Margaret Wang Thirty-something year-old software developer, runner, traveller, and aspiring feng-shui master with the occasional observation on everything else.

But on my way drive in this morning, I realized that I've acquired a new obsession.  It has taken over nearly all my brain cells.  Mike is probably tired of me talking endlessly about it, and god knows I've spent enough hours researching it online.  It's even reached the point where my three-year old has started to obsess over it.  And the problem is, I don't see an end in sight.  So brace yourself, because I'm about to suck you into my black-hole: I'm talking about cars.

Now, I know what you're thinking, but I'm not that kind of person.  I don't subscribe to Car and Driver, and I don't watch Top Gear.  I barely keep a pulse on the automobile industry since I don't buy a new car every few years.  In general, I think cars are a hassle, and I wish I weren't so dependent on one.  

But that's another blog post.  

The reality is that I have a 1998 Honda Accord, and we recently decided it was time to get a new car.  The thing is, the car still runs well, it's in good shape, and it has low miles (not even 99,000).  So I'm not in any hurry.  I'm also my mother's daughter, which means I notoriously research every major purchase to death.  With a constant stream of products, it never ends, but that doesn't stop me from trying.  Throw on top of that the fact that I have absolutely no idea what kind of car I want, and you've now found me smack in the middle of an obsession.

I'm sure most people have some general idea of what they want, or they have enough constraints to dictate what they end up with.  I'd imagine there are even people out there who have a dream car in mind, however (un)attainable it may be.  The problem is that my dream car doesn't exist: I want a reliable, safe, and comfortable car that offers some utility (read: no sedan) and 50 mpg.  But I don't want a Prius...or a clown car.  

I've read reviews on nearly every crossover and wagon/hatchback out there.  Every car I look at seems to have something about it I don't like.  Due to lack of time and general lack of motivation, I've only test-driven a small handful of cars, and it's not looking good.  Last week I drove a Lexus CT200h.  I really liked the handling, and I loved that it has an EPA rating of 43/40.  But I felt cramped in the back seat, and I'm not a tall person.  A few months ago I drove a Jetta SportWagon TDI (diesel), and while I liked the interior and the space, its suspension was a bit too German for me.  I've also received numerous recommendations for the Subaru Outback.  We have an Impreza, and we love it.  But honestly, for my car, I want a little less utility and a little more styling.  I also wish the Subs had better gas mileage.  I'm not always a fan of Subaru's AWD all the time; I don't really need it when I'm mainly just driving to and from work.  

Next on the list is the Acura TSX SportWagon and the Highlander Hybrid (if I can locate a dealer in the area that actually has one on the lot).   And if that fails, the Mazda CX5 due out in February could be promising.  But I'm not holding my breath.  When I tell people that I'd probably be sold if Toyota came out with a hybrid version of their Rav4, they ask, "What about the Ford Escape Hybrid?"  To which I think, What about it? I'm an Asian snob, I only buy German or Japanese.