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nm posted:For a VW, the 2.5 is actually pretty drat reliable, in fact. I think I posted earlier in this thread that the manual transmission seems to have issues, so don't buy a manual (and if you like shifting gears you should really buy a Civic or Mazda3 anyway). The 2.0l isn't really that bad either but it still has a timing belt which needs changing, and well, it gets worse fuel economy than a V6 Accord while putting out 115hp. I think the Jetta's general reliability scores are hurt because 1) a huge percentage of sales are the TDI which is typical VW garbage except everything costs 3x as much and no one knows how to fix them because diesel and 2) the GLI is also included and it's the same thing (2.0T, DSG). Throatwarbler fucked around with this message at 04:17 on Sep 26, 2013 |
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Sep 26, 2013 04:15
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Throatwarbler posted:It was a CAFE loss leader from GM's darkest days? Whhich one was your favourite engine, the 92hp Iron Duke or the 110hp 2.8l 60* V6? Well fair enough, but I was curious because I find my S-10 to be fine. It has the 4.3l V6, which according to Wikipedia made 160HP@4000RPM and 230LB*FT@2800RPM for my model year (1992). Not good for a modern V6, but for its time that was fine. Either way, a light truck doesn't need a huge amount of beef under the hood, because - you know - light truck, light duty. It's not for hauling a 40-foot RV with. And mine is still running well with no major engine work at 215k miles. I think the S-10 is fairly interchangeable with the Ranger and the Mazda B-series trucks for most of the 80s and 90s. If someone is looking for a light truck, and they don't want to wait for the new Colorado, any of these will probably be fine. You can also consider a Tacoma, but those cost more. Leperflesh fucked around with this message at 04:52 on Sep 26, 2013 |
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Sep 26, 2013 04:50
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I'm bouncing between the 2013 Honda Accord Sport in stick or the 2013 Camry. I'm very bullish on the Accord at the moment because it has the transmission I want and the electronics seem like they are better. Reviews also say the Accord is more geared toward a better driving experience versus the Camry's more luxury interior styling. My dad's obsession with car maintenance rubbed off on me so I'm also interested how easy these cars are to maintain. Consumer Reports pegs these at about the same, which is to say, really good. Anybody have any experience with oil changes? My Taurus has a gently caress stupid layout where removing the oil filter will result in the trapped oil squirting on to the exhaust pipe and it's in there at a 15 degree angle from being perpendicular to the ground. Will I miss a V6? The V4 in both are more powerful than the V6 I have now when it was brand new. The use case is generally a hilly commutes through 71% LA freeway with the rest being street, and most of that being bogged the gently caress down in traffic. I also occasionally take a 50 mile route through the mountains and desert to transport my grandma. All pavement except for a quarter mile of dirt.
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Sep 26, 2013 06:04
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The problem is cost of ownership. They are engineered well, but they are still built by humans, and things go wrong. The high end engineering and custom fit of so many thing makes it a pain to work on. The parts are not too expensive, it is the labor costs that kill you. On certain v-dubs, you have to pull the entire engine just to get to the water pump. They are built like Jenga puzzles.
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Sep 26, 2013 06:06
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Juando290 posted:The problem is cost of ownership. They are engineered well, but they are still built by humans, and things go wrong. The high end engineering and custom fit of so many thing makes it a pain to work on. Well the current Jetta certainly won't have that problem since it has a drivetrain from the first Clinton administration, oxcart suspension and an interior from a Dodge Neon. I don't think you're fully up to date with VW's new market positioning and their target demographic of "people who can't quite stretch their budgets enough to afford a Kia". The current Passat has more cash on the hood than the Chrysler 200/Sebring. You can get a Passat(the largest midsize car on the market,bigger than the Accord in every measure) for less money than a manual trans Civic LX.  ...and the Passat isn't even that bad compared to the Jetta.
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Sep 26, 2013 06:52
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That's insane. What's happening to VW?
