if you were going to buy a new or newer car

[todd0]

i was reading the owner reviews of the yaris and the scion xb. i like both cars but several owners of both complained about how easily the paint chips, and how it appears to have little clear coat to it, one described the paint as soft. when i looked at the brochure of the 86 tercel, and saw the picture explaining the paint process, it made me wonder if things are done as well now as then. i guess id tend to think the quality isnt as good as it was. reading how disappointed some owners seemed to be with the easily chipping paint, made me think maybe that was a car i wouldnt want after all, and what it might look when it is 20 plus yrs old. whats your opinion? and what kind of car you would buy if getting something newer. i like very few of the new cars, they all look alike to me.

[4wdchico]

'09 Honda Fit, tons of room. As in really hard to believe how much room is in those small cars! The 5 speed auto with paddle shifters might be lots of fun. I have only sat in one, but all the reviewers say how this car really is fun to drive, "engaging" is a term that stuck with me.

[terceldude]

why would you? The tercel is kick-ass!

However, if you did, I would go after, perhaps, a BMW 7-Series:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3 ... 837?ref=ts

or a Nissan Skyline R35

[Petros]

of the newer cars, the only two I would consider to replace the Tercel is the Matrix AWD or the Suzuki Aveo 4wd. I need and want the 4wd for where we live, all the other 4wd or AWD are bigger and get poor economy (including most of the Subarus).

Both of these cars cost a lot, and I doubt will take the abuse the Tercel does. Suzuki makes a pretty well made car, with an amazing modern engine, but very complex. Other models have held up well (Suzuki swift/Geo Metro, and the Geo Tracker), so I would have to see about the Aveo. But frankly, both of them are way beyond my budget for a car to beat up on back roads. I think the Matrix AWD is in the mid $20k range, the Aveo is about $15k. I can build a custom Tercel 4wd with a performance engine swap, brake and suspension upgrades and custom interior for about $3k, which is more fun to do anyway.

Besides, all the newer cars track your movements and record your driving habits so the cops can see what you are up to. I think I will stick to restoring "junkers" without all the "big brother" equipment on them. I have driven well over 1 million miles withOUT all that gimmicky, costly, monitoring and navigation equipment, so I have determined to continue to do so for the rest of my life. which means I will be looking for Tercel parts for a long time, better start stocking up now.

[todd0]

i like the older cars better too, i was just doing some reading about the yaris and scion and was kinda surprised about pple complaining of chips and poor quality paint in brand new cars. i have an 4x4 toyota van that i wouldnt trade for any of the new ones, despite its quirks. i still cant come to terms with paying 20k or more for a car. i never liked the bmw's just2 yuppie for me.

[splatterdog]

Newer cars are not much more reliable than older ones. Lots and lots of parts that can fail. Many of those parts cost as much or more than an old terc in need of some love.

They have been overcomplexified while ignoring quality standards. Some good ideas get ruined by saving pennies on one component. Also, in the nearly marine environment cars endure, do you want a car that not only has larger electrical requirements but is totally dependent on electronics. Even more wires and now lots more thought processes to bring it all down. Lots of factory forced gadgets too, to enhance the overall price of the vehicle. But still can't get the mileage or reliability of an old terc....

Don't forget about all the gvmt. is doing to save you from yourself with safety requirements. One good newer one being TPMS. More parts,procedures,modules,specialty tools, and needing to "pay for air" as nitrogen is the recommended inflation gas to avoid sensor damage. Don't motorists know how to use a pressure gauge anymore? sheesh. Oh well, one more light on the dash to tell you it's time to spend money.

I too will be driving a T4WD until no longer feasable. They do so much with so little. I have worked on thousands of cars and they don't get much cheaper or easier to work on(although I did take the easy way out with weber carbs). Open the hood these days and you might not see engine let alone the ground below. Some engine R&R's book out at 20-30 hours nowadays. I could R&R a whole terc with that time!

Sorry I couldn't help with any suggestions. This would be a better question on another forum perhaps?

[keith]

Oh I think something like this would be nice

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/ ... 2369.story

Enjoy, and be sure to click on the video, it is awesome, check out the rear view mirror.

[takza]

Oh I think something like this would be nice

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/ ... 2369.story

Enjoy, and be sure to click on the video, it is awesome, check out the rear view mirror.

"You can tell that he was so excited that he almost forgot to brake," said Summit race director Nettie Damon, who clocked Saboury's eighth-mile and quarter-mile times.

Probably about passed out from the G-forces?

[todd0]

maybe i should have titled it quality of new cars.

[keith]

I like the original title.

[splatterdog]

OK. My previous post was not very helpfull. It wasn't titled "why new cars suck". After careful consideration I have concluded-

If I was to buy a newer car it would be an 86,87,88 T4wd.

A Corolla alltrac would also do in a pinch.

Any arguments?

[Highlander]

New to me? or just newer than what i have? My last new car is just 6 mos younger than I am But its sooo much more affordable than any NEW sports car! 40+ mpg! what a gas!! OK not much help, friend of mine here at work sold his Honda Civic with the twin cam and bought a FiT, he loves it, I'm not sold. JMHO

[vervepipes]

I have a yaris sedan as my primary car and yes the paint chips and scratches very easily. It also has a very small trunk but as a commuter it serves its purpose well.