It's a woman's prerogative to change her mind, right? While I probably won't ever love Charles Bronson flicks or willingly eat a beef tongue sandwich, the following three cars definitely made me re-evaluate my vehicular attitude and change it in each case.
2002 Hyundai Elantra GT
We've been hearing (and saying) a lot of great things about the cars Hyundai is making these days, but the first car from the Korean automaker that made me put aside my initial Excel-based opinion and take notice was the 2002 Elantra GT, a surprisingly well-equipped and fun-to-drive (for the segment) five-door hatchback. It was introduced at the beginning of the 10-year/100,000-mile warranty era, too, which further buoyed my opinion that Hyundai was a make to consider buying. I also quite liked the styling on this little hatch.
2009 Ford Flex
I am not a big car person. I like to be able to see the road and what's happening around me, and those things are generally harder to do in a big, hulking SUV. But the Ford Flex has swayed me. It's still big, and it often feels big to me, but it's easy to drive, has good visibility, a really versatile interior and can seat six in remarkable comfort. I'm sold.
2002 BMW M3 Coupe
Edmunds/Inside Line bought a used M3 coupe for the long-term program right around the same time I started working here. The first time I threw it around a corner, I couldn't help blurt out "Wheeeeeeeeeeee!" followed by a deep, satisfying giggle. It was the first car that ever made me do that, and I finally understood the BMW thing. Doesn't mean I'll ever own one, or that I've changed my mind about the segment of the BMW-owning population who give the rest of them a bad name. I am no fangirl. But I get it now.
So, 'fess up. What car made you admit you were wrong?
By DLu
on April 16, 2010
06:18 AM
Similar to your M3 experience, I used to think all the hype about BMW's is just that -- the media fauning over brand status. Then I drove one -- the "puny" 328i. Boy, I've been wanting one since (the G37 won me over with its gobs of power and much lower actual price).
By ne1butu2
on April 16, 2010
06:49 AM
The Infiniti G sedan and coupe. I used to be so turned-off by Infiniti, and I still don't like any of the tacky vehicles in their showroom. Except for the G cars, which are incredible to drive and very nicely styled.
The other brand that changed my mind, and not in a good way, is Hyundai. I had never driven one but heard great things. So a couple years ago I had the "opportunity" to test drive a Sonata with a friend. What a tragic, completely inadequate car in nearly every way. I don't know if I'll ever walk into a Hyundai dealership again.
The Flex seemed like a silly gimmick to me, like the Honda Element. But a colleague has one and it's actually a very cool vehicle. Nice leather seats. Although the fake woodgrain interior diminishes some of the coolness. Ford should have selected a different material, like neoprene or a more contemporary design for the interior plastic trim.
By huyracing
on April 16, 2010
07:14 AM
Originally a Honda guy, I did not care for VW's and I had moved on to RWD and AWD and vowed I would never go back to FWD. one day I test drove the MKV GTI on a whim and I was a convert. I actually liked tossing it around corners MORE than my heavily modified WRX and 300ZX Twin Turbo... and that was reaffirmed on the track after I had bought it. Not only do I have a new respect for VW, but also for FWD's. My shopping list suddenly includes many FWD cars now... more-so than AWD or RWD.
By whoosierdaddy
on April 16, 2010
09:06 AM
1. 2009 Pontiac G8. For many years Pontiac has been to me a poster child for everything that has gone wrong with American cars. Then I drove a G8. It's pretty much everything I want, at very much the right price. Bought one over a year ago, and driving it still makes me very happy.
2. 1998 Honda Accord. Previously I had heard good things about Honda reliability, but they were too small and not much fun to drive. The '98 was larger, good looking, and with the V6 very nice to drive.
By brn
on April 16, 2010
10:28 AM
I gotta agree with whoosierdaddy first one. I can't remember a Pontiac that I personally liked until the G8 came along. The G8 was not only a decent car, but it stood out amongst all brands.
By cruiserhead1
on April 16, 2010
11:49 AM
Used to love Hondas.Owned 5 of them. Now I'm so disappointed in the noise and quailty, I stopped considering them.
VAG won me over with great interiors, driving dynamics and clean styling.
Ford and Hyundai are on a roll and definitely will consider them along w my favorites.
By pat1usmc
on April 16, 2010
12:58 PM
Mazda Miata. I wasn't expecting to love it so much. If only every car had the Miata shifter! My wife and I can't wait to get a PRHT one day.
By 06scooby
on April 16, 2010
03:19 PM
I have to say that Subaru completely changed my mind. I was a stupid kid that rotated from new car to new car every year and a half or so (some barely a year) because I would get tired of them... in 06 I was yet again tired of my truck and looking for something else. I always thought subaru's were kind of wierd cars and stuff but I drove the 06 legacy GT and thought it was a great car. I ended up with an 06 Legacy Wagon (Non-GT) with a manual and I freakin love that car. Got 60k on it now (almost 4 years!) and have no desire to get rid of it. It's been absolutely solid reliability and quality wise and it strikes an awesome balance of economical (25-26 mpg) and fun enough to drive to keep it interesting. And it's a great road trip car too!
The "new" 06 Hyundai Sonata I rented on a trip to Texas completely changed my view of Hyundai. It was a really nice car that I lived with for over a week and I asked for one again a couple of more times I traveled. Not too big, not to small and very well put together and I recommended it to many people.
By blueguydotcom
on April 16, 2010
07:06 PM
X3. I hate SUVs. When I recently changed cars my wife pushed me to try a bunch for household projects. The CRV, Rav, Murano, CX-7, etc. Junk. Tried bigger still - junk. Tried an X3. Wow. I'd driven one when they first came out (I had a 2003 ZHP at the time) and found it so-so. After a few years with my 335i I still found the X3 to be dang fun with the bigger engine and really it could be tossed around like a car. I could put up with one.
Titan. Not much of a truck fan but I had one for a month to do projects around the house. This truck made me think about maybe getting a used Titan for around the house.
By DLu
on April 18, 2010
07:54 AM
+1 pat1usmc,
Used to think it was a girly car. Hehe
The only thing that changed my mind for the worse was our '04 Forester (got rid of it and got a cushy minivan). To keep it sort of short, the chassis was unnecessarily stiff (for the poor handling); and there was not enough leg room for a rear-facing child seat in the back plus an adult in front. The OEM tires had poor dry traction, but at least wore out quickly so I got better ones. Maybe we should've gotten the Legacy instead. ;) Too late.
By teekay13
on April 19, 2010
10:50 AM
1. Porsche 911.
I own a 2005 M3 (this particular year was equipped with the much better CSL suspension) and as you say, it's quite a decent car. Therefore, I've always been skeptical about a base 911 being $25k to $35k (if lightly optioned to match the bimmer) more expensive even though it actually has less power. Then I got a chance to drive the latest 911 (a convertible at that) in Germany, on the autobahn, for about 2 hours. I'm sold and would gladly fork over the extra funds if I can afford it.
2. Mazda5 minivan (manual).
I was crying when I realize that I would have to drive a minivan with a second little one on the way. Then I drove the Mazda5 with a a manual transmission, and it wasn't that bad. It was actually fun. We're in negotiations with a dealer to get one now.
By blueguydotcom
on April 19, 2010
11:38 AM
teekay,
Mazda5 definitely features some good packaging space for the money.
Two kids and you're going minivan already? ;)
By estreka
on April 21, 2010
01:41 PM
'95 Accord coupe 5MT - I discovered Honda when my mom bought this car.
'06 Accord sedan 5AT - This was when I realized Honda had gone downhill in a hurry.
Pontiac G8 GT - Wow. Simply wow.
Mazdaspeed Miata - Even after driving my supercharged S2000 for years, the Miata definitely impresses.
'99 BMW M3 convertible MT - I understand the BMW bug.