| Author | Message | ||
     Doz |
With gas prices climbing I'm considering a small beater. Mini coopers have always appealed to me as they seem to have a bit more usable space. But it seems that the transmissions are all grenading much too early. I'd prefer a stick but there have been a couple automatics I could get cheap...cause the trans is shot. Anyone here have any input on a good fix, or are these total trash? | ||
| Jaimec |
Maxi Scooters!! | ||
| Kmbuell |
Mini's might be good on gas, but it's premium only. Around here that's $3.50 extra per 10 gallon fill up, and going higher! Also, it's really a BMW with BMW parts and service prices. But they look and drive great. I've driven them and looked but I think it's going to be a first gen Scion XB for me. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I would suggest my own choice for economy car: Honda Fit. Mine has 105K on it and the only failure so far was one of the coils crapped out. I average 35MPG with the %10 Ethanol crap. Before that was forced down our throats, I was getting a pretty consistent 38-40 MPG. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Also, it's really a BMW with BMW parts and service prices. Also, it's really a BMW with Dodge parts and BMW service prices (open the hood, it's a Dodge Neon under there...) Doz - you pay a premium to have them - you also gotta figure - is the extra insurance and upkeep of owning another vehicle going to more than offset the higher MPG? If the goal is keeping your wallet fatter, there are other, cheaper options that will do just as well (or better) on gas and not have the initial purchase price premium of the Mini. But they are good, fun cars. My car gets around 20mpg. When I did the math last year, getting something that's better on gas would mean I'd need to average 30mpg to break even after insurance and such. Of course, if this is just replacing a vehicle then you can toss everything I've said out the window. | ||
| Court |
Opinions will vary . . among this group, cars and females, elicit lots of personal preferences . . . I looked at a lot of cars and wanted something that was bulletproof, got GREAT (one of only 3 cars certified over 40MPG) mileage and was a hoot (comes with the same tires as the Porsche Cayman) to drive. Just my choice . . I found the Mini cute.  | ||
| Cityxslicker |
The new fiat is getting to me - hoping I can get the coup version when I am in Europe.... PS Mini has a new coupe coming out too Damn the back seat ! | ||
| Badrap |
I know a guy with a mini and it has been nothing but expensive trouble. I cant speak for all minis but after seeing all the issues with his car, I'd never buy one. | ||
| Court |
Ford sales for February (in the news today) are up 14% in the sales of the new Focus. All other Ford models were down for February. | ||
| Hughlysses |
IIRC, the guys on BBC's Top Gear raved about the Focus. That's a pretty good endorsement in my book, if you want to DRIVE the thing. | ||
| Oldog |
I just Got My mom into a Fusion, nice Sedan good handling, gas sipper with some giddy up My next car I hope will be a ford. the mini is like a smart, a boutique car | ||
| Kenm123t |
Court Nice Car Is it the reason your sidewalk surfing in limited now no KLR or F250? | ||
| Raceautobody |
Mazda3/Ford Focus platform Mazda6/Ford Fusion platform Without Mazda's help Ford would not be where it is now. | ||
| Kenm123t |
Race Ford owned 40 % or so of Mazda till fairly recently. In the Ford System Plants bid to design and built cars parts competively. Ford owns plants all over the world At one time they owned iron ore to show room! Kingsford charcoal came from left over wood from model T wood spoke wheels With out Fords help there wouldnt be a a Mazda car company } You have flat plate glass because Henry asked Edison for help in making glass that was flat and require less polishing Henry was a miserable SOB but a hell of an engineer and Industrialist | ||
| Xl1200r |
Mazda and Ford share(d) platforms, but that's not to be confused with Ford took Mazda's platform. It was, from what I could gather with hands on experience, a true joint effort. I had a Mazda 3 - off the top of my head, the brake parts were all stamped "Ford" and the oil filter that was put on at the factory was a Motorcraft part. | ||
| Chauly |
Back in 2004, we were in the market for a new car. It came down to two cars: Mini-Cooper- German engineering (we owned an Audi, unhappily and recently), British manufacture and assembly (we had both owned British cars in the past, again not inspirational), with a Brazilian engine (nice beaches, beautiful women, but engines? I dunno), sold by BMW dealers (Bring My Wallet). Prius- It's a Toyota. 213K miles, over 40 mpg all the time, zero problems, very low maintenance. No-brainer. | ||
| Doz |
Was really looking for a fixer upper, came across a couple with mostly trans problems. A bunch of sites talked of class action law suits due to all sorts of problems....but I thought I'd ask here. I guess I could put a side car on by bike instead | ||
| Court |
Mazda ever build a race ready $100,000 Series 3 . . . . they can thank Ford (their partner, not beneficiary) for putting the platform on the map. Check THIS out if you have an appetite for fun. I'm waiting on delivery info . trying to get the first ST in the USA. I don't know I really need it . . but I'll give the old one (2010) to one of the kids. I'm just proud, as an American, of what Ford is doing. | ||
