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Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A
suggestions for a new car?
hi y'all, i recently got into an accident and my car is now dead. so now im looking for a new one but there's so many options out there.
im looking for hatchback type car that's available with a manual transmission. 4wd/awd would be great. i've been keeping an eye out for subaru impreza wagons/outback sports.
does anybody have any experience with subarus or have any other recommendations/suggestions/tips?
Posts: 1607
Joined: Dec. 24 2007
From: Siegburg, Alemania
RE: suggestions for a new car? (in reply to at_leo_87)
I had a Subaru outback 'till about 8 years ago, and was very happy with it. Subaru has repeatedly been chosen as the make with the highest customer satisfaction here in Germany. The only reason I didn't buy a Subaru again, was that the dealer is so far away, and the maintenance check-ups were a real hassle.
Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A
RE: suggestions for a new car? (in reply to at_leo_87)
thanks for the replies!
it seems like i'll do well with a subaru. but i keep reading about rust problems. i wonder if they rust at a faster rate than other cars or it's just that people who drive subarus most likely use them in areas where there's more salt on the road.
wim, how much do you pay for gas!? i'm looking at ford focuses too. i want the practical version of a rally car.
Posts: 407
Joined: May 26 2010
From: Sarpsborg,Norway
RE: suggestions for a new car? (in reply to at_leo_87)
I think many people with subarus buy them because they are good for dirt roads and rally stuff, you know that image.
In Norway the cars that have best all around reputation are suzuki and subaru, theres also land rovers but that is something different.
A friend of mine has a subaru impreza, he drives normally, to work and all that each day, and he also drives for camping trips and stuff, he doesnt have any more problems with rust than other car owner with other brand.
Are you buying used or new? what are your complete driving needs?
RE: suggestions for a new car? (in reply to at_leo_87)
quote:
wim, how much do you pay for gas!?
Am not sure abut the exact gallon/mileage ratio. But for me personally it is not expensive to drive a SUV like the Escape because even though I drive every day, I usually don't drive too much miles....my work is pretty close from where I live so that doesn't add a lot of miles and usually I stay within WI or IL....I'm guessing if you drive cross states and on the freeway all the time you'll be using a lot more. I guess it all depends on what your needs are and what you want. Good luck!!
Wait!;
"i recently got into an accident"
What? for real, what happened?.....are you okay? did anyone got hurt?
Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A
RE: suggestions for a new car? (in reply to odinz)
quote:
Are you buying used or new? what are your complete driving needs?
definitely used! i need something roomy enough for all my music gear but small enough to be gas efficient. 4wd/awd would be great for new england weather. but it only gets real bad in the winter time so im wondering if it's worth it to get a 4wd as they drink up more gas.
quote:
What? for real, what happened?.....are you okay? did anyone got hurt?
i was just sitting in traffic and felt a huge crash from the back. i got out of the car and looked back to see three other cars all rear ending each other. luckily, i was at the front so i'm not at fault at all.
quote:
for young heart , yes Subaru is the choice. for me Honda always
my previous car (the now dead one) was a 97 honda crv. i guess i'm going backwards. for a small suv, it was great on gas and never had any mechanical problems. the only reason it died was because people kept running into me (drunk drivers, people on cell phone, taxi drivers in a rush, etc.)
RE: suggestions for a new car? (in reply to odinz)
quote:
ORIGINAL: odinz
In Norway the cars that have best all around reputation are suzuki and subaru, theres also land rovers but that is something different.
The Landrover Defender is being built over here under license, and I got me a double cabine pickup. I guess the manufacturing template used being the one from 30 years ago, with the rickety cabine just keeping you trusting that none of local nuts shall ever crash into you sideways; and the engine used being some Korean thingy, hence no comparison to the contemporary original I suppose. Not to mention the flat interiour and the camping seats that it´s stuffed with. And you need a healthy spine to appreciate its rough suspension anyway.
But in sight of the roads here, in comparison letting appear the moon like a smooth surface, and the additonal bumps on occasional lane trips, I guess any other make would had been a piece of scrap metal by now. There even have been idiots running into me laterally whose 2-ton car then was dragged around, yet all of marks that they left have been some little scratches on the running board.
