Car buying - HX/Echo/Focus, correct values

[War_Wagon]

I buy and sell a lot of cars, and one thing I always hear is never buy a VW. Don't mean to start a flame war, but I have never had a good experience with them (except for the TDI's). A TDI with a 5 speed is a great car, but I would avoid a gas one like the plague.

The fact that there are lots of them available where as the Echo etc are in high demand and hard to find is a good indicator of where they should rank on the desirability scale. Again, just my $.02.

[Ryland]

I agree with War Wagon, my room mate has VW Jetta and a friend up the street has a Passat both friends spend alot keeping their cars on the road, stuff wears out quickly and some parts cost a fair amount more, like we found a handful of parts on my room mates jetta that we could only get from the dealer, they both love how they drive but want to get rid of their cars because they can't afford to own them.
I like Honda's because they tend to be on the other end of the spectrum when it comes to repairs, of course if they have been owned by teenagers they figure they have been trashed and you should walk away, but that holds true for any car.

[justjohn]

Interesting. I have 2 friends with jettas, one with a golf, one with a passat. They all love their cars. The passat owner especially. Of course, he has the turbo and it's chipped so it has like 250 horsepower plus he likes to tinker anyway.

I heard Echos didn't sell that well, which I figured was part of the reason they were rare. I do know someone with an Echo who loves it as well though, so people just hanging on to theirs could definitely be a factor.

I think the hardest part is finding manuals period, actually. The whole market is down to 15% manual from what I understand.

[JMac]

I have borrowed and extensively driven a 2002 Civic DX sedan which drove much nicer than the 6th gen Civic I currently own. The DX averages 36-37mpg on mostly highway driving by my non-hypermiling friend. I believe that HX is on the same frame and suspension as the DX sedan, right? If it is, it's a nice, small, but not too small car. Driving the DX sedan at 70-80mph on the highway was a breeze. It rode very well even at those speeds.

There's my .02 about the 7th gen Civic.
JMac

[user removed]

I would get the Echo and be patient. No timing belt, beam rear axle, lightweight. Hold out for a 2 dr manual. The one I had would easily do 47 MPG and even got it to 57 using engine off P&G.

A stripper with manual and no AC would probably go cheap. I got mine for $3k over a year ago, sold it a while back, when I got a bike that did 80+ MPG.

regards
Mech

[darcane]

Originally Posted by justjohn

Interesting. I have 2 friends with jettas, one with a golf, one with a passat. They all love their cars. The passat owner especially. Of course, he has the turbo and it's chipped so it has like 250 horsepower plus he likes to tinker anyway.

I heard Echos didn't sell that well, which I figured was part of the reason they were rare. I do know someone with an Echo who loves it as well though, so people just hanging on to theirs could definitely be a factor.

I think the hardest part is finding manuals period, actually. The whole market is down to 15% manual from what I understand.

I'm also in the avoid-VW camp. They have certainly had some significant quality problems since the late 90's. I've had friends buy four VWs (all new from the dealer with gas engines) and every single one had major problems that ended up having the car traded in early or covered under Lemon laws.

There's a reason VW has been consistently at or near the bottom of the JD Powers dependability studies, year after year for the last decade.
http://businesscenter.jdpower.com/JD...11029-vdss.pdf
Looks like they are up a couple notches this year...

[justjohn]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

I would get the Echo and be patient. No timing belt, beam rear axle, lightweight. Hold out for a 2 dr manual. The one I had would easily do 47 MPG and even got it to 57 using engine off P&G.

A stripper with manual and no AC would probably go cheap. I got mine for $3k over a year ago, sold it a while back, when I got a bike that did 80+ MPG.

regards
Mech

Thanks. I've heard a couple stories like this now. Definitely would like to get an echo, still deciding if I am willing to pay 500 over blue book due to currently inflated prices.

[CigaR007]

The Echo is a great commuter car with low maintenance costs. As others have mentioned, it is capable of great mileage. It's a pity that it is rare in the USA. We have tons here in Canada.

Check out my gas logs for MPG figures and what to expect in terms of FE.

[SentraSE-R]

You should also consider Tercels, Hyundai Accents, Mitsubishi Mirages, post-merger Kia Rios - anything with MT & 1.5 or 1.6 liter engines & a reasonable reliability reputation.

[justjohn]

Thanks for the suggestions. Had not checked some of those in a while and I didn't even realize Mirage's got that good of mileage.