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Popete posted:This is a really good idea, I was planning to go in and talk with my bank about possibly getting a credit card for building credit this weekend I'll ask them about this as well. Capital One has some cards for recent college grads and such, worth checking out.
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Jan 17, 2013 04:21
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Popete posted:BMW Stuff http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=2809820 You'll get answers from BMW heads that will probably first tell you to keep your 325is as long as possible, and if you get rid of it, sell it to one of us first. The M tax is definitely real and will bite you in the rear end if you're not prepared. A fully rebuilt VANOS from the dealer will cost 2-3 grand, but you can probably rebuild the solenoid yourself for under $300 in parts if you're mechanically capable: http://www.beisansystems.com/procedures/s54_vanos_solenoid_procedure.htm
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Jan 17, 2013 19:37
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Thanks I'll post it over there as well, you guys are probably right I'll most likely hold off awhile longer on the M3 past the end of the year. I'll do some more research as I save though and see what comes up as a reasonable solution.
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Jan 18, 2013 02:41
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Bank posted:A fully rebuilt VANOS from the dealer will cost 2-3 grand, but you can probably rebuild the solenoid yourself for under $300 in parts if you're mechanically capable: Lucky for me I'm a computer engineer and have done tons of soldering at a past internship, if it's electrical I have a shot of fixing it myself. I'm decent fixing basic things on a car myself so that would hopefully offset some of the cost.
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Jan 18, 2013 02:45
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And yet you post the exact same thing in the BMW thread? If you're going to make a bad decision that flies in the face of all the advice you've been given, just go on and do it.
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Jan 18, 2013 03:25
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Bank suggested I post over there and see what they had to say. I'm not anywhere near buying the car yet and my mind isn't completely made up, settle down man I'm not discounting anyone's advice. The whole point of this post was to get a better perspective of how feasible the whole idea is.
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Jan 18, 2013 06:05
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KYOON GRIFFEY JR posted:Well, most other cars on earth are a lower theft risk except maybe the Integra and the Integra R, so don't worry about that too awfully much. Finally digging into this today. I think I'm going to bite the bullet and go newer, budgeting now up to $10,000 and find something 2006-2009 used maybe. I'm liking the Focus ZX3 / 5 and the Mazda3 hatchback so far, the bigger ones I'm not crazy on with the size and MPG. I also wouldn't mind staying with Honda so the Honda Fit looks like a good option, if I can find one at a reasonable price. What kinds of pros/cons would there be between say the Mazda3, Honda Fit, and Ford Focus ZX5? Any other cars along those lines I should be considering?
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Jan 18, 2013 20:28
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JVO posted:Finally digging into this today. I think I'm going to bite the bullet and go newer, budgeting now up to $10,000 and find something 2006-2009 used maybe. I'm liking the Focus ZX3 / 5 and the Mazda3 hatchback so far, the bigger ones I'm not crazy on with the size and MPG. I also wouldn't mind staying with Honda so the Honda Fit looks like a good option, if I can find one at a reasonable price. I'm looking at similarly priced hatchbacks and while I've never driven one, what about the Scion tC? I'd be interested in people's opinions of that. It was already mentioned, but I'm personally leaning toward a Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe. It looks really versatile with the rear storage and how every seat including the passenger can lay down flat. My biggest concern would be power, but I haven't had the chance to test drive one yet so maybe it's not as bad as some reviews say.
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Jan 18, 2013 20:39
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wa27 posted:I'm looking at similarly priced hatchbacks and while I've never driven one, what about the Scion tC? I'd be interested in people's opinions of that. I'm not really a "car person", but I drive an 05 tC as a daily driver. I bought it a few months ago from a family member for a good price ($5k with 115k miles on the odometer) and it is.... adequate. There's nothing I dislike about it, but there's nothing particularly endearing about it either. I prefer my Honda Fit to the tC any day. The Honda is more fuel efficient, handles better, and feels much roomier inside. If you're going to spend $10k, you'll probably be able to do better than a tC. Every car feels boring now that I sold my motorcycle 
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Jan 18, 2013 22:46
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wa27 posted:I'm looking at similarly priced hatchbacks and while I've never driven one, what about the Scion tC? I'd be interested in people's opinions of that. All of the fun of a Corolla and none of the utility.
