Now that April fool's is over..

"AM" (ap18961) 04/02/2015 at 11:42 • Filed to: None

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Yesterday I claimed that I wanted a mid-size sedan to save fuel and had narrowed it down to a Fusion and a 200, and some of you actually fell for it. I mean come on who would actually buy a 200 over a Fusion? I also said I would buy brand new which wouldn't save me any money at all, and some of you still fell for it. You should have remembered the date yesterday.

In all seriousness though I do need a car for commuting to work since I drive 100km to work and 100km back home, monday-friday. I've been driving my '03 Yukon for the last year and it's costing me about $200 a week in fuel (I know I'm an absolute idiot).

I've found the car that I'm actually going to purchase in the next week. It's a 2013 VW Jetta Highline TDI with the auto transmission. It's priced at $23,495 which is good since it's fully loaded with only 17,724 km on it.

She'll be mine in a week:

Leon711 > AM 04/02/2015 at 11:44

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HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > AM 04/02/2015 at 11:46

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Dat Brown.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > AM 04/02/2015 at 11:46

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Very nice. I bought a 2013 Dodge Dart Rallye on Tuesday for similar reasons.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > AM 04/02/2015 at 11:48

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I'd buy the Fusion

Textured Soy Protein > AM 04/02/2015 at 11:50

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Future ND Owner > AM 04/02/2015 at 11:50

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That's a really nice color on the Jetta. ID don't think I've ever seen it IRL before.

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > AM 04/02/2015 at 12:12

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I'm looking at the TDI Passat. I want a little more room than a Jetta. I drive my '06 Silverado on a 170+ mile commute two days a week ( I carpool, and the other guy does the other two days). I empathize and know your pain. I'm looking to purchase a manual 2014 with roughly 50k miles in a few months...only problem is that I have to drive like a minimum of 350 miles to find one...

deekster_caddy > AM 04/02/2015 at 12:16

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That's a nice ride. You shouldn't be disappointed. I was driving my '05 Yukon XL (8.1) DD for a few years, but I only do about 40 miles a day, about $350/mo in fuel. Had it for towing, but a few years ago got my '73 Buick running good, which can handle my towing needs. My commute just fit the electric range of a Volt with the heater on, so I got rid of the Yukon for a Volt two years ago, and I have no regrets. It's an awesome, amazing and fun car. If I had to go any further, a VW diesel would have been high on my list. My wife has an '08 Passat Wagon and we love it.

AM > Future ND Owner 04/02/2015 at 12:38

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I've only seen one driving around my town in this colour, it has dark windows and looks really good.

AM > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/02/2015 at 12:39

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This one gets a lot better mileage than the Fusion and the Jetta is cheaper, especially used.

AM > wunderwagen wants a longer roof 04/02/2015 at 12:39

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I thought about the Dart but I wanted to get a diesel, it's better in the long run.

Makoyouidiot > AM 04/02/2015 at 12:42

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I'd buy a 200 over most of the other midsizers available, tbh. Cept a Mazda 6.

AM > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! 04/02/2015 at 12:43

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I thought about the Passat TDI but it's usually just me driving during the weekdays so the Jetta made more sense since I don't need the extra space. Manual Passat's are actually quite rare to find especially under 50k miles. You can find manual Jetta's everywhere.

AM > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 04/02/2015 at 12:44

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I love this colour, is why I went with it.

AM > deekster_caddy 04/02/2015 at 12:52

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Wow I can't even imagine how the 8.1 is on gas seeing as my 5.3 is already plenty thirsty. With gas prices low over the winter it wasn't too expensive but during the summer it was far from reasonable. I have $10k saved up to make a down payment so with this I'll only owe a little over 13k on the car.

I've always liked the Volt and I could never explain why I liked it but I did. Have you considered trading to the new one? It's actually quite attractive and gets a bit better electric range I believe.

AM > Makoyouidiot 04/02/2015 at 12:54

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Don't get me wrong it's a very nice car but I would be hesitant to purchase one being a first year model. I think it will end up being very competitive in the mid-size market after people see it do well, it is pretty cheap compared to the competition.

