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Maybe I'll be getting a new Vroom Vroom...

  • Thread starter swords
  • Start date
I was coming come from getting groceries and my car made a couple of whooshing noises like the windows were suddenly opened but both windows were closed. When I pulled off at the freeway exit the car started running really slow. It died at almost every light for 10 miles but I did make it home going 20 miles an hour with the pedal floored and the RPMs roaring.

I called Ford and they sent their tow guy out and he said it looked like my engine had been on fire at some point! I told him it smelled like burnt celery on the way home but there was no smoke at all or I'd have stopped completely.

Anyway, this was a pretty decent car but if fixing it is over $3000 I'm just going to get a new one as it's 9 years old anyway. It was the first year model of the Ford Focus and had a lotta recalls and fixes and I don't want any more first year model anything. So what kinda cars do you guys think are small, good and under about $15K?
 
Get a copy of consumer's reports annual book....

Lexus, toyota, honda, subaru and ford usually rate as the best bulit....but they all have good and bad

Do your homework, take a trip to the book store and do some "off the shelf" research, and as a general rule never buy the first year of a new model.

even if you want to buy new, look at the model's history

http://www.amazon.com/Consumer-Reports-Buying-Guide-Worst/dp/1933524162
Av
 
Hyundai is always the cheapest and recently they are up in build quality.
 
My wife and I bought a new 2009 Ford Focus in February..
so far, we like it a lot..
we got a good deal..got the SE trim level (one step down from top level) for 14k..
we bought the 5-speed (which was hard to find) and it drives really nice..
peppy for a 4-cylinder..

it came highly recommended in the Consumer Reports guide..
good reliability history..
we picked it over the Scion XD and the Pontiac Vibe..which were our runner-ups..

random internet photo, .nearly identical to our car:
http://dealerrevs.com/gallery/photo.php?id=10584411

Scot
 
I saw something at the gas station that was a Ford but wasn't a new Focus but something else. It looked really neat and space-shippy but can't remember what it was, maybe the name was just a set of numbers?

I'm not in a mad-dash to get a new car this time as opposed to last time when I had to have one "by Monday". Now that my mom's retired she's agreed to borrowing me her car till I get the new one or get the old one fixed, depending upon cost. I'd drive a rental from Ford but my freebie fix-it rentals were gone with my warranty 4 or 5 years ago.

Flytrap that flaming orange mailtruck would be rather fitting since I run a mail inserting machine! :D

Lloyd the 1000 year old Xerox tech at work, who looks like Gandalf from LOTR, has a white 2006 Focus that he had custom painted to look like he drove through puddles of CYMK process ink colors!
 
I used to see Impreza WRXs for about $12k used back when I thought I had college savings. That's a fine automobile - if you see one for a reasonable price while you're looking, I would highly suggest looking into a test drive.
~Joe
 
havent heard much about their durability and stuff, but Ford Flex's are smooth, and have TONS of really handy features and space. And not too land barge-ish, minivan-ish, or station wagon-ish. Id get one. ;)
 
Hey Ferrari is coming out with a new design, the 458 Italia. Sounds like you have a good excuse to get one now. Go for it!

ferrarif430italia_lead.jpg
 
  • #10
I won't be able to afford to claim my dad's body from the hospital or throw a funeral when he dies from the clot in his heart (probly any day now) so I doubt I can get the Ferrari! LOL!

I'm getting the Focus fixed since it's not as expensive as I thought it was gonna be. "Only" about $2000 that I don't have but I guess it's better than consigning myself to $15K I don't have.
 
  • #11
Hey Ferrari is coming out with a new design, the 458 Italia. Sounds like you have a good excuse to get one now. Go for it!

ferrarif430italia_lead.jpg


nice!
all I need is a 40 year car loan, and im all set! :)

Scot
 
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