| Author | Message | ||
     Iman501 |
Alright guys heres the deal, i'm stationed in TN right now and am living on base. I have my firebolt here, but recently gave my car to my younger sister who turns 16 on the 8th. my old car was a plain jane 1994 honda accord 5sd. it had like 220k on the odomiter and didnt really trust it to make to many more trips to home in Illinois and back to TN. So right now i just have my bike. I will need to buy a vehicle before winter hits however. I'm really torn on what to get and am just looking for some good options/your opinions. what would be a good car for me? my trip home is all interstate and roughly 350 miles. I used to have a YJ jeep before i had the accord, and i loved that thing! I'd really like a TJ, however even nicerr ones cost as much as a really nice car that would probably have less miles and be more reliable. I really like the mini coopers as well, and they get waaaaaaay better MPG than a jeep would, but i havent heard to much great stuff about them unless they are the newer models. In reality i'd probably only be able to afford the 03-06 models of mini's and even those can hold their value...., plus its a foreign car so any repair would drain my pockets the smart part of me says i should find a nice used TDI jetta or something simple, boring, reliable, and good on gas. But what fun is that?... So everybody anybody have anything good or bad to say about any of my thoughts, or have any other good vehicles to suggest? I'll tell you right now that whatever i end up with will be a manual transmission! keep in mind i wont be using this vehicle very much but to drive home once in a while and make the 2 hour trip to see my GF on the weekends. | ||
| Drkside79 |
I like the new Sonata as well as the new Focus and Fusion At least as far as normal cars go | ||
| Azxb9r |
If you want inexpensive, reliable transportation that will be good for highway trips the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla are hard to beat. If you want something a bit more fun and dont mind spending a bit more money, the Honda S2000 and Subaru WRX are both wicked fun, reliable, and capable of good gas mileage. The Minis have actually been pretty good for reliability and get good mileage, but parts are $$$ when they do need something. | ||
| Hughlysses |
the smart part of me says i should find a nice used TDI jetta or something simple, boring, reliable, and good on gas. But what fun is that?... Drive a TDI that's been breathed on a little (chip will do wonders) and you may change your mind. "Buell-like torque" is all you need to know.  | ||
| Preybird1 |
+1 on the sonata but get the turbo model. Or a subaru......i don't like subarus but we don't see them in the shop for very many repairs. | ||
| Azxb9r |
I like the new Sonata The quality of the Hyundais has gotten much better in recent years. While the cars themselves are inexpensive to buy, replacement parts for them are as expensive as parts for exotics. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
Not sure if you're looking for something to make payments on, or limiting your search to cash purchases. 10-15 year old civic, mx6, corolla, all served me well when i was in your shoes and wanted some efficient and reliable transportation without the burden of a car payment. I've recently purchased a 2010 Fusion for the same reasons - efficiency and reliability, but this car offers a little more comfort in exchange for that monthly payment. Also having been in your shoes before, I recommend that fuel economy be kept very near the top of your priorities list while searching. There's no reason to empty your wallet during the handful of times a year that your car leaves the garage to drive "home" and see family. Best of luck to you, puddle pirate  | ||
| Daves |
Get whatever you like, as long as it says Ford on it, of course. | ||
| 86129squids |
Be thinking about the insurance $$$, given your age... I've had a 1992 Nissan hardbody 4banger with a king cab for going on 12-13 years-absolutely the best, most reliable vehicle I've owned, evaaar. For the versatility and practicality, a truck can't be beat- can haul a bike (or 2 with some finagling), pull a trailer, with a camper top (just acquired one for $50), can go camping or haul junk in all weather. The added bonus of the king cab allows me to carry/secure a lot more inside, carry 2 extra peeps if they're limber and kinda skinny, take the dogs, etc. Insurance is cheap, maintenance costs are next to nada, got me a shop manual and do my own brakes and basic stuff. The Nissan, Toyota, Mazda/Fords, et al are all pretty dang reliable and very similar in features, parts are easy to find at any junkyard. If you have to have more umph, get a V6. My favorite car of all time is a 1978 or earlier 280Z, saw a sano orange one today whilst out on a ride- but I LOVE my truck!  | ||
| Spiderman |
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| 86129squids |
Ummm, I did mention the Mazda/Ford... and my Hardbody was made by fellow Rednecks down the road in Murfreesboro, TN.   | ||
| Mtjm2 |
Iman , thank you for your service ! Use your head , not your heart . Dont get burried in payments . | ||
| Ridenusa4l |
