freaking out about having to buy a car.

[smilingcat]

Why now?? Why does my current car have so many problems all at once??

didn't drive since Friday and had to move my car maybe 5 feet or so. Started the engine and I hear metal clanking sound. Sound not so good. I know timing belt/water pump/thermostat needs replacing $$$$, tires needs replacing $$$$, wheel alignment is needed but the front end needs to be overhauled because the guys at the office tells me that the bushings are wiped out $$$ (I understand what they are saying and why the front will not stay in alignment) and last thing was, I stepped on the brake, my car kept moving instead of stopping :eek::eek: . Now I'm really scared to drive the car. I live near the top of a hill. Downhill with no brake is not a good idea :eek::eek:

I have my job worries and last thing I need is spending money. Well I'm always cheap but right now is not the time.

looking at
Prius
FIT
insight
get a different job closer to home so I can commute more easily by foot or by bike
some other car??
scooter ?? never driven one.
motorcycle?? never driven a motorcycle and I've only been on back of one once. Once was more than enough as it aged me YEARS. Motorcycles really intimidate me. How do you get it back up once it falls on its side? brake, clutch, throttle have no idea which goes where and how...???


Well, if I don't go into work tomorrow, my partner is going to be chauffuring me around to pick up some brochures for a car.

[/rant]

[crazycanuck]

*deep breath* Ahhh...

Right, next question would be..Do you Need a car? If you're a mtn biker, then yes. If not, can you get to & from your work etc on a scooter?

What about public transport such as trains? Is your area well serviced by them? Another thought..if you live near a university, students are always selling vehicles. Same as YHA's-you may find a nice Australia or New Zealander that has just finished their North American Jaunt & need to sell thier vehicle. It could get you through for now.

Just some thoughts.

Yes, we had to decide on a new vehicle as well last year but we needed something reliable to get us accross Australia n back, mtn bike trips, doggie, etc.

[Mr. Bloom]

I'm agonizing over the same thing, but for different reasons. Need another car for SilverDaughter. Here's what I'm finding:

- Started looking for Rav4/CR-V - mileage stinks
- I only buy used...but no one is buy new, so used supply is tight (and precious$)
- In "bang for the buck", is the difference between an '07 30mpg Civic for $11,000 and an '07 45mph Prius for $21,000 worth it...not for someone who doesn't drive much
- Here's what I'm liking for her right now:

- Scion xB
- The new Kia SOUL - it's funky hip - albeit new and unproven
- Honda Accord/Civic

It is odd right now that with used supplies down, some new cars may wind up being a better deal than the most popular used models.

Good luck - let us know which way you go.

[tulip]

Mr. Silver, you can't go wrong with a late model (or early model for that matter) Honda Civic. Safe, efficient, comfortable...I'd pick a Civic over an Accord any day. I've had both, and there's no more room in the Accord.

Does SilverDaughter drive a manual transmission? If not, it's TIME TO LEARN! Better mileage, better control, better handling, better driving. I firmly believe that insurance companies should have lower rates for manual transmission drivers, because we pay more attention when we drive. A manual Civic, driven properly, will easily reach into the upper 30s for mileage.

Smilingcat, in SoCal, it's very hard to go carless. What kind do you have now? How old is it? It will very, very likely cost you less to fix the old car than to buy a new one. Alot less. But there are tradeoffs, like Peace of Mind (a big one!).

[andtckrtoo]

I second the idea of a Civic. In fact that's what my DD gets when she goes to college - a used Civic with about 50k on it - that will last her through college. Great cars, ultra reliable and actually fun to drive. I have an Accord which I love. My only problem with my Accord is that when I pull in front of someplace to pick up my daughter or someone - they can never tell if it's actually me because there are about six other cars just like it (I'm used to driving flashy, unique cars like my Mini Cooper). But, I'm learning to be more part of the crowd. :D

[Becky]

It is odd right now that with used supplies down, some new cars may wind up being a better deal than the most popular used models.


DH and I found the same thing to be true when we shopped for another Subaru wagon (this one is #4 for us). The late-model used ones were nearly as much as a new leftover. For the first time in our lives, we bought new.

[Irulan]

the cost/benefit for the Prius has yet to outweigh it's price, imsho.
The fit is a nice car too, they are really cool.

