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jack ichen
New User
Jan 9, 2016, 11:28 PM
Post #1 of 13
(1787 views)
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practical car
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am looking for a practical car (sedan) , that can last me 5 years without any major trouble i.e. engine or transmission failure
am planning to spend 27-35k $ on it but everything i seen starting from ford taurus , toyota camry and many others have severe engine and transmission problem
like that taurus connector between the radiator and the the transmission gear can break and mix oil with radiator fluid
so what are you suggestion and please elaborate your suggestion from experience.
am looking for a new car i should say.
share your words of wisdom if any
i usually use my car to drive 10miles to work and 10miles back every workday and thats probably it.
(This post was edited by jack ichen on Jan 10, 2016, 12:07 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 10, 2016, 2:45 AM
Post #2 of 13
(1774 views)
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Re: practical car
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You mean a NEW car - right? I still can't choose what you'd like and new impossible to guess what will be best looking back. ALL cars want their suggested services, proper care like anything.
Idea that seems like it might work out for a deal if you really want is to chase down VW for a real bargain on even their diesel that they are in legal troubles with TMK not because it had any mechanical problems. I'm not a diesel specialist at all nor ever owned one but the newer things (couple tractors) I've heard just run floored me at how quiet and fast they started vs what I used to know and even in cold weather! That was the reason I wouldn't want them for ages.
Seems you don't need to drive many miles and right now MPG of anything at the lowest fuel cost in years isn't a strong motivator but it will be again.
?5 years only? You can probably get a factory bumper to bumper warranty on some for that long just make sure it's thru the factory/maker not some scam.
IMO for a 5 year keep you should just choose what you like an serves your needs and comfortable for you to drive and for me like good visibility and I don't mean cameras rather you can really see to the sides and rear pretty well.
Now if only for 5 years look at same models or close and see how the resale prices are holding up if you can think ahead and liked it by then could help towards yet another new one.
Disclaimer: I've never owned a new car myself out of countless hundreds of cars! Oddly as a mechanic you still don't really know what you'll like working on others as much as ones you own and use but can see designs you don't like for super long lasting which I have sought out USED.
Pretty much this suggestion from me is to get what really pleases you the most all around,
T
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jack ichen
New User
Jan 10, 2016, 4:53 AM
Post #3 of 13
(1769 views)
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Re: practical car
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i see , thank you for your opinion though factory warranties now a days only allow 3years warranty but i get your point
as a mechanic which car you would like the most for that price? speaking not on look or comfort but on life span? my last car was toyota aurion 2009 6v and it was hell fixing its transmission gear twice
(This post was edited by jack ichen on Jan 10, 2016, 4:55 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 10, 2016, 6:47 AM
Post #4 of 13
(1758 views)
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Re: practical car
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Jack - If something got fixed TWICE and wasn't your fault thru abusive use or something that happened it wasn't fixed right the first time. If there was design flaw and there are for any car maker even after warranty they either fix it for no cost to you or make a TSB (technical service bulletin) for a better fix and the improved designed parts. It's not fair but can take you to chase down why and why did it happen again which is a PITA.
Any new car or used is really highly dependent on their service department and not all are so great so check out that first if worried.
ASE Certified is one measure that they care. Got all that myself* and truth is any good book worm study freak could fill in dots with a #2 pencil and pass so alone not a guarantee of know how or expertise but does speak loudly that the tech and place cares.
* Don't be fooled by my avatar of a cat as it's just my type of sense of humor.
Toyota in general has a great reputation but any can make a flaw in design.
You are now asking about durability which doesn't compute with me? I look for that for myself but doesn't work for you or the next person. Once drove the whole USA now ages ago with cared for used cars with no problems but surprises can happen to anything.
OK: This moment for a 200K capable car not truck or SUV would probably say Lexus would be a good bet but that would be overkill for a 10 mile commute and may not suit you if it was free but is over your budget you said.
Never owned one but folks who buy Subarus are possibly some of the most satisfied people with their cars and buy yet another which says something about being brand loyal which has mostly been lost.
Most very popular cars you see are going to be fine. If you said it had to be a race car and be sport machine you are on your own.
Jack - brand new is tough to guess vs known used vehicles to me. You asked and I still think about right now the best bang for the buck will be a Toyota Corolla with few funky options you may not need or want. You can save a lot buying a similar car without the Toyota name and probably do as well for the low mile driving you expect to do.
