NEW CAR most reliable et al

[ChaChy]

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PS: Do get the timing belt replaced on your Tacoma. It should be replaced every 90k miles. In the event that it fails, the engine will be destroyed. It only costs about $250 at the dealership.

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Now, as far as the Prius and the battery issue. Okay 150K is a nice start but I'd better sleep if it were 300K or the lifetime the original owner had the car or something like that. I have put well over 150K on many cars and trucks, and in a years time I plan on putting over 100K.

But just say it does die. So what? Won't the car still be in operation? or is that like the cars whole battery support that when it goes out it's toast? if your prius battery dies, can you get a jump and run on gasoline?

Then if you did need a new one, how long and what charge to replace in labor? Also if in accident, what type of impact could destroy the battery pack? ie a side impact ???



As far as the timing belt.

It's a chain.

I've never changed one in my life.
There have been many trucks and cars I went well over the 100K mark and beyond, never ever changed one.

Belt yes, chain no... unless it starts to rattle, then maybe, but my then, wouldn't it be needing a new engine anyway?

 

[ChaChy]

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Find yourself a Mercedes 240D; just add oil to the sump and the gas tank; no other maintenance necessary.

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I was thinking the same thing today but I don't know much about BenZ's.

I know many are designed to be maintenance guests.

Also I have heard of some that outlast the owners?

A good Benz that has AC that gets great MPG and never dies is a contender in my book.

I was also thinking on Volvo and a few others but wouldn't know a good one from a bad.

 

[ChaChy]

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works wonders in our '07 PRIUS and the '06 Scion XB we had . Loaded with all those safety features , it should be well under $17,500 for an '07 LE Corolla

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Ho's that Scion, don't know too amny owners, well I don't know one!

Suppose it's the same as a Toyota. Saw a top end one this afternoon.

Anyone know of any of these hitting 200K with no problem?

And almsot as imnportant, is it comfortable on long rides?

Lastly, do you think a short woman of 4'11" could sit behind the wheel and reach the peddles and still see out of the windshield?

 

[LouDawg]

To the original poster:

According to CR's latest data, which has a lot of statistics to it (and yes I know there's a lot of debate about it), the absolute most reliable vehicles in the classes you may be considering are the following. Keep in mind this is based on data returned by 1.3 million consumers, so it's not my opinion, but theirs. And the survey results are based only through model year 2006, so 2007 MY cars had no responses at the time this data came out.

SMALL CARS
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Honda Fit
Toyota Yaris
Honda Civic Hybrid
Toyota Corolla

MID-SIZED/FAMILY CARS
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Honda Accord Hybrid
Toyota Prius
Honda Accord 4-cylinder
Ford Fusion
Mercury Milan

SMALL SUVs
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Toyota FJ Cruiser
Honda Element
Honda CR-V
Toyota RAV4
Subaru Forester

PICKUP TRUCKS
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Toyota Tundra
Toyota Tacoma
Nissan Frontier (V6)

 

[ChaChy]

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I'd fix up the Toyota and try it in highway mile situation.
I'd be certain you are changing permanently from stop and go miles to hairy long miles for a few years before I bought a car solely for that purpose. Sounds to me more like a new job and I'd use the old car in the new job for that first 3 -6 months to be certain and sure that new job was one I'd keep as long as the new car. You don't want a new car and its payments and then need to change jobs or be out of work becuase the job didn't work out.

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Yea, I hear ya.

It is for a new job, and although I started this week, the position I came on for has not been given to me yet. Was supposed to be today. Boss asked for some paperwork and told me it would be great if he had it before the evening was up, so I'm hoping it will be within two weeks or I'll leave.

This Tacoma could make it if the rear end had not been damaged. It's over 3 grand for a new one and my model only a couple 1-2 in my area and they are bad. Have it replaced once and rebuild once and the mechanic says the rear end is causing the transmission to wear excessive.

Fire and ****ation

Anyway, based on when the other two went out, I'd say I only have a couple months or less of wear before it goes out and by that time I need a new ride or have the case to replace what I got. If the money were in hip first pocket, I'd bite the bullet and bet a new BRANDNEW rear and driveline balanced and possibly risk the transmission until later if need even be ever.

Anyway it's not something I want or like but it puts bread on the table and it affords me an opportunity to spend a few hours in the mornings to persue some sales or other activities which matter then not how much I make.

Prior to this I took off three months from another job I hated just to try my hand at something different. I waited til my wife was in panic mode and litterally til we have no money for any bills before going back to a job that I hate.

This could be a 1-2 year deal or a 1-2 month deal where I could land another job that I like or whatever... however it could turn into a 10 year ordeal. Who knows. But what I'm hoping, is if I do keep the job even for a year or two, to add something to my runs coming or going, some extra way of making money. At the least, this buys me some 4-6 hours a day for a career in some field of sales or service until that picked up to the point I can stop spinning my wheels.

 

[ChaChy]

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To the original poster:

MID-SIZED/FAMILY CARS
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Honda Accord Hybrid
Toyota Prius
Honda Accord 4-cylinder
Ford Fusion
Mercury Milan

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I guess I am in the midsized market.

