View Full Version : Good car for commuting?
BrunetteGoddess
03-09-2008, 08:36 PM
Bah, no. I have a first gen. No WRXs were made at that time.
Fuck, sorry Audrey. I am a threadjacker....Ody made me do it!
XxAmber89xX
03-09-2008, 09:51 PM
I'm surprised that a low 200k BMW is nearing it's end... I thought they were reliable...
anyways, Toyota (known to last over 800k) are #1, even if you do drive the shit outta it... Hyundai #2 for long time reliability, and #3 is Honda cars...
with the Toyota's, the ones made in Japan are best. the Hyundai's are probably the most value for the buck.
because of the price-point you are looking in and want reliability, i'd consider a dealership used-guaranteed car... i'd hate you to buy a private sale used car from a 'curbsider' off of classifieds such as craigslist... these are cars that dealers know are troublesome and want to dispose of without harming their business' reputation... they sell them as if they are private used sales...
AmazingKat
03-09-2008, 10:30 PM
I absolutely love my Ford Focus. Its a 2003 and I bought it in Sept of 2003 for only 9k brand new. I've never had a problem with it (only at 64k miles) and it gets respectable mileage. Its comfortable and drives easily. I've had several friends get them as their "first cars" as well. I believe it was the top selling car in Europe for a time (might still be?)
I would love a Prius but the additional cost to purchase wouldn't even make up for the gas saved (well, for now!)
BrunetteGoddess
03-09-2008, 10:36 PM
Um, let's not overgeneralise here; Craigslist is NOT only filled with "cars that dealers know are troublesome and want to dispose of without harming their business' reputation". Most private sellers are just that; private sellers.
I've gotten good cars off of CL.
RoseLeigh
03-09-2008, 10:44 PM
I would love a Prius but the additional cost to purchase wouldn't even make up for the gas saved (well, for now!)
There is a tax credit when you buy a hybrid, but it is a rather large outlay. I was looking at them as well.
BalletBaby
03-09-2008, 11:41 PM
Most private sellers are just that; private sellers.
Yup. Got my Honda from a private seller and right after we bought her, took her to the dealer to get an inspection. Everything was in order. I lub my baby (even if I don't wash her enough lol)
Lysondra
03-09-2008, 11:49 PM
I'm going to vote Toyota again in hopes you don't realize I'm a same person who voted earlier so you get one.
No really.
Toyota.
Toyota.
Toyota.
Reliable.
Hardy.
Subliminal.
Toyota.
Bunny
03-09-2008, 11:49 PM
My ex has a '95 Honda Civic that has a shitload of miles and he takes the worst care of his car of anyone I've ever known. It won't die.
iambonbon05
03-10-2008, 12:24 AM
CC beat me to suggesting a motorcycle.
Other than that though, I have a 96 Honda Civic that has been through at least 3 different owners, been in an accident, and has 107,000 miles on it and it's doing just fine. Never had a problem with it. Just replaced the timing belt but that's standard maintanence procedure for an older car anyway.
Brendita
03-10-2008, 01:15 AM
Heh I opened this thread hoping you had suggested an SLK.
Haha, no way!
Really, though, I have had my little 94 Civic since I was 16. My first car. That poor car is battered and abused and still manages to run just fine. I knew NOTHING about cars, which meant that I did not get the oil changed for years after I got it. I am dead fucking serious. (poor car) I got it at 7,000 miles and it is still running well at 140,000. I havent had to replace anything, yet. I love my little civic.
Melonie
03-10-2008, 02:49 AM
There is a tax credit when you buy a hybrid, but it is a rather large outlay. I was looking at them as well.
actually the tax credit only applies to the purchase of a NEW hybrid out of the dealer's showroom. At least the gov't is smart enough not to hand out other people's tax money to subsidize the purchase of the very same car twice.
The huge but usually unspoken issue with second hand hybrid or electric cars is the age / condition of the battery back. If this winds up needing to be replaced, and the car is no longer covered under warrantee, you can be talking about anywhere between $3-4000 for a Prius to much more for a Tesla. This is a new 'variable' in the valuation of second hand hybrid electric cars ... because the battery pack's lifespan is thought to be about 100k miles or 5 years.
anyways, Toyota (known to last over 800k) are #1, even if you do drive the shit outta it... Hyundai #2 for long time reliability, and #3 is Honda cars...
with the Toyota's, the ones made in Japan are best. the Hyundai's are probably the most value for the buck.
yup, there you go, on both counts.
Honda and Toyota have indeed taken some quality 'hits' since they began purchasing components and assembling cars in America. This is not to say that cars coming from American plants aren't good, but the cars that used to come from Japanese factories were great ! As more and more foreign car companies open up American assembly plants, a similar phenomenon is likely to happen ... although with Subaru, BMW etc. the history file is still too short to draw many conclusions.
AudreyLeigh
03-10-2008, 08:18 AM
Heh I opened this thread hoping you had suggested an SLK.
I strongly urge against a Nissan Sentra. They may appear economical but due to it's crappiness and NissanUSA's utter lack of competence mine wound up costing me more than my BMW is going to.
