Kicking Cybertires

I hate my car. I really hate it. I mean, the poltergeist was kind of the last straw. But even before that:

  • It gets terrible gas mileage.
  • I bought it because I thought keeping the dogs in the way back would help keep it clean, but it doesn’t.
  • I’ve spent a TON of money on repairs already. Plus, I have to get a new catalytic converter before my next inspection, and when I went to get the oil changed yesterday, “rear brakes blah, CV joint blah, struts blah blah”.

I’m done. I still owe $4,200 on it because I borrowed against it to do repairs and upgrades on my old house, but I don’t care. I want a different car.

I can’t afford a new one, naturally, but I want to get a one- to three-year old, manual transmission, smaller/less heavy, Japanese automobile. I probably can’t afford that either, but let’s say I could. What should or shouldn’t I get?

94 thoughts on “Kicking Cybertires”

  2. i adore my subarus. so sorry to hear you got a lemon. i get 24 miles to the gallon after 140,000 miles. it’s easy to haul stuff in. and i admit mine was, if not a lemon, a monday car. but after working the kinks out its given me my money;s worth and then some.

    i looked at kia sorrento. liked it a lot, but didn’t think it was big enough for 2 dogs and luggage up to NE. but maybe if there’s only one person . . .

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  4. i loved my ’97 honda civic (the rhinestone cowgirl – yes, i bedazzled her) before i wrecked it last year. 100k miles on it and still got 37mpg highway. now i have a 2010 toyota corolla – seems to be equally good so far. if those are too small for you might want to consider a honda fit (small footprint but bigger inside) or a toyota matrix – i have friends with both and they’ve been very happy.

    good luck!

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  5. We have two Honda Fits – ’07 and ’11. 35-40 MPG. Fold down seats – hatch back. Kick ass stereo system. Both manual transmission. Extremely reliable. Inexpensive.

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  8. Because Manual transmissions are cool. Duh!

    I’m surprised you have had that much trouble with your Subaru, they are typically really good/reliable cars. Catalytic converters, brakes and struts are all normal “wear and tear” parts that have to be dealt with on a regular basis, so those aren’t “lemon issues” but general maintenance (like changing tires, fluids, hoses and belts).

    If you care about the resale value at all, get a Toyota or a Honda.

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  10. I learned on a stick shift, and I’ve always owned stick shifts. It’s hard for me to imagine owning an automatic. (Though there have been times—say, stop and go traffic outside of DC—when I would’ve traded my left leg not to have to change another fucking gear.)

    I know, Dug. Subarus are generally good. My brother and I drove an ’83 GL into the ground. On the Outback, I’ve had the fluids done regularly, and I replaced the belts, hoses, tires, spark plugs, and spark plug wires within the last year. And now there’s the catalytic converter, struts, CV joint, and brakes. Maybe I’m just being resentful because it feels like so much all at once. Also, I think the Outback has just never felt like *me*. I was always a Civic girl before this.

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  15. Hey, saw you last night at Story Slam. Really enjoyed your hosting. Cannot say enough good things about Toyota in General and Matrix in particular,(had two new and 3 used Toyotas. If you take care of them, they run forever. I have a 2007 Matrix and love it. Great gas milage 32 mpg, TONS of space in back, have really nothing bad to say at all. I plan on having this car past 250k miles before I’m done. Toyotas also hold their value, every used one I have sold, I got good money for.

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  16. Hi, Anne! Welcome!

    I may or may not go test drive some cars this week. I’ve also been thinking about getting a SmartPhone to replace my DumbPhone, but it’s going to have to be one or the other, car or 21st century technology, but not both.

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  17. we could trade cars! our next one will most likely be an Outback, then you can have my piece-o-shit Elantra that seems to fit most of your criteria!

    p.s. i LOOOOOOOOVE car shopping. please invite me to test drive cars with you, you would make me really happy.

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