Dear Oppo...

"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
07/21/2014 at 11:00 • Filed to: car buying

...say hello to Jolly Roger, my '08 Chrysler PT Cruiser, automatic, with 86k miles on it. I'm having a dilemma; namely if I should trade it in, what should I get?

I'm still on the fence about trading it. I have had it since the odometer read 32k miles, and its my first car. I still have 1.5 years left of payments on it, but it's been a mostly faithful car with the only problems being my fault or bad weather. The steering is sort of messed up, and no one can replicate it, which is why I'm thinking of trading it in.

My dilemma, if I was to trade it in, I have no idea what car I would like. I've been looking at possible cars to buy for the past half year, trying to discern what would be the perfect car for my family but I've come up mostly empty.

The car has to be a sedan, and seat at least 5 people. It also needs to get good/great mpg, as Jolly Roger only gets city/hwy 19/24. My daily 40 minute commute (one way) eats through that quickly. The car will also have to be automatic because my wife doesn't want the main car to be a manual. So perhaps something that at least allows me to go through the gears? Like the equivalent of the autostick?

I also live just inside the border of farmland. My house is half a mile where the pavement ends. That isn't much of a problem except during winter when it snows. The roads aren't plowed clearly all the time, so it does build up. This past winter there was a standard of 3" of snow. So a car that is good on different terrains will be awesome.

Repairs also need to be cheap, because I don't want to spend a lot of money trying to get it fixed, and the costs of parts are a concern. I also live in Michigan, and together with farmland means that the local dealerships are all GM/Ford/Chrysler (my concern is that 'foreign' car parts may be priced unfairly). I have little mechanical knowledge, so I can't really do the repairs on my own unless someone helps me.

The car needs to be fun to drive as well. Jolly Roger has been a bit boring lately, and after driving my dad's Corolla, I quickly noticed what my car lacks. Good acceleration, touchy brakes, great handling; my car doesn't really measure up in these areas. I would like a car that I wouldn't mind driving long distances in.

Lastly, my budget is $10k. Couple of months ago, I took my car in and it's was worth ~$3k, so its probably that now or a bit lower. I think the max I could go would be $12 or $13, but it would have to be a car I completely love.

My dad is coming this Wednesday (from Florida) and the title is in his name (it was a mistake we discovered years later). He'll be visiting for a few weeks, so if I decide to trade in my car, then would be the time.

So oppo, do you have any suggestions on a good car for me?

DISCUSSION (46)

The World of Vee > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 11:02

There's a Saab Turbo X right next to your car.

Figure out a way to own that instead imo

zeontestpilot > The World of Vee
07/21/2014 at 11:03

Yeah, but its a stick, and it belongs to someone here at work, lol.

TheRallyStache > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 11:03

Sorry, had to.

Kinja'd!!!

dinobot666 > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 11:04

This thread , so much.

The World of Vee > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 11:06

Do I need to state the obvious? Steal his keys and learn stick duh :p

But no seriously, learn stick.

zeontestpilot > TheRallyStache
07/21/2014 at 11:08

Lol, fair enough.

I purchased it before I knew anything about cars. I bought it because 1, I needed a car, 2, it was ideal for a future family, 3, I liked it's color and how it looked. The only other car on the lot was a cobalt, which someone bought (in cash) before I could. Thankfully I didn't get that car....

OPPOsaurus WRX > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 11:08

WOW, to find a lack of performance when comparing a car to a corolla really says something. I think these will tick most boxes but maybe not MPGs

http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/…

GTI MkVII > OPPOsaurus WRX
07/21/2014 at 11:10

Was going to recommend a Legacy. Great car and would work perfectly for OP.

Rico > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 11:14

Sounds like you should get a Subaru. Also you can probably find used 2012 Ford Focus hatchbacks for about $13k.

MIATAAAA > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 11:14

Flying off the seat of my pants here:

Sedan, automatic, good gas mileage, fun to drive, possibly domestic, under $10K.

My choice would be a previous gen Mazda 3 (or a previous gen Mazda 6, but the gas mileage is about the same as your current car).

My American choice would be a used current gen Ford Fiesta or Focus.

A great car at the top of your range is a used Acura TSX.

Honorable mention goes to a used Subaru Legacy.

And.... GO. :)

zeontestpilot > dinobot666
07/21/2014 at 11:15

From my research, the pre-'06 ones had a lot of issues with them. The post-'06 ones., I think, are the lesser of two evils. It wasn't the best car, but I'm surprised at the beating it took, especially this last winter. I've been in two ditches, my car took out a road sign and got that jammed underneath, it overheated (oil change people's fault), the engine got so cold it wouldn't start. All because of Michigan snow that wouldn't stop. Fun times.

zeontestpilot > The World of Vee
07/21/2014 at 11:17

The reason I'm on the fence for selling is because once we pay the car off, there will be room in the budget for a 2nd car. Namely a manual. I've learned the basics, I just need the experience. My wife doesn't want to try until I've learned it good enough to teach her.....its an ongoing battle I can't win.

