Members james on bass Posted January 6, 2009 Members Share Posted January 6, 2009 My '97 Dodge is about ready to be retired. My wife got a Ford Focus wagon a couple years ago that we love, but Ford doesn't make the wagon or even a 5 door hatch anymore. I'd love a Ford Flex, but they are out of my price range and I would like to have a 4 cylinder, 5 speed if possible. Anyone here own a PT Cruiser or Chevy HHR? I drove a number of brand new PTs 7 years ago and loved them, but am not sure what they are like once they age. The Chevy HHR is sweet looking as well. We usually buy our cars new, or nearly new and drive them 'till they die. I am a stickler for routine lubes and preventative maintenance. So...what's good these days? PT Cruiser Chevy HHR Pontiac Vibe Pontiac G5 Please don't bother recommending an import. I know they make good cars, but you won't see one in my driveway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Goofball Jones Posted January 6, 2009 Members Share Posted January 6, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author Craig Vecchione Posted January 6, 2009 CMS Author Share Posted January 6, 2009 I'd avoid the HHR or PT unless you know for certain that you're gonna drive them into the ground. They're definitely "love it or hate it" type cars, and that can make resale difficult and costly. I agree that Ford {censored}ed up royally when they "updated" the Focus line by dropping the two coolest examples of the car. The older ones even looked better too. I'd love to have a torch red Focus wagon or hatch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fingeringam Posted January 6, 2009 Members Share Posted January 6, 2009 {censored} YA goofball! Ramble wagon owner and lover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tylytle Posted January 6, 2009 Members Share Posted January 6, 2009 Does Canada make a car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members james on bass Posted January 6, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 6, 2009 Does Canada make a car? Quite a few of the cars you guys are driving (or being pulled over by). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JeffBass Posted January 6, 2009 Members Share Posted January 6, 2009 I rented a PT Cruiser in California a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed driving it. It's a bit smaller and handles better than the HHR but I prefer the HHR's extra room. You might wanna consider the new Saturn Astra. I got voted a top ten car of 2008 by my local news publication (The Herald). They're more "european" in styling, handling and definitely more solid feeling, like a poor man's Beamer. Sharp. Drive them all. Now's a good time to buy so make'm work for your money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members james on bass Posted January 7, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 7, 2009 You might wanna consider the new Saturn Astra. Now's a good time to buy so make'm work for your money. I forgot about that one. Thanks. I'm hearing rumours of the Canadian gubment throwing some of the bailout money to us regular folk by the way of no taxes (federal, provincial, or both) for new car purchases. On top of the huge discounts and 0% financing, I'm thinking now's the time to retire the old car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thunderbroom Posted January 7, 2009 Members Share Posted January 7, 2009 If you want me to look up a few specific cars, let me know. I have a CR subscription. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members james on bass Posted January 7, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 7, 2009 If you want me to look up a few specific cars, let me know. I have a CR subscription. Thanks T-broom. I'll keep that in mind. I may start looking in the next week or so, but a purchase is a few weeks down the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members T. Alan Smith Posted January 7, 2009 Members Share Posted January 7, 2009 The Subaru Impreza WRX hatchback really impressed me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members L. Ron Hoover Posted January 7, 2009 Members Share Posted January 7, 2009 If you're discounting imports you're seriously leaving out the best cars in that class. At this stage in the game the typical Honda, Toyota or Mazda is likely just as made in the US or Canada as the typical Ford, GM or Chrysler so I don't really see how it matters all that much. I suppose the ultimate profit does go overseas but is that any worse than giving it to GM or Chrysler so they can flush it down the {censored}ter? If you were to consider an import, the Mazda3 is very much like the Focus (same platform). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members L. Ron Hoover Posted January 7, 2009 Members Share Posted January 7, 2009 The Subaru Impreza WRX hatchback really impressed me. Great car to drive. The interior is seriously lacking compared to the other cars in its class, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members philthygeezer Posted January 7, 2009 Members Share Posted January 7, 2009 Great car to drive. The interior is seriously lacking compared to the other cars in its class, though. Yeah - this seems true of Subarus as compared to hondas and Mazdas. The running gear is nice tho. To the OP: Would you rather drive a Honda built in the US or a Chevy built in Mexico or Canada? Would you buy a Chevy imported from Korea eg. the Daewoo Aveo over a domestic-built Toyota? I could have bought a Mexican Chevy Cavalier or a Honda Civic built just down the road in Alliston Ontario. The choice would be easy for me. The world is flat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members g.ghost Posted January 7, 2009 Members Share Posted January 7, 2009 You say you won't have