Suggest best car for frequent long trips

[CBR.worm]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
...5 series Beemer would be a nice highway car I imagine. But Again reliability and out of warranty repair cost scare me.



The 5 series BMW is great on the highway in every respect. The 535's were less reliable than the other 5 series - the flip side is an incredible engine that maintains 300ft-lbs at any RPM over 1,700 - it pulls like a train. The drawbacks are fuel system problems.

I am also anxious to see how they hold up as the miles pile up. We bought the non-turbo version hoping for more longevity.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite

. I am no big Mazda fan (due to reliability issues Ive had) but I must say the Mazda 6 interior PHOTOS look very driver centric (though ive never sat in one).


The Mazda 6i should be as reliable as the Fusion. Same engine. Same transmission. Same basic chassis. The Mazda 6 is made at a UAW plant in Michigan. The Fusion is made in Mexico.

Early 6s had some issues. Mazda de-bugged them and Ford got the finished product.

 

[HTSS_TR]

BMW 5 series, Mercedes E class, Audi A6 are excellent on highway at triple digits speed.

 

[Spazdog]

You know what was really nice on the freeway....and I'm going to get flamed for this but I don't care.

The old E28 BMW 528e

It would settle in at 80mph cruise speed and just lightly sip gas all day.

The suspension was just right. Not harsh but never too soft and wallowy.

It didn't accelerate particularly well and the interior was made up of bits of vinyl covered cardboard. But once you got it on the freeway, none of that mattered. Steady, relaxed, confident, and frugal.

Sadly, my friend ignored my suggestion to maintain the timing belt and the eta's valves came crashing into other reciprocating parts one day when the belt broke.

 

[LoneRanger]

OP checking in.

This car will replace the 2005 Beetle TDI, which is the wife's car. The Forester is mine.

Full size cars are out. She's 5'02" 105lbs. Small cars feel big to her. Big cars intimidate her.

At this exact moment in time as I write this... VW diesel not thrilling me since I just got done cleaning up diesel from all under the fuel filter because apparently an o-ring in the fuel tee connector got twisted or nicked or whatever and when I started it to leak check after priming (Changed the fuel filter today) it leaked profusely from the fuel tee and ran all down the inner fender onto the belley pan and formed a nice stinky pool of diesel on my garage floor. Fortunately my floor is painted with epoxy paint so it wiped right up, but cleaning it from the fender well and belly pan was PITA. Luckily I had an extra set of o-rings for the fuel tee in my tool chest from last time. Changed the o-rings a 2nd time and no leak. Still not sure what was wrong with the first set of o-rings.

How is the longevity of Nissan's CVT in the Altima? She has expressed interest in an Altima.

This would be a new not used purchase.

She will probably use the Beetle initially through October, but even though it is kind of a workhorse it is not a comfortable highway car. The diesel engine loves the highway and feels great on the interstate, but the problem as far as highway travel is it is mounted in a Beetle chassis, that and the car has vinyl "leatherette" upholstery that on long drives tends to make your butt sweat even in the winter. Or at least mine. Wife informs me that women don't sweat there.

 

[mechtech2]

I remember Car and Driver Magazine testing cars on a real cross country trip. They switched drivers regularly for the different cars.
All the cars, including a Mercedes were surpassed by a plain Ford Taurus in their voting.
Why? Smoothness, and everything worked.

 

[Nick R]

If she wants a smaller car, you can't really go wrong with a Focus. Great highway MPG, comfy, smooth ride (with the SE, SEL trim suspension). I love mine. Oh, and sync so she can listen control music, make phone calls, without having to use hands (might be useful on long trips) and reliable.

 

[oldmaninsc]

Originally Posted By: Thermo1223
I'm sorry but I can't understand for the life of me how anyone would consider Crown-vic/Lincoln as the best choice.

Mid 20's is not good fuel economy nor is having a body-on-frame dinosaur the safest thing either. They do not handle well at all to average driver.



First of all MPG is usually UPPER 20's not mid on freeway driving.
Second there are too many variables to make a blanket statement. My wife has a Camry. She loves it, so does my daughter. It is MUCH too small and uncomfortable for me. I drove it once for about 50 miles. UGGHHH!
Also - the MGM meets or sometimes just beats the Camry in city MPG. The Camry gets better freeway mileage - though not by a lot.

I love the comfort of my MGM. Someone once said it's like driving your sofa down the freeway. I wish I would have bought the MGM BEFORE I bought the Trailblazer. (Anybody want to trade a MGM or Towncar for my Trailblazer? I can't seem to sell the thing).

As for handling I was surprised at how well the MGM handled. I've driven LOTS of "tanks" over the years or should I say decades. This car does NOT drive like a tank. Ford did change the suspension in 2003 (or so).

