nm posted:

She needs to replace the timing belt today.
Also make sure she understands that any overheat at all can kill the motor. She needs to stop the moment the needle gets close to the red. Not drive home, not drive to the next exit, etc. Pull over and call aaa.
Also fluid level checks when you fill up.
Note that an overflowing coolant bottle is also a sign of a problem, so you're not just looking for low.

quote:

The SOHC EJ Subaru boxer engines were non-interference engines through 1995, run by a single timing belt driving both cams (both sides of the engine) and the water pump. Because they are non-interference engines, if the timing belt fails, the engine of the models up to 1995 will not be damaged. The oil pump is driven directly from the crank shaft and the waterpump by the timing belt. All DOHC and 1998-up SOHC EJ engines are interference engines, if the timing belt fails the valves will likely be damaged.

Skutter posted:

I'm going to be up front and say that we really don't know what we're doing, but we will need a new car soon. My '03 Neon is going to crap out within the next year or so, so we're trying to do research now while we still have two cars. Husband or I have not bought a car in over a decade, so we appreciate any tips or suggestions anyone has (I will be reading AI and this thread as much as possible too). We also really don't have any specific requirements as far as makes/models go either (except I will not buy a GMC vehicle). I'm not sure if being so non-specific is going to be helpful. Are there any good ways to narrow down our search?

Proposed Budget:
$20k max? (I'm not sure what a fair price for a mid-range car is really.)

New or Used:
Either, maybe? I'm fine with used—like certified pre-owned—but it would be nice to have a new car for once.

Body Style: (e.g. 2 door? 4 door? Compact/Midsize/Fullsize Sedan? Truck? SUV?)
Four doors, no compacts, no trucks, no SUVs, no vans. A hatchback or a crossover would be preferable. Honestly, I would buy another Toyota Matrix (husband's car). He's had this one for 15 years with no major repair issues. So, maybe something like a Matrix?

How will you be using the car?: (Do you tow things? Haul more than 5 people on a regular basis? Have a super long commute? How are you going to use this vehicle? Do you prefer a luxury vehicle with all the gizmos?)
We will be using this as a regular vehicle (nothing special like towing, or having to fit several people in at once), some commuting but nothing crazy-long. We do like to take weekend trips around the state, so comfort is a bonus. We don't have to have all of the bells and whistles like back-up cameras and parallel parking assistance.

What aspects are most important to you? (e.g. reliability, cost of ownership/maintenance, import/domestic, MPG, size, style)
In no particular order:
-Turn radius! To get around in Florida you have to do constant U-turns and my Neon is poo poo at it. I'd like something that can do a U-turn onto a two-lane road without worrying about going over a curb.
-Reliability is a plus, we don't want to break down on one of the long rear end bridges down here, and I don't want to be bringing it to the shop all the time either.
-Along the same lines as above, probably no Euro cars because I don't want to have to shell out insane amounts of money when I do have to take it in for something.
-Size, as I like how high the Matrix rides compared to my Neon. I don't want anything comically large. I've driven a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee and it's slightly larger in size than I would like to drive (to give a rough estimate).
-Utility – I love that the Matrix's backseats fold down and there's a lot of room for transporting items in (plus the hatch opens so we don't have to drive around with the entire back door up for longer items). And the entire back is plastic so it's easy to clean.
-MPG is also important, the Tampa Bay area is just one big urban sprawl, and we like to go to Orlando every couple of months as well.

Please let me know if there's anything I can clarify or whatever. Thank you all in advance!

yeah ok ok yeah posted:

Hey, thread, I have to get a bigger car. My wife and I are having a kid and we were fine with out current car (2011 Mazda2), but we found out that she's actually pregnant with twins. I literally cannot fit in my car with the infant car seats in, so now we're going car shopping.

Proposed Budget: $20,000 all in. (have to watch budget with twins on the way, but also plan to trade in current vehicle).
New or Used: Used
Body Style: 4 door, hatch back preferable but not necessary. Minivan or SUV.
How will you be using the car?: Primarily for transit to and from work. Also, this thing has to be big enough to fit two infant car seats. We don't tow things but need a roof rack. Luxury would be nice if older models are affordable, but we're happy with a newer stock vehicle. Reliability and safety are most important.

