[NA] Help me choose a car.

CJones

CJones

Final Approach
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My wife's 99 VW Passat is finally starting to die a slow death. After 207,000 miles, I guess it's due. Clutch is starting to slip, squeaks/rattles/vibration in the suspension, and it's starting to use a little water but isn't leaking externally. :mad2: It's still getting 25+ mpg and the V6 with the 5-speed is really sporty, but I'm worried about it giving up the ghost completely unexpectedly.

I'm a bigger guy (6'7") so I need some leg/headroom. My wife likes the looks of the new crossovers (Equinox, etc.). This will be our 'travel' vehicle, so gas mileage is important, but I'll take comfort over gas mileage. We'll be expecting kids in a year or two, and hope that this vehicle purchase will last through that transition. We're looking in the $10-14k range and would *like* to stay in the sub-50,000 mile range.

Got any recommendations or any ideas of what to stay AWAY from? FYI: We're in the south now, so don't have to worry about being able to handle snow/ice for several months of the year anymore and don't have to think about a vehicle standing up to layers of road salt throughout the winter.

So lay out your suggestions.
 
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Stay away from any design that uses the CVT transmission design. Unless you're willing to set aside a reserve like you would on an aircraft engine.

I'm in the auto salvage business and these designs bring $2000 and better when we sell them.

As you do your research, check out some of the part sourcing websites such as Car-Part.com and see how much major components are selling for. This will provide some gauge as how frequently they fail and the cost to obtain a replacement.

For your size, kid on the way, and decent fuel mileage, my brother (who is 6-4) loves his Toyota Sequoia.
 
Chevy Trailblazer.

Nice size, bulletproof drivetrain, decent economy. Easily good for 200k miles with oil changes.
 
Any Honda that fits.

Any Toyota that fits.
 
We are happy with our 99 hyundai accent 2 door and plan to upgrade to the 4 door model soon.
 
Y'know, come to think of it, my Caddy Deville has 110k miles on it and runs like a top. Fast, comfy, roomy and gets 27 mpg on the highway at 75 MPH. You can get a whole lot of car in a 3-5 year old Deville, for pretty cheap, and they don't tend to be flogged.

Just thinking outside the box, here.
 
AggieMike88 said:
Stay away from any design that uses the CVT transmission design. Unless you're willing to set aside a reserve like you would on an aircraft engine.

I'm in the auto salvage business and these designs bring $2000 and better when we sell them.
...
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Nissan has covered all of their CVT trannys with a 10 year 120,000 mile transferable warranty. http://www.nissanassist.com/

Up until then I was looking at getting a Murano until I read all of the reviews from owners who had to push them to the side of the road.
 
My wife has an 07 Equinox. 25 or better mpg on road trips, and leg room for my 6 ft plus kids in the back. And that's with me having the front seat all the way back. The only issue in 3 years 70k miles has been a door lock actuator, and a poorly fitting piece of trim. I don't like the electric throttle control, but the wife doesn't seem to notice. And of course she loves the car telling her when it's time to change the oil, etc. It's really set up to please the female types, and works well that way. I've met one person that didn't like theirs, and she was mad because dad bought it, and SHE wanted a Mustang. Only thing I've been selling for them has been sheet metal, mostly from side impacts. We stock more doors than bumpers for them.
 
Any car will be fine, as long as it is a Honda ;) .


The Jetta TDI was mentioned: I am 6'3'' and this is one of the few cars in which I don't have the seat on the last notch. However, if I am comfortable, there is very little legroom in the back (my 4 year old complains that I squeeze his feet). So, if family car is a goal, the Jetta/Golf is a bit snug. Also, the Vdubs sold in the US all seem to have the electrical gremlins. Never anything bad, but highly annoying if you can't fix it yourself.

In addition, I have a Honda Accord with the V6 and stick shift. Trouble-free, comfortable for 4 adults, good performance and I actually like the looks of it. I am bummed that they don't sell the Accord station wagon in the states, if they did I would put in an order tomorrow.

I would stay away from anything with AWD if you don't need it. Just like on a plane, more moving parts --> more money. With AWD you have higher fuel and tire expenses and there are just more pieces that can break once the car has some miles.
 
Past CJ's price limit, but our Azera gets 27-29 on the highway and has more room than any other car in it's price range. 98k so far on a 2006 model. Nice handling, too. Big trunk.

We'll probably get another one (or its follow-on) when this one wears out.

shywon said:
We are happy with our 99 hyundai accent 2 door and plan to upgrade to the 4 door model soon.
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Chris,

From another tall guy - Well, I used to always buy a car with a moonroof so I had enough headroom without getting my hair all static-y on the headliner. :rofl:

I have to say, though, that I'm very impressed with the headroom in my Volvo S60. I have several inches of clearance above my head. Plus, with the whole family thing, the Volvos have a legendary safety record, and someone FINALLY taught them how to build a car that didn't look like a shoe box on wheels.

