Ugh. For the first time in 12 years, I have to buy a new car.

[jgraz]

My poor Honda Civic is dying a slow and expensive death. :cry:

[flvegan]

1. What are you considering to replace the Civic?

12 years is a fine run for any car.

[jgraz]

3. Not sure yet -- any suggestions?

I was hoping to to drive the Honda until a reasonable green car became available, but no luck. My transmission is going, so I'm going to have to get one within the month (if not sooner).

[EFerrari]

8. Why not just change out the transmission?

I bought a car for the first time in ten years last summer -- a 1996 Acura for 2K or so. Good mileage. It does the job and nothing seems to be falling off.

:)

[jgraz]

10. For $2500?? Not sure if that's the right choice

I think the car is approaching the "good money after bad" stage. The radiator just failed spectacularly and it also needs suspension work, brakes, and who knows what else.

But, I'm certainly considering just fixing it and seeing how long it lasts. Not sure what to do yet...

[flvegan]

11. I'm a Mazda fan.

Are you buying new or slightly used? I'm a slightly used fan, as well. I like to let someone else take the depreciation hit.

[kath]

14. agree - slightly used is definitely the way to go.

[jgraz]

16. Good advice. I'll have to see what's out there.

Thanks!

[jgraz]

17. I've never been able to fit in a Mazda

I'm 6' 1'' and I always feel like I'm folding myself into those cars. They're a LOT smaller inside than Hondas.

[flvegan]

20. Give the 3 a test drive.

At least, if you haven't lately. They've changed a LOT in the last few years.

I picked up my 6'4" friend at the airport a few weeks ago. No problems, and that was my last Mazda. My new one is huge in comparison.

The newer Civic (most recent body style) is very nice, though. It was high on my list of recent choices.

[jgraz]

21. OK, I'll check it out. They look like decent cars.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

30. I've had problems with Mazda transmissions.

I have a 626 I got new back in '93. It's on its third transmission. The first one was replaced under warranty. I think the problem is that in the heat, humidity and the stop-and-go traffic of the big city, trannies break down really fast. There is no way I would get a stick shift in the big city -- I'd wear out the clutch very quickly.

Before that I had an RX-7. The tranny died at 75K miles so I traded it in on the 626. I'm glad I did because I have not seen any old RX-7s on the street since the early 90s. None. That's one clue to the longevity of a particular model. Seems that RX-7s only lasted about ten or fifteen years.

And in a year or two I'll probably need to get a newer car and slightly used. I think I'd like something resembling a sport sedan.

[wain]

31. Let someone else take the depreciation hit

Words of wisdom. Not only that, but buying two or three years old with low mileage can get you all the luxury options for a song.

[IndianaJones]

2. how many miles? nt.

[jgraz]

4. 160k. All uphill ;)

[IndianaJones]

5. I'll be buying a used Honda or Toyota with 100k soon...

figure I can run it to 200+. Also looking at used Subaru's.

[jgraz]

6. If you get a stick, you should be fine

I had to buy my current car in a hurry so I couldn't wait for the stick option. Both Toyota and Honda engines last for-freaking-ever, but the trannies go out at around 150-175k.

[Burma Jones]

7. Another Civic is a wise choice

I have the hybrid Camry and I like it just fine, but, if I had a smaller family, I would have opted for the Civic hybrid

[unpossibles]

9. I know the feeling

my truck is starting to hit the expensive stretch of repairs....

[geardaddy]

12. I've had my Civic for ten years.

I suppose mine will die soon too. :(

[Rabrrrrrr]

13. Buy a slightly used car - like one a year old. And get a Mustang convertible.

Or some other convertible sports car that's fun to drive.

:7

[jgraz]

15. Haha -- not really my style.

Besides, my girlfriend already has one of these.



One of us has to be practical. ;)

[Rabrrrrrr]

18. Is that the new Saturn one?

Since she already has the convertible, then you should get the Rolls Royce or the Mercedes.

[jgraz]

19. No, that's the Pontiac. It's a nice car, but totally impractical

Maybe I should just go for that Aston Martin I've had my eye on. I just need to check my couch cushions for an extra 200k. :D

[Redstone]

22. You're probably going to be amazed at the difference in cars; it's almost impossible

to buy a genuinely bad car anymore. (Not counting SUVs, we're just talking cars. And not counting Volkswagens, ether, because VW is turning out some astonishingly crappy cars, and have been doing so for at least 15 years..)

For example: Remember how awful Hyundais were 12 years ago? Well, guess what; now they have a TEN-YEAR warranty. If they didn't make reliable cars, they'd go out of business REAL fast with that kind of warranty.

It's a good time for you to have to buy a car.

(PS: If you can affor $22K or so, look at the new Volvo S30.)

Redstone

[jgraz]

23. I'm actually looking at the Volvo C30

It seems to be a very good car. I tend to buy new and keep the cars forever, so that one might work for me.

[Redstone]

24. Let me tell you about recent Volvo reliability:

Mrs R's car (which is also the family car) is a 2004 S60, which we got a real good deal on because we bought it in October as a prior-year leftover.

We don't drive that much, but because it's the family car (and the one I use on my business trips), it has 40,000 miles on it, and I SWEAR (and I'm a Car Guy) it drives every bit as well as it did the day we bought it. No squeaks, no rattles, no unusual warranty repairs, no problems.

And this is the model with all-wheel-drive, the sport package, all the bells & whistles (which we would never have bought at sticker, but took because the "leftover" price was so good)...all that stuff that COULD go wrong, and none of it HAS gone wrong.

Conclusion: Volvos are STIL bulletproof.

Anyway: The S30 seems like a helluva good bet. Proven mechanicals from the S40, so no problems there. Two-door for being stylish, and a hatch for versatility. The car magazines ALL love it, so it must be enjoyable to drive. And most important, I'd buy one myself if they made a convertible version.

Redstone

[jgraz]

26. Good to hear it, though I think a convertible version would just look weird.

I'll stick with the moonroof.

I would buy this car in a second if it came in a hybrid or diesel version. You can get them in Europe, but not in the US. :banghead:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

28. Redstone, don't forget to get one with a rollbar!!!

We don't want you to wake up squashed.

[Redstone]

32. No worries, my C70 convertible has a ROPS...

"RollOver Protection System." Two steel arches that fire up from behind the rear seat if the sensor says the car's at an angle that indicate it's going to roll over.

Every convertible I've ever owned has had a rollbar, until this one. Trust me, I'd never take the chance of becoming "Rdstn."

Redstone

[grace0418]

25. Sorry to hear about your Civic. Mine is 9 years old and when I'm ready to replace

her I'm getting a Honda Fit.

[jgraz]

27. I see a lot of those. The style of the Fit is not really my taste

But apparently a lot of people like them.

[THUNDER HANDS]

29. I just got a 2007 Nissan Sentra

not the flashiest car in the world, but it drives great. I got it for $13,000.

[malta blue]

33. I love my Subaru but it may be dying on me too....

It has 175k miles on it and the ABS just died. I was considering a new (new to me) car but I think I am going to investigate how much it costs to fix the ABS.

Good luck on your hunt for a new car :hi: