new car time

[BimmerM3]

Seriously - the payment I'd be looking at would be less than $130, and closer to $85-110 a month, with insurance bein equally priced. A lot of you guys spend that on a nice meal every week or so.


Stop trying to say I'd be paying an obscene amount of money, with no budgeting, or that I haven't taken into any consideration of how I'd afford this or what the hell im doing.


I can sell the Yaris now while the car still has value, because the car's value is dropping the more I drive it, and I still don't have as flexible of a vehicle as I need, and things on the car are starting to show their age. I can start pouring money into the car to keep it on the road, or I can sell it now while it still has value,  get $$ from it, and put that towards a car that suits my needs better and is more comfortable. (And better on gas, slightly)

I never said any of that. If you have other reasons, then whatever. But "bad luck" is a bad reason to sell a car. Boredom or just because you want to is a better reason as long as you can afford it. Don't take everything as a personal attack.

[2o6]

I don't think bad luck is a dumb idea.

[MrH]

Bad luck? Come on man. What are you, a gypsy? Just own up and say you want something new

[Raza]

Most people are superstitious.

[12,000 RPM]

BGK I still think u should give my car a serious look. Everyone talks about the Si.... they are good but not everyone wants that. Compared to your Yaris my car has better power to weight, better suspension and brakes, better shifter/clutch and of course a much better aftermarket. Back seat is actually about the same based on my experience in Peru. You should also be able to find a ton, though it will be tough to find an EX sedan with stick (I drove 100+ miles for mine). It's bigger, def longer, but still pretty small and it is so much fun to drive. And you should be able to find a clean one in your price range.

[2o6]

I like your Civic, I do a lot.



I'll consider it.

[2o6]

Part of me is getting cold feet, but most of me is just bored with this car. I should get my car back around Jan 4th ish.



My plan is to sell the Yaris now, then just drive from flip to flip until summer-ish.

[MrH]

Do you have any flips currently?

[2o6]

Do you have any flips currently?

No. With my landlord situation, I'm tapped out on money until Jan-ish.

[Raza]

BGK I still think u should give my car a serious look. Everyone talks about the Si.... they are good but not everyone wants that. Compared to your Yaris my car has better power to weight, better suspension and brakes, better shifter/clutch and of course a much better aftermarket. Back seat is actually about the same based on my experience in Peru. You should also be able to find a ton, though it will be tough to find an EX sedan with stick (I drove 100+ miles for mine). It's bigger, def longer, but still pretty small and it is so much fun to drive. And you should be able to find a clean one in your price range.

Standard Civic of that generation is still an upgrade, I agree there. 

[2o6]

OK, so I've been doing research

And I like the Sonic a lot


I'm scared of the turbo motor, but the car is cheap and has a transferrable 5 year, 100K warranty for the powertrain.



It's also more comfortable on the road, and has more space.

[MX793]

Why not a 1.8L Sonic?  I test drove one about a year ago and thought it had plenty of motor for a car that small.

[2o6]

So basically In my mind -

- Mazda 2 is more mechanically robust, with a timing chain and only basic stuff like the VVt, and the interior is workable. However, it's probably the least on road/freeway friendly of the three cars I like. The 5th gear is at like 3k + RPMS at 70MPH. I'm also technically losing HP and torque.


- The Ford Fiesta is very good at on road dynamics, and on paper it edges out the Mazda 2. However, it's got a timing belt (but the service intervals are long, thanks god), and I've driven a few fiestas that felt dodgy. It doesn't seem to be as nicely held together as the Mazda 2. But, there is a lot or a little features available for this car. Also, I plan to drive for uber a little, and the Fiesta is probably the very worst car to do this in, it's horribly tight inside.


- The Sonic blends both what I like from the Fiesta and 2, but with better ride and faster performance. But I don't know how I feel about the turbo engine's longevity. Also I'm scared of GM products. It also doesn't have the greatest depreciation.

[2o6]

Why not a 1.8L Sonic?  I test drove one about a year ago and thought it had plenty of motor for a car that small.

I'd really want the turbo with the extra gear, and the 1.8L's fuel economy is kinda bleh, and I also don't trust that re-warmed Daewoo unit.


(Also most manual early build cars I've seen are turbos, the 1.8L cars have crank windows)

[2o6]

Ugh the Sonic has an awkward bolt pattern.

5x105.


Who the fuck uses that!?!?!?

[Madman]

Don't fear the Sonic turbo.  Turbos are pretty robust and have been for a very long time.  Not even GM can screw up something so simple.  Plus, there's that transferable warranty you mentioned.

Also, if you're going to be an Uber driver, you can always slide the front passenger seat forward since you'll hardly ever have anyone sitting up there.  Fiesta should be more than adequate unless you're the Jolly Green Giant.

Also consider the current-shape Kia Rio, which is pretty roomy inside.  Early ones fall within your budget.

[MrH]

Ugh the Sonic has an awkward bolt pattern.

