Another which car should I get thread.

[FDF12389]

I'm looking to buy a fun, decent looking car for commuting and day to day driving. I have a Jeep that my SO usually drives since its new and she drives much less than I do. I used to have a neon for my commute but it got rear ended. The neon was cheap, and got pretty good gas mileage but now Im looking for something a little nicer.

So right now I'm debating between:

Mazda3
I like this car alot, I test drove a 06 mazda3 S with 60k on it, its listed for 8k but Im thinking I could get them down to 7k. My wuestion is how reliable are they? Could I put 200-250k miles on it without spending thousands in repairs?

scion TC
This car seems fun, drives nice, but its a little on the smaller side and it screams "young driver"

Honda civic
Good gas mileage, very reliable. looking at a 2000 coupe with 111K miles for 3.5k.

Dodge caliber
I personally dont like the look or feel of these, but I can get greensheet pricing on one. They may not be very reliable but they start at 14k minus greensheet. Also comes with the lifetime powertrain. Not a huge contender right now since I'm looking to spend less then 7k, but then again I would finance it longer making the payment not too much more.

Any ideas or thoughts are appreciated. Thanks much.

Edit:

Ford Focus?
Two of them for sale near me, 2006, M5, one is a zx4 with 18 the other is a zx3 with 12k. Both are listed for $8995 Both have no power option of any kind, but seem cheaper. I'm still leaning towards the mazda but how do these compare in reliability?

 

[SearchMaster]

Could I put 200-250k miles on it without spending thousands in repairs?

The answer to this is rarely "yes" - to get to that mileage you'll have to spend money in maintenance or repairs. Sure there are exceptions but...

 

[MiataNC]

Any well maintained car with a manual transmission has the potential to run 200k+ miles without a major failure. Some will nickel and dime you more than others. Cars with autos are more likely to need tranny work at some point, and replacing a clutch in a manual is a MUCH cheaper repair when the time comes.

Of the cars listed I would eliminate the Dodge (too many reported problems) and pick the one your gut likes best out of the remaining three choices.

 

[thedarkwolf]

TCs are ugly as hell and civics are boring as hell so mazda 3 wins. I'd just get a miata and drive the SO's car when more then two people need to go somewhere or the roads are icy and snowy .

 

[FDF12389]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
TCs are ugly as hell and civics are boring as hell so mazda 3 wins. I'd just get a miata and drive the SO's car when more then two people need to go somewhere or the roads are icy and snowy .

Yea I know civics are boring, but they seem to last forever and I put over 100 miles on my car everyday. Is the mazda going to be equally reliable? The Jeep isn't hers, its mine, but when its snowing or icy I would feel much better having her drive it.

 

[Tab]

They're all FWD so... No

Ever thought about a E36 BMW?

 

[FDF12389]

Originally posted by: Tab
They're all FWD so... No

Ever thought about a E36 BMW?

I missed how that fits into the cheap commuter car category.

 

[GoatMonkey]

Originally posted by: MiataNC
Any well maintained car with a manual transmission has the potential to run 200k+ miles without a major failure. Some will nickel and dime you more than others. Cars with autos are more likely to need tranny work at some point, and replacing a clutch in a manual is a MUCH cheaper repair when the time comes.

Of the cars listed I would eliminate the Dodge (too many reported problems) and pick the one your gut likes best out of the remaining three choices.

Unless you count the clutch as a major failure. Most people are not good enough with a clutch to make it last 200k miles. Probably more like 50k for your average driver. A new clutch installed can be $500 to $1000 depending on your car.

A friend of mine just lost his clutch on his 4x4 Ranger at 40k miles. That was a little over $1000 for that one. And that's not dealer pricing, this is with a good reputable mechanic.

 

[Turin39789]

Have you looked at a Scion Xa? no longer made but can be had for not much and great mpg.


Or just scan craigslist for sub $1000 cars and pick the one that seems the most reliable and fuel efficient

 

[Epic22]

the mzda3 no doubt. Calibers are shit unless they are the srt model. Tc is a little too small for you. The Focus would be my runner-up, but Mazda is really earning its rep as a durable car maker..the protege was a hit, and so was the mx-5. The new 3's and 6's should be as reliable, if not more reliable, than their predecessors

 

[MiataNC]

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey

Originally posted by: MiataNC
Any well maintained car with a manual transmission has the potential to run 200k+ miles without a major failure. Some will nickel and dime you more than others. Cars with autos are more likely to need tranny work at some point, and replacing a clutch in a manual is a MUCH cheaper repair when the time comes.

Of the cars listed I would eliminate the Dodge (too many reported problems) and pick the one your gut likes best out of the remaining three choices.

Unless you count the clutch as a major failure. Most people are not good enough with a clutch to make it last 200k miles. Probably more like 50k for your average driver. A new clutch installed can be $500 to $1000 depending on your car.