an "import" in your driveway, well the PT Cruiser and the Chev HHR are both made in Mexico and I think that would technically be "imported" to you in Canada. The Pontiac Vibe is built in California as a joint venture between Pontiac & Toyota. When I go car shopping, I look for the best car for the money that suits my needs...don't worry so much about import or domestic. Check out country of origin of my basses in my sig:US, Korea, Mexico, Japan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members garytees Posted January 7, 2009 Members Share Posted January 7, 2009 I'm curious about the Dodge Patriot ('08 model). How are they? http://www.jeep.com/en/2008/patriot/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jonathan_matos5 Posted January 7, 2009 Members Share Posted January 7, 2009 all i can say is test drive all you can find and take home what you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members John S. Shinal Posted January 7, 2009 Members Share Posted January 7, 2009 I have a Toyota Matrix, which is what the Pon/tiac Vibe is (different factory, mine is from Canada). It's economical, has TONS of cargo space and load capacity, and I've hauled lots of big, boxy music and camping gear in it. If you get it with side air-bags and ABS brakes, it has an extremely high safety rating for all crashes, and all passenger locations. I've had it for 3 years, and am VERY satisfied. Actually gets the 27/34 MPG claimed, and insurance is cheap. Though I prefer manual transmissions, this is one auto that doesn't make me angry - it shifts where I want it to, unusual for my experience, and has an Overdrive Off button on the shifter for passing/acceleration convenience. Mine is the regular 1.8L engine, not the supercharged (170hp) one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JeffBass Posted January 7, 2009 Members Share Posted January 7, 2009 The Matrix/Vibes are real nice. There's a new Jeep Compass out in the parking lot here and I like it. The engine/drivetrains are a newly designed by some "global" venture with engineers from Mitsubishi, Chrysler, Hyundai and some other company? Anyway, it's a 4 cylinder that's efficient and performs well. Coupled with the CVT they get very good mileage. I test drove a Dodge Caliber with the same engine (170hp one) and it was smooth. The CVT takes a little getting used to. Drive them all and pit the dealers against eachother. I keep a written log with ratings, options and prices with me when car shopping. When they (the salesman) sees that they know you ain't a sucker!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lug Posted January 7, 2009 Members Share Posted January 7, 2009 After carefully reading all your criteria, I've come up with the perfect car for you. The Nissan 370Z! Really, no need to thank me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members chunky-b Posted January 7, 2009 Members Share Posted January 7, 2009 After carefully reading all your criteria, I've come up with the perfect car for you. The Nissan 370Z! *snip* Really, no need to thank me. There is a dealership in Alabama that has a yellow one on CL already... Looks sweet!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members L. Ron Hoover Posted January 7, 2009 Members Share Posted January 7, 2009 After carefully reading all your criteria, I've come up with the perfect car for you. The Nissan 370Z! Really, no need to thank me. I'm really, really liking the 370Z. What a good-looking car. A bit reminiscent of the Porshce 911 if you ask me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members L. Ron Hoover Posted January 7, 2009 Members Share Posted January 7, 2009 The Matrix/Vibes are real nice. There's a new Jeep Compass out in the parking lot here and I like it. The engine/drivetrains are a newly designed by some "global" venture with engineers from Mitsubishi, Chrysler, Hyundai and some other company? Anyway, it's a 4 cylinder that's efficient and performs well. Coupled with the CVT they get very good mileage. I test drove a Dodge Caliber with the same engine (170hp one) and it was smooth. The CVT takes a little getting used to. Drive them all and pit the dealers against eachother. I keep a written log with ratings, options and prices with me when car shopping. When they (the salesman) sees that they know you ain't a sucker!! Good advice here. Whatever you do don't say anything like "I really want this car." What did you think of the Caliber otherwise? I rented one in October and I thought it was the worst car I ever drove. Noisy, spongy handling, plastic everything, etc. It was a really huge step back from the Subaru Impreza I rented prior to the Caliber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members John S. Shinal Posted January 7, 2009 Members Share Posted January 7, 2009 Ron, maybe that was a "base model" Caliber ? A good friend has one I ride in occasionally, and it's always been comfortable, no noticeable surge to the suspension, etc. His is one of the more lux versions. I don't really like getting in and out of it, but otherwise it seems OK. The largest one I've seen in the "crossover" genre is the Nissan Murano. Honestly, it's just a height-shortened SUV, but it is very roomy inside and seems well executed. I always thought the CUV concept was lots of room in a SMALL car, though. Lately it's jsut the latest buzzword they advertise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lug Posted January 7, 2009 Members Share Posted January 7, 2009 I'm really, really liking the 370Z. What a good-looking car. A bit reminiscent of the Porshce 911 if you ask me. back end seems a lot like a 928 to me. 332 HP, 3232 lbs., around $30K = pretty good go for the dough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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