI, drives 100 miles a day, swears by the car and has held up surprisingly well for having 90K miles on a 2011. The seats are also very comfortable and offer good support. Also as and added bonus he sees 40+ mpg.
I drive 140 a day so I feel her pain. I also have back problems so doubly so. My current commuter is a Fiat Abarth, plenty comfortable in the long haul, I've driven the standard 500 as well and it was also comfortable.
Prior to that I had a Smart, its an acquired taste but comfortable and depending on how she drives it will return well over 40mpg. I averaged 43 and I commute at 80mph which is definitely NOT it's sweet spot for mileage.
One more vote for the Mazda 3 as well, never lived with one long term but drove a few and liked them.
And of course as another poster said, if you can say mileage be damned you cant beat a Panther platform. My beater 2002 CV Sport is one heck of a comfy ride :)
She followed some doctors she works for (she's a nuclear test technician) to a new facility 50 miles from home. Moving isn't really an option right now. She really likes the 3 so far, and if this God forsaken snow ever goes away I'll find her one for an extended test drive.
Latest Accord has great seats and good mileage too.
mthomson22 wrote: (she's a nuclear test technician)
Crane?
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