The World of Vee > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 11:21

well there are classes you can take and honestly, it sucks for a few days when you're learning and then suddenly, like magic you just "get it" and it's wonderful and fills your body with great feelings of joy and all that is right in the world.

zeontestpilot > OPPOsaurus WRX
07/21/2014 at 11:21

I'm interested in a Subaru, but I've heard there are head gasket problems. I have also heard they are really good, reliable cars. But I've also heard that its just the enthusiastic saying that. Since I'm hearing so much, I don't know what to believe, -_-.

But the corolla, is really responsive in everything it does, at least when compared to the PT Cruiser. I can only imagine what a Miata is like....

OPPOsaurus WRX > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 11:25

I gave my wife a lesson a couple months after buying my WRX. It will take you a month to get comfortable and another to be efficient. This was the first time driving a stick more than a mile for me.

OPPOsaurus WRX > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 11:27

I go from the WRX to a Escape. I have to really pay attention taking corners. They just dont corner the same. I can;t really say much as far as reliability. My buddy has an 04 outback and its been ok for him.

zeontestpilot > The World of Vee
07/21/2014 at 11:28

Oh I know. Last year my wife's friend showed me how on a '80s VW Rabbit Pickup, it was so much fun. I just need to practice getting the car to go forward (neutral to first). That was the most difficult thing I thought.

But alas, I love my wife but she is very stubborn. For example, she refuses to pump gas because it is the "man's job" [I'm quoting], even if she is driving (whenever that happens).

A stick is planned for the future, eventually. I plan on having my daughter learn it.

zeontestpilot > MIATAAAA
07/21/2014 at 11:30

Thanks! I have also driven the current gen Focus, I was mildly impressed with it.

dinobot666 > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 11:32

It's basically a Neon, which by all accounts was a reasonably well designed car, but wasn't buttoned together all that great, a common trait of Chrysler vehicles from that era.

The World of Vee > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 11:33

Just remember it's an inverse relationship, clutch in/gas out, clutch out, gas in and you'll be fine.

You'll probably make the car lurch forward when you start but after a while you'll get a feel for the car's powerband and make it alright. Every clutch is a little different, no one is perfect when they try a new clutch for the first time no matter how experienced they are.

Once you can start on a hill, you've got it.

zeontestpilot > Rico
07/21/2014 at 11:35

I would LOVE an Impreza or a Legacy wagon, but I have heard there are some issues with it. So I'm not really sure. Not sure if the local mechanics can fix it if something goes wrong though.

This is one of the reasons car shopping has been sort of frustrating, there's too many variables and 'ifs'. -_-

zeontestpilot > OPPOsaurus WRX
07/21/2014 at 11:39

The cruiser has to do a 3-point turn to get into a parking spot most of the time. It just doesn't turn well.

The outback is the crossover one, right?

Rico > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 11:39

What about Focus hatchback? Those can be had for relatively cheap, a 2013 Focus hatch went for like $19k new so you can easily find one for much less than that used.

zeontestpilot > The World of Vee
07/21/2014 at 11:44

The hill start, I thought, was easier than expected. I could to the Rabbit easily. Months ago I looked at a manual cobalt (pre-recall), and I couldn't get that into first a all. I couldn't find that sweet spot when the clutch just barely disengages, so I could give some gas and get the car moving. It kept stalling on me.

zeontestpilot > dinobot666
07/21/2014 at 11:45

Yeah, my wife loves Chrysler cars because her dad works for them. She really likes the 300, but a decent mileage one, with AWD, is outside our price range.

zeontestpilot > OPPOsaurus WRX
07/21/2014 at 11:48

I [mistakenly] told my wife that the clutch can get worn out, so now she's against the only car being a stick. I actually brought it up yesterday to her, and she said "you know what I told you". I'm not going to get far there....

OPPOsaurus WRX > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 11:49

I'd call it a crossover now. Back in the day it was more of a lifted wagon like the Volvo XC70. the legacy Sedan, which isn't as common is pretty cool looking. The older ones looks like a lifted sedan.

zeontestpilot > Rico
07/21/2014 at 11:52

I had to rent one for work, it was pretty decent. My wife wasn't too impressed. I can still look into it though, just in case. In regular drive mode, the acceleration wasn't very responsive. If you put it in select shift, that's a different story!

dinobot666 > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 11:53

Pick up one of the last of the current 200s. It'll be FWD only, but has the fancy pants new Pentastar V6 engine, which is a gem.

zeontestpilot > dinobot666
07/21/2014 at 11:59

I'll look into that, thanks.

The World of Vee > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 12:04

does your wife like your PT Cruiser? I mean no offense, but if she does she really can't criticize any car as pretty much everything is better. It has space, but....that's really it.

Since you seem pretty new to cars (I mean you called a Corolla responsive, the first time since the 80s I think someone's said that haha) so your best bet would be something reliable, not too old and cheap. If you're looking for a bit of luxury then look into a Saab of the 09+ vintage, not as bulletproof as an import but a good choice. Personally I'd say you'd be the perfect candidate for a C5 Audi Allroad, but I'm so biased when it comes to that generation of cars.

The 2002-2005 allroad would be comfortable, cheap, come in both manual and automatic forms, v6 and v8 forms as well, could haul all your crap in the trunk and haul ass too.

If you don't need the trunk space then get an A6 (2.7 or 4.2) instead.

but yeah man, good luck!

thebigbossyboss > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 12:23

what do you need AWD for?

zeontestpilot > thebigbossyboss
07/21/2014 at 12:35

Snow, mud, and 'just in case'. My neighbors told me that 4wd is the best for where we live. But since I commute so far, a 4wd vehicle wouldn't be very fuel efficient. I think awd would be a good substitute. This is of course, speculation.

Rico > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 12:35

I mean IMO anything would be better than a PT Cruiser. What about a 2006-7 Honda Accord with a V6? Plenty of space, power and reliability and can be had for under $12k.

thebigbossyboss > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 12:36

Oh I see. Honestly, I have been fine in FWD in all my winters here. Yeah I get stuck, but I just carry a small shovel and dig my way out usually.

zeontestpilot > Rico
07/21/2014 at 12:47

I haven't seen too many for sale where I'm at, but I'll keep an eye out.

zeontestpilot > thebigbossyboss
07/21/2014 at 12:51

Hmm, are you in a country-like area by any chance?

Also, I suggested the 300 awd because its normally rwd. I would love that, but snow and ice. I know it as a near 50/50 weight distribution, and does great on snowy, paved roads (father-in-law had one), but I'm not sure about unpaved roads....

Rico > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 12:51

They are pretty great reliability wise, and believe it or not most indy shops even if they mostly work with 'Murican cars can find their way around a Japanese car since they are usually dead simple. It's those pesky German cars that confuse them.

zeontestpilot > Rico
07/21/2014 at 13:02

Is this also true with Subaru's by any chance?

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 13:04

So, this might not be the popular answer because the PT Cruiser is a rather dreadful vehicle, but I say don't buy anything.

You mention your car is worth roughly 3k. And you have 18 months of payments left. I'm going to guess you're probably upside down. One of the WORST things you could do is trading in a vehicle that you owe more than it's worth. If you do that, you're paying for that car imbalance in equity the entire life of the new loan.

It might not be what you want to do, but at this point the PT Cruiser won't lose that much more value if you just keep it till its paid off.

If you insist on getting a new(er) vehicle, I'd look into either a Corolla or Civic. They're reliable enough you shouldn't need to worry about repairs.

Rico > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 13:08

That I'm not too sure about so I'm not going to suggest that it is. I only recommended Subaru because of their utility as well as all weather performance especially in snow regions.

zeontestpilot > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
07/21/2014 at 13:13

That's what I keep thinking too. But its the winter and the steering issue I'm worried about.

I think what I'm gonna do is look around, try some of the suggested cars here, and see what I think about them. If nothing catches my fancy, I can keep the cruiser and pay it off. Thus letting me get a manual in the future.

thebigbossyboss > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 13:15

No, paved roads in winter. I had long commutes but managed to get through.

zeontestpilot > thebigbossyboss
07/21/2014 at 13:25

Fwd would work. I'm sort of sacred of the whole "what if" part of it. This past winter was real bad, and I'm surprised my car came out in [mostly] one piece. I'm worried about if there's another bad winter, and if my car would be ok then.

I'm just trying to be ready for anything. This was my first winter driving in over 7 years.

thebigbossyboss > zeontestpilot
07/21/2014 at 13:29

You picked a hell of a winter to learn man. It was a tough one here too.

zeontestpilot > thebigbossyboss
07/21/2014 at 13:35

Lol, I just moved back to my home state of MI in Jun, 2013. Sitting in a car in <10 degrees, for over an hour waiting for a tow truck, not fun.