Looking for a new daily

shelby27604

shelby27604

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2013
Location
Efland NC
Probably a reoccurring thread for me. Looking for something that might actually make it 3-5 years without a major mechanical failure. The used car market is still crazy...and I still dig manual transmissions.

Here is the bad ideas I have:
1. New wrangler
2. New Tacoma
3. New Subaru (MIGHT still be able to find a Crosstrek with 3 pedals).
4. Used panther platform car (old person town-car or grand marquis).
5. Used Accord
6. Used Mazda 6

Talk me into or out of a bad / good idea. All of the new cars listed, are there because used/new prices are virtually identical, I would rather buy new and wait a few months, than pay new prices for a 3 yo vehicle that is out of warranty.
 
Tuned VW diesel
 
benXJ said:
well a good used Crown Vic is pennies on the dollar compared to a new wrangler or tacoma....and isn't a manual.

what are you really after?
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My vote is for a Vic. Easy parts availability, millions made, built to be beat.

One of these days im going to get around to making a used car site that tracks census information and estate sale listings and only lists low mileage old people cars. "Car Cane" , "Auto Ailments" , "Auto Autopsy" , "Formaldehyde Finds" something....
 
benXJ said:
well a good used Crown Vic is pennies on the dollar compared to a new wrangler or tacoma....and isn't a manual.

what are you really after?
Click to expand...
Ultimately after something that needs minimal maintenance for the next 3-5 years / 100k miles. At 6'4" tall, there are not many cars I am comfortable in, and even fewer that come with manual transmissions.

jeepinmatt said:
Tuned VW diesel
Click to expand...
Nope....my understanding is the 3.0 V6 is damned near a throw away motor at 100k+. I have had 3 VW TDI's (1.9l version) in various forms, I have crunched the numbers, and while I love diesels, between the cost of fuel, filters, supplemental lube to keep the pump and injectors alive....you are no more efficient than your average civic and WAY slower.

Add in def, dpf, the real possibility of the high pressure pump killing itself and the fact that 90% of the TDI's with 3 pedals have spent a decade in the rust belt....that ship has sadly sailed.
 
shelby27604 said:
Probably a reoccurring thread for me. Looking for something that might actually make it 3-5 years without a major mechanical failure. The used car market is still crazy...and I still dig manual transmissions.

Here is the bad ideas I have:
1. New wrangler
2. New Tacoma
3. New Subaru (MIGHT still be able to find a Crosstrek with 3 pedals).
4. Used panther platform car (old person town-car or grand marquis).
5. Used Accord
6. Used Mazda 6

Talk me into or out of a bad / good idea. All of the new cars listed, are there because used/new prices are virtually identical, I would rather buy new and wait a few months, than pay new prices for a 3 yo vehicle that is out of warranty.
Click to expand...
If you want 3 pedals stay away from a new Jeep. I have on and the engine has soooooo little tq I hate it. In 4wd you have to floor it just not to stall on and type of incline. With a trailer forget it, and when wheeling with it just go right to 4lo
 
Monkeynono said:
If you want 3 pedals stay away from a new Jeep. I have on and the engine has soooooo little tq I hate it. In 4wd you have to floor it just not to stall on and type of incline. With a trailer forget it, and when wheeling with it just go right to 4lo
Click to expand...
I appreciate that update! I have an LJ, so it would be really hard to justify a new JL or JLU to the wife anyway.

She wants a bronco, but Ford dropped the 3-pedal option from the 4 door....so they are kind of dead to her.
 
shelby27604 said:
I appreciate that update! I have an LJ, so it would be really hard to justify a new JL or JLU to the wife anyway.

She wants a bronco, but Ford dropped the 3-pedal option from the 4 door....so they are kind of dead to her.
Click to expand...
They only dropped the 3 pedal for 2023 (All manuals, not just 4 doors), It should be back in 2024 after they get the new Rangers running on the line.
 
I'd go with the Tacoma if you're looking at low maintenance for 100k. Having said that I'm looking at 4 door wranglers right now.
 
V1Rotate said:
Wish they’d offer the MT in the 2.7. Or better yet a 5.0
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They'd have to source a much better transmission, the failure rate behind the 2.3 is pretty abysmal as it is.

None the less when I had to choose between the six and the manual, it really wasn't a contest.
 
you should get this....you get the Crown Vic but its spiced up a bit. Maybe manual swap?

wyndscreen.com

Wyndscreen

A better car market.
wyndscreen.com wyndscreen.com
 

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Trying to talk the wife into either selling her moms Caddy DTS or bringing it here so we can use it as a cheap teenager car since she can't drive any longer.
 
Jody Treadway said:
What is your budget and vehicle purpose (simply commuter or also haul/carry stuff)?
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Yes? In a perfect world, I would buy a brand new XJ.

Looking for a good, all around vehicle, something I can drive to work or the trailhead with gear and a dog in tow, that won't need major repairs AND has parts availability in the event parts are required.

Our newest/lowest mileage vehicle is 12 years old with just under 200k on the clock.
 
benXJ said:
Keep an eye on BaT. Every once in a while a super low mileage XJ pops up.
Click to expand...
That doesn't change the fact it will still be a 20 yo vehicle. Reliability and an absence of every single piece of plastic creaking at every bump in the road is.... important.

I have an XJ...it will stay in the stable and get a lot more care and attention than it has gotten, while being our workhorse for the last 5 years.
 
shelby27604 said:
6. Used Mazda 6
Click to expand...
If you like a stick and a fun car, can't go wrong w/ Mazda.
I absolutely love my Mazda3 S w/ the 2.5L motor and 6 speed. Not a single problem since bought new in 2018. Last Mazda I had went from 120k to 220k.

Pre-'20 models still have a lot of option configs w/ a stick. Now you can only get it w/ the top trim package :kaioken:
 
RatLabGuy said:
If you like a stick and a fun car, can't go wrong w/ Mazda.
I absolutely love my Mazda3 S w/ the 2.5L motor and 6 speed. Not a single problem since bought new in 2018. Last Mazda I had went from 120k to 220k.

Pre-'20 models still have a lot of option configs w/ a stick. Now you can only get it w/ the top trim package :kaioken:
Click to expand...
SEE! Manuals don't sell!!!

is what they say when they aren't offered in appealing configs

they think we are stupid.....and I guess we are
 
shelby27604 said:
Yes? In a perfect world, I would buy a brand new XJ.
Click to expand...
Yes! I'd like a small runaround SUV that I could slap some 32's on and occasionally go wheeling. Wranglers and Broncos are a billion dollars, and everything else is Bud Light. I just want a a simple 4 door SUV with a hatch, 4wd, and a manual.
 
jeepinmatt said:
Yes! I'd like a small runaround SUV that I could slap some 32's on and occasionally go wheeling. Wranglers and Broncos are a billion dollars, and everything else is Bud Light. I just want a a simple 4 door SUV with a hatch, 4wd, and a manual.
Click to expand...
"I want it to still be the 90s!"

Also - me too.
I miss Nervana and dialup internet.
 
RatLabGuy said:
"I want it to still be the 90s!"

Also - me too.
I miss Nervana and dialup internet.
Click to expand...
Back when "me too" just meant "I also" and there was no hashtag.
 
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