Does anyone still make a simple passenger car?

This.
A properly designed and built car is what we all want.
Remember the Yugo?
A simple old Fiat design manufactured in Yugoslavia that was complete junk.
What you really want is quality, not agricultural simplicity.
Unfortunately the car companies are in the game to make money.
So we pay and pay and pay. And hope for the best. Unfortunately hope is a lousy strategy.
 
again, very true. Im not against safety standards, I now drive a few Subaru`s... pleease dont flame me, Im a senior, lol . in reference to Simple passenger cars, I was thinking back to what worked, what I survived, including being hit dead on and T boned. My opinion was on the good old days of simplicity... :) Heck, I drove a 72 pinto and didnt blow up.
To open a can of worms, the reason why people are nostalgic for "good ole times" is that income did not keep up with inflation for a long time, even before this spike in the last 5 years.
I mean, I did Hill Climb races in Yugo, and here I am.
 
Does anyone still make a basic passenger car that is naturally aspirated, port injected, NON turbo, with conventional transmission (NON CVT)?
I can not find any! Closest I see is the Elantra.....naturally aspirated, port injected, NON tubro, BUT its a CVT.
If it exists, and it probably does, it's not for sale in the US.
 
Not new but as good as new - my 2007 Honda Accord EX-L 4Dr V6 6MT. Now I just have to keep someone (a crackhead or otherwise) from crashing into it.

No-one wanted these at the time. There were several on the lot at model year end. Now they're the "Holy Grail" of Hondas.

Maybe a new car is not the answer.
 
'25 KIA Soul LX with the 2.0 Ltr. (M.P.I. ) and I.V.T. . Have 2 of them and quite pleased . Easy oil change and both get 35+ m.p.g. calculated . The O.E.M. NEXEN N'Priz AH-8 ( H-rated ) tires are poor in the rain and were replaced with GENERAL Altimax 365AW ( V- rated ) 205/60-16 tires . Much better performance with little difference w/ F.E.. There's a $1,000 rebate from KIA and some dealers are matching with a $1,000 or a bit more . They are going quick . Also, ground clearance is 6.7 inches and I know someone that has a 2022 Kia Soul with the same engine and I.V.T. with over 150,000 miles with the same transmission fluid from the factory.

Yesterday's fill up .

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Most likely around 41 for actual M.P.G.
 
Hi,

Does anyone still make a basic passenger car that is naturally aspirated, port injected, NON turbo, with conventional transmission (NON CVT)?
I can not find any! Closest I see is the Elantra.....naturally aspirated, port injected, NON tubro, BUT its a CVT.

Thanks

My Ford Maverick hybrid, is an ECVT which is completely different than a CVT, no belts, and is a know good transmission. The engine is a 2.4 Mazda/Ford that doesn't have DI or a turbo, and I'm getting close to 40mpg without trying. This video explains the 2nd gen Toyota ECVT design with has overlapping patents with Ford, in fact Ford used to buy a lot of its ECVT components from Toyota. This video convinced me to buy my Maverick, I have 40,000 miles on my 22 I paid $27k out the door for a mid range XLT, there's been a few computer updates, and the half shafts were replaced under warranty, a know issue I guess, otherwise its never been in the shop and it is quite handy as a "trucklet" that meet my modes truck needs of random grap and motorcycles, it tows 2000 pounds and is now available to tow 4000 and come sin AWD too, close to $40k these days as well. The dealer offered me $23k on trade, but I decided to keep it and bought the 7 year 100,000 bumps rot bumper factory mile warranty. The oil changes are easy too. Best of all is the AC is ICE cold!

 
You might be able to find a closeout 2025 Versa or Sentra with a manual transmission.

The HRV just got DI for 2026, but there are no problems with it, and the CVT is nothing to worry about, either :)

Toyota's hybrid ECVT isn't really a CVT despite the name. It has planetary gears and also a proven reliability record. Their non-hybrid CVT has a real first gear and is also reliable.

DI is really only a problem in turbos.
Unfortunately I believe it is direct injection.
 
My Ford Maverick hybrid, is an ECVT which is completely different than a CVT, no belts, and is a know good transmission. The engine is a 2.4 Mazda/Ford that doesn't have DI or a turbo, and I'm getting close to 40mpg without trying. This video explains the 2nd gen Toyota ECVT design with has overlapping patents with Ford, in fact Ford used to buy a lot of its ECVT components from Toyota. This video convinced me to buy my Maverick, I have 40,000 miles on my 22 I paid $27k out the door for a mid range XLT, there's been a few computer updates, and the half shafts were replaced under warranty, a know issue I guess, otherwise its never been in the shop and it is quite handy as a "trucklet" that meet my modes truck needs of random grap and motorcycles, it tows 2000 pounds and is now available to tow 4000 and come sin AWD too, close to $40k these days as well. The dealer offered me $23k on trade, but I decided to keep it and bought the 7 year 100,000 bumps rot bumper factory mile warranty. The oil changes are easy too. Best of all is the AC is ICE cold!


