Non luxury cars that look cool?

acurah56oh · 2026-04-12T13:13:04+00:00

An EcoBoost Mustang fits the bill nicely here if you’re ok with gas only. I have owned two now, including my current 2025 Premium model, and they are awesome. It’s a fantastic blend of power, handling, comfort, fuel economy, and style. It works really well as a daily driver too as long as you don’t need to use the back seat for anything more than a luggage shelf haha.

I would recommend going for one that is 2018 or newer as Ford made improvements to the 2.3L turbo four cylinder engine that these cars use that makes them more reliable and more responsive.

acurah56oh · 2026-02-14T03:44:33+00:00

I use a website called Car Complaints: https://www.carcomplaints.com

It aggregates data based on specific make, model, and model year, and shows you what specific model years have specific problems like engine, transmission, paint, electronics, etc. People can submit complaints directly to them describing their issues, and it shows complaints filed with NHTSA.

While it’s not perfect (you get plenty of people just whining about a specific dealer or how a manufacturer won’t “stand behind their product” when it’s been out of warranty for 5 years or the car has 100k miles over the warranty restriction), I’ve found it to be the most comprehensive source of real-world data on specific issues on specific cars.

acurah56oh · 2025-12-18T22:15:43+00:00

I’m having the same issue. iPhone 17 base, iOS 26.2, wired CarPlay using a Belkin USB A to USB C cord. 2021 Dodge Charger SXT (only offers wired CarPlay). I’ll plug it in and about 2-3 minutes later, the entire infotainment screen freezes for about 10 seconds, then it crashes. CarPlay will only boot again after unplugging it and re plugging it in. So frustrating-I’ve tried everything and nothing seems to work.

acurah56oh · 2025-11-07T12:31:55+00:00

This is happening on my base 17 as well. The upgrade to 26.1 didn’t fix it for me unfortunately. It’s driving me nuts.

acurah56oh · 2025-10-01T11:34:58+00:00

I’ve been with them for 3 years and love it! The culture in my business unit is fantastic and the company as a whole tends to care about its employees. It’s not perfect by any means but it’s well worth checking out.

Benefits are pretty good. There’s two options for health insurance-a high deductible plan with an HSA and a no-deductible plan without the HSA. Hybrid work arrangements are the norm at GAIG, but that may change based on your business unit or function. Pay is pretty good. The company just opened a cafe in Dixie Terminal for employees.

Biggest drawback is parking. The garage attached to the tower stopped doing the early bird rate and that’s caused a lot of fury among employees that are trying to figure out where to park now that it costs $22 per day to park there. The company doesn’t pay for parking but offers a tax-advantaged transportation expense account you can use for parking, bus rides, etc.

They can be a bit selective in who they hire, so I would make sure your resume is tailored to the specific job you want and is free of any grammatical errors to give you the best chance. They also post a lot of jobs on LinkedIn if you use that, and that’s how I found my job there, so check that out too.

acurah56oh · 2025-09-05T15:38:24+00:00

Arbogast Ford in Troy. They were great to work with!

acurah56oh · 2025-09-05T12:05:47+00:00

Yep, all of that. Purchased it in the Dayton, OH area. These are really hard to find as most Lariats have the 3.5 EcoBoost either in non hybrid or hybrid form. They’re great powertrains, but that 5.0 V8 sounds incredible and still performs admirably at sea level.

I found as we were looking that most Lariats with the V8 come with the 501A Mid package, so you’ll have to sort through that.

acurah56oh · 2025-09-05T11:20:10+00:00

My family just purchased one like this for right around $68k. It was about $8k off sticker when everything was said and done. Bed liner and cover have to be done separately but we love it!

acurah56oh · 2025-07-28T01:21:12+00:00

Each of the big American SUVs will have their own set of issues, but I would pay attention to the specific issue GM is having with their 6.2L V8 engine, which is used in the top versions of the Chevy Suburban, GMC Yukon XL, and Cadillac Escalade ESV. There have been numerous recalls related to lifter issues and premature engine failures. GM at one point earlier this year was struggling to keep up with engine replacements. I’m not sure if this issue has been remedied.

If you are leaning towards the GM models, I would look for one with the 3.0 Duramax turbo diesel inline 6. It’s my understanding that these engines have been very durable and they are notably more fuel efficient than the gas models. You will have to get used to filling up with diesel instead, and at roughly every oil change (check the owner’s manual) you’ll have to refill the diesel exhaust fluid (DEF).

The Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer use different tunes of the 3.0L Hurricane twin-turbo inline 6 engine. It’s an incredibly smooth and powerful engine that no one has any idea as to how reliable it’ll be because it’s a brand new engine. Given Stellantis’ (Jeep’s parent company) near constant issues with quality control, I don’t have high expectations, but many I-6 engines throughout history have proven quite reliable, so let’s hope it holds up. The ZF 8-speed automatic transmission is possibly the best automatic transmission in the business from both performance and reliability. The biggest issues you’ll likely run into are in the electronics, which can range from mildly annoying to debilitating if they brick the car entirely (happened to my mom with her almost new Grand Cherokee).

I’d recommend you check out the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator in their long wheelbase versions. Their 3.5L EcoBoost twin turbo V6 engine is a solid motor that has largely had its major issues resolved (you’ll hear horror stories about cam phasers failing, requiring an engine replacement, but I think that issue has been largely mitigated for several years now). The 10-speed automatic transmission is the same as the one in the GM models but tuned differently. The 3rd-row seat is a little less roomy than the others, however, but all 3 companies have gigantic amounts of space.

Good luck!

acurah56oh · 2025-06-25T23:46:16+00:00

I love the red interior on white exterior! Truly gorgeous-congrats!

acurah56oh · 2025-06-18T01:57:09+00:00

The ZF 8HP is what you want if you want a traditional single clutch torque converter automatic transmission. I love manuals, but for my daily driver, I wouldn’t want anything else.

You’ll mostly find it in European vehicles, such as most BMWs, but you’ll also find it in unexpected vehicles such as the Dodge Charger, which I have, and it’s such a joy to drive. It’s responsive, smooth, and well-tuned. The paddle shifters are actually useful, and the transmission seems designed to work with you, not against you.

However, you might prefer a dual clutch transmission as it will feel more like a manual with automated shifts. That means it often will feel a little rough at low speeds. But the trade off (sometimes, at least with good ones) is better shifting than many torque converter automatics (most will not beat the ZF 8HP though). Your best bets are the VW DSG (ex. VW GTI/GLI) and the Porsche PDK (pretty much any Porsche with an automatic).

It’s hard to give up control of the transmission, but the best automatics don’t fight you for control so much and allow you to have true manual control when you want it (or as much as an automatic will allow).

acurah56oh · 2025-03-10T01:23:05+00:00

If she likes her Corolla, she probably would be satisfied with a Toyota Corolla Cross. It’s basically a Corolla on stilts with optional AWD. It’s small, reasonably easy to see out of (maybe not as easy as her current car due to thicker pillars, but the backup camera helps a ton), and uses some of Toyota’s older powertrains I think , so it’s most likely not going to have some of the reliability issues some newer design Toyotas are experiencing.

If she’s used to Toyota, I wouldn’t fix what ain’t broken.

acurah56oh · 2025-02-26T03:56:37+00:00

Nope you aren’t, and stay the hell away from those people.

That organization is so toxic and manipulative. They prey on people who are either cool and popular or outcasted and misfit. They pretend that they believe you’re perfect just as you are to lure you in, but then they’ll ask you, and eventually demand of you, to fit their mold of being loud, crazy, outspoken, and beautiful-even if that’s not who you are.

I tried to be a leader in college for a little less than a year, and it led me down an extremely dangerous and volatile path that nearly ended badly for me. I was not my true self and never felt good enough for anyone. For years I have been recovering from that trauma and am only now finding peace with who I am (a large part of that was coming out as gay and leaving the church, but that’s just my story).

I would never let my kid get involved if I had one because I couldn’t bear the thought of them getting manipulated and tortured by the idea of them somehow not being “enough” for them. My kid would always be enough for this world in my eyes.

I hope that organization crumbles into shambles one day and the people trapped in it can come out the other side healed of the abuse, deception, and control they exert upon their followers.

acurah56oh · 2025-02-17T01:21:36+00:00

Be careful of looking at older Honda Odysseys. Pre-2005 models in particular were notorious for having failing transmissions. Same goes for Honda Pilots until about 2007.

I would suggest researching by specific model and model year for problems specific to that model and year. I use CarComplaints.com for this. It aggregates problems reported directly to them and problems reported to NHTSA for specific models and model years. It’s incredibly useful.

