Car Survey
Mar 6th 2004, 3:53 am
#16
A lion in your lap
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Sparta NJ
Posts: 7,605
Bought a new Honda CR-V six weeks ago, and think it's fab. However, the cost of car insurance in NJ is f***ing criminal.
Mar 6th 2004, 4:03 am
#17
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 875
We had a Ford Escape which is a smallish SUV. Love the damn thing, being the pathetic thing that I am, I cried when we sold it. Of course I cheered up when I got a new one here in Oz. I wouldn't worry about petrol prices as it is still cheap comparative to other countries.
Mar 6th 2004, 4:30 am
#18
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 148
'96 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet
'01 Volkswagen Passat V6
Ecstatic with both of them. Obviously, I would recommend the Porsche, but the Passat is a great car too. Good performance (2.8L V6 engine), ride a little more 'spongy' than a European car, but much better than the typical US car.
We looked at US brands with a view to buying from AutoSource, but every colleague of mine advised me to buy European or Japanese. My personal experience with rental cars backs this up - the only good rentals I've had have been a Mazda Protege and a Toyota Avalon. The US cars - US Ford Escort, Dodge Stratus etc - have been uniformly awful.
Cheers,
Pat
'01 Volkswagen Passat V6
Ecstatic with both of them. Obviously, I would recommend the Porsche, but the Passat is a great car too. Good performance (2.8L V6 engine), ride a little more 'spongy' than a European car, but much better than the typical US car.
We looked at US brands with a view to buying from AutoSource, but every colleague of mine advised me to buy European or Japanese. My personal experience with rental cars backs this up - the only good rentals I've had have been a Mazda Protege and a Toyota Avalon. The US cars - US Ford Escort, Dodge Stratus etc - have been uniformly awful.
Cheers,
Pat
Mar 6th 2004, 4:33 am
#19
Sad old Crinkly Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Tallahassee, Florida
Posts: 807
Passat V6 here too 
That and a Golf to keep it company.
I'm hoping they will breed and give birth to a V12 pheaton.
We love them both, really great cars. Much better than the Jeep Grand Cherokee we bought when we first arrived. Big mistake !!!
I know what you mean about the Spongyness Super.
We fitted aftermarket shocks to get a firmer ride.
Super have you looked at
www.clubb5.com
A fantastic site for the Passat.
That and a Golf to keep it company.
I'm hoping they will breed and give birth to a V12 pheaton.
We love them both, really great cars. Much better than the Jeep Grand Cherokee we bought when we first arrived. Big mistake !!!
I know what you mean about the Spongyness Super.
We fitted aftermarket shocks to get a firmer ride.
Super have you looked at
www.clubb5.com
A fantastic site for the Passat.
Last edited by excpomea; Mar 6th 2004 at 4:36 am.
Mar 6th 2004, 5:08 am
#20
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,439
Originally posted by elfman
Bought a new Honda CR-V six weeks ago, and think it's fab. However, the cost of car insurance in NJ is f***ing criminal.
Bought a new Honda CR-V six weeks ago, and think it's fab. However, the cost of car insurance in NJ is f***ing criminal.
)It pisses me off that people whinge about American cars. The two Fords have given me no problems at all - every bit as good as the Jap tin boxes, cheaper to insure, and much cheaper to service.
Some Chevys, and the cheaper Fords have historically had poor build quality, but all the US manfacturers have at last realised that they have to shape up and build cars that can compete with the Japanese and European manufacturers, not only in build quality, but also in handling and economy.
Mar 6th 2004, 3:13 pm
#21
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Edmonton.
Posts: 1,043
The other day I was looking to buy a dishwasher and a few of the members mentioned consumer reports.
I joined up at the consumer reports site and on there they have quite a comprehensive list of which used cars to avoid and a list that they recommend based on reliability.
You do have to pay to join the site but it is only $26 for the year. It's quite useful, I've been looking at possibly buying another car in the summer and it's been very handy for research.
Consumer Reports
I joined up at the consumer reports site and on there they have quite a comprehensive list of which used cars to avoid and a list that they recommend based on reliability.
You do have to pay to join the site but it is only $26 for the year. It's quite useful, I've been looking at possibly buying another car in the summer and it's been very handy for research.
Consumer Reports
Mar 6th 2004, 8:33 pm
#22
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 148
Originally posted by excpomea
We fitted aftermarket shocks to get a firmer ride.
We fitted aftermarket shocks to get a firmer ride.
What brand shocks did you fit? Cost? Mind you, as Karen is 5 months pregnant, she won't really be looking for a firmer ride for the next few months...
