What qualifies and [Archive]

carlton_fritz

03-29-2011, 5:24pm

which would you choose? Under $15,000. Auto. 25+ MPG. Over 30 would be best. Available for all year, snow, rain, sun. Reasonable maintenance. Which brings another question. How does a Mini Cooper compare to other vehicles in regular maintenance costs? Like a BMW, Mercedes?

Rob

03-29-2011, 5:44pm

BMW and Merc

$$$$$

Mini

$$$

Honda

$

carlton_fritz

03-29-2011, 5:46pm

BMW and Merc

$$$$$

Mini

$$$

Honda

$
About what I was thinking.

NB2K

03-29-2011, 5:56pm

Can you get one of those silly Honda trucks for that? Used.

carlton_fritz

03-29-2011, 5:57pm

Can you get one of those silly Honda trucks for that? Used.
Do they get 25+MPG?:confused5:

Millenium Vette

03-29-2011, 5:58pm

BMW and Merc

$$$$$

Mini

$$$

Honda

$

:iagree: with Bacon Boy

NB2K

03-29-2011, 6:11pm

Do they get 25+MPG?:confused5:

I think so...

Repo would know used values on 'em.

carlton_fritz

03-29-2011, 6:12pm

I think so...

Repo would know used values on 'em.
Maybe he can find me a vehicle. One of those free ones he finds laying around.:leaving:

repo

03-29-2011, 6:37pm

Pontiac Vibe AWD.

Serious. Prob grab a nice one for under 10K. Mine has 173 K on it. :willy:

carlton_fritz

03-29-2011, 7:01pm

Pontiac Vibe AWD.

Serious. Prob grab a nice one for under 10K. Mine has 173 K on it. :willy:
Interesting choice.:cheers:

Montehall

03-29-2011, 7:04pm

new Focus.
with the rebates you get one for under 15K, and it has a warranty.

repo

03-29-2011, 7:12pm

new Focus.
with the rebates you get one for under 15K, and it has a warranty.

Not bad.:cheers:

Omega Man

03-29-2011, 7:14pm

Ford Fusion with AWD. They routinely get 29+ MPG when I rent one and that is with me beating on it.

That is, I think they make AWD. :leaving:

carlton_fritz

03-29-2011, 7:14pm

Ford Fusion with AWD. They routinely get 29+ MPG when I rent one and that is with me beating on it.

That is, I think they make AWD. :leaving:
:rofl:

C5SilverBullet

03-30-2011, 8:51am

new Focus.
with the rebates you get one for under 15K, and it has a warranty.
You pretty much have to know someone to get that kind of a deal on a Focus right now. :D

Montehall

03-30-2011, 8:52am

You pretty much have to know someone to get that kind of a deal on a Focus right now. :D
and that person has to be really f'n awesome!

onedef92

03-30-2011, 8:56am

Pontiac Vibe AWD.

Serious. Prob grab a nice one for under 10K. Mine has 173 K on it. :willy:

It's essentially a re-skinnned Toyota Matrix before the brake/engine management system controversies, correct? I've always liked those myself.

That last-gen Saturn Vue's a nice lookin' (read cute-ute), too. Bet you can't touch one of them used for 15K now, though.

http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo106/AshleyPitt_album/saturn_vue_2008.jpg

thkauffman

03-30-2011, 9:02am

Mini sucks on mileage. Not nearly as good as you would think it would be. Much better choices out there.

German cars are nightmares on maintenance.

Frizzle

03-30-2011, 9:22am

Honda Civic

Ford Focus

Mazda 3

Your 25MPG combined is tough as most v6 sedans are around 23MPG

All of them should be very reliable and won't cost you an arm and a leg if something does go wrong with it.

Montehall

03-30-2011, 9:30am

Edmunds.com has an awesome search feature

there are about 21 new cars that fit your criteria.

