Rented one of these while my car is at the dealer

"fhrblig" (fhrblig)
09/12/2016 at 13:22 • Filed to: None

It feels like a 7/8 scale version of my partner’s Elantra GT, but so far I like it just fine. It’s way better than the Versa they wanted to stick me with.

DISCUSSION (19)

For Sweden > fhrblig
09/12/2016 at 13:29

I don’t know what that is

duurtlang > For Sweden
09/12/2016 at 13:39

Agreed. Although, from the looks of it, Generic South Korean Box would be a fitting desciption. Could be Japanese or maybe American, but I’m confident it’s South Korean.

fhrblig > For Sweden
09/12/2016 at 13:42

Hyundai Accent SE.

fhrblig > duurtlang
09/12/2016 at 13:42

You are correct! Hyundai Accent hatch.

duurtlang > fhrblig
09/12/2016 at 13:46

We don’t get those here. I cannot name the design cues, but you can just see it’s South Korean. Not that that’s a bad thing in itself though.

Probenja > fhrblig
09/12/2016 at 13:50

Funny you say that, my mom had an Accent as a rental and I much rather have her Versa Note.

Klaus Schmoll > duurtlang
09/12/2016 at 13:55

I think this would be the European version (ix20), but who knows they all look the same to me.

Kinja'd!!!

duurtlang > Klaus Schmoll
09/12/2016 at 13:59

That’s clearly something else, yet also very similar. It’s the same thing with most Korean cars nowadays. They tend to look modern and not-ugly. Uninspired and generic would be a description too though. Competent cars for a decent (but not cheap nowadays) price.

How’s your car hunt going?

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Probenja
09/12/2016 at 14:07

How? I pretty much follow the philosophy of ANYTHING but the Nissan Versa or Chevy Spark when it comes to rentals. New Hyundai Accents are actually pretty quick and it is real easy to smoke the tires. For a wrong wheel drive econobox, they arent half bad.

fhrblig > Probenja
09/12/2016 at 14:18

I have a couple Versa Notes in my fleet at work, and after a couple hours driving one I want to fling it off a cliff. The CVT sucks.

fhrblig > duurtlang
09/12/2016 at 14:20

I think Hyundai called it ‘fluidic sculpture’ or some other buzzwordy malarkey. I do like it, though.

Klaus Schmoll > duurtlang
09/12/2016 at 14:40

Friend of mine swears that used cars are cheapest in February, which means that I could use the x-mas bonus as well. Definitely not getting new summer tires, timing belt/tensioners/water pump for the Honda. I’m trying to narrow down what I want and read up on common issues. Front runners are Audi A6 C6s, BMW E61s, and as a reasonable choice Octavia RSs.

The Insignia 2.0 turbo is actually not a bad car, and can be had for very reasonable prices. Problem is that I can’t see myself staring at that badge on the steering wheel for several years. The prices seem to indicate that I’m not the only one having this problem.

Probenja > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
09/12/2016 at 14:44

The Accent is the more powerful option i’ll give it that but the Versa is more practical, has more room inside, better visibility and imo the interior is nicer too. I am comparing a Versa SL to a rental-spec Accent though.

The Spark though, that is an awful little car, mostly because it’s a whole segment below the other two.

duurtlang > Klaus Schmoll
09/12/2016 at 14:58

For the Insignia there’s an easy fix; replace the badges by Vauxhall or Buick badges. Or get a Saab 9-5. I get what you’re saying though.

Anyway, what about a Ford Mondeo 2.0 Ecoboost or 2.5 5-cilinder? Alfa Romeo 159? Mazda 6 GT? Renault Laguna (mk3) 2.0T or (Nissan VQ35DE) V6? Peugeot 508? Citroën C5?

Scratch those last two now that I think about it, as they didn’t have good higher powered engines around 2010; they had the trouble prone BMW/Mini Cooper S engine.

Klaus Schmoll > duurtlang
09/12/2016 at 15:16

The big Alfa engines seem to be hit or miss, some have constant timing chain issues, others never have a problem. It just isn’t limited to certain model years, seems like they had problems with factory tolerances.

The Mondeo and Mazda are good alternatives, the Nissan engine is nice but I can’t think of any desirable car they put it in.

All in all, ever since I was a little kid I wanted a black 5 series or similar. Time to get it out of my system now. If it turns out to be a terrible money pit I can still cut my losses and buy another Japanese mid-sizer.

BTW, your parents still happy with the Galant?

duurtlang > Klaus Schmoll
09/12/2016 at 15:33

Yes, the parents are still happy with the Galant. With the new rear shocks the tired front ones became noticeable and a wheel bearing is starting to make a noice, but what can you expect from a cheap old car. It’s a huge upgrade over the Suzuki Alto though.

The Nissan engine was available in the Renault Laguna (the mk3, the reliable one). It would be on my short list if I were to replace the 406, but it might not be your cup of tea. I only see it available with that engine in Germany in the coupe though, which won’t be too family friendly. There’s a 204 hp 2.0t in the wagon though.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Probenja
09/12/2016 at 16:04

Oh practicality lol. I only ever care which rental car is the least terrible/numb to drive. The Spark is actually so bad that it is fun but it is undeniably terrible. I am just glad that even the most terrible rental nowadays though has AC, cruise control, and high safety ratings. I cant imagine what it must have been like 20 years ago to get a 1996 Kia Rio from the rental desk and have to drive it any appreciable distance.

Klaus Schmoll > duurtlang
09/12/2016 at 16:20

The Laguna coupes are really good looking. Unfortunately I am looking for a wagon, and the MK3 wagon doesn’t really do anything for me.

Right now my search criteria when I hit mobile.de and the likes to see what is out there are: any make or model, wagon, 200+ hp, 2007 or newer, less than 200k kms preferably less than 150, and a “Standheizung” (independent vehicle heater) for 10-12k €. The independent heater was a fairly common factory extra on the big German diesels but is pretty rare on the French and Japanese, especially the petrol engines (and there aren’t really any high power diesels from them).

I’m pretty much open to anything, but when I see a black E61 with the M bumpers I just........ Hnnnnnnggggg. Not really what I need, or a good choice, but they have come down enough to fit the budget, and why not?

The Honda just got new TÜV so I’m not in a hurry, and can take my time to find a good one. Or maybe something else? (I’m stuck in a loop, but there is worse than browsing classifieds and reading the forums when you for once have the funds to actually pull the trigger when you strike gold.)

Kinja'd!!!

TheBlacktopExperiment > fhrblig
09/12/2016 at 20:43

Better than a Versa. That’s not exactly difficult at all. That’s like saying “I sort of like it (Personal note: I don’t know how). It’s better than an adult-sized tricycle”