Which model commuter car...??? Year end savings
- Thread starter Roanoke6370
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What about a new Civic or other "compact"? Those are the same size as your current Accord. Today's mid-size are the size of large cars from 10 years ago.
When you get the midsize instead of the compact you generally get better repairability.
Like front wheel bearings that bolt in instead of pressing in. Ball joints that bolt to control arms instead of one piece. Etc. My camry has a trap door under the rear seat to make fuel pump changing a breeze. And there are relative acres under the hood around the 4 cyl motor.
Like front wheel bearings that bolt in instead of pressing in. Ball joints that bolt to control arms instead of one piece. Etc. My camry has a trap door under the rear seat to make fuel pump changing a breeze. And there are relative acres under the hood around the 4 cyl motor.
If you're used to enjoying the feel of a shift, that CVT will drive you bonkers.
I'd keep the Accord if you like it. If the rust isn't that bad, fixing it up will be much cheaper than replacing, and the powertrain probably has plenty of life left.
Maybe test drive some of the cars you are looking at, and if you really like them over the Accord, then proceed with replacing. If you don't love them though, putting some money in the Accord is probably the better choice.
Maybe test drive some of the cars you are looking at, and if you really like them over the Accord, then proceed with replacing. If you don't love them though, putting some money in the Accord is probably the better choice.
Thank you everyone, I am very appreciative of all of your input. It sounds like keeping the ole girl on the road is the right answer.
gathermewool
Site Donor 2023
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
If you're used to enjoying the feel of a shift, that CVT will drive you bonkers.
The CVT hate is warranted, but only to some degree. I went from an 305 bhp STI with a 6MT to a 250 bhp FXT with CVT and it took some getting used to, but end up being the perfect compromise for power and economy. I think this vehicle with 6MT might end up being more of a dog, to be honest.
A Nissan CVT? I haven't rented a Nissan with CVT in years, but it sucked. With that said the economy tunes in many economy cars sucks, too!
If you're used to enjoying the feel of a shift, that CVT will drive you bonkers.
The CVT hate is warranted, but only to some degree. I went from an 305 bhp STI with a 6MT to a 250 bhp FXT with CVT and it took some getting used to, but end up being the perfect compromise for power and economy. I think this vehicle with 6MT might end up being more of a dog, to be honest.
A Nissan CVT? I haven't rented a Nissan with CVT in years, but it sucked. With that said the economy tunes in many economy cars sucks, too!
I like my 2009 Camry V6 XLE . It might be the last daily beater I'll ever have to buy .
Only Toyota and gm make a reliable transmission.
That's a big consideration in my book. Expensive repair for some.
Total loss and sell it for scrap for others...
That's a big consideration in my book. Expensive repair for some.
Total loss and sell it for scrap for others...
Originally Posted By: macarose
Buy one down South. Keep fixing the one you have, when it's ready to retire you have another 10 years left on the one you bought.
Easy peasy!
Only I'd do that in LA or Phoenix. Even less humidity and rust potential. Fly out, buy a nice used older Lexus or Accura and drive it home. The full life of a new car body ahead of you and the price of an older car
Buy one down South. Keep fixing the one you have, when it's ready to retire you have another 10 years left on the one you bought.
Easy peasy!
Only I'd do that in LA or Phoenix. Even less humidity and rust potential. Fly out, buy a nice used older Lexus or Accura and drive it home. The full life of a new car body ahead of you and the price of an older car
Originally Posted By: BrocLuno
Originally Posted By: macarose
Buy one down South. Keep fixing the one you have, when it's ready to retire you have another 10 years left on the one you bought.
Easy peasy!
Only I'd do that in LA or Phoenix. Even less humidity and rust potential. Fly out, buy a nice used older Lexus or Accura and drive it home. The full life of a new car body ahead of you and the price of an older car
I like that idea...
I do want a lexus or an Acura
Originally Posted By: macarose
Buy one down South. Keep fixing the one you have, when it's ready to retire you have another 10 years left on the one you bought.
Easy peasy!
Only I'd do that in LA or Phoenix. Even less humidity and rust potential. Fly out, buy a nice used older Lexus or Accura and drive it home. The full life of a new car body ahead of you and the price of an older car
I like that idea...
I do want a lexus or an AcuraOriginally Posted By: madRiver
An accord to corolla is a massive downgrade in many ways. I'd stick to a midsize as the comfort level is superior and long term they hold hold up better making you want to hang onto them like your Accord.
The MPG pentalty is very narrow it seems with recent economy vs mid size cars.
exactly.
I'd go with a Sonata/new generation Impala. Either will be very reliable and efficient.
An accord to corolla is a massive downgrade in many ways. I'd stick to a midsize as the comfort level is superior and long term they hold hold up better making you want to hang onto them like your Accord.
The MPG pentalty is very narrow it seems with recent economy vs mid size cars.
exactly.
I'd go with a Sonata/new generation Impala. Either will be very reliable and efficient.
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
You guys who say fix the rust and happily motor on probably haven't lived with NE salt-rusted cars. Any fix is temporary unless you replace entire body panels to OEM standards. He's not going to get another 100K and 15 more years out of that car. You can always bandaid an end of life car for another year but to what end? Sometimes it makes sense to sell it and let someone else drive it to it's grave and move to something newer. We moved to Az in '05 after 48 years in NW Pa and can say that SW cars are amazing. No underbody rust. Exhaust never rusts. But they get sunburnt. And they aren't cheaper. The fly/buy/drive is fun but you add probably close to $1000 to the purchase price. Out here dealers have "doc fees" that add $200-$500 to the price at closing, added to travel costs.
