I need a new car!

[sheisnot]

My car is the shop for the fourth time in five months. Methinks it's time for a new ride. I'm thinking of getting one of those new Toyota Yaris sedans or a Honda of some sort. Any recommendations for or against Toyotas or Hondas? I'm driving a Saturn right now--I will never buy one of those again. Nothing but trouble and it's made of plastic!

[Silver Moon]

I agree I HATE HATE HATE our Saturn. It's tiny with no leg room, and it's loud and it is SLOW I have to stomp on the darn gas to get it above 40 up a hill... I much prefer my vanny.

Good luck on the car hunting! I would choose the Toyota, but meh... it's your ride!

-K-

PS: I wonder what DS drives? LOL

[sheisnot]

He used to drive a Jeepster.

I'm leaning toward the Toyota, as well. I know a handful of people who have Toyotas, have had them for years, and have only ever had to get maintenance done on them, no major repairs.

[lastgoldstar]

Ooh, I love the Toyota Yaris! I'd love to get one, but I currently have only $24 and a Target giftcard to my name.

I'd be glad to give you my Ford Escort. It's... craptastic. My air-conditioning was finally fixed after being out for a year and the "service engine soon" light has been on since June 2004. It looks a lot better than it runs...

[krausy]

Yes, I can help you on this topic!!!!!!!!!

Everyone I know who has had a Saturn ends up having massive trouble with them---kinda like they are great when you first get them then whammo!!!! Hitting your pocketbook hard. Like they say around here about boats-----a hole in the water into which one pours money!!!!


About Toyotas---my sister has had four of them in a 25 year period---the first one she had the longest, traded to update, then traded that one to update, then got a new one so that my neice could have the other one, so it was never a case of having major problems, etc. She absolutely loves them, and I don't believe she has even considered another brand for 25 years---before that she drove GM products, mostly Chevrolet, which is not bad either, I've owned several of them as well.

Now, I just bought a 2006 Honda Accord with 4 cylinder engine, and let me tell you, that 4 cyl has PLENTY of power---I hit the gas sometimes and I am amazed at the takeoff!!!! I previously owned Chevy because I never had problems and I was well established at the dealership, but holy cow----I LOVE MY HONDA!!!!!!!!!!! My other niece has one too, a Civic that she bought in 2000 I believe........................

Oh, and I also drove my Honda to Florida and back last month and I was very impressed with the gas mileage!!!!!!!

Now, I also hear that the new Civics are really nice and have more leg room, etc than you might think.

A coworker of mine has a Toyota Echo and uses that to commute to work----he gets awesome mileage with that, but it is a small car!!!!! Honda also makes a smaller car but I can't recall it's name right now.


WHew----well, I hope that helps!!!!!

[krausy]

An afterthought------------

The Accord also has a 6-cd changer in it, so you can load it as follows:

1 disc one of E/N
2 disc two of E/N
3 Nine Horses
4 Rain Tree Crow
5 Oil on Canvas
6 Brilliant Trees



Mind you, just a suggestion........................

[sheisnot]

Thanks, Krausy!

I drove a Toyota Echo rental once when my car got flooded (thunderstorm in the middle of the night, three inches of water in my floorboards!). It was small and felt really weird. The seats were very odd, almost like upright chairs put inside a car. I don't think I want one of those. My co-worker got the Yaris hatchback. It's a lot roomier inside than you would think, but I would buy the sedan, not the hatchback. I need some trunk space and room for my animals in case I have to evacuate for a hurricane (it's sad when you have to plan your car buying around weather phenomena). The other thing I like about the Yaris is that it has a hookup for your MP3 player.

[sheisnot]

"Everyone I know who has had a Saturn ends up having massive trouble with them---kinda like they are great when you first get them then whammo!!!! Hitting your pocketbook hard."

My experience exactly.

[krausy]

Sounds like the Yaris is the car for you then---and it shouldn't be too hard on your pocketbook. I don't think you will be disappointed.

That is cool about the Mp3 hookup---that alone would sell me!!!

[krausy]

Ooh, I love the Toyota Yaris! I'd love to get one, but I currently have only $24 and a Target giftcard to my name.

I'd be glad to give you my Ford Escort. It's... craptastic. My air-conditioning was finally fixed after being out for a year and the "service engine soon" light has been on since June 2004. It looks a lot better than it runs...

Do you happen to know what set off your check engine light? Must be something fairly minor since it has been on since 2004. Some cars have those that have to be re-set after major service, etc. Most times it is because the oxygen sensor has been set off, like if you close your gas cap but don't "ratchet" it to close tight. What happens is the sensor detects air around that seal at the gas cap and in turn sets off the engine light. I always turn my cap until it makes a ratcheting noise so I know it is on and has a good seal. It could also be mis-fires too----oh well, the car runs, right?

[lastgoldstar]

Ha ha, good thing it does run. It's been looked at and there's really nothing majorly wrong with it, and I think it's like you said, it has to be re-set. My dad's mechanic friend tried to do it but couldn't, I do believe. I'm just sort of used to it now.

And you mentioned getting a 2006 Accord. A friend of mine bought a 2006 Civic, 4-cylinder, and that thing does go! I call it her "space car" because it has such a neat interior. And it has those windshield wipers that move from from the middle to the outer edges, a much better idea than the other type.

[proggrl]

I can't stand Toyota's! I dunno, just the feel of them and when you do have to have them fixed, it costs you. Cars are always personal choices. Like me - always had bad experiences in Toyotas, so I will never buy one. Others, had good experiences, so they might. It's whatever feels good to YOU.

I LOVE my Buick - but I guess I'm more of an American car girl. I do a lot of driving, most of it quite fast, so I love a car with good pick up and is comfortable. My Memere always drove Buicks, and that's why I bought mine. I inherited my lead foot from her. Haven't had any real problems with it and I've put about 100,000 miles on her. Although I've always had my eye on that sleek Chrysler Sebring (or whatever they call them now) convertable, my next car will have to be another Buick.

Although for a foreign car, my first was a Nissan Sentra - and she was beaut! My little buzzbomb! They are good cars. Might want to look into one of those. Good luck with whatever you get.

[Silver Moon]

[quote="proggrl"]I do a lot of driving, most of it quite fast, so I love a car with good pick up and is comfortable. quote]

Amen to that, sista!!

As for the jeepster... That's probably the last thing I would expect him to drive!

... Good luck car hunting, sheisnot... May your car be a Lambourghini!!

-K-

[Smalldot]

I'd recommend Hondas. I've had my 2000 civic now for 5 years and I've never had a problem with the car at all. But then again, I'm UBER ANAL with the oil changes and maintainance.

The only thing is, especially with my particular model, Hondas are stolen a lot because you swap parts between Acura Integras and Honda Civis. Someone tried to steal my car last Friday in fatc.

So take that into consideration of you are thinking about a Honda.

[krausy]

I've heard that too about Hondas, so I will keep that in mind!!!

Proggrl, one of my ex boyfriends had a Buick for a long time and I must say it was a good car, just old.

I agree about Sentras too---almost bought one in the 90's but ended up buying a used Chevrolet station wagon from some friends of mine. That was a great car, until it developed water leaks and the headlights would go out while driving on the darkest spot of the highway---not a good thing!!!! Still don't regret that purchase though!!!