fuel efficient car for high highway mileage.

shack

jdhdiggs wrote:

My wife saw those in Europe and wants one in the worst way. May just have to do it as her commute is about 40 miles each way.

My wife saw one down in Cozumel and liked it so much she took a picture. When it's time to get rid of her Element she says it's between a Mini and maybe a Smart if she likes what she sees.

As far as the Smart safety issue, they may be small but are built with a very strong cage, double reinforced doors and airbags all around. It has one of the best reliabity records in Europe as well. Not really a highway car (one tester said it reminded him of the old VW Beetles on the interstate) but it might make a great little in town commuter.

He is the pic:

jdhdiggs

Your wife to huh? We got a picture of my wife "hugging" some random one that's parked. It looks like the US version is a foot or two longer than the Euro one.

venomclan

shack wrote: »

My wife saw one down in Cozumel and liked it so much she took a picture. When it's time to get rid of her Element she says it's between a Mini and maybe a Smart if she likes what she sees.

As far as the Smart safety issue, they may be small but are built with a very strong cage, double reinforced doors and airbags all around. It has one of the best reliabity records in Europe as well. Not really a highway car (one tester said it reminded him of the old VW Beetles on the interstate) but it might make a great little in town commuter.

Hey Shack, get the Smart and put it in the back of the Element as an escape pod.:D

shack

venomclan wrote:

Hey Shack, get the Smart and put it in the back of the Element as an escape pod.:D

Now that would be cool! Stuck in traffic...whip open the back doors and out comes the Smart to cut in between cars and get to the meeting on time.

bobman1235

McLoki wrote: »

Test drove a TDI and they seem very proud of them here. It was a nice car, but they did not deal off of sticker at all on them. ($26,800 or so purchase price)

They did have a 2001 that I could have purchased, but it had over 100,000 miles on it and they still wanted $14,000 for it. For the $19,000-$20,000 difference between what I got and the new one, I can get alot of gas. (plus there is no way for me to lose over $8,000 on the one I purchased. I can sell just the body for $500 around here.)

I know the TDI's are supposed to be nice cars, but I have never owned a desil, and I was just not sure about spending that much on a used car with over 100,000 miles on it. (not sure what maint. you have to do at 100k miles)

Michael

Michael, you said you wanted something reliable and relatively easy to maintain, and you're looking at VWs?! Granted there are exceptions, as I'm sure many VW lovers on this very forum will jump down my throat, but I can't think of any car company besides Saab that has a worse overall maintenance outlook than a VW. My dad works with a lot of mechanics, and he's yet to find one that would buy a VW, just because of all the maintenance and reliability nightmares that go along with them. Even mechanics that WORK FOR VW say they wouldn't buy them. I strongly recommend staying away.

shack

My GLI never gave me any trouble for the 108,000 miles I drove before I traded it. I would buy another one.

heiney9

bobman1235 wrote: »

Michael, you said you wanted something reliable and relatively easy to maintain, and you're looking at VWs?! Granted there are exceptions, as I'm sure many VW lovers on this very forum will jump down my throat, but I can't think of any car company besides Saab that has a worse overall maintenance outlook than a VW. My dad works with a lot of mechanics, and he's yet to find one that would buy a VW, just because of all the maintenance and reliability nightmares that go along with them. Even mechanics that WORK FOR VW say they wouldn't buy them. I strongly recommend staying away.

As a strong VW enthusiast and long time owner. There is some truth to what you say on a general level. It really depends on how they are maintained and driven. I;ve found since many of the younger population 18-24 make up a large segment of VW drivers (in general) they tend to beat the snot out of the cars and try to do repairs (of which they have no idea how to do) themselves.

For me the fun factor far outweighs the reliability factor. I've researched them & owned and I am aware of the typical issues (of which there are more than avg.) and plan accordingly. If you are looking for a dead relaible car you can drive for years w/o issues stay away from any European cars, period!!!! I don't care if they are owned by an American company or not. Mercedes, Jag, Audi, VW, Porsche, BMW all have certain areas that tend to be weak points and/or are extremely costly to repair. They are certainly a lot of fun to drive however.

If you plan on doing religious maintenance, having it garage kept and not beating the snot out of it too badly, then chances are you will have a very fun reliable car.

Just my .02c

H9