I *might* need a new car. Any Suggestions?

[LaydeeBug]

The lady's wings have been temporarily clipped as my 2001 volvo seems to have an electrical short somewhere that makes it unsafe to drive. Unfortunately, I found this out while driving today (actually it wouldn't start, my father gave it a hot shot, it started, and shorted out at an intersection. Dad says it's probably time for a new car so...

I'm on the hunt. (I think)

New or old? hybrid or not? It's just been so long since I looked. ANY suggestions would be great.

Thanks, and I am sorry if this is the wrong forum. :hi:

[mnhtnbb]

1. What's your price range?

[mnhtnbb]

7. If you are buying used, take a look at Carmax (Raleigh) and on-line

plus the Auction Direct in Raleigh. I bought from Carmax in Greensboro in 2003 and was very happy. Sold
that car back to Carmax in Raleigh in April for a decent--not great--price.

[HopeHoops]

2. '82 Yugo

What could possibly go wrong?

[skipos]

3. I am looking into the Ford Fusion hybrid

I have had google send me daily articles about it, and it has all been pretty glowing. Under 47 mph is all electric. 41 mpg after that. Much more quiet, roomy and comfortable than the Prius in my opinion. I think the tax credit is $1750 for a few more months. My wife's job gets her part of the x-plan (I was pretty surprised how many businesses give their employee's the x-plan), so that shaves off a few thousand more.

[SeeHopeWin]

36. An awesome car!!! Way way cool all around.

[panader0]

4. Look up the 'Cash for Clunkers' website

I don't know if a 2001 Volvo would qualify. I think you should just fix the Volvo. It should have many more good years on it. An electrical short can be easily fixed by a decent mechanic and the cost would be very little compared to buying a new car. Volvos last a long time.

[madokie]

9. I agree with you on this

unless of course they just want to buy another auto. If that is the case I suggest to anyone to take a long hard look at what Ford offers. They've been and are building some good assed vehicles

[Warpy]

5. Think about how you drive

If you do a lot of highway driving, a hybrid is not going to buy you that much more efficiency over a super efficient gas car. If you do mostly city driving, a hybrid will be extremely efficient.

If you're a low mileage driver, it doesn't much matter what you drive, whether it's a 6 MPG monstrosity or an ultra efficient hybrid. You're not going to be stressing the environment much, period. However, if you're a moderate to high mileage driver (>10,000 miles per year), you do need to consider fuel efficiency.

The last question is old versus new. Every new car depreciates an incredible amount as soon as you turn the key to drive it off the lot. It also confers a certain amount of confidence because you're not inheriting somebody else's problem. If you are at all mechanically inclined and/or have a mechanic you can trust look an old car over, the old car will generally be the better deal. However, the cash for clunkers might be the sweetener you need for a new car. Also, a new car loan is usually quite a bit cheaper in terms of interest than a used car loan.

I'm driving a little Kia Rio these days, a small, efficient gas car that gets over 40 MPG with the AC blasting and which has adequate cargo room for hauling around spinning and weaving gear. I don't put that many miles on it, but it seems to suit me and is easy to drive.

[frazzled]

15. Our hybrid got 50 mpg on our last highway trip (Chicago to Mpls, with A/C on)

So yes, it will be much more efficient.

If you're a low-mileage driver, a hybrid is still a better bet. Lower emissions are lower emissions. Period.

We have been extremely happy with our Prius. We've had it for 3 1/2 years now, without a single issue.

[Warpy]

22. From a financial standpoint

an extremely low mileage driver does much better with a used clunker. Period.

The break even point for me between the additional cost of a hybrid engine and the slightly higher fuel consumption of the little econocar represented significantly more mileage than I put on a car in any year, even when I'm well enough to travel.

[Deja Q]

35. Seconded.

Hybrids are best suited for city-only drivers; no gas is used. Sitting in 'rush hour' kills avg MPG, as does frequent braking/acceleration.

The locale and time where and when people drive can be far more effective than a blanket statement of "hybrids for everyone, cooie!"

[mucifer]

24. I love my Prius. I do lots of driving as a Chicago hospice nurse going from home

to home all over Cook county. But, that said it is my middle age crisis car. It wasn't cheap. So it all depends on price range.

[lindisfarne]

45. Priuses looked great when gas was $4/gallon, esp. if a person did a lot of city driving &got the tax

credit. Gas will be back up at $4 gal. as soon as the economy recovers. There's the rub: cheap gas, bad world economy vs. better economy but expensive gas.

[LaydeeBug]

27. that's a lot to think about. Thanks Warpy. nt

Thanks Warpy

[Peacetrain]

6. Hey me too.. !!

I am getting another Vibe.. from Pontiac.. but there are a number of good cars..

