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Smart Shopper Please help me decide between...
562 messages, Last post on Sep 17, 2009 at 6:31 AM
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Replying to: greeneyespsu (Mar 19, 2009 8:10 am) But it's your choice I guess. Other people lurk here and read this as well I suspect, and so my advice stands. The IS250 isn't as good a vehicle as the one it tried to replace. And the 0-60 times are a lie as well - they abuse it on a test track by redlining it and dropping it out of neutral, then manually shifting the automatic to 2nd gear and leaving it there until they hit 60mph.(or selecting winter mode and starting in 2nd and doing nothing) Looks great on paper but nobody drives like this, ever. The IS250 drove like every Toyota or GM sedan I've ever driven in that it requires you to flog it to get it to move. Quick transitions in comfort just don't happen, because it's lacking in torque and the gearing it set a mile long between gears. They tend to stuff a smaller engine in a large sedan and make due via the transmission. 28-30mpg but even under full throttle, you can wind it out to over 60mph in 2nd gear. 3rd and 4th aren't even close to the power band even at 60-70mph. In fact, I once calculated the speed you'd have to achieve in a Camry in top gear to get the rated HP and it was nearly 140mph. In other words, 100% of the time in normal driving, you're only able to use 1/2 to 2/3 of the rated power due to gearing. Adding more gears to the automatic just exacerbates the problem unless they gear it properly. Toyota doesn't. BMW does. Yes, it's "quieter and more refined", but only because the engine is always lugging along at 1/3 red line like a diesel. Just without a diesel's torque to back it up. Now the IS350 is a better car than the IS300, but that's because they stuffed a bigger engine in it and added a sport package. That kind of makes it closer to a G35, but it's certainly not a small agile car. It felt more like a muscle car to me than anything else. The only other small sedan that I would recommend would be the Subaru Impreza. It's small, quick, inexpensive, and a blast to drive. Of course, it's about the only small sport sedan on the market any more... |
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My nephew is about to get a new used car. He found two potentials- a 2000 Ford Mustang V6 and a 2004 Ford Focus SE. Both look to be in overall good shape. The Mustang as just over 80,000 miles and the Focus is around 85,000 miles. He thinks the Mustang would be more fun to own and drive, but the Focus is newer, gets a little better gas mileage, etc. Oh and the Mustang is $5000 and the Focus is $5250, so there isn't much of a price difference. What do you guys recommend or think would be the better buy? |
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Replying to: 06stang (Aug 24, 2009 12:03 am) He will be driving more, curse less, and always arrive at his destination with a smile!
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Replying to: cwalti (Aug 24, 2009 2:59 am) That's right because as we all know, Hondas never break down, need no maintence and don't even require gas to make them go.  As to answering the OP REAL question--The Mustang would be more fun to drive from a psychological standpoint but would be more likely to have been abused. The Focus would be more reliable. |
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Replying to: 06stang (Aug 24, 2009 12:03 am) 1) Where does your nephew live? The Mustang, as you know, is RWD, while the Focus is FWD .. better for areas that see bad weather. 2) I wouldn't necessarily assume that the Mustang has been "abused". A V6 Mustang may have been owned by the proverbial "secretary" and been babied its whole life. Besides, the 'Stang has averaged about 8K miles per year, the Focus 17K. 3) Utility .. the Mustang has a relatively small trunk, while the Focus, depending on the body style, has either a slightly larger trunk (with fold down rear seats) or a hatchback. 4) Fun to drive .. I owned an '03 Focus ZX5 and it was a blast to drive; have rented Mustangs and found them fun, but in a different way. At the end of the day, it's all about what your nephew wants. My son recently bought a '98 Mustang V6 with about 80K on the clock and he (and everyone else) tells me it's in fantastic condition. I'd have both cars checked out by a competent mechanic before making a decision.
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Replying to: 06stang (Aug 24, 2009 12:03 am)
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Replying to: michaell (Aug 24, 2009 4:50 am) |
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Replying to: tallman1 (Aug 24, 2009 7:29 am) |
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Hi all, I'm an Australian moving to the US in a month and I will need to buy a car fairly quickly, so I'm trying to get a shortlist together. I currently drive a 2004 RAV4 which has been perfect but I'd like to try something different. What I'm looking for: used mid-size sedan/coupe or small to mid-size SUV. Something with a good reputation for reliability, preferably also under warranty. I don't have a preference for 4 or 6 cyl., as long as it doesn't struggle when passing or driving up hills. I will likely be coming back in 3-4 years, so good resale value is a plus, as is low insurance and maintenance costs . Extras such as leather, sunroof, climate control not required but also would be a bonus. It will be used for a very short daily commute as well as shopping and the odd road trip so fuel economy is less important, but 20 MPG or better would be ideal. Budget is around $17,000 The list I have so far: Sedans 2007/2008 Nissan Altima 2.5L 2009 Hyunai Sonata 2.4L (poor resale?) 2008 Ford Fusion V6 2008 Saturn Aura V6 2007 Honda Accord coupe 2008 VW Jetta (reliability concerns?) 2008 Mazda 6 SUVs 2008 Nissan Rogue 2007 Mazda CX-7 (turbo engine a concern?) 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe (poor resale?) 2006 Nissan Murano (would be out of warranty) (too big for a single twentysomething?) What do you think? This list is WAY too long, I need help to cut it down. The sensible part of me says get a sedan but I think I really want an SUV. Any advice is much appreciated! Thanks |
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Replying to: newgirl2 (Sep 11, 2009 11:05 pm) I don't think any of the vehicles in your list are poor choices. You might restrict your purchase decision to vehicles that still have some manufacturer warranty for some added peace of mind. You might also consider a Mitsu Outlander SUV from 2007 or so. I'm starting to enter the small SUV market and liked the Outlander a fair bit more than the Santa Fe. What part of the US will you be relocating to? Is it to the north, i.e. an area where winters are more severe (snow, cold) or the south where having strong air conditioning is of value? Hilly or mountainous (where an AWD SUV might help)? |
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