need some car advice

[ydx7]

A dealership's first priority is making a profit and are probably not above telling somebody what they want to hear. I have more trust in people here, especially since there are car-people among the ranks.

What I attempted to post last time was that I hadn't been looking really since it is cold out. I will be in a few weeks though.

I also wanted to go over the Scion FR-S again. The pros are that is has better mileage, the performance is better, probably cheap used, and is most likely reliable since it's built by Toyota. This blurb did give me pause though: http://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/other/to ... 0p#image=5

Also any opinions on the Nissan 370Z?

Thanks again, and see you later!

This blurb had a better opinion of the Scion: http://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/autos-pa ... b#image=11

Do you guys think Hyundai and/of Kia have been around long enough to be viable in terms of quality/reliability?

I think I will be quickly checking out a dealership on Fri, and then a bunch more on Sat.

[Turbofurball]

New Hyundais and Kias are fine quality-wise ... their smaller models drive like tractors, though.

[ydx7]

I'm back for a rare mid-week appearance.

Through the wonders of the internet, I was able to check ot the inventory of several dealerships. I don't know how often they update though. I found some cars that looked promising. I then did some research on Wikipedea, and found these didn't have the largest engines of that model year.

Like I was asking about Mustangs, is the largest engine that much better, or is it just overkill? Of course I don't want something that is underpowered. Is there some kind of magic ratio of displacement or hp to curb weight to tell if a car is under-/decent-/over-powered?

I guess I'll list the cars I was talking about, and ask for your opinions.

2010 Volvo S40. It has a 2.4L 5-cyl. The bigger engine for this model is the 2.5L turbo. I can't tell from online pics if I like the looks, or how big it is. I also don't know if this suffers froim the $$$$ parts problem.

2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS. It has a 2.4L 4-cyl. The GT versions have a 3.8L v6. There seems a large discrepancy between these engines.

2010 Ford Fusion. It has the 2.5L 4-cyl. The biggest engine for this year was the 3.5L . THis was only Fusion I found for the 2009-2011 range thus far.

Chevy Impala. There were a bunch of these for sale with the 3.5L v6. There are bigger engines, but I didn't find any with them. That being said, it seems to have a good diasplacemnet to car size ratio. For comparison, the '93 Taurus I had had the 3.8L v6.

Chevy Malibu. I can't remember if I found just one, or more. It has a 2.4L 4-cyl. I also think it was one of the special motors; either e-assist(hybrid) or ecotec(turbo). If it is the turbo, hopefully it would be a good performer. The Malibu seems to be GM's answer to the Fusion.

Like I said, I'll visit a few places on Fri, but do my main looking on Sat.

Thanks again for your help.

[Turbofurball]

None of the smaller engines are underpowered for normal daily driving, for instance my Mercedes coupe has the smallest engine it was available with, but can still spin both the back tyres without problems, and cruises as 80 to 100 quietly and comfortably.

That said, I'm not a bogan who values the ability to pull big smokey burnouts ...

[themanw/oaname]

i fairly remember my 98 v6 mustangs had a 3.6 engine. so a new 3.5 engine is kind of lame to me.

you keep asking this in different ways:

is the largest engine that much better, or is it just overkill? Of course I don't want something that is underpowered.

here's the thing about mustangs - they're that happy medium sports car. i dont remember the phrase 100% but it comes down to they were made for the guy that wanted a muscle car but couldnt afford a corvette or a camaro. i'm on my fourth 98 mustang right now it's a v8. before that all i had were v6's. i'm not a street racer. i dont haul anything. when i need to go "faster" it goes faster. everything i need it to do for me - my v6's did too. i was laid off from a company i put 5 years into and the v6 i had hauled everything from my 5 years built work space (basically construction materials, tools, half finished projects, ) in two trips, numerous things i've built and shouldnt put in a car, numerous pieces of furniture that shouldnt have fit. it was my truck when i needed it and an awesome car the rest of the time.

so frankly, with my driving habits there's no difference between a v8 and a v6 other than the options you are likelier to get with a v8. that's usually leather interior and convertible top. maybe better wheels and body panels. if you know you want leather - go with a v8. they should always have it.

having driven a chevy product (a cavalier z24) it drove like a dumpster and looked like a dumpster fire. i'll never ever own a chevy product again, unless it's given to me; and it's a truck. i had this piece of shit in between mustangs because the market for buying my coveted year and style was slim to nothing and there was a world of difference and i had no other choice.

