Car Recommendations

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sherm03's avatar

sherm03

I go balls deep.

7,349 posts
Feb 14, 2016 2:24 PM
Looks like I'll be in the market for a new car sooner than I was hoping. Currently have a 2004 Honda Civic with almost 180,000 miles. It's in the shop for the second time in a month, and I have to decide how much I want to put into this car vs. taking the plunge into something new.

Haven't really looked into anything. All I know right now is that I want a 4 door, good gas mileage, and enough space for all the baby's stuff, my wife, and my dog for when we have to travel out of town.
Feb 14, 2016 2:24pm
GOONx19's avatar

GOONx19

An exceptional poster.

7,147 posts
Feb 14, 2016 2:45 PM
I have never heard anyone complain about the reliability of a Camry.
Feb 14, 2016 2:45pm
End of Line's avatar

End of Line

It's Clobberin Time!

6,867 posts
Feb 14, 2016 2:58 PM
Subaru Crosstrek
Feb 14, 2016 2:58pm
S

sportchampps

Senior Member

7,361 posts
Feb 14, 2016 9:17 PM
I just traded in my 2012 Civic for a 2016 Accord. I got the EXL and I fucking love it. I got it fully loaded except for Navigation. With the apple CarPlay there's no need for navigation. The apple CarPlay also lets me stream Pandora or IHeartradio. I hated my civic it was just to small and no fun to drive with the accord it's bigger and I feel like I have power again. I love the wheels on the new accords as well.
Feb 14, 2016 9:17pm
S

Sonofanump

Feb 14, 2016 10:25 PM
Buy a two year old Honda.
Feb 14, 2016 10:25pm
hasbeen's avatar

hasbeen

Excuse me, Flo?

6,504 posts
Feb 15, 2016 7:20 AM
I love my 2013 Accord. Have a 1 year old and I can fit her, my GF, all necessary stuff, + softball stuff. Good space. I don't drive other people though.

My sister just got a brand new Honda Odyssey and it's nice. When I have some money, I want to get one of those for my gf.
Feb 15, 2016 7:20am
4cards's avatar

4cards

Ohio Chatter Legend

2,551 posts
Feb 15, 2016 8:03 AM
...sherm, I'm on my 3rd VW Jetta (2015). The last 2 I had,one was a diesel that I traded in w/280,000, and the last was non-diesel that had 270,000. The Jetta's are affordable & very dependable....at least mine were.
Feb 15, 2016 8:03am
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Feb 15, 2016 8:12 AM
As you framed your question, Camry gets my vote.

Do you plan on having more than 2 kids? If so, get a minivan - seating for 7/8 and pretty remarkable gas mileage. I say this because we have 2 kids, but with the activities we get into now that my kids are older we are running 4-5 kids to practice/games/field trips. So we are looking into trading our 8 year old Edge in for a minivan because we just can't fit all the kids/friends in the car.
Feb 15, 2016 8:12am
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Feb 15, 2016 9:19 AM
I've only had a Mercedes since I graduated college and wouldn't recommend any other cars. I think Honda's are nice for poor people though.
Feb 15, 2016 9:19am
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

Senior Member

7,733 posts
Feb 15, 2016 10:10 AM
j_crazy;1781502 wrote:As you framed your question, Camry gets my vote.

Do you plan on having more than 2 kids? If so, get a minivan - seating for 7/8 and pretty remarkable gas mileage. I say this because we have 2 kids, but with the activities we get into now that my kids are older we are running 4-5 kids to practice/games/field trips. So we are looking into trading our 8 year old Edge in for a minivan because we just can't fit all the kids/friends in the car.
we traded my wife's Edge in for an Expedition. Id take it over a minivan any day.
Feb 15, 2016 10:10am
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Feb 15, 2016 10:57 AM
ZWICK 4 PREZ;1781524 wrote:we traded my wife's Edge in for an Expedition. Id take it over a minivan any day.
Me too, but what kind of gas mileage do you get in an expedition? 15/20 City/Highway?? I'm sure it's close to that. The minivan we are looking at buying has 19 city/28 highway. Sherm said he was looking into gas mileage as one of his points of interest.

Not to mention that an Expedition starts at like $45,000 and the fully loaded honda odyssey is $42,000.
Feb 15, 2016 10:57am
Fab4Runner's avatar

Fab4Runner

Tits McGee

6,196 posts
Feb 15, 2016 10:58 AM
I like my 2013 Fusion, but the best car I ever had was my Camry. Never had a single issue with her, and there was more than 200,000 miles on her when she finally died. My neighbor just got a new Camry, and it's really pretty.

My fiance is a huge fan of Honda Accords. He had one for years, and plans to buy another this spring.
Feb 15, 2016 10:58am
rrfan's avatar

rrfan

Senior Member

1,922 posts
Feb 15, 2016 11:05 AM
Highly recommend the GMC Acadia. Do the upgrade and get the Denali package. You will be glad you did especially with kids. Plenty of room for all the kid stuff and a ride of luxury. Gas millage is okay about 18 city and 22 highway. With kids on a long trip throw a DVD in there and let them watch a movie on the way. Worth its weight in Gold!
Feb 15, 2016 11:05am
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

Senior Member

7,733 posts
Feb 15, 2016 11:08 AM
j_crazy;1781537 wrote:Me too, but what kind of gas mileage do you get in an expedition? 15/20 City/Highway?? I'm sure it's close to that. The minivan we are looking at buying has 19 city/28 highway. Sherm said he was looking into gas mileage as one of his points of interest.

