OT: need to get a new car, any suggestions? Options

[bigkensteele]

Andy, last year I bought a 2000 Mazda Millenia S with 60k miles and 210+ supercharged hp for a mere $8k. This car was driven by the wife of a Comair pilot and had every single receipt for the life of the car. It is fun to drive once you figure out how to outsmart the transmission and it hauls 4 adults comfortably. On the downside, it only gets about 20 to 25 MPG and it requires premium.

That being said, the wife hates the minivan, so we are thinking about selling it and getting something else. If I buy a nice car, she gets it. If I buy a POS, I get it and she gets the Millenia. What I am looking for is something that she will percieve as a POS, but I will enjoy driving. However it must be able to handle two kid-carseats. Are you in a similar boat?

Ken

[Coy]

You know, actually, a 1998-2002 Vortech Chevy 1/2 ton will do close to 20mpg and tow a car trailer all over, and they're pretty affordable too.

[EdwardBlume]

You can get a deal on practically any domestic truck or SUV. With the gas prices being what they are, geez. Auto auction or private party is the way to go. Heck, even an old Ford Expedition can be had on the cheap.

A sleeper car IMHO is the 00-04 Acura RL. Its a plush Honda, non-descript, and should run a long time.

[DanT]

Andy,
you could use any domestic or foreign small pickup if you flat tow the teener.
S10/Jimmy
Ranger
Mazda B range of pu
Dodge Dakota
Toyota Tacoma
Nissan Frontier


flat towing is a nice compromise and the PU allows you to bring what ever you need for an AX or DE/track day.

[Andyrew]

Dude... im loving my audi.....

Seriously.... Quattro is AMAZING!!!! Seriously... as of right now, it handles better than all the cars I have.. (on street tires)

AND my 1.8t has a LOT of power potential... With a bigger turbo, im looking at way over 300hp.. Im at 210hp with the stock turbo and low boost..

I paid 5800 for it.. clean title.. private owner. Insurance is CHEAP! Car is built very nice.. very well made... Parts are very reasonable considering..


Just thought i'd throw that out there

[Dave_Darling]

I suggest the Civic, if you can stand being in something that anonymous and soulless. As a car, it's a really great appliance. Gets you from A to B and back again, no muss and no fuss. At least it will if you can find one that some douchebag hasn't "modded" into an unreliable heap.

The earlier Civics can even be (a little bit) fun to drive, but at heart they're still appliances.

Good fuel economy, and the hatch versions will haul a surprising amount of stuff... Cheap to buy, cheap to operate too.

--DD

[messix]

Andy,
you could use any domestic or foreign small pickup if you flat tow the teener.
S10/Jimmy
Ranger
Mazda B range of pu
Dodge Dakota
Toyota Tacoma
Nissan Frontier


flat towing is a nice compromise and the PU allows you to bring what ever you need for an AX or DE/track day.

i would'nt recommend flat towing with the smaller lite trucks, you can get into trouble with the flat towed load over powering the brakes and pushing the truck around. scary down hills or around corners while on the brakes, don't even think of evasive maneuvers or panic stops.

[DanT]

Andy,
you could use any domestic or foreign small pickup if you flat tow the teener.
S10/Jimmy
Ranger
Mazda B range of pu
Dodge Dakota
Toyota Tacoma
Nissan Frontier


flat towing is a nice compromise and the PU allows you to bring what ever you need for an AX or DE/track day.

i would'nt recommend flat towing with the smaller lite trucks, you can get into trouble with the flat towed load over powering the brakes and pushing the truck around. scary down hills or around corners while on the brakes, don't even think of evasive maneuvers or panic stops.

I have friends that have flat towed 911 and 914 track cars with smaller PUs for years with no problems. like towing with any vehicle you must leave a larger gap for error and take your time.
I used to tow a 17 foot boat, with no trailer brakes(were not required back then), with a 1972 Toyota Hilux...no problem if you know what you are doing, take your time and pay attention.

[So.Cal.914]

Hi OpaAndy, I would sudjest for you a Toyota truck. I went from Riverside to

San Diego with my Nephew and a car hauler, and not a small one. And then

all the way back with a teener on the trailer. It got great mpg, comfortable and

reliable. It's a extended cab so you have room for shit inside or two more seats.

The ranger, I hate to say is a POS! 1/2 ton and up are Great trucks but not the

best on fuel. But there is nothing like a truck, especially if you need one. My .02

[911quest]

If going with a car go with the Subaru forester they are great completly ultitarian haul all of your junk I've had two 911 engines in the back of ours goes up any snow covered hill etc. great cars

[GaroldShaffer]

Don't get any Dodge trucks. They are typically sh*t.

I'd get a cheapo Civic.

I would disagree with the Dodge truck comment. I have 2006 Ram quad cab with out the hemi and it is a great truck. I tow a LOT with it over 30k in on year. No problems. Before that was 02 Dodge Dakota, big V6 great mid size truck that I pulled may a car & trailer with. Again no problems.

One of the Best trucks I ever owned was a 96 F150 XLT with I6. Great truck! Better gas milage (for a truck, around 23 mpg) could tow my cars. It was not the fastest thing in the world, but man I loved it.

Andy, if you think you are going to start trailering your 914 to tracks your going have to bite the bullet and get a truck / SUV that can pull it. Maybe buy a cheaper gas sipper until you really need a trcuk, but none the less you will need a truck to pull a car & trailer.

