Car advice

Jade Falcon · Post by **Jade Falcon** » 2008-07-09 12:03pm

Okay, I've posted this on SB as well.

As I stated on a thread here, at present I've got a VW Passat 2.8 VR6. Fuel prices are making it very uneconomical, not to mention the dealers are really shafting me for parts. Some electrical problems can only be diagnosed at the dealers due to the car being a 1995 plate.

Long story short, I want to swap it out for something more economical, reliable and cheaper to run. Now I'm aware that some people think I just should maybe just dump the car full stop, but it is necessary for some things, and saying that I'm at the insurance bracket that I'm at present doing up to 4000 miles per year.

I'm looking at Japanese preferably. Something that's available in this country, maybe like an Accord or Mazda 626. Must be automatic as that's my licence. I'm aware that one of the best sellers in the US market is the Camry and while they were available here they are pretty rare as they didn't make the impact on the market. Body types, prefer either a four door or five door hatchbatch. Reliability is the key. I know certain popular sites say cars like the Avensis, 626, Mazda 6 series, Primera and so on have a bland image but that's not an issue.

A lower insurance class would also be helpful, my present Passat is a group 16 because of the VR6 engine, something lower down the scale would help.

A lower end budget means it'll probably be a car about 10 years old. Any recommendations?

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2008-07-09 01:04pm

I'm drop kicking this to OT.

FireNexus · Post by **FireNexus** » 2008-07-09 04:12pm

Smart ForTwo. I can't think of anything more economical than that, although it's a bit like driving a mosquito, I understand.

Jade Falcon · Post by **Jade Falcon** » 2008-07-09 04:19pm

FireNexus wrote:Smart ForTwo. I can't think of anything more economical than that, although it's a bit like driving a mosquito, I understand.

Thanks for the response, but I should have mentioned I don't like cars that are too small, I was in a pretty bad smash years ago (I was just a passenger and it wrote off an old style Volvo) therefore I prefer something a bit bigger. That's why I was thinking in something like an Accord size.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2008-07-09 04:30pm

Jade Falcon wrote: Thanks for the response, but I should have mentioned I don't like cars that are too small, I was in a pretty bad smash years ago (I was just a passenger and it wrote off an old style Volvo) therefore I prefer something a bit bigger. That's why I was thinking in something like an Accord size.

I was in a nasty accident in a Civic and it performed admirably. Seriously consider one. I have had several over the years (in addition to an Accord), One of which still managed 35 mpg after 160,000 miles. For the most part, you'll only spend money on brake pads, a timing belt and tires. I burned out a muffler at 145,000 miles, but thats it.

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2008-07-09 04:35pm

Some kind of Toyota, dunno if they had Yaris 10 years ago, or maybe a Corolla.

Ted C · Post by **Ted C** » 2008-07-09 05:01pm

My Honda Del Sol gets 40 mpg, but it's a 5-speed. The mileage of a 4-door automatic Civic (same chassis and engine) from about the same time period (1993) shouldn't be much worse, though.

montypython · Post by **montypython** » 2008-07-09 05:16pm

A small to mid-size vehicle with a 4-cyl engine and a manual would probably be your best bet. Toyotas tend not to be good drivers cars, a Mazda 3 or Honda Civic/Accord would be better choices for that, small Nissans tend to be rather pedestrian. Personally I'd go for a Ford Focus for its handling and the reliability ain't shabby.

Death from the Sea · Post by **Death from the Sea** » 2008-07-10 02:52am

The Chevy HHR gets 30mpg (advertised) and runs about 20K new. I have a few friends that have them and love them. It is a 4 banger.

Jade Falcon · Post by **Jade Falcon** » 2008-07-10 09:53am

Okay, no offence to those who've posted, but a lot of what you're suggesting isn't available in the UK. Chevy for example over here are rebadged Daewoo's unless you've got an imported Corvette or something similiar.

This site lists what is available

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm

His Divine Shadow · Post by **His Divine Shadow** » 2008-07-10 10:56am

I'm thinking japanese, mid 90s perhaps. Or a WV Polo, they seem to be real cheap when just a few years old. But that would apply to you as well when you'd sell it, lotsa deprecation.

Death from the Sea · Post by **Death from the Sea** » 2008-07-12 02:49am

Jade Falcon wrote:Okay, no offence to those who've posted, but a lot of what you're suggesting isn't available in the UK. Chevy for example over here are rebadged Daewoo's unless you've got an imported Corvette or something similiar.

This site lists what is available

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm

oh no, in that case... yikes, because Chevrolet /= Daewoo.

But they do have Chevrolet's on honestjohn's website there.

Jade Falcon · Post by **Jade Falcon** » 2008-07-12 11:38am

Aye true, but they are extremely rare over her, genuine Chevvy's anyway. As to other American cars the most common over here apart from some Fords like the Focus are the PT Cruiser and Neon.

Post by **LadyTevar** » 2008-07-12 03:38pm

Jade Falcon wrote:Aye true, but they are extremely rare over her, genuine Chevvy's anyway. As to other American cars the most common over here apart from some Fords like the Focus are the PT Cruiser and Neon.

Uhh, hon? PT Cruiser and Neon are NOT Fords. Chrysler/Dodge makes the Cruiser and the Neon. The two models actually have the same basic chassis and engine, just the seats and bodies are different.

I have a Dodge Neon, she's been with me since 2002. She gets a regular 28-29mph city driving, is fairly roomy for her size, and has a large boot with fold-down back seats for even more room. They are a solidly dependable car, and I've yet to hear of anyone having major problems from them. The worse I've had was a broken alternator that drained two batteries dead. I highly recommend one.

Jade Falcon · Post by **Jade Falcon** » 2008-07-12 03:42pm

LadyTevar wrote:I have a Dodge Neon, she's been with me since 2002. She gets a regular 28-29mph city driving, is fairly roomy for her size, and has a large boot with fold-down back seats for even more room. They are a solidly dependable car, and I've yet to hear of anyone having major problems from them. The worse I've had was a broken alternator that drained two batteries dead. I highly recommend one.

I said "apart from some Fords" are the Neon and PT. I'm not 100% sure which Fords are in the UK and US, but I perhaps didn't phrase it too well.

Post by **LadyTevar** » 2008-07-12 06:07pm

Jade Falcon wrote:I said "apart from some Fords" are the Neon and PT. I'm not 100% sure which Fords are in the UK and US, but I perhaps didn't phrase it too well.

Sorry, My mistake then

Although a common joke is "Ford" stands for "Fucked Over Rebuilt Dodge"....

Jade Falcon · Post by **Jade Falcon** » 2008-07-12 06:10pm

LadyTevar wrote:Although a common joke is "Ford" stands for "Fucked Over Rebuilt Dodge"....

Well the two I've heard are

Fix or repair daily
Found off road dead.

The reason I'd like to stick with Japanese is that once I had a 12 year old Nissan Bluebird (sentra in the US), and it was 18 years old when it was beyond economical repair. In all that time there were barely no problems despite the basic servicing costs like tyre replacement or an exhaust component.

Ma Deuce · Post by **Ma Deuce** » 2008-07-12 09:07pm

I have a Dodge Neon, she's been with me since 2002. She gets a regular 28-29mph city driving, is fairly roomy for her size, and has a large boot with fold-down back seats for even more room. They are a solidly dependable car, and I've yet to hear of anyone having major problems from them. The worse I've had was a broken alternator that drained two batteries dead. I highly recommend one.

Just hope you're never in a major collision in one.