LATB

03-30-2011, 9:33am

Can you get one of those silly Honda trucks for that? Used.
The Ridgeline is not silly IMO...pretty damn nice vehicle.
Do they get 25+MPG?:confused5:
No...not even close.

...Whitepower...

03-30-2011, 9:56am

Entropy

03-30-2011, 10:17am

Speed3. Its fun, fast, fwd for snow, and if you drive reasonably gets 27-30mpg highway.. Its also a newer car so you can probably find one with some warranty left.

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/381/4541/25952270011_large.jpg
:withstupid:

:cool: cars, I opted for the speed6 version to get the awd. I don't get 25 mpg, and I don't care either. :lol:

Frizzle

03-30-2011, 10:22am

Speed3. Its fun, fast, fwd for snow, and if you drive reasonably gets 27-30mpg highway.. Its also a newer car so you can probably find one with some warranty left.

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/381/4541/25952270011_large.jpg

i looked at those prior to getting my civic SI. i just couldn't get over the hatch back look... just wasn't my thing.

dwjz06

03-30-2011, 10:26am

i looked at those prior to getting my civic SI. i just couldn't get over the hatch back look... just wasn't my thing.How do you like the Si? Got my daughter the regular coupe. Was looking hard at the Si though:D

...Whitepower...

03-30-2011, 10:28am

:withstupid:

:cool: cars, I opted for the speed6 version to get the awd. I don't get 25 mpg, and I don't care either. :lol:

Still waiting for a pic..:slap:

Entropy

03-30-2011, 10:35am

Still waiting for a pic..:slap:
:lol:

Freakin' snow, sand and salt make it look like hell. I'll try to get one tonight.

NB2K

03-30-2011, 11:07am

The Ridgeline is not silly IMO...pretty damn nice vehicle.

No...not even close.

Take it easy, I was just foolin'.

Too much car to be a truck, too much truck to be a car, but they have their place.

LATB

03-30-2011, 11:14am

Take it easy, I was just foolin'.

Too much car to be a truck, too much truck to be a car, but they have their place.

no problem

I think they are real nice...I almost bought one...they ride nice and are full of cool features...

but I went with a Tacoma instead...less money & more truck capable IMO.

carlton_fritz

03-30-2011, 1:51pm

carlton_fritz

03-30-2011, 1:54pm

Edmunds.com has an awesome search feature

there are about 21 new cars that fit your criteria.
21 new cars under $15,000 that you feel safe in the rain?:confused5: I am not restricting the list to new.

Frizzle

03-30-2011, 3:02pm

How do you like the Si? Got my daughter the regular coupe. Was looking hard at the Si though:D

I love my SI.. the engine does require 91+ octane fuel but i still average between 28 and 31 MPG.

Car handles very well and the skid pad is on the same level of the C4 corvette. It also has plenty of pep when merging with highway traffic.. the driver just needs to know where the power band is in the car.

The interior has held up well as I work as a industrial/commercial electrician and it still looks dam good when i clean it and almost like new.

In less then 2 years i've put 36K miles on it and the only things i've needed to do was replace the tires and oil changes. (2nd owner and it has 19K when i got it. Car is all stock except for window tint)

The tire pressure monitoring system saved my azz this winter when i hit a pot hole and gave me plenty of time to find a nice well safe lit place to change my tire.

My only complaint is the oil filter location :beat: which is a PITA if you do it yourself.

I probably won't be buying another car as a DD for a long time if this car continues to hold together as well as it has.

Not combined. Highway. 98% of driving is done on interstate.

hmmm makes it a bit more complex but then again with gas prices going they way they are a 4cyl doesn't seem that bad.

Montehall

03-30-2011, 3:04pm

21 new cars under $15,000 that you feel safe in the rain?:confused5: I am not restricting the list to new.
no, your right... you shouldn't drive any cars in the rain.
:skep:

what makes a car "safe in the rain"?