A friend of mine just lost his clutch on his 4x4 Ranger at 40k miles. That was a little over $1000 for that one. And that's not dealer pricing, this is with a good reputable mechanic.

Anyone with halfway decent skills can get more than 100K out of a clutch. I've seen civics roll past 200K on the original clutch. It really depends on the driver and the type of driving. If you are commuting with highway miles a clutch will easily outlast an auto-tranny.

Assuming 2 clutches over 200K+ miles is @2K in maintenance using the high end of your numbers.

Replacing/rebuilding an auto-tranny will run you $2500 if you are lucky. Usually a hell of a lot more, and will have to be done at least once in 200K+ miles if not twice on most models.

 

[GoatMonkey]

Originally posted by: MiataNC

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey

Originally posted by: MiataNC
Any well maintained car with a manual transmission has the potential to run 200k+ miles without a major failure. Some will nickel and dime you more than others. Cars with autos are more likely to need tranny work at some point, and replacing a clutch in a manual is a MUCH cheaper repair when the time comes.

Of the cars listed I would eliminate the Dodge (too many reported problems) and pick the one your gut likes best out of the remaining three choices.

Unless you count the clutch as a major failure. Most people are not good enough with a clutch to make it last 200k miles. Probably more like 50k for your average driver. A new clutch installed can be $500 to $1000 depending on your car.

A friend of mine just lost his clutch on his 4x4 Ranger at 40k miles. That was a little over $1000 for that one. And that's not dealer pricing, this is with a good reputable mechanic.

Anyone with halfway decent skills can get more than 100K out of a clutch. I've seen civics roll past 200K on the original clutch. It really depends on the driver and the type of driving. If you are commuting with highway miles a clutch will easily outlast an auto-tranny.

Assuming 2 clutches over 200K+ miles is @2K in maintenance using the high end of your numbers.

Replacing/rebuilding an auto-tranny will run you $2500 if you are lucky. Usually a hell of a lot more, and will have to be done at least once in 200K+ miles if not twice on most models.

Your average driver does not have half way decent driving skills.

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey

Originally posted by: MiataNC

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey

Originally posted by: MiataNC
Any well maintained car with a manual transmission has the potential to run 200k+ miles without a major failure. Some will nickel and dime you more than others. Cars with autos are more likely to need tranny work at some point, and replacing a clutch in a manual is a MUCH cheaper repair when the time comes.

Of the cars listed I would eliminate the Dodge (too many reported problems) and pick the one your gut likes best out of the remaining three choices.

Unless you count the clutch as a major failure. Most people are not good enough with a clutch to make it last 200k miles. Probably more like 50k for your average driver. A new clutch installed can be $500 to $1000 depending on your car.

A friend of mine just lost his clutch on his 4x4 Ranger at 40k miles. That was a little over $1000 for that one. And that's not dealer pricing, this is with a good reputable mechanic.

Anyone with halfway decent skills can get more than 100K out of a clutch. I've seen civics roll past 200K on the original clutch. It really depends on the driver and the type of driving. If you are commuting with highway miles a clutch will easily outlast an auto-tranny.

Assuming 2 clutches over 200K+ miles is @2K in maintenance using the high end of your numbers.

Replacing/rebuilding an auto-tranny will run you $2500 if you are lucky. Usually a hell of a lot more, and will have to be done at least once in 200K+ miles if not twice on most models.

Your average driver does not have half way decent driving skills.

I've never known anyone to lose a clutch after 50k.

 

[GoatMonkey]

Originally posted by: Turin39789

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey

Originally posted by: MiataNC

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey

Originally posted by: MiataNC
Any well maintained car with a manual transmission has the potential to run 200k+ miles without a major failure. Some will nickel and dime you more than others. Cars with autos are more likely to need tranny work at some point, and replacing a clutch in a manual is a MUCH cheaper repair when the time comes.

Of the cars listed I would eliminate the Dodge (too many reported problems) and pick the one your gut likes best out of the remaining three choices.

Unless you count the clutch as a major failure. Most people are not good enough with a clutch to make it last 200k miles. Probably more like 50k for your average driver. A new clutch installed can be $500 to $1000 depending on your car.

A friend of mine just lost his clutch on his 4x4 Ranger at 40k miles. That was a little over $1000 for that one. And that's not dealer pricing, this is with a good reputable mechanic.

Anyone with halfway decent skills can get more than 100K out of a clutch. I've seen civics roll past 200K on the original clutch. It really depends on the driver and the type of driving. If you are commuting with highway miles a clutch will easily outlast an auto-tranny.

Assuming 2 clutches over 200K+ miles is @2K in maintenance using the high end of your numbers.

Replacing/rebuilding an auto-tranny will run you $2500 if you are lucky. Usually a hell of a lot more, and will have to be done at least once in 200K+ miles if not twice on most models.

