The 150k mark

"JRapp: now as good as new again" (jrapp)
04/18/2016 at 22:31 • Filed to: None

I feel like I’m in a rut. Automotively.

I’ve always driven at least moderately interesting cars in the past. My High-school car was at first my moms V6 Mazda MX-3, and then my own Fiero GT.

Somewhere along the way the Fiero died (150k miles), and I ended up with a Firebird Formula, not exactly by choice, but out of convenience. It was an OK car - loud and brutish, somewhat tossable. After college, as I got a real job, I sold the Firebird (roughly 150k miles) and bought an Audi A6 4.2L with the sports package.

Loved that car. Drove that until - you guessed it - 150k miles or so until it ate itself from the inside out (chain guides, valves, etc.). Now with kids and a family, I needed something more “sensible”, so I bought an Acura MDX SUV. On paper, this thing ticks every box - reliable, decent enough power, all the goodies, handles awesome for an SUV, more like a car even, and to a sensible person this should be fine.

But this is me. I don’t want to be stuck with the sensible choice. And the MDX is nearing the 130k mark, so if past experiences are anything to go by, I have another 20k left with this thing before I either get the itch, or something drastic breaks.

This leaves me with choices. (And my wife has an 01 Monte Carlo that’s on its last leg. That thing needs to go. And I also still have the Fiero, but it’s... broken.)

So choices.

I could get my wife something she wants, and stick it out with the MDX as long as it’ll go. Hopefully with this being a Honda product, a bit longer than 150k.

I could give the MDX to my wife, which she loves, and trade in her Monte Carlo for something for me, but what?

Or, I could trade in both (all?) cars for something else, but that seems financially irresponsible.

Assuming the MDX stays, the second car should be something that can accommodate 2 adults, 2 kids and maybe a dog once in a while, even if that means the dog riding in the back seat between the two kids (no car seats anymore thankfully). It should be relable, no Germans. (She hated the Audi’s expensive maintenance). I will not buy anything with less than 6 cylinders. Nothing with a used Turbo. I need leather (dog and messy kids). I’d like built-in Nav. I don’t want anything older than 2007. All in a budget of about $10k-$12k, if not cheaper. I suppose I could use a grand of that to get the Fiero back on the road as the “fun” car (finish the engine swap I started a few years back), but I lack both time and space to do that right now..

So choices...

We’ve been looking at a V6 Accord Coupe, but those are hard to find with all the above requirements, plus it’s a bit boring. I like wagons, she hates wagons. I want something German, though I admit I shouldn’t probably own another German car at this point - she’s still bitter about the Audi. Most other Europeans have similar reliability problems or maintenance costs, think Volvo, Jaguar. Japanese cars, nothing in my budget interests me. I kind of like the 2009+ Maxima maybe, but maybe it’s also a bit boring. Something 2-door may be more interesting, but nothing fits the bill. I’m done with US cars for the time being. Too many reliability issues, even if they are on the cheaper side to fix.

So choices..

DISCUSSION (32)

C62030 > JRapp: now as good as new again
04/18/2016 at 22:34

VW Phaeton wagon conversion. Who cares if it causes a divorce.

JRapp: now as good as new again > C62030
04/18/2016 at 22:35

The Phaeton is unreliable even when only compared to other German cars. I do like the look though. I did actually consider it before the Audi though.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > JRapp: now as good as new again
04/18/2016 at 22:43

Stuff a turbocharged Cadillac 4.9 and an MSII in the Fiero. Problem solved.

C62030 > JRapp: now as good as new again
04/18/2016 at 22:45

I am well versed in the Phaeton’s unreliability (after once calling it good value and being torn apart by commenters). But man, is it a cool car. I saw one in a car park the other day and it looked even nicer than the CLS next to it, which I also love.

Die-Trying > JRapp: now as good as new again
04/18/2016 at 22:50

what is wrong with the fiero ?

JRapp: now as good as new again > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/18/2016 at 22:55

I went the simpler route with the Fiero. A 3.4L 60-degree V6 bolts right in. I just need to sort out the fuel system, and brakes and fluids and the popup headlights and interior and tires.

As I said though, I lack the time and the space - too much crap in the garage that needs to go away. An ATV, maybe like 5 sets of tires, an above ground swimming pool (the whole thing, sans water of course, folded up), tanning bed, bags of toys and clothes that need to go to Goodwill, etc..

But maybe you’re right. Perhaps getting the Fiero on the road is the solution.

JRapp: now as good as new again > Die-Trying
04/18/2016 at 23:00

I broke the crankshaft in half.

So now it’s sort of in the middle of an engine swap. A 3.4L 60 degree V6 bolts right in, and for the short period that it sort of ran with that, it provided adequate power compared to the stock 2.8L.

At this point, I need to sort out the fuel system - dead fuel pump. I also need to get the fuel pressure right for the larger engine. I need to replace all the fluids. Redo the brakes. Fix the popup headlights. Fix the interior - saggy roof, torn seats, etc. Needs new tires. The taillights need some TLC, as do most of the window seals and such.

JRapp: now as good as new again > C62030
04/18/2016 at 23:02

So care to elaborate on the “wagon conversion” part?

BeaterGT > JRapp: now as good as new again
04/18/2016 at 23:02

Sounds like you should get another Firebird. Trans Am Ws6 this time around though.