We were looking at minivans, but don't love the look of them. Have had nothing but poor luck with any Dodge I've ever owned, so I want to scratch the Grand Caravan off right away. Sadly, I'm afraid other minivans, like the Honda Odyssey, will be too expensive. The Mazda5 seems like a possibility, but my wife doesn't love the idea. She'd almost like something that's a smoother ride, like a Toyota. We've been looking at the RAV4 as a possibility. Also the Nissan Rogue.

Wowporn posted:

A family member is offering an 07 subaru outback for $2500. Knowing the people they have taken very good care of it, it has the best interior/entertainment options that were available at the time, and it looks virtually immaculate but it's at 150k miles and I'm not sure if they've gotten the seemingly guaranteed head gasket issue yet and I'm afraid I could be buying a time bomb if I say yes. From what I know it burns oil and leaks a small amount, would getting the 40 point inspection the local subaru dealership offers be thorough enough to make sure it's not gonna poo poo itself 3 months after I buy it?

The Oldest Man posted:

I posted in this thread a while ago, but I've since learned to drive stick and want to join three pedal crew (but I'm not actually good at it yet). I've also thought about what I really need a car for, and the truth is that it's mostly a runabout and for weekend trips. I do have a dog, but a) he's a better front seat passenger than most humans and b) my girlfriend has a Corolla I can use to transport him if needed. My budget is ~30k and I want a new car or cpo with a decent warranty. Cars I'm thinking might be fun:
- New Corolla Hatchback
- Hyundai Veloster
- Mazda MX-5 RF / Fiat 124 Spider
- Mazda3

Thoughts or other suggestions?

JediTalentAgent posted:

Moving outside the chain rental company cars: What about dealer loaners? If the dealer has a few cars they use to shuttle people around, loan out while your better car is getting worked on, use for test drives, etc? Do dealers/customers have any vested interest in just not letting them get screwed up? I think I've seen at least one of those where it had a bunch of miles but I think the dealer was treating still as 'new_ish'.

Still on the Yaris kick, though, because I like small cars...



A 2013 with about 20K miles, 2 owners. Seemed suspicious. Autochecker told me a little bit, but Carfax (if accurate) paints a bit more of a picture.

Not a rental, but a FLEET vehicle. (So, take that for what you will. It might be one of those type of loaners/shuttles or something)
NOT a salvage, either, but about 18 months after it was first sold it was in an accident, left front, with Autocheck stating 'minor to moderate' damage.

Autocheck said just accident and the above.
Carfax expanded with 'structural' with a report saying "Accident reported Involving left front impact with another motor vehicle Minor damage reported" The state this happened in, according to Carfax:


It looks like it kept getting its plates renewed for the next 4 years, went to auction, bought by dealer and sold a short time later with just under 20K miles. About 6 months and a few thousand miles later, it's back at the same dealer. Looks physically in good shape from what I see.

I don't know if the listed accident really put this car out of commission, though. The first year before the accident it still only had about 2K miles on it and there seems to be a history of extremely consistent dealer xx,xxx mile services and oil changes going on during that time and still doing about that many miles a year.

Any thoughts?

JediTalentAgent posted:

Fair enough. I did like it though so that maybe gives me some better idea of how to feel towards another Yaris in the near future should I opt on a different one.

I'll probably end up passing on that one but they did make some other suggestions on smaller cars they had. It's a completely different beast, but I think they might have shown me a Versa with a CVT, and that as a used car concerns me. Maybe they've gotten way better, but so many people seem really down on CVTs, either on performance or reliability, unless you've still got warranty coverage on them that even I'm hesitant on them.

Rhyno posted:

Currently DDing a car that gets 24mg on the highway and requires premium fuel. Not ideal. I now commute 20 miles to work and back each do so I'm putting 200 miles on the car a week. I think it's time to remedy that. I'm not sure I want to sell this car as I love it but it's not very money friendly to drive it to work.