I have an 04 Nissan Maxima and its my baby. The sensor that makes the automatic tilt and seats work went out in July 07 (bought it in March 07) and I guess my extended warranty didnt cover it. We were there 2 hours and finally NissanUSA covered the part and the dealership covered the labor and it was fixed a week later. What I DIDNT like was that the reason I got the extended warranty was because it covered "computer and electrical parts" - thats what I was told - my cars all computer everything. Anyway - oops - doesnt cover THAT part. Well, guess what? Because he said this when he sold me the car we got it covered.
So far I have no bad issues with Nissan. I like my Maxima.
AudreyLeigh
03-10-2008, 08:20 AM
Not to be a twerp... but Audrey... if this is for your husband... the BEST commuter option possible is a second-hand, later-model sport-touring motorcycle w/some bags and a big tank. Think some of the multipurpose BMW's or a Yamaha FJR or even some of the sportier bikes w/ some luggage.
Well, whereas I <3 riding bikes hes had 2 friends pass away in bike accidents and wont go near them :(
My exs best friend had one of those older subaru wagons and he loved that thing. He said he would never buy another car and when that one dies hes buying the same thing again. It was the older boxy one...
AudreyLeigh
03-10-2008, 08:22 AM
I absolutely love my Ford Focus. Its a 2003 and I bought it in Sept of 2003 for only 9k brand new. I've never had a problem with it (only at 64k miles) and it gets respectable mileage. Its comfortable and drives easily. I've had several friends get them as their "first cars" as well. I believe it was the top selling car in Europe for a time (might still be?)
I would love a Prius but the additional cost to purchase wouldn't even make up for the gas saved (well, for now!)
Oh yea! I had a 03 Focus! It was the first car I ever financed. I drove that thing to LA and back every month. Then it got stolen :( But I think I want a foreign car....
During my commute this morning I almost decided to go kill the president. I was really near the edge.
Many high performance car and bike owners belong the Honda Accord Daily Driver Club.
If it has 4 wheels, it will be Nissan for me. Suzuki for 2 wheels.
My grand cherokee saved my life though, so who know.
AudreyLeigh
03-10-2008, 08:25 AM
OK. So I think maybe we'll take the $5-8k and put it down on a $12k car so we can get it from the dealership with a warranty... maybe!?
So whats the census?! Damn, wish I could make a poll.
Toyota Corolla is the winner?
I can't ever recommend a Toyota, they are Nissan's arch nemesis after all.
Unless it's a later model car, you probably won't get a good deal of warranty.
Just post us some ads and let us have a look
hockeybobby
03-10-2008, 08:28 AM
I absolutely love my Ford Focus. Its a 2003 and I bought it in Sept of 2003 for only 9k brand new. I've never had a problem with it (only at 64k miles) and it gets respectable mileage. Its comfortable and drives easily. I've had several friends get them as their "first cars" as well. I believe it was the top selling car in Europe for a time (might still be?)
I would love a Prius but the additional cost to purchase wouldn't even make up for the gas saved (well, for now!)
Oh yea! I had a 03 Focus! It was the first car I ever financed. I drove that thing to LA and back every month. Then it got stolen :( But I think I want a foreign car....
I lease a 2007 focus 2dr hatchback for commuting to Hamilton. It's the third focus I've had. Love my heated seats. Excellent gas mileage. Safe, economical, reliable. No money down...$312 a month....don't need any car bullshit in my life.
RoseLeigh
03-10-2008, 09:45 AM
actually the tax credit only applies to the purchase of a NEW hybrid out of the dealer's showroom. At least the gov't is smart enough not to hand out other people's tax money to subsidize the purchase of the very same car twice.
The huge but usually unspoken issue with second hand hybrid or electric cars is the age / condition of the battery back. If this winds up needing to be replaced, and the car is no longer covered under warrantee, you can be talking about anywhere between $3-4000 for a Prius to much more for a Tesla. This is a new 'variable' in the valuation of second hand hybrid electric cars ... because the battery pack's lifespan is thought to be about 100k miles or 5 years.
Oh no! Well, I didn't buy one anyway, but it would have been a used one!
BrunetteGoddess
03-10-2008, 11:22 AM
Well, whereas I <3 riding bikes hes had 2 friends pass away in bike accidents and wont go near them :(
My exs best friend had one of those older subaru wagons and he loved that thing. He said he would never buy another car and when that one dies hes buying the same thing again. It was the older boxy one...
Forester?
Anyways yeah, Subarus rock my socks. I will always try to have a Subaru :)
eagle2
03-15-2008, 03:13 AM
If getting good mileage is a high priority, I would recommend looking into a Honda Insight. You can get a used one in your price range and it gets better gas mileage than any other car on the road. Here's one on eBay going for $4,100:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-Insight-Hybrid-2001-Honda-Insight-Hybrid-Hatchback-2D_W0QQitemZ250224223919QQcategoryZ31839QQcmdZView Item
I don't know too much about the car so you should do some research before buying. In general, Honda makes very good cars.
AudreyLeigh
03-15-2008, 10:16 AM
Thanks! I'll look into the Insight too - I dunno about that particular one tho - 205K miles! Thats whats on the car were trying to get rid of!