With all the torture that it has seen the Landy is still well and alive, and it even has an appealing face among the vehicles of tasteless design.
I would had preferred something more environmentally friendly, but for rural ambience and desasterous roads a Landrover might be ideal. And with the little wear that it shows, the little of replacement parts and service that it needs, its environmental equatation in the outback might eventually not really be that bad.
Besides, once used to the high sitting position and overview, the norm like in limousines just won´t feel right anymore.
RE: suggestions for a new car? (in reply to at_leo_87)
quote:
definitely used! i need something roomy enough for all my music gear but small enough to be gas efficient. 4wd/awd would be great for new england weather. but it only gets real bad in the winter time so im wondering if it's worth it to get a 4wd as they drink up more gas.
Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland
RE: suggestions for a new car? (in reply to at_leo_87)
Your a flamenco player at_leo_87 so you need something handmade, and the outside bonnet and doors made from spruce and french polished... and get it tuned at a garage , none of this low D stuff .....
Posts: 441
Joined: Mar. 19 2009
From: San Francisco Bay Area
RE: suggestions for a new car? (in reply to El Kiko)
quote:
You're a flamenco player at_leo_87 so you need something handmade, ...
But he's probably on a budget as well. So, like a Navarro guitar that is hecho a mano in Mexico with a European spruce top, maybe he needs a guitar made in Mexico with some European components. That would be Volkswagen.
I guess the Honda fit would be like a Yamaha CG171SF.
Back on a more serious note, the Subaru Imprezza, like the Honda Fit, is recommended by Consumer Reports. Both are in the same small-car class but CR recognized that some folks out there need a vehicle with AWD.
Posts: 441
Joined: Mar. 19 2009
From: San Francisco Bay Area
RE: suggestions for a new car? (in reply to at_leo_87)
I checked the Consumer Reports' reliability detail on the Ford Focus. It was unimpressive compared to the Fit and the Impreza.
That's disappointing because they have a lot of interesting bells 'n whistles options available on the Focus (parking assist, aux stereo inputs, voice command and more). Those are nice to have but I want a car that'll spend most of its time on the road and not in the shop. I don't like being at the mercy of a potentially unscrupulous mechanic.
The Honda Element is a big hauler too but it will be discontinued after this model year. It wasn't a big seller because the CRV cannibalized its market. Obviously, the MPG isn't as good as the Fit.
FWIW, I had checked out the Honda Civic. It's great if you want a small sedan that can be reasonably comfortable for four people but it's not so great for hauling because it's not available as a hatchback. For a single dude (presumably with one girlfriend and a handful of parakeets), I think the Fit is pretty good.
Posts: 441
Joined: Mar. 19 2009
From: San Francisco Bay Area
RE: suggestions for a new car? (in reply to at_leo_87)
quote:
ORIGINAL: at_leo_87
quote:
For a single dude (presumably with one girlfriend and a handful of parakeets), I think the Fit is pretty good.
dont forget the guitar!!!
But of course! The girlfriend sits in the passenger seat. The parakeets on your shoulders. And the guitar luxuriously enjoys the entire cargo space from folded-down rear seats!
quote:
wow, here's a fit for only 5000
Older model ... first generation ... shorter wheelbase. Doesn't look like the top-end so it won't have the vehicle stability assist (VSA) safety feature.
I think VSA became standard on all trim levels with the 2011 model year. It was available on the two lower trim levels (standard on EX) beginning in 2009. Might not be a deal breaker for you though.
Why not look for another used CRV? The only thing that stopped yours was ... impact.
AWD cars tend to be pretty heavy I think, so that combined with the 3.2L = lots of trips to the gas station. Plus, if you drove this car you might find your foot getting heavier
Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A
RE: suggestions for a new car? (in reply to at_leo_87)
update: so i ended up getting a subaru impreza wagon. i got it for a good deal (lots of haggling) and it comes with a 2 year/100,000 engine/transmission/drivetrain warranty.
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