| Clrobins |
Don't forget the Vee Dub TDIs. I haven't got less than 45mpg with my 2000 golf and I know I can sell it for almost the same price 100000 miles afterwards since the motor never dies. Can't say that about Prius, Mini, or the Focus as nice as they all are. | ||
| Bads1 |
Kiss your MPG long away Court.lol | ||
| Slaughter |
2010 is "old?" GEEEZ you younguns are impatient! | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Loved our 2003 VW Jetta TDI. Just sold it with 190000 miles. It was great but expensive to maintain. We could have bought a new one with the money we put into it. We needed a commuter car so we looked at Ford since I was really happy with my F150 purchase last year. We ended up with a Focus SE sedan with a 5-spd manual. It does not have all the bells and whistles, but as I said we needed a consumable commuter. Turns out it is a blast to drive, and I've gotten an indicated 40 MPG at highway cruising speeds over long distances. After incentives and haggling it came to about $16.6K. That's about $6K less than I paid for my TDI 10 years ago. I am very happy with this purchase. | ||
| Slaughter |
In 1991, Sunny got a Saturn SC1 Now with over 320,000 on the original engine, we're STILL getting 40MPG | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
+1 on the Saturn SC1 if you can find one. I've heard nothing but serious longevity stories about those cars. | ||
| Mls1 |
I sold my Roush focus and got a 2003 Mini S for 8k and have never looked back. it's a 33mpg go kart that is quick as heck (lacks bottom end torque but doesn't take long for the blower to kick in and you can mod it to go sooner). It handles so awesome you don't need to be going fast to have fun, brakes are incredible and the 6 speed manual is a hoot. BTW I run low octane, it has a knock sensor so you may lose power by the ecm retarding ignition but it's not even noticeable. | ||
| Gunut75 |
My Dad has a new Ford Fiesta, and the car gets amazing mileage. We recently did a 400 mile round trip, only 130 of it on super slab, and averaged 41 mpg for the whole trip. On the slab, it will get 50 mpg no problem. The only issue I have with it, is that being 6'2", front seats must be all the way back which leaves no room in the back seat. Cool little car. | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
Court I agree I've never been a ford guy until last year. The fusion changed my perspective last spring. Then late last summer drove a twin turbo F-150 aka ecoboost WOW!!!! That will be my next vehicle purchase. | ||
| D_adams |
My wife kinda insisted on getting a Nissan Altima. I wasn't super enthused about getting it, but it's done pretty well so far. Got this a while back on the slab, flat ground with nobody else around me. This is higher than the actual average, normally I see 40-43 mpg on the same stretch of road. Motor wasn't really broken in at this point, it's got 8k on it now. Overall average of combined city/highway is about 32 mpg.  | ||
| Reducati |
i love mine.....  | ||
| Tiltcylinder |
Doz, if you go for a mini... stay away from anything with automatic transmission problems. The dealer does not rebuild / repair them. They will however install a complete unit to the tune of 8K or so. That's one of the reasons why they're so cheap used, trade in value is dismal at the stealership as well. Just went through a ton of grief with a friend's that was 3 weeks out of warranty! Eventually got the regional service rep to get it repaired... he promptly traded it in on a Ford... Bought a Veloster recently and it's been returning a steady 35 mpg into and out of NYC every day. Averaged 43.5 on a recent trip to Vermont.... not bad. For a gas mileage beater cheap... Sentra, Neon (weren't actually bad cars) or an early Focus. All are cheap and get respectable mileage | ||
| Preybird1 |
Minis are overpriced and if it is a "S" model then it has to have run flat tires because there is no tire tools or jack in the car........And if it needs to be towed it has to have a special "D" ring attachment so it can be towed. If you don't have it your tow bill will be in the hundreds of dollars. They are not worth it and i can think of 4 other vehicle that are better. vw's are expensive to work on and they are finicky. If you don't have a really good mechanic then they are headaches. And the parts are more expensive because it is German. | ||
| Debueller |
"stay away from anything with automatic transmission problems. The dealer does not rebuild / repair them. They will however install a complete unit to the tune of 8K or so. That's one of the reasons why they're so cheap used, trade in value is dismal at the stealership as well." I've heard the same thing. Typical German engineering and marketing.  (Message edited by debueller on March 02, 2012) | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
If any of you live in a state where you can register european imports, I'll be happy to source & arrange shipping for you. How about an Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon. 2.4l five cyl, 20 valves, 200 hp, 6 cog manual box, pull like a train, handle like a go-kart & avg 33mpg. Comes with a particulate filter so it's a clean diesel too. I want one. Or a Citoen DS3, or a SEAT Cupra or or or......... http://www.mobile.de/?lang=en http://www.autoscout24.eu/Search.aspx?atype=C&mmvc o=0&pricefrom=1000&ustate=N%2CU |
