Car advice~

[Gypsiyee]

So, I just sold my old car, and I'm looking to get a new one. I was going to look into an Escape (because I really want 4wd or awd, and I don't want, nor can I afford, a beast), but upon further consideration I think an all wheel drive sedan might be a better option for gas mileage, etc.

Any ideas?

[Lyion]

My neighbor has a 2004 Ford Escape and really likes it. She has put probably 50k miles doing business trips on it and says it drives really well and she hasn't had any issues.

As far as Sedans, it all depends what you want. I don't think you'll be looking at a big difference in gas mileage between a small SUV and Sedan.

As far as gas mileage, if you get a decent 4 cylinder you'll get pretty good gas mileage regardless of what 'type' it is.

[Gypsiyee]

The pressing issue is 4wd or AWD, basically. The Ford Escape, as far as what I've read up on goes, is up there with the CR-V as far as gas mileage - both get 22 to the gallon, with the Liberty, Rav4, and other similar lagging a bit behind - that's why I was looking into the Escape - it's significantly cheaper than the CR-V.

I guess what I'd like is a list of sedans that have all wheel drive. I'm not sure what models have it, and as far as I'm concerned, AWD is as good if not better than 4wd. I mean, I know my options as far as SUV's, I'd just like to do a bit more research on smaller cars that have the AWD, if that makes it any clearer.

[Ganzo]

Friend of mine has Escape, it's 1year and 4 month old and been in the shop 7 times for manufacturing problems witrh transmission and engine.
Buy Toyota Rav4 or Honda CRV, it's same type of car without any of the Ford problems.

If you want sedan, highly recoment Nissan Altima, my wife has one and i'm jelous of her car. Every time we go anywhere we take her car.

[Tossica]

Get a Toyota Matrix. 4WD version gets 26/31.

[Lyion]

You get kickbacks from Toyota and Nissan or something Ganzo?

Find what you can get the best deal with. The girl on my street with the Escape has had no problems.

[Ganzo]

You get kickbacks from Toyota and Nissan or something Ganzo?

I own Toyota, my wife owns Nissan. My brother owns Honda. I only advise on personal experiences.

[Gypsiyee]

Thanks for the advice, guys. Let me narrow it down a little more with a price range =b

I'm not looking to spend more than 15k. Slightly used is fine, hoping to get something that doesn't have more than 30-40k miles on it, though. Wanting something post-2000, newer the better, but I understand my options are limited under 15k with lower mileage.

[Jimmy Durante]

but upon further consideration I think an all wheel drive sedan might be a better option for gas mileage, etc.

Any ideas?

Off the top of my head:

Subaru Legacy
Ford Five Hundred
Audi A4

Edit: Didn't see your budget range when I posted - - my bad.

[Lyion]

Gyp, do you have a really good mechanic?

Something Ganzo is failing to mention is its a lot easier and cheaper to have maint on American cars, and before you buy something used, check the VIN to ensure its never been wrecked, and have a local good gearhead go over it with a fine toothed comb.

You should be able to get something 2003-2004ish with very low miles for 15k.

[Gidan]

For sedans with awd I would recomend Subaru. They are very good cars, everyone that I have driven has been great. Have lots of friends who have them and have had them for ages.

[10sun]

Subaru if you don't go Ford.

-Adam

[Darcler]

My dad, a LONG time ago, had a Subaru 3000 or something like that. Flesh colored hatchback. Never once, in all the years he had it, take it to a shop. Every car since then, once a year, maybe a little longer if he was lucky, went to the shop.

Hey Gid, go buy me the nonhatchback version of Robin's car, k? As a...uh...Mother's Day present. Yeah, that's it.

[Gypsiyee]

Gyp, do you have a really good mechanic?

Something Ganzo is failing to mention is its a lot easier and cheaper to have maint on American cars, and before you buy something used, check the VIN to ensure its never been wrecked, and have a local good gearhead go over it with a fine toothed comb.

You should be able to get something 2003-2004ish with very low miles for 15k.

I do have a good mechanic - he pales in comparison to my mechanic back home (gotta love mechanics that have been friends with your parents for 30+ years and repair your car for nothing more than the cost of parts and a batch of lasagne and brownies), but he is very good. I will say I'm partial to Fords~

[xaoshaen]

When it comes to something like determining mechanical reliability on a given model of car, personal anecdotes relating to one or even a handful of vehicles are useless. You need a minimum sample size of at least 100 vehicles to get any kind of useful data. Consumer Reports has quite a few problems with their statistical methods, but they're a good baseline. I'd talk to your mechanic as well, and check other resources like J.D. Powers.

As a point of reference, the Asian automobiles averaged around 12 serious defect per 100 vehicles (Hyundai continued their dramatic improvement), American manufacturers brought their mark down around 17, and the Europeans churned out rattletraps that clocked in the low twenties (some of the Benz numbers are staggeringly bad).

