"Dunnik" (dunnik)
04/05/2014 at 17:05 • Filed to: None
1
14|
"Dunnik" (dunnik)
04/05/2014 at 17:05 • Filed to: None | 1
| 14 |
To the question, what is the most Oppo, most reliable and best highway DD in the $5000-8000 range?
I've been pondering this question for a while now. Every car that drives through my head drives out again for some reason or other. So I called upon the Wisdom of Oppo !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .
Oppo !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! hit the nail on the head.
You're in a tough place. I can't blame you for wanting a car that is cheap and interesting and comfortable and RWD and sporty and rare and reliable. But for under about $7500, you may not be able to have it all.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
The Germans are all expensive to work on. The Japanese are all based on lower-model cars. The Americans are all boats. Finding a car that is all the things you want, plus rare, for under $7500 may not be possible. I'm also currently shopping for a car in that price range, and the one thing I've learned is: $75,000 buys you a car without compromises. $7500 does not.
Ze answer must be German, zen. Higher repair/labour costs I am willing to deal with, but it has to be reliable. Relatively speaking, of course. If I wanted near 100% reliability I'd curse myself with a Yaris, or something. So what is the most reliable German car in this price range and around 10 years old or younger?
Is the answer to that question the Audi A4? Still some doubt.
In times of doubt. A4.
Said Oppo !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , Yoda-like. I'm starting to feel like this is the answer.
Is it?
And if so, mint B5 or higher mileage B6? The six is thirsty, the 1.8T seems dodgy, and the 2.0T is pricey. Compromises within compromises.
Oh, and where do I put the Oppo sticker?!?
samssun
> Dunnik
04/05/2014 at 17:26 |
|
My view is, if you're not getting an S, or at least Quattro, just buy a VW. It's still nice inside, but without the premium for badge and parts. If you're paying the premium, I figure you ought to get a decent powertrain.
I'd like to ask a version of the same question with B5 S4 as the inevitable answer, but I can't figure out how to get Oppo-approved.
|
Dunnik
> samssun
04/05/2014 at 17:29 |
|
Oh, I'll be getting Quattro, all right. You saw the winter we just had. It was as bad or worse in Canada. Also, snow covered empty parking lots.
hethoughtofcars
> Dunnik
04/05/2014 at 17:30 |
|
I'd say the 1.8T, although I don't have any experience with the 2.0T. The 1.8T 20 valve is actually not that bad of an engine. Under-powered for an Avant with Quattro, maybe..it would need to be a manual (but since this is OPPO, that's a given). I would definitely go with the mint, well taken care of B5. Where a lot of people got in trouble with that turbo was modding it from the factory settings. My mother had one in her New Beetle Turbo S that was factory tuned to 180hp. The engine never had problems, but the rest of the car had a few defects. Audis were better engineered and built in Germany (as opposed to the VW in Mexico) during that time, so I would buy with reasonable confidence. Find a one or two owner A4 who has had it for awhile (at least 3 years) and let them tell you what kind of maintenance and any issues they've had. Just take your time, buy from a private seller, and you can get a very good car!
Arben72
> Dunnik
04/05/2014 at 17:31 |
|
Saab 92x aero or linear. Not that unreliable,(unless you got one abused), it's Swedish, Japanese, and American at the same time. Definitely a contender for the a4. Plus it's a wagon. If it wasn't for oppo I wouldn't have known it existed and I wouldn't have bought one. I bought a 2,000 one which I only recommend to do if you have extra time on your hands as this engine should be in the car right now but isn't.
Stupidru
> Dunnik
04/05/2014 at 17:39 |
|
Why don't you just get a WRX or a Legacy GT?
|
Dunnik
> Stupidru
04/05/2014 at 17:47 |
|
WRX is a bit too boy racer, and expensive to insure, even with a 5-star rating.
A Legacy GT wagon would fit the bill pretty nicely, even though it isn't as lux as the Audi. But a used Boxer engine scares me. I've also heard that Audi's Quattro system is more robust and reliable.
|
Dunnik
> Arben72
04/05/2014 at 17:52 |
|
I want a Saab, have loved them since the days of the 900, but there is an on-going debate on Oppo: glorious Sweedish Meatballs or brutalized and abandoned GM victim?
For the kind of money I'm willing to pay, the chances of getting a mint Saab are quite good. Nobody wants to buy an orphan. There are still a few Saab indies here in Toronto, though, so maybe it won't be too bad.
But I'm still on the fence: meatballs or victim?
|
hethoughtofcars
> Dunnik
04/05/2014 at 18:35 |
|
Nobody wants to buy an orphan.
That's what I always thought.
However, within my very own city, there are people still asking for more than Two grand for a Daewoo Lanos...
and:
almost Five grand for an Olds Alero...
|
Arben72
> Dunnik
04/05/2014 at 18:53 |
|
The good thing is it has the power train and chassis of a wrx with the steering of an sti So you get the lovely mashup of Swedish and Japanese all by gm. Parts are easily available as it's 99% subaru.
JasonStern911
> Dunnik
04/05/2014 at 19:15 |
|
A4 and reliable in the same sentence? compared to what? an RX-8?
seriously, best $5k-8k car with respect to reliability and then driving experience is going to be either a Lexus SC300 or IS300. far from the sexiest choice, but rock solid reliable, rear-wheel drive, and available with a manual transmission.
SaabStutz
> Dunnik
04/05/2014 at 19:32 |
|
In the case of the 9-2x, it's acutally just a badge engineered wrx. The only difference is the body work. You can walk into your local Subie dealer and find whatever part that you would need to fix any issues mechanically. Now when it comes to grilles and other bodywork, you'll have to head to ebay or craigslist.
|
Stupidru
> Dunnik
04/06/2014 at 10:00 |
|
I used to own a LGT and I can attest that the engine is fine, so long as you find one that's been taken care of. Just like rotary engines, they only get a bad rap from people who don't know how to care for them. When run with an oil that it likes, and you don't have clogged banjo bolts, then there's hardly a problem with turbo boxers. The NA boxers are the ones with headgasket issues since they have an open deck whereas the turbo engines have a semi-closed or a closed deck.
As far as Quattro being more reliable, I'm not sure what you mean. I'm on my 3rd Subaru and have never had an issue with the AWD systems that they've used.
Being 100% honest, if you're concerned about reliability I'm not sure that buying an Audi would be the most logical choice
TheSaabguy
> Dunnik
04/06/2014 at 19:27 |
|
Fisher Automotive in Mississauga is the best! Meatballs!
Obruni
> Dunnik
04/15/2014 at 00:37 |
|
why not a 1st gen TSX? One of the better FWD cars out there, and manual transmissions should be relatively easy to find.
the Infiniti G35 should be doable at this price point too.