help me pick my next car. i need safety gizmos.

[mopinko]

so, i am in a position to buy a new car. i am 61, and have never been the worlds greatest driver. i am not going to get any better. but i have another 30 years or so on this rock, and i dont want to be stuck without wheels.
i do a lot of city driving. occasional road trip, but not that often.

i would like a small, economical car, but something sporty would be nice. i like the little beemer 2 seater, and my all time fave car is the old benz 2 seaters from the 70's.

but above all, what i need is a good collision avoidance system.
solid warrantee service is also a must. i know that goes dealer to dealer, but want a good plan. intend to drive this car into the dust.
price matters, but long term value is more important than a low price.

whatcha think lounge?

[we can do it]

1. Look at Subaru- very safe cars, big savings on insurance because they are so safe.

[kairos12]

7. Agree.

[mopinko]

13. i saw their little sporty one the other day.

dont remember the model name, but it looked cute.

what i am looking for is features for OTHER PEOPLE'S safety. collision avoidance and all that jazz.

[we can do it]

15. Pretty sure they are safe for all- or insurers wouldn't care.

They get around great in all kinds of weather. Mine is 5 years old, so check their site to see the safety features available now.

http://www.subaru.com/engineering/safety.html

[mucifer]

23. Glad to see pro Subaru people here. I am gonna buy

a crosstrek with eyesight. I want a car for the Chicago snow. I drive a lot at work and the safety idea is important. These things will often slam on the brakes by themselves if you don't do it quick enough.

[mopinko]

24. i am pro-subie.

i have had 2 older foresters that i loved. they ended up going to kids. drat.
and yeah, wont be much snow this year, but...

i do want something small. i have another vehicle for hauling.

eta how ya doin?

[Corgigal]

22. With eyesight

I'm looking at one of those cars for my sons college graduation gift. He's blind in one eye and has a seizure disorder.

[BlueJazz]

2. I drive a Mercedes-Benz E-350. Main reason was I wouldn't have to buy another automobile for..

..quite a long time and the service is great at the dealers plus warranty is outstanding.

[Enrique]

3. almost all cars now have amazing safety features

I believe electronic stability control is mandatory on all new cars for example.

Good luck to you.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

5. That feature, I think, saved my bacon a couple years ago.

I was driving in a forming snow storm with still dry pavement and blowing snow. Visibility was starting to deteriorate pretty quickly.

I was in the process of slowing it down when I saw I was overtaking a set of lights ahead. I started to shoulder check and saw a car in the left lane about three car lengths back so I figured I would wait. Surprise! The car in the right lane was friken stopped!

I though, oh this will be bad. I jerked the car to the left just missing the stopped car. I heard a couple thumps and thought I clipped him. My car jerked to the left and back to the right like I was on a rail. It turns out the ESC was working the brakes for me and kept me on the road.

It's one of those things I will always remember. Like the time I looked up and saw a windscreen full of Cessna coming at me when I was a student pilot.

[DFW]

4. Well, if you live anywhere near me......

The best safety gizmo is a Sherman tank.

[A HERETIC I AM]

14. Kinda slow, isn't it?

Top speed - 25 to 30 MPH.

How about one of these, with a turbine powerplant?

[DFW]

16. That works for me. But you need at least that much armor in my neck of the woods

Otherwise, you risk ending up as a research tool at some German med school. I take public transportation whenever I can. My last car had close to 50,000 KM on it after ten years.

[mopinko]

19. me in a tank is the opposite of what i am looking for.

trying not to do too much damage to other people's cars.
i drove a chevy suburban for a long time. it is now my chicken coop. there was not a panel on the whole body that was not creased or crinkled by the time i gave it up.
my insurance company is about to get tired of my fender benders.

[DFW]

20. In Germany, it's not the insurance company you need to fear

It's the homicidal/suicidal drivers who only know two speeds: Reverse, and 140mph full speed ahead.

[PasadenaTrudy]

6. Look at Mazda 3 and cx-3 models n/t

[Kingofalldems]

8. A backup camera is a great feature for safety.

[AnimalLover10]

18. cameras

All cars are supposed to have backup cameras by 2018. It's a great option to have.

[vanlassie]

9. My 2015 Civic has not just a backup camera, but

a right side blind spot camera. Pops on when you signal right. No more blind spot! It's very sporty.

[Tobin S.]

10. Another vote for the Civic.

I've got a 2010 model so it doesn't have the latest technology on it, but it has been a very good car for me and I've had little trouble with it. I hear they'll take a ton of miles, too, although mine only has about 50,000 on it. When I bought mine, they offered an optional three year 36,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. I think a five year 100,000 mile warranty on the drive train was standard at the time.

[aksptth]

11. How much?

How much you want to spend is a big variable...

[mopinko]

12. i can afford a good car.

it has to last the rest of my life, so i am willing to go big.

[Throd]

17. Union made in the USA. Start with that.

[aidbo]

21. Check out a Nissan Murano

All wheel drive, good cargo, lots of safety features.

Not bad looking.

http://www.nissanusa.com/crossovers/murano/features/

[mopinko]

25. too big.

got an old jeep for when i need to haul things. just want something small. sexy would be good. one of those life changing times.