Have $2900 on hand today, will increase the longer i wait buy would like to get this rolling, looking at 2000's Civics and Corollas. Looking for most bang for the buck with highest MPG. Creature comforts not important, I can upgrade a stereo and seat if necessary. No transmission preference.


Suggestions?

turing_test posted:

I actually didn’t stall the Fit at all.

Current offer for a new 2017 Fit EX under warranty with remote start and heated seats is $16700. Thoughts?

turing_test posted:

That’s good to know about the remote start. The remote start was an add-on, so I’ll ask them to take it off (it hasn’t been installed yet).

It is new (left over from 2017).

Price difference is $6k from a new mode because there are very few in stock. I actually can’t find the color I want anywhere.

KYOON GRIFFEY JR posted:

no it's not worth it, it;'s a loving honda it's like a cockroach

i doubt you will spend $1800 on warrantable repairs in the first 100k miles. keep in mind that warranty doesn't include wear parts like wipers, pads, rotors, filters, and belts

zapplez posted:

Someone convince me not to buy a 2016 Passat 1.8t gas.

I found a certified used one at nearby dealer for 17k CAD with only 50k KM on it (about 13.5 grand USD and 30 thousand miles). All the features I want minus remote start. Does anyone know how much it costs to get one installed by the dealer?

I want to get rid of my current 2014 Impala V6 3.6 as even though its fun and full of features I've had a ton of problems with it and the seats are pretty uncomfortable.

I'd be saving atleast a grand a year on gas as well with the VW as I drive aprox 40,000 km a year.

I know I should buy a 2014 or so I4 camry or accord but they bore the hell out of me. Atleast with the VW I'll feel a bit more interesting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed Budget: 15-20k
New or Used: Used
Body Style: (e.g. 2 door? 4 door? Compact/Midsize/Fullsize Sedan? Truck? SUV?) 4 door car
How will you be using the car?: Commuter car. Has to fit two kid seats in the back. Big trunk is a bonus.
Do you prefer a luxury vehicle with all the gizmos? Needs backup camera, bluetooth, heated seats
What aspects are most important to you? I care most about reliability and MPG/maintenance.

Chu020 posted:

What's the current thread consensus on a relatively inexpensive and reliable wagon/SUV that can accommodate 2 rear facing child seats with tall passengers in front and has good cargo space? Wife will be looking to replace her '07 Jetta in a year or two and she really doesn't care about driving much aside from being comfortable and not having to worry too much about repairs.

AmyL posted:

Proposed Budget: 15K-20K, preferably low-end
New or Used: New or slightly used( < 22 k miles or so)
Body Style: Sedan through flexible
How will you be using the car?: Driving 20 to 30 miles 5 days a week, sometime 60 to 90 miles a month or so to visit parents
What aspects are most important to you? I want a car that I like to drive and is also reliable. No bells or whistles. I prefer simplicity and also being able to change the headlight assembly without using a lift but I can be flexible on it. Might want a bit of cargo space since I deal with antiques sometimes.
Summary: I have a Jetta 2016 till a deer committed suicide by ramming straight into the passenger side. I liked my Jetta but I'm not sure if I want to grab another one or try something else.

The Third Man posted:

My wife hit a deer and AAA is totally her 2011 Malibu. I'm looking to get the safest, most reliable car I can within the $10K range, so right now I'm considering a used 2012/2013 Subaru Legacy with around 100K miles on the clock(we're in Michigan, so AWD is a plus, but not a requirement). I'm not averse to doing certain maintenance items myself so I'm not scared off by the mileage as long as I can find one with a solid service history. Are there any other cars I should be looking at?

Deteriorata posted:

If your primary criterion is reliability, a Subaru is not a good choice. They're not terrible, but mid-pack on reliability. Full-time AWD adds weight, complexity, and friction that you pay for in gas and breakdowns.

incogneato posted:

Proposed Budget: $11,000 at most
Body Style: Easy to get in and out of for lower mobility elderly (no deep seats, crawling in, etc).
How will you be using the car?: ~20 miles a week at most around town. Groceries, church, family visits. Rarely highway.
What aspects are most important to you? Reliability and ease of getting in and out.

