If your car died, what would you buy?

[groar]

I have a bad feeling to do EOC. Currently I'm using DFCO and I rarely stop the engine while idle. So a car that is able to do at least one, or better both will be my first choice.

I want a prius since one year when I learned how it is working. In France the only other hybrid is the honda civic hybrid since about 5 months, but I'm always waiting to see one in the street...

Another choice would be a stop&start (mild hybrid, ie the electric motor is here only to start the ICE which switches off when the speed is under a few mph). Only Citroen do it on a few models. The last time i searched inside their web-site there was a 2 doors and a 4 doors, both are gasoline as are the prius and the HCH. I always found gasoline slow, but now that I'm (trying to) ecodriving I changed my minds...

Last week I saw a C1 4 doors. The C1 is the smallest car from Citroen but they managed to put 4 doors on it. The rear doors are really at the back. This would be OK to drive 3 people (driver included) and one baby seat. It isn't an hybrid, but it's rated 4.1l/100 (57mpg) for half the price of a prius :-) but there are second hand prius for that price in my region...

Denis.

[bhazard]

I dont think I will ever buy a new car in my lifetime.

[Ophbalance]

If my car died today, I'd find any fair condition kia/hyundai/saturn/honda/toyota that could be had for under 5k made after 96 (99 for the kia/hyundai). I already have one car payment, and that's about my max .

[dcb]

96 or newer is a handy criteria, it is nice to know you will pass emissions before you go to take the test.

Any small stick shift hatchback or wagon with fuel injection will do for me, assuming it comes out of my bank account. If someone else is buying it for me then I'd like a TDI stick, maybe jetta wagon. Or a hand-me down prius with an extra battery and plugin Or any already been converted geo to saturn sized EV with NIMH or better and a solid 60 mile range @ 50mph would fill the bill very nicely.

[PaleMelanesian]

96 or newer.
Civic, corolla, fit, yaris, Saturn SL, cobalt in XFE trim, something TDI. Not really sure. I'd love a prius or insight, but I can't see finding or affording one anytime soon.

[texanidiot25]

If the CSTT/10 died, i'd be forced to get another... But considering it has a brand new engine and trans, and their built like tanks, not much needs to worry there.

If the Firebird does, which when it does, I won't be surprised, but probably dump what ever insurance money from it into the CST10, or some other F-body, or some silly random small car to thrash around at the edge of what ever 50 hp it's got.

[Arminius]

I would buy the least expensive car that will get me to the year 2012, when there will be a large variety of alternative energy cars available on the market. In other words, by 2012 the car will be worthless because it has been worn out. Obviously, however, FE would be part of the consideration.

[tasdrouille]

If my TDI was to die, I would very much like an other old TDI, an A3 Jetta or a B4 Passat sedan. I would LOVE and A2 Jetta with a TDI swap in...

[ebacherville]

Id just drive one of my other 9 cars

[Goldenfrog]

If my POS van died I would end up with my wife's Sentra. She is always *****ing about it having no AC.