New economy car dilemma

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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,773
    edited February 2012
    Syndil wrote: »
    My 1990 Kawasaki Ninja 600R can do 50 mpg if I keep my head below the windscreen, and I am not capable of riding it slow. Just sayin'.

    That's it? My ZX-11 gets 44-46 no matter how I ride it. I would think a 600 would do much better.
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  • Syndil
    Syndil Posts: 1,582
    edited February 2012
    The ZX-11 is a sport tourer. The "R" in 600R does not stand for "recreational." ;)

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  • obieone
    obieone Posts: 5,077
    edited February 2012
    4 years of math class, you should be able to build something......like this:razz:



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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,773
    edited February 2012
    Syndil wrote: »
    The ZX-11 is a sport tourer. The "R" in 600R does not stand for "recreational." ;)

    It wasn't considered a sport tourer when it came out, it certainly doesn't have any luggage, not even as an option. It was the fastest bike made from 1990 to 2000 after all.
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  • magicka
    magicka Posts: 11
    edited February 2012
    I second (or third) the idea of buying something off-lease. You'll be able to get more car for your buck than buying new, although the recession is keeping used car values up. That said, if I were buying new I'd look at either the Ford Fiesta or the Mazda2. All new cars have pretty cramped engine bays, but a transverse 4 cylinder will be relatively easy to do basic maintenance on.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,770
    edited February 2012
    oh, yeah, the Mazda 2... another degree of freedom :-)

    How different is the Mazda, really, than the Fiesta?
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  • magicka
    magicka Posts: 11
    edited February 2012
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    oh, yeah, the Mazda 2... another degree of freedom :-)

    How different is the Mazda, really, than the Fiesta?

    A bit lighter, a bit less powerful. The Fiesta will probably get slightly better mileage, the Mazda will be slightly more fun to drive. Of the two, I favor the Fiesta, but, like I said, I'd go for something used/off lease. There should be all kinds of Camrys, Sonatas and Accords with some warranty left for under $15k.
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  • BeefJerky
    BeefJerky Posts: 1,320
    edited February 2012
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    Out of curiosity, is that CR-V FWD or is it AWD or 4WD? I ask because Mrs. H's Escape Hybrid (with what Ford classifies as "4WD") returns barely 35 mpg in the summer, and is at 30.4 mpg as I type this (better than normal at this time of year for her, 'cause it has been so fricking mild in New England this winter!).
    I have the FWD model; down here in Houston, we don't need no stinkin' 4WD! :cheesygrin: Well, that, and good luck finding a 4WD drive model down here anyway. At any rate, from real-world reports, the RT4WD system only makes a ~1MPG difference, which isn't bad.
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited February 2012
    Saw a Nissan Versa during lunch today, it's a base 1.6L with M/T, no options except floor mats and splash guards. Seems like a good car, very comfortable for its size.

    Dealer wanted $11,645 (below invoice) plus taxes and other fees, which seems reasonable.

    They also had a used one for $10k plus taxes and fees, condition was so-so.
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited February 2012
    I think I am going to wait a day or two and come back, salesperson said he would be willing to talk to the manager to "work out a deal."
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited February 2012
    No a bad price, and this may piss some off but just my opinion. I'm not a fan of Nissan, and a large fan of Honda. Why it comes done to build quality and resale values later. For 15k I would find a nice used Accord or Civic.

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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited February 2012
    disneyjoe7 wrote: »
    Why it comes done to build quality and resale values later.

    Not going to sell, if you saw our old Volvo, you'd know what I mean - We buy cars to drive until the wheels fall off. Then tow it to the junkyard.
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited February 2012
    Ok just my opinion.

    Speakers
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    Electronics
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited February 2012
    No problem. Say he knocks a hundred or so off the price, that would put it around $11,500 + taxes and fees. IMO, that is a decent price. I agree that a civic or Accord would also be a good choice.
    polkaudio RT35 Bookshelves
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    Front projection, 2 channel, car audio... life is good!
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  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,809
    edited February 2012
    I'm tellin' ya, you're missin' out!

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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,770
    edited February 2012
    The first wide small car :-)

    Also - by all accounts - the first to really exploit passive solar gain to heat the interior, especially in the summer time.
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  • muncybob
    muncybob Posts: 3,039
    edited February 2012
    Serendipity wrote: »
    Not going to sell, if you saw our old Volvo, you'd know what I mean - We buy cars to drive until the wheels fall off. Then tow it to the junkyard.

    We do the same thing. Someone mentioned earlier a Cavalier if you considered used and I would have to agree from my experience. Still driving my 97 base model(bought it new) and will hit 275k this week with it. It's been reliable and fairly inexpensive/easy to maintain plugs,oil,belts, etc. The frame is going on it now and I guess we will also be looking later this year unless it's repairable. I'm hoping to talk the Mrs into another used car but I'm fairly sure she wants new again which will be OK with me if I get this kind of performance out of my $$.
    Yep, my name really is Bob.
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited February 2012
    Pacer IMHO was Ugly then and Ugly now!

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited February 2012
    muncybob wrote: »
    Still driving my 97 base model(bought it new) and will hit 275k this week with it.