[Aggie_Ama]

Seeing how much you can get into a Fit I would go with that. We sold a decent sized dresser of my Nanny's to a girl who pulled up in a Fit. My dad was like "Huh, no truck, this won't work." They put the dresser in, closed the hatch and off she went. You could probably carry several cat crates, a bike, whatever you needed. Not the cutest cars but wow, you can fit a lot into a Fit. :D

I like the looks of the new Scion XD and really liked the XB I test drove.

I have 70k on my Dodge Caliber which can be found for cheap and despite the anti-American car sentiment of most I have found Dodge cars very reliable for me. I put 120k on my Neon and only replaced the tires and an oxygen sensor. DH's dad has 170k on his Caravan and 260k on his Dodge truck.

[smilingcat]

Eating lunch, bagel with creme cheese, lox, onion, tomato but no capers and listening to big band music at my favorite coffee house I came to stark realization that Honda Insight and Toyota Prius will not do. We like to take our golden and white lab for a ride in our car. We drive them to a greenbelt, converted rail road track for a nice walk. I don't think Prius nor Insight can accomodate the dogs in the back.

tulip-- my car is 2000 model year Audi A6 Quattro station wagon with 221k miles on it. I asked several of the motor head at my office on estimated repair cost. Sounds like $5,000 to $8,000. There are other repairs needed which I didn't list. And yes there is also the knowledge of "peace of mind" I went with the other extreme end of cars when my uber cheap Toyota pkup (prior to the Audi) was totaled in a "slow speed" crash from the rear end by a Ford Taurus. The bed of the pkup was shortened by about 3 feet.

Subaru is good especially if I decide to move to Seattle area or out to Oak harbor area...

Another suggestion was for a Scion.

And yes new model is not much more expensive than the used one and with 0% financing, I'm contemplating the financing angle and going with a new car. Tis the time when dealers want to unload last year model so I think I can get a good deal :) I just have to get in before there is a huge influx of car buyers when the gas price hits $3.50 or more for regular.

public transportation in LA is well hmm not so good. Might be able to finish a novel while waiting for the bus to shows up.

so my stop before going home is for collecting brochures... Brake seems to be working okay this morning and rattling sound was gone still not feeling too confident about the car.

[tulip]

You have gotten alot of miles out of that Audi, Smilingcat! Good for you. Older Audis (and maybe new ones, I don't know) are expensive to repair, and with so many miles, it probably would be a better use of your money to get a different (new or used) car.

I can only say what I would get...it's kinda fun to dream, right? Well, first off, I love my car. It's a 2007 VW Rabbit and it holds everything I need it to and then some. It's also very fun to drive. I would only get a hatchback or wagon. If not the Rabbit, I'd look at a Toyota Matrix, Mazda 3 wagon, and maybe a Subaru wagon but they get pricey very quickly if you want anything other than the basic of basics. My VW is a base model, but it has things like seat heaters (not practical in LA!), blinkers on the side mirrors, electric mirrors, etc. The base Matrix had none of those things. I like a warm bum!

I would really prefer a diesel hybrid, but since I can't have that in this country, I'd settle for a diesel. VW makes Jetta and Passat diesel wagons. The diesel VW Jettas, all Passats and all Rabbits are made in Germany. The gas Jettas and Beetles are made in Mexico. There have been reports of quality differences. All I can tell you is that my Rabbit (made in Germany) has been fantastic and that my brother's Jetta (Mexico) had multiple problems. It was totaled while parked (no one inside/hurt), which was a blessing.

Audi and VW are sister companies, so that's why I bring it up. I also really like the Audi A3, but it was over my budget. Best of luck in your car hunting!

EDIT: I'd also go for the Honda Fit. I did not like the Prius because the view out the rear window is very limited. I need a big view. It was also about $10k over budget. Nothing like a small budget to focus ones choices, eh?

[maillotpois]

the cost/benefit for the Prius has yet to outweigh it's price, imsho.
The fit is a nice car too, they are really cool.

Plus the Prius is really a remote emission vehicle - the environmental costs of mining the lithium for the battery (which will only last 100 miles) far outweighs any savings on gas mileage. I love my Fit.

[ny biker]

FWIW, anyone thinking about buying a Prius will find pretty much all the info you need at www.priuschat.com. The Prius does have a lot of cargo space with the rear seats folded down. On a cost/benefit basis, the savings on gas will probably not make the added cost worthwhile (this is true for most if not all hybrids, I think). For me, low emissions was important in addition to the fact that it does everything I need a car to do.