I have a 2011 Focus, an 84 Corvette, and an 02 F350 7.3L

I'm more confident with the Focus in the rain than our truck.

repo

03-30-2011, 3:17pm

carlton_fritz

03-30-2011, 3:30pm

I love my SI.. the engine does require 91+ octane fuel but i still average between 28 and 31 MPG.

Car handles very well and the skid pad is on the same level of the C4 corvette. It also has plenty of pep when merging with highway traffic.. the driver just needs to know where the power band is in the car.

The interior has held up well as I work as a industrial/commercial electrician and it still looks dam good when i clean it and almost like new.

In less then 2 years i've put 36K miles on it and the only things i've needed to do was replace the tires and oil changes. (2nd owner and it has 19K when i got it. Car is all stock except for window tint)

The tire pressure monitoring system saved my azz this winter when i hit a pot hole and gave me plenty of time to find a nice well safe lit place to change my tire.

My only complaint is the oil filter location :beat: which is a PITA if you do it yourself.

I probably won't be buying another car as a DD for a long time if this car continues to hold together as well as it has.

hmmm makes it a bit more complex but then again with gas prices going they way they are a 4cyl doesn't seem that bad.
A 4 banger is what I was thinking for 30+ MPG. Many 6 cylinders can do 25+ on the highway. I was just trying to get a list since I am not familiar with all 25+MPG vehicles.

carlton_fritz

03-30-2011, 3:32pm

no, your right... you shouldn't drive any cars in the rain.
:skep:

what makes a car "safe in the rain"?

I have a 2011 Focus, an 84 Corvette, and an 02 F350 7.3L

I'm more confident with the Focus in the rain than our truck.
I wouldn't drive an Aveo at Interstate speeds when it's raining. Or a Smart car. I wouldn't want to drive one of those on Interstate anyway. I like truckers knowing I am there so they don't run me over.

The_Dude

03-30-2011, 3:36pm

I live in the Pacific northwest and I use a Civic as my commuter. 38 mpg.

Skia

03-30-2011, 3:36pm

Maybe he can find me a vehicle. One of those free ones he finds laying around.:leaving:
Well I do sell Hondas now, so let me know if I can help. :D Coming from a BMW dealership I can tell you that you don't want to own a 2007 and up BMW that doesn't have an active maintenence plan.

repo

03-30-2011, 3:36pm

Love the Civics Si. :cool1:

C5SilverBullet

03-30-2011, 3:42pm

I thought you just bought a Dodge Ram? :skep:

Now we have a new Ram for sale. :D

repo

03-30-2011, 3:43pm

Now we have a new Ram for sale. :D

Mullet vs. Monte= Ford Dealer win.:shots:

C5SilverBullet

03-30-2011, 3:43pm

21 new cars under $15,000 that you feel safe in the rain?:confused5: I am not restricting the list to new.

What? You think new cars can't be driven in the rain?

repo

03-30-2011, 3:52pm

What? You think new cars can't be driven in the rain?

Is this C5 general?

Frizzle

03-30-2011, 4:10pm

A 4 banger is what I was thinking for 30+ MPG. Many 6 cylinders can do 25+ on the highway. I was just trying to get a list since I am not familiar with all 25+MPG vehicles.

Well, here is one tidbit of information that you might also want to consider.

I test drove a honda civic ex 5 spd with a 1.8L I4. I felt like that car had no getup and go at all... it made my slow 97 mercury sable with a 16v 3.0L seem fast. The Si civic has a 2.0L and that .2L of displacement helps out a lot but the issue is the SI's only come with a 6spd trans and no automatics.

That being said... a car that totally slipped my mind until now would be a used Acura TSX and the honda accord coupe.

So i'll change my recommendation since the OP wants an automatic. I figure the 2.0L + displacement might be of nice to have.

