Have I lost my mind?
Ok, so after a long extensive search including trips to Babies-R-Us to test the car and various car-seats. Yay. At the end of the day, it seems that the Genesis Coupe is my favorite and tolerable to the Mrs and baby. It was a curiosity at the beginning and I drove it just to check it off the list. However, it quickly went to the top. I even LIKE the awful shifter. It makes smoothness a challenge that then makes even short trips kinda fun.
So the Mrs has some veto power if it is not functional with the baby in tow. The GC is not the easiest option with the baby, but it is the best two-door variant. Then again, a MR2 owner will make a lot of sacrifices of convenience making a coupe with a truck seem as practical as a minivan. I was looking for a more of a GT car that pure sportscar because I am keeping the MR2 for that. I am avoiding used options as a lot of those on the list are often "modified" and then dumped after folks screw it up.
Preference in this order:
1. Genesis Coupe. Tolerable and semi-functional back seat. The base model has a very good ride. The R-Spec is out as it is too stiff. Decent OTD deals on some 2015 but I will take depreciation on the chin. Additional perks include the styling and it is the emotional favorite (reminds me of my old 240/280Z but with a place to put the kid... which my father's solution was to strap my brother and me into the passenger seat together)
2. WRX. Makes all the sense on paper. Great to drive but it is stiff and loud. Easily the most usable and practical but it is too common here and just does not get my blood flowing as much. Odd. I loved the 2011 I almost bought but the redesign has taken something away... and not just my choice: the wagon.
3. Fiesta ST: Price, Fun, Four Doors.... but marginal safety and harsher ride.
4. Camaro. Love it. Not a functional back seat. Failed the Mrs. usability test.
5. GTI: Price. The sales manager knocked 3 grand off the price when talking to the Mrs while I was on the test drive and then was willing to get it to 23-24K OTD BEFORE haggling. Might have offered free child -care too. VW is desperate around here as it was an empty lot on a Saturday. So my biggest complaint was the price, they solved that. However, the route we took undid the GTI. I drove on a road I drive regularly and never noticed how bad it was. Not sure if it was the model or something else but the ride was not as good as some folks rant about. It was better than others but the short-wheelbase was catching IMO. Wife did not care for the interior styling.
6. BRZ: Love it. It is the best driver car in the group (followed by the FiST). Failed failed and failed in the back-seat. Once I got the babyseat into the car, the front passenger seat had to be all the way forward... and folded forward.
7. 370Z - Yeah..... despite showing that we could use bungee cords to hold down the baby in the rear deck, the Mrs walked away... clutching the little man tighter than normal.
8. Mustang: See C&C Meme. Also unusable back seat.
9. Honda SI: They should just retire that model designation until they bring out a real option again.
Did I miss anything?
Finally one last rant. Where in the (INSERT VULGAR LANGUAGE) did all the usable back-seat coupes go? It feels that everyone looked at the Honda CRZ and said yup, we will add padding and copy that design.
Ok, so after a long extensive search including trips to Babies-R-Us to test the car and various car-seats. Yay. At the end of the day, it seems that the Genesis Coupe is my favorite and tolerable to the Mrs and baby. It was a curiosity at the beginning and I drove it just to check it off the list. However, it quickly went to the top. I even LIKE the awful shifter. It makes smoothness a challenge that then makes even short trips kinda fun.
So the Mrs has some veto power if it is not functional with the baby in tow. The GC is not the easiest option with the baby, but it is the best two-door variant. Then again, a MR2 owner will make a lot of sacrifices of convenience making a coupe with a truck seem as practical as a minivan. I was looking for a more of a GT car that pure sportscar because I am keeping the MR2 for that. I am avoiding used options as a lot of those on the list are often "modified" and then dumped after folks screw it up.
Preference in this order:
1. Genesis Coupe. Tolerable and semi-functional back seat. The base model has a very good ride. The R-Spec is out as it is too stiff. Decent OTD deals on some 2015 but I will take depreciation on the chin. Additional perks include the styling and it is the emotional favorite (reminds me of my old 240/280Z but with a place to put the kid... which my father's solution was to strap my brother and me into the passenger seat together)
2. WRX. Makes all the sense on paper. Great to drive but it is stiff and loud. Easily the most usable and practical but it is too common here and just does not get my blood flowing as much. Odd. I loved the 2011 I almost bought but the redesign has taken something away... and not just my choice: the wagon.
3. Fiesta ST: Price, Fun, Four Doors.... but marginal safety and harsher ride.
4. Camaro. Love it. Not a functional back seat. Failed the Mrs. usability test.
5. GTI: Price. The sales manager knocked 3 grand off the price when talking to the Mrs while I was on the test drive and then was willing to get it to 23-24K OTD BEFORE haggling. Might have offered free child -care too. VW is desperate around here as it was an empty lot on a Saturday. So my biggest complaint was the price, they solved that. However, the route we took undid the GTI. I drove on a road I drive regularly and never noticed how bad it was. Not sure if it was the model or something else but the ride was not as good as some folks rant about. It was better than others but the short-wheelbase was catching IMO. Wife did not care for the interior styling.
6. BRZ: Love it. It is the best driver car in the group (followed by the FiST). Failed failed and failed in the back-seat. Once I got the babyseat into the car, the front passenger seat had to be all the way forward... and folded forward.
7. 370Z - Yeah..... despite showing that we could use bungee cords to hold down the baby in the rear deck, the Mrs walked away... clutching the little man tighter than normal.
8. Mustang: See C&C Meme. Also unusable back seat.
9. Honda SI: They should just retire that model designation until they bring out a real option again.
Did I miss anything?
Finally one last rant. Where in the (INSERT VULGAR LANGUAGE) did all the usable back-seat coupes go? It feels that everyone looked at the Honda CRZ and said yup, we will add padding and copy that design.