For example, you can option an econobox like a GTI up to $31,000....maybe even more. At that price, even if it is still an economy car at its core, can you still call it an econobox?
Is An Econobox Still An Econobox If Its Expensive?
ChillOutPossum
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For example, you can option an econobox like a GTI up to $31,000....maybe even more. At that price, even if it is still an economy car at its core, can you still call it an econobox?
Good question. And no, I don't think that term really applies to 200hp+ compact cars which are really quite roomy now.
A Mitsubishi Mirage is an econobox, a GTI (or anything in that space really) doesn't qualify anymore.
I really don't know the answer.
What makes an econobox an econobox? Is it the price? Is it the model name? Is it the chassis?
Is an S3 an econobox? Or just the Golf R? Or neither? To me the answer is neither but some can argue chassis similarities etc. It's certainly easy to call something like a Civic Si an econobox because, well, it sort of just "is" one. But the line is blurred with the two examples I just listed.
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But by that logic, your TLX is just a base Accord with some chintzy **** glued to it....and that cant be right.
Yeah and I know it. Your point is?
90% of TCL would agree with that.
When the average price of a car is $30k, cars that run $25-40k are not econoboxes.
A Fit, Mazda2, Yaris, 500, Spark, Sonic, Fiesta, Mirage, Versa are all econoboxes when in non-performance trim (if applicable)
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so your opinion is that a car ceases to be an econobox once it hits a certain price, regardless of the actual merits or lack thereof of the car.
The "econo" in econobox is for "economy car", right?
So a $40k Golf is still ripe for being derided as an econobox even though it is 30+% more expensive than the average car?
At $25k+ you are looking at lots of intrinsic attributes and merits...you're leaving behind things like rear torsion beams that are hallmarks of economy cars.
2014 Mazda3 Sport 2.0 6MT / 2001 Mazda Miata 1.8 6MT
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Well, yea, the whole point of the 'econo' is the saving of money upon initial purchase...
...or else, it's just a box, no?
Well I can tell you that a Golf R feels like a Golf.
My TLX doesn't feel like an Accord, even if it is de facto a glorified one. And I owned 2 Accord before.
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I endorse this. Drove the new TLX and the Accord it's based on.
ILX doesn't feel like a Civic Si either. And an S3 doesn't feel like a Golf either.
Even a Base Golf S is not an "econobox" anymore. The only "econoboxes" i can think of on sale now are the Mitsubishi mirage, Toyota Yaris, Nissan versa note, chevy spark? the cheapest cars on the market basically. Even these cars have modern conveniences like A/C decent radio/ power windows standard so they arent really even econoboxes anymore. A GTI is definitely not a ****ing econobox.... :sly: Hatchback does not automatically mean a car is an econobox, which I think is where you're stuck at. The MSRP on my GTI was almost $37k (Didn't pay anywhere near that price). But yeah. Not an econobox...
Ding ding ding
gti? no
its a better question when applied to something like a loaded $22-23k fiesta titanium; thats still a solid $400ish a month for 5 years, and has the following:
-leather
-heated seats
-remote start
-sony 8 speaker stereo
-subwoofer
-ambient lighting
-keyless access/push start
-rear parking sensors
-rearview camera
-sunroof
-nav
-etc etc
but at the core its very basic transportation
its a better question when applied to something like a loaded $22-23k fiesta titanium; thats still a solid $400ish a month for 5 years, and has the following:
-leather
-heated seats
-remote start
-sony 8 speaker stereo
-subwoofer
-ambient lighting
-keyless access/push start
-rear parking sensors
-rearview camera
-sunroof
-nav
-etc etc
but at the core its very basic transportation
2014 Mazda3 Sport 2.0 6MT / 2001 Mazda Miata 1.8 6MT
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Use it as a negative remark, but I like econoboxes.
They do more with less, and are often still fun to drive at legal speeds.
Totally agree with you.
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