Car Poll

[neadods]

Long story as short as I can make it: there are two variables I'm considering when buying a car.

3 vs 5 door. (They're counting the hatchback as a door, the size is the same). The advantage of the 3-door is that it's cheaper and I can get everything I want in a cheaper add-on package. The disadvantage is that it's a 2-door body. I don't see it as that big a problem; 9 times out of 10 I'm just carrying me and maybe one other passenger. But my parents and a couple of my friends are pumping for 4-door. There are times when it would be undeniably convenient - but *enough* times to pay several thousand more? Especially when the add-on package for what I want is also about 3x as much on top of that and comes with a bunch of expensive features I don't want?

Color. I've been looking at white cars all along, because I think white cars are beautiful. However, they also make an electric banana yellow car. I don't think that is beautiful, but I'm also the person who owns a hot pink suitcase - which I think is HIDEOUS - but there are significant advantages to being able spot your property from 50 yards away. And a yellow car won't "disappear" in snow or fog (like white does), rain (silver) or dusk/dawn (dark colors).

Now the thing is... they only make the yellow in 3-door. White comes in both.

So one of those polls I'll feel free to ignore, but will help me narrow down what I'm thinking... which right now is "screw it. Get a little yellow one; the advantages outweigh the disadvantages."

[Poll #1360967]

Comments

[twistedchick]

I'm neutral re doors -- your choice -- but are you sure you want a white car -- when that's the choice of color for all cars owned by local municipalities? Maybe that's not as much of an issue over in College Park, but in Silver Spring sometimes there are county/DC/state cars all over the place, all nearly identical and all white. Maybe it's just me, but I have enough trouble finding a dark green 4-Runner in a parking lot with a bunch of other dark SUVs; I'd go nuts trying to find a white car around here.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I only want white because it makes me happy as a car color. It's a sheer gut thing. The blue is acceptable pretty-wise, but the yellow is the only *practical* color - highly visible while driving and when I forget where I parked. A straw poll while I was driving and walking through the parking lot showed billions of white and blue and silver cars, 1 mustard, 3 gold, and one black-and-yellow.

PS - who's that in your icon?

[ladyfox7oaks.livejournal.com]

The biggest issue I have with the Bright Banana Yellow? is that I was raised to avoid bright Yellow and/or Red cars, cause the Cops will fixate on them, even if they are standing still. You can't get away with ANYTHING, and getting tagged *Every time* for 2 miles over the limit gets tiring on the wallet pretty d*mn fast.
But then- Dad was a Cop- and that's where I learned it, because he learned it in the Academy...

[ladyfox7oaks.livejournal.com]

Thought... If you decide to go white, maybe you can make a distinctive flag for the antenna, or magnetic sign for the door that will help in the parking lots...

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Oh, it'll be eyecatching, but I'd still have to be breaking the law - and I usually birddog, because it never pays to be the fastest thing on the road no matter what color car you're driving.

I've driven Dad's little red sports car and not gotten into trouble for it.

[fandance.livejournal.com]

I've heard this saying for a long time. I owned red cars for 20 years. In that time, I got two tickets - and they were well deserved.

Even in a screaming red car, people will change lanes and nearly bash into you because they just don't SEE anything on the road.

[wshaffer.livejournal.com]

My current car is a three door, with a pretty cramped rear seat to boot. It generally means that I'm not anybody's first choice to ride with when friends and I are carpooling somewhere, but that's not entirely a bad thing.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

but that's not entirely a bad thing

:D

I wouldn't be either... but I'm not the first choice usually anyway. The few times I am part of a convoy with a third person, I think they can manage to get in and out. I wouldn't be the only person in the group with a 2-door car.

[kefiraahava.livejournal.com]

If your parents and friends aren't paying for the additional doors, then that's not their decision to make, IMO. You know best what your routine is and what works for that routine. I'd go with what works for it.

Color--I'd have to see the yellow to judge. But if it's a custom color and it gets dinged, how much will the paint job cost? I had this happen when I owned a foresty green mini-SUV; somehow the bumper got scratched up and they told me it was going to cost near a grand to repaint just that because it was a custom color. I didn't pay that.*wry grin*

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I didn't pay that

My usual MO is to drive a car into the ground before I buy a new one; the fact that I'm getting rid of the current one while it still runs and has resale value is an aberration that I don't intend to repeat.

In other words... I won't pay that either.

[swallowedbysky.livejournal.com]

When I was a little girl, my aunt had a bright yellow car that, when the doors were open, made a sound like a bell. We called it the 'ding dong car' and I've wanted a little yellow car ever since. I may be a bit biased. On the other hand, bodywork tends to be less expensive on neutral colors, IIRC.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

My hope would be that I wouldn't need bodywork. Or if I do, like the last time, it'll be paid for by the person who hit me.

(On the other hand, the guy hit me because he was backing up one of those mammoth oversized rolling dicks and didn't notice my *station wagon* because it wasn't big enough.)

[elasg.livejournal.com]

OK, I am an exhibitionist, so yellow is right up my alley. On the other hand, unless you want to keep it absolutely spotless, a white car often looks dirtier than a similarly soiled car of any other color. Not sure why that is, but it's the reason I've never bought white.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Everyone gives me "the look" when I say I want white. But I do think they're beautiful.

[shawan-7.livejournal.com]

5 doors. 5 doors. 5 doors. Why am I so emphatic?

Because for any of your friends who might have to get in the back seat, it's hard to deal with in a 2-door. None of us are getting younger and more lithe. Don't make a choice that's hard in the long run. And your dad says they are safer.