Mine had higher miles when I bought it (95K), but I got it for only four figures so you should be able to find one within your budget at 50K miles.
 
CJones said:
My wife's 99 VW Passat is finally starting to die a slow death. /quote]

Get another Passat with the TDI. If it's a travelling vehicle and mileage is important, stay low profile, it's aerodynamics that kills highway efficiency in all the crossovers. There is just no way around the prismatic coefficient.
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They just don't build things like they used to. 207k and it's already gone. ;)

Lincoln Town Car. Generally taken good care of, parts are cheap (same drivetrain used in everything from the Crown Vic to the Mustang to the F-250), and very reliable. Mileage is generally in the low 20s. Plus tons of room. They depreciate fast, too.
 
Thanks for all the comments folks. Lots of stuff to think about.

As far as staying in the VW world: This Passat, although mechanically sound to this point (other than having to replace all 8 front control arms and swaybar links), it does have electrical gremlins that are driving me crazy. The flasher relay - which happens to be in the hazard switch - will continue to click rapidly after turning off the turn signal. Sometimes it clicks twice and stops and sometimes it will go on for 5-10 minutes. No rhyme or reason to it. I have replaced the switch twice. The first time, it fixed it for a few months. The last time (a month or so ago), it didn't help it at all which makes me think something funky elsewhere in the wiring. There are other little 'qwerks' that would take a major investment to find the problem with. The other downside to the VW line is the fact that they do sit so low - great for aerodynamics, horrible for me getting in and out of. It feels like my knees are up around my ears when getting out of the darn thing.

I have always heard good things about Hondas. I had a guy swear up and down that you could take an Accord well over 300,000 miles by replacing the timing belt every 50,000. My parents have an ?08? Pilot, and while roomy and decent gas mileage for its size, it rides like a log wagon. In fact, it doesn't ride much better than my lifted Jeep Wrangler. Might have to look at their other lines to see if they have something that fits, though.

Haven't looked at the Volvo line before. I'll have to check into them and see if they ride as low as the Passat.

We have looked at the TrailBlazer in the past. Seems roomy enough, doesn't look too much like a 'Soccer Mom Mobile', and gets half-way decent gas mileage for not being a ground-hugger. My only concern was their durability - I guess they've been making them for a few years and haven't dropped the product line, so apparently people are still buying them (a little bit at least).

The only thing that scared me about the Equinox - I was walking past one as it started up a while back and the engine sounded horrible. 1.) It didn't want to start on the first few cranks and 2.) It sounded weak and cheap while the guy was trying to start it. Could have been a fluke one of course. My wife really likes them, so maybe I'll have to give them a closer look.

As for the Jeep - we still have two in the 'fleet' - my lifted '03 Wrangler and 'her' 1990 Grand Wagoneer, so we still have our "fun" vehicles. ;)

Lincoln Town Car? Come on, Ted... I understand their reliability, but don't stick me in a Lincoln Town Car at 30 y/o. Just because I get tired of those punk kids playing their darn hippie music too loud doesn't mean I am ready for a Linclon Town Car!! :D :D :D

Thanks again for the suggestions. Keep 'em coming!
 
Ted DuPuis said:
They just don't build things like they used to. 207k and it's already gone. ;)
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No kidding... My 94 GMC Sierra that I sold to Tony last summer just clicked over 260,000 a few weeks ago. *sigh* Good trucks and old dogs - how could we ever get along without them!?
 
CJones said:
No kidding... My 94 GMC Sierra that I sold to Tony last summer just clicked over 260,000 a few weeks ago. *sigh* Good trucks and old dogs - how could we ever get along without them!?
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actually its only a few hundred short of 250K. I'm thinking about throwing a party for it. It only takes regular small infusions of cash although since i fixed the muffler nothing major. although putting new tires on it was a bit painful on the wallet.
 
CJones said:
Lincoln Town Car? Come on, Ted... I understand their reliability, but don't stick me in a Lincoln Town Car at 30 y/o. Just because I get tired of those punk kids playing their darn hippie music too loud doesn't mean I am ready for a Linclon Town Car!! :D :D :D
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You know, I hear that all the time and just don't get it. Maybe it's because I used to own a '92 Town Car. I loved that thing and wish I'd kept it. At 167k it was still going strong and was a blast to drive, yes you heard me right. It was super comfy, good gas mileage, great on the highway. Plus you'd be surprised how well they handle if you put some good shocks in them. I also put on 17" wheels (the later Town Cars came with them standard, and in fact later model factory Town Car wheels were what I used) and some Addco anti-roll bars, which made the thing turn like it was on rails, and that was without adding the P71 Crown Vic (Police Interceptor) suspension. If you want go-fast goodies, most of the parts for Mustangs bolt on pretty easily if you pick the right ones. You could get a Crown Vic, too (it's the same car), but I don't understand why you'd bother when the Town Cars are nicer and generally cheaper.

