My story so far....

[rjdeeme29]

So this is my story so far....

 

I have never cared about fuel economy, just wanted to get from point A to B as fast as i could.  I was the guy that would pass you on the shoulder if i couldn't get around on the left.  2 years ago i bought my 06 nissan 350z, and that made my driving style even worse.  Man that car could fly!  I made many trips from Rochester NY and i would go 140+mph on the I-90.  (I know, What a idiot).  Then came the problem.  Last year I took a new job that is much further away from home.  With all mods done to that car, I never could get over 10MPG.  What a killer that was as i was paying from $225-$275 bi-weekly for gas.  Finally my wife started getting on my case to get rid of the "toy" and get something practical.  She says go buy a Honda CRZ or a Prius.  Not a chance.  I tell her i would rather walk than buy a hybrid.  Then...

 

I was working my midnight shift when i came across a decent looking 2014 C-max at a local dealer.  I decided to go check this car out when i got out.  So i pick up my wife, and head to the dealer.  They had the car sitting out front.  It looked pretty good.  Black SEL, 84mi, pano roof, park assist, I was liking it.  Salesman comes out and says take it for a spin.  My wife and i get in, and for once i do not have to crawl into a car, and i am really liking how this thing is set up.  We set off for out test drive and as soon as the dealer is out of sight, I floor it.  A smile is now on my face! This thing moves.  We get back to the dealer and i get out and say ill take it! Lets talk.  Now the bad news comes...

 

The sticker was $34k (ish, i can't remember the exact).  They are selling it for $23,995.  What a steal!  Not quite, they tell me the car has been repaired, had severe frame damage.  Now i am bummed as i actually liked it. (and its a hybrid)  So they point out a red 2014 C-max Sel with 7mi.  I walk over and this thing is ugly, Looked like 3 months of dirt and bird poo all over it.  I instantly say hell no!  Well...

 

My wife pulls me aside and says just do it,  you really need to run from the nissan.  I agree and go look at it one more time.  SEL with navigation.  No pano roof, no park assist, just a basic SEL with nav.  Ok no big deal.  The sticker is for $31,080, This one can go for.. yup $23,995.  Great this one is junk too...  Nope it was DIT, roof had to be repainted, less than $2k damage.  Ok no big deal. I bought it!  When they washed it up, what a sight.  I liked it more than the black one.  I felt good, I knew i bought a good car, and i didn't know anything about it.

 

That was June 6th.  Fast forward to today and i am still as happy as the day i bought it.  Haven't had less than 600 miles on a tank.  This car has changed the way i drive.  I stick to the speed limits to keep my mpg up.  My last tank i wanted to experiment with my acceleration.  I did not speed but i maxed the kw every time i took off. (empower)  well how did that affect me.  It didn't 626mi, 49.4mpg, 12.67 gal!  As Jeremey would say on Top Gear "WHAT A MACHINE!"

 

I have had one issue in the 3400mi i put on it.  The radio screen wouldn't turn off.  It was a white screen that said entertainment in the bottom left corner.  Simple fix, unplug usb drive and it went out.

 

That is my story so far....

 

[RockwallRick]

Congrats, It was a radical change for us as well! My Wife had a 2006 SRT Charger which was killing us on gas and maintenance. She tripled her mileage with the C-Max without even trying!!! :rockon:

[rjdeeme29]

Thanks!  It is different.  My wife wants a charger so bad. I keep telling her to keep her sonata since she gets 34mpg with it, but thats a battle i will loose! lol

[Kelleytoons]

It's a great story and the C-Max *might* have saved you far more than gas -- it may have saved your life (and/or the lives of others around you).

 

We like to brag about our gas mileage but driving safely and responsibly is FAR more important.  When I was a kid (probably your age) I also drove WAY too fast (made the Vegas/LA run in under 90 minutes and if you want to know how insane that is, just look it up and you'll see.  Makes his 140 mph story look conservative.  Of course, that was back when Nevada HAD no speed limits on the highways, and my radar detector was early technology that the California cops had no idea how to deal with).  I am SO lucky to be alive today and know it.

 

And the C-Max may even be changing my wife's driving habits, and that IS something <g>.

[Adrian_L]

They say when you give up fried chicken and burgers for healthy eating, you lose the craving for grease.  I was so sick of expensive fill-ups in my 335 hp Audi that I couldn't wait to get rid of it (Ok, so the engine light, oil leak and $8k-to-fix timing problem helped)  And besides, the maintenance on that thing was killing me (I used to drive to the states just to buy 2 gallons of Castrol synthetic)  I'll never buy a German car again, unless the Mercedes B200 electric proves too hard to resist :)

 

Like Kelleytoons, I am lucky to be alive for different reasons--In my late teens I rode as a passenger in a car with a driver who was probably double-the-limit on a daily basis.  He learned the hard way (DUI, Al Anon, broken friendships)  Not much crash protection in a 1979 Honda Civic.

 

Thanks for the entertaining story,

 

Adrian
Vancouver

[fbov]

... 2 years ago i bought my 06 nissan 350z, and that made my driving style even worse.  Man that car could fly!  I made many trips from Rochester NY and i would go 140+mph on the I-90. 

So, that was you flying by?

 

Frank, who still has a BMW ticket magnet in the garage.