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Sep 26, 2013 17:26
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skipdogg posted:That's insane. What's happening to VW? The latest round of VWs all moved down-market to try to capture volume, but in the process lost everything charming about VWs - namely, feeling like a more premium car than the price tag lets on, especially on the inside. A Jetta or Passat used to feel like an entry-level luxury car, but now they feel like every other cheap economy car. They may be more reliable than years past (not saying much), but they all feel like much, much cheaper cars. Meanwhile, competitors like Mazda have really stepped up their game and literally can't make cars fast enough to keep up with demand. Guinness fucked around with this message at 18:15 on Sep 26, 2013 |
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Sep 26, 2013 18:10
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I don't think we need to worry too much, VW is returning to their roots and resurrecting the legendary 1.8T badge on the new Passat and Jetta. PDF spec sheet TL;DR: - The exhaust manifold is now integrated into the head as a single piece with coolant running through it, not unlike the new GM 3.6l or Honda 3.5l V6. - All cooling system components such as the water pump, thermostat, etc are now electric and electronically actuated. There was a funny post on TTAC retelling a conversation between Jack Baruth and VW. Baruth: Hello, I owned 2 Phaetons at the same time. With this design if there is any interruption in the coolant system the heat from the turbo manifold would instantly warp the head. VW: What? It's VW, why would there be any problem in the (completely elcetric)cooling system? You are a crazy person. 
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Sep 27, 2013 01:10
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ATP on the NCS Jetta is actually higher than previous gen.
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Sep 27, 2013 02:03
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VW certainly have changed their tune. I remember in the very late 90's you could easily pay $45k Canadian for a loaded V6 Passat. It would have been a huge mistake, since it was a B5, but you could do it.
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Sep 27, 2013 13:16
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Saltin posted:VW certainly have changed their tune. I remember in the very late 90's you could easily pay $45k Canadian for a loaded V6 Passat. It would have been a huge mistake, since it was a B5, but you could do it. Well you could certainly still spend that much on a loaded CC, which seems to be the spiritual successor of the previous gentration Passats.
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Sep 27, 2013 16:13
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Augmented Dickey posted:Well you could certainly still spend that much on a loaded CC, which seems to be the spiritual successor of the previous gentration Passats. Yep I suppose you could, but I have no idea why people would. I can think of a long list of other cars I would spend 40k on before the CC ever entered my mind. Saltin fucked around with this message at 18:23 on Sep 27, 2013 |
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Sep 27, 2013 18:20
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Saltin posted:Yep I suppose you could, but I have no idea why people would. I can think of a long list of other cars I would spend 40k on before the CC ever entered my mind. Most Americans would agree with you, which is why the NMS Passat costs a third less than the previous models. The new Passat might not be selling as well as VW would like, but it's certainly doing better in the US market than the B6 ever could.
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Sep 27, 2013 18:27
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Augmented Dickey posted:Most Americans would agree with you, which is why the NMS Passat costs a third less than the previous models. The new Passat might not be selling as well as VW would like, but it's certainly doing better in the US market than the B6 ever could. Hey, I agree. I wonder why they continue to sell the B6 (CC) in North America though. I might see one or two every other month here in Toronto, which is historically a big VW market. Maybe it'll go the way of the Phaeton.
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Sep 27, 2013 18:46
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I'm planning on waiting till December to buy a car. Probably an Accord Sport in stick. What kind of inventory will they have by then? I know they don't carry many to begin with but they also don't sell many. Am I setting myself up for failure by trying to save a little bit? I live in Los Angeles.
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Sep 27, 2013 21:26
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Try the Mazda6 too if you like shifting your own gears.
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Sep 28, 2013 03:06
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skooma512 posted:I'm planning on waiting till December to buy a car. Probably an Accord Sport in stick. Well, it's and Accord. And you're in LA. I can't imagine that you'll have that much trouble finding one in December, even if the trim that you are looking for is far less common than the CVT version that most people opt for. If you're still on the fence about it and don't absolutely need a new car right now, what's the rush?
