Another car thread

[Tweety Bird]

With a new contract at work I'm more comfortable with things there. My wife is working again and now needs something newer to drive.

I've mentioned repeatedly that brand loyalty is foolish and still feel that way.

So tonight we're taking a new Honda Civic home.

I think she'll be pretty happy with this. At least I hope so because her old car is 13 years old and it might be 13 years before she gets another new one.

 

[RugerHound]

I don't think anyone could go wrong with a Honda...

 

[Tweety Bird]

We started our day looking at the Dodge Dart. It was OK, nothing spectacular but we wanted to at least look at them.

Next, we actually tried to give Toyota a chance at our business. When the salesman insulted what we drove in, I nearly took Lisa by the arm and walked away. When he told us we could have either reliability OR affordability, Lisa nearly took me by the arm and walked away. When he left us to look at a bunch of Corollas but wasn't there to unlock any of them, we DID walk away.

Our plan was to go look at other brands, too, but we liked the Civic so much that we just decided to do the deal and be done with it.

The only other Honda car I've ever owned was a 1985 Accord. I bought it from my son's roommate 10 years ago after it had slid into a curb on the ice. I fixed the front end and drove the car to work for about a year. It was a good, cheap car to run and was very reliable, but it was just too uncomfortable for me. I sold it to my brother with around 200,000 miles on it; his wife put nearly another hundred grand on it before she sold it.

Barring an accident, I've come to expect a bare minimum of 200,000 miles out of any car I buy.

 

[rugnelli]

You can't go wrong with a Honda. Add gas, change oil, and drive. I have a 1996 Civic EX that has 249,000 miles and expect many more...

 

[crewdog05]

I've had two Accords, 1986 and 1995, bought a used Prelude for my daughter for her high school graduation, also had a 2006 CR V and now drive a 2012 Pilot so I can honestly say based on my experience that you stand a much better than average chance of having a great trouble free car. Only advice I would give is follow the recommended factory maintenance schedule. That should ensure years and years of good reliable service.

 

[ProfessorWes]

My cousin has a 2013 Honda Accord, and loves it.

As for Toyota dealers, well, the last time I went shopping for a car I was looking at the new Corollas, and the salesman kept trying to talk me into buying one of several used Camrys...all of which had over 100K on the odometer. He refused to understand that if I wanted a midsized car with over 100K on the odometer, I'd just go ahead and keep the old Dodge Intrepid I already had, rather than take on car payments for a new clunker.

Even when I told him that outright.

Needless to say, I didn't end up buying a Toyota. :wink:

 

[Tweety Bird]

Looks like my daughter is making a deal on a Honda Fit in Hawaii tonight. She's tires of buying somebody else's headaches, especially when Daddy isn't there fi fix it.....

 

[737tdi]

Dang Dan: Should have at least looked at the Fords that are available. Oh well, you did not and I won't start a brand war. Should have at least looked. I think airlines should seriously consider Chinas new aircraft. Airbus maybe. Just saying.

I know that sounds awful but think about it. I hated buying my VW but there was nothing produced in the USA that could touch 50 mpg.. What is y'all's excuse. I just don't get it. Honestly, I don't get it. What was the upside of buying foreign? Really, I want to know.

Oh, don't give the story that there are parts built all over the world. Your company still gets the profits, just like Toyota, Honda, and Volkswagen.

 

[graygun]

I have a 2014 Civic LX and kind of like/don't like the CVT...this is the first year,last yr it had a 5-spd auto. Might sound weird but it's like it mildly opposes changes in load. It's a driving "feel" type of thing and others might not notice any difference between a cvt and a geared automatic.

It's my 4th civicthers had a 5spd,6spd and a 4spd auto.

 

[revhigh]

I don't think anyone could go wrong with a Honda...

Can you imagine anyone making that same statement .... But substituting the letters GM .... Instead of Honda ? LOL

Congrats on your new Civic ... Great cars !

REV

 

[revhigh]

Needless to say, I didn't end up buying a Toyota.

He refused to understand that if I wanted a midsized car with over 100K on the odometer, I'd just go ahead and keep the old Dodge Intrepid I already had, rather than take on car payments for a new clunker. :wink:

Equating one car dealer's idiotic personnel (who probably just graduated from high school) with the car itself makes no sense.

Did you ever consider a different dealer ... Or a different salesman ?

