Car hunting.

"bob and john" (bobandjohn)
10/19/2020 at 15:59 • Filed to: None

Well, my gf rolled her toyota echo this weekend. shes fine, but the car was a total write off (roof caved in on a 200k km echo....)

So, we are looking for a car for her.

needs to be auto, under 4k, in the Toronto ish area.

would like it to have heated seats and ESP. a AWD car would be neat, but I dont think she can swing it.

Any ideas? I’m looking at camrys, couple older volvo S40s, found a SILLY clean mazda protege.....might lok at some impalas.

what else am i missing / should be looking for? ?

DISCUSSION (45)

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > bob and john
10/19/2020 at 16:07

How is a Toronto-ish Protegee not rusted up to the windows? I’m on the prairies and any remaining are swiss cheese.

Wacko > bob and john
10/19/2020 at 16:07

the big problems with protege/5 is rust.

my 2003 protege5 that i bought new had rust show up under the dealer rustproofing after 1 year of owning it.

decent car to look for would be a SX4, decent gas millage and decent power for the size of the car. I loved mine when i had one 2010-2015 RIP

bob and john > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer
10/19/2020 at 16:10

thats whats shocking to me. it has UNDER 100k km. like WTF!??!

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > bob and john
10/19/2020 at 16:10

I wonder why ESP is a requirement lol

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > bob and john
10/19/2020 at 16:10

Behold

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/240820663871804/

From a BHPH but there’s a lot more SX4s than I’d expected near you. They’re good cars.

bob and john > Wacko
10/19/2020 at 16:11

I wonder if those are in budget...

but yea, this particular protege I found is under 100K km (its the one pictured )

I dont get HOW . but totally rust free. and he wants 2k for it!

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > bob and john
10/19/2020 at 16:11

I like those, especially the little wagon, but the rust is so strong with them.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/19/2020 at 16:12

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/338177147426568/ this is my real answer though

bob and john > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/19/2020 at 16:12

because she has been driving less then a month and already rolled an echo because the ass end slid away ( so she says)

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > bob and john
10/19/2020 at 16:13

I like Proteges a lot but I also live in a magical land where 2000s Mazdas don’t rust. You call there. It’s really uncommon but I’ve seen not entirely thrashed Chevy Cruzes that cheap but the 1.4 turbo is an unreliable hot mess. If it is an LS trim with the 1.8 I’d go for it.

bob and john > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/19/2020 at 16:13

listed 6 weeks ago....honestly, that might be the ticket

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > bob and john
10/19/2020 at 16:14

Any AWD Outlanders in your area? I sold 2 while I was working at a dealer, and they always seemed like really good deals for what we sold them for.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > bob and john
10/19/2020 at 16:15

They’re solid. Not much to break. Reliable, from what I’ve read. Values are all over the place. I’ve yet to actually sit in one.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > bob and john
10/19/2020 at 16:16

Perhaps better tires is more of a requirement than ESP? Or driver training?

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
10/19/2020 at 16:17

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/city-of-toronto/2010-mitsubishi-outlander/1530390444?undefined

ibRAD > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/19/2020 at 16:19

I used to work with a guy that had one and he loved it.

ibRAD > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/19/2020 at 16:20

+1 on the tires. I have an echo and they are most definitely not prone to oversteer!

bob and john > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/19/2020 at 16:23

oh you think thats not on the shit list? lol its more for my peace of mind then anything else.

Chariotoflove > bob and john
10/19/2020 at 16:25

Side car for your bike with a heated seat?

I know, not helpful.

That’s a pretty broad range you’re considering there . Does she want to stay small, or is she interested in scratching a new itch. Your potential list implies she has no itch to scratch at all about cars.

dogisbadob > bob and john
10/19/2020 at 16:27

glad she’s ok

You guys are lucky because you got the Echo hatch up there and we didn’t

Can you get a Micra for 4k yet? What is their depreciation like? Nissan also sold the X-Trail in Canada from 2004-2006

You might be able to get a Chevy Orlando in your price range.

bob and john > Chariotoflove
10/19/2020 at 16:28

she does not. She just needs wheels for now.

eventually she wants an A4 allroad. but she is as clueless about cars as can be (she only starte d driving like a month go and shes in her late 20s/ 30s)

bob and john > dogisbadob
10/19/2020 at 16:29

there is like one or two micras, but seeing as I will have to drive it time to time, I dont want to subject myself to THAT

404 - User No Longer Available > bob and john
10/19/2020 at 16:29

Beige Corrorra?

https://www.autotrader.ca/a/toyota/corolla/burlington/ontario/19_11595791_?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=13_15_46&pc=L3R%204X9&sprx=100

Or if safety is pinnacle, Volvo?

https://www.autotrader.ca/a/volvo/v50/north%20york/ontario/5_49711682_20200513163803984?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=8_15_29&pc=L3R%204X9&sprx=100

Tripper > bob and john
10/19/2020 at 16:36

That an MP5!? A red one of those was my first actual “car” and first manual. Edit: Glad to hear your girlfriend is ok!

404 - User No Longer Available > bob and john
10/19/2020 at 16:36

And having driven one as a rental, it’s not something I would trust in a car crash.

dogisbadob > bob and john
10/19/2020 at 16:37

The Micra is awesome and looks cool. An almost-new car will be much safer than an old Mazda

Tripper > Wacko
10/19/2020 at 16:41

Had one too, first “car” and first manual, hit drivers corners head on when I was turning into a parking lot with a speeding explorer over a blind hill. Only 1 wheel left on the car! We walked away super lucky!

Chariotoflove > bob and john
10/19/2020 at 16:46

So then, if you can’t afford AWD right now, go for anything FWD. Camry, Malibu, Optima, Soul, whatever. As long as it’s reliable and has predictable, user-friendly understeer, right?

Future next gen S2000 owner > bob and john
10/19/2020 at 16:48

Mustang GT? Matching Daytona?

These may or may not be good ideas.

404 - User No Longer Available > bob and john
10/19/2020 at 16:49

And since you’re looking at Impalas, what about its platform-mate the Buick Allure?

https://www.autotrader.ca/a/buick/allure/mississauga/ontario/19_11651603_?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=18_15_48&pc=L3R%204X9&sprx=100

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > bob and john
10/19/2020 at 16:54

Damn, you guys have NO luck! Glad to hear she’s OK!

Proteges are cool cars, but Proteges of that gen rust like MAD FYI, so, as much as I like them, I’d stay away for that reason...

I’d suggest an Accent of my gen as they are stupid cheap and stupid reliable, but no heated seats or ESP available that I know of...

RB Accents (2012-2018) had heated seats as an option, not sure about ESP though...

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > bob and john
10/19/2020 at 16:55

I just test drove a Micra the other day with a stick that had only 500kms on it , it was honestly a LOT better car than people would think and seemed way more upmarket than my Accent. Yes, plastic everywhere, but really well put-together, no rattles or anything anywhere, seemed really punchy (at least with the stick) for what it is...

bob and john > Chariotoflove
10/19/2020 at 17:04

pretty much. found a couple of outlanders with AWD in that price range

bob and john > Future next gen S2000 owner
10/19/2020 at 17:07

haha. I made it very clear, she is not touching ANY of my bikes or cars for a good chunk of time.