04 - 08 Acura TSX 2.4L (205HP/164 lb·ft) 4cyl
09 - present Mazda 3 2.5L (167 hp/168 lb·ft) 4cyl
04 - 09 Mazda 3 2.3L (158HP/153 lb·ft) 4cyl
New Ford Focus 2.0L (160HP/146 lb·ft) 4cyl
05 - 07 Honda Accord Coupe 2.4L (166HP/160 lb·ft) 4cyl

carlton_fritz

03-30-2011, 4:11pm

I live in the Pacific northwest and I use a Civic as my commuter. 38 mpg.
That's one vehicle I am looking at.:cheers:

carlton_fritz

03-30-2011, 4:12pm

Well I do sell Hondas now, so let me know if I can help. :D Coming from a BMW dealership I can tell you that you don't want to own a 2007 and up BMW that doesn't have an active maintenence plan.
I don't want a BMW until I am filthy rich. :willy:

carlton_fritz

03-30-2011, 4:25pm

What? You think new cars can't be driven in the rain?
I think itty bitty cars can't be driven safe on Interstate with truckers in the rain. I added the rain part to hopefully prevent someone from saying Smart car or Aveo or something similar. I ended up in ICU from hydroplaning in a small car. I have no desire to do that again.

78SA

03-30-2011, 4:29pm

Pontiac Vibe AWD.

Serious. Prob grab a nice one for under 10K. Mine has 173 K on it. :willy:
Those seem popular around here.

Montehall

03-30-2011, 5:00pm

Mullet vs. Monte= Ford Dealer win.:shots:
well, actually...
:leaving:

Tony is a great guy, and so is everyone else at Cook Ford!

Petew1971

03-30-2011, 5:01pm

:needcoffee:

Montehall

03-30-2011, 5:01pm

I think itty bitty cars can't be driven safe on Interstate with truckers in the rain. I added the rain part to hopefully prevent someone from saying Smart car or Aveo or something similar. I ended up in ICU from hydroplaning in a small car. I have no desire to do that again.
the supervisor of my shop here hydroplaned his Arcadia and ended up in the ICU.

NB2K

03-30-2011, 5:12pm

the supervisor of my shop here hydroplaned his Arcadia and ended up in the ICU.

How were the tires?

The_Dude

03-30-2011, 5:13pm

well, actually...
:leaving:

Tony is a great guy, and so is everyone else at Cook Ford!

I really was joking about the Dodge miles thing. How do you like the Focus?

78SA

03-30-2011, 5:14pm

How were the tires?

:iagree: Has to be more to the story.

Montehall

03-30-2011, 5:14pm

I really was joking about the Dodge miles thing. How do you like the Flex?
I like it.... but I bought a Focus.

Montehall

03-30-2011, 5:15pm

:iagree: Has to be more to the story.
80mph in a downpour.
and he's an idiot.

NB2K

03-30-2011, 5:17pm

80mph in a downpour.
and he's an idiot.

It is damn near impossible to hydroplane a modern car w/ decent rubber.

But 80MPH in a downpour will git 'er done.

The_Dude

03-30-2011, 5:17pm

I like it.... but I bought a Focus.

My Ninja edit wasn't fast enough.

carlton_fritz

03-30-2011, 5:17pm

the supervisor of my shop here hydroplaned his Arcadia and ended up in the ICU.
:willy: Was he speeding? Bald tires? Large lake in the road? When I hydroplaned, I had just come off a bridge and the drop lifted the tires enough to lose traction. I was only doing between 55-60 in a 55. In another incident in that car, a trucker didn't see the little gray thing and ran me into the median. Now I prefer a white, red, orange, yellow or bright blue car. Still refuse a Mary Kay pink one. The car I felt safest driving in heavy rain? Mercedes C230. My C4 scared me. I felt secure in my Saturn Aura XR too, but not like the Mercedes.

carlton_fritz

03-30-2011, 5:19pm

80mph in a downpour.
and he's an idiot.
That'll do it. Those people are why I try to avoid interstate in downpours or heavy rain. But if I am doing 60, I want people to be able to see me and not run me over.

