Tough Decisions

[Tsaar]

So I am looking at buying my first "post-college" vehicle.

Some background on me: 24, married, engineer

I am really wanting to get a feel about what people think of the 2010 Camaro now that it has been out for a while.

I am looking at the V6 (I drive over 60 miles a day in Atlanta traffic, I want to like the car, and 305HP is more than enough for me considering I currently drive a 3.0 V6 Ford Ranger).

I do want a feature-rich Camaro though.

-2LT
-RS Package
-Automatic (sticking with automatic because of traffic and I have to make some concessions to my wife.... :hmm
-Silver Metallic
-Black/Gray Leather Interior

I am really just wanting to get people's impressions about this car. This is obviously a big commitment, and I don't want to jump into the deep end without doing some research. My wife wants me to get a 4 door car instead of something like a Camaro, but we already have one "family car". No kids yet, but my wife would be happy to pop some out tomorrow (damn women lol ).

Edit: I mention this on page 3, but I have started looking at "compromise" cars...remember, I will be driving this by myself 90% of the time...how do people feel about the Volkswagen CC? I sat in a CC Sport today and it was actually really nice. With a very fair price (sub-$30k).

Edit 2: I just found some Acura TSX's with some great prices. Any thoughts on these?

 

[Mermaidman]

If you don't get your dream car now, imagine how hard it would be to convince your wife AFTER you have kid(s). You'll have to wait another 20-30 years after your kid(s) finish college . . .

Anyway, I suggest checking if Camaro resale value is good or not. If you have to sell due to unexpected offspring, then good resale would obviously help your cause. (Caution: It's harder to recoup the cost of optional equipment, and you did mention wanting many features.)

And:
--Choose the car YOU like, not what other people think is "cool."
--Don't buy any big ticket item without consulting wife! (But it sounds as if you already understand this )

 

[Supersonic64]

2011 Mustang V6. 305HP and 30MPG!

 

[Bignate603]

I test drove a SS a while ago. I was impressed but if your wife wants a car that you can use with people in the backseat it's the wrong car. The salesguy was in the backseat and he had to sit sideways because it was so cramped back there. It is effectively a two seater car unless you have friends who are double amputees above the knees.

 

[alfa147x]

2011 Mustang V6. 305HP and 30MPG!

Kinda have to agree with the ford focus idiot here. BUT if you like the Camaro this is your chance in life to treat yourself, get the Camaro!

 

[CraigRT]

If you're gonna do it, do it right.
Flooring a Camaro is only proper when there is a roaring V8 under the hood.
Same with the Mustang, Same with the Challenger.. A muscle car is not a muscle car with a V6 exhaust note

That being said, maybe buy a G35 coupe or something if you want better MPG.

I dunno, its personal pref for me, but I'll never own a V6 pony car.

 

[punjabiplaya]

If you're gonna do it, do it right.
Flooring a Camaro is only proper when there is a roaring V8 under the hood.
Same with the Mustang, Same with the Challenger.. A muscle car is not a muscle car with a V6 exhaust note

That being said, maybe buy a G35 coupe or something if you want better MPG.

I dunno, its personal pref for me, but I'll never own a V6 pony car.

Yeah, I was talking to one of my dad's friends who just bought a new c6 and had to get it in auto b/c of his wife.

 

[CraigRT]

Yeah, I was talking to one of my dad's friends who just bought a new c6 and had to get it in auto b/c of his wife.

Tragic.

I made my last few GF's learn manual. hah

 

[Tsaar]

If you're gonna do it, do it right.
Flooring a Camaro is only proper when there is a roaring V8 under the hood.
Same with the Mustang, Same with the Challenger.. A muscle car is not a muscle car with a V6 exhaust note

That being said, maybe buy a G35 coupe or something if you want better MPG.

I dunno, its personal pref for me, but I'll never own a V6 pony car.

I agree with you, BUT, that being said:

1) It is a $7k premium for the same car I want with a V8.

2) On my drive with traffic I am happy when I can accelerate from 0-20MPH.

