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prom candy posted:Do you have the Recaros? Yeah so I figure with regular seats it's better, but Ford somehow managed to do the exact opposite of the Golf and make the thing feel smaller than it is.
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Jul 5, 2017 21:29
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The rear seats in a normal Ford Focus are really small. I remember the Honda Fit having way more room in the back than the Focus.
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Jul 5, 2017 21:38
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silence_kit posted:The rear seats in a normal Ford Focus are really small. I remember the Honda Fit having way more room in the back than the Focus. The Fit is a marvel of space engineering though. Wish they'd throw the 1.5T in there.
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Jul 5, 2017 22:34
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prom candy posted:The Fit is a marvel of space engineering though. Wish they'd throw the 1.5T in there. Yeah, I loved mine to death, but in the end, it was kinda tiring to have to be on the throttle hard all the time.
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Jul 5, 2017 23:03
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Just looking for a recommendation here for a daily driver. I don't expect to own it for more than a year or two, so it's ok if it's a beater. As long as it's a RELIABLE beater. Proposed Budget: $3000 Used, obviously Body Style: doesn't matter Cars uses: Daily driving about 10-30 miles a day. Mostly highway driving for the majority of that. Occasional trips of about 100 highway miles to get from SA --> Austin, but only rarely. What Aspects are most important to you: Reliability. Reliability. Reliability. I only want to be bothered with typical scheduled maintenance and tune-ups. Cosmetics mean nothing to me. Decent gas mileage (18mpg city would be nice). So I'm familiar with some of the usual suspects on Craigslist, and auto trader, but I know this thread is a goldmine for the real wisdom. So what make/model's should I be looking for? I kind of want to put a cap on the mileage at 170k, whatever model it may be. Thanks for the help!
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Jul 6, 2017 04:27
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Be realistic. No car you buy for $3000 is going to be as reliable as you want. If it was, it would be selling for a lot more than $3000. For $3000 you get a beater on its last legs. My son bought a 20-year-old Subaru for $3000, and while it's generally run well, he's still had to replace the head gasket and alternator. And the battery and various other relatively minor stuff. It's stranded him twice where we needed to call AAA. This was a car that had been very well taken care of and was in pretty good shape. There's also going to be issues of rust on any car that old, which can get quite bad if it's been driven near salt. It's not always obvious. If the car has had multiple owners, there's no telling just where it's been. The amount of repair and maintenance required increases pretty linearly as the car gets older. A 15 to 20 year old car with 170k miles is going to need nearly everything replaced. Stuff just wears out and you can't get around it. I'm not trying to scar you off, just laying some reality on you. That said, you might start with a 200X Honda, Lexus, or Nissan - they should be about as good as it gets.
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Jul 6, 2017 05:08
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The gently caress? I've owned two different sub-$3k cars - one was $1500 - that were reasonably reliable. More importantly, major poo poo like head gaskets didn't fail. The $1500 option I wouldn't recommend because at this point they're all really goddamn old and people want way too much for them (Volvo 240). However, the '98 Ranger I bought for $2300 (and sold for $2500) was cheap as hell to operate for three years. The key is to acknowledge that you will need to spend small amounts of money here and there to keep any $3000 car running. You don't want something prone to major failures, like Subaru head gaskets. Your ideal situation is something that is unloved for reasons other than reliability. So, something like a 4cyl Ranger, a Toyota Matrix / Pontiac Vibe, maybe even an early CR-V since they aren't likely to have been hosed by some would-be street racer. More than that, expect to spend a lot of time looking at used cars to figure out the condition. An otherwise unreliable model that has been meticulously maintained by a fanatic owner is probably a better call than a popular car that's been thrashed within an inch of it's life. Also, prioritize things like cosmetics last and ditch your mileage cap. High mileage hurts pricing more than it hurts reliability if it's been cared for. IOwnCalculus fucked around with this message at 05:20 on Jul 6, 2017 |
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Jul 6, 2017 05:18
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This is more what I was referring to: A 20-year-old car will cost almost twice as much to repair and maintain as a 10-year-old one. That's an average across all brands and models. Individual cars will vary from the average, and the cost depends on how much you can do yourself. I prefer to plan on a certain level of expenses to be ready for them and have them budgeted - and be pleasantly surprised if it comes in less than that.
