[Devil]

Best inexpensive vehicles for a character than needs to blend in?

The Mercury Comet looks very common, but I'm curious what my other options are. What have you used?/What would you use?

[Mirikon]

Bulldog with chameleon coating. Whether it is your standard black/white van, a delivery van, or a corpsec van, you blend in just fine, unless you have a machine gun turret mounted on top, of course.

[CanRay]

C-N Jackrabbit.  The most common car since SR1!

[Crunch]

What do you want to do with the vee? A lot of which vee you want is going to depend on locale and role.

If you are looking for a nondescript vehicle to tail people, then something like the Comet would be fine.

For Stakeouts the Bulldog is a good idea, or the Nissan Coda from SOA 3073.

If you're trailing someone in Puyallup then off road (and probably chem protection) is a must.

etc etc

As a starting character I always prefer to not take a vee unless wheelman/rigger is part of my primary portfolio. They're just too easy to pick up in play.

[emsquared]

As a starting character I always prefer to not take a vee unless wheelman/rigger is part of my primary portfolio. They're just too easy to pick up in play.

Why do I get the feeling you're not talking about going to Big Bob's Auto Emporium... ?

[Crunch]

As a starting character I always prefer to not take a vee unless wheelman/rigger is part of my primary portfolio. They're just too easy to pick up in play.

Why do I get the feeling you're not talking about going to Big Bob's Auto Emporium... ?

Big bobs is certainly an option, and I actually prefer to acquire vees "legally" (as legal as it can be using a fake SIN and ill gotten games), or through a fixer. The Fixer gives you a cut out between you and the vee in question if it becomes a piece of evidence.

[Mirikon]

Why the van? Several reasons, really.

1) Easier for getting in/out with weapons than a sedan.
2) Blend in more places than a sedan would. A sedan in the middle of an industrial park may draw attention, whereas a delivery van in corporate colors might not.
3) Cargo. You can carry more drones on a van.
4) Body and Armor. If things go suddenly to hell, a Bulldog is a lot more likely to survive a fight than a sedan, especially if you up the armor.
5) Can fit the whole team, even if one of the team is a troll.

And as for why I don't just steal/buy a van for every occasion where I'd need one? Because that's more expensive, and it leaves a trail that is more closely connected to whatever crime you're committing. Plus, if you buy something just for the run, you have no time to go over it and check for things like listening/tracking devices, back doors in the pilot program, a killswitch on the engine, or even a car bomb. Don't trust a piece of equipment you haven't had a chance to check out.

[Devil]

What do you want to do with the vee? A lot of which vee you want is going to depend on locale and role.

If you are looking for a nondescript vehicle to tail people, then something like the Comet would be fine.

For Stakeouts the Bulldog is a good idea, or the Nissan Coda from SOA 3073.

If you're trailing someone in Puyallup then off road (and probably chem protection) is a must.

etc etc

As a starting character I always prefer to not take a vee unless wheelman/rigger is part of my primary portfolio. They're just too easy to pick up in play.

I'd like something that I can park outside a run, drive through slums, or take it to a fancy party and not be conspicuous at any of those locations. Off-roading isn't really important to him and stakeouts can be done somewhat remotely with this character. Delivery Vans are really out of my price range and can probably be rented (or you could buy something from a junkyard and fix it up) if necissary for a run. When you get into mods, like chameleon coating you also eliminate the possibility of including a car lease in your lifestyle cost too, which is otherwise allowed (with limits). You are talking about a 40,000 nuyen investment. Too rich for my blood and the character doesn't need all that space. That's cutting into my 'ware money.

Jackrabbit is certainly a very viable option, CanRay.

[emsquared]

Seems like a van would be ideal. For instance, if you can get within mutual signal range of a node you need to hack - especially for an extended test (Decrypting) - while still inside of the vehicle, you could do the dirty work from inside, less exposure and less obvious than setting there in the meat waving your hands about poking AR icons. If you can't afford it out of the gate, maybe hold off on the purchase 'til post chargen and buy more 'wares instead!! Haha!

Do you have any other team-mates who can give you rides, or throw in on a whip post-chargen? If not, I'm sure public transportation has made wonderful strides in the last few decades.

[Devil]

Trill gangers, timing, and available routes are issues with public transportation, though I do see many dirt poor characters that use it. They also live in coffin motels and eat nothing but bad soy. Sounds like a horrible existence.

Can't show up to a fancy party in a van really. Waving arms around isn't an issue if you are inside an enclosed vehicle. Vehicles come with heavily tinted windows standard.

I will probably want a Delivery Van eventually, but there are a lot of things that I want that I can't afford right out of the gate.

[Mirikon]

You can show up to a fancy party in a van if the side says you're part of the catering service and you dress the part.

[emsquared]

Can't show up to a fancy party in a van really.

But you can show up in a Jackrabbit? M'kay...

The point is, it's all about return on investment, what's the point in buying a crappy anything at chargen if you're gonna just replace it after a few runs in?

[CanRay]

Can't show up to a fancy party in a van really.

But you can show up in a Jackrabbit? M'kay...

What about a Riced-Up Shin?

...

OK, I just threw up a bit suggesting that, but that's because I grew up to enjoy Old Skool Detroit Muscle.

[Crunch]

For a fancy party your best bet is probably rented Limo or Car service.

[Devil]

Can't show up to a fancy party in a van really.

But you can show up in a Jackrabbit? M'kay...

The point is, it's all about return on investment, what's the point in buying a crappy anything at chargen if you're gonna just replace it after a few runs in?

You have a point. Jackrabbits and Comets are kinda wageslave cars.