[roseBudd]

8. A Suburu Legacy wagon, mine is a 95 & has been the most trouble free car...

I've ever owned. The Outbacks had a slightly larger engine & have had some head gasket issues.

The Legacy wagon is boring looking and previous owners usually did not abuse them. Great cargo space and no amount of snow can stop them.

from edmunds

Used Subaru Legacy Models

The present fourth-generation Legacy debuted for 2005. Slight but possibly significant changes have occurred since, so you'll want to pay attention to model years if you're shopping for a used Legacy of this generation. The high-performance, sedan-only GT spec.B trim was added for 2006 and the budget-priced 2.5 GT trim level was discontinued, which means 2005 was the only year for the turbocharged manual-transmission 2.5 GT wagon. That year also saw the addition of an optional DVD-based navigation system. For 2007, the GT spec.B received a six-speed manual in place of the original five-speed unit, and the 2.5-liter engine's horsepower rating was revised to 243 (from 250). All along, there was also a Legacy wagon, but for 2008 Subaru discontinued it. Only minor standard feature adjustments (including standard stability control) have occurred since.

The previous, third-generation Subaru Legacy was more of a rugged all-weather performer than the current model. Sold from 2000-'04, it launched with three primary trim levels: base L, sporty GT and premium GT Limited. A Brighton value trim was also included in the 2000 lineup for the wagon, but was removed the following year.

Although it was a bit lacking in refinement, the previous Legacy was well stocked with standard features, including AWD. All trims came with a smooth and responsive 165-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. A five-speed manual transmission was standard and a four-speed automatic was optional. In 2003, Subaru moved the L trim upscale and added the L Special Edition trim, which was renamed the 35th Anniversary Edition a year later.

Value-minded buyers looking for an all-weather vehicle might take a look at the second-generation Subaru Legacy. Sold from 1995-'99, it was best known for spawning the Outback wagon, a rugged SUV alternative that came with standard AWD. The model's one weak link was its anemic 135-hp 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine, which many people felt was a downgrade from the 160-hp turbocharged 2.2-liter four-cylinder that was available in the first generation's Sport Turbo trim (sold from 1991-'94).

I don't consider my engine anemic. I stopped speeding when gas approached $3 a gallon and have not resumed.

[LaydeeBug]

10. Update: it is EITHER the battery (no biggie) or an electrical short

which will mean new car, I think.

I am looking at the prius right now, but really think it's ugly (sorry prius owners)

[liberal N proud]

13. There are other hybrids

Ford uses the Toyota technology in their hybrids.










Buy American!

[rucky]

16. They grow on you.

At least take it for a test drive. It's pretty comfy from the inside.

[Obamanaut]

34. Shorts can be found and repaired, in most cases. If otherwise

reliable, can the Volvo technician find/repair problem at a reasonable cost? Volvos normally last for a very long time. One might consider the cost of repair vs predicted life of Volvo vs cost of new (or used) vehicle.

[kath]

46. Agree that 8 years is YOUNG for a Volvo - may well be best to fix it up and drive it for

lots more years.

[Kdillard]

11. My friend has a hybrid which she loves but it is different from

the way you would drive a regular car in terms of where the controls are so you would have to get used to that and make sure you get a good expanation from the delear on where everything is and how to use the controls. Also make sure to ask if you would qualify for a tax rebate which i beleive was passed in the stimulus package. Try to see if you can buy American. Perhaps a Ford fusion?? Good luck.

[Fumesucker]

12. Probably an open rather than a short..

A short almost always means either a blown fuse or burning insulation (you would smell it), you didn't mention either of those so it's most likely an intermittent open.

If it's a fault that can be reproduced at the mechanic's shop then it *should* be a fairly simple thing to repair..

A several year old car is generally a lot better buy than a new one, providing the car was a good model to start with and it has been taken care of, look for repair and maintenance records.

Keep in mind that Carfax and the other supposed car checking services can often miss problems, take any such search with a healthy grain of salt.

I would look at Consumer Reports Annual Buying Guide, they give a list of their recommended used car buys and also a list of cars to avoid sorted into several price ranges.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

14. What you need to start with is your requirements in terms of passengers, cargo, etc.

For me, the Honda Element was the right answer. Holds four adults when needed, reconfigures to carry more than some pickups in minutes, rubber floor vice carpet. Notionally Honda Accord running gear.

What you need to start with is your requirements in terms of passengers, cargo, etc.

[Fumesucker]

20. Fuel is almost certainly going to become more expensive in the future..

Efficiency is a big plus in a car, provided it meets your other needs.