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Jul 6, 2017 05:40
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For a $3000 car, the most important thing is that you buy based on condition rather than make or model, with the exception of avoiding certain expensive to fix cars (germans) and unreliable cars (all $3000 VWs). The ideal is something simple with either a manual or a tried and true automatic (toyota makes good ones, honda v6s are awful). Avoid turbos (all the boost and vacuum hoses are leaking by now), avoid complex electronics that would interfere with the car (for example, climate control v. knobs and poo poo -- this is more for poo poo you need, if the seat heaters break who cares), and most importantly ownership history. A one owner car owned by someone with a stack of receipts is a way better car than one owned by 12 people and no service records, even if the 12 owner car is the "reliable" brand. At $3000, ignore mileage unless the fucker has like 500,000mi on it -- though if it made it 500k mi and still runs it was probably taken good care of. FWIW, my go to cheap car is the 1st gen Ford Focus with the Zetec (the trim levels start with "Z" as in "ZX3" or "ZTW"), the PZEV motor, or the Duratech (2005 and later). They are solid, simple cars, that aren't worth anything on the used market. However, the above info applies first. The comedy not terrible (but ugly) option is the Escort ZX2, which is ugly as sin, but actually a very solid car. Has the same zetec motor as the focuses and people want them even less. Do not buy the non-Zetec pre-2004 focus or non-zx2 escort. They have the CVH motor that has a small problem with dropping valves into the motor randomly. This destroys the motor. Fun.
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Jul 6, 2017 06:12
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Dennis McClaren posted:Just looking for a recommendation here for a daily driver. I don't expect to own it for more than a year or two, so it's ok if it's a beater. As long as it's a RELIABLE beater. Here you go. https://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/6188936346.html Spend 100 bucks to have a mechanic give it a once over. I'm not sure what side of town your on or what your commute looks like but that's over on the west side by 1604/Potranco skipdogg fucked around with this message at 06:57 on Jul 6, 2017 |
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Jul 6, 2017 06:55
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skipdogg posted:Here you go. https://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/6188936346.html Yeah, panther cars can be a good choice. Mercurys are great because the weren't cop cars. Also, with a $3000 car, tire condition matters for two reasons: 1. If the PO put nice tires (aka, not chinese poo poo) on a $3000 car, they probably took care of it. 2. Tires are like 1/3 of the value of the car (probably less as few 3000 cars are gonna have 18s, but you get the idea).
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Jul 6, 2017 06:58
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Ended up going with a 2017 Mazda 3 hatchback GT. Got a pretty good deal on it from what I can tell. Picking it up later today and dropping off my 09 Nissan versa which I hope the dealer dumps into an active volcano just for kicks. 
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Jul 6, 2017 13:50
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On Terra Firma posted:Ended up going with a 2017 Mazda 3 hatchback GT. Got a pretty good deal on it from what I can tell. Picking it up later today and dropping off my 09 Nissan versa which I hope the dealer dumps into an active volcano just for kicks. Nice, congrats! Give us your impressions when you grab it.
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Jul 6, 2017 14:25
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On Terra Firma posted:Ended up going with a 2017 Mazda 3 hatchback GT. Got a pretty good deal on it from what I can tell. Picking it up later today and dropping off my 09 Nissan versa which I hope the dealer dumps into an active volcano just for kicks. Oh man you really traded up on that one. Can you set the Versa on fire before you turn it over?
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Jul 6, 2017 14:46
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IRQ posted:Oh man you really traded up on that one. Can you set the Versa on fire before you turn it over? It got me through college and the first stages of my career. It was useful while it lasted but this will be a huge quality of life upgrade for sure. I asked about setting it on fire but they said that it could impact my trade in value (Around 3k which is shocking since every other dealer was quoting around 1,600-1,800.).
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Jul 6, 2017 14:49
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On Terra Firma posted:It got me through college and the first stages of my career. It was useful while it lasted but this will be a huge quality of life upgrade for sure. I asked about setting it on fire but they said that it could impact my trade in value (Around 3k which is shocking since every other dealer was quoting around 1,600-1,800.). You shoulda sold it to that 3000 car guy above.
