Help me choose a car...

SCompRacer

MSALLA wrote:

I take it that the trans in the picture was out of a car that was raced. That thing is wasted.

It's out of a '96 Olds Cutlass. The OEM reverse drum was a problem in the 4T60E trans. Hardened replacement drums are available. This could be my new work car.

madmax

MrNightly wrote:

Wait a second. You have no money, therefore you are buying a new car? Hmmm, what did I miss here?

No money to waste would have been a better way to put it...

I know what I should do, I should rip the thing out myself, fix it and put it back in. I'm just not up for it.

madmax

TroyD

What Chuck needs is a Chevy work van w/ padding and insulation on the inside. Makes transporting victims MUCH easier, so I'm told.

BDT

asindc

If you don't mind driving a pickup as your primary vehicle, I'd go that route. You could always make extra cash on the side for more electronics toys.

madmax

Still working on a decision. Stopped in to look at the Yaris. I like it! While there I ran across the Scion XB. (looks like a toaster). I liked it a lot. I may get the Scion XB. Anyone have one?

http://www.scion.com/showroom/xb/gallery/

Let me start you off. That thing is so ugly I wouldn't let yo mama ride in it...

madmax

Fireman32

I was going to get the scion xb myself before looking at the yaris. Although it has a ton of room in it I heard that it is not good on long drives. The Yaris has a much better suspension on it. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions on the Yaris i'll be happy to answer them.

wodom1

I can't stand those Scion XB's. Personally, I think they are one of the ugliest cars out there.

bobman1235

If you were going to go something like hte Scion, I'd go more towards the Toyota Matrix or something. Similar amount of room but not quite so stupid looking.

Danny Tse

bobman1235 wrote:

If you were going to go something like hte Scion, I'd go more towards the Toyota Matrix or something. Similar amount of room but not quite so stupid looking.

Sorry to inject another option for you, but how about a certified pre-owed Camry? You can probably get such a Camry from Toyota for the cost of a new Yaris and you will have a lot more room. Not to mention a much better ride. I currently drive a 2001 Camry LE with 83,000 miles and I had no problem with it whatsoever. Well, the only problem is that there're literally hundreds of these cars in any given supermarket parking lot at one time.

madmax

From what I saw today they are only knocking a thousand or so off of two year old ones with 30k to 40K miles. Maybe 2K off a three year old with 50K. For sure it must be a very good car.
madmax

cmy330go

Just a quick 2 cents worth.

For reliability, Toyota and Honda are pretty hard to beat.

For true driving fun, the Germans (especially BMW) take the cake.

For a decent blend of both, Subaru.

That's all.:)

Enjoy the hunt!

Danny Tse

madmax wrote:

From what I saw today they are only knocking a thousand or so off of two year old ones with 30k to 40K miles. Maybe 2K off a three year old with 50K. For sure it must be a very good car.

In that case, I'd look at the Yaris. There's a Yaris S down at my workplace's garage....quite sporty....I wonder what set it apart from the standard issue Yaris.

My friend just purchased a top-of-the-line Honda Fit. Under $19K out the door. I like the car but the price seems a bit steep. I think you can get a Toyota Matrix XRS for US$19K.

madmax

Checked out the Fit online. It looks ok but seemed expensive to me too. I'm still thinking on the yaris and xb. The more I go over the list of stuff I need to do to the blazer and my other lists of to do stuff the more I'm talking myself into buying something new. I have to say that right now I'm about 85% ready to buy the xb if I like how it test drives. I have a business trip to do and after that I will probably make my decision. One thing with the xb is I'm thinking it would be a great car to put an audio system in.
madmax

shack

madmax wrote:

Still working on a decision. Stopped in to look at the Yaris. I like it! While there I ran across the Scion XB. (looks like a toaster). I liked it a lot. I may get the Scion XB. Anyone have one?

http://www.scion.com/showroom/xb/gallery/

Let me start you off. That thing is so ugly I wouldn't let yo mama ride in it...

madmax

My brother in law has 2 of them. They have a handicapped child that must use a wheelchair all the time and the Scion XB is perfect for them. He also has his own printing and decal business and uses it all the time to haul stuff. He never uses his pickup any more. He had a Subaru Baja before and likes the Scion better. Yes it is ugly...but so are the Honda Elements...and they are a great vehicle (my wife has one and loves it) that has become very popular.

madmax

I have a friend with the element. He loves it but said the maintenence schedule they want you to follow is very extreme. He didn't really say how though. The more I look at the xb the more I like everything about it. The only problem I read of was some cases of the windshield cracking (they though it was because of the steep angle) and being a little underpowered. Someone also said they thought the sheetmetal was a little thin. Most thought the automatic one was less fun to drive and that an optional crossbrace in the front made handling very nice. These are all lesser problems than most cars I've researched in the past. It's much better than the 86 reviews I read about the blazer where everyone had the exact same problems I have had. Truthfully, I should probably keep it since I've already fixed most of the stuff. Still, man, I'm just tired of fixing everything...

shack

madmax wrote:

I have a friend with the element. He loves it but said the maintenence schedule they want you to follow is very extreme. He didn't really say how though.