JRapp: now as good as new again > BeaterGT
04/18/2016 at 23:06

Too old and small, though I have been toying with the idea of trading the Fiero for some other toy, maybe a Firebird. But I’m thinking that trading my wifes car for something that can do double duty as a DD and a toy would yield more car.

BeaterGT > JRapp: now as good as new again
04/18/2016 at 23:13

G8 GT. The Firebird’s mature nephew.

Die-Trying > JRapp: now as good as new again
04/18/2016 at 23:19

luckily... thats mostly all small stuff... just need to get after it one job at a time until you get it back on the road.

make a list of all the jobs, and start working on them, crossing them off as you go.

C62030 > JRapp: now as good as new again
04/18/2016 at 23:32

Make the roof longer. Add hatch. Increase cool factor by 10.

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > JRapp: now as good as new again
04/18/2016 at 23:36

I feel you, sir. I’m still driving a high mileage Accord with an automatic and have been for the past 5 years. My motorcycle is STILL broken!

JRapp: now as good as new again > C62030
04/18/2016 at 23:39

Well yea, but has it been done before? And I can’t even begin to imagine what that would cost. And really, at that point an A6 avant isn’t that far off, albeit a bit smaller. It may be easier putting VW badging and facia on one of those to get a similar result.. I don’t think they ever made an A8 avant did they?

JRapp: now as good as new again > BeaterGT
04/18/2016 at 23:41

That’s not a bad idea. I’ll have to look at what those run nowadays. It’s still sort of “domestic” but not exactly. I imagine they're more around $20k still though...

JRapp: now as good as new again > Die-Trying
04/18/2016 at 23:41

That’s not the problem. I need to start by making room in the garage to work on it. Sell ATV. Take crap to Goodwill. Get rid of old wheels and tires that don't fit anything I own anymore. Craigslist some other crap like the above ground pool that's in there (sans water of course and folded up).

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > JRapp: now as good as new again
04/18/2016 at 23:45

Kinja'd!!!

For 2008-09 you could get a Legacy 3.0R (wagon or sedan) that had a flat-6. There’s not a lot of them out there but they fit your criteria nicely.

JRapp: now as good as new again > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
04/18/2016 at 23:56

Living in Portland these should be easy enough to find. That may also be a problem though. They're everywhere, and owning one gets you type cast to a certain demographic. That all aside, are these fun cars to drive? It seems like they're on the large side and arent they all turbocharged? I can't do a used turbo. I've seen too many friends with WRXs go through turbo issue after turbo issue.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > JRapp: now as good as new again
04/18/2016 at 23:59

The 3.0R was not turboed.

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > JRapp: now as good as new again
04/19/2016 at 00:00

The front seats have cloth, but the backs would.suit your requirements...

https://www.carsforsale.com/vehicle/detail…

Kinja'd!!!

Die-Trying > JRapp: now as good as new again
04/19/2016 at 00:02

well you can put those on the list of things that need to get done to fix the fiero........ that way you are making progress. dont make reasons why it CANT get done...... you dont need all the room all at once, just where you are working. or make enough room that you can roll the car into the driveway, and do jobs that are possible in 1 day, and then roll it back in come evening.you just have to want to make it happen

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > JRapp: now as good as new again
04/19/2016 at 00:03

Well, if you toss out the euro cars and the American cars, there’s not much left with a V6 in that price range especially if you’re in search of fun. I’d say, don’t brush in broad strokes, each brand has models with good reliability and bad.

Mazda 6s

Cadillac CTS

G8s a good suggestion but you're looking at a base model in your price range but the nice part is it probably won't depreciate much

MrPKDolphin > JRapp: now as good as new again
04/19/2016 at 00:47

It’s slightly higher then your budget but you should look and see if you can find a nice late model Pontiac G8, more reliable and somewhat obscure compared to a German sport sedan. It has a naturally aspirated V8, leather, and nav. Plus you seem to like Pontiac so I just thought I would throw that out there.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > JRapp: now as good as new again
04/19/2016 at 01:26

Have you considered a Lexus? RX or IS would be affordable, a nice GS would require haggling, but it seems to check all the boxes.

JRapp: now as good as new again > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
04/19/2016 at 13:15

That’s good to know. I’ll take a look at those..

JRapp: now as good as new again > Die-Trying
04/19/2016 at 13:17

Good point...

JRapp: now as good as new again > V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me!
04/19/2016 at 13:20

That’s an interesting thought.. it’s a bit far from Portland, and probably rusted with the salt they use on the roads, but maybe if I look at something locally...

Don’t konw about the fun factor though...

JRapp: now as good as new again > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
04/19/2016 at 13:26

The RX is out. Already have an SUV thing that as far as SUVs go, I like well enough. The GS or the IS have potential though.. IS is presumably a more fun car.. and I just realized that they’re rear wheel (or all wheel) drive. That just moved it up a notch in my book, and it looks like they do make them with a manual..

C62030 > JRapp: now as good as new again
04/19/2016 at 17:35

I don’t think they did. I also just found this probably-Photoshop on Google Images, and I would give several limbs for it.

Kinja'd!!!

JRapp: now as good as new again > C62030
04/19/2016 at 17:57

There’s also the Avantissimo concept:

Kinja'd!!!

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > JRapp: now as good as new again
04/20/2016 at 01:24

They pop up on occasion. Look at copcarsonline. Mostly Florida cars.