5x105.


Who the fuck uses that!?!?!?

Korean designed GM cars apparently

Yeah that's funky.

[2o6]

Don't fear the Sonic turbo.  Turbos are pretty robust and have been for a very long time.  Not even GM can screw up something so simple.  Plus, there's that transferable warranty you mentioned.

Also, if you're going to be an Uber driver, you can always slide the front passenger seat forward since you'll hardly ever have anyone sitting up there.  Fiesta should be more than adequate unless you're the Jolly Green Giant.

Also consider the current-shape Kia Rio, which is pretty roomy inside.  Early ones fall within your budget.

Manual Kia Rios have no options. Which is dumb, cause you can get manual accents on every trim level. Makes zero sense.


And the Fiesta is bad; I'm not all that comfortable and I'm 5'9"

Korean designed GM cars apparently

Yeah that's funky.

The Fiesta and Mazda 2 are 4x100 which is a plus

[MX793]

I'd really want the turbo with the extra gear, and the 1.8L's fuel economy is kinda bleh, and I also don't trust that re-warmed Daewoo unit.


(Also most manual early build cars I've seen are turbos, the 1.8L cars have crank windows)

Pretty sure the 1.8 I drove had power windows.  It was a stick, too.

EDIT:  Just looked at Chevy's site and 1.8L LTs have power windows as standard.

[2o6]

Pretty sure the 1.8 I drove had power windows.  It was a stick, too.

EDIT:  Just looked at Chevy's site and 1.8L LTs have power windows as standard.

These are used, I'm looking at. From what I've seen, the vast majority of the manual 1.8L cars are pretty basic, manual Windows or at least don't have cruise or Bluetooth. cruise is the biggest deal breaker. Most of the upper level sonics I've seen are the turbo cars.

[2o6]

Korean designed GM cars apparently

Yeah that's funky.

Even worse - export market cars are 4x100.


Why, GM. Why.

[MX793]

These are used, I'm looking at. From what I've seen, the vast majority of the manual 1.8L cars are pretty basic, manual Windows or at least don't have cruise or Bluetooth. cruise is the biggest deal breaker. Most of the upper level sonics I've seen are the turbo cars.

The used Sonic 1.8 I test drove the autumn before last had all of that, as I recall.  It was a mid-level model.  Maybe it was an oddity, but it was also the only used Sonic on the lot.

[2o6]

The used Sonic 1.8 I test drove the autumn before last had all of that, as I recall.  It was a mid-level model.  Maybe it was an oddity, but it was also the only used Sonic on the lot.

It's an oddity. When I worked at the two Chevy dealers, 1.8's seemed to be limited to LS and LT(1) models.



I've only maybe seen one 1.8L hatchback that had cruise and Bluetooth.

[MX793]

Korean designed GM cars apparently

Yeah that's funky.

Quick search shows that it seems to be exclusive to GM.  The Cruze uses that pattern as well.

That's about as bad as the 4x98 pattern Fiat uses on the 500.  It's literally the only car in the US that uses that pattern.  Even worldwide, there are only maybe 5 models outside of the Fiat brands that use that.

[2o6]

Quick search shows that it seems to be exclusive to GM.  The Cruze uses that pattern as well.

That's about as bad as the 4x98 pattern Fiat uses on the 500.  It's literally the only car in the US that uses that pattern.  Even worldwide, there are only maybe 5 models outside of the Fiat brands that use that.

4x98??? WTF




I wonder if there's any big issues why the Export Aveo/Sonic uses 4x100, and the US cars use 5x105?

[MX793]

4x98??? WTF




I wonder if there's any big issues why the Export Aveo/Sonic uses 4x100, and the US cars use 5x105?

Yes, 4x98.  A friend with an Abarth was very frustrated trying to find a set of spare wheels for his winter tires.

5 lugs will be stronger than 4.  Maybe because US roads are deemed rougher than many export markets?

[Madman]

4x98??? WTF

Its a common Fiat bolt pattern.  My old X-1/9 used 4X98mm.  The only aftermarket wheels I could find at the time (way back in those ancient, pre-internet days) were from Cromodora and available by mail order through Bayless Fiat-Lancia World.

[2o6]

Yes, 4x98.  A friend with an Abarth was very frustrated trying to find a set of spare wheels for his winter tires.

5 lugs will be stronger than 4.  Maybe because US roads are deemed rougher than many export markets?

You know what - the export cars don't get the Cruze 1.8 and 1.4T


That's probably why

[MX793]

You know what - the export cars don't get the Cruze 1.8 and 1.4T


That's probably why

Makes sense.  I figured it had something to do with Cruze commonality making it more cost effective to use the Cruze hubs.  They probably use the exact same powertrain sub-assemblies, hubs and all, in the two cars in the US.  The rear hubs are likely cheap enough not to upset the economy of scale of the fronts.

[CaminoRacer]

But why make that decision for the Cruze?