JHZR2
Staff member
How bad is the rust? If your use profile indicates that the cars are done at mileage like yours, Id consider used.
You didn't say how many miles are on the used corolla.
You didn't say how many miles are on the used corolla.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
You've done extremely well still having a 2001 model year daily-driver that continues to serve you well, given rust belt use. You say 15yrs, but it was probably first put to use in 2000. You're talking 16+. If anything major needs to be repaired and it's not crazy expensive, fix it and live on.
I don't get the fear and loathing of CVTs. How are they worse than a 6+ speed conventional AT in this segment of vehicle? Subaru, Honda and Toyota make some really nice driving CVT equipped vehicles. I don't find newer Nissan CVTs to be unpleasant either. I know you didn't mention Subaru, but there's many out there CVT equipped with well over 100K miles on them w/out issue.
I'd go with an Accord, Camry, Civic or Corolla. Will you get 16yrs out of one? Who knows, but if you want something else in 4-5yrs, they're still worth something.
I don't get the fear and loathing of CVTs. How are they worse than a 6+ speed conventional AT in this segment of vehicle? Subaru, Honda and Toyota make some really nice driving CVT equipped vehicles. I don't find newer Nissan CVTs to be unpleasant either. I know you didn't mention Subaru, but there's many out there CVT equipped with well over 100K miles on them w/out issue.
I'd go with an Accord, Camry, Civic or Corolla. Will you get 16yrs out of one? Who knows, but if you want something else in 4-5yrs, they're still worth something.
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Originally Posted By: FowVay
I've been trying to buy a replacement for my 1997 Nissan pickup. I just can't get over how expensive vehicles are now. The Nissan Frontier is worth about 18 grand and they are sticking to their $21,000 price tag. My alternate mid-life crisis vehicle that I'd like to get is a Chevrolet SS but even they're $43000 used.
I can't get over the dealers tacking $700 - $900 to the deal at the end and acting like it's normal. I'm just frustrated with the whole process and it has taken the fun out of the deal.
To get back on topic: Hard to beat a new Altima for 16K. Nissan does sell extended warranties. For that kind of purchase price you could go that route.
Foway: I think small pickup trucks are a special case. When I went looking almost exactly five years ago, they were discontinuing the Ranger. The dreariest, most basic Ranger was over 17K and I doubt I could have bargained it down any further. That was five years ago. That chased me into a 300 hp no-option full size pickup for 21.5. Boo Hoo.
I'm seeing a new Ford Fiesta ST for about 21K on Edmunds. If you want a hot car that sounds pretty reasonable if there is some flexibility in your mid-life crisis. A basic eight year factory extended warranty "Ford ESP" can be had for under $1,000 from Floodford. So, carefree, hot-shoe, motoring for barely more than basic transportation.
No, you don't have to pay the 700 dollar last minute add-on. At least not explicitly. Figure out the tax rate and registration fees for the new car in your area and clearly make sure that all discussions about price are an "on the road" price. Then, when they try to lay the last minute "non-negotiatble" doc fee on you, you waive your hand, say "whatever----so long as the price comes out to X, as we discussed." Be fully willing to walk at that point, too. The kind of cars we buy, even the fancy ones, are commodities.
If I knew of a decent buying service, I think I would consider going that route. Sams used to have one until they contracted out to Truecar. Costco may still have one. So you pay maybe $700 above absolute rock bottom and save yourself a lot of grief.
I've been trying to buy a replacement for my 1997 Nissan pickup. I just can't get over how expensive vehicles are now. The Nissan Frontier is worth about 18 grand and they are sticking to their $21,000 price tag. My alternate mid-life crisis vehicle that I'd like to get is a Chevrolet SS but even they're $43000 used.
I can't get over the dealers tacking $700 - $900 to the deal at the end and acting like it's normal. I'm just frustrated with the whole process and it has taken the fun out of the deal.
To get back on topic: Hard to beat a new Altima for 16K. Nissan does sell extended warranties. For that kind of purchase price you could go that route.
Foway: I think small pickup trucks are a special case. When I went looking almost exactly five years ago, they were discontinuing the Ranger. The dreariest, most basic Ranger was over 17K and I doubt I could have bargained it down any further. That was five years ago. That chased me into a 300 hp no-option full size pickup for 21.5. Boo Hoo.
I'm seeing a new Ford Fiesta ST for about 21K on Edmunds. If you want a hot car that sounds pretty reasonable if there is some flexibility in your mid-life crisis. A basic eight year factory extended warranty "Ford ESP" can be had for under $1,000 from Floodford. So, carefree, hot-shoe, motoring for barely more than basic transportation.
No, you don't have to pay the 700 dollar last minute add-on. At least not explicitly. Figure out the tax rate and registration fees for the new car in your area and clearly make sure that all discussions about price are an "on the road" price. Then, when they try to lay the last minute "non-negotiatble" doc fee on you, you waive your hand, say "whatever----so long as the price comes out to X, as we discussed." Be fully willing to walk at that point, too. The kind of cars we buy, even the fancy ones, are commodities.
If I knew of a decent buying service, I think I would consider going that route. Sams used to have one until they contracted out to Truecar. Costco may still have one. So you pay maybe $700 above absolute rock bottom and save yourself a lot of grief.
You mentioned one of the options was a 2012 Sonata; I happened to drive a 2011 around Houston over Christmas, I thought it was pretty nice. A little loud under hard acceleration but otherwise a good driving car. Has nearly 60,000 miles and has been quite trouble free. Looks good, rattle free, pretty nice ride, great mpg.
Good luck.
Good luck.
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