[type11969]

I flat towed a 914 behind a chrysler cirrus from MD to NJ and forgot at times that I was even towing anything, I would think that flat towing with something like a small truck would be fine, even some of those larger sedans you suggested seem like they would work (assuming a large enough hitch was available).

[73Phoenix20]

Think about a GMC Envoy XL of the 2004/2005 years, but ONLY with the 5.3 Liter V8... If you can find one of the XUV models, that's even better!
With 50K on the clock, they can be had for $16K, and will deliver 18 mpg around town, 22 mpg on the highway, and tow anything anything you want to haul. Mine hauls a 22' Wellcraft CC 1,550 miles with no issues, and my dual axle Interstate Car Hauler with whatever I put on it, (including a number of 914's), like it's not even back there.
Don't know about the 6 cylinders but I suspect not so great, tho more plentiful. I just had to have the V8 "grunt"! The 3.42 limited slip rear diff is a nice option, and most of the V8's came with it. They also have the choices of 2WD, AWD, 4WD High, 4WD Low, and TOW, which disengages all drive axles to pull behind your motorhome (just a thought!)
Check out the prices on eBarf, just to get an idea, and then go the Auto trader / Craigslist route, unless you find a nice looking one that's close, and you can go verify it's condition.

[kconway]

Although I probably wouldn't drive it, you could buy a brand new Saturn Ion for around what you want to spend.

[dflesburg]

NO NO NO!

Go drive a new toyota.

"Thats all I have to say about that." - Forrest Gump

[JRust]

Ditto on getting a civic! A toyota Corrola is a very good option too. Great fueal economy & pretty bullet proof. Both are in the same league Not alot to them just good mpg & not much soul. AS far as truck's I'm a ford man as long as it's a diesel. My 97 crew cab towed anything & never dropped below 15mpg with a full load. I averaged 18mpg in mixed driving & that was with the exauhst done. No other mods! Not to mention you have some bio diesel options there. The dodge with the Cummings diesel is also nice. If you are sticking with a gas engine I would consider a Toyota Tundra. They are very comfortable & will tow a good sized trailer no problem. They drive better than any other truck I have driven. There newest model look to be even beefier though I do not much about it. Good luck either way. If space isn't a problem buy the Civic for the commute & a Truck that you only use to haul. Then even if the mpg sucks on the truck it won't kill you

[PinetreePorsche]

OK Andy- its new and will probably set you back more than $300 month even adjusted for fuel economy but ...

It's German (even though it is made in france)
2 seater
targa top (ok - that is stretching it a bit)
mid engine
Rear drive
light weight - go cart handling
underpowered
funky styling
Boatload of fun

http://www.smartcar101.com/images/pages/sc_018_jpg.htm

SWL: I love the site, love the cars. Seeing street views of Europe today, you know these are coming to your neighborhood soon. We've just got to get the Chinese or Koreans to make them--$20,000+ for economical gas-powered, or $14 for electric (and not enough charge for a longer commute or speed for interstates)--- big thumbs down. If they can solve the price of the former and speed/range of the latter, they'll be everywhere. European gas prices being $5-$6+ per gal. sure has put them in the vanguard, but we're on the way there. And everyone should see the film "Who Killed the Electric Car". GM is going to die in the coming real-estate generated economic collapse, and they deserve to die. I'd love to find a 5 year old electric Rav-4. I'm watching the latest on Electro-Automotive's Volts-Porsche kit conversions. Again, too expensive, but in 2-3 years, with lithium batteries and a-c breaking/recharge, might be tempting. The 21st century is coming, almost here. And anyone with kids and/or grandkids should help it along before its too late. Others, too, if they have sense.

[woobn8r]

I have had many Honda products from a 2002 accord for work to a '91 civic Si I raced for a couple of seasons....Absolutely a great product for reliability and relatively cheap to run.

But If I were looking for a cheap-ish commuter....Mini Cooper S. Good resale, some giggles to drive, quiet, safe good on gas.

Towing is a new ballgame...can't beat a Ford or Chev P/U...(sorry I am NOT a mopar fan)

Want them both...spend the $$$ and get a Honda Ridgeline....good for the whole family.

[jd74914]

Don't get any Dodge trucks. They are typically sh*t.

I'd get a cheapo Civic.

I would disagree with the Dodge truck comment. I have 2006 Ram quad cab with out the hemi and it is a great truck. I tow a LOT with it over 30k in on year. No problems. Before that was 02 Dodge Dakota, big V6 great mid size truck that I pulled may a car & trailer with. Again no problems.

One of the Best trucks I ever owned was a 96 F150 XLT with I6. Great truck! Better gas milage (for a truck, around 23 mpg) could tow my cars. It was not the fastest thing in the world, but man I loved it.

Andy, if you think you are going to start trailering your 914 to tracks your going have to bite the bullet and get a truck / SUV that can pull it. Maybe buy a cheaper gas sipper until you really need a trcuk, but none the less you will need a truck to pull a car & trailer.

I should have clarified; Ford is my brand of choice, I'm not a Mopar guy. Our '92 F150 5spd has had the snot beaten out of it and its come back every time. Its great for towing and gets about 20mpg.

But, if you ever do need to tow a truck with an I6, 4/5spd manual is the way to go. The gas mileage won't be great, but it won't be horrible either.

[mightyohm]

Make sure you fit in a Honda comfortably. I hit my head on Kylie's Civic unless I put the seat way back so that my arms are at full extension to reach the steering wheel. It drives me NUTS. Also the rear view mirror is right in my field of vision all the time. I hate it! Other than that it drives ok I guess. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)