AM > Leon711 04/02/2015 at 12:58

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Thank you sir.

deekster_caddy > AM 04/02/2015 at 13:01

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I was getting mostly 11-12 MPG from the 8.1, not bad considering. On a long highway trip if I did the speed limit it would get 15. Considering the pulling power, I was not disappointed.

I've considered trading in the Volt, but I really can't spend the money again. I'm having excellent luck with mine and getting about 100 MPG on average, I spend about $25/mo on gas and $25/mo extra in my electric bill, so $50/mo compared to $350/mo will be nice once I'm out of payments. By the time I'm ready to trade it in my daughter will be of driving age, I can't imaging a better first car than an old Volt! Even if the battery is complete shit, it will still be a 40MPG hybrid...

I would be more likely to get a new EREV when they release something in a large sedan. I'm not a big 'small car' person, and the Volt is small. But I still love it!

AM > deekster_caddy 04/02/2015 at 13:20

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You know that's actually not that bad, I get 17-18mpg for most of my trip if I cruise along at the speed limit but I work in Toronto so as I get closer I get stuck in stop and go traffic which drops my mpgs quite a bit. In winter I only get around 12-13mpg since my truck has the full-time AWD option so the front axle engages as soon as one wheel slips.

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > AM 04/02/2015 at 13:40

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Manual Passat's are actually quite rare to find especially under 50k miles.

Tell me about it. That's why I'm willing to wait til mid/late summer to start looking. That, and maybe when VW comes out with their 2016 model, more 2014's might start appearing on lots...

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > AM 04/02/2015 at 13:45

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I just don't trust VW's is all...

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > AM 04/02/2015 at 13:47

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I'm not a huge diesel fan myself but can respect your choice.

Axial > Makoyouidiot 04/02/2015 at 15:22

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I'd even buy it over the 6. AWD and that snazzy interior with an available 300 HP V6? What's a Fusion, again?

AM > wunderwagen wants a longer roof 04/02/2015 at 15:47

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I'm just a fan of the fuel economy, one guy on here said he gets around 52mpg when he's cruising down the highway

AM > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/02/2015 at 15:48

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Ford's aren't all that great either, nothing really is anymore.

AM > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! 04/02/2015 at 15:56

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I think tons of people will eat the 2016 model because it's expected to get a refresh for that model year. Then maybe you'll see lots of manual '14s pop up.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > AM 04/02/2015 at 15:58

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I can't speak for the current generation Fusion, but the last platform was pretty epic.

I drive the Mercury version and over 45k miles I've done nothing to it except basic maintenance.

AM > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/02/2015 at 16:03

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My only issue with Ford is their inability to produce a comfortable interior that isn't plastic-y. That and that the EcoBoost engines don't meet their EPA ratings ever.

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > AM 04/02/2015 at 16:04

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that's my hope. As much as I would like to get a newer model, I can't justify to cost when it's going to be a DD that I run til roughly 300,000-400,000 miles ( which, would be like 7-10 years of driving for me).

AM > 1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! 04/02/2015 at 16:19

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I'll be putting about 50,000 km a year on the Jetta just driving back and forth to work so this car will reach 400,000km in 7-8 years.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > AM 04/02/2015 at 16:20

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Unfortunately there's not any Mercury's new enough for your target or I'd recommend it. I think the interior in the Mercury Milan is pretty nice, and a Lincoln probably isn't in budget. The Titanium trims are normally real nice inside though, have you checked those out?

I've heard the same about the EcoBoosts, so I'm not fighting that fight for them.

AM > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/02/2015 at 16:33

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I've been in a Titanium Fusion and it didn't feel any more premium than the Jetta tbh. Lincoln's aren't all that great anymore either, the MKS has literally no more prestige over the Taurus, etc.

1.21 JIGGA WATTS!!! > AM 04/02/2015 at 16:34

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I hear ya.

"Public Transportation?! You mean like AMTRAK (the train)? Son, myself and my fellow travelers sometimes put on 3x the amount of miles/kilometers that you put on your vehicle, in the same year"

I want to use the above statement at least once to show that public transportation isn't for everyone...

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > AM 04/02/2015 at 16:37

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Prestige or actual nicer interior.