[smilingcat]

Right now thinking about FIT. cheap, GOOD MILAGE, meets our needs for hauling. and I can replace both front seat with something more comfy. Suggestion made by one of the motorheads.They like to install racing bucket seat. In my case, a more comfy seat.

I really don't have anything against "American cars". I just look at the MPG rating and it leaves me ho hum... and styling is bit ho hum too...

[Irulan]

I don't know why'd you'd put Subaru on your list. Their mileage is less than impressive. Sure they've got all wheel drive all the time, but do you really need it?

I just got 30 MPG in my Mazda last weekend, on mountain two lanes roads. I'm stoked!!!

The only reason I didn't get a FIT was they didn't have a nice upgrade level of trim.

[badger]

I'm in a similar boat, though probably not as dire yet. I drove my little Mazda Protege off the lot in 1995. She's needing more and more work every year, but I'm trying to get another year or two out of her before I bid her farewell.

I'd say go for a smaller car like Fit. Yaris looks nice but isn't terribly well-thought out in terms of cargo and seating like Fit. You can go up to a Matrix, the seats go down flush, including the passenger seat, and is lined with plastic for easy clean up. Mileage is still good, and there should be plenty of used ones out there as they're really popular.

My next car is definitely going to be a hatch back.

[surgtech1956]

+1 for some sort of hatchback. You can't go wrong with a Honda or Toyota(Honda Fit, Toyota Matrix, Honda Element). I don't know much about Scion. I would own a Honda Fit or Toyota Matrix in a minute, if it wasn't for us having a pop-up camper to tow and needing 4WD(because we live on a street that isn't plowed in the winter).

[berkeley]

I love my Fit! That gets my vote :D

[ny biker]

Plus the Prius is really a remote emission vehicle - the environmental costs of mining the lithium for the battery (which will only last 100 miles) far outweighs any savings on gas mileage. I love my Fit.

100 miles? Even if you meant 100,000, it's not true. The Toyota hybrid drive lasts a long time.

Anyway, I agree on the utility of a hatchback, especially if the rear seats fold flat.

[FlyingScot]

I don't know why'd you'd put Subaru on your list. Their mileage is less than impressive. Sure they've got all wheel drive all the time, but do you really need it?

Ummm...ouch! 2008 Forester. Average mileage 23-25. Reasons to keep it on the list. Safety, reliability, versatility, towability, "haulability" and resale value. If it rains significantly where you live yeah the AWD sure comes in handy. Prefer to have it keep me out of trouble than have it kick in after the fact! Glad you love your Mazda.

[shootingstar]

I don't have anything meaningful to add to this thread since am so car clueless. :o

HOpe you a vehicle that meets your budget and for certain times of convenience.

[smilingcat]

I don't have anything meaningful to add to this thread since am so car clueless. :o

HOpe you a vehicle that meets your budget and for certain times of convenience.

It would be very nice if I could be like you and be car free and worry free about transportation. But this is LA. :(

The boys at the office are not much help when it comes to advising on models of car to look. I think they were just trying to tweak me. In there were some helpful hints though.

Get a Chrysler. They are dumping them so should get a real bargain.
Ford Focus or Fusion. Now that's interesting and never thought about.
Or one of the Saturns forgot the model name.

Regardless, I'm really not looking forward to car shopping. I hate haggling. I find most car salesmen to be bit "dirty" and untrustworthy. I get a feeling of their sole interest is to separate you from your hard earned cash and as much cash as possible. It's making me have an upset stomach. blach... :( didn't have time to drop into a car dealer today so try again tomorrow. meh. How can car buying be fun? shopping for a new bike, cloth, shoes, pottery, which I collect, buying sculpture is fun but a car??? Oh visitng an open house is always fun. :D :D

[badger]

I'm not sure if it's the same here, but here in Canada, both Toyota and Honda are haggle-free. Everyone pays the same price.

