Nick lives in California and has just a few Land Rovers that he actually enjoys, however they aren’t the most effective automobiles for zooming round city and they’re a tad thirsty. He needs one thing enjoyable, distinctive, and fuel-efficient to enhance his Rover fleet. What automobile ought to he purchase?
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Here is the situation.
I’ve a Land Rover drawback in that I’ve too many and none got here with gasoline effectivity as an possibility. My ‘63 Series 2a with a 200TDI does best at about 15mpg… Right now I daily a 2010 RR Supercharged that I absolutely love and will never get rid of, but fuel efficient she ain’t. I want a FUN, UNIQUE car for tooling round city and my each day commute of only some miles that will get some semblance of fuel mileage (or totally electrical can be perfect). Power and fashionable facilities aren’t necessary, however I wouldn’t hate them both. I want one thing I can drive round city that places a smile on my face each time I get in and can enable me to avoid wasting the fuel guzzlers for trails and lengthy hauls.
I’ve a $40,000 price range for Fun, Unique. Good MPG. Convertibles extremely inspired.
Quick Facts:
Budget: $40,000
Location: Sacramento, CA
Daily Driver: Sort of
Wants: Good MPG, one thing enjoyable, distinctive
Doesn’t need: Boring, poor MPG
Expert 1: Tom McParland – Keep Your Fleet British
Nick, you clearly have a keenness for British SUVs so if you will get a enjoyable automobile for town it’s best to preserve that UK theme going and get a Mini Cooper. These vehicles are distinctive sufficient to not mix in along with your customary compacts, and in addition provide a fairly stable fun-to-drive issue.
Now there are two methods you possibly can go along with the Mini. The first possibility is a few top-down motoring with a convertible that may get into the mid-30 MPG vary on the freeway. Here is a really cool model new mannequin within the particular order colour of Carribean Aqua.
Of course, if most effectivity is your precedence and also you aren’t doing lengthy drives Mini does provide a full electrical Cooper however in arduous prime solely. With a claimed 110 miles of vary, the Cooper EV comes in need of another electrical vehicles, however what it lacks in battery capability it makes up for in fashion. Like different EVs, the used automobile costs are dropping arduous and you may rating some actually good values within the pre-owned market like this 2021 mannequin in probably the most appropriate colour of inexperienced with below 17,000 miles for under $23,500.
Expert 2: Andy Kalmowitz – VolvOH YEAH
Nicky boy, I’m very jealous of your fleet. Many of us round these elements know my affinity for the L322 Range Rover. In truth, I just lately mentioned it was the most lovely “normal” automobile of all time. Because you’re a person of nice style, you want a each day that’s going to slot in with that vibe. Since I’m positive an excellent man, I discovered you the right car: the Volvo C70.
Baby, it’s received all the things you’re searching for after which some. It’ll get almost 30 mpg freeway, and I do know that isn’t a ton, but it surely’s gonna look nice in contrast with the supercharged Range Rover. It’s additionally fairly distinctive! Volvo bought lower than 90,000 of them throughout its complete run, and Volvos candy little 2.5-liter 5 cylinder turbocharged engine goes to supply you sufficient enjoyable that you just’ll surprise why extra vehicles don’t go for this type of setup. Oh, and above all else, it’s a goddamn convertible. It’s the physique sort that reigns supreme above all others, and it’s going to make you are feeling nice within the California solar.
Just to make issues higher, C70s are usually not $40,000 vehicles. No, sir. In truth, I’ve discovered you one of many cleanest examples within the nation, and it gained’t even value you half your price range. Red on crimson, totally loaded (for 2013) and only a tick over 50,000 miles. It’s good. Plus, you should use all the additional money to maintain your Land Rovers going lengthy into the long run. This is the automobile to purchase, younger Nicholas.
Expert 3: José Rodriguez Jr. – The Answer Is Always…
Nick, I’ve one phrase for you. No, not Miata. Not but. The phrase is Skyactiv, and that phrase is the explanation why Miata is the reply, particularly in your case. Most lovers would say Miata is all the time the reply they usually’d largely be proper.
But I believe the magic of the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata applies to this case as a result of you need a fuel-efficient automobile that will put a smile in your face each time you drive it. And the Miata excels at that, with its Skyactiv 2.0-liter inline-four, which will get as much as 35 miles per gallon on the freeway. I extremely suggest sacrificing a kind of MPGs and going for the six-speed handbook transmission.
You’ve received the price range for a model new Miata — even a Miata RF, when you’d like. The Mazda Miata is probably not that distinctive; you’ll doubtless come throughout many different Miatas in Sacramento, however along with your price range you may be capable of personalize the roadster to fit your persona.
You say you don’t want energy or facilities. Sure, you might all the time go for a brand new Toyota Prius Prime or, I don’t know, one thing quirky, like a Honda CRX HF or Del Sol. But the Mazda Miata will provide you with a thrill experience each time and nonetheless be straightforward to dwell with so far as gasoline prices. It’ll even be a stable, dependable each day — not like some British vehicles, ahem, Rovers and such.
Expert 4: Steve DaSilva – Why Settle?
Nick, my shut private pal, I perceive your want for gasoline financial system. I’m a former Wrangler and GX470 proprietor, I really feel your ache. But whenever you begin speaking a few enjoyable, environment friendly commuter, and point out electrification, I would like you to know there are higher choices. EVs is usually a blast, however they’re heavy and highly effective — not the type of sprightly, nimble convertible you appear to have in thoughts.
Andy goes down the suitable path with the C70, although I can’t for the lifetime of me perceive why he picked the travesty of a post-facelift mannequin over the sheer great thing about the pre-facelift second-gen. José is even nearer with the Miata, however why accept that? For a low redline, an imperfect seating place, and a very heinous lack of VTEC?
Nick, you want an S2000. It’s gasoline environment friendly for a similar purpose as any financial system automobile — a four-cylinder engine bolted into a light-weight chassis — but it surely’s additionally enjoyable as hell behind the wheel. Here’s a 2004 mannequin close to you that is available in below price range, but it surely’s merely an instance — Sacramento has a few thousand of these items on Facebook Marketplace, you’ve received your decide of colours, mileage, and mods.
With a $40,000 price range, there’s no purpose to get something lower than the most effective. If sitting down inside an S2000 and winding it out to 9 grand doesn’t put a smile in your face, I don’t know what is going to.
Source: jalopnik.com