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Jan 19, 2013 07:46
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JVO posted:Finally digging into this today. I think I'm going to bite the bullet and go newer, budgeting now up to $10,000 and find something 2006-2009 used maybe. I'm liking the Focus ZX3 / 5 and the Mazda3 hatchback so far, the bigger ones I'm not crazy on with the size and MPG. I also wouldn't mind staying with Honda so the Honda Fit looks like a good option, if I can find one at a reasonable price. To my mind: Mazda3: Pros - pretty fun to drive. Cons: Cost. Mediocre/lousy gas mileage for what it is. Fit: Pros - magic seats yo. Cons: Honda tax, car isn't as large and will be less comfortable on the highway. Focus: Pros - cheap, fun to drive (same platform structure as the Mazda3). Cons: early ZX5s had a few reliability issues.
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Jan 19, 2013 07:49
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Proposed Budget: 9,000 - 14,000 New or Used: New (I understand that this limits my options) Body Style: It doesn't matter. How will you be using the car?: I'm moving to LA in a couple weeks and planning to buy something ASAP. I'll mostly be using it to drive to work/auditions and back. I would love to explore the state a bit as well, but I doubt I will be putting serious mileage on it. What aspects are most important to you?: MPG and reliability. I don't have a ton of money saved and I don't know how long it will take me to find work so I won't be able to handle a car that is in constant need of repairs. This is the main reason I'm looking for a new car. I don't know anything about cars at all. Living in Chicago for so long has eliminated the need to own any vehicle so this is all very foreign to me. I've narrowed my selection to a couple cars, both of them are the 2012 models. It's between a Ford Fiesta and a Nissan Versa. The thing is I can barely tell the difference between them. I'm going to head out and test drive them, but before I head out I was hoping for another opinion. Also perhaps there's another car I can buy new in this category that I'm overlooking?
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Jan 20, 2013 07:00
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Pureone posted:Proposed Budget: 9,000 - 14,000 The Ford Fiesta is probably going to be your best bet. Its automatic transmission acts a little weird at low speeds, so I'd recommend going with the manual, which will also cost less. (For that matter, I'd recommend a manual transmission in any car that offers it.) Friar Zucchini fucked around with this message at 08:19 on Jan 20, 2013 |
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Jan 20, 2013 08:12
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I would not recommend a manual transmission for someone who lives in LA and doesn't give a poo poo about cars. I will, however, recommend a gently used model. If you don't have a lot of money, you don't have a lot of money to be eating a hit on depreciation. Most OEMs have a Certified Pre-Owned program which means the car has been inspected, serviced and comes with somewhat of a warranty. Here's Honda's CPO program, for instance: http://automobiles.honda.com/mobile/certified-used/program-benefits.aspx If I absolutely had to buy a new car for the amount of money that you suggest, and I wasn't going to be buying a manual transmission car, I would by a Hyundai Accent or a Chevrolet Sonic.
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Jan 20, 2013 19:17
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KYOON GRIFFEY JR posted:I would not recommend a manual transmission for someone who lives in LA and doesn't give a poo poo about cars. In the interest of avoiding conflicting opinions, do what this guy says, he's smarter than I am.
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Jan 23, 2013 03:38
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KYOON GRIFFEY JR posted:I would not recommend a manual transmission for someone who lives in LA and doesn't give a poo poo about cars. I'm not sure the DSG like (but less slick) system in the focus will be more of a pain in the rear end.
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Jan 23, 2013 03:55
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nm posted:I'm not sure the DSG like (but less slick) system in the focus will be more of a pain in the rear end. Which is why I didn't recommend any small Fords.