The_Dude

03-30-2011, 5:20pm

I like it.... but I bought a Focus.What was the reason? Was the Dodge sucking too much gas? or was it just the dealership visits?

78SA

03-30-2011, 5:20pm

It is damn near impossible to hydroplane a modern car w/ decent rubber.

But 80MPH in a downpour will git 'er done.

If the tires suck. My 2004 Z71 Suburban with almost new Bridgestone Dueler AT Revo's didn't have a problem. :dance:

carlton_fritz

03-30-2011, 5:21pm

If the tires suck. My 2004 Z71 Suburban with almost new Bridgestone Dueler AT Revo's didn't have a problem. :dance:
The fuel mileage was a problem.:leaving:

Montehall

03-30-2011, 5:30pm

What was the reason? Was the Dodge sucking too much gas? or was it just the dealership visits?
that was a large factor, and I had a rather large equity issue with the BMW 745. This put me back at where I was.
We really didn't need two trucks, since our other truck is a 1-ton crew cad Diesel. Our original plan was to trade both the Dodge and her truck on a new King Ranch Diesel, but we were having a problem justifying a $65,000 truck.... cost more than all but one of the houses we've bought.

suffice it to say, after the deal, including the MPG difference, each month I'm sitting at almost half where I was on the Dodge.

yeah, the dealership was an ass after the sale.

Entropy

03-30-2011, 6:03pm

You might try to find a used SVT Focus. 6speed, 170 hp. Find a Eurospec one and you can get traction control, heated Recaro seats, HID headlights, etc.

Solid motor and transmission.

They weight about 2700 lbs, and I never had any worry about being too small in that.

Montehall

03-31-2011, 8:33am

I've always had a "thing" for the SVT Contour.

Frizzle

03-31-2011, 8:39am

I've always had a "thing" for the SVT Contour.

stay away!

All i can say is that the 2.5L V6 in the contour is a POS. Its prone to alternators going bad and spinning bearings due to the oil feed tube not picking up oil in extended right hand turns at speed.

Needless to say my old cougar (shares the same engine) went through 2 alternators and spun a bearing destroying the engine in 80K miles.

I gotta say it was perhaps my worst experience with ford and will probably never buy a ford unless its a Mustang or a truck.

Montehall

03-31-2011, 8:42am

stay away!

All i can say is that the 2.5L V6 in the contour is a POS. Its prone to alternators going bad and spinning bearings due to the oil feed tube not picking up oil in extended right hand turns at speed.

Needless to say my old cougar (shares the same engine) went through 2 alternators and spun a bearing destroying the engine in 80K miles.

I gotta say it was perhaps my worst experience with ford and will probably never buy a ford unless its a Mustang or a truck.
no, I wouldn't get one, I'm not big into older performance cars.

Entropy

03-31-2011, 9:11am

stay away!

All i can say is that the 2.5L V6 in the contour is a POS. Its prone to alternators going bad and spinning bearings due to the oil feed tube not picking up oil in extended right hand turns at speed.

Needless to say my old cougar (shares the same engine) went through 2 alternators and spun a bearing destroying the engine in 80K miles.

I gotta say it was perhaps my worst experience with ford and will probably never buy a ford unless its a Mustang or a truck.
Weren't those motors good for ~170 hp as well stock? No wonder they got rid of those and went with the 2.0L zetec in the focus.

Frizzle

03-31-2011, 9:22am

Weren't those motors good for ~170 hp as well stock? No wonder they got rid of those and went with the 2.0L zetec in the focus.

The regular 2.5L Duratec was good for 170 HP and about the same amount of torque.

The SVT 2.5L produced 200HP which had special cams, upper/lower intake manifolds and throttle body.

The 2.5L V6 was very restricted mostly due to the possibility the cougar could take away from V6 mustang sales.

The Focus engine bay was too small for a transverse mounted duratec V6 at the time. So their options were a 1.8L SPI or the 2.0L Zetec I know later focus models used the 2.0L duratec.

