Man, you folks are defining 50+, practical, mpg a Chrysler:eek:

DG, your a single guy who wants to have fun on the beach in one of the best areas in the US. Sports :Dcar baby

Go with a 1968 Mercury Montery Fastback with the 390 engine. Where you live this will appeal to many different people.

Actually, for whatever you buy, I'd just make sure you can either get a bike in it or a bike rack on it.

NOW YOU'RE TALKING! Vintage! Although if he's going to go that route, an old convertible might be fun. I think the gas mileage would hurt nowadays, though. I sure miss front bench seats.

A Woody would by my retro car. Or an old Volvo wagon.

Hey, that looks a lot like my first car, a 1968 Ford Torino! (I totaled it in 1977 when a bread truck rear-ended me, bending the chassis.) It looked a lot like this one.

Attachment 52118

I wonder if I still had my 69 dodge charger daytona if saris would have made a mount to fit over the wing.

+1...Jetta TDI with a hitch mounted bike rack

3 friends drive this...they all love it, plus 600 miles per fill up

good looking car, too (they all went with black)

Sweet ride. The cars were basically the same car... one by Ford the other the Mercury version of it. You could stomp on the gas pedal and fly up the road, as you watched the fuel gauge needle move toward empty.

If I were in the market for a new vehicle today I would look at:

Toyota FJ40 - they look like they can go anywhere and pretty much, they really can. I actually DO off road a lot with my terriers.
Honda Element - they look too practical to ignore, and Honda's just don't seem to break, ever.
Nissan Murano - they look nice too, good milage and still AWD
Subaru Forester - they have the reputation of lasting forever and being trouble free on the way too.

None of the above are terribly expensive and all get reasonable fuel economy. My wife drives a Honda Pilot and loves it. I just got a new work truck, a 2008 Chevy Silverado 2500 extended cab 4wd pickup with the 6 liter monster motor. It's a very nice ride, but not very practical unless you really need a pickup truck.

Since you are on plan B how about a 1932 Model "B" Ford :D

Attachment 52129

So far, mind you just with some internet browsing, I'm liking the Honda Fit and Element, the VW Jetta, the Pontiac Vibe (or Toyota Matrix, basically the same), and the Subaru Forester. Oh, and possiblly the Toyota Yaris, maybe Corolla. I also want to check out what Scion has offer.

Out of curiosity, what are the advantages and disadvantages of roof mounted bike racks? Are they a hassle to use, do they bring MPG down? Or maybe are they a breeze to use and have no impact on MPG? And is there anyone here who's used a roof mounted rack on an Element? Seems like I'd need a ladder to use it!

The Prius would be the best chick magnet car for Sandy Eggo.

And, DF, the Chrysler Town and Country would probably be the most efficient chick repellent you could drive in California.

DG, I agree. You did the noble thing for your daughter last time. Though it wasn't her fault, we know that much of accident avoidance is not in just obeying the law, but in watching out for those who aren't. She may need that one rubbed in a little. Have her spend a day in traffic school so she can see what kind of people she's driving with.

It's time to give her the Avalon. It's not in that bad a shape and its a little bigger and more crash resistant than the Focus. And get something nicer for yourself.

Here's a two seater chick magnet that's probably within your range.

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06...mage/intro.jpg

Lots of people come to Arkansas on these things to go camping or touring in our beautiful mountains.

http://static.flickr.com/121/254407520_3f5bb35431.jpg

Good choice to get the new car for YOU, DG! You deserve it.
See, maybe all the bad luck was just a cosmic ploy to get you into a sleek new ride.

My humble opinion would be to concentrate on a vehicle that makes bike transport, and other cargo transport, dead easy. No climbing or stuffing or tying down - just throwing it inside and forgetting about it. Not only easier on the body but more theft-proof.