My Toyota dealers have always been nothing less than completely professional. A few have even become friends. My recent Camry purchase, was from the sales manager at Halterman Toyota in Pa ... Who was the salesman for my last 3 Toyota's at his previous dealership, and has since become a personal friend even outside of car sales.

BTW .... A Camry with 100,000 miles is hardly a 'clunker' like your Intrepid was.

REV

 

[revhigh]

Looks like my daughter is making a deal on a Honda Fit in Hawaii tonight. She's tires of buying somebody else's headaches, especially when Daddy isn't there fi fix it.....

The Fits are GREAT cars ... Some reviews say they have an almost 'magical' amount of space inside for such a tiny compact car. Honda is releasing a new AWD small SUV next year that's based on the Fit ... Called the HRV ... As compared to the CRV.

REV

 

[whichwatch]

I remember when Honda first started to gain popularity here in the U.S. The Accord was not much more than 2 seats, a steering wheel and a gearshift. They have come a looooooong way since then. The new Civics are amazing. Congratulations!

 

[revhigh]

Dang Dan: Should have at least looked at the Fords that are available. Oh well, you did not and I won't start a brand war. Should have at least looked. I think airlines should seriously consider Chinas new aircraft. Airbus maybe. Just saying.

I know that sounds awful but think about it. I hated buying my VW but there was nothing produced in the USA that could touch 50 mpg.. What is y'all's excuse. I just don't get it. Honestly, I don't get it. What was the upside of buying foreign? Really, I want to know.

Oh, don't give the story that there are parts built all over the world. Your company still gets the profits, just like Toyota, Honda, and Volkswagen.

C'mon Karl ... Let's be honest ... The new Fords have about the worst reliability ratings possible ... You know it and I know it. I experienced it personally with my new Focus. I hope your example is better than mine was, but Ford really screwed the pooch when it redesigned almost their entire lineup in one year. And that absolutely godawful infotainment system MyFordTouch is still a disaster 3 years later.

By the way ... The 'upside' of buying foreign is reliability, fuel economy, quality, and resale value ... Just to name a few.

REV

 

[Tweety Bird]

Dang Dan: Should have at least looked at the Fords that are available. Oh well, you did not and I won't start a brand war. Should have at least looked. I think airlines should seriously consider Chinas new aircraft. Airbus maybe. Just saying.

I know that sounds awful but think about it. I hated buying my VW but there was nothing produced in the USA that could touch 50 mpg.. What is y'all's excuse. I just don't get it. Honestly, I don't get it. What was the upside of buying foreign? Really, I want to know.

Oh, don't give the story that there are parts built all over the world. Your company still gets the profits, just like Toyota, Honda, and Volkswagen.

It's simply because I have NO brand loyalty any more. It's all about what works best for us. And that's all there is to it.

And while I didn't visit a Ford dealer this past weekend, I rent a LOT of cars because my job takes me a LOT of places. I've had Fords in the form of the Fusion, Edge, Explorer, Escape, etc. I like 'em all, and they're fine cars. We would have probably looked at the Fusion but while I like driving that car, the 2013 facelift makes the front end look like that of a large-mouth bass. Plus, there isn't a V6 available and I'm not ready for a turbocharged gasoline engine.

But understand that I didn't feel a need to spend several more days looking at, test driving, researching and debating over different brands when we found one that we liked at a price that seemed right.

It really is that simple. I don't buy cars to benefit Ford, GM, Chrysler or any foreign brand name. I look at what's best for us. Period.

But I will say that after that experience at the Toy dealership, and the arrogance I see with oh, so many Toy owners, I think I'll purposely avoid that brand forever. Unless, of course, we need another car and Toy comes to the top of the list (it certainly won't be at that dealership, though). I just hope that if I ever do become a Toy owner, I don't adopt the holier-than-thou attitude seen I see in so many of them.

You see, dealing with life-threatening cancer this year put a lot of things in a very different perspective. I really do have zero loyalty to any brand any more; my loyalties lie with my wife and me and nowhere else. I've also abandoned any emotional attachment to sports teams. Both of these are very liberating transformations because they rid you of chains that other people control.

 

[revhigh]

Theres a difference between holier than thou attitude and people relating hundreds of thousands of trouble free and fuel efficient driving.

BTW ... the Fusion is in a different size class from Civic

The equivalent size Ford model would be the Focus.

FEV

 

[tookalisten]

I have a 2009 Accord as my daily commuter (bought it used from a neighbor a few years ago). First Honda I have owned; but now that I have one, I think I will always own one.