My in-laws need a new vehicle. I have very little input or influence on this decision, but I'd like to at least be able to point them to some things to think about and maybe cars/makes to consider. They're not car savvy, so will likely be going through something like Carmax. I can't help with the actual purchase (in another state and other family is already involved).

Their biggest concern is getting in and out of the vehicle due to physical limitations (just age related, not in a wheelchair or anything). Because of this they're looking at SUVs, which probably isn't ideal given their small budget. Any suggestions or advice is appreciated.

KYOON GRIFFEY JR posted:

weird i thought they already killed it, oops!

NinjaPete posted:

Oh, my wife is interested in the Ford Edge. I know jack about it, but does anyone have any strong feelings one way or another on it?

Jerome Louis posted:

There are a bunch of used 2018 Accord Touring posted on Autotrader here with less than 5k miles, some even with less than 1k miles. I've been considering getting a 2019 Accord but getting one of these used ones sounds like a no-brainer... The price they're advertised at is around $5-6k off MSRP for a new one. Is there any reason not to consider a lightly used 2018 over a brand new 2019?

shovelbum posted:

Is the 2.5 Outback worth it or is it just too little engine?

Jiminy Christmas! Shoes! posted:

My wife's friend just had her old car - a Pontiac Vibe - totaled by her mother while they were on vacation. They were given a Nissan Rogue as a rental by their insurance company, and decided, without trying ANY other cars, that they liked it so much they went out and bought a 2019 Rogue. The only other car they were willing to consider, but never actually looked at was a GMC Terrain.

So, if you wondered how there were so many Rogues on the road, this is apparently how it happens.

obi_ant posted:

Proposed Budget: $40K.
New or Used: New or pre-owned certified.
Body Style: 4-Door, station wagon, midsize or mini-SUV.
How will you be using the car? Daily driver, although we don't travel very far often.
Do you prefer a luxury vehicle with all the gizmos? I'm not too sure about a luxury vehicle, but I do want a car with some bells and whistles.
What aspects are most important to you? Safety, reasonable amount of power, gizmos and decent reliability.
If you do not live in the U.S. I live in the US.

I've been doing a little research into a new car and I'm a bit overwhelmed. I currently drive a 2 door VW GTI and since my family is getting bigger, the GTI isn't going to work for us anymore. My wife and I really like the GTI because of how the car drives, it's quick, it has some oomph and was fairly reliable (something major pops-up every 3 years or so). I also liked that the car was fairly compact, 165.8″. It was also stupidly roomy in the trunk, since it was a hatchback, I've been looking at station wagons too. I wished when I purchased the GTI, I had more money for some tech and some other features.

I'm primarily interested in safety. I like features like lane assist, blind spot monitoring, back-up camera, per-collision breaking. Being semi compact is important as well, I live in the city and parking is terrible. I also want some "quality of life" features, power seats, moon roof, keyless start, things like that.

I've looked at the following, and interested in them in the following order...

Subaru Forester
Subaru Crosstrek
VW Alltrack
Audi Q3
VW Tiguan

Any suggestions for someone that stupidly overwhelmed?

Uthor posted:

Edit: my mom and my cousin both had big engine problems with their Foresters. Anecdotal, I know.

BIGFOOT EROTICA posted:

Looking to get a new car. I have a Mazda 3 that's a bit beat up and was kind of a "fresh out of college" nice, cheap, daily driver purchase. Now I'm married, have a house and my wife and I are doing a lot of renovation and just all around needing something larger than a car or CR-V for transporting stuff. We also like to go camping and live pretty close to several lakes and (very large) rivers so a boat in the future isn't out of the question.

From what I can tell, this might be a good time to buy a truck. Despite interest rates ticking upwards it seems like there's quite a lot 0% and <1% incentives going on for various year old models (Silverado 1500, Sierra, etc.)

It's really hard to take a step back and determine what the best deal is because I don't really understand a ton of these terms (cash back allowance, I'm looking at you). I have effectively no brand loyalty (I mean, I do like my Mazda but realistically I wouldn't be able to tow much unless I got the 2019 CX-5 with the turbo option), I just want something with a crew cab that isn't $45-60k

Any suggestions?

