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A new car is rising
Topic Started: Jun 25 2015, 08:08 AM (3,169 Views)
Freeman
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The Family Man

It has been a quick 18 months since I purchased my most recent Metro. While I do enjoy the car, it has some issues. The engine is showing signs of needing serious work. The valve seals are leaking so it blows a substantial amount of smoke on start up, the rings are starting to fail so it smokes on take off from a stop, the oil pan and valve cover gaskets are worn out and leaking oil, the AC has a mysterious leak that cannot be found or fixed, the auto trans is starting to clunk into gears, the trans is squealing before shifting, and the list goes on. The state of the engine coupled with no AC has become an issue with my one year old daughter. The heat in Florida is murder on a child and I cannot put her through a long summer again.

So I am looking to purchase a new car, I already have one in mind and I'm working on financing. But I wanted a couple opinionated questions answered via the GMF group.

What should I do with my 4/3 '00 Metro? I'm not trading it in because I am purchasing a newer used car from a private property. Should I sell it? Should I just keep it as my 4th car?

Also, what would you consider the best replacement for the Metro? I've been looking at the Mitsubishi Mirage, Honda Fit, Ford Focus, Mazda 3, etc. Mostly 4 door hatchbacks with small motors and decent mileage (30-40+ mpg).
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brsja
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Sell it...
2000 Civic LX 30+ MPG
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Otey13
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Geo Nerd

I bought a 09 Mazda 3 sport hatchback new. I loved the car. I even modified the car with speed3 stuff :thumb the reason i didnt go with the speed 3 was my insurance would have skyrocketed and I was using it as a daily driver. Good on gas, put the rear seat down I could haul tools or pretty much anything. It was very peppy. I sold it last year. And boy I'm I kicking myself :banghead I'm looking for another one. In 2011 they changed the body style and Mazda went with the 2.5. Needless to say I don't like the new body style. But to each his own :D I never had problems with my 09 except the secondary steering pump it went out but it was a recall notice.

Good luck in your search :rocker
Otey
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Old Man


I have had good luck with my wife's 07 Focus SES Sedan. My 'normal' hard driving still gets 31-32 MPG.
Only problems in 90,000 miles is a set of end links for the front sway bar.

My daughter bought a new Mazda 3 --at 300,000 she is still driving it. Not sure about any problems with it but I am sure that if anything major would have happened I would have heard about it. BTW, she is not a great driver, kinda hard on a car.

Edited by Old Man, Jun 25 2015, 09:01 AM.
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ZXTjato
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bass heads

4 door yaris if you like boring slow cars, gets decent milage. ive been a big fan of hondas accords are really nice but that's a sedan. plus hondas (least the old ones) last for a really long time. im seeing alot of mirage running around here, plenty of fits. ypur a honda guy so buy a honda you already have the knowledge and tools.
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Stubby79
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Something with a small, direct-injected turbo engine, like the Trax. Or the focus with it's 3-cylinder turbo.
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Freeman
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The Family Man

I'll probably sell it. I'm looking for something '08 or newer most likely. I do prefer a hatch over a sedan.
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Car Nut
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Found a new 2015 Focus hatchback with 3 cyl 1.0 L with 6 speed manual, air, cruise, nice rims. $13,500 plus TT, etc on cars.com. Guys are already reporting getting well over 40 mpg. Same engine that came out in the Fiesta last year. Test drove one recently. Very nice car. Think I could be happy thinning the herd & getting one. For used, I had a 2001 Civic with auto & air, cruise. 38-42 depending on season.
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punkozuna
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There's only one answer. E-L-I-O!!! That's right. I said it. You want one. Don't deny it.
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robertino
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Never buy anything brand new like the 3 cyl Ford. Since it's new I'm sure it will have some bugs to work out. I would wait for 2 years for that one....but the car is definitely a sexy hatch .I say grab a Ford Fiesta 4cyl. It's been around for a while and it get decent MPG , if you want an American brand.
Now for a Japanese , Id take a Honda Fit or a Civic HF..but I like the Corollas style recently. It's aggressive and it gives like 37 MPG on the hwy, but if you drive it conservatively ? who knows maybe you can get 40?
Just remember to buy something that has a solid reputation and it wont start braking down once the warranty runs out. Honda and Toyota are probably your best bet.
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dayle1960
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Fastest Hampster EVER

Look at a Honda Civic Si. You might find one with leather and a sun roof for $11-12K, used. They are the sportier model with a slightly larger engine. The teen crowd loves them because of the riceability factor.
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Car Nut
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robertino
Jun 26 2015, 02:08 AM
Never buy anything brand new like the 3 cyl Ford. Since it's new I'm sure it will have some bugs to work out. I would wait for 2 years for that one....but the car is definitely a sexy hatch .I say grab a Ford Fiesta 4cyl. It's been around for a while and it get decent MPG , if you want an American brand.
Now for a Japanese , Id take a Honda Fit or a Civic HF..but I like the Corollas style recently. It's aggressive and it gives like 37 MPG on the hwy, but if you drive it conservatively ? who knows maybe you can get 40?
Just remember to buy something that has a solid reputation and it wont start braking down once the warranty runs out. Honda and Toyota are probably your best bet.
Usually I would totally agree with your statement about the Ford. However, it's not a "new" vehicle, it's only new to the US. As usual, we are getting this model a couple years after it's release in Europe. They love it over there. Never will understand why Ford, being an American company, gives us the hind tit all the time. Europe also gets all the cool 2 door hatches. We get 4 door ones. In retrospect, we did get the Mustang first. :hmm
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Freeman
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The Family Man

I have given the Focus/Fiesta a look. I will be honest, I don't care for American made cars these days. They had a really bad reputation in the 90's/early '00's. Maybe they are better now. I'll give them a shot though.

As for the Civic Si sedan, if you can find me a decent one (mileage wise) for $10k, I'd take it. They are extremely popular around here and I doubt I could afford a decent one.

I originally wanted a Civic Si, but they get 20~something MPG and that really isn't acceptable around the city. They are comparable to my current Civic. I think the Fit is a much better Honda for me, personally, at this moment. If the CRZ came in a 4 door, I'd buy it for the nostalgia of the CRX.

I found a good deal on a fit, got my financing approved, and the guy couldn't sell it because his interest rate was so high he owed more on it than what he bought it for. ANYWAY, I have moved on and most of the cars with decent mileage all have rebuilt titles. That's a pretty obvious red flag and I'm worried about frame damage or missed repairs that will creep up sooner than later.
Edited by Freeman, Jun 26 2015, 05:47 AM.
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68custom


cheapest new car get the Mirage.
better slighty used car get a Fit or a Civic, you know why.
a well kept used Matrix or better yet Vibe is also one to consider, a friend has a 04 Vibe and the ODO stopped at 299k, he is still driving it of course!
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Freeman
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The Family Man

I have heard things about the Vibe. I may look into it and see what deals are out there.

I stumbled upon a '03 Civic Hybrid with 37k original miles from the original owner. I've heard everything under the sun about battery packs. Is EV the resident expert on that type of thing or does anyone actually know something about hybrids of that era? I've read bad things about the batteries from '06-'08 and premature failure. This car looks mint though.
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