Wish Tacoma had a 4 door that got 40+ highway.

What about SCION midsized? They are the same as a Toyota - in quality -Right!

 

[smokey1]

SCION is TOYOTA , same as ECHO , YARIS . It's a 1.5 ltr. engine , which is also used in PRIUS as well . The older SCION XB is soon to replaced by the SCION XD , which uses the 1.8 ltr. ( same as COROLLA , MATRIX , PONTIAC VIBE ) , but the piston rings are apparently going to be made of aluminum . The XD will have side impact and curtain air bags , Anti Lock Brakes standard . May have the traction control and vehicle stability control standard as well . I would assume be under $18,000 .

 

[VeeDubb]

For your purposes, I'd eliminate the Jetta (or any Euro car). Too finicky about maintenance and you will have to take it to the shop to fix idiosyncratic electrical issues, in all likelihood.

 

[LouDawg]

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For your purposes, I'd eliminate the Jetta (or any Euro car). Too finicky about maintenance and you will have to take it to the shop to fix idiosyncratic electrical issues, in all likelihood.

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+1

 

[ShiningArcanine]

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Have a Tacoma (2004) with 155K, has had several accidents and have issues with rear end and transmission. Replaced twice with used equipment... considering new car options.

Problem is cash/income.

Second is Milage and reliability, third is comfort.

I'm looking to possibly within a month, perhaps three, be in the new car market.

Will plan in the very near future be placing 400-500 miles a day on the ride.

I want comfort, economy, dependable (no down time) for 200K-miles.

I don't care about performance, nor looks nor color.

Looking for a tank that can go to ____ and back again, take a licking and keep in ticking at a dependable savings in all areas.

Have been a truck fan and Tacomas are a favorite, but the comfort is less than better. Have a reg cab perhaps extended, but the mpg would be a drag. Consider the Prius but wonder on the durability and the battery that runs 3K to replace... not to mention it's a car - wgich do not usually hold up as well as trucks.

In a perfect world I ant to pass this to wife who cant drive stick. Maybe she can learn if the car is neat and trouble free???

Plans on putting 150-200K in 18 months, and pass car to her.

She currently has no car and it's a drag bing a one car family.

Has to be like a rock because I am going to have my work ride on this for the next 18 months or so without any issues with mechanics. I'd like to keep my Tacoma, but with gas and with the issues on the accidents, I doubt it will last unless I replace with NEW transmission and Diff/shaft (balanced you know).

Based on past performace form the current situation I think I have about 20K or two months (or less) left of life before any downtime on current truck.

Current Tacoma has 155K and all new factory equipment including belts and such except for a break job (2) in front and a battery replaced along with wiper blades and tires, and the break lights just blew at 150K... all else is factory.

I'd like to keep it as an alternative back up in case the new ride goes down. Willing to convert it to full time ride if money justified such.

Bottom line, I need a second BACK up ride, and prefer a new one that is less likely to bogg down under daily wear and tear.

Most of the milage should be highway. The Tacoma sees 99% stop and go... the new work will be 80-95% highway.

Would love comfort, economy, durability and price to balance a perfect car who can go the distance without any repairs.

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I think that a Toyota Prius would best meet your criteria. While it will not increase your yearly income, it should lower the amount of your yearly income that you spend, because of its high fuel economy and also because its regenerative braking should ensure that its brake pads will not need to be replaced. It also is possible, although difficult, to drive 700 miles on a single tank, so your 400 to 500 mile round trips should not require more than a single refill per a day. Toyota Priuses sold several years have had few problems, so it would be reasonable to say that Toyota Priuses sold today should have few problems.

By the way, why do you think your Toyota Tacoma is going to die? I would expect that the majority of its miles are ahead of it and that the only thing that it might need in addition to gasoline, oxygen and maintenance are some minor repairs.

 

[ShiningArcanine]

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PS: Do get the timing belt replaced on your Tacoma. It should be replaced every 90k miles. In the event that it fails, the engine will be destroyed. It only costs about $250 at the dealership.

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Now, as far as the Prius and the battery issue. Okay 150K is a nice start but I'd better sleep if it were 300K or the lifetime the original owner had the car or something like that. I have put well over 150K on many cars and trucks, and in a years time I plan on putting over 100K.

But just say it does die. So what? Won't the car still be in operation? or is that like the cars whole battery support that when it goes out it's toast? if your prius battery dies, can you get a jump and run on gasoline?

Then if you did need a new one, how long and what charge to replace in labor? Also if in accident, what type of impact could destroy the battery pack? ie a side impact ???



As far as the timing belt.

It's a chain.

I've never changed one in my life.
There have been many trucks and cars I went well over the 100K mark and beyond, never ever changed one.

Belt yes, chain no... unless it starts to rattle, then maybe, but my then, wouldn't it be needing a new engine anyway?

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The Toyota Prius is designed to minimize wear and tear on its batteries. It is possible that a Toyota Prius could go several hundred miles without needing new batteries, although of course, when it needs new batteries depends on what level of remaining capacity mandates that the batteries be replaced. By nature, hybrids lose fuel economy as their batteries lose capacity and when their batteries are near 0% capacity, they operate like conventional vehicles. I would expect that the fuel economy of a Toyota Prius would still be very good at 300,000 miles.

