Help me find the next vehicle for my wife...

[mierdota]

I bought my wife a 2007 Nissan altima right before we got married we sold it a year later thinking we needed something bigger for kids i regret selling it to this say it got 25ish mpg (2.5 motor) it rode really well did good in the snow for a fwd car it was leather 6 disc ect. I would buy another one for sure!

 

[sixstringsteve]

thats why you get one that has a motor with only 36,000 miles so you dont have to work on it

Its not the engine I'm worried about, its the little electrical gremlins
It seems all European cars end up with little issues that nickel and dime you to death


That being said, I'm trying to have an open mind and I love hearing others' experiences.

Keep the ideas coming, I'm really liking the suggestions, its helping a lot.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I'm going to add side-curtain airbags as a requirement.

How reliable are the TDI VWs? Can I get 200-300k miles out of them without major engine/tranny work? What about electrical issues?

 

[Greg]

I'm going to add side-curtain airbags as a requirement.

How reliable are the TDI VWs? Can I get 200-300k miles out of them without major engine/tranny work? What about electrical issues?

Yes, you can. TDI VW's are super reliable, but the newer ones (2005+, iirc) can have injection pump issues. My 2000 TDI Jetta just rolled over 250k miles without any real problems. I love my little commuter, its quick and drives awesome in the mountains. The turbo diesel will cruise right over Vail and Eisenhower Pass like they're not even there.

We love the mileage and reliability of the TDI so much that we just picked up a 2nd TDI Jetta for my wife. It needs some work, but it was cheap and still averages 46 mpg.

I am a huge fan of German engineering, I would love to own a Mercedes or Audi with a turbo diesel.

Is the Passat available in AWD with a TDI? If so, that would be an awesome car.

 

[Maverick]

I'm going to add side-curtain airbags as a requirement.

How reliable are the TDI VWs? Can I get 200-300k miles out of them without major engine/tranny work? What about electrical issues?

Hey, that's cheating; you're moving away from awd which is required in our case. I had hoped to just follow along.

 

[sixstringsteve]

You're allowed to start your own thread

I guess I had too many criteria. No car fits all of those criteria, except maybe the Rav4 and Subarus.

 

[TJDukit]

New vehicles for everyone this week.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Yes, you can. TDI VW's are super reliable, but the newer ones (2005+, iirc) can have injection pump issues. My 2000 TDI Jetta just rolled over 250k miles without any real problems. I love my little commuter, its quick and drives awesome in the mountains. The turbo diesel will cruise right over Vail and Eisenhower Pass like they're not even there.

We love the mileage and reliability of the TDI so much that we just picked up a 2nd TDI Jetta for my wife. It needs some work, but it was cheap and still averages 46 mpg.

I am a huge fan of German engineering, I would love to own a Mercedes or Audi with a turbo diesel.

Is the Passat available in AWD with a TDI? If so, that would be an awesome car.

Good to know. What about the little "VW" electrical gremlins. Had any of those? Does the Check Engine light come on much? I'm used to my Toyotas where I don't replace anything unless I want to upgrade it. I hear European cars (VWs, Audis, BMW, Volvo) always have little things go out that nickel and dime you to death. Things like window regulators, switches, sensors, etc.

 

[Greg]

250,000 miles...

 

[Cascadia]

Things like those are usually in the a4's and it's when you pass 100k that those happen. Although it never happened in any of ours. I haven't had one single electrical issue in our 6 years of vw/Audi. Those cars were 3 a4's, a tt, and touareg. Call Sam at Kapps European on Tuesday and pick his brain. Tell him you're a friend of mine. He'll answer anything.

 

[Greg]

Good to know. What about the little "VW" electrical gremlins. Had any of those? Does the Check Engine light come on much? I'm used to my Toyotas where I don't replace anything unless I want to upgrade it. I hear European cars (VWs, Audis, BMW, Volvo) always have little things go out that nickel and dime you to death. Things like window regulators, switches, sensors, etc.

I haven't had any problems like that, my check engine light comes on when it should and goes off when you fix the reason its on. My car currently needs glow plugs, but that is cheap and easy. I did get bad fuel in Denver once resulting in a tow, other than that all I have done is add fuel, change oil and keep tires on it. It has been very low maintainance and inexpensive to own.

 

[Maverick]

You're allowed to start your own thread

I guess I had too many criteria. No car fits all of those criteria, except maybe the Rav4 and Subarus.

Already did, a couple times I think, similar responses, (but haven't pulled the trigger yet). We bought another 12 months by registering her car at the cabin.

Your threads are more popular anyways.

 

[sixstringsteve]

In my price range, I can only afford vehicles with over 100k. I've never had an auto loan and I don't ever plan to. I know that really limits what I can get, but so be it.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I haven't had any problems like that, my check engine light comes on when it should and goes off when you fix the reason its on. My car currently needs glow plugs, but that is cheap and easy. I did get bad fuel in Denver once resulting in a tow, other than that all I have done is add fuel, change oil and keep tires on it. It has been very low maintainance and inexpensive to own.

that's great feedback. Do you feel the 2005+ years are just as reliable and low maintenance?

 

[zukijames]

psh the one i showed you only had 36,000 on the engine.. just saying.. and 89,000 on the rest and was in your price range just saying

good luck im excited to see what you end up with

 

[sixstringsteve]

I'm always worried when a vehicle requires a new engine with little miles (a trait I see on a lot of Subarus). This tells me:

- owner didn't take care of the car
- manufacturer gas some serious qc issues
- who did the engine swap? What issues will arise with a less than excellent job on the engine swap.

 

[Samersen]

About a year ago we picked up my wife a Pontiac Vibe GT. the GT is only fwd but the non GT model is AWD. I was worried about the Pontiac and it not being around anymore but it is actually a Toyota Matrix! All the parts on it is Toyota. We get 32-36 mpg on the highway going 80. It has been a good little car we have put on about 15k on in a year.

 

[sixstringsteve]

yeah, I dig the matrix. In order to get side curtain air bags I'll have to go with a 2009 or newer, but they're definitely on the list. Thanks Samersen.

 

[Samersen]

yeah, I dig the matrix. In order to get side curtain air bags I'll have to go with a 2009 or newer, but they're definitely on the list. Thanks Samersen.

We have an 03 and we have side curtain air bags. And according to the window sticker 4.43 gears!! That's lower then then my Jeep.... I need to fix that. Good luck with the hunt!

 

[N-Smooth]

i'd go with a crv or rdx turbo but i'm a honda guy so the choice is obvious. my parents have a '05 crv that they have literally only done fluid changes and brake pads on and it has a ways over 100k miles on it

my $0.02