On Tue, 9 May 2017 20:45:27 -0700 (PDT), Andy
wrote:

On Monday, May 8, 2017 at 3:31:10 AM UTC-5, Micky wrote:
A friend of mine is after me to buy a new car** and she found the
Buick Cascada. I've wanted a Buick for a long time, because I like GM
cars, but the Chevy I-forget-the-model-name was so cheap. Bucket
seats but not even a center console. And I've avoided Ford and
rice-burners. And the Cadillac seemed showy, so that left a
Buick. And the Skylark was beautful (And my Buick was okay too. I
forget its model name. Centurion?)

But the Cascada comes standard with 20" wheels, and they say that like
it's a good thing. Well if you're in the Gran Prix races, I'm sure
it's a good thing, but I like a comfortable ride. They don't even
mention smaller optional wheels (although I'm sure I could get them if
I pay someone to go to the Chevy dealer and get them there.

(It also has "sport-tuned suspension" I don't want that either, but I
suspect it's not like a violin that you can retune to something else.

It also comes with a black top, no other choice given. Don't these
designers ever drive the cars they design? It's like the charge-card
email notifications all over again. (I had two convertibles with
black tops. When the second one needed a new top, I changed to green,
to match the turquoise car, which was imo primarily green, and it was
much better. Since then I've had tan, a rather light version of tan.)

I suppose if I order the card before it's built, I can get a tan top,
and they probably "won't charge me much extra", but any negotiation on
the price will be over.

I've never bought a new car, but the idea was to get what I wanted,
not what I don't want. For $35,000 dollars, which I gather is not
much these days, but they don't offer to let me spend more and get
what I want.

**and indeed it will be possible to get a 7-year old car like I like,
but v. hard I think to get a 3, 4, or 5 year old car, because they
stopped making Sebrings, Solara convertibles, and maybe only Mustangs
are left.

Any other new or late model American convertibles bigger than a Miata
for sale these days?? At least as big as a mustang.

Your choice to avoid foreign cars.

But they last twice as long as American made cars.

Andy

Not necessarily true. Yes, some of the best cars, when it comes to
lifespan and amount of repairs required, have proven to be
(particularly) asian imports like the Toyota and Honda - but there are
a LOT of old and very high mileage north americans vehicles as well -
and with VERT few repairs.
Although I am a strong believer in the Toyota in particular, having
been a Toyota service manager for 10 years, and having owned a few, I
am currently driving FORDS - because I can buy them a lot cheaper than
Toyotas used, and I will never waste my money on a brand new car.

My current personal vehicle is a 21 year old Ranger 4 liter standard
transmission standard cab long box pickup with about 352000km on the
clock. The clutch was replaced at 307000km because the internal
release cyl failed and while it was apart it just made sense to
replace the whole clutch - even though it was only less than half
worn. The front brakes had been replaced at about 275000km before I
bought the truck - and I have replaced them twice - once when the pads
failed, and once when the rotors pitted and I took the opportunity to
install larger rotors. It has had a cam synchronizer replaced and a
serpentine belt tensioner as well as a few vacuum hoses, a couple of
tail lighy bulbs, and 2 drivers side door handles. Truck still looks
like new.
Pretty much what you would expect of a well cared for Toyota pickup -
- - .