The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

My car just went through a pretty big maintenance session.  Now that the car is about 10 years old, I think this might be the last time I do considerable maintenance on it.  Next time, I think I'll be looking toward a new vehicle.  I'm looking for a good fit for me, but I'd like suggestions.

Here's what I want:
- A car that is about 2 years old
- 4-door car (probably a sedan)
- Good on gas (a hybrid would be cool)
- simplicity in engineering (I hate overdesigned gauges, compartments, use of computer panels when not needed, mechanical parts where not needed, etc.) -- This is a pretty big one.  I don't want to go super low-tech, like roll down windows, but I want sturdy, simple mechanics over stylized, sexy ones.
- An American Car is a plus

How far is your primary workplace from your home?

Jetta.

Honda Civic. Great gas mileage and will run forever. -EK

Just my two cents but I would buy a two or three year old Toyota or Honda. Easily can get 200,000 without major issues. We've had three Camry's , two Avalons, a Honda Accord and a Honda Pilot and have gotten close to, or over 200,000 on several without any major issues. While originally Japanese, these cars are made here in the USA. In fact Camry was named "Top American-Made Cars" by car.com this past year with Accord coming in third.

I've been pretty happy with my Altima and the 2010's (and later) are pretty nice.  They also have a hybrid version.

It's extremely windy,and snowing lightly...My mind is not thinking right...but...

My first thought jumps to (maybe why spider is asking his question) a Chevy Volt..

I'll say ...
Chevy Equinox

My out of left field answer...
Subaru outback or Forester - I was little shocked to see an article awhile back online about their reliability,and the low cost of the repairs.

I'm with Buddha... The Jetta is a really nice car.

I think Honda makes a Civic Hybrid. 

My work is close.  ...about an 8 minute drive from parking spot to parking spot.

I'm on my second one and until I take the leap to get an Audi, I'll like stick to the Jetta.

Dave, if it's feasible for you to charge a car at your house, get a Volt.

If you drive less than 35 miles round trip, you can make your commute on full electric.  (If you are able to charge at work, you could potentially do your entire commute on the company dime.)

The Volt's a very highly accoladed car (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Volt#Awards_and_recognition) (certainly the most-awarded American car in decades) and, frankly, a revolutionary car.  You get the benefits of electric with the range freedom of gasoline.

The only things I think you might be concerned about are:

1) It is a 4-seater, not a 5-seater- the battery pack is an inverted T and runs down the center of the car, so your back seats are separated by a center console
2) Technology- the Volt has a lot of touchscreens and LCD displays, which may not meet your 4th criteria of simplicity

I looked at the Volt.  I am not too concerned about the 4 vs 5 seats, but the LCD displays wig me out a little bit.  I'm afraid that those things are going to start failing after 7 years.

I like the Jetta idea.  I did rent one and liked it pretty well.

Chevy also makes a car that I like....Sedan of some kind....

My parents always have Toyota Camerys.  I like the car, but recently, I find the inner workings to be "cheap".  The plastic is chinsey and everything seems kinda brittle.  It has a lot of compartments which bother me -- the kind that you have to push in so that they can pneumatically open -- stuff like that.  I have a feeling that my parents will have a lot of broken parts in a few years.

Their older model of Camrey was a horse, though.

^^ that's all cars nowadays.  cheapy crap parts to save cost.

^ I doesn't seem less expensive.  It's as if there are more mechanics involved and it's more complicated, but that you don't get any added use from the complicated mechanisms.  And when the hinge is a little piece of plastic or metal, it's just a matter of time until it fails.

Yes, so you replace it.  The parts are cheap, sometimes cost less than a dollar, and easy to fix.  Every part has potential to fail eventually, no matter what car you buy.

So what did you decide on?

I believe the Chevy Cruize would fit your criteria quite nicely, if you want to stretch and go new I would direct you to the Ford Fusion that's coming out, the Cobalt was 4 doors decent gas mileage and even for a small 4-cylinder it had a hell of a blast.

I didn't.  I'm just thinking for the future.

I think what I'm going to try to do is stretch my car out and get my wife a car instead.  Her criteria is different.  I believe she wants a cross-over, like a Honda CR-V.

Just adding my 2 cents:

My car is a 2010 Honda Fit.  I have about 50k miles on it and have no major mechanical issues so far. I am averaging about 34 MPG (give or take). I know it is a little on the smaller car size but one of the things that I do like about the car is the adjustable back row seats and the multiple storage compartments it has. The only drawback I have with it is the wheel lug nuts (factory ones) are crap and very easy to spin off (which happened to me when my wheels were stolen). Other than that, no major issues.

My last vehicle was a 1997 Ford Ranger and the only reason why that died out was due to me being lazy about the radiator fluid flush that it needed and parts (apparently) started to corrode which eventually caused the engine to fail from multiple overheating problems. I probably had lots of years left on the truck but it kept eating gas and my budget so I probably was due for a change in either case.

Don't know if that helped any.

What is your price range? I would consider looking at a VW TDI car. Those engines can easily go 3-400,000 miles and get gas mileage on par to hybrids.
Plus on a positive note, you do not have to live with the stigma of being a hybrid owner.

Toyota Camry SE- sweet whip. I picked up a 2010 this year. Love it!

Check this out. It may help you decide. My son just bought a Kia Optima, but it's probably a bit sportier than what you are looking for. The Ford Fusion seems like it might be a good fit for you if your looking for a good American made hybrid sedan.

http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/Ford_Fusion-Hybrid/