[G8mike]

Two things you learn to hate EVEN MORE when you have a manual: Traffic jams and tailgaters

It's a great car to drive, but really, I wouldn't want a manual for the daily grind around here...

[jspookss]

G8mike;205178 Wrote:Bill of sale and a few pics for you:

25 grand? Fuuuhk

[G8mike]

Once again, Canadian car prices at work (I know how much you love us up here!) It's about the same price as the Cruze RS. So far, my feeling is the Cruze may not be as entertaining to drive, but is the better value.

[McLovin]

G8mike;205189 Wrote:Two things you learn to hate EVEN MORE when you have a manual: Traffic jams and tailgaters

It's a great car to drive, but really, I wouldn't want a manual for the daily grind around here...

Exactly!!

The DSG auto actually performs better and gets better fuel economy as well.

Shifting gears in an econobox is for cheapskates and teenagers with anxious leg syndrome.

[jspookss]

25 grand is not an econobox

[MOPAR74]

not even close... thats midsize range

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thats base model full size Charger range

[G8mike]

Best thing to do is build one on the U.S. site to get prices for down there. We easily pay 10 - 20% more than you guys do.

Took it for a good 45 minute run tonight - about the only chance to drive it on clear roads. First off, this thing is QUICK, very entertaining and nimble. Smaller cars really are a lot of fun to drive, even if they're not as fast as the big 'uns, you feel like you're really flying! Second, it's very, very smooth. The engine revs freely and when you really want to boot it, it responds beautifully. Steering feels a bit 'darty' to me, but there's lots of feel in the wheel and the car seems very balanced. The suspension is not quite as firm as the Cruze RS, but it's close. The benefit is a somewhat more calm ride when you're just going from A to B.

[lengnert]

MOPAR74;205258 Wrote:not even close... thats midsize range

---

thats base model full size Charger range

Not in Canada, my friends.

[Scout]

jspookss;205198 Wrote:

G8mike;205178 Wrote:Bill of sale and a few pics for you:

25 grand? Fuuuhk

[McLovin]

jspookss;205217 Wrote:25 grand is not an econobox

Yes it is these days, especially at the base price, where all the cheapskates buy it

[The 'Burg]

For the record - I had many customers who were looking for the higher-priced Focii. It was easier to sell a $23-26k Focus than it was to sell a $21K car.

Unfortunately I am no longer in a position to review Fords but I'm happy to provide a few Nissan reviews. We are doing training on the 2013 Altima tomorrow and I hope to provide you with a driving impression.

[G8mike]

^^Burg - I can see that. It comes down to not wanting to have a 'penalty box' when you're getting a smaller car. The top trim Focus (Titanium), which unfortunately wasn't available for us, looks very very nice inside and the features are a pretty good value IMO.

[G8mike]

Have a chance tomorrow to drive a Sentra Spec V back to back with the Focus to get a better feel for the different manual trannies out there. My spec V friend finds the Focus'clutch pedal to be a bit soft (spongey)[/align] and fairly high in the engagement point, so it'll be interesting for me to drive them back to back on the same day. Manuals are such a personal thing, which is probably why almost every writeup I ever see on manual equipped cars is full of complaints, 'ropey', 'notchy', 'throws too long', 'clutch too abrupt'........

So far, I've gotten used to it and am starting to really enjoy the whole manual experience, but I still stand by my conviction that it's no fun when you get into the kind of mind numbing traffic jams we get around here.

[lengnert]

You are spot on about the differences and preferences regarding clutch action.

The thing is you might like the takeup or pedal feel in one car, get in another one and hate it but a week later wonder what the heck you were thinking.

I am in The 'Burg's camp, though, even driving through Manhattan (which I have done in a manual equipped car, many times) I have never said boy I wish this car was auto. However, I was driving the appropriate vehicle at the time for a manual.

[G8mike]

Would have to be the right car for sure. Like Ferrari with a stunning Italian supermodel riding along with me.::