[sgtiger]

Regardless, I'm really not looking forward to car shopping. I hate haggling. I find most car salesmen to be bit "dirty" and untrustworthy. I get a feeling of their sole interest is to separate you from your hard earned cash and as much cash as possible. It's making me have an upset stomach. blach... :( didn't have time to drop into a car dealer today so try again tomorrow. meh. How can car buying be fun? shopping for a new bike, cloth, shoes, pottery, which I collect, buying sculpture is fun but a car??? Oh visitng an open house is always fun. :D :D


Internet car shopping is the way to go. No haggling. No mind games. The dealerships have a set internet price. Usually you have to go through your bank, credit union, buying club (Costco), etc., auto buying program. You just enter in the models and trim level you're interested in and the car dealerships email you with a set price.

Also, edmunds.com lists the average price that a particular model is selling for in your area. I highly recommend doing research on dealerships there.

[crazycanuck]

Is there something similar to a novation lease available through your company? That might be another idea.

[Becky]

Ummm...ouch! 2008 Forester. Average mileage 23-25. Reasons to keep it on the list. Safety, reliability, versatility, towability, "haulability" and resale value. If it rains significantly where you live yeah the AWD sure comes in handy. Prefer to have it keep me out of trouble than have it kick in after the fact! Glad you love your Mazda.

Ditto. Our Outback routinely gets 25-26 mpg around town, and 28-30 on the highway. And it holds as much as any small/mid SUV. A manual transmission, a light touch on the gas and brake, and timing all go a long way to increasing mpgs.

Smilingcat, good luck with your purchase. You'll do fine!

[Mr. SR500]

I'm agonizing over the same thing, but for different reasons. Need another car for SilverDaughter. Here's what I'm finding:

- Started looking for Rav4/CR-V - mileage stinks
- I only buy used...but no one is buy new, so used supply is tight (and precious$)
- In "bang for the buck", is the difference between an '07 30mpg Civic for $11,000 and an '07 45mph Prius for $21,000 worth it...not for someone who doesn't drive much
- Here's what I'm liking for her right now:

- Scion xB
- The new Kia SOUL - it's funky hip - albeit new and unproven
- Honda Accord/Civic

It is odd right now that with used supplies down, some new cars may wind up being a better deal than the most popular used models.

Good luck - let us know which way you go.

Mr. Silver, we love our Civic, big enough and rides nice enough we can take it to Chicago. Good gas mileage, will fit my bike in the trunk, and it's a Honda.

[TxDoc]

my car is 2000 model year Audi A6 Quattro station wagon with 221k miles on it.

It seems you had a good experience with your Audi - so how about just buying another A4? Audi makes great cars and it will probably last you as long or longer than the one you have. And if you want to save some $$$ you can probably find a used one.

[tulip]

It seems you had a good experience with your Audi - so how about just buying another A4? Audi makes great cars and it will probably last you as long or longer than the one you have. And if you want to save some $$$ you can probably find a used one.

A3 is the wagon. Very nice, indeedy.

[maillotpois]

100 miles? Even if you meant 100,000, it's not true. The Toyota hybrid drive lasts a long time.

Anyway, I agree on the utility of a hatchback, especially if the rear seats fold flat.

Right - duh - I meant 100,000. My understanding is that the batteries don't last much longer than that. Of course, there are probably not a lot of people out there testing for such distances in real world conditions yet.

[Tuckervill]

My son has two Scions (Xa and Xb) and he loves them. They are sweet little cars.

That said, you can never go wrong with a Civic. I have a '96 sitting in my driveway with 180k miles on it, that will probably go at least another 100k. (teenager car). It still gets 38 mpg when I drive it!

Karen

[tulip]

Yep, Civic is the best car out there. If they had only continued to make a hatchback, I would have bought one without question when I was car shopping in 2006. The Fit had not yet come out in the US, and I really wanted a hatchback. I had a 1979 Civic wagon and it was the best little car out there!

[papaver]

My next car will probably be a Mercedes B-class.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDy9BjZLhcg

I don't think it's available in the States (but I can be mistaken).

[GLC1968]

We had both a Prius and a Matrix at the same time. The Prius will fit two big dogs in back (ours are each 70+ lbs) with the seats down, but it's all carpeted, so clean up is a pain. Plus, put two dogs in the car and a bike rack with two bikes on a trailer hitch (what we did) and you can watch your gas mileage drop down to regular car levels (mid 30's) on the highway. Those bikes act like sails and when you lose the aerodynamics of the car, you lose a lot.

That said, there are lots of owners out where with batteries that have lasted well beyond 100K miles. They are only warranted to that age - but that doesn't mean they immediately quit working then. This is a Toyota, you know. ;) And, when gas gets back up to $4+ a gallon, the cost comparisons shift pretty drastically.

