NEW CAR most reliable et al

[ChaChy]

Have a Tacoma (2004) with 155K, has had several accidents and have issues with rear end and transmission. Replaced twice with used equipment... considering new car options.

Problem is cash/income.

Second is Milage and reliability, third is comfort.

I'm looking to possibly within a month, perhaps three, be in the new car market.

Will plan in the very near future be placing 400-500 miles a day on the ride.

I want comfort, economy, dependable (no down time) for 200K-miles.

I don't care about performance, nor looks nor color.

Looking for a tank that can go to ____ and back again, take a licking and keep in ticking at a dependable savings in all areas.

Have been a truck fan and Tacomas are a favorite, but the comfort is less than better. Have a reg cab perhaps extended, but the mpg would be a drag. Consider the Prius but wonder on the durability and the battery that runs 3K to replace... not to mention it's a car - wgich do not usually hold up as well as trucks.

In a perfect world I ant to pass this to wife who cant drive stick. Maybe she can learn if the car is neat and trouble free???

Plans on putting 150-200K in 18 months, and pass car to her.

She currently has no car and it's a drag bing a one car family.

Has to be like a rock because I am going to have my work ride on this for the next 18 months or so without any issues with mechanics. I'd like to keep my Tacoma, but with gas and with the issues on the accidents, I doubt it will last unless I replace with NEW transmission and Diff/shaft (balanced you know).

Based on past performace form the current situation I think I have about 20K or two months (or less) left of life before any downtime on current truck.

Current Tacoma has 155K and all new factory equipment including belts and such except for a break job (2) in front and a battery replaced along with wiper blades and tires, and the break lights just blew at 150K... all else is factory.

I'd like to keep it as an alternative back up in case the new ride goes down. Willing to convert it to full time ride if money justified such.

Bottom line, I need a second BACK up ride, and prefer a new one that is less likely to bogg down under daily wear and tear.

Most of the milage should be highway. The Tacoma sees 99% stop and go... the new work will be 80-95% highway.

Would love comfort, economy, durability and price to balance a perfect car who can go the distance without any repairs.

 

[01rangerxl]

I know of a guy who has a 2001 Ranger with over 300K miles and no real problems. Lots of fleet Rangers see well over 200K miles. If you want another truck, it might be a good option. You can get 2.3L I4 engines in Super Cab trucks, but only with the manual transmission (an automatic I4 is available with the regular cab). Leather, a couple great sound systems, bucket seats, etc... are some nice comfort options, but you may have to special order the truck if you want it loaded with the four cylinder. I would expect gas mileage in the high 20s with the Super Cab and four cylinder, and above 30 with the regular cab.

 

[01rangerxl]

Correction: according to Ford's website, you can get the 2.3L with an automatic transmission in Super Cab trucks now.

A 2.3L I4, automatic transmission, Super Cab, 2WD Ranger with leather, power windows/locks/keyless entry, Pioneer sound system, Sirius satellite radio, and bucket seats, and the XLT appearance package stickers at around $21,000 and is below $20,000 with discounts. A dealer would discount the truck even more, probably down to about $17,000 or less.

 

[badtlc]

if you are OK with cars, you might look into a ford fusion or mercury milan. Nice, comfortable cars that have shown to be made with quality and can be had for pretty cheap. Given the 0% interest on he fords, they are a good value.

Were you wanting a roomier midsize or would you take a comfortable more economy oriented car?

 

[trixman]

I am partial to the Corollas. They are moving the 2007 models. Here you can pick up a base CE w/ AC and 5 speeds for 12,900. That includes dealer incentives. I am not in the market, but you may work out a similar deal.

 

[The Critic]

Quote:

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Consider the Prius but wonder on the durability and the battery that runs 3K to replace... not to mention it's a car - wgich do not usually hold up as well as trucks.

---

Durability is excellent with the Prius. There are a number of these vehicles on the road with over 200k miles on the original transmission and battery pack. The transmission on these cars contain fewer parts that your conventional five or six-speed automatic. Very, very few battery packs have ever been replaced on hybrids so far. Here in CA, Toyota warranties the battery pack for ten years or 150k miles as required under the state mandated PZEV warranty requirements.

PS: Do get the timing belt replaced on your Tacoma. It should be replaced every 90k miles. In the event that it fails, the engine will be destroyed. It only costs about $250 at the dealership.

 

[mstrjon32]

Find yourself a Mercedes 240D; just add oil to the sump and the gas tank; no other maintenance necessary.

 

[smokey1]

Corolla 5 speed should get yeh in the upper 30's overall for m.p.g. . Would insist yeh get COROLLA w/ side impact and curtain air bags ( did poor in side impact crash tests ) along with the Antilock Brake System for extra insurance and to lower insurance . Even better yet pick one up with Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control as well , works wonders in our '07 PRIUS and the '06 Scion XB we had . Loaded with all those safety features , it should be well under $17,500 for an '07 LE Corolla . As for '07 Corolla w/ only A.B.S. and the Side Impact / Curtain Air Bags at least under $16,000 . Between dealer rebate ( $1,000 off LE , last I knew ) and discounts of $1,200 or even $ 1,500 ( friends got that off a '07 Corolla , plus rebate ) should be a heck of a bargain . Don't forget to dicker the sticker price before the rebate ( dealer gets that ) . GOOD LUCK

 

[kcryan]

Corolla 5 speed is always a good choice, cheap as anything, dependable, comfortable, decently quick, overall nice cars.


