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I think I'm in the market for a new car :\

S

SWScorch

Diamond Member
My beloved and faithful Colleen, my 2001 Saturn SL1, is finally starting to tell me she may be ready to leave this mortal coil soon. I've put over $2000 in her this year, and today she wouldn't start, so I think I will need a new car, as much as I hate to say it.

I don't know what the heck I want though. I like smaller vehicles, not only for the fuel efficiency, but also for the ability to park wherever I damn well choose and not have to worry about scraping up mine or anyone else's car. But I also want something that is roomy, as my wife and I go camping and take road trips a lot, and we tend to bring a lot of stuff. I don't want to spend a lot of money either; preferably under $20k I guess. I don't need any thing fancy; hell, Colleen doesn't even have power locks or windows, or air conditioning.

I kind of like the Kia Soul, but don't know a lot about them. Anyone have any experience with them, or can recommend something else? Also, I can get a GM employee discount so that's worth taking into consideration. Thanks!
 
$2k into the car, should try to keep it..

It could be something as simple as the crank position sensor, which is a $15 part.
 
It's just a lot of little things. Actually, the OBD said the camshaft position sensor was bad earlier this year, which my car doesn't even have. I replaced the crankshaft position sensor but that didn't fix it. It actually turned out to be the ECTS. But the EGR valve also needed to be replaced, I had to replace sections of the exhaust, I replaced the front brakes and rotors but they had to be replaced a few months later because the back brakes were sticking and causing the front brakes to overheat and warp, the pipe from the air pump top the exhaust manifold was clogged and I had to clean that out, etc etc. I'm pretty sure today I just need to get a new battery, as she's been sluggish to start now that it's getting colder, but it's just one more thing that convinces me that I should get a new car. As much as I would like to keep her, the wife is bugging me to get a new one, and I will probably give the current car to my father, as he's driving an old beat-up truck that barely runs. he has more time and resources to actually work on it than I do, so he can keep it running for years probably.
 
I see well that makes sense.
Those are all somewhat common Saturn things. I had the cam code on my Saturn SL2 once too. I fixed it with a used ign. control module. Anyways..
I work with a girl that has a Kia Soul and she really likes it. That is about all I know though. I think the sport model actually looks quite good.
 
I've heard the first model years in the soul are a tad 'meh' in the handling, braking performance departments.

Are you looking for something higher off the ground? Or about the size of that Saturn?

A ford fiesta wouldn't be a bad choice, can easily get a new one for under 20k, and suggesting it because it is a hatch which will give a bit more room. Honda fit would also be decent, and it's surprisingly roomy inside so that might be a consideration. Along the lines of the Saturn, the chevy cruze is a pretty decent car and with the discount would be pretty affordable as well.

Also, since you live in NY this might be an even better solution, give the Subaru Impreza (2012 model is most desirable right now, older ones leave much to be desired) a try. In hatch form it's pretty roomy, gets 36 hwy, and it has AWD which would help in snow and any camping places you might want to go to. Subaru's are damn good vehicles, so I would suggest it out of the others at the moment.
 
Here is a little workflow for you.

Are you a raving d-bag?
Yes: Buy half-a-decade old M3
No: Buy anything else
 
Ferzerp said:
Here is a little workflow for you.

Are you a raving d-bag?
Yes: Buy half-a-decade old M3
No: Buy anything else
Click to expand...

Enough. Put the guy on your ignore list and move on if you don't like him.

This is not OT. Personal attacks, parodies and neffing are fine in OT, not here.
 
Vic Vega said:
Enough. Put the guy on your ignore list and move on if you don't like him.

This is not OT. Personal attacks, parodies and neffing are fine in OT, not here.
Click to expand...

Interesting that you're trying to single me out when if you read, half the threads in the last day have a comment or two from different people making fun of the guy who won't shut up about his car. Perhaps you should look in to it more before trying to call someone out. He's been trolling the entire board, and in the absence of intervention, this has been the result. That's all I will say on the matter in this thread.
 
nedfunnell said:
Sunk Cost Fallacy
Click to expand...

I'm not sure the fallacy applies in this case.

All vehicles have recurring costs like brakes, tires, batteries and all vehicles will need repairs at some point. Buying a new/used car isn't a guarantee you won't have the same costs that you had with the old car. Your post didn't have a lot of substance, maybe you were suggesting that the OP give up on automobiles and start walking everywhere?
 
nedfunnell said:
Sunk Cost Fallacy
Click to expand...

The car example isn't really valid. Once you've already dumped money into a car, its mostly a new car with new parts that you'll not be replacing again any time soon. Makes little sense from a purely financial perspective to get involved with a new car payment and new unknowns. Last thing you want to do is give up and give away a 99% working car after you've already replaced everything else. You need to make a commitment from the start and stick to it: keep it and fix it or get a new one. Doing both will result in the greatest loss, and you may start having the same problems with the next car.

For example you've already replaced the engine, transmission, tires, etc It doesn't start the next day so you say screw it it and get rid of it at a loss. Someone else throws a battery in it and the have a problem free car that you restored for them that goes 60,000 miles trouble free.

Meanwhile you bought another used car that has 20% tread left, 10K away from a timing belt, on the stock battery still, etc

This is looking at vehicle repair future costs (things you won't have to spend money on again) like the article says.
 
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