All else being equal I would go for the better mileage.

The Prius truly shines in stop and go traffic mileage, for highway driving it doesn't do as much better than other similar size cars with four cylinder engines.

One other point, buying used, a car with a stick can be considerably cheaper feature for feature than an automatic. So few people (particularly women) can drive a stick now that they are not in much demand and the price tends to be lower on the used market. The last car I bought was a stick and the seller told me he could have sold it about ten times over before I got it if it had been an automatic.

[TahitiNut]

17. Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid ... that's what I'd get.

:shrug:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

18. I recommend that you save your money and have the Volvo repaired. They are tanks

that last for decades.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

19. I always buy used, but still under warranty. It's the best of both worlds.

I buy from individuals, not dealers. Get a mechanic to check it out first, which you should do whenever you buy used. If someone balks at a 3rd party mechanic looking at it then move on, the seller is shady.

Here's a pretty good checklist for looking over and driving a used car.

http://www.samarins.com/check/simplecheck.html

It's a little more work buying used, but you can save quite a bit.

Good luck!

[nashville_brook]

21. more info please: do you commute? live in the mountains? have a large family?

I'm a single person with a 15 mile commute to work. I love to kayak and live in Florida. I need to haul things from time to time. Right now I have a Honda Civic Hybrid, with roof racks. It's a near-perfect car for me. It would be a perfect 10 if it were a wagon.

The new Honda Insight is basically a wagon in a sedan body. And it's CHEAP! It's what I would go for if I needed a car right now.



But, if I lived in the mountains or where it snows, I might look for an all-wheel drive. If I had a family I would probably look for a cross-over vehicle like the Acura RDX or the Honda equivalent.

Sounds like I'm a Honda person, no? I used to drive Mazda Miata which I LOVED! Mazda makes a great car. Also had a BMW 3 Series, which, if you want a GREAT quality car, that is a joy to drive, that you might keep for a while -- take a look at the 3 Series.

The new Volvo C30 is cute as hell and gets great milage.

[WestSeattle2]

30. The C-30 is cutting edge cool, style-wise. I like it!

[nashville_brook]

41. here's the press release on the electric Re-Charge concept for the C30:

Volvo Car Corporation

PVH50, 50200
SE-405 31 Göteborg
Sweden
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.media.volvocars.com/

Date of issue 2007-09-06

Volvo ReCharge Concept:
Plug-in hybrid with battery-only range of 100 km - and Flexifuel engine for backup power

Volvo Cars is introducing the Volvo ReCharge Concept, a plug-in hybrid with individual electric wheel motors and batteries that can be recharged via a regular electrical outlet for maximum environmental benefit.
Recharging allows the car to be driven about 100 kilometres on battery power alone before the car's four-cylinder Flexifuel engine is needed to power the car and recharge the battery.
Volvo ReCharge Concept makes its debut in a specially designed Volvo C30 at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

"A certain proportion of electrical vehicles will be necessary to meet the CO2 emission demands of the future. Since the Volvo ReCharge Concept combines an excellent battery range with a backup combustion engine, it is a very interesting concept," says Magnus Jonsson, Senior Vice President Research and Development at Volvo Cars.
The ReCharge Concept has been developed at the Volvo Monitoring and Concept Center (VMCC), the Volvo Car Corporation's think-tank in Camarillo, California.
"This is a ground-breaking innovation for sustainable transportation. A person driving less than 100 kilometres a day will rarely need to visit a filling station. In the USA, this may apply to almost 80 percent of drivers," says Magnus Jonsson.
Thanks to the excellent electrical range from a fuel consumption angle, the Volvo ReCharge Concept is exceptionally kind to the car owner's wallet.
When driving on electric power only, operating costs are expected to be about 80 percent lower than that of a comparable petrol-powered car. When driving beyond the 100 km battery range, fuel consumption may vary from 0 to 5.5 litres per 100 km depending on the distance driven using the engine.
"This plug-in hybrid car, when used as intended, should have about 66 percent lower emissions of carbon dioxide compared with the best hybrid cars available on the market today. Emissions may be even lower if most of the electricity in intended markets comes from CO2-friendly sources such as biogas, hydropower and nuclear power," says Magnus Jonsson.

An electric motor at each wheel
The Volvo ReCharge Concept combines a number of the latest technological innovations into a so-called "series hybrid" where there is no mechanical connection between the engine and the wheels.
The battery pack integrated into the luggage compartment uses lithium-polymer battery technology. The batteries are intended to have a useful life beyond that of the car itself.
Four electric motors, one at each wheel, provide independent traction power.
Four-cylinder 1.6-litre Flexifuel engine drives an advanced generator that efficiently powers the wheel motors when the battery is depleted.