Your average driver does not have half way decent driving skills.

I've never known anyone to lose a clutch after 50k.

Of course not. I've never met anyone online who would admit to making less than $100k/year either.

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey

Originally posted by: Turin39789

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey

Originally posted by: MiataNC

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey

Originally posted by: MiataNC
Any well maintained car with a manual transmission has the potential to run 200k+ miles without a major failure. Some will nickel and dime you more than others. Cars with autos are more likely to need tranny work at some point, and replacing a clutch in a manual is a MUCH cheaper repair when the time comes.

Of the cars listed I would eliminate the Dodge (too many reported problems) and pick the one your gut likes best out of the remaining three choices.

Unless you count the clutch as a major failure. Most people are not good enough with a clutch to make it last 200k miles. Probably more like 50k for your average driver. A new clutch installed can be $500 to $1000 depending on your car.

A friend of mine just lost his clutch on his 4x4 Ranger at 40k miles. That was a little over $1000 for that one. And that's not dealer pricing, this is with a good reputable mechanic.

Anyone with halfway decent skills can get more than 100K out of a clutch. I've seen civics roll past 200K on the original clutch. It really depends on the driver and the type of driving. If you are commuting with highway miles a clutch will easily outlast an auto-tranny.

Assuming 2 clutches over 200K+ miles is @2K in maintenance using the high end of your numbers.

Replacing/rebuilding an auto-tranny will run you $2500 if you are lucky. Usually a hell of a lot more, and will have to be done at least once in 200K+ miles if not twice on most models.

Your average driver does not have half way decent driving skills.

I've never known anyone to lose a clutch after 50k.

Of course not. I've never met anyone online who would admit to making less than $100k/year either.

I make just over $30k

 

[FDF12389]

Originally posted by: Turin39789

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey

Originally posted by: Turin39789

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey

Originally posted by: MiataNC

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey

Originally posted by: MiataNC
Any well maintained car with a manual transmission has the potential to run 200k+ miles without a major failure. Some will nickel and dime you more than others. Cars with autos are more likely to need tranny work at some point, and replacing a clutch in a manual is a MUCH cheaper repair when the time comes.

Of the cars listed I would eliminate the Dodge (too many reported problems) and pick the one your gut likes best out of the remaining three choices.

Unless you count the clutch as a major failure. Most people are not good enough with a clutch to make it last 200k miles. Probably more like 50k for your average driver. A new clutch installed can be $500 to $1000 depending on your car.

A friend of mine just lost his clutch on his 4x4 Ranger at 40k miles. That was a little over $1000 for that one. And that's not dealer pricing, this is with a good reputable mechanic.

Anyone with halfway decent skills can get more than 100K out of a clutch. I've seen civics roll past 200K on the original clutch. It really depends on the driver and the type of driving. If you are commuting with highway miles a clutch will easily outlast an auto-tranny.

Assuming 2 clutches over 200K+ miles is @2K in maintenance using the high end of your numbers.

Replacing/rebuilding an auto-tranny will run you $2500 if you are lucky. Usually a hell of a lot more, and will have to be done at least once in 200K+ miles if not twice on most models.

Your average driver does not have half way decent driving skills.

I've never known anyone to lose a clutch after 50k.

Of course not. I've never met anyone online who would admit to making less than $100k/year either.

I make just over $30k

I make 45k. My moms sonata is at 87k and has'nt had a clutch fail.

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: MiataNC

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey

Originally posted by: MiataNC
Any well maintained car with a manual transmission has the potential to run 200k+ miles without a major failure. Some will nickel and dime you more than others. Cars with autos are more likely to need tranny work at some point, and replacing a clutch in a manual is a MUCH cheaper repair when the time comes.

Of the cars listed I would eliminate the Dodge (too many reported problems) and pick the one your gut likes best out of the remaining three choices.

Unless you count the clutch as a major failure. Most people are not good enough with a clutch to make it last 200k miles. Probably more like 50k for your average driver. A new clutch installed can be $500 to $1000 depending on your car.

A friend of mine just lost his clutch on his 4x4 Ranger at 40k miles. That was a little over $1000 for that one. And that's not dealer pricing, this is with a good reputable mechanic.

Anyone with halfway decent skills can get more than 100K out of a clutch. I've seen civics roll past 200K on the original clutch. It really depends on the driver and the type of driving. If you are commuting with highway miles a clutch will easily outlast an auto-tranny.

Assuming 2 clutches over 200K+ miles is @2K in maintenance using the high end of your numbers.

Replacing/rebuilding an auto-tranny will run you $2500 if you are lucky. Usually a hell of a lot more, and will have to be done at least once in 200K+ miles if not twice on most models.

