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Can you help me understand something though? The Hybrids get their economy from regenerative braking right? If I'm on the highway, is a hybrid really going to make a difference for me since I'm not going to brake that often? That's where I get confused.
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May 1, 2016 04:55
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TheReverend posted:Can you help me understand something though? That's part of it, but the prius also has a whole lot of other things (like aero) designed to increase FE. You will get slightly better FE in urban driving, but you still will get 45mpg hwy. More importantly for you, the Gen2 prius may be the most reliable car of the era and priuses retain value like crazy, which is pretty useful if you're selling it in 1 year.
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May 1, 2016 05:01
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Word. I'll look for those then, thanks.
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May 1, 2016 05:04
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No, theres a lot more to it than that. Primarily, most good hybrids use an atkinson cycle engine, as opposed to the usual otto cycle, which grants a further improvement in efficiency at the expense of torque and power, which in turn the hybrids make up with the electric drivetrain. The ICE in a hybrid can generally also run at a much more efficient state due to the presence of the batteries. The details vary, for example on the volt and the current Honda hybrids the ICE doesnt come on at all until a certain speed is reached and then the engine is locked directly to the wheels at a fixed ratio, or the batteries need charging, and in both cases the engine is running at its most efficient rev range. Basically the general concept behind a hybrid seems simple but the engineering needed to actually put the power to the road efficiently is fairly complex and involves a lot of intellectual property. lovely car companies like FiatChrysler and VW still haven't figured it out to this day. Throatwarbler fucked around with this message at 05:30 on May 1, 2016 |
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May 1, 2016 05:17
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Tab8715 posted:Alright folks, Both of those cars are poo poo. If you ever want to deplete your 6 months savings, I highly recommending buying a VAG product and keeping it for 5 years. Something made out of plastic will break and it will cost you 5k to fix it because Hans thought that Step 1: Remove Engine is an acceptable thing to put into a repair manual. Phone fucked around with this message at 16:11 on May 1, 2016 |
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May 1, 2016 05:51
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Phone posted:Both of those cars are poo poo. If you ever want to deplete your 6 months savings, I highly recommending buying a VAG product and keeping it for 5 years. Something made out of plastic will break and it will cost you 5k to fix it because Hans though that Step 1: Remove Engine is an acceptable thing to put into a repair manual. To be fair, I think that instruction was only found in the W8 passat manual. Maybe the W12 phaeton. If you want to buy a sporty VAG product, buy a wagon or a porsche. (Or a Lamborghini or Ducati I guess)
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May 1, 2016 06:10
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Phone posted:Both of those cars are poo poo. If you ever want to deplete your 6 months savings, I highly recommending buying a VAG product and keeping it for 5 years. Something made out of plastic will break and it will cost you 5k to fix it because Hans though that Step 1: Remove Engine is an acceptable thing to put into a repair manual. Well they did say they wanted to spend $35,000/year on the car.
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May 1, 2016 06:14
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H110Hawk posted:Well they did say they wanted to spend $35,000/year on the car. In that case, he should buy a Biturbo.
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May 1, 2016 06:17
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nm posted:To be fair, I think that instruction was only found in the W8 passat manual. Maybe the W12 phaeton. It's a popular phrase in Audi and Porsche manuals as well. For things as ridiculous as replacing O2 sensors (In the B6 S4).
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May 1, 2016 14:39
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Phone posted:Both of those cars are poo poo. If you ever want to deplete your 6 months savings, I highly recommending buying a VAG product and keeping it for 5 years. Something made out of plastic will break and it will cost you 5k to fix it because Hans thought that Step 1: Remove Engine is an acceptable thing to put into a repair manual. poo poo, just reading "put car in service position" is enough to clench my rear end in a top hat. Yes, because removing all front bodywork, lights and bumper mounts is a perfectly normal thing to have to do when replacing an alternator.
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May 1, 2016 20:52
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Hey, I'm looking at this '08 Mazda 6. I test drove it and didn't notice anything unusual, but I'm still going to take it to my usual garage tomorrow to get checked out. I was looking for some general knowledge and advice with the model, as well as what to look forward to maintenance wise.
TheStampede fucked around with this message at 20:57 on May 1, 2016 |
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May 1, 2016 20:55
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So I'm having trouble finding 2nd gen priuses available. Is third gen ok?
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May 1, 2016 22:05
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TheReverend posted:So I'm having trouble finding 2nd gen priuses available. Is third gen ok? Yeah, I recommended 2nd gen because they are cheaper, but 3rd is fine Don't buy a 1st gen (the ones that don't look like priuses), they're not as good.
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May 1, 2016 22:10
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Ok found a gen2 with 70k under $10k. Is there a limit on the miles. Anything I need to know like timing belts @70 or something. is 70k too many miles for a prius? They should be good for at least 150 or so, right?
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May 1, 2016 22:43
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What year does the Gen 2 Prius start?
