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Help Me Choose!

3276 messages,  Last post on May 19, 2013 at 7:38 AM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Malibu, Nissan Maxima, Mazda MAZDA3, Nissan Altima, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Lexus IS 250, Acura TSX, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 313 of 328

#3121 of 3276 Re: Need Help Choosing My Next Car! [nicolaip] by suydam

Mar 06, 2013 (3:36 pm)

Replying to: nicolaip (Mar 06, 2013 2:08 pm)
Have you looked at a Mazda 3 or 6? Nice drive, reliable, and affordable. The newer ones are good on gas too.

#3122 of 3276 Re: Need Help Choosing My Next Car! [nicolaip] by boomchek

Mar 06, 2013 (4:59 pm)

Replying to: nicolaip (Mar 06, 2013 3:00 pm)
My mom had a Saab 9-3, I think it was an 04 model. When Saab shut its doors, only one place remained in our city to get anything fixed and to get any parts. Parts took a while to arrive because they wouldn't order one part, but rather in bulk, after they had enough orders for a specific part, so it took months for parts to arrive.
 
Then when it was time to sell it, everyone was scared to buy it because of parts availability and small network of repair shops to fix the cars.
 
Volvos are decent but I do't trust them personally. Every Volvo I ever came across in my 10 years of auto sales, whether it was a 10 year old Volvo, or a 3 year old Volvo, had some sort of an electronic issue.
 
Looks if you want reliability and luxury, then go for a Lexus, but otherwise if you choose anything European, prepare to spend a good coin on upkeep and maintenance.

#3123 of 3276 Re: Need Help Choosing My Next Car! [boomchek] by nicolaip

Mar 06, 2013 (6:07 pm)

Replying to: boomchek (Mar 06, 2013 4:59 pm)
I've been hearing that about Saab from everyone unfortunately :/ (damn I really liked their logo!)
 
Any suggestions of an affordable domestic car that can meet some of my "wish list"?

#3124 of 3276 Re: Need Help Choosing My Next Car! [nicolaip] by qbrozen

Mar 06, 2013 (9:06 pm)

Replying to: nicolaip (Mar 06, 2013 2:08 pm)
Well, let's see... I think one of the toughest of your requirements is uniqueness. You certainly aren't unique in a TL. I would suggest a 3-series, but, again, not unique by any means.
 
In any case, for your price cap, you'd have to go to a pre-'04 TL, which I believe only came with an auto trans that has reliability issues.
 
I'd also suggest avoiding the spec V. It has a fatal flaw where the precat can spit debris back into the engine and destroy it.
 
And, as previously pointed out, you can write off Audi and Saab if you want trouble-free motoring.
 
So we have the aforementioned 3-series if you can overlook the commonality of it. An '04 325i is actually cheaper than a TL. A base model with under 90k could be had for about $7k retail, while a more loaded model would push $9-10k. Snow isn't an issue with snow tires.
 
NOW, a VW... you could feasibly get an '07 GLI very close to your cap. That would be the far more reliable 2.0T. There are a couple of issues to be on the lookout for, so you'll want to get it checked out. The biggest being the fuel pump cam follower. If it was ever let to wear through, it can score the cam. It can easily be inspected prior to purchase and then its just a matter of checking it periodically and changing it once in a blue moon.
 
Another suggestion? WRX. Or even a Legacy 2.5GT, although neither of those will return very good gas mileage.

#3125 of 3276 Re: Need Help Choosing My Next Car! [qbrozen] by qbrozen

Mar 07, 2013 (7:08 am)

Replying to: qbrozen (Mar 06, 2013 9:06 pm)
Oh, thought of a few more.
 
A G35 or a 3.5 Altima. Only the manual trans because, while gas mileage still won't be great, it is far better than the automatic in the real world. Will be tough to find, though.
 
I'd also suggest trying out a 2.3 mazda3 5-spd. While not exactly speedy, it is a very fun car. Or, if you can manage to find one, a low-mileage mazdaspeed protege. That will be a bit older, of course.

#3126 of 3276 Re: Need Help Choosing My Next Car! [qbrozen] by sebring95

Mar 07, 2013 (7:53 am)

Replying to: qbrozen (Mar 07, 2013 7:08 am)
I agree with where gbrozen is going with this...the TL and Sentra from that gen is not the most reliable....nor are any of the others on the list. The 3 can have issues...but a good indi mechanic should drain the account too much...but I would still recommend something a little more main stream. The altima is a good choice but you might also look at the Acura TSX. Fairly fun to drive too.

#3127 of 3276 Re: Need Help Choosing My Next Car! [nicolaip] by boomchek

Mar 07, 2013 (1:53 pm)

Replying to: nicolaip (Mar 06, 2013 6:07 pm)
You might want to look at 2006 and up Chrysler 300 or Dodge Chargers. They're decent cars but won't have great fuel economy but you should be able to find them at under $10k now.

#3128 of 3276 Re: Need Help Choosing My Next Car! [boomchek] by nicolaip

Mar 07, 2013 (9:47 pm)

Replying to: boomchek (Mar 07, 2013 1:53 pm)
But aren't Chargers RWD? I love the look of those cars, but idk how it would do in the snow here in Chicago :/

#3129 of 3276 Re: Need Help Choosing My Next Car! [nicolaip] by qbrozen

Mar 08, 2013 (7:33 am)

Replying to: nicolaip (Mar 07, 2013 9:47 pm)
RWD is not an issue with snow tires, like I said. When my wife was pregnant with our 2nd kid, I drove a RWD '91 Benz with no electronic nannies but with snow tires through, not 1, but 2 different snowstorms to the hospital and back. The only issue I had was squeezing past all the other cars that were stuck on on and off ramps on the highway. My FWD volvo with snow tires doesn't even do as well since the front tires have to do the steering and acceleration.

#3130 of 3276 Re: Need Help Choosing My Next Car! [nicolaip] by suydam

Mar 08, 2013 (12:59 pm)

Replying to: nicolaip (Mar 07, 2013 9:47 pm)
Stick with front wheel drive. Make life easier on yourself. Snow tires are another expense you don't need if you get Front wheel drive which are the majority of cars nowadays for a good reason.

Messages Page 313 of 328

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