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Sep 28, 2013 04:01
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Augmented Dickey posted:Well, it's and Accord. And you're in LA. I can't imagine that you'll have that much trouble finding one in December, even if the trim that you are looking for is far less common than the CVT version that most people opt for. I'm getting really tired of putting gas in my Taurus far more than I could be and getting less power out of the bargain than comparable cars today. Another 6 cylinder would get 100 more horsepower AND still have better fuel efficiency. I don't want to badmouth my wheels, they served me well, I just feel like I'm ready for a new car. Plus it's had it share of problems despite sub 75K mileage. Fuel pump died (a couple times in the middle of the road!), rack and pinion had to be replaced, heater is out, and the low coolant light is on all the time despite there being almost more than enough.
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Sep 28, 2013 05:41
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skooma512 posted:I'm planning on waiting till December to buy a car. Probably an Accord Sport in stick. Well, the 14's are out, and our dealership is out of almost all Tirteens. If you are trying to position to get a good deal on a last year model, it may be too late. And as my manager said my first year working at a honda dealer. "you and I know that customers will get the same deal in December that they could have got in June...but if the public thinks it is better now, we sure as hell are not going to point it out"
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Sep 28, 2013 16:31
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Juando290 posted:Well, the 14's are out, and our dealership is out of almost all Tirteens. If you are trying to position to get a good deal on a last year model, it may be too late. And as my manager said my first year working at a honda dealer. Good info, thanks. That makes a lot of sense. I imagine the image of dealers being desperate at certain times is an invention of the dealers themselves. Yeah, I should have been doing my thing in September. Oh well, if a 2014 model is all I can get, there are worse things in life. The models can't be that different anyway. Consumer Reports gave its blessing so I'm cool.
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Sep 28, 2013 18:50
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Location: Portland, OR Proposed Budget: I can afford MAX $200/mo, and I could scrape together maybe 1k deposit. Very small budget. New or Used: Either, but I assume used is the only thing in my budget. Body Style: No preference. How will you be using the car?: I often drive ~60mi round trips, some longer road trips about once/yr. Otherwise daily 5min commute. Rain/sleet What aspects are most important to you? Reliability, good mpg, Cost!, I need to find something ASAP. I'm in a 2003 hyundai elantra manual transmission, and it's nearing 114k miles. The clutch is going out on it and I'm overdue for a timing belt/water pump replacement. It also needs a new set of tires. I own the car, but to afford those repairs (~$2000 total) I will need to begin making payments anyways so I thought I may as well get into something new. Especially because at this point anything else could go on it at any time. I've never purchased a car and I know very little about cars in general. At this point, in addition to seeking some info from this thread, I'm trying to get some advice from car savvy friends and family on the process of buying and what to look for. In my imagination, my best options for my budget are finding something on craigslist or going through a used car dealership? I do not have the luxury of time on this, and need to get a different car or have my current one repaired soon.
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Sep 29, 2013 01:50
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skooma512 posted:Good info, thanks. That makes a lot of sense. I imagine the image of dealers being desperate at certain times is an invention of the dealers themselves. Since you have a running car, you can afford to wait if you need to have a dealer order you the exact car you want. Test drive a '14 in stick, if you like it, tell them what color and options you want and if they don't have one on the lot, they can get one for you. Don't let them talk you into accepting a higher price for this, by the way. They'll pay the same invoice, give them a reasonable profit over that, and don't take any guff.