That said, we did sell the Prius last fall and kept the Matrix. Ours were both the same year (2005), but the Matrix is bigger on the inside (two dogs in back with the seats still up) and it does MUCH better with the bikes on the back because of the profile of the car. Where the Prius dropped from 46 mpg to 34 mpg (highway), the Matrix only dropped from 33 mpg to 31 mpg. The cargo space of the Matrix is also plastic - so easy to clean up muddy footprints. We also like that our Matrix (don't know if they kept this with new models) has a hatch glass that will open independently of the hatch opening. This makes the cargo space accessible even with bikes on the hitch.

We have 75K on our Matrix and it's still riding like new. Outside of a slightly odd clutch that takes some getting used to, we have not a single complaint about the car. We consistantly get about 31 mpg and we drive mostly back roads. We will average about 33 mph on the highway.

[mayanorange]

I second the Matrix or Pontiac Vibe (same car, different shell). Excellent gas mileage, really usable space inside. It's about 5 cubic ft smaller than our Saturn Vue, but I can get more stuff in because of how the seats fold. And the plastic is the best ever! (I have 2 big dogs too). Wish we had just bought a Vibe instead of the Vue- I'd rather have 2 Vibes.

Oh, and if you could ever find a smartcar forfour, they're really roomie and zippy for a super fuel efficient car! We had one as a rental our week in Tuscany and I was able to Mario Andretti her along those curvy mountain roads! So maybe I'd really get a forfour and keep my Vibe. Unfortunately the demand for forfours is nonexistant in the states so they're not selling them here anymore and I haven't seen anyone willing to part with one they have.

[smilingcat]

My partner really loves the Prius. She likes the statement it makes. Never mind about my piggy bank. :(

It is a very nice car to ride and drive. We also looked at Scion Xd, Toyota Yaris, and something else (cross between an SUV and a sedan, not quite a station wagon either). My partner also liked the Toyota's monster truck. :eek:

I like the looks of Matrix, Fit, CR-V??, insight, vibe, even the Yaris (love my piggy bank) and few others. my head is spinning and lost track of all the different cars. :o The seat in Prius was the best so far. And I don't know why the other cars can't get the 40 to 50 miles per gallon. So is the extra $10k worth it ?? don't know. what I do know is I'm not a spring chicken anymore and anything to reduce stress in my back is a big plus. Sooo even though I would have loved to have the FIT, I will be settling on the Prius. When the back gets dirty ohh well...

The car will be mothballed until my current car dies a painful death or until the registration becomes due (Sept). Buying it now before the gas price hits $3.50/$4.00 per gallon. When that happens the demand for these cars will spike really hard. I just want to beat the crowd.

condition of my current car:
Tires are bald, needs new serpentine belt, new water pump & thermostat, new front end and many more things... Kind a sad to see it go. Never owned a such a nice car before. I'm going to miss the comfort.

I never thought I would be attached to my car. Seriously, I'm bit bummed. also bummed that my piggy bank is going to be very thin.

[shootingstar]

Sorry, you couldn't have found a cheaper solution ...for your piggy bank. It's not the greatest feeling being unemployed right now for myself, but I must admit I feel a whole better when money is not pouring into a car now.

[wackyjacky1]

Gotta give a shout-out to the Hyundai Elantra: Extremely well-built, solid car. Gets excellent gas mileage. TONS of passenger/cargo room. IMO Hyundais give you more bang for your buck than just about anything else out there.

[tulip]

You can buy a whole lot of gas for $10k. So if you get the Yaris (which gets very good mileage), you'd save $10k (easily) over the Prius. I'd say the Yaris makes quite a statement about buying reasonably-priced, efficient cars.

If you are stuck on a hybrid, I hear the Honda Element (new one) is lower-priced than the Prius.

Best of luck in your search.

[Blueberry]

If you are stuck on a hybrid, I hear the Honda Element (new one) is lower-priced than the Prius.

Best of luck in your search.

I think you mean the Insight?? I saw one driving down the road the other day, and it looks very much like the Prius (and nothing like the old Insight). I do *wish* they made a hybrid Element...:)

CA

[tulip]

I think you mean the Insight?? I saw one driving down the road the other day, and it looks very much like the Prius (and nothing like the old Insight). I do *wish* they made a hybrid Element...:)

CA

Right, the INSIGHT! I get my Hondas mixed up.