 

[ChaChy]

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The older SCION XB is soon to replaced by the SCION XD , which uses the 1.8 ltr. ( same as COROLLA , MATRIX , PONTIAC VIBE ) , but the piston rings are apparently going to be made of aluminum .

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SO I guess the older would be better ???

Be nice to see a used oil analysis both BEFORE the switch and AFTER the change. I.E. Same engine or TYPE with cheaper parts... ?

ALuminum doesn't sound durable.

So I'm safe in assuming the 2007's are fine.

 

[ChaChy]

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By the way, why do you think your Toyota Tacoma is going to die? I would expect that the majority of its miles are ahead of it and that the only thing that it might need in addition to gasoline, oxygen and maintenance are some minor repairs.

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First as far as the Prius, if I can get a good buy, it may be the best new car durability and fuel wise out on the market.

As far as the Tacoma, it's been in a couple accidents, and the rear end was damaged in the process. I have been through one axle and rim and a whole used rear end (actually two) and they tell me that all the miles I put on it with the bent rear-end has caused the transmission to increase wear / play.

I need an oil change badly in rear and transmission and engine and have no money.

Currently all I have in there is standard fluids, the engine sump has normal Pennzoil 5w30 at 8 bucks a jug and 3K on it and I don't see that I will have the money in over 15K more before I can change it.

I have run over those miles before, but with a good oil with known wear rates. I have not run an UOA in two years. So I'm a hoping and a praying it will carry me the distance until I get enough money in. I'm litterally in the RED by severals of thousands of dollars. Add the experience of miles before the last two wore out, and the miles on it now and knowing there is no replacement for my make and model i.e. VIN number and knowing that I owe 3K on the truck and that the rear is over 3K all new from the STEALERSHIP blah blah blah.

Besides it's also economics.

Having only one car.

Trying to save money on the gas could potentially save me over 5-6K a year in gas that's about 9K in 18 months, and if I go 2 years thats 10-12K off of what I would have paid for it in gas usage from the TACOMA. That's in a way like outsourcing to get the effective buy rate lowered say in half. Would you pay half price on a Prius? Already using the same dollars in gas usage in a Tacoma that everything was working right, so using that gas outlay (because I don't think gas will come back down that far anytime soon

) to help pay for my next ride and toss a car to my wife who needs one, after she's ridden enough (the car) for my purposes.

I'll still keep the Tacoma and pay it off ASAP, then turn that payment and every extra nickel to pay the car off ASAP.

The Tacoma will be a back-up, and also a PAID for car except for the government thief that hires their GOONS to throw you in jail when you don't pay them their yearly bribes i.e. sticker fees et al.

But knowing that two other rears went out about the same miles indicates to me the third's gonna be similar. Besides theres still down time and probably a weeks miss of work unless I had the cash and scheduled the replacement. Believe me I've been through the ringer on this before... twice, and I don't want to do it again.

I could risk just HOPING there is another rear in the nick of time... but I know from experience it has to be from a very limited supply of them based on my VIN number, its gonna be a real hassle unless some chace ____ ____ was specifically moving Heaven and Earth for me and me alone... not that I know the Lord God Almighty won't do so, for I know My Lord and Savior has on many accounts, but to just act ignorant is being an idiot.

Anyway, in short: History and the ButOMatic GUT tells me to look for a ride ASAP within a few weeks or thereabouts after doing ALNIGHTERS over the road.

To Top it off as we speak I'm probably having to cut my sell phone off because I can't afford it. I almost NEED it traveling at night like that. But what ya gonna do when the dough is not there. ??? ???

 

[ChaChy]

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By nature, hybrids lose fuel economy as their batteries lose capacity and when their batteries are near 0% capacity, they operate like conventional vehicles. I would expect that the fuel economy of a Toyota Prius would still be very good at 300,000 miles.

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Okay great. very nice.
Does anyone know at say 100 or better 150K miles
because there should be some sort of data albeit small...

Does anyone know at what milage the cars were getting at these miles and at what % the battery's life or voltage or MA or whatever is left?

 

[ChaChy]

Admin Note: Religion, Sex, and Politics are just off limits here. It's not a matter of approving or disapproving of one view or another, it's a matter of not getting off on highly charged tangents that are not part of the subject matter for which BITOG exists. Thanks.

 

[The Critic]

No, we just don't permit discussion of religion, sex, or politics on this site...nothing against your superior being at all.

Oh, is your Tacoma the 3.4? AFAIK, the 3.4L V6 DOES have a timing belt. I don't know about the smaller engine though.

 

[brianl703]

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But just say it does die. So what? Won't the car still be in operation? or is that like the cars whole battery support that when it goes out it's toast? if your prius battery dies, can you get a jump and run on gasoline?

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There are two batteries in a Prius. The conventional starting battery and the "traction" battery.

When the traction battery fails, my understanding is that the Prius will still run but it will perform very poorly.

Furthermore, I suspect that it MAY fail an OBD-II fault code emissions inspection due to the failed traction battery, if a code is stored due to the battery failure.