Next project

[msmemory_archive]

OK, on to the next thing. I need a new car. At least, new to me. Candidate makes and models include Toyota (Prius, Corolla, Matrix), Subaru (Forester, Outback), Chevy something, Saturn something, Honda something. Or something else I haven't thought of.

Must have: mpg comparable to Prism (~30), auto trans, CD, excellent acceleration (I do have to drive in Boston), support system convenient to my home, rear window defrost. I expect to drive it for more than 100,000 miles, so reliability is key.

Comments

Car Talk

[hungrytiger]

We're also buying a new car now, so here's the results of my research. Our top three choices were the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and Subaru Legacy (same as the Outback but without some of the off-road stuff and therefore cheaper). It looks like we'll be going for the Subaru Legacy, mostly because it's the only one of those three that comes in a wagon format, which is something we're now concerned about for obvious reasons.

Given what you said about reliability, and assuming that you don't need a wagon, I'll give you the same advice my mechanic gave me... go with a Honda Accord or a Toyota Camry (or the Honda Civic/Toyota Corolla if you want something smaller). We've test-driven both and thought very highly of them. They both score at the top of the charts for dependability, which my mechanic echoed. I like Honda better then Toyota due to their internal stylings, but the cars are very similar. The Accord is almost a constant fixture on the Car & Driver Top 10 list.

One thing my research did pick up on though is that you might want to avoid the Saturn. Various reports have said that they test quite poorly for long-term reliability. I chatted with some friends and co-workers who own Saturns and while they do love them, most of them lease their cars and get a new one every 3-4 years so they never encounter the long-term ownership problems that you or I would.

Not that I think you'd have any problems finding info yourself, but here are two sites I found very useful in my search: The J.D. Power Consumer Center and Car & Driver Magazine.

Re: Car Talk

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

A wagon is a definite possibility for us. While we don't have your reasons for wanting one, hauling gear to events, games, and cons would be a nice plus.

Where is there a Subaru dealership in the NW area (Waltham to Stoneham-ish)?

Re: Car Talk

[hungrytiger]

Subaru dealers in the area are:

Cityside Subaru - One Broadway, Arlington
Natick Subaru - 948 Worcester Rd, Natick
Village Subaru - 61 Powdermill Rd, Acton
Subaru of Wakefield - 888 Main St, Wakefield
Car Mart Subaru - 277 Main St, Wilmington
Ira Subaru - 97 Andover St, Danvers
Norwood Subaru - 842 Providence Hwy, Norwood

The model we're probably going to get is the new 35th Anniversary Edition Legacy Wagon.

For the record, you can also get the Ford Taurus in a wagon model, but we gave it a test-drive and it felt like a boat [The Ford Focus wagon is supposed to be much better, but is smaller than we're looking for]. The VW Passat wagon is another possibility, but we're not fond of VWs and given that the car is more expensive and requires premium gas we nixed it

Re: Car Talk

[tpau]

cityside is not so hot, is where i got my forester from.

if you want good milage, go for a hyondai, they are very nice and very inexpencive, and have a very nice warrantee. they are however small.

Re: Car Talk

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

I was quite happy with Wakefield; their prices aren't the best (you'll probably pay $200-300 more there), but their service is definitely tops.

Re: Car Talk

[keshwyn]

Cityside has a bad habit of being thoroughly condescending toward women, however, or at least it did the last time I was foolish enough to go there. :/ In the one test drive and the seven or eight visits I made there while I owned a Subaru, I got talked down to every single time.

I was -markedly- unimpressed by their behavior when I bought my last Subaru - I ended up going to Natick. Natick was OK, but it was really far away from where I am now, so I wasn't so thrilled.

Now I have a Honda Civic from Honda Cars of Boston (Everett) and I love the car. And the service department has yet to condescend to me at all.