New Car Buying?

“Yes very but how about dependable and is the fuel mileage really 48 mpg”

“No. the fuel consumption is not that, but I guess it depends on where and how you drive. My relatives have one and get in the high 30s with Cali highway driving (80 mph). I think city is closer to in the 40s. theya re a Toyota so I think reliability is good.”

“wait for the new diesels to come out.”

“No way !!! When is that going to happen ?”

“I believe Chinmusic has owned a couple hybrid cars, the latest being a Prius.

I'm in the market for a new vehicle for the family and I would like it to be a new diesel, but I don't know how much longer I will wait. A VW Passat wagon with their newest diesel technology would fit the bill nicely. Just get them over here to the US already!”

“Work is that in 09, diesels will be released that meet CA air quality requirements.

I plan on stuffing one of those engines in a Westi and hitting the road.”

“A friend of mine just bought one of those Smart cars. Geez that thing is freakin' small, like the size of a refrigerator. I would hate to get into a traffic accident in that thing.


last edited: 3/13/08 10:27:33 AM”

“A friend had the first generation Prius, and replaced it with a 2008.

Loved the first car, and loves the second one.

Brags that he drove the first one from Chicago to Upstate NY and bought ONLY 2 tanks of gas.

He laughs at the gas prices.

I've ridden in his locally--GREAT car. Not sure that I would want to do a road trip in it.”

“SmartCars only get 32 mpg c/c/ of silly U.S. catalytic converter requirements. For a two seater, that's not so great. You look at something like the Honda Fit, it gets 37 on the higway and fits 5 people (albeit tightly).

If you want the biggest bang for the buck fuel economy wise, I would say it's probably the Corolla.

I'm noticing a lot more scooters on the road these days. It's hard to get a moto parking slot...”

“VW is coming out with a hybrid-diesel Golf in 2009. This article doesn't mention the MPG, but I think I read elsewhere they are shooting for 69 mpg.

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/03/vws-golf-diesel.html”

“Roseymonster, you must not have heard, Toyota's reliability is now down below Ford's, according to Consumer reports.”

“Remember,if we can cut our use of oil in half, we still have to import over 17%. So, little changes are important , but not the fix all that will be needed. The basic idea of some machine doing all of our work can not continue.”

“I did not hear! I wonder if that is because they make 10 times as many vehicles as Ford and sell them the whole world over...”

“Jeez CD, if you ran into a shopping cart with that thing you'd be totalled!”

“I just did a little hunting around for electric cars - the hybrids are just a band-aid, and it wouldn't surprise me if the oil companies have a hand in helping them succeed somehow rather than electric. The electric vehicles that are most like actual cars go for around 50-60,000. You could get a "city car" for around 11-12,000 (I was looking at ZapCars) - they'll go 40 miles on a charge and I think they do around 35 mph. That would easily get me to and from work. I would love to be able to drive fully electric cars and power them with photovoltaics!!”

“there are a few electric cars in my hood. the people drive them every day. i think it is a legit prospect for around town tho the safety standards on them are probably pretty poor.”

“Toyota’s previously sterling reliability has slipped a bit, and two Toyota models, the V6 Camry and the four-wheel-drive, V8 version of the Tundra, have below-average reliability in their 2007 redesign. The all-wheel-drive version of the Lexus GS also dropped below average. We now predict below-average reliability for all three models and can no longer recommend them.

Despite Toyota's problems, the automaker still ranks third overall in reliability, behind only Honda and Subaru, with 11 models in the best list. Honda has six with a smaller model lineup.
Just copied from the consumer reports site.

Fords trucks my compare to the new Toyota big trucks , but the rest of the line is light years ahead of even Fords wildest dreams.”

“I believe it did have to do with their product line increasing faster than they can keep up with quality assurance. Ford sells cars all over the world too. The biggest problems were with their truck and camry. The Detroit newspapers had a field day with it.”

“I bet! I just read Chrysler is shutting down for the summer (permanently?)...”

“love my Corolla - no trouble at all.

none -

4 yrs old now.

80,000 miles.”

“ChinMusic does own a Prius and I believe he averaged 50mpg driving from IL 11 hours to one of the trips in WV last year. I'd email him.”

“Chrysler is only shutting down for 2 weeks. Their cars and trucks suck anyway.”

“When the hybrids get the plug in ability they will be an electric car with a gas station along the way if needed.

With good enough safety.
last edited: 3/13/08 4:35:24 PM”

“My Toyota Tacoma has 217,000 and runs like new.”

“No one likes the idea of VW's diesel-hybrid?”

“I would definitely consider a diesel hybrid. I just need it in something a little larger than a Golf.”

“I agree, it wouldn't work for us for family trips, but I might consider it for commuting. I have a few years before I make my next choice for a commuter. Hopefully by then Mercedes will have a diesel-hybrid...”

“minis are good a compromise and all-around car”

“Well my car needs a transmission rebuild...$1200. It has 112,000 miles on it. We had hoped to keep it going until we got moved, but it looks like I will be car shopping sooner than we had hoped....”

“Someone told me part of the stimulus (spending) package is a tax credit for buying a new car. Might be worth checking out.”

“I hope so. And I hope it is a credit as opposed to some sort of convuluted deduction.”

“Here it is:

Temporary credit for car buyers: The bill would let those who buy a car in 2009 deduct the interest they pay on their car loan as well as the sales tax charged in the purchase. The full deduction would be available to those earning less than $125,000 ($250,000 for joint filers).

http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/11/news/economy/stimulus_individuals/?postversion=2009021105”

“Well as I feared, apparently not a credit, but a deduction.

It would make more sense to just issue a straight credit. If the IRS were writing instructions for writing a check, I am sure the manual would look something like a Sears Roebuck catalog.

Why can't they ever simplify things?”

“I bet the car companies have great incentives right now.”

“The Knoxville Kia place told me $18 something was the lowest they could go on a Sorento. The Alcoa dealer was advertising the same car last night at $16 and change...I guess I will be driving to Alcoa...

But $18 was almost $8 grand off the advertised internet price...
last edited: 2/11/09 5:47:27 AM”

“Why a Kia?”

“Actually, I am pushing for a Jaguar...as long as she is paying.”

“I don't know yet what I will get. I like the KIA Sorento, but the RAV4 and CRV are nice too..I just want decent fuel milage as well as some get up and go. Plus it has to be able to haul a canoe...or thats what I was told last night..LOL”

“Well my car needs a transmission rebuild...$1200. It has 112,000 miles on it.

Don't get the same brand car you had.”

“No I am going with some sort of SUV..I think...maybe...I don't know...I HATE car shopping...too much to choose from and they all have something different. It gets too confusing...”

“For the last twenty years, I have used the car issue of Consumers Report as part of my decision process.
Their top rated cars are always good ones.

The local library should have that issue.”

“Hyundai Santa Fe”

“I LOVE MY FORD ESCAPE HYBRID!!! I get 33+ mpg on the highway and way more city (though I don't drive in the city very much). Also you only have to change the oil every 10k so saves money there too!!! It is AWD also.

I got 35.7 mpg coming back from Death Valley!
last edited: 2/11/09 10:40:04 AM”