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Jan 23, 2013 04:01
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At what point should an old car be abandoned? I have a 17 year old vehicle with ~350K KM (220K miles), with a slightly newer engine (100k KM). It's looking like the front end now needs some substantial work, to the tune of maybe $800-$1000. It looks sharp for it's age, fairly clean, and drives well, but it also recently failed aircare (which will probably be $500-$600 worth of repairs if I can't circumvent the system). It also has the following wrong with it; - no front passenger seatbelt (incident with the dog...Toyota wants $300 for a new one and I can't for the life of me find one at a junker) - the windshield wipers work, but I can't spray fluid. It's only really a big deal during the winter months when salt/soot spray up from the road, limiting visiblity in the sun and forcing me to pull over and windex. During the summer I wash it weekly, and if it get's really bad I just head to the gas station - AC broken (don't really care as I've never owned a car with AC), but the volume controls for the heater are touch and go, which gets annoying when it's raining and the cab fogs up - it cannot be taken out of OD (i've been told by my mechanic and a transmission specialist that it's not a big deal and probably not worth the headache of fixing) - 3.4L V6 offers adequate power and speed for my needs, but I'm sure something newer would be more fuel efficient On a positive note, it fits all my needs, looks great, relatively cheap to insure, and is bought and paid for. On the flip side, I've been researching and monitoring prices on the used truck market, and it appears that $20k seems to be the sweet spot for age/km to price ratio. In Canadian dollars, this would get me a 2-3 year old ext cab truck, with under 20,000KM, in a fairly basic trim level. Would that be a stretch on a average monthly income of 5k gross (roughly 4k net). After rent and other mandatory bills, I'm typically left with $1,500/month, which used to go towards debt but now goes towards savings.
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Jan 24, 2013 06:52
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Proposed Budget: $3k - $7k New or Used: probably not new Body Style: no trucks, no vans How will you be using the car?: recreational driving What aspects are most important to you?: it's gotta be stick and it'd be nice if it lookd cool. I've been considering Miatas but I just wanted to know if they're other "sporty" options in that price range. I live in Michigan FWIW.
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Jan 24, 2013 16:59
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Godspeed You! Black Conservative posted:Proposed Budget: $3k - $7k Miata is going to be the go to here. Might consider an MR2. RX8s may fall into the price range too. More power, but read up on what rotaries need. I assume this is a summer car?
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Jan 24, 2013 21:22
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Reggie Died posted:At what point should an old car be abandoned? Say you put 2000 dollars into the truck, how long do you think that'll last? Can you get another year out of it? If so, it's definitely worth it. Dump the 2K into the truck, save your 1500 extra for 10 or 12 months then go pay cash for a newer truck. If you're at the point where 2K is just going to keep it running a few more months while delaying the inevitable, it's time to move on. As for the seat belt, go to car-part.com and you should be able to locate the seatbelt assembly for your car. between car-part.com and ebay you should be able to find it for 75 bucks or so probably.
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Jan 24, 2013 21:41
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nm posted:Miata is going to be the go to here. It'll be a summer/weekend trips car. I'm leaning towards NA Miatas. Are there any years I should avoid?
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Jan 24, 2013 22:05
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There's a massive miata megathread that will provide you with answers to all questions.
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Jan 25, 2013 00:24
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powderific posted:There's a massive miata megathread that will provide you with answers to all questions. Indeed there is, but to answer the question - no. The closest thing there is to a 'year problem' on the Miata is that until I think mid-'91 or '92, the 1.6L had a short nose crank which as far as I know only becomes a problem if you don't pay attention when you replace the timing belt and put poo poo together backwards. The NA and NB are wonderfully simple cars that are reliable mainly by way of not having much to break.
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Jan 25, 2013 00:38
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nm posted:I'm not sure the DSG like (but less slick) system in the focus will be more of a pain in the rear end. Dude, I've been dealing with the new ford autos lately and they're not that bad. After half an hour you won't notice it any more unless you switch cars constantly. I am speaking mainly about focus up to the current model and the current gen fiesta. Now, if you disconnect the battery on these cars the transmission will do some wild poo poo (shifting through the gears and up and down and poo poo) when you first put the key back in and switch it on. I was told by ford that this is calibrating itself or something, because if you just start it up quick before it can do it the car will not move. They're fine though if you just let em do their poo poo and then start it. This only happens when disconnecting/running down the battery. Weird, but not a pain in the rear end. Worst part is the jerkyness until you right foot gets super sensitive.
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Jan 25, 2013 05:00
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Godspeed You! Black Conservative posted:It'll be a summer/weekend trips car. I'm leaning towards NA Miatas. Are there any years I should avoid? Yeah, like the other posters said, I think you need to head over to AI. You're our type of people. I don't fit in miatas 
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Jan 25, 2013 07:18
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As I mourn the loss of my 1995 Honda Civic VX, I welcome my new car: the 2010 Mazda 3 S Sport. My wallet is angry at me, but  I'm enjoying it to all hell so far. Thanks for your help, goons.
