So, my girlfriend is finally going to retire her Grand Prix and will be looking for a good commuter. With a 3 hour daily drive good mileage will be a requirement, and with a history of back and neck issues very comfortable seats are a must. I have initially recommended the Fit and the 3, but honestly don't know anything about how comfy the seats are. Suggestions?
Newer Volvo's have amazing seats. I'm sure a S70 would get decent gas mileage too.
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.
The Fit may be a more nimble and get better fuel economy but I think the 3 is going to have more comfortable seats and probably be a better highway car. The Fit is a little buzzy on the highway.
I should have mentioned, the commute is almost all interstate. Thanks 92dxman, it sounds like the Fit may not, well, fit.
Smart cars get pretty good highway milage... Toyota Corolla?
Figuring that with that much distance a lot depends on the milage. I dont know how the seats are on either of those, though that is a hard thing to actually figure. Going to depend on the person.
What about a Mini?
Diesel VW?
Fiesta is very comfortable to drive and fun. 2011 and 2013. Gets great gas mileage too.
Apexcarver wrote: Smart cars get pretty good highway milage... Toyota Corolla? Figuring that with that much distance a lot depends on the milage. I dont know how the seats are on either of those, though that is a hard thing to actually figure. Going to depend on the person. What about a Mini? Diesel VW?
Nooooo no Corolla. Those seats are not comfortable past an hour. The Fit seats are really comfortable for long drives, but highway driving manners are not the best. Not horrible, but not the best. This means I must vote for Mazda3 seats. They should be fairly comfortable. I must confess my ass hasn't spent any quality time in them.
What is the budget?
clutchsmoke wrote:Apexcarver wrote: Smart cars get pretty good highway milage... Toyota Corolla? Figuring that with that much distance a lot depends on the milage. I dont know how the seats are on either of those, though that is a hard thing to actually figure. Going to depend on the person. What about a Mini? Diesel VW?Nooooo no Corolla. Those seats are not comfortable past an hour. The Fit seats are really comfortable for long drives, but highway driving manners are not the best. Not horrible, but not the best. This means I must vote for Mazda3 seats. They should be fairly comfortable. I must confess my ass hasn't spent any quality time in them.
I've never had a problem with Corolla seats, and spent a lot of time in them. YMMV.
The MINI sport seats are the most comfortable seats I have ever sat in.
Next is the captains seats in the front of the Astro, which can be bolted in to most gm products. They are superior to most because of the infinitely knob adjustable back, and that adjuster may swap on to other gm seats.
Budget is still a question mark. We're working on that. She wants to avoid a car payment if possible.
I've personally seen too many Mini's with problems at our local autocross to be able to recommend one wholeheartedly.
I've been driving Astro/Safaris for 20 years. The leather seats in my 03 Safari have gotten hard as a berklying rock after 160k miles, and the will eventually be replaced with something else.
Seats are by their nature a very personal decision based upon her specific needs and preferences(the bed industry would seem very comparable) I dont see how this decision can even be started without spending a lot of seat time testing seats. Once she has found comfy seats for her situation, then y'all can make the other decisions about mileage, colors, options, etc. YMMV
Not avoiding a car payment, but with a 3 hour daily commute you're probably saving enough to make it close to worth it: Chevy Volt.
Of the cars mentioned here I've owned a couple. My advise would be to stay away from the MINI, I had an '07 Turbo for the wife and it was nothing but trouble. Ate a timing guide, almost destroying the engine at 47k, blower motor at 52K, mass airflow meter at 56k. I sold it after that, too many phantom check engine lights. The ride on the highway was noisy with the glass roof, and the factory run-flats are horrible, changing to regular tires made it a little better but still was a harsh ride and the seats wore you out after an hour of driving.
The Mazda 3 on the other hand is a 2012 model so it gets about 39-40 average for us in mixed driving. It has the Skyactive engine and so far has only needed oil changes every 15,000 miles. Seats are a little stiff and the center console kinda arches out at our knees making me feel a little cramped, my wife doesn't notice as she has shorter legs than I.
Most comfortable seats I ever had were in my SAAB 9000, then the'04 GTO comes a close second.
Second the Chevy Volt, but I have no idea how comfy the seats are.
I've got a Fit, and don't think the seats are particularly comfortable for a long drive, but I'm 6' tall. Might be different for someone shorter. Either way, I'd strongly recommend a long test drive before buying a Fit, if she's going to be in it for 1.5 hours at a time.
Most comfortable long distance car I ever owned was 95 T-Bird, but I'm guessing thats a little older than you are looking for.
The Swedes know how to make a fairly efficient car with some of the best seats in the world. Some people like FWD Volvos. I don't care for them without manual transmissions. I'd personally be looking for an '05-'11 Saab 9-3. Cheap, reliable and cheap. 32+MPG highway is nice, as is the power of the 2.0T.
VWs have often have nice seats. I had a 2007 Jetta 2.5 with the cloth seats--they were very comfortable.
Why would you guys suggest a Chevy Volt for a long highway commute, which is where the Volt performs worst?
I suggest a well-loved Toyota Avalon. It will get low 30's mpg, be very comfortable and reliable to a fault. Also, nobody has EVER beat on one.
Despite owning and loving my/our 2012 Fit, it's not the fuel miser in its class.
The new Versa Note looks nearly identical and gets 5-6mpg better.
I'd rather find a rust free EP3 Civic Hatch and swap in some nice seats.
DaveEstey wrote: Why would you guys suggest a Chevy Volt for a long highway commute, which is where the Volt performs worst?
40MPG highway.
her choice of panther platform vehicle
I'll submit my focus - when I got it I was doing 200mi a day highway, good seats, and mpg on the highway was between 34 and 37 (cruising about 75-85mph; mine's a 5sp). It would require car payments though.
Accord is the answer. Waaaay more fun to drive with a manual than automatics. Torquey, nimble, geared well, built like the rock of Gibraltar. I get 30mpg easy on long drives and it has a big tank. Mine's a 97. The 98+ are really great basic appliances, the 03+ are a littl too ritzy for me.
mtn wrote:DaveEstey wrote: Why would you guys suggest a Chevy Volt for a long highway commute, which is where the Volt performs worst?40MPG highway.
Popular Mechanics got 36 mpg in their testing. Just doesn't seem high enough to justify a payment.
You'll need to log in to post.