Thanks for sharing, I’ve been a fan of the Mavericks since they came out, didn’t know they used that style of ECVT.

I was ready to buy the wife a 2025 Honda CRV Hybrid because I loved the simplicity of that ECVT but we decided to get something bigger in the end.
 
I wish Ford would once again make cars ( not just the Mustang ) I miss a 4 door Ford or Lincoln car. I have been a Ford car buyer 37 years but Ford now makes me jump brand as I don't want a SUV, I simply want a car with 4 door and a trunk.
 
I wish Ford would once again make cars ( not just the Mustang ) I miss a 4 door Ford or Lincoln car. I have been a Ford car buyer 37 years but Ford now makes me jump brand as I don't want a SUV, I simply want a car with 4 door and a trunk.
I just cant buy Ford anymore. I was a looong time Ford guy since HS. decades of fords, then after a 3 pete purchase from same dealer, they hosed me for 2500 on my trade in, some scum b-g in financing changed the numbers. Father Ford CO only wanted to give me a oil change coupon for my troubles. If they hadnt already sold my trade in the 2 week period, I would have taken back my vehicle... Since 2009 we had many Nissans.
 
I just cant buy Ford anymore. I was a looong time Ford guy since HS. decades of fords, then after a 3 pete purchase from same dealer, they hosed me for 2500 on my trade in, some scum b-g in financing changed the numbers. Father Ford CO only wanted to give me a oil change coupon for my troubles. If they hadnt already sold my trade in the 2 week period, I would have taken back my vehicle... Since 2009 we had many Nissans.
Trust me, I understand bad dealerships and its a interesting situation as I once had a fight with a Dodge service manager as he did't own a touchless tire changer that would change a 20" tire on those then brand new first year 2015 Hellcats. I asked how can you sell a car that you can't change the tire on? His response was "Dodge can't make me buy a $6,700 tire machine. I called Dodge and it was kinda explained he was somewhat correct as he is independent from Dodge?

My thought process now when it comes to buying ANY new cars, trucks, motorcycles, even lawn mowers is that NEW CAR or new car experience IS ONLY as good as my dealer service experience! Finance department, parts department, bad slimy staff to even a dirty bathroom.

As a 30 year Harley owner I'm having a big issue with I assume Harley now making dealers build these mega size dealerships and run them like a large high pressure car dealership. Long gone is that small honest dealer now replaced with slimy used car, sleight of hand, Professional folks brought in from Vegas or LA that are paid big $ to practice to deceive and are MASTERS of that craft with ZERO concern about loosing a good customer or ever selling a customer a 2nd, 3rd, 4th bike.

My last dealer experience almost resulted in an arrest and a charge on me... So do I get mad at that dealer or Harley? Not sure on that but Harley is ONLY as good as those dealers representing or misrepresenting them.

I love Harley but my little small Indian dealer has that cool vibe of mom and pop Harley dealers had 30 years ago...

IF Harley don't take control of bad dealer experiences I'm afraid Salt of the earth "good people" Harley owners are not going to put up with bad dealers and flat out dishonest staff or any dealer BS!

Same with your Ford dealer but I say "Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater" as I assume you may have another Ford dealer a town over that may offer a better experience but then again you may not?

For me my local Dodge / Ram parts and service department stink and may very well keep me from buying Dodge again but my local small town Ford dealer service and parts department are so good, truly almost perfect 5 star review good and thats reason alone for me to choose Ford but Ford don't make cars anymore! Arrrr!

My last Small Harley dealer I loved was recently purchased by that same Harley dealer I HATE and that I may get arrested if I was to return ( I won't as that dealership made that choice for me ) but I'm running out of Harley dealers to buy from...
 
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If you can still find a Honda Civic LX between 2016-2024 with a manual transmission and the 2.0L(K20) with port EFE, this would be my choice. The only thing I don't like it the Electric Parking Brake. I may look for a 2022-24.
Sadly, the 2.0L(K20) engine got DI and a loss in power. Slightly detuned for EPA reasons.
 
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If you can still find a Honda Civic LX between 2016-2024 with a manual transmission and the 2.0L(K20) with port EFE, this would be my choice. The only thing I don't like it the Electric Parking Brake. I may look for a 2022-24.
Sadly, the 2.0L(K20) engine got DI and a loss in power. Slightly detuned for EPA reasons.
There’s no reason to be afraid of the CVT in the Civic though, it has proven itself to be very durable. My Civic is a 2016 LX coupe with the 2.0 and CVT and runs perfectly with 188,000 miles on it.
 
I test drove the base Mazda 3. LOVED everything about it with one HUGE exception....the firm, hard ride quality. That was a TOTAL deal breaker for me. Too bad, its a nice car otherwise, but that firm ride would get to me after some time.
The CX5 has the same engine and transmission. Maybe the ride quality would suit you better?
 
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