[IFjane]

I think you mean the Insight?? I saw one driving down the road the other day, and it looks very much like the Prius (and nothing like the old Insight). I do *wish* they made a hybrid Element...:)

CA

Me too! Elements are awesome though, even if they don't quite "measure up" in the gas mileage department. And they are quite social as well. Attached is a photo of mine on the right and Jeannierides' on the left at the Terry Wild Goose Chase in May. The two "girls" loved parking next to one another. ;)

[smilingcat]

Well, we bought the Prius. The extra $10k over FIT, Vibe, Matrix can be made up by the better gas milage but its not going to be cheaper. It may be more expensive. But for what its worth, I just chalk it up to being green. If I save 2,500 gallons of gas, we are just that much better. $10,000 divided by $4.00/gallon (which I'm sure will reach in near future).

If you are thinking of Prius, better start thinking fast. The dealer said Toyota is cutting back on US delivery by 50%... Take it with a grain of salt ofcourse. Still... And today, the dealer did get a shipment of 5 new Prius. At the closing they had 3 left. Someone else bought one too. And its only Friday. The good news for us was that it was the color we wanted, the package I'm okay with and no surcharge or added cost just because they can. No dealing on the price which was fine with me as I really hate to haggle price at the dealers. They didn't try to hard sell on the all the add ons so that was good.

I'm ambivalent about the purchase. I just can't get excited about cars. This car will be garaged (stored) until my old audi falls apart.

[Pyannyplayer]

I bought a new Prius last summer and love it. I average 48 mpg in the Ozarks (hills - LOTS of them:eek:) and average a little better on the Interstate (51-53). I haven't seen the mileage go down with more people/bikes as someone else had; we've had 4 adults, bike rack (we put a hitch receiver on the Prius), and 4 bikes with no change in mileage at all. Recently we went to Memphis and got 53 mpg - used a tank and a half to get there, goof around for 4 days, and get back. Besides I'd rather put $25 in my tank every 6-8 weeks rather than the $60 I was putting in every 6-7 DAYS!

Everyone is different, but I do love my Prius (named her the Lima Bean because of her color and shape). We drive cars forever, so I will get my money back in gas savings (car she replaced was a 1996 Montero Sport with over 200,000 miles on it). We looked at other cars and just felt that we got a little more for the money.

Enjoy your new car. :D

Lorie

[fidlfreek]

Oh I was about to comment on the Cash for Clunkers program. If your old car got 18mpg or less you could get up to $4500 back on the new car.
http://www.reuters.com/article/earth2Tech/idUS216228605420090619

A new stimulus/environmental measure...but you already bought the Prius. Happy trails!

[jeannierides]

Me too! Elements are awesome though, even if they don't quite "measure up" in the gas mileage department. And they are quite social as well. Attached is a photo of mine on the right and Jeannierides' on the left at the Terry Wild Goose Chase in May. The two "girls" loved parking next to one another. ;)

Me three! Dory and Ellie got along quite famously, as did our SO's! ;) As you can see w/my Element aka Dory, on the left, our bikes fit quite nicely w/o the seats & the front wheels ride along beside them. If you are thinking you might need the rear seats in from time to time, you can still bungie them to the sides and one bike can ride between but would also have to be bungied. The seats are quite heavy and cumbersome if you don't have help getting them in and out! That said, I LOVE my Element!

[Mr. Bloom]

Oh I was about to comment on the Cash for Clunkers program. If your old car got 18mpg or less you could get up to $4500 back on the new car.
http://www.reuters.com/article/earth2Tech/idUS216228605420090619

A new stimulus/environmental measure...but you already bought the Prius. Happy trails!

Well, don't hold your breath:
- I looked up SilverDaughters Jeep Grand Cherokee on the fueleconomy.gov site...rated at 21mpg:rolleyes::rolleyes:yeah right:rolleyes::rolleyes:try about 14mpg!
- we discussed it yesterday with a deal (assuming it gets signed by the prez "as is"...) but this whole view of a "scrap value" vs. a "trade in value" is going to create some confusion... This will be the biggest benefit to folks who always drive beaters...but probably still can't afford to take on the responsibility of a new car

SC: congrats on the decision! Good choice! I think I'm resolving to an '06 Civic EX for SilverDaughter. I could see the FIT/Vibe/Matrix as good "short trip" cars...but struggled to see it being comfortable on her long drives home from school

[tulip]

FINALLY! VW will be selling the Golf TDI in the US in the fall (2010 model). Estimated mileage is 48mpg combined. VW stopped selling the Golf TDI in the US in 2006. I looked and looked for one to no avail when I bought my 2007 gas Rabbit. Love the Rabbit, but the mileage is not great (low 30s combined).

