car shopping

[mrmarcus81]

Acura

 

[Jmmccutc]

Or is totalled

you neve know i am sort of on a roll...lol

 

[jethro562]

Get a new ford mustang cobra. Best bang for your buck. 400 hp supercharged v8 for about 30 grand, cant beat it.

 

[BoDEAN]

Mazda 6S Manual

 

[saltyswede]

SAAB 95 34k but it has 6k of discounts

 

[lymanm]

...

If you want a truck but want good gas, I think Ford has a new hybird Explorer, supposedly in the 35-40MPG range. But it's new and if you fit the typical profile of flightinfo members living a modest means, then it's probably too expensive.

 

[cargoflyr69]

Why is it that my 500 dollar '88 accord crashpad car has seats more comfy than my 5 million dollar aircraft?

 

[ShawnC]

ditto...

Except for very many BMW drivers it is a love/hate relationship lately. Before I was laid off from my good paying job, LOL, I managed to jump into a nice 3er last year. I am in the service with it all the time, and it only has 18k on it from zero (just scheduled my 8th "unscheduled" service visit).

That's unusual my 1995 3 lasted 140k mikes on it before it need it's first major service (replacing the ball joint). Other than the consumables and a new sound system, not much was put into the car until then.

 

[Airpiraterob]

honda has made bulletproof vehicles since they started after the war. one look at their competition record proves they dont do anything half-a$$ed. acura is the same car, and those have extremely good resale value too.

my sister had an 83 accord. automatic. lasted for 283,000 miles before it just started getting too many parts replaced.....that was an 83!! all it needed really was a new body to go on the mechanicals as the body wore out first....she replaced it with a 94 civic hatch. and has had ZERO problems with it since. i mean ZERO! just plugs/wires/oil change...and thats it. still has it. unless you abuse it, you cant kill it. look at those rice burner kids. they torture their cars and the cars take it. cant go wrong with the cars people turn to when they want something to last under punishment and still get them to work.

imagine what a nice 98 accord or civic would get you. good ride, bulletproof reliability. awesome on gas. and pretty good handling.

although the '02 and newer Ford focus zx3 is reliable and actually handles better than the civic. (verified by a few magazine tests)
the pre '02 models were problematic with recalls and what not. i drove a 4 door '02 on a road trip recently and honestly.....i'd really think about buying one....once my S-10 dies. the big 6 is nice but i'm getting tired of -20mpg. in the city.

 

[7B2]

Just get a piece of sh!t car for cheap.
If it dies, just get another one.

 

[Wankel7]

Mazda RX-8 or that new Mazdaspeed Miata with the turbo.

Wankel

 

[cptsesso]

If going for a car again, I would check out the Mazda 3 5 door. Very sharp looking exterior and interior very upscale with navigation system.

 

[huncowboy]

That's unusual my 1995 3 lasted 140k mikes on it before it need it's first major service (replacing the ball joint). Other than the consumables and a new sound system, not much was put into the car until then.

Not unusual lately. Not at all. This is the 5th bmw I have been around including the ones my parents had when I was young. They were pretty reliably cars. However problems like:

1. 3000 miles, transmission problem, jerky movements before stopping - software needed patch
2. 6000 miles, same transmission problem - another patch
3. 8000 miles, again the same transmission problem - yet another patch, this one fixed it this time (many people reported this problem)
4. GPS died... - replaced some part... works ok, it reboots once in a while but we at least don't need to go missed when it happens
5. sunroof broke – the shade part got out of the rail
6. sunroof broke again - fixed this time
7. coolant leaked - told me that it is normal - told them that I look young but am not anymore and it is not Daddy’s car - found there was a leak next to the pump
8. the sealing line that is on top of the door opening (dunno English name) simply pealed off and hung in the window. Just like that. This was at 14k.
... for things like when I could not turn off the instrument panel light until I did not restart the car I did not even care to call the dealer. They must think I am one of those complainers, which is not true. Even in restaurants I don't complain... worst case I won't come back and won’t give 15% only 10.
And the current problem #9. Brake gives a sound like hmmmhmmmhmmm before stopping... they have checked the brakes and found nothing, the pads are good... now I need to go back again since my wife picked it up and she did not bring it back right away.

All the above meant 7 visits already. It sucks. Other than the above the car is a dream and it is a beauty. Drives like nothing else in that price range. Amazing when everything works, too bad I just can't enjoy that right now until I find time to bring it in again for the brakes... well... no more BMW for me for a long while. Not that I will be able to afford one later anyways… if I will ever make it to a regional. Not that I care about that too much anymore (I mean cars).

 

[7B2]

piece of sh!t cars!!!!
nothing is working so it can't ever break; it's wonderfull

 

[Stifler's Mom]

AMC Pacer

Chick Magnet

 

[dmspilot00]

Re: AMC Pacer

Chick Magnet

It might be a chick magnet, but I think the magnet is oriented so that chicks would be repelled rather than attracted!

 

[I.P. Freley]

Well, I'll be the third to recommend the Mazda6 S.

Handles like a dream, a V6/manual tranny combo (maddeningly hard to find these days from other makers in the under $30k range), and if you shop well and don't "need" leather you'll pay barely over $20k.

Mileage is mediocre for the class of car, but it's hard to get too excited by the mileage when you're having that much fun behind the wheel.

I will also second the Focus. I had one for three years and it needed to see the shop exactly once for something other than routine maintenance, which was a multiple-hit visit (take care of a recall, replace the clutch return spring, and replace the oxygen sensor in the exhaust). Great car, beats all comers in the segment hands-down when it comes to "fun to drive", and reliable as a Honda. At least mine was.

 

[Boeingman]

Mercedes. Hands down the best automobiles on the road.

Outstanding reliability and dealer support.

 

[SpiffAV8]

A few years back I bought a F-150 4X4 King Cab with all the toys. It listed for just over $33k yet I was out the door for $27k after taxes and all. I told the dealer of a company called Automotive Fleet Sales and there offer of any car for $50.00 over the FACTORY invoice. They said that they too had a fleet service program and offered to do the same. They even showed me the factory invoice along with the dealer invoice to prove there price. I never did tell the dealer what price Automoutive fleet Sales offered and the Dealer ended up beating the price by $50.00.

I have been more than happy with the truck and wouldn't trade it for any other out there. Other than gas and regular maintence it's been problem free. The customer service I have recived from the dealer is awesome. They are a Blue Oval ceritified dealer and work hard to keep the award. All around it's been a good experence for me.

If you got a simular deal and put 5k or so down your payment would be a cheap one. Besides you deserve a nice truck! I'll see if I can't find Automotive Fleets Sales number and then pass it along to you.

 

[wingnutt]

Automotive Fleets Sales...

...really?!?