i LOVE my 94' ranger, standard cab, long bed, 4.0 v6, 5 speed, and 3.55 posi....it burns them all the way through 2nd, skip in 3rd if im lucky....still get about 20mpg in CITY and as much as 25-28 on the freeway...driving nicely that is! FORD FTW!! Jake also i have a family friend that had the same drivetrain and after 350k MILES on the orginal EVERYTHING..he decided to rebuild the engine for a little freshening up, she's still runnin great! | ||
| Ratbuell |
just pulled my 91 dodge daytona 2.5 4 cylinder turbo out of storage last weekend. damn, i missed that car. eight years since it last saw sunlight...what was i thinking? any of the 2.2 / 2.5 turbo cars are tons of fun. $7 at grainger supply and you up your boost from 7psi to 14psi. no other changes required. parts are all over the place, easy to get, cheap to get new - just got a timing belt for my '89 for $12 - and they get great mileage as long as you don't hit the boost too often. and they're cheap. and they're American-made. | ||
| Swordsman |
I say avoid the Minis. Had a friend that got one, and sold it back in about a year. Sure, it has the Mini badge, but you'll pay BMW service fees. He snapped an antenna off, and they wanted......$500..... to fix it. ~SM | ||
| Greg_e |
1974 to 1979 VW Beetle, earlier if the motor has been worked to increase displacement but stay with the 12 volt years unless it has been fully converted to 12 volt. If you need cabin heat, then ignore all this. Nice little Chevy 3 cylinder Metro (Suzuki) hatchback, makes a great A to B car with really good mileage, decent in the snow if you put 4 snow tires on it. Not any fun but basic transportation. Would tow a small trailer with you bike on it, but not up hills. | ||
| Ratbuell |
original owner, bought it new in '91, documented 1 of 150 built with AGS competition package, 1 of 26 in my colors, 74k original miles:  I've missed my baby!!!! | ||
| Thumper74 |
My boss just bought a Chevy dealer, so a Colorado may be in my future... I would recommend a Honda Civic or Accord. Do NOT buy near base. Drive a bit if you need to! The dealers prey on younger guys with expendable income, trust me. Repair costs on Honda's are actually pretty reasonable. (Message edited by Thumper74 on August 03, 2011) | ||
| Iman501 |
lol thanks for the input guys! keep it coming and thumper dont worry there isnt anything near base anyways  and the CG is really small here in TN lol, so far most of the people i've met locally dont even know that the they have a CG station near by | ||
| Dcc46 |
00-03 Maxima is a nice car ,fast ,handles well and very comfortable, eats up the miles on the highway. I would still have mine if a damn deer didnt hop in front at speed | ||
| Wbrisett |
Find yourself a good used Subaru and it'll last you a lifetime...or darn near it. | ||
| Crackhead |
Subarus are great. The MPG is ok for a car, but with snow tires they are great. They are one of the few cars that can tow a decent sized trailer. So, on your next move, you can move the bike your self. If you can find a Legacy SpecB grab it, they are a WRX in sheep clothing. | ||
| Trbulnt |
The most important questions no one has asked you yet are. How much are you looking to spend? Are you looking to buy new or used? If used how old are you willing to go? Do you prefer FWD, RWD, AWD? DO you require 2 or 4 door? Gas mileage seems to be important to you. (Message edited by trbulnt on August 03, 2011) | ||
| Trbulnt |
Oh and avoid the mini cooper like the plague as they are one of the most problematic cars out. My wife wanted one forever and it took her to see 3 broken down on the side of the road one day to realize I wasn't lying to her! Subaru's can be great cars and while I am a huge fan of them, they can be problematic as certain models like to either blow head gasket or have faulty piston rings. These issues are not limited to the turbo models. I do like the Legacy Spec B as you get the refinement of a larger vehicle with the sporty attitude of the WRX STi. Gas mileage on these is usually lower 20's high teens depending on your driving style. The AWD with a set of snow tires is the most fun you will ever have in a vehicle! (Message edited by trbulnt on August 03, 2011) | ||
| Guell |
I like my 01 ranger 4x4 extended cab with the 4.0. Great for hauling my bike around but the mileage isnt the best. | ||
| Ratbuell |
generally i wouldn't recommend towing anything with a turbocharged car/truck, unless you install an EGT gauge to keep an eye on things. any turbo I own has a boost gauge tapped into the harness; an air/fuel tapped into the O2 sensor signal wire, and an EGT gauge. gauges are cheaper than replacement turbos! | ||
| Crackhead |
Subau has a EGT and boot gauge pack as an OEM accessory. The local dealer even sells turbo upgrades. | ||
| Bads1 |
If your thinking towing a Subaru with a Turbo is not the way to go at all. Infact buying a Spec B or a WRX is a gamble on a used car anyways. Most have been whooped on and unreliable as second hand cars unless you don't mind wrenching. Gas is not very good. Your gonna see about 26-27 HWY and about 18-19 city being very nice. Remember also they are a must for premium fuel. These cars your almost better off buying new unless you can find a complete stock unmodded car with low mileage and the oil was changed very regularly. | ||
| Bads1 |
The local dealer even sells turbo upgrades No they don't | ||
| Crackhead |
I never said they where for street driven cars. |
