Just paid off my 2008 Passat, get rid of it???

[T2urtle]

I'm not sure how maintenance would have prevented the headliner falling out of my wife's Golf. She bought that car new and it was a pile of junk by the time we got rid of it (which was well before 100k miles).

God I hate VWs.

Ok I would agree with u on that. But u can't tell me that's the only car its the only car it's happened to. I'm sure GM and ford's have had it happen to. Freak things happen to all cars.

No one car is immune to problem. I've seen motors with 5k on them completely trashed from the inside.

I personally would give VW a try if they offered something to my likings. Right now that GTI @25k is the only thing. But sadly the focus ST is being discounted to almost 20k at the dealers.

 

[Yuriman]

Ok I would agree with u on that. But u can't tell me that's the only car its the only car it's happened to. I'm sure GM and ford's have had it happen to. Freak things happen to all cars.

No one car is immune to problem. I've seen motors with 5k on them completely trashed from the inside.

I personally would give VW a try if they offered something to my likings. Right now that GTI @25k is the only thing. But sadly the focus ST is being discounted to almost 20k at the dealers.

Of course it happens with other manufacturers. It just happens earlier and more frequently with VW, resulting in cars that either end up in the scrap yard sooner, or cost more to keep on the road.

 

[Dice144]

Looking at this car: http://www.westherr.com/used/Honda/2013-Honda-Accord-82b92a770a0a00646c10d3e150b848db.htm

Figured snow tires are plenty good enough to pass the idiots stuck in ditches!

 

[desy]

http://www.wheels.ca/news/setting-t...-wheel-drive-actually-help-in-winter-driving/
Bottom line AWD helps w acceleration and I'd argue most time AWD cars have better ground clearance too when it piles up

 

[Pocatello]

If I'm living in upper state New York, I'll be driving a Subaru. Heck I live in Idaho, and I'm driving a Subaru Forester. It's not the most refine vehicle out there, but it works, for 10 years now. I even use it during my hunting trips, since it's so good in rough terrain.

 

[tortillasoup]

Looking at this car: http://www.westherr.com/used/Honda/2013-Honda-Accord-82b92a770a0a00646c10d3e150b848db.htm

Figured snow tires are plenty good enough to pass the idiots stuck in ditches!

That's a good car. Vet its history and it'll be fine.

 

[996GT2]

Looking at this car: http://www.westherr.com/used/Honda/2013-Honda-Accord-82b92a770a0a00646c10d3e150b848db.htm

Figured snow tires are plenty good enough to pass the idiots stuck in ditches!

Snow tires should be fine even without AWD in most places. I see plenty of people in SUVs sliding around in the winter time because they never bothered to put winter tires on those SUVs. Of course AWD + winter tires is the best combination for snow traction, but FWD + winter tires should be adequate for most places.

That Accord looks good. Make sure it has a clean history and you should be good to go. Considering that it's a 2013 model and already has 30k miles on it, chances are many of those miles were probably highway miles. This is good because highway driving is much less stressful on a car than stop and go driving in the city.

 

[Dice144]

Thanks for the feedback all

 

[996GT2]

The only thing I should point out is that 2013 is the first year that the Accord switched to a direct-injection 4 cylinder engine. These do give better gas mileage and performance, but there is the potential of carbon build-up inside the cylinder head. Carbon deposits in DI engines have only been a problem with a few manufacturers so far (e.g. Audi, BMW), so it remains to be seen whether it'll be an issue with Hondas, Toyotas and other brands which have implemented DI engines.

However, this is kind of a moot point, because you don't really have a choice if you want a car that is newer than ~2012. Just about every 4-cylinder engine these days is direct-injected, regardless of brand.

 

[ultimatebob]

Because people are sheep and advertising works. Every idiot fresh out of college wants a Jetta as their first new car because it is German and they can't afford an Audi.

I got the Audi fresh out of college... I got rid of it when the stealership tried to charge me $1,800 for a timing belt change.

 

[996GT2]

I got the Audi fresh out of college... I got rid of it when the stealership tried to charge me $1,800 for a timing belt change.

Some Audi's require engine removal for timing belt/chain work, which can easily run $5,000+. At least you didn't get stuck with one of those!

http://jalopnik.com/here-s-why-the-v8-audi-s4-is-an-awful-used-car-1676466510

 

[Blanky]

You don't need awd. Get STUDDED winter tires to own the ice.

Dump the VW. Not reliable.

 

[Jimzz]

The only thing I should point out is that 2013 is the first year that the Accord switched to a direct-injection 4 cylinder engine. These do give better gas mileage and performance, but there is the potential of carbon build-up inside the cylinder head. Carbon deposits in DI engines have only been a problem with a few manufacturers so far (e.g. Audi, BMW), so it remains to be seen whether it'll be an issue with Hondas, Toyotas and other brands which have implemented DI engines.

However, this is kind of a moot point, because you don't really have a choice if you want a car that is newer than ~2012. Just about every 4-cylinder engine these days is direct-injected, regardless of brand.

Toyota has had DI for a while longer and have had carbon issues on their 2.5 motor. The 3.5 has not had the same issues as its a dual inject system. Each cylinder has 1 Port injector and 1 Direct injector.

So other than the Toyota/Lexus 2.5motor most DI issues have been relegated to the European market.

 

[nerp]

I'm not sure how maintenance would have prevented the headliner falling out of my wife's Golf. She bought that car new and it was a pile of junk by the time we got rid of it (which was well before 100k miles).

God I hate VWs.

Exactly. I worshiped my bought-new Golf, changed oil early, babied it to no end and it was a heap before I cracked 100k. Aside from plastic surfaces peeling apart, window motors dying for no reason, sensors going bad all the time, the shifter being unmovable when temps were below freezing, the radio never getting good reception and headlights burning out every 6 months without fail, it was nice to drive.

All that and I had to endure people asking me why I was driving a college chick car.

 

[Dice144]

Well the dealer loaned me the Honda Accord overnight to drive to work with. It handles better than I was expecting and seems to be less road noise than my VW Passat.

I am horrible at wheeling and dealing tho. 2013 with 29k miles on it, it is the Sport trim, sticker price is 17,900. What would be a reasonable first offer?

 

[soulcougher73]

Subaru

 

[Dice144]

Subaru

I wanted to like the Subaru's but every the interior is so ugly. Maybe if I wanted to pony up for the 2015 with the new layout I would be happy. Trying to keep car under 20k.

 

[BUTCH1]

If the car you just paid off was a known fairly reliable model then I'd say keep it but if it's history suggests you will be facing huge repair bills multiple times then dump it and get something else, no sense spending good $$ after bad.

 

[soccerballtux]

Well the dealer loaned me the Honda Accord overnight to drive to work with. It handles better than I was expecting and seems to be less road noise than my VW Passat.

I am horrible at wheeling and dealing tho. 2013 with 29k miles on it, it is the Sport trim, sticker price is 17,900. What would be a reasonable first offer?

lot of Accords sell at MSRP so. take comfort if you fail to negotiate. It's still a fantastic buy even if you completely fail.

 

[Dice144]

Thank you for the feedback again

 

[GregGreen]

This is not helpful advice, but please don't buy another VW because I am so tired of hearing the tired VW sucks schtick/circle jerk. Thanks.