Screw Computers, I need a car...
Fact: ast3r3x is going to be buying a car within the next two months.
Fact: ast3r3x will have between 8k-11.5k (maybe 12.5k) to spend.
Fact: ast3r3x would prefer AWD and a car, but it isn't necessary.
Fact ast3r3x wants a reliable car that isn't ass ugly.
Ok, so now that we have that established. I'm trying to do some research into what car I want, I'd like to go with something that is toward the high end of my price range, and have been thinking about A4 Cuattro's, Volvo (S40/S60)s, Subaru Legacy GTs, and some SAAB (I think it was 9-3).
I was wondering if anyone knew of a site where I could maybe get like average miles before the car exploads, or a comparison of how reliable cars by the manufacturer are. I also am curious how much it DOES cost when the inevitable happens and I need to buy parts for the car. Any advice would be appreciated, and if you know of a good site, or a forum that (hopefully isn't biased) could help would be great.
PS - Yes, I know this is posted at AN too, but this user count is here, and I wanted your guys opinions too! I still don't get why people hate when you do that.
Fact: ast3r3x will have between 8k-11.5k (maybe 12.5k) to spend.
Fact: ast3r3x would prefer AWD and a car, but it isn't necessary.
Fact ast3r3x wants a reliable car that isn't ass ugly.
Ok, so now that we have that established. I'm trying to do some research into what car I want, I'd like to go with something that is toward the high end of my price range, and have been thinking about A4 Cuattro's, Volvo (S40/S60)s, Subaru Legacy GTs, and some SAAB (I think it was 9-3).
I was wondering if anyone knew of a site where I could maybe get like average miles before the car exploads, or a comparison of how reliable cars by the manufacturer are. I also am curious how much it DOES cost when the inevitable happens and I need to buy parts for the car. Any advice would be appreciated, and if you know of a good site, or a forum that (hopefully isn't biased) could help would be great.
PS - Yes, I know this is posted at AN too, but this user count is here, and I wanted your guys opinions too! I still don't get why people hate when you do that.
Comments
If you could get a low miles 850 (that is inspected by a good mechanic), it would probably serve you well. I haven't heard as many good things about Volvos from 1998-2001. I have a 2004 V70R, and it can't touch the trouble free nature of the 850.
Originally posted by ast3r3x
Fact: ast3r3x is going to be buying a car within the next two months.
Fact: ast3r3x will have between 8k-11.5k (maybe 12.5k) to spend.
So you should be expecting to buy a used car.
Fact: ast3r3x would prefer AWD and a car, but it isn't necessary.
Fact ast3r3x wants a reliable car that isn't ass ugly.
Often, these two are mutally exclusive. The Subarus that are in your price range are ass ugly, old Audis are terribly unreliable.
Ok, so now that we have that established. I'm trying to do some research into what car I want, I'd like to go with something that is toward the high end of my price range, and have been thinking about A4 Cuattro's, Volvo (S40/S60)s, Subaru Legacy GTs, and some SAAB (I think it was 9-3).
Most European cars, VW's included, have high service costs and aren't terribly reliable. I would stay away from all of the cars you listed aside from the Subaru. Some of the old Volvos are very reliable (240, 850, etc), but I'm not sure what has happened since Ford bought Volvo. Of course, Volvos tend to be rear-wheel-drive.
Quote:
I was wondering if anyone knew of a site where I could maybe get like average miles before the car exploads, or a comparison of how reliable cars by the manufacturer are. I also am curious how much it DOES cost when the inevitable happens and I need to buy parts for the car. Any advice would be appreciated, and if you know of a good site, or a forum that (hopefully isn't biased) could help would be great.
Ultimately, the best thing to do is to find a web forum of the car's owners and dedicates, and try to get as much information as you can. Usually these people are pretty friendly -- unless you happen to be looking at JDM Hondas and Nissans, or Mustangs and Camaros -- in which cases they tend to be morons.
If you don't mind the ugly factor, Subarus are cheap, pretty reliable, and AWD. You may want to look into the 97-2001 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS, which is a little more peppy than the Legacy.
Alternatively, the most reliable vehicle I've ever had was a Ford Ranger.
Originally posted by ast3r3x
Fact: ast3r3x is going to be buying a car within the next two months.
Fact: ast3r3x will have between 8k-11.5k (maybe 12.5k) to spend.