    Awesome! I love hearing about stories like this.
    polkaudio RT35 Bookshelves
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    polkaudio XRT12 XM Tuner
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    Front projection, 2 channel, car audio... life is good!
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,008
    edited February 2012
    We are still driving a 98 altima (our second car). 135k kms on it, we had to put maybe 600$ into it in the past year but still runs very nice. I think the rear shocks are going on it (has a bit of a bounce to it a la taxi kind of feel) and the rear window tint is starting to bubble a bit. That 600 included 1 front strut (used) rear brakes, new battery and new blower resistor, not bad at all. We get an emmissions Pcode every once and a while but I reseet it everytime and will do so come time for emissions test next year (should we still have it, I hope we do)
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,957
    edited February 2012
    Lasareath wrote: »
    I want a Nissan Leaf. No more Gas, no more Oil changes.

    No more spark plugs.

    How do those perform in the winter ? Battery life ? Heat and A/C ? How long to recharge out on the road ? Cost of new batteries ? Wonder if these things will become magnets for lightning strikes. I know the Costco out by us pulled all there recharging stations, had only a couple uses in over a year.
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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited February 2012
    Looks like the new one for $11,645 + tax/fees may be better than the used one for $10k + tax/fees because the general condition of the used one put me off. Scratches and stuff which indicate if the previous owner couldn't even keep the car clean, maybe they didn't maintain it very well or drive carefully.
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  • Syndil
    Syndil Posts: 1,582
    edited February 2012
    tonyb wrote: »
    How do those perform in the winter ? Battery life ? Heat and A/C ? How long to recharge out on the road ? Cost of new batteries ? Wonder if these things will become magnets for lightning strikes. I know the Costco out by us pulled all there recharging stations, had only a couple uses in over a year.

    Friend of mine just bought one, but she lives in Las Vegas. No winters to worry about there. She actually got the first one delivered in Vegas, so I'm not sure why places would be pulling recharging stations already if the cars are just now hitting the road. Maybe it was a recharging station for plug-in Priuses or something. Anyway she bought a charging station for her house, and that's the only place she will need to charge.

    Lightning? The thing still has rubber tires. Electricity seeks the easiest path to ground. Even if it did get struck, the current would travel around you, through the metal body to the ground.

    http://youtu.be/ve6XGKZxYxA

    If I had a regular daily commute of 40 miles or less, then I would have no problem getting an electric car, as long as it included some sort of provision for replacing the battery when it wore out, because it will wear out. The warranty for the battery on the Leaf is 8 years or 100k miles. For some people I suppose that's OK as they'll want a new car by then anyway, but probably not if you're the type to drive a car till the wheels fall off.

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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited February 2012
    So went back to the dealership today, they were very willing to work on price and gave me the impression that they wanted to get the car sold. Salesperson said that "not too many of these cars are selling because very few people want a manual," so he was "willing to work on price."

    Ended up with a new 2012 Nissan Versa 1.6L base model, 5-speed, with air conditioning and radio.

    Now this car only has two front speakers - I want to put in rear speakers. Would the Polk db651's be a good choice? Also looking at the component speakers on Polk's website.
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited February 2012
    You know I'm surprised you didn't go with a Corvette for the Hyper Mileage capabilities.

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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited February 2012
    disneyjoe7 wrote: »
    You know I'm surprised you didn't go with a Corvette for the Hyper Mileage capabilities.

    Haha, I said that I get 32 MPG in the Vette, looks like I'm not the only one that has done so.

    "It only took 4.358 gallons to refill the Vette's tank (using the same pump we filled up on), and works to just a bare fraction shy of 32.8 mpg." Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/4320856

    Can't beat the Versa though, was under $13k out the door with DMV fees, dealer fees, tax, etc.
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited February 2012
    And but with a Versa with a 1.6L you should be able to get 97 MPG driving like you do.

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited February 2012
    Well above all you enjoy your new car.

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
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    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • Serendipity
    Serendipity Posts: 6,975
    edited February 2012
    disneyjoe7 wrote: »
    Well above all you enjoy your new car.

    Thanks!

    I was looking at the Polk db6501 component speakers, as the car does not come with any rear speakers, but has a place for them in the doors. Just need to run wire to the doors and install the speakers.

    However, the Polk db6501 are supplied with an external crossover - am I supposed to mount this inside the doors, or near the head unit? I don't know if there is enough space inside the doors, that would be a deciding factor if I should buy the db6501 or just use regular full-range speakers.

    If it's too much of a hassle, I'll just pull the existing speakers out of the old car and put it into the Versa.
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    Front projection, 2 channel, car audio... life is good!
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,773
    edited February 2012
    Serendipity wrote: »
    However, the Polk db6501 are supplied with an external crossover - am I supposed to mount this inside the doors, or near the head unit? I don't know if there is enough space inside the doors, that would be a deciding factor if I should buy the db6501 or just use regular full-range speakers.

    You can mount the crossover wherever you have room. I'd put those speakers in the front anyways, better soundstage that way. Do you ever sit with your back to the stage at a live performance? If you can put them in the rear deck, sometimes back speakers are nice for fill, but I've never really liked the sound in rear doors, doesn't seem to add anything.
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