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Jan 25, 2013 08:52
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Hey yo. I currently drive a 2002 VW Jetta (purchased new) with 160,000 miles on it that my mechanic tells me I am extremely lucky to have had survive this long. I feel lucky. Not only has it survived, it's also taken me from Virginia to California and back, hauling a UHaul going one way. Yes, my Jetta has a trailer hitch. While my car has been good to me I'm ready for a new one. I graduate with my master's in May and plan to get a new car to celebrate. Proposed Budget: $25,000 or less; I have a $5,000 cash down payment available and whatever the Jetta is worth in tradein value. Which is probably nothing. I'll probably just donate it to NPR. New or Used: New or recently used Body Style: Four-door small sedan. I hate hatchbacks, with caveats to be outlined below. How will you be using the car?: I commute 45-60 minutes each way, starting in annoying city traffic, 30 minutes on a highway, then ending in more annoying city traffic. 350 miles per week for my commute. Once a month or so I drive 175 miles each way to visit my parents. I never haul anything bigger than two cat crates three miles to the vet. Do you prefer a luxury vehicle with all the gizmos?: The only thing I care about is an AUX jack. My Jetta doesn't have one and it's been a pain in the rear end. What aspects are most important to you?: I would really love to get a hybrid. I wish I had the budget for a Volt but alas... I am in love with the styling of the late model year Hyundai Sonatas and the Sonata Hybrid makes me drool, plus I've heard great things about it - but it may be a little big for me. The Elantra is more in the size range I'm looking at - and also very sexy - but not a hybrid. I am looking at the Prius(that's the "I hate hatchbacks BUT") but can't get super excited about them. Ford Fusion hybrids are also an option but I seem to be the only person in the world who doesn't like the 2013 redesign. Having said all that, a hybrid is not 100% necessary at all; a small car with great fuel efficiency would also work. but I am a hippy-dippy loser who would like to get a hybrid simply to encourage automakers to keep working on them. Fire away, goons!
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Jan 25, 2013 16:05
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JVO posted:As I mourn the loss of my 1995 Honda Civic VX, I welcome my new car: the 2010 Mazda 3 S Sport. I don't know where you live but you didn't happen to buy this one, did you? I was planning on traveling to check it out this weekend but someone bought it before I could. I think I'm going to wait patiently to find a good deal on a 1.8L 09/10 Pontiac Vibe or a Matrix.
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Jan 25, 2013 16:28
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Godspeed You! Black Conservative posted:Proposed Budget: $3k - $7k I have a 2004 VW GTI VR6 that is pretty drat fun to zoom around in (and I wasn't even a car guy when I bought it). I think they can be had for around 5-7k.
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Jan 25, 2013 16:55
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wa27 posted:I don't know where you live but you didn't happen to buy this one, did you? I was planning on traveling to check it out this weekend but someone bought it before I could. Wasn't me, but good luck on your hunt.
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Jan 25, 2013 17:04
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resident posted:I have a 2004 VW GTI VR6 that is pretty drat fun to zoom around in (and I wasn't even a car guy when I bought it). I think they can be had for around 5-7k. I sold my 2008 GTI last year. I need something less practical, haha.
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Jan 25, 2013 17:45
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wa27 posted:I don't know where you live but you didn't happen to buy this one, did you? I was planning on traveling to check it out this weekend but someone bought it before I could. The S trim (2.4L engine) is a vastly better car to drive.