Just my suggestion. I think people get way too caught up in image and forget about the fact that what fits your needs perfectly is probably not the hot cool thing that all the cool kids want. That's why I fly an Aztec and not a Baron. :)
 
Ted DuPuis said:
They just don't build things like they used to. 207k and it's already gone. ;)

Lincoln Town Car. Generally taken good care of, parts are cheap (same drivetrain used in everything from the Crown Vic to the Mustang to the F-250), and very reliable. Mileage is generally in the low 20s. Plus tons of room. They depreciate fast, too.
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Good point -

livery service I use when going on long trips on airlines (they take us to and from airport) typically keeps their Town Cars to 600,000 miles, replacing only brakes & struts.

Owner gave his daughter one that they retired, she had it ovr 650k miles before she sold it.
 
SCCutler said:
Good point -

livery service I use when going on long trips on airlines (they take us to and from airport) typically keeps their Town Cars to 600,000 miles, replacing only brakes & struts.

Owner gave his daughter one that they retired, she had it ovr 650k miles before she sold it.
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That is pretty common in urban areas that use Town Cars in taxi service. The things are tanks that last forever.

But, it's not hip, hence their low resale value and popularity.
 
hmmm will a town car pull a glider trailer?? :)
 
One of the best values out there is the Mercury Grand Marquis (Merc's Town Car). There's a dealer in Nashville who advertises them new in the $15k range. A used one should go for a song.
 
kevin47881 said:
One of the best values out there is the Mercury Grand Marquis (Merc's Town Car). There's a dealer in Nashville who advertises them new in the $15k range. A used one should go for a song.
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If that price includes the dash-mounted compass and kleenex dispenser, I'm in! :D
 
tonycondon said:
hmmm will a town car pull a glider trailer?? :)
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You betcha. The drivetrain is pretty much out of an F-150. In fact, Town Cars have an optional towing package. Main feature is 3.55 gears instead of 3.08 in the differential as far as I know.
 
Ted DuPuis said:
You betcha. The drivetrain is pretty much out of an F-150. In fact, Town Cars have an optional towing package. Main feature is 3.55 gears instead of 3.08 in the differential as far as I know.
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Glider trailers are bulky but light. I would not get a different drivetrain on a roadable tank like a TownCar. A transmission cooler maybe but even that should not be an issue.
 
Don't buy anything until you've researched and test-driven the Hyundai Sonata or Elantra. We have an '06 Sonata and love it. It's a hair bigger than the Elantra, and its V-6 is awesome. Mileage is good. Trunk is huge. Phil Edmonston (Lemon-Aid) rates the Hyundais as now being better than anything coming out of Japan, and it certainly is much less money than anything Japanese.

Hyundai has a couple of SUVs, too.

Dan
 
Dan Thomas said:
Don't buy anything until you've researched and test-driven the Hyundai Sonata or Elantra. We have an '06 Sonata and love it. It's a hair bigger than the Elantra, and its V-6 is awesome. Mileage is good. Trunk is huge. Phil Edmonston (Lemon-Aid) rates the Hyundais as now being better than anything coming out of Japan, and it certainly is much less money than anything Japanese.

Hyundai has a couple of SUVs, too.

Dan
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The Hyundai Sonata is my favorite car to rent. I just had one for about a week. If I was looking to buy a regular sedan that is what I would pick.
 
weilke said:
Glider trailers are bulky but light. I would not get a different drivetrain on a roadable tank like a TownCar. A transmission cooler maybe but even that should not be an issue.
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I didn't say it was a requirement, just that they offered it. The towing package on those was really intended for old people towing small travel trailers or pop-ups around with a 5,000 lb limit.
 
imQ said:
Only thing I've been selling for them has been sheet metal, mostly from side impacts. We stock more doors than bumpers for them.
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Interesting, I'm getting the same demand (collision parts only, no mech). Guess that makes them a pretty sound platform.

Q: Is your place a salvage yard? Would I know it? Mine's Denton County Auto Salvage.
 
CJones said:
No kidding... My 94 GMC Sierra that I sold to Tony last summer just clicked over 260,000 a few weeks ago. *sigh* Good trucks and old dogs - how could we ever get along without them!?
Click to expand...

tonycondon said:
actually its only a few hundred short of 250K. I'm thinking about throwing a party for it. It only takes regular small infusions of cash although since i fixed the muffler nothing major. although putting new tires on it was a bit painful on the wallet.
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:D We have a 2001 Silverado V-6 Auto Trans with a flat bed that we've clocked over 450k on. We make a DTO-FTW-DAL triangle daily with some runs to Wichita Falls and Sherman/Denison. You betcha we do regular preventative Mx to it. But it goes to prove the design and longevity if you take care of them.

To many folks treat their cars like disposable lighters.
 
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