Cars, cars, cars...

[AmazingGracePlayer]

Hello TBers,

I've made a thread like this before, but with different cars. As some of you may know the story, I'm buying a used car before the summer comes and I need advices. My budget is about $10,000. I'm looking for a classy sedan or a sporty (but still classy) coupe. All the cars listed all fall roughly within the same price range, and they all roughly have 75k miles. Reliability is an issue, and I know all the cars I've named are high-maintenance, but I will only be driving 5000 miles a year at most, so that should ease the burden a bit.

I prefer European cars, if not then American... If not, then Acuras or Lexus will do. No Hondas, Toyotas, Nissans, Inifinit, Hyundai, or other similar Asian imports I have not named (Scions).



Would car would you recommend?

[ihateusernames]

i'd suggest you clearly determine your use then choose one category of vehicle only rather than comparing coupe, sedan, compact, subcompact, etc...

as a bass player, i would be inclined to suggest the mini cooper of that lot - but crash safety is on par with a mid 80's vw golf.

save a couple of bucks and swap the a4 for a passat on that list - just not 99-01...electric gremlins.

have you considered a recent saab 9-3?

[mike_v_s]

I think you're approaching this the wrong way if you're going to eliminate entire marques. Personally, I think you're more likely to find a good reliable car in the list you requested be ignored.

European cars are (generally) more expensive than their American and Japanese counterparts, so you're looking at less car for the money and reliabilty that will be about on par with an American car. American cars will (generally) offer a lot of car for the $$, but there aren't as many models as I would trust in that price range. With the luxury/near luxury brands like Lexus and Acura, you are paying more when a similar car sans leather and some sound damping is available with one of the brands you don't want (i.e. Lexus ES300 vs. Camry).

Mike

[AmazingGracePlayer]

Originally Posted by mike_v_s

I think you're approaching this the wrong way if you're going to eliminate entire marques. Personally, I think you're more likely to find a good reliable car in the list you requested be ignored.

European cars are (generally) more expensive than their American and Japanese counterparts, so you're looking at less car for the money and reliabilty that will be about on par with an American car. American cars will (generally) offer a lot of car for the $$, but there aren't as many models as I would trust in that price range. With the luxury/near luxury brands like Lexus and Acura, you are paying more when a similar car sans leather and some sound damping is available with one of the brands you don't want (i.e. Lexus ES300 vs. Camry).

Mike

I understand that European and American cars aren't as reliable as Asian cars, but I just don't like Asian cars, especially not Japanese cars.

Originally Posted by ihateusernames

i'd suggest you clearly determine your use then choose one category of vehicle only rather than comparing coupe, sedan, compact, subcompact, etc...

as a bass player, i would be inclined to suggest the mini cooper of that lot - but crash safety is on par with a mid 80's vw golf.

save a couple of bucks and swap the a4 for a passat on that list - just not 99-01...electric gremlins.

have you considered a recent saab 9-3?

I've looked at a few of them, not really a fan of the design.

[mike_v_s]

Originally Posted by AmazingGracePlayer

I understand that European and American cars aren't as reliable as Asian cars, but I just don't like Asian cars, especially not Japanese cars.



I've looked at a few of them, not really a fan of the design.

Fair enough. Good luck on the purchase.

Mike

[P. Aaron]

You get the car you can fit your rig into.

[AmazingGracePlayer]

Originally Posted by P. Aaron

You get the car you can fit your rig into.

Got a Hummer H3 for that, I need a car WITHOUT those extra space because I don't haul my Ampeg PR410 everywhere I go

[Deluge Of Sound]

Originally Posted by AmazingGracePlayer

I understand that European and American cars aren't as reliable as Asian cars, but I just don't like Asian cars, especially not Japanese cars.

Clint? You live in New Jersey??

[Meyatch]

Saab.

Mid-level luxury, turbo charged engine. Horrible resale value. Way more reliable than non-saab owners say they are.

Check out the 99-02 9-3. If you like hatchbacks (I do) they are very sporty, and I can fit a full stack in it.

[Tony G]

What's wrong with Japanese cars? Just curious...


Edit: Oh, and if I had to pick from your list, I'd go with the mini cooper. From your list that is the most reliable, gets the best gas mileage, and can probably get a slightly newer one on your budget compared to the rest of the cars.

[JimB52]

From what I've heard, most of those vehicles are fairly expensive to maintain and repair. 80,000 mi is when some pretty expensive parts start to need replacing. Budget for repairs when shopping.
Carfax is well worth the cost for peace of mind.

[AmazingGracePlayer]

Originally Posted by Tony G

What's wrong with Japanese cars? Just curious...

I mainly find their design very disgusting and cheap. Owned a Honda and two Toyotas before, didn't like it. Interior looked like it was made by some 8 year old Asian children. Test drove a used a Nissan, and the car broke down on my way out of the dealership. Lexus look like crap (especially the ES), and Infinitis look like crap as well (other than the G37, which I cannot afford).