The Fusion vs the MKZ is a significant upgrade, and the ability to get a kickass 3.7L V6 vs the turbo 4's in the fusion.

AM > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/02/2015 at 16:44

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The interior of the MKS literally uses the same materials as the Taurus with the addition of a few stitch patterns and real wood inserts.

The MKZ is noticeably better than the Fusion in the interior dept. Better materials, good layout, more tech features, etc. Also, the 3.7L V6 is a major upgrade from the 2.0 in the Fusion.

AM > Axial 04/02/2015 at 18:03

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I'd take the 200 over any other mid-size as well but I would never buy a first-year model of any car, they're usually the ones with bugs that need fixing.

It does look extremely good and that Pentastar V6 sounds better than most in its class. I can't wait until Chrysler adds direct injection and starts turbocharging which is supposed to start happening later this year.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > AM 04/02/2015 at 19:09

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Hot damn. That's awesome and the VW cars have some nice interiors to be in while you cruise and get that sweet mpg. I'm pretty excited to get the 34+mpg on the highway in my Dart, after the maybe 26ish from my Stratus.

Axial > AM 04/02/2015 at 20:07

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I'd wait it out if I were of the same disposition. Bugs is not reason enough for me to choose what I would consider an otherwise inferior package as an alternative. The Fusion looks awesome from the outside, but the inside is pretty unforgivable. Mazdas have a problem with long-term reliability, just like VW.

Finally, my family has always had great experiences with Chrysler vehicles. All these tales of woe painting Chrysler as garbage are pretty alien to me.

AM > Axial 04/02/2015 at 20:32

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I wasn't bashing Chrysler in any way. I own a GM vehicle and have had zero problems with it even though people are quick to shit on them. Everyone is quick to shit on Chrysler/GM but my Yukon has only been affected by 1 recall for the Hydro-boost system since it was built 12 years ago. My family has never had a problem with GM either but my grandparents did have a lot of problems with their 300 and Grand Caravan to tell the truth.

AM > wunderwagen wants a longer roof 04/02/2015 at 20:51

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34mpg is very respectable and the Dart puts out decent power in certain engines, which one does your have? I currently only get around 17-18mpg in my truck so the 42mpg rating alone gets me super excited, that's 24mpg more than I get now.

If I can get 52 mpg like the other guy I'll get 1200km in one tank which covers an entire week of commuting. I'll only have to fill up once a week which is going to cost roughly $65 compared to the $200/week I pay now. That means the Jetta will take 3 weeks to reach the fuel cost of my Yukon in 1 week, that works out to be about $7000 less in fuel for the entire year. You could say I'm pretty pumped!

Makoyouidiot > Axial 04/02/2015 at 21:41

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Yeah, the 6 needs more power to compete with the 200. New Mazdaspeed 6 maybe.

Makoyouidiot > AM 04/02/2015 at 21:42

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Funnily we have a Yukon and it is an absolute pile. Hate that thing.

AM > Makoyouidiot 04/02/2015 at 22:05

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It's all about how you maintain them.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > AM 04/02/2015 at 22:26

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My Dart has the NA 2L Tigershark motor. 160hp/148lb-ft paired with the 6 speed DDCT autobox. It's a respectable little motor that gets me moving. I almost wish I had the 1.4L turbo but the NA motor will be a little less maintenance needy over time. I will be doing some minor mods to it over the years to benefit the motor, mainly a new intake is my thought.

I'm excited for you, that's gonna be a nice commuter for sure. If I haven't said, that brown is gorgeous.

AM > wunderwagen wants a longer roof 04/02/2015 at 22:53

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That's pretty good power figures for that little motor, I think I'd rather stay non-turbo if I had the choice, makes life easier that way. I plan on putting a new intake in mine as well, I found an Injen intake for fairly cheap that will let it breathe a little easier.

Thanks, the lighting inside the wash bay doesn't do it much justice though. In person it's actually a lot darker of a brown, looks more like this one:

Vicente Esteve > AM 04/03/2015 at 12:04

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Very nice choice!

AM > Vicente Esteve 04/03/2015 at 12:27

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Thanks pal, I'm pretty excited.