Getting a bit worn out myself Jack and have had very similar well know mechanically to cars and will be in your boat choosing another whole type of vehicle but probably own it forever.
A basic is usually choose an automatic trans. Reason is standards if not driven exactly well your skills can wreck them easier.
Go for some test drives and come back if you want saying what you liked. The techs here will have opinions on the used ones more than brand new as there's no history on new of what to expect or goes wrong more often,
T
PS: The guys will laugh but I'm still driving a 28 year old car that runs and looks like new now so old I have to wait a day common and routine parts!
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 10, 2016, 7:15 AM
Post #5 of 13
(1754 views)
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Re: practical car
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I'm not sure where you get your information from but Toyota is well known for being one of the most reliable cars made. Honda isn't far behind.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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jack ichen
New User
Jan 10, 2016, 7:47 AM
Post #6 of 13
(1751 views)
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Re: practical car
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tom: thank you for the reply tom that was very informative
hammer time : am not getting my information from anyone , i owned the car myself and yes that what i was told and its the reason i bought it in the first place.
(This post was edited by jack ichen on Jan 10, 2016, 7:52 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 10, 2016, 9:48 AM
Post #7 of 13
(1740 views)
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Re: practical car
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Jack, Jack, Jack - As HT (we nick name sometimes) said and it's true - Toyota has had a great reputation since forever. A couple boo, boos (one I know of) they sought owners out and took care of it way off of warranty!
Said earlier when you said something went wrong twice that it was goofed up for the fix OR it's you or something that happened or keeps happening in the course of your cars use.
Also said there could be a dealer that doesn't have a great service section of their biz. Depending on wild variables maybe just one bad tech or a plain mistake.
More: You had a trans problem. Just FYI around where I am even many big name car/truck dealers do NOT do their own transmission work at location rather farm it out to a known shop that will use OE parts from the manufacturer only by agreement.
The dealer still takes full responsibility if they lose $$.
It's still up to you new or not to follow the routine maintenance schedule with proper products.
What continues to scare me is these "instant" oil change places! OMG - barely a real tech at the places easily capable of putting a wrong fluid in a trans for this example and wreck it. Could happen to a very experienced tech too but much less likely.
Again, you are buying new you are also buying into that dealership no matter what make they sell.
Don't rule out Toyota is what we are saying if in fact they have what you like and I named Corolla because Camry is just a bit larger and more $$ for a 10 mile commute you said personally I'd save the bucks and get the same quality IMO,
Tom
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kev2
Veteran
Jan 10, 2016, 10:01 AM
Post #8 of 13
(1735 views)
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Re: practical car
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27 - 35K is a NEW vehicle, And the mileage is not unreasonable - as mentioned get an extended bumper from manufacture chose a good dealer - get what you feel comfortable with - easier to advise against than suggest.
Only advice is keep toys - electronics to a minimum.... its TRANSPORTATION not technology you need.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 11, 2016, 3:53 AM
Post #10 of 13
(1709 views)
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Re: practical car
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OK - Now it's time to go for test drives. I still put stock in that YOU have to like the car even if not a choice of mine YOU are the one who has to live with it!
On the Legacy: That's the only one on your list I just happened to drive when new, a 2014 for about 400 miles. It's manners were very good to drive both HWY and back roads on that run. Faults noted: Speedometer reads on the 5s not 10s meaning 15, 25, 35, 45 and so on? OK you get used to that. No key for back hatch! What! It senses your fingers instead. Many may do that now but can't imagine how well that will work with ice all over them or heavy gloves on? Last, lady who owned it has busted off front air dam a couple times already as it sits so low you really can't roll a tennis ball under it! WTFun good is 4X4 if ground clearance isn't full 4 inches? Others probably similar so a minor issue for most,
Tom
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 11, 2016, 8:32 AM
Post #11 of 13
(1697 views)
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Re: practical car
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Why don't you just go to Consumer Reports and look the cars up? Why are you asking us?
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Ngan Merrifield
User
Jul 6, 2016, 2:19 AM
Post #12 of 13
(1534 views)
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Re: practical car
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Among the cars you've mentioned, I'll choose Toyota Camry. I'm not familiar with the performance of the others.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 6, 2016, 4:18 AM
Post #13 of 13
(1528 views)
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Re: practical car
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This thread is old so closing it out. Mostly useless as what someone wants or needs totally varies,
T
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