Fact: ast3r3x would prefer AWD and a car, but it isn't necessary.
Fact ast3r3x wants a reliable car that isn't ass ugly.
Fact: ast3r3x would prefer a ~2000-2003 Subaru!
They look great, have AWD, are good on gas and are tough, hell, I want one next time I buy.
They are also built right here in town, every time I drive past the lot, I want to take a test drive, but I haven't the cash to buy it so why waste their time?
The scions are all under 17,000 and get good mileage. I don't know if you like them, but they're definetly a good price for what they are. Plus they'll have iPod compatibility soon.
Now all I need is another 1k for a down payment.
Granted it's a small light car that feels more like a motorcycle with a shell than real car. I do feel small sometimes with all those big fat SUVs around. However, I got hit by a red-light runner, a minivan, once and I suffered no injuries. Car got towed because the front end was a mess, but the minivan that hit me was in worse shape and the driver looked like she may have broken some ribs. I think my car was so light that it justed moved rather than sit like a rock and absorb all the energy.
Either way, Hyundai is inexpensive, good looking (IMO), and has good warranties.
I prefer to spend my money on my computers.
Nissan, Honda, and Toyota are your frriiiiieeeeeennnndssss
Of course, we hold reliability, gas milage, and crash tests as the criteria... So the car can be butt-ugly for all we care
Originally posted by Ichiban_jay
Our family always goes Japanese...
Nissan, Honda, and Toyota are your frriiiiieeeeeennnndssss
Of course, we hold reliability, gas milage, and crash tests as the criteria... So the car can be butt-ugly for all we care
Nissan Quest just tied for least reliable vehicle of any type:
http://money.cnn.com/2005/03/04/pf/a...ex.htm?cnn=yes
But I agree - for the most part Japanese cars are very reliable. Japanese car dealers are not very reliable (in terms of service, except for Lexus) though.
From in article in the San Jose Mercury News: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...s/11059395.htm
"Best picks: In all, the magazine recommends 81 of the 222 2005 model-year vehicles it evaluated. Recommended are those cars and trucks that do well in tests conducted by the magazine's editors, have average or better reliability in a survey that got replies from 810,000 readers this year, and did well on crash tests.
The Toyota brand did best, earning 14 check marks. Ford and Honda got six recommendations, Nissan and Lexus got five, and Acura, Chevrolet and Subaru received four.
Several brands -- Hummer, Isuzu, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lotus, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Porsche and Saturn -- had no recommended vehicles.
?_ Reliability. Overall, Champion said, reliability of today's cars and trucks continues to improve. Japanese brands remain the quality leaders, but the domestics have ``made relatively large strides and inched even closer.'' Europeans have become a ``disappointment,'' he said.
Of 2004 model-year cars and trucks, Asian vehicles had 12 problems per 100 vehicles. The domestic brands, Ford, General Motors and DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler group, had 17 per 100. And European brands had 21 per 100, up from 20 per 100 last year.
The 2004 Hyundai Sonata was the single best vehicle, with only two reported problems per 100 vehicles. The 2004 Nissan Quest van and 2004 Lincoln Navigator SUV were deemed least reliable with 49 problems per 100 vehicles.
Subaru was the single best brand, averaging eight problems per 100. Longtime reliability leader Honda fell to second, with an average of nine problems per 100 vehicles.
?_ High-priced models. Consumer Reports evaluated 37 models with starting prices of $40,000 or more. It recommended only four of them.
The magazine isn't biased against luxury cars, Champion said. ``The problem with more expensive cars is that the reliability hasn't been very good,'' he said.
Many of these models are from European brands, and those automakers have been having problems with electronics and electric power equipment recently, he said.
Of those high-priced models -- several lower-priced models from luxury brands were recommended -- only the Lexus GX470, Lexus LS430, Lincoln Town Car and Toyota Land Cruiser were selected.
?_ Hybrids: Besides the Accord sedan, Consumer Reports also lists the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic hybrids as models it recommends. The two-seat Honda Insight isn't picked as not enough readers own one to create a representative sample. The new Ford Escape Hybrid SUV isn't recommended either. The magazine's editors are still testing it, but Champion noted that a trip-up in the government's rollover test prevents them from recommending any Escape model."
They had a table in the print version which I don't have in front of me right now, but they did mention the Subaru Forester as their pick for inexpensive SUV, if memory serves.