You can always get the darned thing painted Banana Yellow. Mine is gold and yeah - I can find it in virtually any parking lot.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Because for any of your friends who might have to get in the back seat, it's hard to deal with in a 2-door.

I know that. But how often in the last five years have I driven with someone in the back seat? Seriously, I can only think of twice.

[stoplookingup.livejournal.com]

If you'll be driving anyone who might have difficulty getting in and out of the back seat of a 3-door, or if you'll be taking longer trips with more than one other person, the 5-door is worth it. If not, save the money.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Based on use for the last 10 years, I take long trips alone or with one other person, I do little ferrying of multiple people, and (so far) everyone can get in and out of my friends' two-door cars.

[wendymr.livejournal.com]

I would never, ever buy a white car. They show the dirt too easily, and since they're also usually cheaper than other colours that makes them less saleable.

That said, yellow?? Even worse than white, in my opinion. Stand-out colours like that don't sell well, and I also don't like yellow ;)

And I would always, always go for a five-door rather than three-door. Not just because the three-doors are very awkward should you have additional passengers, but (again) resale value.

But *shrugs* that's just my opinion :) Your priorities may differ!

[neadods.livejournal.com]

On the whole, I don't tend to resell my cars. In fact, this is the first time in ever that I've sold a car that was in running condition - my usual M.O. is to drive them until mileage is high and something major falls off, donate it to charity, and buy another one.

[signeh.livejournal.com]

I can only say that I had a two door car for many years and cursed it at appallingly regular intervals. I missed those other two doors the entire time I owned the Metro; I was always wanting easy access space for passengers or cargo. Now I have a strange arrangement of two regular doors and two short doors, that do open fully and allow easy access to cargo or passengers, and it's a good thing. And as far as color goes, get what you love; white might disappear, but bright yellow has become a magnet for police of all areas. Also remember that you will, hopefully, have this car for a very long time indeed; what do you want to look at for the next fifteen years?

[neadods.livejournal.com]

what do you want to look at for the next fifteen years?

Something I can find in the parking lot, really. I've had the dickens of a time finding the current one sometimes.

3 door white

[zinelady.livejournal.com]

One advantage white has over other cars is that if you need touch ups, it's easier to match and cheaper to paint. If you like white, definitely go for it. And I went with 3 door just because it's so much cheaper, you usually don't have more than 2 people riding in your car. 4 doors are definitely an advantage if you have kids to put in the back seat, but how often will you be having back seat passengers? If they want a ride, they'll just have to climb in. Otherwise, I figure they can drive their own cars.

Re: 3 door white

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Otherwise, I figure they can drive their own cars.

*amused snort*

[darthfox.livejournal.com]

If your parents care enough about more doors to shell out, then by all means. I found that the times I've had a rear passenger have been infrequent enough that two doors is fine.

[darthfox.livejournal.com]

(Oh -- and I would never choose a white car, because I think they are horrid, but you should certainly go with your preference rather than mine. [g])

[lil-shepherd.livejournal.com]

I have owned a bright yellow three door, and, by choice, I would have a bright yellow car again. It is visible and you can always find it in a large car park (particularly when said car park is actually a field.) White cars are the devil to keep clean, and disappear in fog and snow. We currently have a silver car, but only because that was the only way we could get the extras we wanted in the time scale to take advantage of a particular offer.

Three or five door is a purely personal choice, unless you have children, or are likely to carry people who have mobility problems. (Three doors are safer for kids and more difficult for those with limited mobility.) However, it doesn't really make that much difference except in those circumstances.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Two questions, since they keep coming up in comments:

1) Did you find that you had any problems with police?

2) Were there times when you wished you had a 4-door?

[starmalachite.livejournal.com]

IIRC, for the same make & model car, 3 doors is more expensive to insure than 5. I've never gotten a straight answer why; maybe because 3 doors tends to appeal to younger, less experienced drivers who are looking for the cheapest vehicle.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

ICON LOVE!

I called the insurance company and the difference between the car I have now and a new Yaris is already negligible, so I think the difference between number of doors will be more negligible still.

[jennetj.livejournal.com]

As the owner of a little silver car that got hit 4 times in the first 4 years I owned it, I'm all for brightly-colored cars. Mind, I'm also a fan of 4-doors (or as you put it, 5-doors), but given my past experience, I think I'd take the bright color over the extra convenience of the doors.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I love the icon!

M has been vociferously voting all along for the 4-door car until I pointed out that it is a direct tradeoff between being able to put things (and people) easily in the back vs. being able to find it easily in a parking lot. As one happens only a couple of times a month and the other happens every day, it was a pretty easy decision.

[gonzai55.livejournal.com]

Speaking as someone who finally ditched the white car (a year ago last week), white is boring, common and picks up every last bleedin' speck of dust or crud that ever considered coming into being. I was distressed for a time because even more important to me than exterior color is interior color (I despise gray/black interiors) and it was looking like to get a tan interior, I'd have to get another white car. Augh! (Lucked out and found a light blue one, though what I *really* wanted was purple.)

Problem is I hate yellow too, esp bright yellow. Visibility to other drivers is a moot point - none of them are paying any attention because they're on the phone.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Visibility to other drivers is a moot point - none of them are paying any attention because they're on the phone.

*snort*

Nobody has a yellow car on the lot. My negotiator says this is going to hurt me, but I figure in a soft market, if I finally say "I want yellow or nothing" they're going to find me a damn yellow car.

[--kali--.livejournal.com]

The poll seems to be overwhelmingly leaning towards the yellow there.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Which is pretty ironic, as it turns out there isn't a yellow one at any of the local dealers.