 

[revhigh]

I have a 2009 Accord as my daily commuter (bought it used from a neighbor a few years ago). First Honda I have owned; but now that I have one, I think I will always own one.

There's that holier than thou attitude again ....

REV

 

[Tweety Bird]

Needless to say, I didn't end up buying a Toyota.

He refused to understand that if I wanted a midsized car with over 100K on the odometer, I'd just go ahead and keep the old Dodge Intrepid I already had, rather than take on car payments for a new clunker. :wink:

Equating one car dealer's idiotic personnel (who probably just graduated from high school) with the car itself makes no sense.

Did you ever consider a different dealer ... Or a different salesman ?

My Toyota dealers have always been nothing less than completely professional. A few have even become friends. My recent Camry purchase, was from the sales manager at Halterman Toyota in Pa ... Who was the salesman for my last 3 Toyota's at his previous dealership, and has since become a personal friend even outside of car sales.

BTW .... A Camry with 100,000 miles is hardly a 'clunker' like your Intrepid was.

REV

Well, he was middle-aged and claimed to have been at this dealer for 17 years. If he truly had just graduated from high school, a lot of questions would be answered!

 

[Bull Barrel]

Dang Dan: Should have at least looked at the Fords that are available. Oh well, you did not and I won't start a brand war. Should have at least looked. I think airlines should seriously consider Chinas new aircraft. Airbus maybe. Just saying.

I know that sounds awful but think about it. I hated buying my VW but there was nothing produced in the USA that could touch 50 mpg.. What is y'all's excuse. I just don't get it. Honestly, I don't get it. What was the upside of buying foreign? Really, I want to know.

Oh, don't give the story that there are parts built all over the world. Your company still gets the profits, just like Toyota, Honda, and Volkswagen.

C'mon Karl ... Let's be honest ... The new Fords have about the worst reliability ratings possible ... You know it and I know it. I experienced it personally with my new Focus. I hope your example is better than mine was, but Ford really screwed the pooch when it redesigned almost their entire lineup in one year. And that absolutely godawful infotainment system MyFordTouch is still a disaster 3 years later.

By the way ... The 'upside' of buying foreign is reliability, fuel economy, quality, and resale value ... Just to name a few.

REV

Okay, let,s be honest. We went over this before and your Ford was actually a rebadged Mazda.
What were you saying about foreign reliability?

 

[revhigh]

Dang Dan: Should have at least looked at the Fords that are available. Oh well, you did not and I won't start a brand war. Should have at least looked. I think airlines should seriously consider Chinas new aircraft. Airbus maybe. Just saying.

I know that sounds awful but think about it. I hated buying my VW but there was nothing produced in the USA that could touch 50 mpg.. What is y'all's excuse. I just don't get it. Honestly, I don't get it. What was the upside of buying foreign? Really, I want to know.

Oh, don't give the story that there are parts built all over the world. Your company still gets the profits, just like Toyota, Honda, and Volkswagen.

C'mon Karl ... Let's be honest ... The new Fords have about the worst reliability ratings possible ... You know it and I know it. I experienced it personally with my new Focus. I hope your example is better than mine was, but Ford really screwed the pooch when it redesigned almost their entire lineup in one year. And that absolutely godawful infotainment system MyFordTouch is still a disaster 3 years later.

By the way ... The 'upside' of buying foreign is reliability, fuel economy, quality, and resale value ... Just to name a few.

REV

Okay, let,s be honest. We went over this before and your Ford was actually a rebadged Mazda.
What were you saying about foreign reliability?

You were wrong about that before, and you're wrong about it now. You really should try to be more well informed about the facts before you make any more foolish statements.

REV

 

[tookalisten]

I have a 2009 Accord as my daily commuter (bought it used from a neighbor a few years ago). First Honda I have owned; but now that I have one, I think I will always own one.

There's that holier than thou attitude again ....

REV

I also have a 1972 IH Scout II that I drive on the weekends. It gets about 10 miles to the gallon (maybe ...when it was new); so when I feel like increasing my carbon footprint, I step on the gas and run that up and down the road on Sundays. :lol:

 

[revhigh]

I have a 2009 Accord as my daily commuter (bought it used from a neighbor a few years ago). First Honda I have owned; but now that I have one, I think I will always own one.

There's that holier than thou attitude again ....

REV

I also have a 1972 IH Scout II that I drive on the weekends. It gets about 10 miles to the gallon (maybe ...when it was new); so when I feel like increasing my carbon footprint, I step on the gas and run that up and down the road on Sundays. :lol:

Sounds good !!!


