The winter idiot and what to buy discussion

[Twitchin Kitten]

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The VW's are not getting good reviews by people we know personally out this way, so do some homework. Yes, Mazda and some smaller Subuaru's do offer manual transmissions, but those are useless for me. They're all talking about the new Bronco now. Supposed to have a 7 speed manual RWD drive-train but goddamn if the thing isn't as ugly as sin.

Apparently they're forcing us to do a lot of homework just to pick a vehicle. Just read this on the Coyote engine group from a guy working at Ford:

I know several people that are fanatics about the VW's.  A co-worker had to sell his TDI Jetta because of the diesel bullshit, bought a '17 AllTrac, then moved to an '18 AllTrac when they gave him a sweet deal.  

The Mazda 3 only comes with the autotragic slush box on the all wheel drive version.  And she wants all wheel drive.  It's ok, as she is moving jobs, may have a lot more traffic to deal with.  

The Mazda, for 2K more, was just an entire world nicer car.  Interior was sleek, minimalist, the car is very smooth.  Decent power for a 2.5l.  The VW 1.8l just seemed a tad buzzy, the interior controls just very busy and cluttered by comparison.  

Bronco.  Yes the 7spd might happen.  At least Ford DID commision the engineering work from Getrag for one to be built.  As for looks, to the best of my knowledge nobody has any idea what it will look like.  The only pictures I have seen are heavily camouflaged test mules that have no resemblance to what it will end up looking like.  Not to mention there is no idea if a 2 door version will even be available.  I have looked some, then I looked a LOT more, can find NOTHING on 5.0 engine problems.  I will have to talk to my friend that works at ford, and drives a 2018 5.0 F150.

Either way, she is not going to wait 2 years for one.  She has driven this Subaru for 9 years, is done with it.  So we went Mazda 3.  Myself, I do like the new Ranger some, would like a 4 door, but don't like the short bed.  And I don't want a payment.  My truck and all of my bikes are paid for.  So I won't be buying anything.

Ford is running some nice deals on new leftovers on the lot right now. Since we have great credit I'm going to be talking about trading in my lease for one of the Explorer Sports. HAS to be the Sport model because it's the only one with turbo and towing package and 4WD vs AWD. BIG difference in gas mileage on 4WD vs AWD.

The other must have is the wifi hotspot capability and Sync3. regular Sync is in the Edge and it SUCKS.
The masterful packing I had to do over this past weekend just screamed that we need something bigger.

As for the Bronco.... it's the 4 door version that everyone is up in the air and all giddy about. from what I was able to glean it's going to remain boxy but with a bit of "raptor" looking bits here and there. Everyone wants to. be the know it all saying all the photos are from Ford. yeah, right pal.

You'd think with the auto show going on in two weeks that thing would have been ready to show off. So unless it's something spectacular that can hold a shit load of band equipment, a passenger and an upright bass in the hard case (that adds 10" to the size!), I'll get what I need for now and maybe make a trade in if the Bronco thrills me. I never did in the past, but that manual transmission might push me over.