The Search for a New Car - Fun vs. Efficiency

The struggle to locate the perfect car continues, and my father remains torn between the choice of fun and fuel efficiency. From "fun side", we have the Scion tC; a fun, sporty two-door car that has some pickup and hugs the road on those tight, windy mountainous roads. In terms of pricing, the Scion is very affordable, with the starting price right around $19,000. This car has almost everything you could want, and is definitely the more fun option, and the cheaper option, though in terms of futuristic feel and technological power, it isn't anything worth gaping over. 

From the futuristic and efficient end, we have the much higher priced, but definitely cooler and more unique Chevy Volt. The Volt has a cabin and dash unlike any other car on the market, and if you thought the Toyota Prius was futuristic, the Volt will truly blow you away. In addition, unlike Hybrid Synergy technology (which is used on all Toyota hybrid models), the Volt has no speed limit at which it runs on electricity. For up to 35 miles on a full charge, you can go as fast as you want, all electric. The Volt also has surprisingly good suspension for a larger hatchback, and might even have a leg up on all the hybrids out there in this category. The downside--cost. Even with the $7,500 government rebate, you're still looking at a minimum of around $32,000 for the Volt. Even though you get an EPA estimated 68 mpg combined (includes electric mileage), this is still a pretty penny to pay for a car. This question is one that can only be answered in time, and in a few years if gas prices skyrocket, all those Volt owners out there will be laughing at the rest of us. In a nutshell, there isn't yet a car out there to satisfy that hunger for a zippy sports car while being friendly to the environment and your financial well-being. These are just two options that are a compromise, and in this sit