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Sep 29, 2013 02:05
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sfmarine7 posted:Location: Portland, OR If you're paying cash, any car in that price range is a huge gamble, and unlikely to be much better than what you have. Repairing the clutch and selling it could net you some more cash but you'd still be in risky territory. Also, I suspect you could get the clutch and timing belt done for around $1000 with an honest mechanic. This is the route that I would personally take. It buys time and gets your head out from under the axe so you can make an intelligent, unemotional decision. If you absolutely have to get rid of this car and are going to finance, buy an older Corolla or Civic from a used car lot and negotiate like a fiend. Only discuss the "out the door" price and don't let them tack on one penny more. Some dealerships may be able to meet your monthly budget but if you can only spare $200/mo, you really can't afford even a new-ish car. Desperation can really hurt you, unfortunately.
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Sep 29, 2013 05:00
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Your only realistic options as far as new cars are the Chevrolet Spark and the Nissan Versa, both of which can be had for around $12k. With your trade-in plus $1k down payment you should be able to get the payment at around $200/mo on a 60 month loan.
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Sep 29, 2013 06:55
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Or, look at my write up about leases from a few pages ago. Then suddenly honda fits and civics, subaru's, ford focus's, etc open up as options to you. And sfmarine, I may be able to help you out since I am in Eugene. I am not trying to market myself, but I can try to legitimately get you a "goon" discount. Depending on what vehicle you want. Juando290 fucked around with this message at 07:51 on Sep 29, 2013 |
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Sep 29, 2013 07:48
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This poor goon can barely scrape together $1000 and has a hard limit of $200/mo. New cars and $10,000 loans should be out of the question. What happens when a tire blows?
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Sep 29, 2013 15:47
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Moving to UK from US. What car should I buy? I want something fun, but able to do a ~40 minute commute from Cambridge to Lakenheath comfortably. Looking used, perhaps 2008-2012ish. Thinking: VW Scirocco RX-8 (Are rotaries a pain mx wise?) Mini Which one? What else?
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Sep 30, 2013 02:39
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Get the car with the best gas mileage you can find. Petrol is stupid expensive over there. Although if I could afford it I would want one of those insane hot hatch cars we don't get over here Iike a FocusRS or a old EscortRS
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Sep 30, 2013 02:45
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skipdogg posted:Get the car with the best gas mileage you can find. Petrol is stupid expensive over there. Although if I could afford it I would want one of those insane hot hatch cars we don't get over here Iike a FocusRS or a old EscortRS
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Sep 30, 2013 02:46
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Dominoes posted:I will pay US gas prices. Import a 5.0 Mustang GT.
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Sep 30, 2013 02:58
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nm posted:Import a 5.0 Mustang GT. Import a CLK63 AMG Black Series. Other than free gas how much money do you have?
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Sep 30, 2013 03:22
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Dominoes posted:I will pay US gas prices. How does this work? If I were living in the UK with 1/3 price gas I would probably be driving a rotary. Go for it!
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Sep 30, 2013 03:33
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Weinertron posted:How does this work? If I were living in the UK with 1/3 price gas I would probably be driving a rotary. Go for it! I think I want a RWD car, but was about to give up, since it looked like my only real options would be a mx-5 (I love mine, but it's too bumpy/loud for commuting, and I want to try something different), or GT-86. The GT-86 would have to be new or lightly used, which I'm not looking for. Is the RX-8 more fun than the VW/Mini? Is it ok for commuting? It may be my only show at RWD. The RX-8s are much cheaper on autotrader than the scirrocco/mini. Dominoes fucked around with this message at 04:08 on Sep 30, 2013 |
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Sep 30, 2013 03:42
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Are you importing or buying locally? Because if you're driving a wrong steering wheel car and get cheap gas, having lived in the UK, I stand by a used Mustang GT. The brits love that poo poo, and depending on the rules about selling them after, you'd probably double your money. If you're buying there and want RWD, I'd probably be looking at the Toybaru. I really like the RX-8, however, they do need some maintenance. It would be far more fun than a comparably priced hatch or a mini.
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Sep 30, 2013 05:01
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nm posted:Are you importing or buying locally?