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Jul 6, 2017 15:42
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On Terra Firma posted:Ended up going with a 2017 Mazda 3 hatchback GT. Got a pretty good deal on it from what I can tell. Picking it up later today and dropping off my 09 Nissan versa which I hope the dealer dumps into an active volcano just for kicks. That's a fun and attractive car.
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Jul 6, 2017 16:13
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Thermopyle posted:That's a fun and attractive car. It is. I test drove the GTI Sport and was planning on looking at the Civic hatchback too, but the Civic just looked too gaudy. The seats on the GTI felt horrible to me and the car just didn't "fit" no matter how much I adjusted everything. It was like I couldn't get comfortable or something. The interior felt really cheap compared to the Mazda and while it was fun to drive and had great pick up, it wasn't worth a couple thousand extra with all the compromises I'd have to make. I came away very surprised and underwhelmed. Also the sales rep at VW was kind of a dick which didn't help.
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Jul 6, 2017 20:21
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nm posted:Yeah, panther cars can be a good choice. Mercurys are great because the weren't cop cars. Here I am with a mid-2000s Korean car that I barely drive these days (<4000 miles/yr), but is due for a new timing belt and a new set of tires, together easily half of the value of the car 
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Jul 6, 2017 21:46
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On Terra Firma posted:It is. I test drove the GTI Sport and was planning on looking at the Civic hatchback too, but the Civic just looked too gaudy. The seats on the GTI felt horrible to me and the car just didn't "fit" no matter how much I adjusted everything. It was like I couldn't get comfortable or something. The interior felt really cheap compared to the Mazda and while it was fun to drive and had great pick up, it wasn't worth a couple thousand extra with all the compromises I'd have to make. I came away very surprised and underwhelmed. Those civics are realllly growing on me. When they first launched I hated them, now I'm strongly considering a 2017 Si. They're just ridiculous and I like it. Congrats on the Mazda! what colour did you go with? stick or auto?
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Jul 6, 2017 21:57
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The new civic's butt looks like a spaceship and I kind of like it.
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Jul 6, 2017 22:17
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It's ridiculous and gaudy but you can't help but smile and think of a kid drawing what he thinks an awesome car would look like, which I find endearing.
Internet Explorer fucked around with this message at 22:39 on Jul 6, 2017 |
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Jul 6, 2017 22:26
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prom candy posted:Those civics are realllly growing on me. When they first launched I hated them, now I'm strongly considering a 2017 Si. They're just ridiculous and I like it. Congrats on the Mazda! what colour did you go with? stick or auto? I got the "titanium flash mica" which is basically bronze with an auto. I've never been the kind of person who really cares about the appearance of my car but I saw a photo where someone replaced the stock alloys with black wheels and it is very tempting to do the same with my car. Just not sure if I want to throw the money at it right now. The civics look fun and I swear sometimes I look at photos and love the way they look. Other times not so much. I had read a review of them where someone said they had "Get a load of that guy" styling and I just never could shake that.
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Jul 6, 2017 22:37
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IRQ posted:The new civic's butt looks like a spaceship and I kind of like it.  It's way gaudy and over-the-top, but small cars tend to be pretty boring these days so I sorta like it.
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Jul 7, 2017 01:46
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IRQ posted:The new civic's butt looks like a spaceship and I kind of like it. I'm glad it exists. I'd never buy one
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Jul 7, 2017 16:15
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Michael Scott posted:Nice, congrats! Give us your impressions when you grab it. Impressions: It owns and I loving love it.
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Jul 7, 2017 19:07
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On Terra Firma posted:Impressions: It owns and I loving love it. It have the 2.5? I loved my '14 3.
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Jul 7, 2017 22:09
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A Proper Uppercut posted:It have the 2.5? I loved my '14 3. IIRC, the 2017 GT only comes with the 2.5
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Jul 7, 2017 22:49
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A Proper Uppercut posted:It have the 2.5? I loved my '14 3. Yeah it does. It has great pick up and honestly it's not that far off how the GTI S I test drove felt, except it's a lot more comfortable to drive. I just put like 100 miles on it today.
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Jul 7, 2017 22:54
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Thermopyle posted:IIRC, the 2017 GT only comes with the 2.5 Oh yea, I forgot they switched the trim packages all around, got rid of the i and s. So my wife's car situation, we got pretty lucky. My old boss has a 2017 elantra with 4900 miles on it that he bought as an emergency car for his niece or some poo poo. Whatever the story is, he is going to sell it to my wife for 11k. It's pretty barebones, but she doesnt care about that poo poo and it's a hell of a deal.