The duratec design is still used today in all of fords FWD cars however they have made vast improvements on the motor.

Before I sold my cougar i did a 3.0L duratec swap with SVT contour cams. Thing put down over 200 FWHP. Car was quite peppy... but also a headache to fix.

C5SilverBullet

03-31-2011, 9:30am

yeah, the dealership was an ass after the sale.

Those guys are real pricks. :D

C5SilverBullet

03-31-2011, 9:31am

well, actually...
:leaving:

Tony is a great guy, and so is everyone else at Cook Ford!

Shh!

Montehall

03-31-2011, 9:33am

Those guys are real pricks. :D
not you... the dodge dealer.

although I did miss my truck yesterday.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/Wilson1911/2011-03-30_16-24-01_996.jpg

onedef92

12-19-2011, 11:14am

Pontiac Vibe AWD.

Serious. Prob grab a nice one for under 10K. Mine has 173 K on it. :willy:

They have timing chains, too, (no belts to break at 100k).

They also have inherent Toyota reliabilty since they built the mofos' at GM's fomer NUMMI plant (New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc), a joint venture between General Motors and Toyota.

I'm thinking about snatching one up next Spring. Preferably and AWD or GT model (since we don't live in the snowbelt).

polarbear

12-19-2011, 2:34pm

If you can bump yourself a couple of grand, nothing I've seen or driven recently can touch this car for value, warranty, safety, economy, or just plain driving fun.

http://image.motortrend.com/f/38206992%20w569%20h356%20ar1/2012-hyundai-elantra-front-three-quarter-in-motion.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/lead8-2011-hyundai-elantra-fd.jpg

Built in Montgomery, Al if you have a "buy American" thing going on.

onedef92

12-19-2011, 2:37pm

If you can bump yourself a couple of grand, nothing I've seen or driven recently can touch this car for value, warranty, safety, economy, or just plain driving fun.

http://image.motortrend.com/f/38206992%20w569%20h356%20ar1/2012-hyundai-elantra-front-three-quarter-in-motion.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/lead8-2011-hyundai-elantra-fd.jpg

My next door neighbor bought one this past October. She swears by hers. Price (and the new car warranty) is tempting, too.

polarbear

12-19-2011, 2:40pm

My next door neighbor bought one this past October. She swears by hers. Price (and the new car warranty) is tempting, too.

The first time I drove one, I was honestly shocked at what a great car it was. I expected a decent, nicely finished econobox. I never dreamed it could drive like a 3-series from a couple of gen's ago. Same or better build quality too.

Can hardly wait until the Forte gets the new chassis next year.:)

onedef92

12-19-2011, 2:42pm

The first time I drove one, I was honestly shocked at what a great car it was. I expected a decent, nicely finished econobox. I never dreamed it could drive like a 3-series from a couple of gen's ago. Same or better build quality too.

Yeah, I hear consistently good shit about them mofo's. :seasix:

Still, I think my best destiny is to keep saving my coins, then plunk down paper for a gently-used Pontiac Vibe AWD or GT.

I'm not looking for a car note, just a good beater for under 10k.

kingpin

12-19-2011, 2:47pm

...Whitepower...

12-19-2011, 2:52pm

My wife has had her 07 Santa Fe SE for 3 years now. Can't beat the value and warranty. The thing is rock solid too. Currently its pushing 70k. We will more than likley unload it this summer for a 2.0T Sonata. :yesnod:

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/5929_1182589798247_1033265599_551894_854136_n.jpg

RonC5

12-19-2011, 4:18pm

Speed3. Its fun, fast, fwd for snow, and if you drive reasonably gets 27-30mpg highway.. Its also a newer car so you can probably find one with some warranty left.

http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/381/4541/25952270011_large.jpg

I ruled out the Speed3 due to no sunroof available. This is Florida darn it, and I want a sunroof.