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Sep 30, 2013 05:16
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Dominoes posted:Buying locally, right-hand drive car. I never really pictured myself in a Mustang. I guess it's not really my thing. A thread I found from a singapore car forum comparing RX-8 and scirocco was universally (like 20-1) in favor of the scirocco. The gt-86 (toybaru?) is pretty much what I want, but I'm not ok with buying a new car, then selling it in 3 years when I move back after riding the worst of the depreciation. The RX-8 is one of the best handling cars made. The engine certainly has its flaws. It is not as reliable as the average motor, though I believe theengine failure are a bit over blown. It is a hell of a lot to fun to ring out to 9k. They drink oil by design and have bad fuel economy. Having driven both in anger, I prefer the RX-8 to the toybaru for driving all day long. However, the RX-8 will be less reliable.
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Sep 30, 2013 05:23
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Dominoes posted:Buying locally, right-hand drive car. I never really pictured myself in a Mustang. I guess it's not really my thing. A thread I found from a singapore car forum comparing RX-8 and scirocco was universally (like 20-1) in favor of the scirocco. The gt-86 (toybaru?) is pretty much what I want, but I'm not ok with buying a new car, then selling it in 3 years when I move back after riding the worst of the depreciation. I own an RX-8. Basically, if you take care of the car, it won't break down on you. It drives like a dream, and hearing the engine purring along at 9k is always astonishing to see. While they do drink oil, it's conventional oil which at least is cheaper than synthetic. The gas consumption on the other hand, could be an issue depending on how far your going (I usually get about 230 miles a tank, but that is mainly city driving). edit: Oh yeah, do not get an automatic RX-8 unless your willing to put it in semi-auto every now and then. The car needs to get revved up to 9k at least once a day or the engine will get clogged up (this is also true for the manuals).
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Sep 30, 2013 14:11
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Anyone want to do a compare and contrast, or just give their opinion, of a Dodge Dart? I was basically sold on the Hyundai Elantra Sedan... but every Hyundai dealer I've dealt with gets shady when we get close to a price. "oh YOU must have misunderstood the price is actually +$1500" seems to be a common theme. It's probably all car dealers but it almost seems like they sent all the Hyundai dealers to the same seminar or something. Anyway... I'm back to square one... so I'm open to anything like an Elantra or Jetta, but not including them. I noticed some "what happened to VW?" posts above. I had a Jetta for the last 12 years and in my case their service specifically is what will prevent me from ever owning another VW. I loved the car. So how does a Dodge Dart match up against and Elantra?
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Sep 30, 2013 18:19
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My brother has a Dart Limited with the turbo and I'm really impressed with it overall for the price point. It's much smaller than an Elantra, but they really stepped it up on the interior compared to practically anything dodge has done in the last decade. I wish they'd make a crossover or a hatch that looked that good.
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Sep 30, 2013 19:42
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HolyDukeNukem posted:I own an RX-8. Basically, if you take care of the car, it won't break down on you. It drives like a dream, and hearing the engine purring along at 9k is always astonishing to see. While they do drink oil, it's conventional oil which at least is cheaper than synthetic. The gas consumption on the other hand, could be an issue depending on how far your going (I usually get about 230 miles a tank, but that is mainly city driving). Low-mileage 2009 RX-8s seem to go for ~£9000, while equivalent Sciroccos are £14,000. I'd be selling in a few years though, so the price difference isn't a big deal. (ie I could then sell the Scirrocco for more than I could sell an RX-8 for) Given that the RX-8 was more expensive new than the scirocco, is the low price on used due to the poo poo mileage and high UK gas prices? So in the US miata market, there's a huge spread between what sellers ask, and what buyers are willing to pay. Ie people list their 06 miatas for $14000 and no one buys them, because buyers will only pay like $9-10k. Is there anything like this I should be aware of? (The old miata pricing is especially hilarious, with every one listed as rare/unique/mint condition, with sellers asking 4x KBB on 20-year old cars) Dominoes fucked around with this message at 20:05 on Sep 30, 2013 |
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Sep 30, 2013 20:00
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