I need a vehicle

[papsrus]

The old Miata is breaking down. Last month the clutch. Now the radiator. Time for a new vehicle.

I'm thinking pre-owned, something like a Rav -- smaller SUV type thing, or station wagon/hatch-back deal with room for five. The Rav isn't really quite the answer for 5 passengers. But something along those lines. Has to have good gas mileage.

As I know next to nothing about vehicles, I thought some of you might have some ideas.

Will check consumer reports also.

thanks

[Chuck Nessa]

Check out the Mazda 3 five door.

[jostber]

Go ecological. That's the only way now.

http://www.toyota.com/prius-hybrid/

http://www.teslamotors.com/

Edited September 26, 2009 by jostber

[AllenLowe]

how about a sitcom?

[sjarrell]

I went from a Miata to a 2005 Scion XB. It's a different experience handling-wise, but it'll fit 5 if it has to, 4 easily. And they're relatively cheap. I mean, I have one...

[AllenLowe]

maybe a musical, as long as it doesn't require too much dancing -

[Bright Moments]

how about a sitcom?

rofl - allen that was a good one!

how about a smart car?

[Guy Berger]

The old Miata is breaking down. Last month the clutch. Now the radiator. Time for a new vehicle.

I'm thinking pre-owned, something like a Rav -- smaller SUV type thing, or station wagon/hatch-back deal with room for five. The Rav isn't really quite the answer for 5 passengers. But something along those lines. Has to have good gas mileage.

As I know next to nothing about vehicles, I thought some of you might have some ideas.

Will check consumer reports also.

thanks

Check out Edmunds as well.

What about the Ford Escape Hybrid? Probably has solid mileage... not sure about the quality since it's an American car but Ford usually gets good reviews.

The Prius someone suggested sounds like it might be up your alley. Don't like the look of the car myself but it is much larger than it seems.

[papsrus]

maybe a musical, as long as it doesn't require too much dancing -

After reading the suggestions so far, I've decided to just retire from driving and stay home with Bright Moments' signature girl.

The Prius looks good. I've heard that the mileage gains on these hybrids come mainly with city driving and not so much with highway miles. I guess that makes sense.

[Chuck Nessa]

How will we dispose of the batteries? Kinda like the atomic energy crap we were sold.

[AllenLowe]

you can bury 'em in my back yard -

kiss my ass, Couw -

[BERIGAN]

How will we dispose of the batteries? Kinda like the atomic energy crap we were sold.

I think I have heard of companies breaking down and recycling auto batteries components.

Now, is there enough Lithium out there????

http://www.cnbceb.com/alternative-energy-e...ous-metal/1029/

[Chuck Nessa]

How will we dispose of the batteries? Kinda like the atomic energy crap we were sold.

I think I have heard of companies breaking down and recycling auto batteries components.

Now, is there enough Lithium out there????

http://www.cnbceb.com/alternative-energy-e...ous-metal/1029/

Just what I needed - something you think you heard.

[papsrus]

This is going to be more complicated than I thought.

Anyone heard anything good, bad or otherwise about the Hyundai Elantra Touring? Gets 23/30 mpg. Not great, but not bad. Seems to have about the right kind of room I'm looking for. Fairly reasonably priced -- around $17,000 new. And in this economic environment, I bet I could whittle that down. If I could find a used one, so much the better.

[Chuck Nessa]

Great warranty, nice looking.

[PHILLYQ]

This is going to be more complicated than I thought.

Anyone heard anything good, bad or otherwise about the Hyundai Elantra Touring? Gets 23/30 mpg. Not great, but not bad. Seems to have about the right kind of room I'm looking for. Fairly reasonably priced -- around $17,000 new. And in this economic environment, I bet I could whittle that down. If I could find a used one, so much the better.

I owned a Hyundai a while back(bought new) and a a friend of mine bought an Elantra a few years ago. We both had the same experience- for the first year or two it ran well and then it fix,fix,fix after that. Not major stuff, but enough to annoy the crap out of you and put a slow drain on the wallet. Tha's the experience of two people in Brooklyn, so YMMV.

[papsrus]

Great warranty, nice looking.

It does appeal to me as well. There's a review here, with some owner comments that echo Phillyq's concerns.

The Mazda3 is appealing also, but I'm thinking it may be a bit tight.

That Edmunds.com mentioned above, which I'd not heard of, seems like a great place to search for vehicles.

[jostber]

How will we dispose of the batteries? Kinda like the atomic energy crap we were sold.

http://www.teslamotors.com/blog4/?p=66

[Aggie87]

kiss my ass, Couw -

That really wasn't necessary was it?

Couw was a great board member run off by unpleasant encounters on this board.

C'mon Allen, you can be bigger than that.

[Tim McG]

Great warranty, nice looking.

It does appeal to me as well. There's a review here, with some owner comments that echo Phillyq's concerns.

The Mazda3 is appealing also, but I'm thinking it may be a bit tight.

That Edmunds.com mentioned above, which I'd not heard of, seems like a great place to search for vehicles.

Honda is advertising a new hybrid sedan for 20 grand.

[Chuck Nessa]

How will we dispose of the batteries? Kinda like the atomic energy crap we were sold.

http://www.teslamotors.com/blog4/?p=66

I don't trust anyone selling the "hottest new thing - trust us".

[Larry Kart]

I've had two Subarus in a row -- a 2003 Outback wagon and then a 2007 Legacy sedan. (The 2003 wagon was still fine; sold it 18 months after my wife passed away when I finally grasped the fact that one person didn't need two cars.) Terrific, top-value cars in their price range IMO, especially if you live where there's winter weather. All Subarus have all-wheel drive, and theirs is the best such system I believe. Can't count the number of days I was able to handle road conditions that most other cars, SUVs, etc. were having big trouble with.

[AllenLowe]

I've had a few Subarus too - only extra advice I would give is to sell them at about 100K - both of mine began rapid disintegration at that point.

Edited September 28, 2009 by AllenLowe

[Free For All]

Another Subaru fan here. I've had a couple Foresters and they've been great cars, never a problem.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Do you have some kind of government scrapping system over there to help the ailing motor industry? We turned in our ten year old Daihatsu (just qualified by two days!) for a new Nissan Micra auto 1.2 a few months ago and got two grand off for a car that wasn't worth anything much really. 56 mpg. My wife really likes it.

MG