Need a new daily driver - what do you suggest?
10-08-2003, 02:26 PM
#11
On the sportier side maybe a look at the RSX or if you are looking used an Integra.
They are based on the Civic platform, but like most Acuras they get a little extra.
Also the Altimas seem very well priced.
They are based on the Civic platform, but like most Acuras they get a little extra.
Also the Altimas seem very well priced.
10-08-2003, 02:35 PM
#12
Originally posted by paS2K
My only question would be the cost of
bmw parts and labor 
My only question would be the cost of
bmw parts and labor
Though I love driving eurocars, by and large, I hate the upkeep costs! Been there done that, and they didn't even give me a tee shirt.
10-08-2003, 08:34 PM
#14
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About the VW TDI.
While I don't know if it would be satisfactory for you I was quite impressed with my friend's New Beetle TDI and its "pep." Diesels are all about torque and contrary to the S are better shifted lower in their rpm range for max acceleration. These diesels are much improved from earlier ones and the problems with cold starting and gobs of black smoke are gone. My friend is 6'5" about 260. He hauls his wife and two teenage kids in it, both of them good sized also.
As I said VW hasn't been getting good reliability marks but from the things I've read they are electrical problems and stuff like mirrors falling off, not exploding engines.
If you really are interested you can do a search for tdiclub and learn more. I'd take one for a test drive too, you might be surprised.
I'll cover myself and give you this link.
VW quality, Autoweek
While I don't know if it would be satisfactory for you I was quite impressed with my friend's New Beetle TDI and its "pep." Diesels are all about torque and contrary to the S are better shifted lower in their rpm range for max acceleration. These diesels are much improved from earlier ones and the problems with cold starting and gobs of black smoke are gone. My friend is 6'5" about 260. He hauls his wife and two teenage kids in it, both of them good sized also.
As I said VW hasn't been getting good reliability marks but from the things I've read they are electrical problems and stuff like mirrors falling off, not exploding engines.
If you really are interested you can do a search for tdiclub and learn more. I'd take one for a test drive too, you might be surprised.
I'll cover myself and give you this link.
VW quality, Autoweek
10-09-2003, 07:19 AM
#17
I agree with everyone that says Civic or Corolla. The reliability is unbelievable, compared to others in that price/economy range. The Nissan Sentra probably is good as well, but I don't know much about that car.
My daily driver is a '95 Toyota Corolla. I've got 188,000 miles on it, and it's been very reliable. It doesn't burn or drip oil, no rattles, and has never given me a problem. With a 5-speed manual and a 1.8 liter engine, I'm getting around 38 mpg!!
The Jetta is a nice car, but I don't care for some of its quirks. First, parts are more expensive. Their manual trannys aren't as crisp as Hondas and Toyotas. My Stepson has a '97 Jetta, and it's given him problems even though he babies the car. And they're much tougher to work on if you're a do-it-yourselfer.
My daily driver is a '95 Toyota Corolla. I've got 188,000 miles on it, and it's been very reliable. It doesn't burn or drip oil, no rattles, and has never given me a problem. With a 5-speed manual and a 1.8 liter engine, I'm getting around 38 mpg!!
The Jetta is a nice car, but I don't care for some of its quirks. First, parts are more expensive. Their manual trannys aren't as crisp as Hondas and Toyotas. My Stepson has a '97 Jetta, and it's given him problems even though he babies the car. And they're much tougher to work on if you're a do-it-yourselfer.
10-09-2003, 07:35 AM
#18
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stick w/ honda or toyota. any recent civic, corolla, camry, accord, etc. would be a good investment for a daily driver.
in my experience (mostly through friends) I would avoid anything made by VW like the plague. On tuesday of this week, my girlfriend's '01 Passat w/40k miles developed a $1000 sensor problem, her roommate has an '02 A4 that had to be taken away on a flatbed, and a good friend of mine had to shell out $564 for problems w/ his '01 Jetta VR6 (sensors, window harness).
in my experience (mostly through friends) I would avoid anything made by VW like the plague. On tuesday of this week, my girlfriend's '01 Passat w/40k miles developed a $1000 sensor problem, her roommate has an '02 A4 that had to be taken away on a flatbed, and a good friend of mine had to shell out $564 for problems w/ his '01 Jetta VR6 (sensors, window harness).
10-09-2003, 03:05 PM
#19
If nothing else, a daily driver should be a reliable, trouble free vehicle that works all week and disappears on the weekend or whenever you drive your S. Honda or Toyota. No need to look anywhere else.
10-10-2003, 04:15 AM
#20
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I recently went through the small car daily driver thing for my son. He wanted the best deal I could find on a Civic EX or Corolla or anything else I thought was equal. He wanted as much fun factor as possible in a small sedan.
He ended up buying a Mazda Protege LX mainly because it was the best handling, had alloy rims and bigger tires, has a 4 year/50 and was about $3000 cheaper to buy.
The only down side to the Mazda is the resale will not be as good as the Honda so what you save as new you lose on resale.
He ended up buying a Mazda Protege LX mainly because it was the best handling, had alloy rims and bigger tires, has a 4 year/50 and was about $3000 cheaper to buy.
The only down side to the Mazda is the resale will not be as good as the Honda so what you save as new you lose on resale.