 

[thedarkwolf]

I dunno, its personal pref for me, but I'll never own a automatic pony car.

there we go. The wife can drive her own car.

 

[LTC8K6]

Get a 2010 Mustang GT at a heavy discount?

 

[Vette73]

I like the new camaro and they have been out long enough to get them at a fair price.
The NEW mustang V6 also looks nice but will cost more and probable be marked up at first.

 

[Supersonic64]

Yo! Automatic is the way to go!

 

[MotF Bane]

I am looking at the V6 (I drive over 60 miles a day in Atlanta traffic, I want to like the car, and 305HP is more than enough for me considering I currently drive a 3.0 V6 Ford Ranger).

Rent whatever you're looking at, drive it to work a few times. If you aren't comfortable sitting in it for an hour or more a day, forget it.

 

[MotF Bane]

Yeah, I was talking to one of my dad's friends who just bought a new c6 and had to get it in auto b/c of his wife.

All the more reason to get a manual, and keep a woman driver away.

 

[MotF Bane]

Yo! Automatic is the way to go!

*taps sarcasm meter*

 

[MiataNC]

1. Get the car YOU want. - NO COMPROMISES

2. Get the car YOU want. - NO COMPROMISES

I have always owned manual cars/trucks. My first wife never learned to drive stick, and we were together more than 16 years. It was never a problem. In fact I liked the fact she never never drove my cars/trucks.

Commuting with a stick is not that bad. Like anything else, you get used to it. If you truly love driving stick, you won't regret driving one in traffic.

If you get a V6 instead of a V8 you will ALWAYS wish you had gotten the V8 instead. No matter how much power a car has, you will get used to driving it. Once you do, you will want more, and knowing you could have had the same car with more power will be a source of regret down the road (no pun intended).

 

[vi edit]

Re: Kids
Even if you have "one family car" will 100% of your daycare drop offs be done with that car? What if your wife wants to go out for the night and leaves you with the kiddo? She take the camaro then?

Just asking...because doing the vehicle shuffle sucks. I know that for me and my family with both spouses working it would be a monumental pain in the ass trying to manage family hauling duties with only one car that is convenient to do it.

 

[pcgeek11]

Re: Kids
Even if you have "one family car" will 100% of your daycare drop offs be done with that car? What if your wife wants to go out for the night and leaves you with the kiddo?

That is easy. She can't go unless she takes the kids with her or drops them over at the in laws house first.

 

[MJinZ]

Tragic.

I made my last few GF's learn manual. hah

Why would you let anyone, let alone a SO, drive your car?

 

[obamanation]

Why would you let anyone, let alone a SO, drive your car?

they're not called "Significant Other's" for nothing.. Also I'd rather an SO rag on a manual than rag on an automatic..

Good-bye fleabag. -Admin DrPizza

 

[MotF Bane]

they're not called "Significant Other's" for nothing.. Also I'd rather an SO rag on a manual than rag on an automatic..

But she'll be on the rag anyways.

 

[Jzero]

What's the outlook on having kids?

Honestly even having one coupe is a pain in the ass with kids. If I leave the coupe with the wife and drive the 5-door to work, my wife (who tries to get out of the house at least a little bit every day) has to deal with the acrobatics of lifting 30+lbs of car seat + baby into the back seat while managing the heavy coupe door. If I take the coupe to work, I spend more on gas, I put miles on a car that is already getting up there in mileage, and frankly I just plain like driving the 5-door better which is significant given that I spend ~70-90 minutes a day driving it!

If there is a chance you'll start to have kids while you still have the Camaro, it's a serious consideration...along with how well you can fit a rear-facing child seat in the Camaro if you need to.

I've got nothing bad to say about the Camaro itself. It's really hust a matter of balancing the "finally free!" desire to go get a less-than-practical fun car with the realities of having a wife and eventually kids.

 

[MJinZ]

they're not called "Significant Other's" for nothing.. Also I'd rather an SO rag on a manual than rag on an automatic..

They can also, I don't know, at the very least, have a car of their own.

 

[MotF Bane]

They can also, I don't know, at the very least, have a car of their own.