How's everyone doing? Happy new year btw. So, it's like this:

I LOVE my 97 mazda 323 16V/1.8 liter, runs great, but it has some
rust (cause of winter road salt) and will not pass the regulatory road
worthyness check-up coming up this summer (cause of the rust, ever
stricter catalizer rules and specially cause of the bumper-car queen
(wifey) incident last  year - click links if ur curious).

Before 2009 http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/5623/before2009.jpg
Crash 2010 http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/8510/crash2010.jpg
Sideview 2010 http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/447/crash20101.jpg
After 2011 http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/5112/after2011.jpg
(yup, roadworthy again, a sledge hammer and fleabay will do wonders!)


So basically I need to buy a new/used car this year within the following criteria:

1. RUST RESISTANT, I love mazda but I will not buy another because,
as most japanese cars, they tend to start to rust pretty bad after their
10th birthday, rear breaks tend to stick sometimes.

2. SAFE, I needs to protect me well in the event of a crash (lots of
deer and ice patches in my area), needs to drive well in snow & highway.

3. EASY TO REPAIR, parts and labour should not be a problem.
k.i.s.s. engineering principle should apply here (keep it simple stupid).

4. MPGs, 4, 5 or maaybe a 6 banger with reasonable milage.

5. WEIGHT, I tend to tow stuff and I also do not feel comfortable
driving anything lighter than, say, 2500lbs (that's about a ton);
ample parking in my area, no real need for anything small.

6. PRICE, no need for bells and whistles or seat warmers or
leather anything, just good-reliable transportation; about $2K would
be ideal, maaaybe $4-5K is my absolute budget limt for a newer model.    

I was thinking of maybe volvo, toyota, hyundai or maybe a subaru or skoda.

Suggestions?


What's your experience?
What car/brand you HATED?
What car/brand you would buy again and again?

Thanks in advance.

Dude, you can have it for free after September, no kidding!

Will not ship, Pick up only - it's in Frankfurt  

I have had Toyota's for 22 years. '89-73, a new 4Runner, 73- 2008, an '88 Land Cruiser (absolutely the best vehicle I ever owned- I would still be driving it if someone hadn't totaled it for me), 2008- present, a Scion Xb. The 4Runner never saw a mechanic in the 4 years I owned it (I did my own maintenance), the Land Cruiser only went to the mechanic once in the 15 years I owned it, and the Scion had the rotors replaced and new pads put on. (I'm getting too old to crawl around the pavement these days )
Volvo is no better than any other car since Ford took them over
My step sister has good things to say about her Subaru.
No personal experience with Hyundi or Skoda.
If safety is primary, buy a car on a frame, if you can find one, or a small truck.

I'll put in a plug for Jeep.  Im driving a Liberty Renegade and I love it. We've had a few wranglers and a few Grand Cherokees that were good vehicles too.  Oh, but I think the car I wish I still had was my VW Jetta.  Good luck and let us know what you end up with.

We have an 08 Pontiac Vibe. I cant say enough good about it. Close to 30 MPG. Comfy seats, change the oil & keep air in the tires, & it will tell you when you are low a couple of pounds, & just drive it. It will tow a light load, hitches are available. The downside to it is road noise, but I suspect a few cans of undercoating & pull the door trim panels & stick some light rubber gaskets in with some contact cement & it would be w hole different experience. I doubt Ill ever get caught up enough to see that at the top of the To Do list.

Boofer wrote on 01/12/12 at 20:08:46:

I will try to keep it as long as possible.  At 40k the engine and transmission are about as ratty as my Honda civic was at 100k.  But the overall truck is fairly tough. I have overloaded it with half-yards of gravel, way too many bricks, tile, bags of cement, etc. and have not managed to break the suspension. The steering/suspension SEALS, however, are apparently made out of rice paper.. cracked and falling off.  I just keep them squirted good with grease, but need to take it apart and replace the seals.

To do over again I'd either get a Toyota Tacoma (considered, but yikes the sticker shock) or save some cash and get a Mazda B-series.  It was a mistake to pay a premium for the Ford label.

I don't know if you can find one in your price range but the UK Top Gear guys proved a Toyota Hi-Lux diesel pickup truck is pretty much indestructible.  I imagine the mileage would be in the low 20s for miles per gallon.

EJID wrote on 01/13/12 at 08:59:34:




Under th skin, yea, BUt the 04 Matrix wont accelerate like the 08 Vibe.
The Matrix has a cable from pedal to throttle body, the Vibe is a Fly by Wire.. I just dont enjoy the Matrix as much., but there is a 4 year difference in manufacture dates..