IOwnCalculus posted:

Seconded, unless you happen to be particularly tall - and even then there are mods to be had for this. Strongly recommend buying one that's already been track prepped.

Tab8715 posted:

General question,

I had a convertible for work as a rental a few weeks back and thoroughly enjoyed it - a Mazda Miata. I'm kind of thinking maybe this summer I'd purchase a convertible but I'm curious is there anything I am going to hate after owning it for a few months? I won't be in a state with much rain and little to no snow. The only thing that did bother me was the road noise occasionally making it difficult to talk a passenger, slightly higher auto insurance (I'm 33) and it seems that I'd lose badly against any other car especially if it's a roadster.

Thoughts?

MrSaturn posted:

jet sanchEz posted:

I love old Toyota Land Cruisers, are they very practical as a daily driver? Gas mileage must be pretty lousy, is there a Land Cruiser thread in AI?

I have a 2003 Toyota Matrix that is great (spent $400 in repairs since new) but my family is going to be too large for it soon so we need something bigger.

Residency Evil posted:

Does this look like a bad idea for a beater?

https://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/d/philadelphia-2007-subaru-impreza-25i/6841062961.html

obi_ant posted:

Proposed Budget: $35,000 (but lower the better)
New or Used: New or pre-owned certified
Body Style: I'm all over the place, but a 4-door compact, mid-sized or crossover is where I'm doing my research.
How will you be using the car?: Everyday driving and parking in the city. Once a week I commute, but that's about it.
What aspects are most important to you? Safety, Size is important, not willing to go to large on the car since I have to do 100% city parking. If I currently drive a smaller car, what is the transition like going to a much larger car? Will I notice a 10" increase? 20"? 15"?

I currently dive a 2008 GTI and I love the drat thing. It's quick, its compact and it has tons of space in the back. But, I have a kid on the way so I'm probably going to need a 4-door, the 2-door is hard enough for people to get in and out, let alone an infant in a baby bucket. Another reason why I love the car is that it's only 165.8″ in length and being in the city, it has helped me get into spaces that I wouldn't have been able to get into otherwise.

Here is what I've looked into...

Subaru Crosstrek - Drove one for a week, liked the tech stuff in it, but there wasn't enough power in the car.

Hyundai Sonata - Drove one for a week. No power, no guts, interior feels "cheap".

Volkswagen GLI - This car appeals to me, seems to have a lot of what I want, but the length much longer than I'm used to at 185.1″. I hear it's basically a GTI just longer.

Volkswagen GTI - Just get one in a four door? Maybe.

Volkswagen Tiguan - Is this underpowered for the size?

Honda CRV / Toyota Rav4 - 180.6" in length, seems to have all the safety and tech features I would want.

I'm basically all over the place and a bit confused as to what to get. Are there any good hybrid options?

SlyFrog posted:

Why has no one mentioned the Subaru Crosstrek? This seems like the perfect "can throw poo poo in it, but it is not a monstrosity" car. Plus, unlike most Subarus, it is actually available for under $25,000.

What's wrong with this car?

mik posted:

What's the skinny on the 2019 Tiguan? What's terrible about it?
VW is offering a surprisingly generous offer on my wifey's 2013 GLI and with 2 kids+dog we're strongly considering it.
She thought she wanted a Crosstrek until she drove one and it was pretty anemic.

Sextro posted:

Cross posting from the wrong thread:


I've not owned a car personally for 5 years, but I'm starting to think about buying something for fun/road trips. I always used to drive small cars with stick shifts for maximum fun:$ ratio (96 jetta, 2001 Civic si). I recently rented a 2018(19?) Maxima that in sport mode I didn't hate the transmission (a first for an automatic), so I guess I'm open to automatics on par with that one.

Budget: looking only for used and up to 25k, but ideally I want to spend the least possible to have something that will be AWD and fun to throw around some back roads in PA and ME.

What should I be keeping my eyes open for?

E: I used to do a lot of my own maintenance/repairs, but no more garage so definitely not looking for a project.