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Jan 25, 2013 19:39
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UK Question Proposed Budget: £2,500-5,000 New or Used: Used Body Style: Doesn't really matter but not too small: something Focus-sized or bigger. How will you be using the car?: Business travel. Expect to get in and drive for 20-50miles on a motorway, everyday Do you prefer a luxury vehicle with all the gizmos?: Yes What aspects are most important to you? Reliable, low maintenance, and reasonable MPG (40+ motorway). Comfortable, rather than sporty. As I am going to be working it, I don't care too much about it being shiny. I think that ideally, I am a candidate for a Focus/Mondeo Diesel. Mercedes-Benz E Class E320 CDi Elegance 5dr Tip Auto Diesel Estate 3.2 2002 quote:172,300 miles Big cars are unpopular here and so their prices are cheaper than equivalent-aged (and lower spec) small cars. Stupid idea? EDIT: yes, a stupid idea. Insurance is higher and I am probably buying trouble. I'll look at a 1.4 Megane - they are supposed to be able to hit 40mpg+ EDIT2: tried a Megane, the ergonomics were all wrong for me, the interior was boring, the clutch was too heavy and the doors were too big. All wrong for me. The Signum with the 3.0 CDTi in it has me sorely tempted. spog fucked around with this message at 14:40 on Jan 26, 2013 |
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Jan 26, 2013 11:27
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RaCha'ar posted:Hey yo. I currently drive a 2002 VW Jetta (purchased new) with 160,000 miles on it that my mechanic tells me I am extremely lucky to have had survive this long. I feel lucky. Not only has it survived, it's also taken me from Virginia to California and back, hauling a UHaul going one way. Yes, my Jetta has a trailer hitch. They make a small cheap Prius now. http://www.toyota.com/priusc/ Sounds like your kind of thing. Also In my experience AUX jacks are worse than useless because the one I have can't compensate for the volume on my ipod which is always too low, and I always have to spend time loving with it to get the volume just right and then next time when I want the radio it's too loud. I don't even use it anymore and just listen to the radio now because it's not worth the hassle. I don't listen to the radio anywhere outside the car so I might as well get my daily dose of Call Me Maybe while driving. Luckily the little Prius (and all new cars) have fancy smartphone integration that should make this much easier. It can't be a coincidence that literally every single "I don't know anything about cars but I need a new one" person in this thread somehow already owns a VW Jetta?
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Jan 26, 2013 14:04
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Throatwarbler posted:They make a small cheap Prius now. thanks! Yeah I'm looking at the C but it almost seems too small. I'll probably end up test-driving all of the Prius models. I just suspect there's cars I haven't thought of yet that would fit the bill. I usually listen to NPR on my commute but on longer drives I like to listen to audiobooks or podcasts on my phone. My husband's Sentra has an AUX jack hence the covetousness - it works great for non-music stuff. There is a clue in the preceding paragraph that should answer your question about Jetta owners who know nothing about cars (a general truth, not specific to this thread). we're mostly women
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Jan 26, 2013 15:49
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This is more of a general BFC question and less of a specific vehicle question. How does one approach the prospect of owning two cars? Or assuming a family, more than one car per driver? I ask because I literally cannot think of a single person I know who has more than one vehicle, yet I get the sense that one does not need to be a millionaire to own, let's say, a practical station wagon to drive during the week and a sports car on the weekends. I look around on Craigslist, eBay, cars.com, Autotrader, local dealerships, etc. and see plenty of cars like the RX-7 or MR2 available at reasonable prices, no more than a Matrix or Fit. With a good knowledge of amateur auto maintenance (something I'm working on, and will continue to work on if I end up somewhere where I need to keep driving as much as I do here in north FL), a reliable and honest mechanic, and safe driving habits, the prospect of owning a sporty yet tiny and impractical car as well as a boring yet capacious and efficient vehicle seems fairly affordable. But is it? What sort of things would someone need to know before considering a second vehicle? Is a house with driveway and garage necessary, or could a person who lives somewhere with street parking pull it off?
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Jan 27, 2013 06:18
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Apollodorus posted:This is more of a general BFC question and less of a specific vehicle question. How does one approach the prospect of owning two cars? Or assuming a family, more than one car per driver? I ask because I literally cannot think of a single person I know who has more than one vehicle, yet I get the sense that one does not need to be a millionaire to own, let's say, a practical station wagon to drive during the week and a sports car on the weekends. If it must be street parked look up your city ordinances on how long a car can be parked on the street continuously. I've seen between a week and 48 hours. They are often not enforced, but if you have an rear end in a top hat neighbor or an overzealous meter maid.
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Jan 27, 2013 08:08
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There are some insurance considerations as well. Where I am, a second vehicle is usually registered as a 'pleasure' vehicle, which makes it a bit cheaper since you're not usually driving it to work or school.
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Jan 27, 2013 18:24
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As long as you check up on stuff like insurance and parking, having two vehicles is totally doable and not that crazy a thing to do. I had both a turbo Miata and a Jeep Cherokee for a few years and I'm not even remotely wealthy, only somewhat mechanically inclined, and don't have a garage. It was great. Only cost me about $20 more a year to insure both. For a variety of reasons I downsized to one vehicle, but I'm working towards having a sporty project for a second car in the next few years.
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Jan 27, 2013 20:26
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