New car input

[RichP]

Yea, I noticed that when I worked at the R&D lab at Lucent, took it one day to a construction site across the street for an early lunch and muddied it up A LOT, clumps of mud, only clean glass what what the WW's could get at. I noticed that when I parked it later on the people who parked on both sides of me parked as far over and away from me as they could get. Security/Maintenance left me a nasty note the next day, on my desk, they did not appreciate having to clean the clumps up... :laugh3:

 

[Atl XJ]

Two possible solutions for ya:
1) Quit cleaning it up...the dents are harder to find that way, and the dirt actually cushions the impact.
2) Step-Rails. 2x2 steel wins everytime vs car doors... :laugh2:

Thats funny, and thats a good idea about the step rails. I never thought of them as serving that purpose.

 

[Ralph]

Thanks for the input. We are looking at used vehicles. This is not her first car. I've had her in a beat up '89 BMW 535i for the last couple of years. It was very cheap to buy, but has been very expensive to repair. Parts for the thing are nuts. It was a fine first car to beat up and get back forth to highschool, but it's not reliable enough for her to take away to college. She will be making the payments, but I'll be footing the bill for insurance and repairs.

I've been leaning towards the Japanese makes. I'm actually trying to get her into a Miata. They are a proven design with long track record of rock solid reliability, fun to drive and cute too. But you know how kids are. Anything Dad recommends can't be good.

 

[Atl XJ]

IMHO, the only bad thing about the Miata is that they are so freakin small. I could barely fit in my friend's Miata and I'm not a giant or anything (6'1" 19. She got rid of it after she got in a minor fender bender and it had pretty extensive damage. She didn't feel safe in it anymore. I just would be worried about my daughter (if I had one) traveling long distances in a car that small. Its just my opinion so take it how you will. :greensmok

 

[dogtired]

Thanks for the input. We are looking at used vehicles. This is not her first car. I've had her in a beat up '89 BMW 535i for the last couple of years. It was very cheap to buy, but has been very expensive to repair. Parts for the thing are nuts. It was a fine first car to beat up and get back forth to highschool, but it's not reliable enough for her to take away to college. She will be making the payments, but I'll be footing the bill for insurance and repairs.

I've been leaning towards the Japanese makes. I'm actually trying to get her into a Miata. They are a proven design with long track record of rock solid reliability, fun to drive and cute too. But you know how kids are. Anything Dad recommends can't be good.

I wouldn't get a Miata... here is why.
I was stuck in traffic bumper to bumper rush hour in Orlando. A black lowered tricked out convertable miata pulls up to my left side and stopped. I then noticed a Semi pulled up right behind it, it is one of those rigs has a snout that sticks out 10 feet from the window. Anyways, a minute later, up ahead, the traffic started to pick up. The semi was starting to go and the miata didn't. Guess what? The Semi was literally on top of the Miata... I watched in disbelief, the dude in the Miata jaw dropped like a rock and looked over at me, and me looking at him. I said "Holy $hit"! The Semi kept on pushing and the bumper of the Semi was halfway over his trunk! Apparently the Semi driver forgot the Miata was ahead of him and pulled up so dang close to the Miata, it literally was out of sight... out of mind. :speepin:

So "cute" in this case almost became the dude's coffin. Hate to put a damper on your search for a car for your daughter. But safe and reliabale maybe boring, but what price for cuteness? But it is your money and her safety, good luck on your search. :viking:

 

[Hunter-LynchburgVa]

Edited that for ya Hunter.

driving to school, thats just plain lazy. i risk my life a couple times a day to ride to school on the bike, just like the mailman sleet, snow, or rain im there.


Hunter

 

[ChuckstrPT]

My wife had a previous generation Jetta, no problems and loved it. We've currently got an Audi A4 wagon with the 1.8t engine. It's got 56k or so on it, and has been trouble free. That's the same engine thats available in the Golf and Jetta, it's just pointing the RIGHT way in the Audi (front to back, not side to side!) Ofcourse our wagon has quattro, which you won't be getting on a Jetta. You might also consider a Jetta wagon. When I went to college, it was an 8 hour drive. Anything I could get in the car didn't go, or come back! I would buy another VW/Audi product in a heart beat. We'd really like a TT, but can't fit the 90# dog and the 7 month old in it at the same time!
HTH

 

[2offroad]

TJs are cute and very durable plus you get a spare D30 and 231, i have seen some very hard hits on a TJ and very little damage in the passenger space.

 

[SNB]

My wife and I have a Jetta TDI wagon. Great car -- 50 MPG on the highway -- the fuel in the tank will definitely outlast anyone's bladder! The car is very reliable except for a one thing that was fixed under warrenty. -SNB