Advice Needed on a New Car (Vanity)

[MarkL]

Hi All,

I'm in need of some advice on a new car.

[MarkL]

Hi All,

I'm in need of some advice. My little 2000 Toyota Corolla has just about had it... It's got 178,000 miles, and I've just been informed that I need to have the engine rebuilt. The "Check Engine" idiot light came on, and when I took it in to the dealer, they informed me that the diagnostic informed them that one of my cylinders is missing, and the "bad cylinder" is down nearly 50% on compression. The plug for that cylinder is also badly fouled, and I've been burning quite a bit of oil for more than a month now (about a quart every 2 weeks). They don't know if the problem is with the head, maybe a bad valve and oil seal, though that seems a bit excessive for a seal problem, or if it's a problem with the cylinder wall and rings. Of course, they can't know for sure without disassembling the engine, but even the cheapest fix looks like it's going to cost nearly double of the blue book value of the car. That, besides needing other work on the car, like a new clutch and tires simply doesn't make it worth fixing.

I would normally get another Toyota Corolla, since I've had 2 so far, and both have been terrific, lasting 10 years or so, but I've now got an issue with arthritis in my knees, and it's getting hard to get in and out of such a low-sitting car (and extremely painful). So I'm having to think about something new...

I'm sort of gravitating to a used car, something around 2007 that has the seat higher off the ground. I need something relatively small, a 4 door with some covered storage, so a pickup won't work for me. I was thinking of something like a PT Cruiser or an HHR, but I'm not that crazy buying a Chrysler or Chevy at this point. Or maybe a small SUV, but prices are just so darned high and the mileage leaves a lot to be desired. I would like to get at least 29mpg highway with a manual transmission, and keep the amount down below $10,000 with at least a 12/12K powertrain warranty (so I'll be buying from a dealer, Enterprise, or CarMax probably).

Any advice on vehicles that will fit my needs would be very much appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Mark

[rabscuttle385]

Get a Hyundai Sonata.

Rumor also has it that the new Fords are quite nice, too.

[umgud]

I’d say a small SUV for decent seat height. Most the small or even compact sedans are going to be pretty low slung.

[lmr]

Don’t Help the economy until Obama is out of office, until then... Walk.

;-)

[martin_fierro]

I hear Pontiac and Oldsmobile have renewed their commitment to building quality cars.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

I rented a Sonata a few years back when my car was in the shop and I liked it.

My suburban has 220K miles on it, I plan on driving it till it falls apart.

[Adams]

Want a high seat hight, but in a car? Try a used Chrysler 300 with the 3.5L V6. There should be plenty of them in the price range you ar elooking at.

[grey_whiskers]

It's a shame you couldn't have done something under "Cash for Clunkers" but Brett Favre is already with the Vikings. :-)

Sorry, I sympathize but cannot help : I drive an econobox myself. Possibly a Kia Sorento (21 city / 29 Hwy)?

Or a Hyundai Elantra (23 city / 31 Hwy)?

Cheers!

[americanophile]

No government motors (GM) or Chrysler.

[aliquando]

Don’t buy a new one. Buy one coming off of a two year lease. You will save a bunch!

[Abby4116]

Get a Hyundai Sonata.

My 2004 Sonata has been wonderful. Other than the scheduled maintenance and oil changes, it has needed no work. Original Michelin tires, brakes and even battery - very happy with it.

It gets 25 mpg combined ciy/highway.

[azsportsterman]

Harley Sportster 883. you can buy brand new for under $10K, great gas mileage (50+ mpg), seat height is perfect, and it’s easy to find parking.

[Falconspeed]

Hyundai Sonata. I ‘second that motion.’ Great car.

[MarkL]

Harley Sportster 883. you can buy brand new for under $10K, great gas mileage (50+ mpg), seat height is perfect, and it’s easy to find parking.

Sorry, but I prefer Italian V Twins, and already have a Ducati Supersport 900 SP.

But I need something to drive like right now, where there's 8" of snow on my driveway. I spent a year where the only transportation I had was a bike (a KZ-550 at the time), and it was no fun driving that in the snow. Hard to start too! And I have no wish to do that again.

Mark

[Falconspeed]

I have a Hyundai Elantra with 240,000 miles and no problems. The arthritis will put you in the next car up, the Sonata, which is a little roomier.

[Falconspeed]

I have a Hyundai Elantra with 240,000 miles and no problems. The arthritis will put you in the next car up, the Sonata, which is a little roomier.

[MarkL]

Get a Hyundai Sonata.

Thanks, but I'm still looking for somethign "smallish," and it looks like the Sonata is quite a bit larger. The overall length is about a foot and a half longer than my existing corolla, and I'm not sure how well it would fit in my garage at this point.

Thanks though!

Mark

[Reaganez]

If you are used to Toyota NVH(Noise,Vibration,and Harshness) Hyundai will blow chunks. Stay away.

You can get a 2006-07 Ford Escape with 75k miles or so for $12k.

You can get a 2006-07 Ford Fusion with less than 40k miles for $12k or less. Higher quality ratings than either Toyota Camry or Honda Accord,it is a little smaller than either of those two(but bigger than a Corolla) but higher quality ratings.

I would get the HHR over the PT Cruiser.

I own a 2003 Honda Accord and my next car will be a new Camaro V6.

If you have read some of my recent postings I am rooting for the General to do well.

But in your specific case,with your budget and requirements in mind I would strongly recommend on of the two Fords. Very high quality and counter intuitively not very good re-sale value.It takes time for reputation to catch up to reality. Bad for new Ford buyers but good for you.

Specialty niche vehicles have lower quality than large volume mainstream product. Ergo retro micro-vans like the PT Cruiser and HHR will have lower quality compared to their mainstream brethren.

Although later model PT cruisers improved quite a bit.
The power-train on the HHR is fine but trim/interior fit/finish leaves something to be desired.

Again, I would go with either the Ford Escape or Fusion.

[goseminoles]

Don’t get anything other than another Toyota. And buy a used one-2007 or newer.
Smart people don’t buy new cars.

[Reaganez]

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-toyota-secrecy23-2009dec23,0,5601716.story

This is a Los Angeles Times four page expose on Toyota's safety problems over the last 10 years and their cover ups.

Toyotas are for people stuck in 1989 and/or worship the Japanese.

Toyota's overall quality is still ok but falling.

They just announced they will reduce their budget for parts purchase 30%. This is the across the board cuts Detroit did in the 70’s and 80’s and led to a nosedive in quality.

But I guess some people believe the Japanese are so damn brilliant they have to make the best product regardless of mounting evidence to the contrary.