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New Car....What to get.

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nickman
Posts: 804 - Karma: 10

Aight so here are my circumstances. Im a senior in highschool. We (my family) has 2 cars, a ford tarus, and some old piece of shit that just broke....so we need a new car.

The most important things for me/my parents are safety and mpg. The car should be $5000 or less(so it will pretty much have to be used). Im pushing for something like a volvo v40, or a subaru Legacy or forester..or mabey something like a geo metro because of their insane MPG (35+)..The retarded thing is that my parents wanna buy the car really locally so im really limited in that sense...I personally definitly want something that can hold skis/gear so I would have a preference toward a slightly larger car/a car with a ski rack mount, but my parents don't wanna get a suv. Any suggestions/comments would be great.

Thanks.

Dec 20 2008 9:59AM
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Inbred_Redneck
Posts: 2776 - Karma: 28
4 cyl Toyota Tacoma if you can find them cheap. They get around 30 mpg give or take a few, and they arent that large.
Dec 20 2008 10:06AM
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nickman
Posts: 804 - Karma: 10

My bad...I forgot to mention no trucks. Needs to have 4 or more seats.

Dec 20 2008 10:08AM
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Inbred_Redneck
Posts: 2776 - Karma: 28
Haha they come with an extended cab option....Why are they against a truck that gets high gas milage? A truck is the most versatile vehicle out there...

But go for a metro, or a Matrix if you can find them cheap, I think Honda makes them.
Dec 20 2008 10:15AM
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highflyer21
Posts: 555 - Karma: 39
Nissan 300zx
Dec 20 2008 10:18AM
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nickman
Posts: 804 - Karma: 10

Its irrational I know...to be honest, I doubt they have a real rational reason...but I can't imagine my mom sitting in a truck, let alone letting us purchase one.

Dec 20 2008 10:22AM
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nickman
Posts: 804 - Karma: 10
Oh and it have to be automatic
Dec 20 2008 10:23AM
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prosnurfer
Posts: 1842 - Karma: 83
sometimes u jsut have to look for good deals.

i got a sabb 900cs for 1000 bucks. 1994 with 4 snows. its manual and is a lil costly to be fixed but its better than buying a 5000$ car and fixing the shit out of it.

it runs fine and slays the snow. i drive up a huge access road every day. yesterday i drove tot he mt in 8 inches of snow and was fine. its only 2 wheel drive but i recomend a sabb if u can find a cheap one.
Dec 20 2008 12:17PM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
get yourself a toyota corolla. Might not be the nicest, fanciest car, but it will get you everywhere you want to go and they last forever.

But why do i bother...i bet pretty soon everyone will be in here saying subaru.
Dec 20 2008 12:24PM
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nickman
Posts: 804 - Karma: 10
Toyota corolla seems like a good bed for a smaller car. The earlier years are fairly safe...but not quite as good as would be optimal...frontal crash ratings hover between 3 and 4 out of 5, closer to 4 though.  The ssab seems to be a little safer...thanks for the info. Ill take both into consideration.
Dec 20 2008 12:39PM
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yoyoho
Posts: 166 - Karma: 38
[IMG]edmunds.com/pictures/VEHICLE/1995/Chrysler/9207/1995.chrysler.lebaron.2771-300x189.jpg[/IMG]
Dec 20 2008 12:49PM
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bermbuster49
Posts: 7445 - Karma: 90
your best bet is probably to try and find a forester like you said or a legacy
Dec 20 2008 1:15PM
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wskibum176
Posts: 1536 - Karma: 13
check out your cities craigs list listings. bound to find something good in there
Dec 20 2008 1:21PM
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BigRodRiley
Posts: 1265 - Karma: 36
i would also look at the toyota Rav4. good mpg and all-wheel drive.
Dec 20 2008 1:21PM
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nickman
Posts: 804 - Karma: 10

Rav4 is a little low on the MPG....and a little high on the "suvishness scale"

Im checking craigslist reguarlly.

Dec 20 2008 1:38PM
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BigRodRiley
Posts: 1265 - Karma: 36
do you need 4wd? if you dont then i'd suggest just getting a car. camrys are looking good right now.
Dec 20 2008 1:41PM
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snwbrdmilf
Posts: 22441 - Karma: 2,805
Subaru. Can't go wrong.
Dec 20 2008 1:49PM
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nickman
Posts: 804 - Karma: 10
I dont need 4wd...but it would be a huge help.
Dec 20 2008 1:50PM
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PAINE_IN_MAINE
Posts: 300 - Karma: 13

toyota camry, they are really long cars, so you can fit skis inside them, most are automatic, and high mpg, plus they go fast, and have a big trunk, and are pretty reliable

Dec 20 2008 1:51PM
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Elife
Posts: 2829 - Karma: 44
I'd say like an 01 02 subaru legacy outback... it'll run great up to like 300,000 miles. Or any toyota.
Dec 20 2008 4:00PM
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Thenowhereman42
Posts: 5682 - Karma: 65

I would def go for a civic.  They're decent cars, inconspicuous (which I actually consider when I buy a car), they will last longer than the cockroaches, and if the mood strikes you can do an H22 full engine swap for around 2 or 3 thousand and then you have a civic with 200bhp!  Although if you've ever actually driven a 200hp civic its pretty sketchy and I would def get all my strut/tie bars first.