Makoyouidiot > AM 04/03/2015 at 14:14

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Yeah, I inherited it from my mom, and her idea of maintenence is going 5k over each oil change. And I don't have the scratch to fix it, and very little desire since the title still belongs to my folks.

AM > Makoyouidiot 04/03/2015 at 15:45

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I'm only the 2nd owner of my truck and the guy who had it first had all the service records logged and everything was done at the dealership. That plus he only put 68,000km on it in 10 years

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > AM 04/03/2015 at 18:14

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well, try and remember that they started doing a lot better with vehicle releases starting with the MKZ, then the MKC, Navigator and soon MKX. I'm sure the next S and T will be up to par.

AM > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/03/2015 at 18:34

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To be honest the Navigator doesn't impress me at all. It went from competing with the Escalade in 2014 to competing with the Yukon for 2015. The other 2 are nice though.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > AM 04/03/2015 at 18:37

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Well in the Navigators defense, it's hard to judge it vs the C and X. They get new platforms when the Navigator is riding on an ancient platform. Yes it needs to be updated but everyone seemed to treat a mid cycle refresh as an "all New" model, which wasn't fair. Comparing it to the Caddy and GMC gets you a similar luxury full size suv for less money. Seems like a win to me.

AM > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/03/2015 at 18:44

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It's no where near what the new Escalade is and you know that. I like the expedition/navigator but the 2015 refresh was nothing more than a half ass attempt on Fords part.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > AM 04/03/2015 at 19:13

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Haven't driven either so I can't due a true comparison, specs and appearance to me seem like competitors.

Have you had seat time in both?

AM > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/03/2015 at 19:41

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I've only sat in the Escalade and played around with it but I've rode in a Yukon Denali which is basically the same thing and it drives so much smoother than the Navigator. Sure the Navi has IRS but the Magnetic Ride Control just shits on with a higher level of comfort. The GM 8-speed was also miles smoother and a lot less noticeable than the 6-speed in the Lincoln. I was however quite impressed with how quick the Navigator could take off so it wins in acceleration though it loses a point for the exhaust note which I find to be utterly repulsive. As for interiors, Ford still hasn't quite grasped the idea that the Navigator needs a more premium interior over the Expedition. I mean it's really no different at all than its cheaper brother. It was just about on par with the Yukon but the Escalade has a further upgraded interior that rivals the GL-class and it just blew the Lincoln away. Infotainment wise, the Lincoln and GM are both not that great, quite shit to tell the truth. They both have fairly slow reactions to touch inputs and require more effort and attention than they should. MFT would win this comparison though because it at least has real buttons; I find CUE is tricky to control without physically looking down at the panel, which you almost don't want to see due to the amount of fingerprints. Something along the lines of uConnect would be a major improvement for these two trucks. Cargo space in the Lincoln is slightly better since the IRS allows for a lower floor unlike the GMs which are stupidly raised up.

Overall I'd go with GM's offerings over Ford/Lincoln, especially the Escalade that really does feel a class above the Navigator. We'll have to wait and see how the next generation Navigator fairs against the Cadillac; though the next generation isn't due for production until the 2017 model year so Cadillac has a lot of time to outsell the shit out of them.

AM > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/03/2015 at 19:51

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Also for no reason other than to simply throw in a fact, I'd like to add that in 2014 the Escalade sold 30k units to the Navigators 10k.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > AM 04/03/2015 at 19:55

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Well I may disagree on a few of your points, but at the least you did your homework and know what you're talking about

Last point I have is that Ford has New infotainment coming out soon - Sync 3

AM > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/03/2015 at 20:12

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I do believe that Sync-3 will be significantly better but its clearly a rip-off of Chrysler's uConnect system. I know that they use the same operating system but they did they really need to set up the system the exact same way as Chrylser? Other than a different appearance, the system has all the menus positioned in the same spots, even clocks and temps are shown in the exact same spots. uConnect is literally the best in the business and I see why Ford would adopt the same software but at least set yours up a little differently other than just some new fonts and colours.

Makoyouidiot > AM 04/03/2015 at 22:16

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Reminds me of the Top Gear where they all three bought similar BMW's and saw how different they were.