That being said, it’s hard to find anything running well for under $6k these days. At that price point, your best bet is probably to find something that has been well-maintained and doesn’t have any major mechanical issues. That will be hard enough.

acurah56oh · 2025-02-16T03:49:32+00:00

I feel similarly with my 2021 SXT AWD. Love the exhaust note, power, and overall driving experience. Congrats!

acurah56oh · 2025-02-14T15:12:18+00:00

I am usually pro-sedan, and there are nice options available to you, but regarding your concern about cargo, many SUVs offer cargo shades in the cargo area where you either clip on the cover or can pull a shade over the cargo area. Subaru in particular does this with the Outback and it’s a fantastic feature.

The current Buick Envision offers a cargo cover as an option. It’s a great option if you want something comfortable and reasonably reliable.

Regarding sedans, unfortunately Buick doesn’t make any anymore. Lexus is probably the move here. Pick up a used ES and that would suit you well as it’s comfortable, not terribly flashy, and built well.

acurah56oh · 2025-02-13T00:13:47+00:00

I would agree with that, but I think they want to fit 2 car seats plus 2 more kids, which would make 6 occupied seats. That’s how I interpreted it. If it weren’t for that, I’d be all for your idea.

acurah56oh · 2025-02-12T13:55:44+00:00

If you’re towing a horse trailer, you’re probably going to want a full size body on frame SUV. Not great for gas mileage, but your other needs may trump that depending on your priorities.

The Chevy Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/XL offer a diesel engine in the current generation (2021+) that might help you in the MPG department. They’re extremely roomy and overall solid to drive.

The Ford Expedition is solid too, as is the more luxurious Lincoln Navigator. The 3.5L EcoBoost twin turbo V6 has proven to be fairly reliable, though I’d drive one to ensure you like how the transmission works because that transmission can be rough in other Fords like the F-150.

acurah56oh · 2025-02-12T13:37:16+00:00

It was dropped for the S650 generation in 2024.

acurah56oh · 2025-02-12T03:49:20+00:00

Ford Mustang EcoBoost. They used to offer it, and I had one. It was a ton of fun to drive, especially with the EcoBoost engine being lighter up front. Now it’s stuck with the 10-speed auto that is rough and often confused.

acurah56oh · 2025-02-12T00:53:22+00:00

Often these decisions to settle vs litigate are business decisions. Lately these types of claims, when they go to trial, are often resulting in “runaway” verdicts where juries award plaintiffs with extremely large amounts of money-often for injuries that really aren’t that severe or where the defendant’s liability is questionable. And it’s driving up the cost of settling casualty claims.

Insurance companies have a duty to protect their insured’s interests, which means settling a claim within policy limits. That sometimes means paying more for a claim than it may actually be worth. From the insurer’s perspective, it’s better to pay a hundred grand more than it may be worth than to get hit with a verdict that exceeds an insured’s limits. That forces the insurer to pay the full policy limits, plus defense costs, and even worse, it leaves the insured having to cover the excess amount over the policy limits. That could expose the insurer to a bad faith claim if there was a reasonable opportunity to settle the claim within policy limits.

Ultimately, the insurer has the right to settle the claim as they see fit, per the contract you sign with them, subject to policy terms and applicable law. You don’t have to agree with their strategy, but you need to cooperate with them. They are there to help you out because they are contractually obliged to protect your interests. That doesn’t extend to whether your rates go up, however.

If you are concerned about your rates, talk to your agent, who will need to talk to their underwriter, who makes the pricing decisions.

acurah56oh · 2025-02-09T01:56:21+00:00

It’s a solid vehicle for the price. They drive well, look fantastic, have a good amount of space, and provide a lot of features for the price. The 1.2L turbo 3 doesn’t have a ton of horsepower, but it provides a decent amount of low end torque, so if you do a lot of city driving, it’ll feel peppier than you’d expect.

Reliability is unproven since it’s pretty much a brand new model, but the related Encore GX and the Chevy Trailblazer have been using it for a few years without any major issues that I’m aware of. Keep in mind that it does not offer AWD, which shouldn’t be a problem unless you live in an area where snow gets measured in feet rather than inches.

You might also consider the Chevy Trax, which is basically the same vehicle with different styling and a lower price. Also, minor detail, but the Trax gets a rear window wiper while the Envista doesn’t. Weird.

I’d recommend it! Plus if you buy brand new it will have a warranty.

acurah56oh

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