The Telluride is super overrated despite all the strange love it gets on here. The wheels look cartoonishly too small, and you get exactly the power and interior quality that you pay for. An Audi Q7 or Volvo XC90 alternative it is not. And not to mention, you get the pleasure of dealing with the KIA dealer network.

I have found the “stuff” decreases from 3-4yo to 10+ish. And *for short trips* other than a water bottle, there is no need for more *stuff*. The back of a vehicle does not need to look like the floor of a chuck-e-cheese waste bin. I get longer trips having the entire livingroom available but that is what the minivan…

OK it’s early in the comments so I’ll be that guy...

I will never understand the whole midlife and cannot have a fun/outlandish racecar mindset. Feels like just giving up your youth to getting old. It is one thing to say you want something comfortable and refined but to shit on the other cars is stupid.

Jaguar F Type R Coupe. trunk is plenty big enough for touring this 2022 is slightly over budget but a 2021 or a 2020 SVR version would also work (I actually think the pre facelift looks better although the User interface is apparently much improved on the newer car).

A Crosstrek is in the same class and price point as a Mazda 3 or Civic which both have better interiors, great economy and will be much more fun to drive if that is your jam.

Plan B:
Invest that money instead and have a more comfortable retirement. Its just a car. And no matter how much it costs, you’ll grow bored of it after the first few months of ownership.

Get a Subaru crosstrek. Fun. Capable. Reliable. Safe.

I would have recommended a Bentley Continental GT W12, preferably a 2012-2018 one.

“and with hills in the city, an automatic transmission is a must.”

Or, you know, install the masts after the ship is out from under the bridge.

I’ve recommended Vibes to two friends on a budget, and they’ve both been great. Toyota Reliability at used GM prices. (at least before the pandemic, not sure how they are doing now)

I owned two pontiac vibes and they were the cheapest most reliable cars to own. The 2003 manual was the most fun but later got a 2009 auto because of a broken foot. The Matrix XRS and Vibe GT are both fun with their 6-speed manual and high rev engine. very reliable cars and that first gen handles well especially with…

The RSX-S is still the best all-around car I’ve ever owned. Super fun to drive, dead reliable, enough cargo room to swallow up a bike without taking any of the wheels off, and great gas mileage. They will not be under $8500 for very long - I would doubt many of the decent ones still are.

<$8500 USD.

I say just get the best Prius you can for $8,500. Your wallet will thank you.

about a mile each way

You’re sixteen and you have $20 grand to spend on a car??? Ok kid, this is the voice of reason and experience - and 35 years your senior. Take $10 grand and bury it in a GIC, mutual fund, or some other long-term and low risk investment. Seriously. Invest it and forget it. If you don’t play with it and let it compound…

I’m fairly sure one day I’ll end up writing:

My Wife And I Own A Couple Of Dozen Cars, The City Isn’t Happy About It

Anyone have any further thoughts on what cars are best for motion sickness? I’m not an expert. Wouldn’t a soft suspension where you roll and wallow on bumps be worse? And if one has such extreme motion sickness that they even get sick while driving, is there any vehicle that would help? I have a friend who has this…

Great. Just yesterday I made a Best Offer on eBay that was just around 60% the asking price. Now I feel dirty. Thanks.