Had the Impreza not been so oddball looking, I would have looked into one, as I'm a HUGE fan of AWD....maybe the next generation will look better. The current body is looking old no matter how many grille freshenings they do.
What can beat a Civic?
- Thread starter The Critic
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So alone......
huddled in the shanty. Alone.
Nary a friend.
A lone tiny voice squeeking out, saying "Look at the Cobalt."
A lone voice amidst a horde of hollerers shouting out support for any and everything but a Cobalt.
So alone.............
huddled in the shanty. Alone.
Nary a friend.
A lone tiny voice squeeking out, saying "Look at the Cobalt."
A lone voice amidst a horde of hollerers shouting out support for any and everything but a Cobalt.
So alone.............
My sister-in-law had a 2002 Cavalier, and while the engine itself ran beautifully over the course of 102K miles requiring only a thermostat and coolant temp sensor, the surrounding components didn't fare so well. Those 102K miles were 95% highway, yet the electronics and interior bits looked to have been 10 years old. Paint fade, brittle body trim, poor panel matchup, HORRIBLE interior plastics, even the chrome wheels went south. I've heard little better about the Cobalt, and its Saturn cousin has been crucified over and over in the automotive press. I couldn't, in good conscience suggest such a product to someone when I've personally had so much better experiences with Hondas, Nissans and a Mazda.
In a recent Car and Driver issue, they took a bunch of performance oriented vehicles and ran them at a "road course", to get a overall performance impression. Acceleration, handling, brakes, it's all supposedly included in the run through the road course.
The big surprize (to me) was that the Cobalt-SS toasted the Civic-Si and Volks GTI, and it beat the Mustang! (And I'm a long-time Mustang fan.)
Anyway, I'm just responding to the plea, "look at the Cobalt" from above. Even when not in SS trim, the Cobalt probably deserves a look.
Me, I'd never consider a Cobalt except that I've built up about $3000 in GM Card earnings, meaning I could be out the door in a new Cobalt for .......? Ah, heck, the Mustang will last forever as long as I take care of it!
The big surprize (to me) was that the Cobalt-SS toasted the Civic-Si and Volks GTI, and it beat the Mustang! (And I'm a long-time Mustang fan.)
Anyway, I'm just responding to the plea, "look at the Cobalt" from above. Even when not in SS trim, the Cobalt probably deserves a look.
Me, I'd never consider a Cobalt except that I've built up about $3000 in GM Card earnings, meaning I could be out the door in a new Cobalt for .......? Ah, heck, the Mustang will last forever as long as I take care of it!
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I also was looking at this car/corolla sonata etc.....Wanted a nice car for a daily driver, so, i bought an 07 Mustang GT.....And what a great choice that was
Nice car.
So it gets 40 mpg like a Corolla or Civic and cost under $20k! (or $15k?)
Did not think so.
Apples and Oranges.
Take care, bill
It gets close to 28 highway...And i came to my senses and realized i really didn't care what the mpg was...I would rather drive a more responsive and fun car than a toyota...But i do have an intrepid for the rainy/snowy days..
Ok, Lets take my last year mileage.
30,000 miles on my Toyota. Average MPG is 42 which means I used 714 gallons.
If I used your car @ 28 mpg, I'd use 1071 gallons.
Lets use $2.80 per gallon.
1071 x $2.80 is $2998.80
714 x $2.80 is $1999.20
I don't NEED to spend a grand more. Nor would I want to.
And I like driving my Corolla so I'm a happy guy!
So we both are happy!
But you can see WHY some folks need MPG to be actual and high.
Take care, Bill
The problem with Subaru is try to find one under $20k.
I've been looking at them and the cheapest is around $22k for a stripped one.
As someone who drives 100+ miles a day in snow country, my corolla with real snow tires has done quite well!
And I stop alot better than a Subaru with all seasons!
I like the Subarus, but they are $$$.
Take care, Bill
I've been looking at them and the cheapest is around $22k for a stripped one.
