What would you buy?

[taco]

does she need 4x4? i dont know what part of ky ur in and if so, they a few awd cars, susuki subaru, even ford makes one. then small suvs. my friends mom has a 4 cyc new rav 4 and she get right at 30 with it.

[cfg83]

GasGuage -

The Vibe (or Matrix) is my favorite. Toyota Corolla drivetrain + mini-wagon interior volume :

2003-2008 Pontiac Vibe / Toyota Matrix (35.5 MPG) | Hypermiling, Fuel Economy, and EcoModding News - EcoModder.com

If you give it a look, make sure to see if she likes the seating position. Some people have claimed that it's not comfortable.

CarloSW2

[TestDrive]

Originally Posted by Christ

Exhaust every few years? Since when? I've never seen a car that the exhaust system needed to be replaced every few years, in fact I've driven 30 year old cars that had the OEM pieces on them... explain?

Short trips - where the exhaust doesn't get toasty - leaves condensed moisture inside the exhaust system. Lot's of short trips rusts out the muffler & pipes from the inside out.

[cfg83]

TestDrive -

Originally Posted by TestDrive

Short trips - where the exhaust doesn't get toasty - leaves condensed moisture inside the exhaust system. Lot's of short trips rusts out the muffler & pipes from the inside out.

Is that right? That describes my parent's Ford Escort ZX2 to a T. They do lots of short trips. And guess what, it's looking pretty rusty!

My Saturn has a stainless steel muffler. Does that help to keep it from rusting?

CarloSW2

[GasGuage]

Occasionally we do need a 4x4, but we'll be keeping the Durango. It's payed for, & pulls the boat & trailer.

I do like the looks of a Vibe. First I've heard of seating dislikes. I'll have to check into that close. It's hard to judge something like that in one test drive. Anyone else have a Vibe out there that doesn't like the seat?

[trikkonceptz]

Originally Posted by GasGuage

Occasionally we do need a 4x4, but we'll be keeping the Durango. It's payed for, & pulls the boat & trailer.

I do like the looks of a Vibe. First I've heard of seating dislikes. I'll have to check into that close. It's hard to judge something like that in one test drive. Anyone else have a Vibe out there that doesn't like the seat?

That's first I hear of that complaint ... I'm in that seat 1hr each way to work and have no complaints about comfort. Also check my fuel logs, I have this puppy doing 40+ mpg consistently.

All in all I can't complain ..

[Ryland]

Originally Posted by Christ

Exhaust every few years? Since when? I've never seen a car that the exhaust system needed to be replaced every few years, in fact I've driven 30 year old cars that had the OEM pieces on them... explain?

salted roads kill exhaust, short trips kill exhaust systems too, i had my last muffler last two years and my main exhaust pipe last 3, they are now both stock honda parts with life time warenties, well worth the extra $40 in cost.

[cfg83]

GasGuage -

Originally Posted by GasGuage

Occasionally we do need a 4x4, but we'll be keeping the Durango. It's payed for, & pulls the boat & trailer.

I do like the looks of a Vibe. First I've heard of seating dislikes. I'll have to check into that close. It's hard to judge something like that in one test drive. Anyone else have a Vibe out there that doesn't like the seat?

Here's a site devoted to Vibes that you could lurk on for more info :

generation vibe

Here is a very small sample of seat searches on genvibe :

Generation Vibe Discussion Forums: Seat Problem
Generation Vibe Discussion Forums: Driver's Seat Height Adjustment

This would not stop me from getting one if I was in the market. And you have it from trikkonceptz that he's been fine with it.

I have a verrrrrry old account on genvibe when I was thinking of getting one. I can ask them their opinion and see if they respond.

I think RH77 knows about this issue. I think he has said that it's not uncomfortable. I forget what he wrote.

I do know at least 1 person that traded a Matrix (egg-zactly the same interior and seats from what I have learned) for a Golf for this reason.


CarloSW2

[aerohead]

Can you give us some parameters as to needs vs wants? Motorists have a way to come up with so many reasons to drive,and buy what they buy.It would be helpful if you can narrowly define your wife's "basic envelope" of driving "needs." Given the automatic trans requirement,the added data would help narrow the field.

[GasGuage]

It's pretty simple. An auto would be better for her. She's actually having a double knee replacement done this Monday. (1/19). And I already had to replace a clutch in the s10. Although the slave was suspect. She travels rural county roads roughly 18mi one way to her employ. And she deals with curves & hills during this commute and the occasional tractor or cow in the road. We're located in north central KY, and the roads can get a little slick occasionally during the winter. but, we still have the 4x4 for extreme weather conditions. It won't be going anywhere. Her foot is a little heavier then mine on the throttle & she'll commute to the big city about 60 miles away on wknds to see her folks. Then she has this 100lb Alaskan Malamute that loves to go bye-bye with her & scare off car jackers, & protect items like CD's laying on the front seat. It's will be primarily her main transportation for commuting. PW & PDL's would be nice, but most other frills aren't really necessary, just an add on if the deal was a sweet one. I don't know what else to say about it. But fuel efficiency is a concern & a little zip once in awhile wouldn't hurt anything for merging in traffic when that big city trip comes around once in awhile.