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Austin, Texas...........Jeep....no way! It is like 100 degrees all summer long. Jeeps stink (wet, rubber parts) so you will hate getting in it if it has been closed up on a hot day. They also ride terrible so if you are commuting in it you will really hate it.
I think Jeeps are great, if I had an empty bay in the garage I would have a Jeep in there with the top off, ready to go on nice days but sitting in the garage on rainy days.
A friend recently bought a G37 hardtop convertible at a big discount, which would get it below your max.
Or, if you want a convertible crossover, there's the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet. They've sold very poorly, so incentives and discounts should be large.
Or you could do what my wife's cousin did, and buy both an SLK and a Wrangler
As for SLK, I am a middle aged engineer, that might be too flashy for me?
Cannot go with Miata, still need 4 seats. And Mustang might be too young for me.
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I'm an Engineer, and i've come to find the other engineers in my company drive boring/practical cars. Chevy Volt's and hybrids seems to be popular. Nobody really has anything flashy.
I have a '12 MB C300 and a Ford Mustang.
Do i feel it's too flashy? Yes to be honest. I love driving the car, but sometimes hate the attention it gets.
My Mustang is a V8 project car that I love to AutoX and drag race in amatuer events.
A friend recently bought a G37 hardtop convertible at a big discount, which would get it below your max.
Or, if you want a convertible crossover, there's the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet. They've sold very poorly, so incentives and discounts should be large.
Two good suggestions here, though I still think the CrossCabriolet is hideous. I owned a G35 for 7 years so I have considered a G37 convertible in the past. I'm not sure that I'd want a convertible here in Austin, however. It would probably be nice any other time than summer I guess.
I've had C70s as loaners, I wasn't particularly impressed with the performance. It may be better with the Polestar upgrade. What I really don't like about it is the way the drivers side armrest cuts into my leg.
You say you would buy another Prelude if you could, have you considered the new Accord coupe? I'm not a huge Honda fan but it looks pretty nice and I bet that it would be more roomy than your Prelude was. I think you can get a 6-speed manual with the V6 if you are interested in rowing your own gears.
The least important aspect of car ownership for me is "what will meet with the approval of others". Unless the others are making the payments, I could care less about if it somehow on the appropriate list.
If I lived in Texas, I could see having a Wrangler-the problem is that when it gets hot you'll want the top on so you can run the A/C and it's not like a classic convertible. It's a bit of work to swap that top on and off.
If you have the means (and it sounds like you may) maybe you can get yourself a "pet" car. One that you don't have to share with kids or dogs or groceries, something just for you as a reward. And that would be a great reason to go for that SLK.
Jeeps aren't that great for a family. They still have solid axles and while coil suspensions have softened the ride there are better choices for a family vehicle. I don't care for MB because they are expensive to insure maintain and repair out of warranty.
If my choice was between the MB or the jeep I guess I would reluctantly take the Jeep.
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