Not to mention that an Expedition starts at like $45,000 and the fully loaded honda odyssey is $42,000.
Yean I think she's averaging 17 mpg. It's worlds better in snow/ice than a minivan would be. Plus we can hook up our jet skis trailer to it and not have to take my truck everywhere. you're not doing that in a minivan.
Feb 15, 2016 11:08am
S

Sonofanump

Feb 15, 2016 11:22 AM
Empirical evidence shows that people stick to the same vehicle brand they are used to. The most economical purchase is a two year old vehicle that has most of the new car depreciation reduced. I'd put even odds Sherm buys a 2013-2014 Honda Accord or Civic.
Feb 15, 2016 11:22am
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Feb 15, 2016 11:28 AM
ZWICK 4 PREZ;1781543 wrote:Yean I think she's averaging 17 mpg. It's worlds better in snow/ice than a minivan would be. Plus we can hook up our jet skis trailer to it and not have to take my truck everywhere. you're not doing that in a minivan.


No doubt. Good comment about performance in snow/ice. I don't have to take that into consideration anymore, and have no clue what it'd be like.
Feb 15, 2016 11:28am
R

rydawg5

Senior Member

2,639 posts
Feb 15, 2016 11:30 AM
sherm03;1781424 wrote:Looks like I'll be in the market for a new car sooner than I was hoping. Currently have a 2004 Honda Civic with almost 180,000 miles. It's in the shop for the second time in a month, and I have to decide how much I want to put into this car vs. taking the plunge into something new.

Haven't really looked into anything. All I know right now is that I want a 4 door, good gas mileage, and enough space for all the baby's stuff, my wife, and my dog for when we have to travel out of town.
You'll fix this for what the taxes are on a new car if it's nothing major major.

I try to break it down for $1,000 per 10,000 miles driven to break even.

If you fix your 2004 Honda for $2,000 - you'll get your money back if it goes another 20,000 miles.

If you go buy a 2 year old Honda Accord for 17,000, you'll need to get 170,000 miles on it to get the same value. Not a guarantee you'll end up getting a much better ratio.

It could be bad logic, but the ratio of money spent is how I look at it. If you feel like the 2004 Honda is actually on it's last legs even though they have a track record of being 20 year cars, then you should ditch it.
Feb 15, 2016 11:30am
sherm03's avatar

sherm03

I go balls deep.

7,349 posts
Feb 15, 2016 12:16 PM
So just heard back from the shop...timing belt is shot.

So I'm in a spot where I have to fix it if I want to trade it in or try to sell it. Wife is now on maternity leave, so I have some time. I'm thinking I'll just try to sell it to recoup the cost of the repairs I've just done on it and then look at getting something else.

Surprised Camry came up as much as it did. I didn't realize they were that reliable/durable. I'll probably do some more research on those.
Feb 15, 2016 12:16pm
TedSheckler's avatar

TedSheckler

Emporium Entrepreneur

3,974 posts
Feb 15, 2016 12:42 PM
Did the engine throw a rod when the timing belt broke? The timing belt and water pump replacement should be under $700. If it threw a rod, then yea, you're screwed.

Always replace the timing belt every 100k miles. I drive a 2002 Acura TL with 538,000 miles on it. I've done a few timing belts.
Feb 15, 2016 12:42pm
GOONx19's avatar

GOONx19

An exceptional poster.

7,147 posts
Feb 15, 2016 12:50 PM
sherm03;1781566 wrote:So just heard back from the shop...timing belt is shot.

So I'm in a spot where I have to fix it if I want to trade it in or try to sell it. Wife is now on maternity leave, so I have some time. I'm thinking I'll just try to sell it to recoup the cost of the repairs I've just done on it and then look at getting something else.

Surprised Camry came up as much as it did. I didn't realize they were that reliable/durable. I'll probably do some more research on those.
My 2001 Camry has required minimal work and is still getting 30 mpg at 190,000 miles.
Feb 15, 2016 12:50pm
R

rydawg5

Senior Member

2,639 posts
Feb 15, 2016 1:01 PM
GOONx19;1781577 wrote:My 2001 Camry has required minimal work and is still getting 30 mpg at 190,000 miles.
Yeah Toyotas & Hondas are good.

Timing Belts are general 100k maintenance.
Feb 15, 2016 1:01pm
sherm03's avatar

sherm03

I go balls deep.

7,349 posts
Feb 15, 2016 1:43 PM
TedSheckler;1781574 wrote:Did the engine throw a rod when the timing belt broke? The timing belt and water pump replacement should be under $700. If it threw a rod, then yea, you're screwed.

Always replace the timing belt every 100k miles. I drive a 2002 Acura TL with 538,000 miles on it. I've done a few timing belts.
Didn't throw a rod. Repair shop quoted me $1100. I told them to pound salt. Found a guy who does the work on the side who said he'd do it for $525. So I'm getting it towed to his place.

I'm still up in the air on how I want to proceed. I'd like to drive it awhile longer so I don't have to take on a car payment. But knowing my luck, something else will come up that needs replaced and I'd have to put more money into it in order to be able to sell it or trade it in.
Feb 15, 2016 1:43pm
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

Administrator

49,363 posts
Feb 15, 2016 2:28 PM
You can't go wrong with Accord or Camry. Just can't. If for some reason you hated them their retail holds like crazy. Zero fear of getting burned.
Feb 15, 2016 2:28pm
rrfan's avatar

rrfan

Senior Member

1,922 posts
Feb 15, 2016 2:37 PM
TedSheckler;1781574 wrote:Did the engine throw a rod when the timing belt broke? The timing belt and water pump replacement should be under $700. If it threw a rod, then yea, you're screwed.

Always replace the timing belt every 100k miles. I drive a 2002 Acura TL with 538,000 miles on it. I've done a few timing belts.
Wow 538,000 miles is impressive. Can anyone beat that?
Feb 15, 2016 2:37pm