Since I lived out in the boonies a good part of my life, and usually had to buy well-used cars, I've driven an assortment of full-size vans, trucks, mini-vans, and a few regular cars too. Right now I have a Grand Marquis to accommodate long-distance driving --- it has a huge trunk, is very comfy and reliable and gets 26-29 mpg ---- BUT I absolutely hate bike racks, and whenever I need to haul anything bigger than the trunk, I'm stuck. I'd gladly trade for a van, mini-van, or small pickup. Oh, for the days when I could just toss a few bikes in the back of the van, shut the door and take off, instead of fighting with the rack and trying to keep the bikes from scratching/denting each other, or worrying about somebody stealing bikes & rack in one piece....

[Edit: P.S., if you're really thinking about camping, a regular full-size van can be fitted out with lots of very nice camping extras like a real bed, stove, fridge and still have tons of room for bikes and gear. Mine got 20+ mpg around town. You can attach a retractable shade too, and even have a screen room. This sounds really decadent until you're out camping in bad or buggy weather, then you start feeling pretty good about your setup. Avoid the conversions though, they're gas hogs extraordinaire]

Oh my goodness, I'm having a huge flashback to my '68 Torino station wagon. GREAT car!

No roof rack needed:

Attachment 52131

And I'm flashing back to my '69 Camaro.

http://www.indiancowboy.net/blog/wp-content/ext1.jpg

Gary, That's it! You've got to track down a 69 Camaro. Wow, can you just imagine the attention you'd get. Now that was a car... that and the Firebird, which was just a bit more popular where I grew up. Howver, I'd take either in a heart beat.

Here's a possibility and it fits my budget, too!

'64 International Ambulance!

You have bikes. Why do you need a car? ;)

I have shared custody of a child who lives 18 miles away, for one thing. And don't say TANDEM! :D

If you want to go retro

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...velle_ss_2.jpg

Gorgeous!! Now there's a magnet for this chick! :)

DG, if you are a big guy, there is no way you need a Miata. My sister had one and I drove it 600 miles on a business trip. I have NEVER ridden in a more uncomfortable, narrow seated foot restricted vehicle in my life. I'm 6'2" 190 lbs.

I'm moving toward Plan C: Public Transportation

More I think about, more I like it.

1. I keep the Avalon until I really want a different car.

2. Daughter goes to Defensive Driving Class.

3. Daughter works enough to pay her own insurance.

4. Daughter takes bus / trolley to junior college / work.

I'm having her do the research on bus routes, fares, etc. but actually I've already done it. (I just want her to start taking responsibility.) Turns out she can get from my place to school in an hour, changing buses once. She can get to work in half an hour, changing busses once. And she can get an unlimited Student Pass for $45/month.

Sounds like a pretty good solution to me.

I like it. It reinforces her responsibility in the whole thing, takes things in steps, and doesn't put you in debt. Besides the Avalon has a pretty good reliability record. I'd not give it up easily for that reason alone.

We just bought our Element in July so these are still early returns.

I was attracted to it because it's short enough to fit comfortably into our garage and long enough to carry our tandem on the inside of the car. I was concerned that the interior would seem a little too Spartan and that the seats and the ride would be too firm for my taste.

We took it to Wisconsin last week, an 1100 mile round trip. Seats and ride quality (and air conditioner)were great. The interior is nice without being fancy. The interior is also rooooomy! The back wheel of the tandem rolls up between the front seats, but doesn't prevent the cofortable use of the arm rests. Gas mileage on the highway is around the mid 20's.

That Avalon is still a nice car with at least 100K miles left to go on it if you continue to take care of it. Get a corolla from Hertz for her. It will have all the things younger drivers need; 4 cylinders, AT, AC stereo, anti lock brakes, air bags, crush zones, &c. They need low power cars with good brakes and safety equipment. And corollas are reliable as all get out. They have good cars at reasonable prices. If you rag about the tires they will put new ones on for free. After you buy it, have it aligned, and you're set. Be sure to tell her that if this one gets stacked, she gets a bus pass. bk

Excellent plan!

+1