(no subject)

Changes are looming on the horizon, mainly with the vehicles I currently own...

I’m in the process of terminating my lease on the Infiniti M45 roughly 1.5 years early. While it was a good car to drive (when I used it!), it has taken its toll on gas, averaging 14-15 mpg in mixed driving. I’m also looking to replace the Acura RL that I got last summer. I know, I’ve had it less than a year but even the V6 is a bit on the thirsty side, averaging 20 mpg in mixed driving. Replacing the M45 was something I saw coming a mile away, but I hadn’t been planning to replace the RL. Still, though, now seems the best time to do so.

So what am I looking at to replace the cars with? One is a VW Touareg and the other is a MB GL320. The Touareg comes in a V10 diesel, while the GL320 is a V6 diesel. Given that diesels nowadays aren’t as polluting as the older ones, and that we’re producing biodiesel locally, it’s a way of cutting costs.

Believe me, this isn’t a decision I’m taking lightly. After I swore I would never drive a German car again after having been burned by the Audi S4’s steep drop in value, I’m now looking at two such cars. And unfortunately diesels aren’t cheap... VW makes a Jetta diesel, but the local dealership has nearly sold out of them and I’ve actually been looking for an SUV for a while because I want the cargo capacity it offers over a sedan.

OTOH, I’ve been debating about dropping down to just one car since I don’t really need a second one. But it’s not that much more in terms of insurance, especially since I’m the primary -- and only -- driver on the account. And it does give me more flexibility with both passengers and cargo.

The only thing that remains for me now is to figure out the logistics of doing all of this. Theoretically I can actually afford to buy both vehicles new outright (one by trading in the RL), but I’m considering financing at least one only because it helps me keep a comfortable cushion of easily liquidatable emergency funds. Stay tuned for updates...