Oo-er - did I really type that???
Pat
Mar 7th 2004, 10:17 am
#23
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Morgan Hill, CA
Posts: 129
ROFL!
Mar 7th 2004, 12:29 pm
#24
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 920
Originally posted by Pulaski
It pisses me off that people whinge about American cars. The two Fords have given me no problems at all - every bit as good as the Jap tin boxes, cheaper to insure, and much cheaper to service.
Some Chevys, and the cheaper Fords have historically had poor build quality, but all the US manfacturers have at last realised that they have to shape up and build cars that can compete with the Japanese and European manufacturers, not only in build quality, but also in handling and economy.
It pisses me off that people whinge about American cars. The two Fords have given me no problems at all - every bit as good as the Jap tin boxes, cheaper to insure, and much cheaper to service.
Some Chevys, and the cheaper Fords have historically had poor build quality, but all the US manfacturers have at last realised that they have to shape up and build cars that can compete with the Japanese and European manufacturers, not only in build quality, but also in handling and economy.
Mar 7th 2004, 1:22 pm
#25
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,894
You need a truck over here I am told, on the strength of that advice we just got a Toyota Tacoma 2 wd.
Mar 7th 2004, 8:19 pm
#26
Sad old Crinkly Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Tallahassee, Florida
Posts: 807
Originally posted by superpat
Hi excpy (not sure how to abbreviate that!),
What brand shocks did you fit? Cost? Mind you, as Karen is 5 months pregnant, she won't really be looking for a firmer ride for the next few months...
Oo-er - did I really type that???
Pat
Hi excpy (not sure how to abbreviate that!),
What brand shocks did you fit? Cost? Mind you, as Karen is 5 months pregnant, she won't really be looking for a firmer ride for the next few months...
Oo-er - did I really type that???
Pat
http://www.clubb5.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=36105
This should make things a little firmer
Mar 9th 2004, 2:26 am
#27
Account Closed
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 636
Originally posted by elfman
Bought a new Honda CR-V six weeks ago, and think it's fab. However, the cost of car insurance in NJ is f***ing criminal.
Bought a new Honda CR-V six weeks ago, and think it's fab. However, the cost of car insurance in NJ is f***ing criminal.
Too right is the car insurance is f***ing criminal...apparently its because of all the law suits.
My boss has moved over the NJ/NY border by about 30 secs and pays around 40% less there.
Im lucky and have my car insurance through work,
By the way my car is a ford focus. Not my choice unfortunatley,
On another note how do think the Smart Cars would go over here, I reckon they would be brilliant in NYC, you could part in all those just to small for a ford focus gaps between all the Tank size SUV's.
Mar 10th 2004, 3:04 pm
#28
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 52
Re: Car Survey
Originally posted by Caligirl4ever
Hubby and I are moving to Central California in April and obviously we are going to have to buy a car..sooooo my questions to those who are in the States:
1) What type of car did you buy? new/used?
2) Are you happy with it?
3) If not, what car would you have purchased instead?
Now that petro is increasing I'm having second thoughts about buying a sports utility vehicle.
Thanks a bunch in advance!
Hubby and I are moving to Central California in April and obviously we are going to have to buy a car..sooooo my questions to those who are in the States:
1) What type of car did you buy? new/used?
2) Are you happy with it?
3) If not, what car would you have purchased instead?
Now that petro is increasing I'm having second thoughts about buying a sports utility vehicle.
Thanks a bunch in advance!
I have just purchased a new Audi A4 convertible, which I love. Having replaced a S type Jag, which was crap. My wife got an Infinity SUV for her birthday, and she love that.
Mar 10th 2004, 3:11 pm
#29
Gone but not forgotten. RIP
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,570
Re: Car Survey
Originally posted by Caligirl4ever
Hubby and I are moving to Central California in April and obviously we are going to have to buy a car..sooooo my questions to those who are in the States:
1) What type of car did you buy? new/used?
2) Are you happy with it?
3) If not, what car would you have purchased instead?
Now that petro is increasing I'm having second thoughts about buying a sports utility vehicle.
Thanks a bunch in advance!
Hubby and I are moving to Central California in April and obviously we are going to have to buy a car..sooooo my questions to those who are in the States:
1) What type of car did you buy? new/used?
2) Are you happy with it?
3) If not, what car would you have purchased instead?
Now that petro is increasing I'm having second thoughts about buying a sports utility vehicle.
Thanks a bunch in advance!
Mar 10th 2004, 3:16 pm
#30
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Morgan Hill, CA
Posts: 129
TRPardoe, So what about the Ford 150's?