by "DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By" (ducst3-red-1liter-standing-by)
Published 10/23/2017 at 11:20
by "DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By" (ducst3-red-1liter-standing-by)
Published 10/23/2017 at 11:20
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STARS: 1
In need of car recommendations!!
So here is the situation. My fiancee’s 04 buick regal (not the supercharged 3.8 unfortunately) is on its way out. We are currently saving for our wedding so our max budget is 5k.
Her only requirements are easy on gas and bullet proof reliability. Heated seats are the only thing she would like if possible but its not a deal breaker. She is very partical to automatics
My requirement is something safe. I don’t want my future wife driving around in an old crx.
So far my short list is
The obvious, prius. Easy on gas and pretty reliable as far as I know. My only worry is around out budget they have pretty high miles (130k+) and the type of people who own them tend to not be car people and run them on a tight budget.
Next, is a vw tdi. Again, easy on gas, and the engines at least are pretty reliable, I think. I seems that these are usually treated better then the prius of the same age. My only worry is VAG reliability. If we go with this option, our garage will be all German and Italian, not sure thats a risk I am willing to take.
Lastly, any sort of japanese or korean 4 door sedan. Civic, corolla, whatever. All pretty reliable
This seems to be the front runner for now
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Does any oppos have any thoughts or recommendations? And on a side note, if anyone is interested in an 04 buick regal in socal I may know a guy....
Thanks!!
"TomServo (Resides on the Satellite of Love)" (mk7silkblue)
10/23/2017 at 11:25, STARS: 0
Accord V6 Hybrid or used first gen Lexus RX.
"TomServo (Resides on the Satellite of Love)" (mk7silkblue)
10/23/2017 at 11:25, STARS: 0
VW TDI would be great too.
"TomServo (Resides on the Satellite of Love)" (mk7silkblue)
10/23/2017 at 11:26, STARS: 0
Also, mid 00s Subaru Legacy? My mom had 2 and they were great.
"OPPOsaurus WRX" (opposaurus)
10/23/2017 at 11:28, STARS: 0
https://boston.craigslist.org/sob/cto/d/07-ford-freestyle-limited-awd/6344659342.html
3 Rd row seats cuz future wife means
Future DucST3 jrs
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
10/23/2017 at 11:28, STARS: 5
Prius isn’t so bad, but having to fork out cash to replace the battery pack is like a terrible gut punch. IIRC, somewhere around $5k.
While the TDI’s are fuel efficient, I feel that you’d be paying an obscene amount of money for repairs of ancillary things throughout your ownership of the vehicle.
IMO, something like a properly cared for Corolla, Camry, Fit, or Civic might be your safest option.
"OPPOsaurus WRX" (opposaurus)
10/23/2017 at 11:29, STARS: 0
https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/d/2005-mazda-3-hatchback-auto/6351673066.html
These seem to be a popular option
"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
10/23/2017 at 11:32, STARS: 0
Came here to say this. Didn’t have to
"The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock" (jukesjukesjukes)
10/23/2017 at 11:35, STARS: 0
Vibe GT or Matrix XRS. 2ZZGE goodness. The front passenger seat also folds flat.
"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
10/23/2017 at 11:36, STARS: 0
Old Maxima/i30/I35 is a solid choice:
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/711427363/overview/
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
10/23/2017 at 11:36, STARS: 0
For a totally reasonable fee, I can say all sorts of things so you don’t have to. Mad at a boss? Try my “Aggrieved Employee: package! Splitting with a loved one? Try my “Its not me, It’s you” Package! Monthly rates available! Call now!
"PartyPooper2012" (PartyPooper2012)
10/23/2017 at 11:44, STARS: 1
My needs vary depending on which person(s) I encounter. I may need package that includes greater variety and quicker turn around on delivery. Some services may require delivery to masses rather than an individual.
Leave your number and my people will call your people
"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
10/23/2017 at 11:46, STARS: 2
Many Prii of the generation pictured are hitting the age when they start seeing battery pack failures. You don’t want that expense.
I’d recommend a late first gen Focus or a second gen if you can find one that’s not rusted out. They’re quite affordable, parts are cheap, and they are very reliable.
"DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By" (ducst3-red-1liter-standing-by)
10/23/2017 at 11:48, STARS: 0
I did have an 03 focus svt. Still regret selling it to be honest. The only things that went wrong where the svt specific things
"Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
10/23/2017 at 11:58, STARS: 2
There are even a few of the next generation around at that price point, but they tend to have manuals. Good for me, but not good for your future wife it seems.
"Maxima Speed" (maximaspeed)
10/23/2017 at 11:59, STARS: 0
https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/d/2004-toyota-camry-xle-low-mi/6357181411.html
4 cylinder, bullet proof reliability, low miles for a camry, and well within price. I have the 2004 Camry Solara V6 and the reliability is astonishing for 212,000. So far I have had zero issues. Change oil and brake pads. That’s it. Mine is due for a timing belt soon but other than that and an alignment I should be good for another 60,000 miles
"DucST3-Red-1Liter-Standing-By" (ducst3-red-1liter-standing-by)
10/23/2017 at 12:02, STARS: 0
Alas, I have tried to convert her, but she just isn’t a car person. She just wants something to get from A to B
"Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
10/23/2017 at 12:08, STARS: 2
An automatic version will do the A-B trip just fine, but will be something entertaining for when you get to drive it. Certainly less of a penalty box than the usual Corolla/Korean suspects.
"mazda616" (mazda616)
10/23/2017 at 12:39, STARS: 0
Can confirm. Drove one for six years and didn’t have any real trouble. Current owners just passed 100k with it and still no issues.
"Shift24" (the-nope)
10/23/2017 at 12:42, STARS: 0
Be careful of cheap Korean cheap cars. I’d take a 200k+ Honda or Toyota over any Korean car out of warranty. Stick to Camry, corolla, civic, i-4 accords, Cr-v (06 and older are around $5k), Rav4, and Matrix/Vibe.
And I know this might come off mean but being realistic. At a budget of $5k, you can’t be getting picky about 130k miles. A lot of these will be over that and for most Japanese cars that’s low miles. Easiest way to say it is if you want a car to just do regular maintenance go Honda or Toyota. Might get lucky with a VAG or a domestic with little work but they just aren’t as predictable.
"Stapleface" (patrickgruden)
10/23/2017 at 13:07, STARS: 0
Toyota or Honda compact. Pick your favorite.
Yaris, Fit, Civic, Corolla, Matrix, xD. Provided they haven’t been beaten on, they’re as reliable as they get.
"Brian, The Life of" (familycar)
10/23/2017 at 13:18, STARS: 0
Even a higher-mileage Prius is a good bet as long as there are service records. Toyota owners in general are the most likely to have done every single recommended service and every single interval at the dealer. They tend not to cut any corners on maintenance.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
10/23/2017 at 14:14, STARS: 1
We had one of these with an auto for eight years. Never needed a single mechanical repair, just basic maintenance. There was a mechanical recall for something in its first month. Can’t remember what. The in dash CD changer broke under warranty. Other than that, just maintainence. Good cars. We replaced it with a CX-5 when we had a second kid. Otherwise we’d still have it.
Just watch for rust if you live in a climate where they use road salt. Ours was fine, but some of the early ones rusted comically quickly and badly.
"RT" (rt-p)
10/27/2017 at 07:06, STARS: 0
The VW offers the same perks of the Prius in a much nicer package - and without fear of battery failure, so I’d recommend going for that.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
10/30/2017 at 00:21, STARS: 0
The answer is Subaru.