i need a car rec (because i have a car wreck)

[lobelia321]

Now here's something fucked: just when we need to channel all our existent and non-existent money into school fees, the bloody car fails the MOT! And it's not a problem that can be fixed because it spent hours and hours at the garage in December; they couldn't fix it then and I doubt they'll be able to fix it now.

So that's that then. It was a brand new Golf! This should have run longer than a paltry 8 years!

Anyway, any recs for a reliable brand that I could focus on for a second-hand car purchase? Are Peugeots any good? Toyotas? Anything that's cheap and cheerful and won't break down every two months.

Comments

[lazulus]

Bugger indeed. You thought that might happen, eh?

Have no real suggestions for cars but I'd go look at the Top Gear website and the What Car? website [try the advice area]. I'm sure you can get some ideas and thoughts there. Good luck!

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I feel so bored, bored, bored by that prospect... I hate the whole car thingy! Ack. But alas, I must bite that bullet.

[helenish.livejournal.com]

My dad's car buying advice is as follows: "First, figure out which Toyota you can afford. Then, buy that."

I had a Toyota Camry (bought used, with about 15,000 miles on it, so basically new, except a LOT cheaper than a new car) for six or seven years, and it was a very good car - never once broke down, although I did have to replace a few things here and there, but it was all basically scheduled maintenance type of stuff. And I sold it last year for a little less than half what it cost. Toyotas retain value well, and get pretty decent gas mileage.

Toyotas are very boring, but very reliable, and all I really wanted out of a car was something that WENT when I turned the key, without my really having to do much about it.

Or get a Honda Civic. Those things are excellent, too.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I love your dad's car advice. My mother had a Toyota Corolla in the 1970s and between the two of us, we basically drove that car to a pulp. I remember it very fondly and thank you for the rec! Everyone seems to be reccing Toyota so this is enormously helpful. And what you describe is just what I want.

[blithesea.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth, a friend of mine told me that Japanese cars hardly ever break down. She has a Suzuki which is ooooold, and people still leave her little messages of paper tucked under her swiper, "Do you want to sell this car? Call me, I'll take it!"

Other than that, I am not qualified to rec anything; I use public transportation.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I am amazed at the reliability of Japanese over German cars. I loved our Golf but I'm sure as hell not getting another one. The story about the Suzuki is really interesting.

[mandalaya.livejournal.com]

Toyotas and Hondas are the way to go. Specifically, Toyota Camry or Corolla, Honda Civic or Accord - they are tried and true. They probably have other excellent cars as well, but I know those have scored highly across the board, year after year. If your local library gets Consumer Reports magazine, they put out a scorecard of new and used cars every year.

Good luck! I hate car trouble.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you, this is phenomenally helpful advice. I have written down the four makes and will start perusing the motoring pages! My mother had a Toyota Corolla in the 1970s and between the two of us, we basically drove that car to a pulp. I remember it very fondly and thank you for the rec!

[mandalaya.livejournal.com]

Ah, Corollas! I had a 1982 Corolla, and in 1990 with over 100,000 miles on it, I drove it cross-country (in the US), and it was perfect. I sold it when I left for my years in Asia, I think it had 180,000 miles on it and was still doing well. Now I have a 1990 Honda Accord (bought used) at the 150,000 mark and going strong, although little things are popping up that need to be replaced occasionally since it's 15 years old. I think Hondas are more expensive than Toyotas usually.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Everything seems to conspire to veer me towards a Corolla! *g*

[brightest-blue.livejournal.com]

Toyotas seem to be extremely reliable and relatively inexpensive. The most reliable car in my personal experience is my 1990 Subaru Legacy wagon that has over 110,000 miles on it and has never had a SINGLE problem. I see older ones than it driving around all the time. They're pretty expensive, I think, I inherited mine! They're great cars for snow, ice and mountains, that's probably why I can look out my window right now and see 4 parked on the street in front of my house.

Good luck! *hugs*

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Subaru! I never would have considered it! My mother had a Toyota Corolla in the 1970s and between the two of us, we basically drove that car to a pulp. I remember it very fondly and thank you for the rec! That Toyota drove like a sewing machine, even with its rear doors not opening and its front fender stove in.

[brightest-blue.livejournal.com]

When I started dating my husband, he drove an early-eighties Corolla. I actually cried when we finally sold it. We drove it to Canada four times, to Los Angeles three times; so many good memories. Although they could have made the back seat just a little bit bigger ;-)

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Subaru! I never would have considered it! My mother had a Toyota Corolla in the 1970s and between the two of us, we basically drove that car to a pulp. I remember it very fondly and thank you for the rec! That Toyota drove like a sewing machine, even with its rear doors not opening and its front fender stove in.

[brightest-blue.livejournal.com]

Oh, and about the Subaru. They're quite expensive new, but I've had friends get good deals on not-terribly-used ones. The wagons are great if you have kids dogs and need to haul them around. Plus the back seats fold down so you can cram all kinds of stuff in.

[rhiannonmr.livejournal.com]

My roomate is still driving an 1989 toyota truck. It has over 300k miles on it. I drove a 90 Tercel until this spring when it finally died at 315k miles. Next car for me is another toyota. I have friends who swear by Hondas and Nissan is also good. Good luck!

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

My mother had a Toyota Corolla in the 1970s and between the two of us, we basically drove that car to a pulp. I remember it very fondly and thank you for the rec!