Prius (this is likely a good choice, it'll cost you more up front, but for the miles you run, you'll love the gas mileage. A buddy of mine has one of the earlier body style ones, he hasnt had hardley anything go on it, i think he got a new wheel as he cracked one somehow, which isnt the cars fault, and really i think thats about it.

Or a civic, as they last forever too.

Get a copy of the newest consumer reports and use that to help make your decision.

If i was you, id get the prius i think.

 

[Shelby]

SSsssivic or Accord, have to choose between gas milage or comfort, but I'd consider Honda first when talking about relaibility.

 

[Shelby]

Interesting information here-
http://www.cars.com/go/advice/Story.jsp?...;referer=advice

But, I'd still pick the Honda. I had one in the family and it drove like a dream for a lot of years and the resale was sick, I had over 10 calls the first week when I had to sell it for my mom. I had a toyota truck too, loved it. But my wife had a Camry and had nothing but problems, traded it in with 25k miles on the clock. Toyo makes a good quality car, but they have seamed to made more mistakes in production in my opinion, I'm a little suprised my these stats.

 

[smokey1]

Toyota CAMRY w/ 4 cylinder and 5 speed manual can be picked up for under $18,000 as well .

 

[kcryan]

Honda and toyota have always served me very well.

Cadillac, My allante has been pretty good, but i wouldnt use it as a daily driver, and my catera pretty much sucked.

My infiniti's have always been great, our leased mercedes sucks worse than anything, and our nissan has been great minus one starter

 

[The Critic]

You can pick-up a Camry I4 with the five-speed automatic for under $18,000 in areas such as Southern California.

 

[smokey1]

CAMRY comes w/ A.B.S. , Knee Airbags for driver , side impact and side curtain air bags standard as well . Should be able to get at least 37 m.pg. on the highway and close to 26 around town .

 

[HM12460]

i gotta confess, i'm not at all a later model ford fan, but those little rangers are a very good little truck. they are over priced new off the lot, but a good little truck nonetheless

 

[m2200b]

I'd fix up the Toyota and try it in highway mile situation.
I'd be certain you are changing permanently from stop and go miles to hairy long miles for a few years before I bought a car solely for that purpose. Sounds to me more like a new job and I'd use the old car in the new job for that first 3 -6 months to be certain and sure that new job was one I'd keep as long as the new car. You don't want a new car and its payments and then need to change jobs or be out of work becuase the job didn't work out.

 

[Dominic]

3 Suggestions depending on what you want

Honda Civic EX (140hp, FWD, 40mpg hwy)

Subaru Impreza 2.5i (great AWD, 173hp, 28mpg hwy, good in snow and rain)

VW Jetta TDI (140hp but torquey! 50mpg hwy)

I picked the Impreza, all 3 are EXTREMELY reliable. I wouldn't hesitate to buy any of them for a 200,000+ mile ride. I would not buy a Corolla if my life depended on it.

 

[ChaChy]

Quote:

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if you are OK with cars, you might look into a ford fusion or mercury milan. Nice, comfortable cars that have shown to be made with quality and can be had for pretty cheap. Given the 0% interest on he fords, they are a good value.

Were you wanting a roomier midsize or would you take a comfortable more economy oriented car?

---

I'd like to have a suv that gets 40-60 MPG that has cruise control, leather, an Alpine sound system and is a comfort to hit the highway at 6-8 hours with only 1-2 stops.

I would love a stick but wife needs an auto and I don't trust them.

I am most interested in durability and economic return. Would love to have ZERO problems for 200,000+ miles, that includes any breakdowns, belts et al but perhaps for brakes and tires and fluids.

If I start this job it's could be next week or the week after and I can start with my ride, and perhaps if I had time and another car I'd spend several grand and get all new rear-end and transmission on my Tacoma as I know it should at least get me to 240K-300K with no problems, as I have said it's only drawback has been the accidents I got involved in, and the fact that the gas milage sucks (18-20 and 22-26 respective) with todays gas prices.

I love trucks because they are sturdy and higher and tougher than cars, but I want more comfort than a Reg cab and a bench seat. If I had the money I'd get something costly and comfotrable but I don't like to just WASTE cash. I'm looking for SUPERB bang for the buck. If I have to sacrifice on the alter something it can not be price, unless the fuel savings of traveling 400-500 miles a day pays to pay a little more, and if the car or truck will hold up.

I'd like something with no bugs in the car that has a track record.

Shoot what I really want is a truck or suv (TRUCK) small to mid size DIESEL. That's what I want. SOLID diesel, built like a diamond and dependable like O'l Yeller. I want suspension and other body parts to not wear out and nothing to creek and squeek as most cars are doing today. The quality of a solidly built car is falling by the wayside.

I have a friend of mine on several upper end Toyotas and now Lexus models and all of them falling apart before a few months into his leases, he trades them up and still has problems.

I'd like to know a few models still left that hold up like a champ.

I know Tacomas are fairly solid and some other cars too, it just can't cost me anything to upkeep. I'm liiking to only top the fluid levels up and do routine maintenance and that's it. But the base model Tacomas are not comfortable that many days those many hours... perhaps a pre-runner? But then Gas would be horrific!

If I wasn't going to be churning over a 110K a year, AT NIGHT, out of town on long streaches of road that are UNLIT and bad CELL coverage, etc. then the story and concern might be a little different.

 

[ChaChy]

Some cars that may be worthy shots at this are
Fusion
Milam
Prius
Jetta
Corolla
Camry
Accord
Civic
???



Mahindra (later gator)


Any other contenders?


I may be making a decision in a week or a month perhaps two or three months max, most likely about a month or thereabouts.