Thinking about getting rid of the Cavalier

[Mykl]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
Cruise control is highly over-rated. Very rarely it is helpful. When you really think you need it when your feet starts hurting, it is time to pull over and rest.


Cruise control isn't only about comfort, using it on the interstate is also a courtesy to other drivers. If I'm on a long haul trip on the interstate, with the cruise control set, and somebody either with cruise control who refuses to use it, or someone without cruise control passes me, and then slows down, and then passes me again, and then slows down, and then holds me behind slower moving traffic because they can't hold a steady speed comes near me it's massively irritating. It's especially irritating if I initially go to some effort to let them past me because they're going faster.

When I identify these drivers I put myself in front of them and keep myself there, with cruise control set, forcing them to drive at a steady speed.

 

[brages]

Camry Solara?

 

[surfstar]

+1 4cyl accord coupe - should feel a bit nicer than a civic of the similar age and price range and well above the cavalier.

If you want more room, I'd say Hyundai Elantra GT (hatchback w/ fake leather and power everything, dirt cheap and reliable)

Infiniti G20? Find a stick shift, get ya around 30mpg.

 

[qdeezie]

I can't speak for anyone else, but I love cruise control. My truck has it and honestly, I drive it on road trips for that reason alone along with power options it has. A/C is great when it's 90+ outside, but when the weather is nice, I like to feel the breeze and enjoy the fresh air.........until I pull up beside an ol' diesel at a stoplight.

 

[qdeezie]

Originally, I was considering a 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe, but I'm looking at other options first before taking that sort of a leap.

 

[Mykl]

Originally Posted By: qdeezie
Originally, I was considering a 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe, but I'm looking at other options first before taking that sort of a leap.


Well, if you're interested in buying a new car and can put together $18k to spend, your options open up significantly. The Scion tC is within spitting distance of that, and a Civic coupe can be had for $18k; then there's the Kia Forte Koup. I don't doubt any of those are capable of going the distance.

 

[qdeezie]

Well, I want to consider a few options on the other end of the spectrum first before taking that sort of leap and buying one new or in the price range of one that's new.

The thought is to buy and do maintenance and occasional repair/upkeep if I can find something worth having.

It is too bad that Honda/Acura had so many bad automatic transmissions in the late 90s/early 2000s. The Accord and CL were prime candidates.

Oh well, at least I have time on my side.

 

[GMFan]

Originally Posted By: qdeezie
Originally Posted By: Mykl
What do you mean by "outgrown?"


It's just a barebones car with no options and I've gotten tired of it.


Dude, driving a barebones Cavalier for 350,000 miles should warrant an award or metal.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: GMFan
Originally Posted By: qdeezie
Originally Posted By: Mykl
What do you mean by "outgrown?"


It's just a barebones car with no options and I've gotten tired of it.


Dude, driving a barebones Cavalier for 350,000 miles should warrant an award or metal.

Owning two of those, I's have to agree...

 

[daves87rs]

Can't believe I'm going to throw this out there, but early Cobalt SS's are floating around that price range...


Just find one that avoided the F &F crowd.....

 

[Spazdog]

Monte Carlo.

You are already familiar with GMs, they come pretty well appointed, you'll be less likely to lose it in a parking lot than you would an Accord, can be had with a Series II 3800, and I personally think it was a sharp looking car.

SSes will push the edge of your price range but a basic LS model is still quite a bit better appointed than your average base model Cavalier. 3400 powered. If you know what to watch for, the 3400 can go a long time.

 

[mechanicx]

Based on your criteria, how about a Pontiac G6, Alero or maybe a later model Sunfire with more options if you don't mind another J-car? A Grand Prix would be another choice but it would be hard to get 30 mpg. Granted there's not a lot of these models out there on the market that aren't high miles, but there are a lot of decent and affordable 2-doors in general. If you're willing to get a 4-door, there's more options.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: qdeezie

It is too bad that Honda/Acura had so many bad automatic transmissions in the late 90s/early 2000s. The Accord and CL were prime candidates.


I think the Integra/RSX and Toyota's Celica has no automatic transmission problems. They are pretty nice and get around 30mpg easily.

 

[qdeezie]

Upon doing quite a bit of research, I'm going to look into the 2007-2008 Monte Carlo and the 2004-2008 Camry Solara. Also, if I were to find another Cavalier just like mine, but fully equipped, I would definitely take a look at it.

Thank you for all of the suggestions. I definitely didn't consider either of these models when I initially posted here, but both seem to be what I want.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: qdeezie
Upon doing quite a bit of research, I'm going to look into the 2007-2008 Monte Carlo and the 2004-2008 Camry Solara. Also, if I were to find another Cavalier just like mine, but fully equipped, I would definitely take a look at it.

Thank you for all of the suggestions. I definitely didn't consider either of these models when I initially posted here, but both seem to be what I want.

One thing to be aware of in the Solara:
V6 used a timing belt.
I4 used a timing chain.
However, everything else is fine. It is as good as the Toyota Camry, it is just styled differently.

I am not sure how good a Monte Carlo is.