[AmazingGracePlayer]

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

Clint? You live in New Jersey??

I don't get it...

Originally Posted by Meyatch

Saab.

Mid-level luxury, turbo charged engine. Horrible resale value. Way more reliable than non-saab owners say they are.

Check out the 99-02 9-3. If you like hatchbacks (I do) they are very sporty, and I can fit a full stack in it.

Not a big fan of their older models with the excessively-hatched back. Newer ones look decent. Interior design is a bit shabby though.

[Tony G]

Originally Posted by AmazingGracePlayer

I mainly find their design very disgusting and cheap. Owned a Honda and two Toyotas before, didn't like it. Interior looked like it was made by some 8 year old Asian children. Test drove a used a Nissan, and the car broke down on my way out of the dealership. Lexus look like crap (especially the ES), and Infinitis look like crap as well (other than the G37, which I cannot afford).

Ah, ok then. I respectfully disagree with everything you've said here though. Granted, Audi's look very nice. I've had two in my family. They seemed like they were also in the shop once a month. My family now has two infiniti's, one acura, and one audi. The audi is still the one that goes to the shop far more often than the rest, yet it is only a year older than one of the Infiniti's, and two years younger than the Acura. .

[Philbiker]

I owned an 00 Audi A4. I would very strongly recommend against either of the Audis. They cost a fortune to keep on the road. I'm not talking aobut stuff that breaks (though that IS a problem - a big one), but designed short lifespan items. Stuff like brakes that require replacing pads and rotors at 30K miles and are expensive.

My local independant shop says "Audi is a four letter word".

Based on my experience with my wife's Mercedes, that's what I would recommend. If you like the styling of the little hatchback "Coupe" C class ours is a hell of a great car. I'm sure the sedan is nice, too, but the coupe is downright awesome. Gets fantastic gas mileage, large hatchback holds lots of stuff, small size and big wheels mean nimble, sporty handling and feel. Ours has the 1.8 supercharged 4. Fantastic engine. The first year or two of the coupe it shared the engine with the SLK. Recommend the six speed if you can find one.

[Muusers]

Originally Posted by Philbiker

I owned an 00 Audi A4. I would very strongly recommend against either of the Audis. They cost a fortune to keep on the road. I'm not talking aobut stuff that breaks (though that IS a problem - a big one), but designed short lifespan items. Stuff like brakes that require replacing pads and rotors at 30K miles and are expensive.

My local independant shop says "Audi is a four letter word".

Based on my experience with my wife's Mercedes, that's what I would recommend.

well, that's only because they send the bad audi's to the states, we europeans keep the good ones

[AmazingGracePlayer]

Originally Posted by Tony G

Ah, ok then. I respectfully disagree with everything you've said here though. Granted, Audi's look very nice. I've had two in my family. They seemed like they were also in the shop once a month. My family now has two infiniti's, one acura, and one audi. The audi is still the one that goes to the shop far more often than the rest, yet it is only a year older than one of the Infiniti's, and two years younger than the Acura. .

What year/model is the Audi?

Originally Posted by Philbiker

I owned an 00 Audi A4. I would very strongly recommend against either of the Audis. They cost a fortune to keep on the road. I'm not talking aobut stuff that breaks, but designed short lifespan items. Stuff like brakes that require replacing pads and rotors at 30K miles and are expensive to replace.

My local independant shop says "Audi is a four letter word".

Based on my experience with my wife's Mercedes, that's what I would recommend.

But consider this... It'll take me about 5 or 6 years to drive 30k miles...

[RED5]

Originally Posted by AmazingGracePlayer

I mainly find their design very disgusting and cheap. Owned a Honda and two Toyotas before, didn't like it. Interior looked like it was made by some 8 year old Asian children. Test drove a used a Nissan, and the car broke down on my way out of the dealership. Lexus look like crap (especially the ES), and Infinitis look like crap as well (other than the G37, which I cannot afford).

I voted for other, I work for a BMW dealer,own 2 old ones and a Toyota. the Toyo is the go to vehicle. Does it all and does it consistently. From the models you listed you seem to prefer style over substance, not that there's anything wrong with that ,but what are you using the car for? i can't get anything but a bass and an accessory bag in my 325e perfect for city gigs My 633 will take a small 2x10 cab in the pass seat and a ton of stuff in the trunk, my usual load, but my Previa? I don't need to haul all it could carry at once,with passengers. What the japanese leave out in frills? you'll be driving for a million miles. I have seen some awesome interiors on dead cars in our shop. next car I get will be a Ford Pickup.

[L-A]

If the Merc has been properly maintained, it'd be a great deal. Old ones bought with nice options are worth a lot more than they're sold for.

[Tony G]

Originally Posted by AmazingGracePlayer

What year/model is the Audi?

2004 A4