[Gypsiyee]

My former mechanic, the one mentioned above, said the Escape was excellent. The 2005 Hybrid makes me drool, but I just can't afford $30,000.

[Lyion]

http://cars.com/go/search/fs_search_res ... f=national

Check that out, $14,444 and it has 10k miles on it.

Given it's a dealer and with the current gas situation you could prob get it for 12,500 out the door if you are paying cash.

[Gypsiyee]

Well, I am lucky in the sense that I work for a company that buys all their vehicles through a local ford company - since we give them so much business, their rep said he would cut me a deal when I decide. Once I get my tax check back I'll make the decision.

I went to the dealership during lunch and looked at Escapes - that's when I wanted to steal one of the Hybrids and never look back 33 city, 36 highway, I mean seriously, I wanted to cry

There's another thing, though - I've never bought a car that was more than $2,000 - literally. I'm only 21, so I haven't had a tons of cars in my time and when I did I didn't aim for the payments, I went for what was < 2,000. Luckily, I had a very good run with cars since I've been driving, and I've only had to buy 2 ever - I'd still be driving my first if it didn't get drowned by Hurricane Isabel ><, and the other is the one I just sold because I want 4wd.

Anyway, I've never had to finance, and I don't know the best way to go about it. I don't have a ton of credit (though what I do have is flawless so far), and the house isn't in my name so I don't have anything to put up for collateral, so I'm not sure how good borrowing from a bank would turn out. I don't want to go into a dealership looking like I don't know jack about what kinds of deals I can get etc, or I'm going to be screwed faster than vonk whacks it to Shirley Manson.

So..I'm needing some general ideas in that aspect, too =b

[Captain Insano]

You get kickbacks from Toyota and Nissan or something Ganzo?

Find what you can get the best deal with. The girl on my street with the Escape has had no problems.

Escape is made by Ford and therefore a piece of dogshit. If you intend to keep it past 50k miles get a toyota. My roomate worked in car sales for Ford for 5 years and said those things go to shit after about 65k, sometimes sooner.

[Tossica]

Like I said earlier. Toyota Matrix. Cheap, 4WD, good mileage and will last for 200K+ easy.

[Gypsiyee]

I dono Ralf, I have to disagree with you there. My Ford Escort that I just sold had at least 200k miles on it, and aside from a little bit of wear and tear, it was still a great little car.

My mom also has an Escort that she bought about 6 years ago - she drives it back and forth from Roanoke, a 5 hour drive or so, and drives it pretty much daily to her 2 jobs, both 30-40 minute drives.. I'd say since she got it she's put about ~150k miles on it, and aside from oil changes she never had any problems either.

Escape is the best selling mini-suv for a reason I'd think. My experience with Ford has been fine.. guess it all depends on who you talk to.

Toss, it looks like a nice enough car, but it's ugly ><

[Lyion]

Generally the people bad mouthing American cars have never owned one, or bought one used that was probably killed at a Rental Agency.

If you take care of your car, 95% of them won't give you any problems until they start to cost for the nickel and dime stuff, and despite the bullshitting all cars require certain things.

Get what you want. Back in 89 the Japanese cars were much better. Now there is very little difrerence, and when you take into account the huge amount of rental vehicles trashed that are resold then I'd wager GM/Ford actually make a more reliable product.

[Tossica]

Generally the people bad mouthing American cars have never owned one, or bought one used that was probably killed at a Rental Agency.

If you take care of your car, 95% of them won't give you any problems until they start to cost for the nickel and dime stuff, and despite the bullshitting all cars require certain things.

Get what you want. Back in 89 the Japanese cars were much better. Now there is very little difrerence, and when you take into account the huge amount of rental vehicles trashed that are resold then I'd wager GM/Ford actually make a more reliable product.

Lyion speaketh from his bunghole.

[xaoshaen]

.
Get what you want. Back in 89 the Japanese cars were much better. Now there is very little difrerence, and when you take into account the huge amount of rental vehicles trashed that are resold then I'd wager GM/Ford actually make a more reliable product.

They don't. The difference isn't as big as some folks would have you think though, and American cars are still ahead of almost all the major European versions. We had a run of piss poor vehicles in the 80s and very early 90s and things have vastly improved since then, but we haven't caught up to the Japanese yet. With the recent stagnation in the Japanese economy and growing dissatisfaction with the quality of life there, they may be ceding top slot to the Koreans soon.

[Lyion]

I'm amazed that Hyundai has turned things around. We used to joke about them making cheap, disposable cars.

Get what you want. Just be sure to get it checked out by your mechanic and you'll be good to go, and probably save a few grand off the yuppie and pretend alternative who are really yuppie crowd.

Toss is doing too many drugs and his experiences with his 79 Pinto while stoned should not be used as scientific gathering of vehicle statistics.