I'm starting to get the new car itch, and I'm looking around there is just about nothing out there that interests me that is at a price I'd be willing to pay.
I've never really been in this situation before. I've always loved to look at what new cars are out and even think about what I'd buy if something happened to my daily driver, but man is the selection out there bleak as hell. New or slightly used. Here is my short list, but even the cars on the list all have at least one (and most have 2 or 3) thing I've not crazy about.
New Mustang. Never been a Mustang-guy before but I saw the new one in person and I liked it more than I thought I would.
New or slightly used Camaro. Like the Mustang, it's more impractical that I really want, but still tempted.
WRX. I still haven't forgiven Subaru for phoning-it-in with this redesign. I'm actually hoping a mid-cycle refresh solves this issue.
Genesis G70. I really want to like this car.
Kia Stinger. The lack of a manual is really the biggest issue - love the hatch design. There's just something about this car that feels cheap. Which is weird because in higher trims, it really isn't a cheap car.
CT5-V. No not the Blackwing. I wish. I'd definitely onky be looking at used ones. I feel it is underrated car. It's got probably the best proportions of any regularly priced car on sale today. That long hood, short deck proportions is phenomenal.
Chevy Trax. The new one. This one is a total left field pick, but I'm totally digging the super low price and small, but not too small, size. A neighbor has one ans it's lower than most other crossovers so the wagon-ness of it really appeals to me.
Nizzan Z. Like the Camaro and Mustang, this is very impractical but the old-school nature of it (manual, RWD) is incredibly appealing.
Toyota GR Corolla. Lots to like about this, but I get the feeling it would be unobtainium because I sure fuck am not paying a dealer markup.
What's your short list of cars?
The Stout?! What the heck is that? Haven't heard about that one.
It's a small pickup that used to be in the Central & South American and Asian markets. It coming to the US and Canada is just a rumor, I think. But small truck enjoyers can hope!
We'll see. I like that the Ford Maverick has become as big of a hit as it has because that means more companies will eventually release competitors. I'm hoping for a modern El Camino. I really think that if GM had released an El Camino on the RWD Alpha platform, it could have saved the Camaro since it also rides on that platform.
A new El Camino would be so sick. It's highly unlikely, but in my mind the success of the Maverick could conceivably prod Ford into beating GM to the car-truck punch and dust off the Ranchero to serve a more pragmatic side of the small truck-wanting market.
I think performance is more part of the El Camino's DNA than the Ranchero's. It would be fun if Ford offered an economical ute thing with a smaller motor and few substantial performance options. Maybe a small Ford Ranchero SHO (RancherSHO?) production run for funsies, but otherwise super basic. If those did well, then Chevy could go "hold my beer..." and make things fun.
Unfortunately I think we are caught in a weird holding pattern for cars like that. For the last few years all car makers have been cutting almost anything fun or interesting as they ramp up their EV game. And that's going to continue for a few more years as there is a whole ton of stuff going on internally and tons of uncertanty. I think (or at least I hope) that once these comapnies figure out their EV game-plan, they will use the cost savings allowed by using a common skateboard platform and let their designers run wild with crazier designs. But if that does happen, it probably won't for a while. I think the first sign of this is that rather cool ID.Buzz retro EV van from VW.