Corolla's aren't bad either.  For the love of god though don't buy a metro.

Dec 20 2008 4:15PM
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spqr
Posts: 182 - Karma: 141
How about a Mazda tribuite. Its a SUV crossover, so its not too big, and gets good MPG if you go with a manual 4 cylinder.
Dec 20 2008 4:29PM
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slix2
Posts: 68 - Karma: 10
Don't get the metro if you care about safety. That car is a tin can with a lawn mower engine. The reason it gets such great mpg is because it weighs nothing (as in it has very little to separate you from whatever happens to come into contact with it). The lack of power is also a bit of a safety hazard. Imagine attempting to merge onto the highway and the car being totally out of power by time you get up to 50mph. Every uphill you come across you need to take a running start at it to maintain your speed.

Make sure you check whether the car you're looking at has both driver and passenger airbags if safety is a concern, too. Many cars didn't have passenger side airbags until 1995+.

One of my top choices in this range would be the Volkswagen GTi from 1990(ish).
Check out Autotrader.com for listings around your area.
Also, check out vwvortex.com's classifieds to find some enthusiest-owned (and loved) cars.

Cars are my specialty, PM me if you want some more help.

Dec 20 2008 4:34PM
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Eastcoastskier09
Posts: 197 - Karma: 8
subarus r good for everything especially wagons.
volvos r nice and have a lot of power
Dec 20 2008 4:51PM
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eheath
Posts: 61590 - Karma: 122,949
Older subaru outback/legacy/forster.
Dec 20 2008 4:52PM
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wintersway
Posts: 5115 - Karma: 128
97 or 98 subaru in good condition is about 3-5 grand

Dec 20 2008 8:24PM
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josh.
Posts: 3469 - Karma: 42
lada niva
Dec 20 2008 8:34PM
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[Toby]
Posts: 766 - Karma: 10
Subaru legacy 96-99 manual. around 3,000, good mileage, mobs snow, and will last forever. I have a automatic outback, but the car i mentioned is the best possible car for you, Outbacks have numerous problems the simple legacy doesn't and manual is a much, much, much better option, (longer lifespan, better mileage, more power.)

Get this car.
Dec 20 2008 8:41PM
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nickman
Posts: 804 - Karma: 10

My parents won't purchase a manuel. If it was up to me it would be a different story. Thanks for the imput anyway.

Dec 20 2008 9:25PM
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unchyll
Posts: 4554 - Karma: 96
werd those cars are tanks
Dec 20 2008 9:39PM
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josh.
Posts: 3469 - Karma: 42
why not?
Dec 20 2008 11:20PM
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Snowcase
Posts: 11456 - Karma: 634
I love my 98 outback. Wouldn't trade it for anything. I just drove through a snowbank taller than my hood towing someone on skis behind me. Get some snow tires and do regular maintenance and it will be unstoppable.
Dec 21 2008 12:29AM
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MESKI
Posts: 942 - Karma: 220
SUBARU... simply put. any subaru is what you want. Outback/Legacy/Forester sound perfect for what you need... last forever, perfect in snow, pretty good mpg, and a lot are automatic. you can find them at good prices too
Dec 21 2008 9:45AM
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spliff.Life
Posts: 7847 - Karma: 1,549
VW GOLF!

Dec 21 2008 9:49AM
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tBatt
Posts: 9632 - Karma: 580
im not sure how much they go for, but toyota matix's are good cars. good on gas, and AWD
another option, like you said, subarus. you can find 2000ish outbacks for 4-5 grand around me. newer ones get better gas mileage, but the other is still decent (26ish average)
forresters get a little better gas mileage, but i havent looked into them too much.

Dec 21 2008 9:53AM
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unamused.
Posts: 341 - Karma: 10
S U B A R U
is all you need, no little front wheel drive toys that will get stuck in everything
you will not regret it
Dec 21 2008 11:35AM
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hellomynameisjef
Posts: 5794 - Karma: 167
Click for larger image
Dec 21 2008 4:56PM
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nickman
Posts: 804 - Karma: 10
my mom refuses to learn how to drive one..its annoying as fuck.
Dec 22 2008 9:24AM
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*rkp*
Posts: 8198 - Karma: 257
Wow.....knew that this thread would be flooded with "get a SUBARU!!" (they are great cars, don't get me wrong!)

You should also check out the Volvo 850. Probably the safest car ever built (no joke), 5 cyl 2.3L (good on gas), fwd (decent in snow) and will last forever. You can get one for a few grand, and they're actually really nice looking for a car of that era. plus they're loaded with every option you can think of.
Dec 23 2008 1:15PM
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GreenStezz
Posts: 3570 - Karma: 717
......
Dec 23 2008 1:27PM
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cfox
Posts: 2286 - Karma: 38
volvo or sub volvos are so bomber in the snow.
Dec 23 2008 1:54PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
outback
Dec 23 2008 2:02PM
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nickman
Posts: 804 - Karma: 10
Ok so ive been checking craigslist and stuff...I found a 03' Saab 9-3 for around 5k....which is a really good deal, but has no ski rack.. If I don't get that I'll probably just get a subaru forester.
Dec 25 2008 9:21AM
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JsNeagle
Posts: 1405 - Karma: 1,576
You can buy my GTI. It's yellow. What more could you want from a car?
Dec 26 2008 4:44PM
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