What kind of auto trans car are you driving that needs two rebuilt or replaced tranny in 200k miles? Also what kind of car are you replacing /rebuilding tranny that cost $2500 if you're lucky? You should have no problem getting auto tranny rebuilt and installed for around $1500 on most cars. My cousin just had a rebuilt tranny on his Yukon installed after ~185k miles. He paid little over $1300 installed at an independent shop. I was quoted around $1500 for a rebuilt tranny installed on my Dodge cargo van. My van doesn't need one now but it's getting up there in mileage and will probably need one in about a year or two.

 

[MiataNC]

Originally posted by: Naustica
What kind of auto trans car are you driving that needs two rebuilt or replaced tranny in 200k miles? Also what kind of car are you replacing /rebuilding tranny that cost $2500 if you're lucky? You should have no problem getting auto tranny rebuilt and installed for around $1500 on most cars. My cousin just had a rebuilt tranny on his Yukon installed after ~185k miles. He paid little over $1300 installed at an independent shop. I was quoted around $1500 for a rebuilt tranny installed on my Dodge cargo van. My van doesn't need one now but it's getting up there in mileage and will probably need one in about a year or two.

Google "Automatic transmission failures less than 100k miles"

You will find many failures well within 100K miles on all makes. Even Honda is not immune with the 1999-2002 Accord. Search results for Toyota show failures in the @150k miles for some models. 1999-2002 Accord V6 trannies will run you $2500-3500 depending on who is getting the quote, and whether or not Honda is picking up the tab out of warranty. A major repair on an auto is always more expensive than changing a clutch.

The Yukon is not an front wheel drive import, and is using a drive train that is common across several GM lines and has seen little change on more than 20 years. The same goes for a Dodge cargo van. The examples you provide are on the extreme low end of auto tranny R&R.

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey

Originally posted by: MiataNC
Any well maintained car with a manual transmission has the potential to run 200k+ miles without a major failure. Some will nickel and dime you more than others. Cars with autos are more likely to need tranny work at some point, and replacing a clutch in a manual is a MUCH cheaper repair when the time comes.

Of the cars listed I would eliminate the Dodge (too many reported problems) and pick the one your gut likes best out of the remaining three choices.

Unless you count the clutch as a major failure. Most people are not good enough with a clutch to make it last 200k miles. Probably more like 50k for your average driver. A new clutch installed can be $500 to $1000 depending on your car.

A friend of mine just lost his clutch on his 4x4 Ranger at 40k miles. That was a little over $1000 for that one. And that's not dealer pricing, this is with a good reputable mechanic.

our mazda protege's clutch was replaced at ~160k miles (OP, it's at ~208k if you're wondering about reliabilty and it was totalled a couple times before we bought it at 54k...only major repair was clutch change so either we were lucky or mazdas are reliable). i learned how to drive stick on it and it was the primary car i would drive. at least 10 other people learned how to drive stick on it as well. does that constitute "below average" for you? to get 40k miles on a clutch you'd have to drive half-clutched the entire time you're driving or something.

btw, our clutch change was something like $400.

 

[GoatMonkey]

Originally posted by: alimoalem

Originally posted by: GoatMonkey

Originally posted by: MiataNC
Any well maintained car with a manual transmission has the potential to run 200k+ miles without a major failure. Some will nickel and dime you more than others. Cars with autos are more likely to need tranny work at some point, and replacing a clutch in a manual is a MUCH cheaper repair when the time comes.

Of the cars listed I would eliminate the Dodge (too many reported problems) and pick the one your gut likes best out of the remaining three choices.

Unless you count the clutch as a major failure. Most people are not good enough with a clutch to make it last 200k miles. Probably more like 50k for your average driver. A new clutch installed can be $500 to $1000 depending on your car.

A friend of mine just lost his clutch on his 4x4 Ranger at 40k miles. That was a little over $1000 for that one. And that's not dealer pricing, this is with a good reputable mechanic.

our mazda protege's clutch was replaced at ~160k miles (OP, it's at ~208k if you're wondering about reliabilty and it was totalled a couple times before we bought it at 54k...only major repair was clutch change so either we were lucky or mazdas are reliable). i learned how to drive stick on it and it was the primary car i would drive. at least 10 other people learned how to drive stick on it as well. does that constitute "below average" for you? to get 40k miles on a clutch you'd have to drive half-clutched the entire time you're driving or something.

btw, our clutch change was something like $400.

There's no point in arguing this. Of course car guys love manual transmissions, and I agree with you actually. The original quote was this though:

Any well maintained car with a manual transmission has the potential to run 200k+ miles without a major failure.

I still say that it is a rare case that a clutch lasts to 200k miles. Especially considering the skill level of the average driver. It does have the potential to last that long, but in reality, it's not going to happen. I'm not saying an automatic is cheaper, just that a 200k mile clutch is the exception, not the rule.