Whoo-hoo!

[Tri Girl]

FINALLY! VW will be selling the Golf TDI in the US in the fall (2010 model). Estimated mileage is 48mpg combined. VW stopped selling the Golf TDI in the US in 2006. I looked and looked for one to no avail when I bought my 2007 gas Rabbit. Love the Rabbit, but the mileage is not great (low 30s combined).

Whoo-hoo!

That's GREAT!

[smilingcat]

pop this back to the top. The continuing saga of my car. :(

Still have my Audi wagon. The other day, I spied several white patches on my rear tire. Cords were showing through :eek:

First thing after we returned from shopping and un-loading, I took it to a tire place to have all four tires replaced. In the process, I ended having to have the front end torn down, rebuilt... $$$ :( :(

Well geeze, decided to replace the serpentine belt, water pump and thermostat... and replace the transmission oil. (After 200k miles it needs it regardless of what the manufacturer says). Then I can drive several more years without worry. What I wasn't expecting were all the other things that needs replacing. Well might as well do the whole 9 yards.

So at the end of this exercise, my car underneath is almost new, new tires, new rotors and brake pads, new transmission fluid, new front end new fog lights, lots of new parts on the engine... new driver side window had it replaced about 6 month ago... the whole thing has cost me $$$ as much as the blue book of the car. :( :(

I still like the ride of the car. The seat is still really good and the handling is much better now that front end is totally new, well almost. Sooo I guess I'll commute with it for a while then sell it. The difference will be worth the additional milage and time of ownership. And for the buyer, they'll have a good deal too now that all the major work on the car is completed.

ugghhh!!! I hate spending money. Now have to transfer $$$ from my "stock fund". Had to do it anyway since I been furloghed for last 2 weeks. And I'm off this week with bum back. grrr!!! I'm Shtuppiddd. My partner keeps telling me that "I'm really shtttuuppid".

And she's right.

[tulip]

I thought you already bought the Prius. Why put money into the old car if you have a brand spankin new one?

but perhaps I misunderstood.

[smilingcat]

I did buy the Prius.

I was going to drive the Audi until it fell apart but the tire went bald so I had to fix it. but the front end was all bad so I had to fix that too or else the car would eat up the new set of tires not to mention bad on MPG. Yes it now sports 4 brand new control arms on the top. And the front end has been realigned.

Well since I did all that, I mind as well fix the timing belt before it broke. And so the chain reaction to fixing everything took hold, took a life of its own and against my better judgement.

Besides, I'll spare the Prius from logging all those crazy commute miles.

Surface street driving in Audi is pretty bad at 16MPG whereas the Prius gets me 48MPG. On freeway, I get nearly 30MPG (more than EPA rating) on my Audi while Prius gets just over 50MPG. commute in my Audi. local driving Prius.

Amount of depreciation caused by the high milage isn't worth it on Prius, even though I spent over $4000 fixing the audi. the cost of fixing the audi is still less than the depreciation on Prius for one year of driving. Besides, if I can get $2000 on my Audi next year, effective cost to me for fixing the Audi is $2000. Far less than the depreciation caused by all the miles on my Prius. And to whoever buys my Audi, they'll be getting a pretty good deal. new rotor, new pad, new timing/serpentine belt, water pump, thermostat, new front end, relatively new set of tires (it will have have about 30-40k miles of life left on it), transmission that's been checked, new platinum spark plugs and down the list it goes. I figure the car will have minimum of 40-50k miles of life left on it. And for $2000, that's not a bad deal. COME NEXT YEAR.

Kelly blue book on the car as of now is around $4400?? or there abouts. Had a motorhead at my office check for me.

I don't know why, but I just want to baby my new car and save it. Should I name her??

[tulip]

Wow, that's some thought-out reasoning. If it works for you, that's all that matters. Name the Audi Hilda.