If I didnt drive so much id have a big 4WD truck too.

The last few years is thr first time I havent owned a full size 4WD truck ... I miss everything about it except the MPG's.

REV

 

[graygun]

I believe she'll like the new ride. I traded-in a '12 Civic Si on my '14 LX in the name of increased fuel economy and getting back to 87 octane. The former was a very different driving experience...aka more fun.

I've gotten as high as 42 mpg and as low as about 30 so far with this 1.8/CVT combination. The b/u camera is helpful under sufficient lighting conditions.

 

[Bull Barrel]

Re, we went over it and I actualy researched it. Your model Ford was the last year it was built on the Mazda platform. It has a Ford drivetrain but it is a Mazda.
Just because you don't want to admit it doesn't make me wrong. As for facts you need to accept them. Denyining facts doesn't make them go away.

 

[revhigh]

Saying that a Ford is a Mazda just because they share the same frame/platform alone ... is just attempting to make a silly argument.

Now if you were talking about a vehicle like the Mazda Tribute, which literally was a rebadged Ford Escape I'd agree with you.that was back when Mazda was owned 1/3 by Ford. By 2010 ... Ford had divested itself completely from Mazda.

Partnership with Ford Motor Company

From 1979 to 2010, Mazda had a partnership with the Ford Motor Company, who acquired a 7% stake in 1979 and by 1996, owned 33.3% of Mazda. Under the administration of Alan Mulally, Ford gradually divested its stake in Mazda from 2008 to 2010, with Ford currently holding 0% of Mazda stock and severing production as well as development ties.



Either way ... My 2012 Focus was a total piece of junk, and my wife's 2012 Mazda 3 is a totally and completely different car ... And has been 100% trouble free for 35,000 miles .... Averaging just over 36 MPG. The Focus never got better than 32 combined. Everything about it except the frame/platform is different. You know that, and I REALLY know it because I've actually owned BOTH.

PS ... No matter how often you say it ... It's NOT TRUE about the drivetrain ... my 3 has the Mazda Skyactiv drivetrain. It is a completely different car, but how would you know that ? You don't even own one ... You just like to talk out of your backside about stuff and PRETEND you know what you're talking about.

I'm done discussing this with you ... It's like dueling with an unarmed man.

REV

 

[Tweety Bird]

I believe she'll like the new ride. I traded-in a '12 Civic Si on my '14 LX in the name of increased fuel economy and getting back to 87 octane. The former was a very different driving experience...aka more fun.

I've gotten as high as 42 mpg and as low as about 30 so far with this 1.8/CVT combination. The b/u camera is helpful under sufficient lighting conditions.

Sounds just like hers. It's the EX trim, 1.8/CVT, but it came with a lot of extras. I haven't driven it much yet but I think I'm going to like it, too.

 

[graygun]

In former years,the EX had a larger engine than the DX and LX...DX is no longer made. My first Civic was a 93 LX with a 1.5 5spd...100hp. The EX had a 1.6 at 125hp,ABS and some other stuff. I think they should've put ABS on all of them. Mine was stolen in 2006.

Drive hers for a time and tell us how you like/don't like CVT.

 

[737tdi]

Wow: What a bunch of crap in this thread. A Ford Focus is not a piece of crap, a jeep is not a piece of crap and all of y'all need to get a grip.

Go research a 2003 Volkswagen TDI. You will read nothing but crap. Crap, Crap, Crap. I know 10+ guys, and this is just me, that say they are the most awesome vehicle they have ever driven. Why is that? Because only the bithchers Rosie O'Donnell. Waaahhh, my window didn't roll down, bad, Waaaahhh, my seat is not heating. It is general crap. Just like the crap I am hearing about the Focus. The transmission feels strange, yes it does, but guess what, Ford just said it is guaranteed for life. Hey, I can deal with the weirdness.

Yo! Is somebody listening here???? Life.

Enjoy your new car, I wish you every bit of luck with it. They are putting so much electronic stuff in these cars that are tied to starting and driveability that I am worried that it could fail. We will see I guess. I own 4 vehicles and my 95 F150 is my favorite followed by my VW. Can't shut them down.

Karl

 

[graygun]

Karl,your early morning posts are a trip. Even your 2003 VW has a great deal of electronics. They have been cptr-controlled for quite a few years. It's true,more and more is 'by wire' each year.