[MWFV8]

I drive a 4.7 V8 in the UK, which isn't cheap. For me it's less about the power and more about the theatre of driving a big(ish) V8. It's the burble at idle, the growl through the revs, and that roar at wide open throttle that makes it for me and many others. It's too easy to make cars about the numbers, horsepower, torque, top speed, acceleration, but a lot of it misses the point desiring a good driving experience.

[Turbofurball]

Ironically, my 2.3 slant 4 Mercedes feels very similar to how my 6.6 V8 Dodge Charger used to feel, in terms of the theatrical side of driving ... also, it gets about 40mpg and fits in parking spaces, lol. It makes lovely sounds, and you get whooshed forwards when using the second stage kickdown ... and it has a big presence on the road ... and gotta love the pillarless sides in summer

[ydx7]

I've made my decision! I'll make the big reveal tomorrow when I bring the phone upstairs and upload the pic.

There is a tad bit of bad news. There was a lien on the car, so I have to wait for the dealership to get the paperwork saying it's resolved before I get it registered.

I just wanted to post about my experience car shopping on Fri/Sat.

It seems a lot of the cars out there had a ton of miles on them. The one dealer told me they've been getting a lot of rental and program cars since people are holding on to their cars longer. Also it seems that that is especially true for the good engines. I don't think I saw any 2.0L Ecoboost Fusions. There were quite a few 2010 3.5L Fusions, but they had all been sold. I think there were only a few Mustangs, but they were not very old, but very $$$$.

There were a ton of Japanese sedans. I guess I wasn't ready to go Japanese. Also, there was the high milage thing.

Besides the car I bought, I did one other full test drive. That was a 2013 Chrysler 200. I guess it seemed ok. It was able to accelerate decently.

I also drove a Scion FR-S in the lot a little bit.

Those 2 dealerships where my experience was not positive.

At the one with the Scion, the dealer was new, and wasn't too familiar with the computer system. That dealership is one of a few owned by this one guy. I don't know if the dealer was able to look at all the dealerships orjust his.

The other place was even worse. They wouldn't sit me down and just show me their used inventory on a computer. They were a bit too high-pressure for my tastes. One of the guys didn't understand the concept of a cashier's check. Also they kept me there way too long.

I did a sit and fit in a few cars.

I tried a 370Z. While it wasn't bad to get in and out of, it was a bit cramped inside. I actually sat in one a few years ago.

The Scion was the opposite. While it was roomier inside, getting in and out was a pain. Part of this was because the bottom of the door is few inches above the floorboard.

The other car I sat in was a Chevy Malibu. I think it was a 2014. For a car that doesn't look tiny, it seemed rather cramped inside.

[ydx7]

And now for the moment you've all been waiting for.

First, here is the car I got rid of:

before.jpg (71.79 KiB) Viewed 9274 times

What you can't see in the pic is that the compressor for the air air suspension went out and the back of the car is not too far off the ground. The speed bumps at work were a pain.

Here it is:

after.jpg (78.56 KiB) Viewed 9274 times

It is a 2012 Chevy Impala LT. I'll post some more about it in the future. I just didn't want to keep you all waiting.

Thanks to you all who read this thread, and even more thanks to those who replied.

[DetritusMaximus]

Like I was asking about Mustangs, is the largest engine that much better, or is it just overkill? Of course I don't want something that is underpowered. Is there some kind of magic ratio of displacement or hp to curb weight to tell if a car is under-/decent-/over-powered?


Chevy Impala. There were a bunch of these for sale with the 3.5L v6. There are bigger engines, but I didn't find any with them. That being said, it seems to have a good diasplacemnet to car size ratio. For comparison, the '93 Taurus I had had the 3.8L v6.

I know it is a moot point now, but I figured a few more cents in in case someone else reads this.

In the Mustang, the larger engine is that much better, at least in the 05-09 years. Is it overkill?...probably, but it is wonderously fun overkill. I have recently driven a friends 09 v6 with the Ford Racing package that adds 15 hp for a total of 215hp. It is...spritely. Good for a daily driver, but I would not buy one if my preferred choice is a v8. It would be a daily disappointment.

There is a big difference between the 3.8v6 used in the older Mustang (pre 05) and the 93 Tuarus and a more up to date v6 like the 3.5 in the Impala. The 3.5/3.6 v6's GM currently makes are the grandchildren of the old 60* V6 in the S10 and Fiero of the 80's. In between were the 3.4 overhead cam models used in the 90's Camaros. The current versions are noted for an almost unbelievable power output given their humble beginnings. It would be more like comparing the Ford 3.8 (whose design dates back to late 60's and the current 300hp 3.7 v6. Very different animals.

I think you will like the Impala.