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May 1, 2016 23:07
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Wikipedia tells me 03-09
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May 1, 2016 23:13
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JnnyThndrs posted:poo poo, just reading "put car in service position" is enough to clench my rear end in a top hat. Yes, because removing all front bodywork, lights and bumper mounts is a perfectly normal thing to have to do when replacing an alternator. Do they at least make the bodywork and lights easy to remove?
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May 1, 2016 23:18
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VideoTapir posted:Do they at least make the bodywork and lights easy to remove? They're not too bad if everything is unmolested, but half the time the bumper skin has been hit and poo poo's broken off/scummed together/ready to fall off and guess who's going to get blamed because he worked on it last? Also cars that have been repainted poorly will never look right when you put them back together.
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May 1, 2016 23:31
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TheReverend posted:Ok found a gen2 with 70k under $10k. http://www.ebay.com/sch/Cars-Trucks...=p2045573.m1684 It's fine.
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May 1, 2016 23:33
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I originally wanted to go with a cheap commuter vehicle but looking at finances and my upcoming commuting situations / spouse preferences that's shaped a couple of things. 1. Spouse and I have driven a couple different varieties of Prius of several different model years up to 2014. Spouse cannot stand the rear visibility of the vehicle so probably looking for something else in the end due to that. I might overrule on that one but for not I want to consider some other vehicles. 2. We live in New England and routinely have to drive from RI through MA and into NH during all weather conditions. Having 4WD is fairly nice. Given all that I have been considering a Subaru. I don't need a full size vehicle so any of the smaller varieties would work there. I also don't need to put >10,000 miles per year on the vehicle. If anything I estimate 5-8k miles per year at most. What are the best years / types / options to consider for a Subaru? Is there an upper limit to mileage I want to avoid for them? I've heard talk about engine replacements etc on them so want to be sure I get something I can get 5 yrs out of at least with some halfway decent resale. Otherwise any other suggestions for a 4WD fairly fuel-efficient and reliable vehicle? I'm open to something besides a Subaru if it makes sense. Our 2nd vehicle (which will see less use) is a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
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May 2, 2016 00:02
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TheReverend posted:Is there a limit on the miles. Anything I need to know like timing belts @70 or something. Iirc all Prius models after the first gen have a timing chain, so as long as you don't slack on oil changes you should be fine.
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May 2, 2016 00:14
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That Works posted:I originally wanted to go with a cheap commuter vehicle but looking at finances and my upcoming commuting situations / spouse preferences that's shaped a couple of things. Wow, I'm going to be sounding like an Apple zealot who is explaining to someone why Your Preferences Are Wrong, but maybe you could try teaching your spouse how to use the side mirrors. In my experience, a lot of people who complain about rear visibility don't know how to use their side mirrors. Priuses also come with backup cameras a lot too. silence_kit fucked around with this message at 00:26 on May 2, 2016 |
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May 2, 2016 00:16
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silence_kit posted:Wow, I'm going to be sounding like an Apple zealot who is explaining to someone why Your Preferences Are Wrong, but maybe you could try teaching your spouse how to use the side mirrors. In my experience, a lot of people who complain about rear visibility don't know how to use their side mirrors. Priuses also come with backup cameras a lot too. Let's avoid that discussion for now please. We both have driven them. I am neutral on the car, neither good nor bad. She didn't enjoy driving them. There are a lot of makes and models of vehicles out there hence am looking at other options. Also, as I said, having 4WD would be a nice benefit as well.
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May 2, 2016 00:32
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Don't buy a turbo subaru if you care about not replacing engines. The H6 is solid. The non-turbo 2.5 had some headgasket issues. Everyone will debate when they ended. The non turbo 2.0 is fine, I think.
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May 2, 2016 00:44
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nm posted:Don't buy a turbo subaru if you care about not replacing engines. Awesome, thanks.
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May 2, 2016 01:01
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AWD is a significant cost weight and economy penalty for very little gain. Snow tires are your friend.
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May 2, 2016 01:11
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The NA 2.0l ones had the oil burning lawsuit. The last years of the 2.5l (11-13) too, but that's just going by the class action lawsuit, there could be other years. The rear visibility thing is basically a problem with the very fast coupe like roofline that a lot of carmakers are using these days. For the best rear visibility get something with a low beltline in the back and rear windows as upright as possible with either a traditional sedan profile or a hatch/wagon. Since no one makes the latter any more you might be forced into a small SUV.
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May 2, 2016 01:26
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Throatwarbler posted:The NA 2.0l ones had the oil burning lawsuit. The last years of the 2.5l (11-13) too, but that's just going by the class action lawsuit, there could be other years. Subarus burn oil? Why I never! (OP, if you buy a subaru, check your oil regularly)
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May 2, 2016 01:28
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Golf/Jetta Sportwagen have really good rear visibility. The Impreza does, too, in fairness.