Not really Oil change every 3,000 and it goes in about once a year for general check-up. It's a little over 2 1/2 years old and has 36,000 mi. ±. The maintenence seems about the same as every other car we've owned. It is a very good vehicle.

madmax

Well thats a good thing then. My friend seemed a little overwhelmed somehow. Maybe he was just having a bad week or something...
madmax

bobman1235

I saw one of those Yaris things on the road today... I'll be honest, I would be terrified to drive one of those things. Waaaay too small considering all the trucks and whatnot on the road. I understand wanting to be environmental, but there's gotta be a trade-off so you don't get crushed to death.

Emlyn

madmax wrote:

Still working on a decision. Stopped in to look at the Yaris. I like it! While there I ran across the Scion XB. (looks like a toaster). I liked it a lot. I may get the Scion XB. Anyone have one?

http://www.scion.com/showroom/xb/gallery/

Let me start you off. That thing is so ugly I wouldn't let yo mama ride in it...

madmax

Car and Driver has a blurb in it this month saying the XB is being phased out by the end of the year to be replaced with something similar early in 2007, probably just a restyle. I don't mind the looks of the XB myself.

madmax

Just got back from a test drive of the xb. They had the exact one I wanted. Black, manual trans, no other added options. It exceeded all of my expectations. Did some highway driving and passed a few people then some hills and on to some curves and then some rough pavement. Gave them $100 to hold it for me. So, now to check insurance costs to make sure there is nothing screwy there...
madmax

Danny Tse

madmax wrote:

Just got back from a test drive of the xb. They had the exact one I wanted. Black, manual trans, no other added options. It exceeded all of my expectations. Did some highway driving and passed a few people then some hills and on to some curves and then some rough pavement. Gave them $100 to hold it for me. So, now to check insurance costs to make sure there is nothing screwy there...
madmax

I know Scion has a ton of accesories available to personalize the car, have you look into that?

madmax

The accesories are all aftermarket bolt ons so if I really like it and want to go any further it will be no problem. For now I just want something that I don't have to spend any time on.
madmax

PolkThug

Maybe its just me but I can't imagine anyone over the age of 17 driving an xB.

shack

PolkThug wrote:

Maybe its just me but I can't imagine anyone over the age of 17 driving an xB.

It is....

My brother in law is 57 and his wife is 52... both driving an XB (and really like them)

PolkThug

Its probalby because I'm a block away from a high school in the burbs and I only see kids driving them.

madmax

madmax wrote:

I'm not 16 any more...
madmax

Well, maybe...

madmax

madmax

Oooh, now I need one of those cool shift knobs, neon lights underneath, some 18 inch wheels, loud exhaust and a crankin system to play my rap CD's on.
madmax

Normanality

I'd really like an xB for myself but I'd have to get custom rails made to move the drivers seat back another 4". Looks to be a good all-around basic hauler (like speakers) with good gas mileage.

madmax

Picked up the xb this afternoon. Feels good so far...
madmax

heiney9

Have to come to VW's defense (somewhat) I've never owned anything but VW, I've had 9 of them ranging from the original Rabbit GTI to a current (somewhat) VR6 GTI. With most VW's you have to maintain them religously and follow all the factory guidlines as far as special fluids etc. Sure each generation has it's trouble spots and for the most part the things that fail are annoyances. But for me what I give up in solid reliability is made up for in the fun to drive factor. They can be reliable if maintained, but the truth is there are more reliable cars out there, but most of them are bland and not as well appointed.

To make a blanket statement that VW's are crap is unfair, but I'll be the first to admit they aren't Honda relaible, but they are loads more fun to drive and have much nicer build and materials.

I'm not trying to turn this into a debate about Honda vs. VW or anything else just my POV and I fell since I've owned several VW models over the past 15-18 years I can back it up w/ real world experience. My last GTI (1991) had 196K on it when I sold it to my mechanic to turn into a race car.

YMMV

H9