As someone who drives 100+ miles a day in snow country, my corolla with real snow tires has done quite well!
And I stop alot better than a Subaru with all seasons!
I like the Subarus, but they are $$$.
Take care, Bill
Time for you to go test drive an AWD milan or fusion.
Cannot be beat for the price. Midsized, AWD, mileage.. What more can you ask for?
Cannot be beat for the price. Midsized, AWD, mileage.. What more can you ask for?
I don't know about Fords. And the FNR5 transmission is all new, and given Ford's track record with "new" transmissions, I'm not too comfortable with it.
JHZR2
Staff member
Yeah but how do the AWD fusions come set up??? V6? AT?
It sure won't be were his corolla is, mileage-wise... Big difference, and he'd be lucky to get the 28 MPG used in his estimates.
JMH
Critic. You are correct. Deep down inside you too like the styling of the Coupe. It is a nice package. I got sucked into getting an Si. No regrets.
The Mazda3's are nice, great colors, great value and closing on Hondas and Toyotas. The VW's are roomy, nice materials, etc., but they look like the cars Pizza delivery guys use,
I decided the Civic Coupe was for me. Went looking for a LX auto. Great price. Talked myself up to an EX for the value added stuff. Then I saw a Fiji Blue Si and started to check the Si's out. Then I got to ride in a Si, at night to boot. That did it. I laugh at some of the negative comments people have made here about the Civics. Drunk on Hater-aide probably? Or still stuck on 13? Who cares. They make me laugh with their Car and Track and Street Racer Rice Boy hair splitting. I used to be one years ago, maybe still am but jaded. Get what ever makes you happy. I think your first impression of the all around value of the Honda is sound.
And remember, a lot of guys have bu^^ ugly girlfriends and wives they think are babes. Cars probably fall into this catagory of illusion too.
I don't understand why, in the biggest market in the world, doesn't Mazda offer the 2.0 in the Mazda3 hatch? Is Mazda that thinly stretched? Does Ford not want it competing with the Focus?
Critic: You'll regret not getting a hatch. What's the 'rents take on these choices so far?
Critic: You'll regret not getting a hatch. What's the 'rents take on these choices so far?
JHZR2
Staff member
Since when does a mazda 3 get 40 MPG??? When it does (EPA), then itll be a good player, and the car to beat.
JMH
I occasionally see someone on the Mazda3forum brag about achieving that with their "i"...I never did, but I didn't expect to. I upgraded to larger, wider wheels and tires and I'm a leadfoot. What's odd is that most people with an S sedan or a hatch are very disappointed with the mileage they're getting from the 2.3. Not sure what's causing that, as they can't ALL be stoplight racers....but it's something that needs Mazda's attention....that engine should be getting close to "i" mileage.
JHZR2
Staff member
That's like me getting 38 MPG relatively easily when driving my 04 saab 9-3 on highway trips...
That car is EPA rated at 34 hwy.
My experience with a brand new AT ford focus (2006 MY) wasnt so good. It is the same drivetrain as the mazda 3, right??? It was pushing it to get 33 MPG consistently on long highway drives (and I did lots of them, from Phila. to Atlanta, more or less). I exceed EPA estimates on all my cars, so I can't imagine it to be an operator issue...
That is why it is hard for me to believe that 40 MPG is possible on those cars.
JMH
Maybe it wasn't fully broken in yet?
I don't know how much difference that makes but on MY 06 Saab 93 I got at most 29MPG and that was driving on B-roads (Germany's equivalant to, oh, I dunno, US or state highways) at around 55-60MPH.
I expect it will get better mileage as time goes on.
I don't know how much difference that makes but on MY 06 Saab 93 I got at most 29MPG and that was driving on B-roads (Germany's equivalant to, oh, I dunno, US or state highways) at around 55-60MPH.
I expect it will get better mileage as time goes on.