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May 2, 2016 01:39
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Yeah was thinking about Impreza wagon but want to think that over especially given the potential for engine issues. I was fine driving a shitbox Civic all over the place up here. More my spouses concern but she grew up in back country in New Hampshire and probably feels like not having 4WD is a bigger deal than I do. I think I can convince otherwise and just get another Honda but wanted to get some opinions on the Subaru lineup while I was thinkin about it. Thanks everyone!
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May 2, 2016 01:44
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I test drove a Kia Rondo a few weeks ago. It's definitely got pretty good visibility being a traditional small wagon and you can get it with a stick. Downside: the MT is probably one of the worst I've ever driven, the clutch has about 60" of travel with no discernable bite point, the shifter is mushy and it's almost impossible to feel which gear its in. It's also not really that big or spacious.
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May 2, 2016 01:46
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nm posted:The non-turbo 2.5 had some headgasket issues. Everyone will debate when they ended. And there's that one specific head gasket (IIRC, it was for an STI engine) that had to be used to fix it, which wasn't the stock part for most of them; so if you look at one that's been fixed it should be documented that it has that specific part, not just that the head gasket has been replaced. quote:The non turbo 2.0 is fine, I think. Do you mean 2.2?
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May 2, 2016 02:09
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VideoTapir posted:And there's that one specific head gasket (IIRC, it was for an STI engine) that had to be used to fix it, which wasn't the stock part for most of them; so if you look at one that's been fixed it should be documented that it has that specific part, not just that the head gasket has been replaced. No, I meant the new one. The 2.2 is a cockroach, but in NE I'd imagine all 2.2 cars are now 98% Iron Oxide. At some point, subaru started using the MLS gasket (aka the turbo one like in the STI) in the NA 2.5, but I've never quite known when that change happened. The newer NA 2.5 headgaskets fail much less badly (external weeping) and I think may not even need an engine pull. If that is true (I don't know), HGs really aren't that big a deal as the problem with the others was that it needed an engine pull.
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May 2, 2016 02:13
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KYOON GRIFFEY JR posted:Both of those cars are poo poo. Phone posted:Both of those cars are poo poo. If you ever want to deplete your 6 months savings, I highly recommending buying a VAG product and keeping it for 5 years. Something made out of plastic will break and it will cost you 5k to fix it because Hans thought that Step 1: Remove Engine is an acceptable thing to put into a repair manual. It seems the general consensus is that general maintenance is expensive and if anything breaks - which it will - it's even more expensive to repair.
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May 2, 2016 03:21
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Tab8715 posted:It seems the general consensus is that general maintenance is expensive and if anything breaks - which it will - it's even more expensive to repair. You've been posting about which new car to buy for almost a year. If you like the loving A3 so much just buy it. It's a new car, even Land Rovers or Maseratis aren't really that bad when they are *new*, what's the worst thing that could happen? So the car might have some problems, go to the dealer and they'll fix it for free, you might be out a few hours of your time. If you are looking for a 5 year old car then yes you should probably stay away from the more unreliable brands.
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May 2, 2016 03:28
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inkblottime posted:
This is from a page back, but I'd like to clarify because it's something I've been curious about. I've heard that dealer financing is a bad idea, and in the general conflict of interest sense I can see why. But, why exactly is it that they'll cost you more than a bank loan with a theoretically higher interest rate? Like, if you are approved for a 1.2% auto loan and the dealer has a 0.0% deal, how do they "getcha"? I assume some kind of punitive terms or fees?
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May 2, 2016 03:54
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Manufacturer financing is different from dealer financing, generally dealer financing terms are laid out easily, ie 720 credit score gets you the financing and it's usually a good deal. Dealer financing is when they call a bunch of banks and find you a "great deal" where they tack on an extra percent and pocket the difference, and are not required to indicate that.
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May 2, 2016 04:17
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Throatwarbler posted:If you are looking for a 5 year old car then yes you should probably stay away from the more unreliable brands. it seems like every car brand is unreliable these days 
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May 2, 2016 04:23
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^^^^^^^^^^^ Buy a Prius or a Mazda. MechaFrogzilla posted:This is from a page back, but I'd like to clarify because it's something I've been curious about. I've heard that dealer financing is a bad idea, and in the general conflict of interest sense I can see why. But, why exactly is it that they'll cost you more than a bank loan with a theoretically higher interest rate? Like, if you are approved for a 1.2% auto loan and the dealer has a 0.0% deal, how do they "getcha"? I assume some kind of punitive terms or fees? They don't. Read the fine and check the rate. Manufacturer subsidized below-market rates are a good deal. 0% financing is awesome if you can get it, and it will only be gotten at a dealer. Dealers are more loving over the ignorant or those with bad credit. Come in with your own rate and see if the dealer can beat it.
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May 2, 2016 05:07
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What's the opinion on Carmax here? And, do they allow outside financing or do you have to go through their own financing? If they allow outside, I use Bank of America, do they have a good auto finance program or should I find something else? I just realized that I've really only ever bought old non-working cars for almost nothing and fixed them up or just bought used vehicles in cash so far for all of my life.
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May 2, 2016 11:32
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