As for power - we have a very long steep hill on the 4 lanes (each direction) Interstate that I drive several times a week. I always smile when I pass the econoboxes struggling to keep 65 up the hill while I cruise at 75 without even downshifting.
The equally funny part is when they pass me doing about 80 - once we get to the DOWNSIDE of the hill!

For me the MGM is the best COMBINATION of MPG/power/comfort! As others may say YMMV! Or as they used to say in the 70's - "Different strokes for different folks."

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
How is the longevity of Nissan's CVT in the Altima? She has expressed interest in an Altima.

The Altima is a decent car. It is a bit dated compared to the Sonata, but seems to be fairly reliable so far. The interior is on the cheaper side and the back seat is very low, so I don't know if that will work for you.

Our 2010 Altima is a V6, and the CVT/V6 combination works well. I don't remember how the I4/CVT combo drives, but it probably has a lot of "drone" since the I4 has less torque. I think your wife should seriously consider a Maxima as well, as that car is light years ahead of the Altima IMO. A base model Maxima S comes very well-equipped and can be purchased for around $25k.

 

[hardcore302]

Comfortable? : Town car. That's what I wanna sit in during a road trip, mileage be [censored].

 

[Spyder7]

Originally Posted By: FORD4LIFE


Who in their right mind would want a drive a mid-size FWD car with a 4cyl for long road trips. The tractor trailers will blow you off the road. Trying to get up hills in places like in West Virginia and Kentucky would make you a big time safety hazard. I see them everyday struggling to get up steep hills as I whip around them.

I think mid 20's is decent mileage for highway runs considering you can get those cars [Town Cars CV] dirt cheap and will last a very long time with basic maintenance.



I couldn't disagree more. I pass tractor trailers all the time in my small 125 hp 4 banger, and do it on hills as well, which there are plenty of here (not exactly the rocky mountains, but they can be pretty steep).

I easily get 35 mpg highway - with winter tires on and doing a 65-75 mph cruise speed. And this is in a 10 year old car. Newer 4 cylinders will be heavier, have more hp, and with efficiency improvements, still turn out as good or better mileage.

As the OP has listed fuel efficiency as his number 1 criteria, to me that immediately rules out anything with a v8.

There are many good choices in the 4-6 cylinder range that will meet all his criteria, both domestic and imported. I like the aesthetics of the Fusion and the reading I've done on them (no test drive experience) has been all positive. The VWs, while I wish I could love them like I use to, just seem to be too high maintenance these days.

-Spyder

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: rslifkin
The reason for most hybrids doing well on the highway actually isn't because they're hybrids. It's because the engines are smaller, and typically tweaked for efficiency. The reason this is only found in hybrids is because without electric assist, the cars would be unacceptably slow to accelerate, particularly when merging.


Dead wrong. Have you ever actually driven a hybrid? Have you watched the instruments so you actually see how they STILL perform on the highway (albeit not as dramatically as in the city)? I can tell that you have not.

By the way, until this model year when the I-4 gasser Camry got the new 2.5L engine, the hybrid's engine was THE SAME displacement as the straight gas Camry (obviously tuned differently).

AND, even on a low-charge battery, the Camry accelerates acceptably. You put the pedal to the metal, and the computer figures what you want, and gives it to you. You certainly burn more fuel, but there's no shortage of "go". It's no V-8, but it still works just fine.

Originally Posted By: rslifkin
Keep in mind, some older Civics, Geo Metros, and other vehicles with very small engines do almost as well as a hybrid on the highway.


Yeah, so what???? Those vehicles all weigh a half-ton less than a Camry hybrid, and offer vastly less passenger and cargo room. I'm so sick of hearing people trying to compare an 85 cubic foot metro to a 101 cubic foot Camry -- that's absolutely absurd.

If you want a cheap, tiny car with few, if any, safety features, get the metro. If you want to have your cake and eat it too, buy a Camry hybrid. Or a Prius if you want an even more extreme approach.

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
I bough the Yaris for almost 1/2 the cost of a new prius. How long does it take to win back that extra 9 grand in cost for a couple mpg highway difference? Never? So Yes, hybrid offer NO bottom line advantage as a highway commuter. I get 37 - 41 highway in the Yaris - but thats at 75-90 MPH.


A thoroughly silly comparison. The Yaris is a tiny little box compared to even the Prius. The current Prius offers ten cubic feet more passenger volume than the Yaris, and OVER ten cubic feet more cargo volume. Read slowly now, the Prius is a much larger car than the yaris.. Can you grasp that? If not, maybe you should compare the Yaris to the Crown Vic -- that comparison would be almost as absurd. . .

EDIT: Put another way, if Toyota bothered to install the HSD system in a Yaris, it would seriously spank the gasser Yaris, especially in town, but also, to a lesser degree, on the highway too.

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
... I would assume Fusion Hybrid will do nothing for you on the highway, other than cost an arm and a leg up front and weigh a lot more. ...


And you would be wrong again. . .