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Jul 8, 2017 00:34
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Hello thread, I'm looking for some car recommendations! Proposed Budget: I'd prefer to keep it to around $20K, but I could go as high as $25K if I fell in love with something. New or Used: New. Body style: Hatchback. How will I be using the car? Mostly commuting to work, mostly on the highway. I do sometimes need to haul larger items like a bicycle or a lawn mower. What aspects are most important to me? I strongly prefer a stick shift. I need to be able to haul a bicycle or a six-foot-long telescope. Sporty is good, but my driving style has calmed the hell down in recent years so I don't really need a full-fledged "hot hatch" anymore. I've always been a big fan of hatchbacks. In order, I've owned a Honda CRX Si, a VW Golf GTI, and currently a 2005 Mazda3 that I bought new. My beloved Mazda is about to hit 200K miles and is needing repairs more and more often. It's not quite at death's door, but I can tell that The Time is approaching, so I'm doing some research. So far I've been looking at things like another Mazda3, the Kia Forte5, the Subaru Impreza, and the Honda Civic. I might also be willing to go down a size to something like a Fit or a Rio5 (or even a Prius C, but that one seems to be getting crappy reviews). So, are there any gems and/or duds in that list? Any similar models I should also be looking at? Thanks, thread!
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Jul 10, 2017 01:54
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Mazda 3 seems the clear choice for you.
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Jul 10, 2017 02:20
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Honda Civic if you like space ships Edit: test drive a Fit too, that thing can fit a ton of cargo and is pretty comfortable for being in the subcompact class. It needs more fake vents though. prom candy fucked around with this message at 04:28 on Jul 10, 2017 |
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Jul 10, 2017 03:03
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All four cars you mentioned would be fine. There's not a lot to differentiate them other than your own preference.
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Jul 10, 2017 03:22
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Powered Descent posted:Hello thread, I'm looking for some car recommendations! Mazda 3 GT. I love mine and don't regret it at all.
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Jul 10, 2017 10:13
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Deteriorata posted:All four cars you mentioned would be fine. There's not a lot to differentiate them other than your own preference. the Impreza is slow and fuel economy isn't as good so I would not recommend the Impreza unless you really, really need AWD.
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Jul 10, 2017 10:37
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Hi all. I just bought a used car, and want to know if I was stupid, or it was an ok deal. Relevant details: 2012 white Prius V. List price $ 16300 CAD Purchase price : $15 000, contingent on a $10 000 5.99% financing, that can be paid off in full after 6 months (interest cost ~$300). We have enough to pay cash, but they would not drop the price as much. Bought from a Toyota dealership. Car was leased for 5 years, 110 000 km. It has a clean car proof report, and was serviced quarterly at the dealership. Wheel tread depth of 7 mm, and break pads and rotors just replaced. We go to sign the final paperwork and financing tomorrow evening. Anything I should look out for? They're also trying to sell us a warranty from FCPP. Does anyone have any experience with them? Thanks!
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Jul 11, 2017 18:13
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The Kestrel posted:Hi all. That's roughly $11,500 in USD, so it's an average price. Depends a lot on the individual car, I guess. Don't buy the extended warranty. There's no point in paying today for repairs you may never make. Just pay for stuff as it needs fixing and the odds are very high that'll you'll be money ahead in the long run.
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Jul 11, 2017 18:41
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Deteriorata posted:That's roughly $11,500 in USD, so it's an average price. Depends a lot on the individual car, I guess. I don't know what the profit margins are on extended warranties, but there is value in the peace-of-mind and known expenses of an extended warranty vs just paying for repairs out of pocket. Personally, I wouldn't get an extended warranty, but its hard to put a price on the intangible factors.
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Jul 11, 2017 18:55
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Thermopyle posted:I don't know what the profit margins are on extended warranties, but there is value in the peace-of-mind and known expenses of an extended warranty vs just paying for repairs out of pocket. The profit margins are generally pretty big. If people are so concerned, they should put the money they would be spending on an extended warranty in a bank account and pay for the repairs out of that. They'll be shocked at how much money is left over after five years.
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Jul 11, 2017 19:00
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