Electric car with a combustion engine as backup
In principle, the Volvo ReCharge Concept is a battery electric car with an efficient generator, an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), that steps in when battery charge becomes insufficient for adequate driving performance.
The APU is designed to distribute electrical power to the individual motors at each wheel. Since the combustion engine only powers the APU, it can operate in an optimal fashion, both for regulated emissions and CO2.
The APU is sufficiently powerful to supply an entire villa with electricity. For example it could with minor modifications in principle give the car owner an electricity generator right at his front door in the event of a power failure.

The driver can choose the power source
The combustion engine starts up automatically when 70 percent of the battery power has been used up. However, the driver also has the option of controlling the four-cylinder Flexifuel engine manually via a button in the instrument panel.
This allows the driver to start the engine earlier in order to maximize battery charge, for instance when out on the highway in order to save battery capacity for driving through the next town.
"There is a considerable difference between our plug-in hybrid and today's hybrids. Today's hybrids use the battery only for short periods to assist the combustion engine. Our solution is designed for most people to run on electric power all the time, while providing the extra security that comes with having a combustion engine as a secondary source of electrical power," says Ichiro Sugioka, project manager for the Volvo ReCharge Concept. He adds: "What is more, our C30 with plug-in hybrid technology retains its lively and sporty driving properties. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h takes 9 seconds and top speed is 160 km/h."

Specially developed electric motors
The central electrical components in the Volvo ReCharge Concept demonstrator - the generator for the APU and the wheel motors - were developed together with British electromagnetic specialists PML Flightlink.
With an individual electric motor at each wheel, weight distribution as well as mechanical efficiency and traction are maximized. The friction in mechanical gears is eliminated. Since the car does not have the transmission found in ordinary cars, there is no need for a gear lever.
To help maximize the environmental benefits, the Volvo ReCharge Concept has high-efficiency tyres developed by Michelin. They are specially designed to accommodate the wheelmotors.
Further more, the car has All Wheel Drive in the truest sense of the term. Power to each wheel is controlled individually.
The energy that is generated during braking is transmitted to the battery pack. When the system is ultimately developed, traditional wheel brakes will be completely replaced by electrical brakes with minimal energy wasted through friction.
To ensure reliable operation of the drivetrain and braking system, driver inputs are fed into a quadruple-redundant electronic control system.

Ecologically sound solution for commuters
The Volvo ReCharge Concept is best suited to car drivers who cover moderate distances every day. For example, a commuter who has less than 100 kilometres (62 miles) to drive between home and workplace can cover the entire round trip on electric power alone and the equivalent daily fuel economy will be zero litres per 100 km.
Even drivers who cover more than the battery-only range will benefit from the ReCharge Concept. For a 150 km (93 mile) drive starting with a full charge, the car will require less than 2.8 litres of fuel, giving the car an effective fuel economy of 1.9 l/100km (124 mpg).
"The only requirement is that the car owner has access to electrical outlets at convenient places, such as at home or at the workplace. A full recharge takes 3 hours. However, even a one-hour quick charge should provide enough charge to drive about 50 kilometres," says Magnus Jonsson.

Descriptions and facts in this press material relate to Volvo Cars' international car range. Described features might be optional. Vehicle specifications may vary from one country to another and may be altered without prior notification.

[jgraz]

43. I second the C-30. Bought one last year and couldn't be happier with it.

Well, not quite. If Ford had allowed the diesel option to be sold in the US, I'd marry it and take it to bed with me.

[TreasonousBastard]

23. If money were no object...

my first choice would be the Mercedes Bluetech diesel. Around 60 grand after taxes, registration and whatnot.

More realistically, the cheapest car you can get new, and would want to drive, is $15-20,000 after all sorts of deals, rebates, and with taxes registration and whatnot. A hybrid will add at least $3,000 to the cost of whatever you're looking at, which will be more than 20 grand to start, but which might be offset a bit by tax credits-- if you pay enough taxes to get the credit. If you don't drive a lot, and I mean a LOT, you might not save enough on gas to make up for the extra cost-- most people save just a few hundred a year with a hybrid.

Is the Volvo eligible for the gummint tradein? That would help.

What specific car to buy? Pretty much anything out there will be OK for a few years, but if you buy into the Toyoya or Honda quality line, note that they both will cost much more to fix than a Ford if and when something does go wrong. But, you're used to that if you've had work done on the Volvo.