N8WVI I just love it when the automobile magazines always use your phrase at the end of their comparison tests, maybe just after they got back from their desert "track testing", when they laud a rear drive vehicle's handling...
But IF you DO live somewhere where it rains & snows, and you DON'T spend most of your driving time on a racetrack or on limited access pavement, All--We'll--Drive is certainly a valid consideration!
Bill in Utah I'm shocked! From last week's Sunday issue of The Oregonian I found these three offers on NEW Subaru's, and they are not even from the lowest priced Stealership:
2007 Outback 2.5I Wagon 5 @ $18,990
2007 Forester 2.5X % @ $17,990
2007 Outback 2.5I Wagon 2 @ $19,988
They even a NEW 2007 B9 Tribeca @ $25,990
Really is an interesting thread: actually not much compares with a new 2007 4-door CIVIC LX Automatic @ $17,698 for basic transportation purposes, except when you can get a NEW 2006 Mazda 3s for $11,988 (same paper)...
Or an automatic for a grand more.
Unless you have the approximate $3K GM Card Earnings (I share with a previous poster on this thread) to apply to a new 2006 AVEO @ $7,990! Imagine: under $5K for a new car! Too bad you don't get the new GM 100K warranty on the 2006 models
EVEN MORE
Sorry, guys, I'm still of the belief that in my situation an extra cherry '88 Mercedes 420SEL with a rebuilt transmission, a new top end on the V8, 4 new tires, license & registration for two years @ $2,300 better serves my purposes.
And getting 20 mpg ain't all that bad, either
But IF you DO live somewhere where it rains & snows, and you DON'T spend most of your driving time on a racetrack or on limited access pavement, All--We'll--Drive is certainly a valid consideration!
Bill in Utah I'm shocked! From last week's Sunday issue of The Oregonian I found these three offers on NEW Subaru's, and they are not even from the lowest priced Stealership:
2007 Outback 2.5I Wagon 5 @ $18,990
2007 Forester 2.5X % @ $17,990
2007 Outback 2.5I Wagon 2 @ $19,988
They even a NEW 2007 B9 Tribeca @ $25,990
Or an automatic for a grand more.
Unless you have the approximate $3K GM Card Earnings (I share with a previous poster on this thread) to apply to a new 2006 AVEO @ $7,990! Imagine: under $5K for a new car! Too bad you don't get the new GM 100K warranty on the 2006 models
EVEN MORE
And getting 20 mpg ain't all that bad, either
"Most don't see a car, even one that's under $25,000, as simply point A to point B transportation though; myself included."
I do though, as our cars are merely solutions to transportation problems. We expect the cars to seat six (we have three teens) worst case, not cost too much, have an automatic (I prefer a stick, which is what I have in the truck, but that's a solution to a different problem), and be able to haul five to six people up and down the hill that we live on without too many problems. For us that rules out cars with small engines like a Civic, as ours only lasted 120k miles. We have two Taurus sedans, and find ourselves considering a third, a 2006 model with 20k miles for less than $14k per the last offer. Accords and Camrys seems to hit 20k real fast, they don't handle six well, tend to be smaller, and in the case of the Honda at least don't have a better auto tranny. Resale is not a consideration as we run them into ground.
Stuck in Taurus land, with no rational road out :^)
I do though, as our cars are merely solutions to transportation problems. We expect the cars to seat six (we have three teens) worst case, not cost too much, have an automatic (I prefer a stick, which is what I have in the truck, but that's a solution to a different problem), and be able to haul five to six people up and down the hill that we live on without too many problems. For us that rules out cars with small engines like a Civic, as ours only lasted 120k miles. We have two Taurus sedans, and find ourselves considering a third, a 2006 model with 20k miles for less than $14k per the last offer. Accords and Camrys seems to hit 20k real fast, they don't handle six well, tend to be smaller, and in the case of the Honda at least don't have a better auto tranny. Resale is not a consideration as we run them into ground.
Stuck in Taurus land, with no rational road out :^)
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