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Scott drives a death trap.
Forbes has rated the Mazda 3 as one of the most dangerous vehicles on the roads. For all of your ranting against insurance, it sounds like you really need it!
I came across this because I was seriously considering an M3 as my next vehicle. I settled on a Nissan. If they'd just beef up the safety features (no side airbags??), I'd buy a Mazda in a heartbeat.
I came across this because I was seriously considering an M3 as my next vehicle. I settled on a Nissan. If they'd just beef up the safety features (no side airbags??), I'd buy a Mazda in a heartbeat.
Comments
Not only that, but most of the safety features on a car are insignificant when compared to the seatbelt. Air bags and crumple zones definitely increase your chances if you do get in a crash, but the seatbelt trumps them all. Just wearing a functioning seatbelt in the proper fashion makes you safer than most drivers in the history of ever. Even then, if you get into a truly serious accident, you're screwed no matter what.
In the end, I don't really care all that much about vehicle safety ratings. If I'm that worried about safety, the best thing to do is not ever get in a car, because driving at all in any car is stupidly dangerous. Having more safety features, like those that allow race car drivers to walk away from crazy accidents, would be nice, but they aren't going to factor into my car-buying decision. I mostly concentrate on driving carefully so that I won't crash in the first place. If you do drive carefully and end up in a serious accident anyway, your decision to buy another brand of car probably isn't going to make the life and death difference.
Also, I was unaware that the airbags were non-standard on my car. I know for a fact that my car has a scarily crazy number of airbags all over the place. The thought of all those bags going off frightens me more than the thought of crashing.
One thing that most people don't take into account when buying a new car are the insurance rates. You may be able to get a nicer car for the same $$$ when you factor in insurance rates.
One thing I found when car shopping was that nobody made a car that was perfect. There is always a trade-off to be made. Bigger car = less gas mileage, cheaper car = fewer features, etc, etc. I opted for safety since I've got two kids. I suspect that if I was single it would not have been my primary concern.
it should look kinda like that, I still have to change the brake calipers, new suspension and then a turbo or supercharger.
Today is the last day with my 1995 Saab, so I had an older car too! I drive cars until they are no longer reliable. Living in a rural area, I like to have a little confidence in my vehicle. Still... I've never been a fan of trading in a car with 40,000 miles on it. I'd much rather get my money's worth, and keep the car until it's no longer practical to drive it. Of all the things Americans waste money on, automobiles have to be right up there on the top of the list.
For my last two vehicle purchases, I've really wanted to buy a used car. However, for Japanese models, they just don't seem to be a decent value - especially when you factor in new car incentives. Of course if you want to buy a Pontiac or a Chevy, that's a different story.
That brings me to another thought... who in their right mind would purchase a new GM, Chrysler/Dodge or Ford? I test drove some, and they did absolutely nothing for me. Factor in the reliability issues, and I just don't get it. Unless you need a specific vehicle (e.g. a Jeep), why are people buying these?
It's like anime, either you get it or you totally don't. I bought a $2000 rust bucket, that hardly makes 22mpg, 2.8cc 6 inline cylinders.
I've spent about $2000 more on it, and plan to spend $5000 or $8000 more and I know that NO ONE will buy my car for more than $3000, but its my hobby, I love my car, I love to ride it, and love when people ask about it, I don't race it, and don't care for such things.
So sometimes people buy the cars just because they like it.
In summary. Some modifications are not without merit, while others are just a waste. However, regardless of what modifications you actually make, you are at least doing something productive and learning something useful. I'm not about to rice out my car, but at least it is a hobby I can somewhat respect. When people who engage in the hobby only perform useful modifications, I can respect them even more.
Which is what I have to complain about in this post, personally.
40 hp, 2000 lbs, and sharp metal everywhere. It uses a swing-axle suspension with a rear-mounted engine, one of the main things Nader criticized.