If I was buying a car right now I would look at Ford/Mercury (Mercury historically cost a little more but had more comfortable seats and nice appointments) and Hyundai for reliability and value. The Kia Forte is new and looks like a really nice car for not much money, but it's new. Chevy has some very nice models, but avoid the cheap stuff like the Aveo.

Used car? Newer cars can cost a bundle to fix and a much more complex, so I'd be wary of buying a late model privately. A new car dealer who offers a solid warranty would be the way to go-- the car might cost a little more at first, but you'll appreciate it if the transmission blows or the computer has to be replaced.

[The Traveler]

25. Hold on a minute

Is the car otherwise mechanically sound?

What are the symptoms? If you suddenly and randomly lose all power ... power to everything ... check the negative battery terminal connections and grounding connections. (Ground connections tie the negative battery terminal to the frame of the car electrically.)

It is rarely the case that shorts or opens are difficult to find/fix or require significant parts and labor to repair.

Trav

[LaydeeBug]

28. it doesn't lose all power...

just some, and won't start. The hazard lights seem to "buzz" every so often, and the interior lights seem to flicker. That's why I suspected a short.

[The Traveler]

33. Still sounds like an undervoltage

Shorts usually produce bad smells and/or blown fuses. A bad ground connection can definitely produce this kind of behavior. It could be something else, of course, but this would still be my prime suspect and where I would start. Troubleshooting is largely a process of eliminating possible causes of the problem. As Conan Doyle wrote: "When we eliminate the impossible, whatever is left ... no matter how improbable ... must be true." Or something like that.


Trav

[FarCenter]

39. Sounds like a bad battery to me

Had the same symptoms. Car wouldn't start. Jumped it to get it started. Drove a few miles and it died.

A new battery was what it needed.

I believe that it was a shorted cell inside the battery. This happens after a lot of discharge / recharge cycles, but a newer battery could also have this condition, especially if it has been accidentaly discharged a couple of times.

[paparush]

26. I hear that GM will be selling/auctioning cars on eBay. nt

[FarCenter]

29. 2001 is pretty new -- only 8 years old

You should get it repaired unless it is at the point where you need to make major investments in other deferred maintenance.

First year depreciation on a new car is way more than you will pay for repairs.

Plus, depending on what you get, your insurance will likely go up.

[specialed]

31. Audi or Voklkwagon diesel.

if you are truly concerned about fuel economy.

The hybrids have a worse overall environmental footprint than a diesel and the newer diesels get amazingly great mileage.

[Deja Q]

32. 2009 Ford Focus. Near-hybrid MPG without the cost, whose differential renders it moot anyway

(24 city-only, 34 highway, 31 averaged for me so far, and some who do mostly-highway get up to 40.)

Add in cost of gas, cost of car, how many years, et cetera, hybrids are more expensive than they're worth.

Having said that and doing quality research before looking, Ford Fusion Hybrid is the ONLY hybrid worth considering, for its handling, power, safety, and other featured combined. (Maybe Toyota for their Platypus or priapism or whatever their hybrid is called, but I had too many bad experiences with them...) The Honda Insight simply sucks. Shitty drivetrain... (or so I'd read.)

[SeeHopeWin]

37. I just bought a Ford Escape Hybrid...the #1 rated midsize SUV

in the world, getting great mileage so far...Love the car.

[flvegan]

38. Koenigsegg CCXR.

Well, you did say ANY suggestions.

[michreject]

40. Support anti union companies

Buy Asian.

[boomerbust]

42. Get out of your Conservative rut

Live a little bit

[lindisfarne]

44. My 2000 Corollo gets 40 mpg in the summer highway (about 30 on average town/hwy).

Be careful with 1998 until about 2003 corollas, though. This was the 8th generation engine & they had bad rings, which leads to oil burning problems in many (such as mine) which seems to be very difficult to fix, based on what I've read online (even re=ringing doesn't always solve it for some reason).

Not much back seat leg room, but I rarely have adults in the back seat.

A good basic car with excellent gas mileage. Not much in the bells & whistles, & I'd suggest getting out of the 8th gen. engine (which I think would be about 2004, although perhaps 2003). Some complain about the cut-through to the trunk from back seat being narrower than some cars, so if that matters to you, be aware. Side airbags esp. in back are not standard on most models, if that's important to you.

[seabeyond]

47. depends on price. i recently bought a lincoln mks. the other car in the running is honda accord...

the top line. the one that had real get up and go. i dont like to put put put. but in doing the research the honda won out on all the others. we check high end and middle.

[LaydeeBug]

48. UPDATE: It *WAS* the battery, which was completely dead...

and I had to buy a new one, but that sure beats having to buy a new car.

:woohoo: