What will your next car be?

[Kalispel]

I saw a well taken care of, properly-equipped (proper alloy size, tires, etc.) late-model Toyota Matrix S today while driving home from work, and damn if it still isn't one of the best 'adult' looking cars on the road. Perfect proportions, elegant taillight design, etc. Toyota (& everyone else) just doesn't make good looking, yet unobtrusive cars like this any more.

[NYC-SE]

Originally Posted by Kalispel

I saw a well taken care of, properly-equipped (proper alloy size, tires, etc.) late-model Toyota Matrix S today while driving home from work, and damn if it still isn't one of the best 'adult' looking cars on the road. Perfect proportions, elegant taillight design, etc. Toyota (& everyone else) just doesn't make good looking, yet unobtrusive cars like this any more.

I like the looks of the Matrix too, although I prefer the 1st gen over the 2nd. While with it's Vibe counterpart I prefer the 2nd gen Vibe over the 1st as far as looks go.

BTW I have an aunt who owned a 1st gen Vibe, super reliable for well over 200K miles.

[kimona]

Discovered that my new Buick Encore is actually a German car (Opel Mokka) assembled in South Korea.

So, I guess this review comparing the Buick Encore to the BMW X1 is understandable.

http://www.businessinsider.com/bmw-x...y-10000-less-1

[eTiMaGo]

isn't badge engineering fun? :p

[kimona]

Originally Posted by eTiMaGo

isn't badge engineering fun? :p

Yes, you can never be quite sure what you're buying these days. In this case, an American car company selling a rebadged German car built in South Korea. LOL.

[kimona]

Photos taken today:

[ern-diz]

Wow; that last pic next to the Yaris is telling. I didn't realize it was that small. Standing alone, as an SUV, you assume it's got some size to it. Seeing it next to the Yaris really puts it into perspective. I think it's a very handsome vehicle. I especially like the front end design.

[kimona]

^^^ Yes. It's not a big car. I actually like the styling very much; nice flowing lines that make sense, and nothing too edgy or radical.

I compared my 2 cars:

2014 Toyota Yaris (LE) / 2017 Buick Encore (Preferred edition)

Curb weight: 2315 / 3237

Length: 153.5 / 168.4

Height: 59.4 / 65.3

Wheel Base: 98.8 / 100.6

Width: 66.7 / 69.9

Ground
Clearance: 5.5 / 6.2

Cargo
Capacity: 15.6 / 18.8

Turning
Circle: 30.8 (SE 36.7) / 36.7

[Kalispel]

Originally Posted by kimona

^^^ Yes. It's not a big car. I actually like the styling very much; nice flowing lines that make sense, and nothing too edgy or radical.

I compared my 2 cars:

2014 Toyota Yaris (LE) / 2017 Buick Encore (Preferred edition)

Curb weight: 2315 / 3237

Length: 153.5 / 168.4

Height: 59.4 / 65.3

Wheel Base: 98.8 / 100.6

Width: 66.7 / 69.9

Ground
Clearance: 5.5 / 6.2

Cargo
Capacity: 15.6 / 18.8

Turning
Circle: 30.8 (SE 36.7) / 36.7

Somewhat of an optical illusion, as smartphone cameras tend to distort/stretch towards the edges I've noticed. Your Yaris looks noticeably wider than the Encore, even though it's 3 inches narrower.

[kimona]

Originally Posted by Kalispel

Somewhat of an optical illusion, as smartphone cameras tend to distort/stretch towards the edges I've noticed. Your Yaris looks noticeably wider than the Encore, even though it's 3 inches narrower.

Indeed. The Yaris looks so wide in that photo!

[ern-diz]

So interesting; not as much between them when you consider one is a sub-compact and the other an SUV --especially when looking at the wheel base and width.

[justanotherdrunk]

as a cacti guy myself i say ...

nice cactus garden

[kimona]

Originally Posted by justanotherdrunk

as a cacti guy myself i say ...

nice cactus garden

Thanks, mate. It's a work in progress.

[justanotherdrunk]

heres our 2013 in 2014 off i10 in az

cacti and roadtrips the best of both worlds

[hairygityeti]

Originally Posted by justanotherdrunk

heres our 2013 in 2014 off i10 in az

cacti and roadtrips the best of both worlds

Nice!

[kimona]

^^^ Great colour. Actually, this Buick (I can't believe I'm saying this) is my new favourite car!

I love the desert. A special kind of peace when you're out there.

[Kalispel]

Originally Posted by kimona

^^^ Great colour. Actually, this Buick (I can't believe I'm saying this) is my new favourite car!

I love the desert. A special kind of peace when you're out there.

I think that the Buick Encore would be a great vehicle to lease for 2-3 years, but I wouldn't want to chance long-term ownership with it. At least it doesn't have a CVT transmission (I think). The more I read about CVT's, the more I am turned off by their seemingly random Russian-Roulette reliability factor. That really limits my car choices if I want to pick up another vehicle that is automatic in a few years. At this rate, I will be hunting down a low-mileage 2017 Yaris SE automatic in 2019-2020 - and then I will have two of the same generation Yari (of different colors at least, hopefully).

[kimona]

Originally Posted by Kalispel

I think that the Buick Encore would be a great vehicle to lease for 2-3 years, but I wouldn't want to chance long-term ownership with it.

Parkers, a trusted UK resource for automotive review, states that "Vauxhaul's (Mokka/Encore) reputation for reliability in the UK is solid if not entirely faultless".

Plus, the standard Buick warranty is really very good.

2017 Buick Warranty:
Basic warranty: 48 months/50,000miles
Corrosion perforation warranty: 72 months/unlimited distance
Maintenance warranty: 24 months/24,000miles
Powertrain warranty: 72 months/70,000miles
Roadside assistance coverage: 72 months/70,000miles

Compare the 2017 Toyota Warranty:
Basic warranty: 36 months/36,000miles
Corrosion perforation warranty: 60 months/unlimited distance
Maintenance warranty: 24 months/25,000miles
Powertrain warranty: 60 months/60,000miles
Roadside assistance coverage: 24 months/unlimited distance