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Originally Posted By: Spartuss
4 Cylinder Toyota Camry 6-speed automatic o...
Thats a very poor driving car. The Chevy Malibu slaughters it! I know I've spent a lot of time at my toyota dealer and they give me a low miles '10 upper level Camry w sport package. At its best it's not too good. Had a '10 Malibu rental in FL for a week - MUCH better car. I even liked the motor better. Only prob 4 me was the low roofline and mail-slot side lights.
Still I urge you check out the new Regal turbo4. Its made in Germany ( for low electronic parts quality and supposed to handle and ride like nothing under 30K. Suspension bred on the Nurburgring ...
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1004_2011_buick_regal_us_spec_drive/photo_01.html



Please tell us how many miles you've logged driving an I-4 Camry? No, of course, they're not Corvettes, but they're not meant to be either.

I guess all those mindless morons who've taken Camry sales far beyond the Malibu, the M-6, etc., just all have it wrong. The malibu is a fine car, and I commend GM for producing it. But it's certainly NOT superior to the Camry in any objective sense. I can see where some folks will prefer it, while others will prefer the Camry. This is like arguing about whether chocolate ice cream is superior to strawberry, or vice versa. Please stop trying to tell us that chocolate IS BETTER then strawberry...

I spent a few days with an I-4 Camry as a rental (bare bones version). Compared to the hybrid, it was clearly lighter (the TCH is heavier than a V-6 car), but was also more nose-heavy (much of the TCH's "extra" weight is in the back, where both the 12v and traction batteries are located).

So, would you care to disclose to us your true agenda? And where your disproportionate anti-Camry bias is rooted?

 

[Spyder7]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
As far as hils go i also beleive that a midsize with a 4 would be fine. It would be in a lower gear though. My focus going up Steeper hils on the highway will sit about 3500rpm up them.


Most of my highway cruising is at 65-75 mph, turning 2,200-2,500 RPM in over drive (4 spd auto). On a steep grade it will downshift to 3rd and jump to 3,500-4,000 rpm. That's the only thing that changes. Speed remains constant.

I imagine a new Focus or Fusion, with efficiency improvements over the last 10 years, would be even better on hills.

It amazes me that people equate modern 4 cylinder engines to the cheap double digit hp models of a couple decades ago. Many decent size sedans (as in roomy enough to be comfortable) do just fine with a 4 banger.

Its amusing to see that the perception of them by some are still firmly rooted in the '70s, when being "underpowered" for highways and hills, had some basis in reality given the limits of efficiency of the era and the much heavier materials required to build the same size car.

This isn't the '70s anymore.

-Spyder

 

[CBR.worm]

If your wife is already driving a TDI Beetle, you will probably see a mileage drop with just about anything short of a TDI jetta, which is a much more comfortable car than the beetle.

When we were looking for good solid cars that got good gas mileage at 80mph, the Jetta was the best we found. Our second choice as mentioned previously was the E320 CDI - less MPG but much more solid - still over 30mpg and feels like a tank. zero to 60 in 6.6 seconds. Typical german reliability (read that however you like).

I think the new E320's might be V6's instead of the I6.

We had two TDI beetles in the family so I have a fair idea what you are up against. One of them was lemon lawed after never ending problems, it's replacement was troublefree for years.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: Spyder7
It amazes me that people equate modern 4 cylinder engines to the cheap double digit hp models of a couple decades ago. Many decent size sedans (as in roomy enough to be comfortable) do just fine with a 4 banger.


My 3200-pound Camry has a 2.5L 4-cylinder, of 169 horsepower. I can remember when many V-6 engines struggled to make that power. And with the advent of modern cam timing systems (VVT), you don't have to rev a 4-cylinder to get power. And a 0-60 time of 8.4 seconds. Ten years ago, that's as good or better than many V-6 sedans. Today, it's all of a sudden "underpowered".

This Camry has every bit as much interior room as either of my former Cadillac Sevilles, and I assume the same is true of the other mainstream 5-pack sedans. Fuel AND space efficiency have come a long way in the past decade.

 

[dwendt44]

Haven't read this long thread but has anyone suggested a mid-size Buick?
30 mpg on the highway. comfortable. Quiet.

 

[L_Sludger]

Originally Posted By: Y_K
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Get 'em before they are gone!


Fleet sales only.

Another aspect: grand touring tires from Toyo (or any other Co of his/her choice) will really make a difference for a frequent long hauler. Which leads us to extra expense on top of new car sticker. I just got a two-tone 2004 LTC Ultimate with complete one-owner history, 37k on the clock, every option from the book for $14k. Put new bad black rims and Toyo Tourevo from Les Schwab and re-christened it into Doenitz. I already have one with 'Nimitz' on the plates. Easy on oil engine, excellent tranny and differential. But I am an old geezer, and I do this for both fun and living.

Oh, so you're a car service driver?