New daily driver, any thoughts…

[aar0s]

My escort is about to turn south and the wifes mustang is over the 100k mark so the plan is im going to drive the deathtrap aka my escort around town and park her mustang (for a future project car) in favor of a new(er) car. We drove my bosses scion xB and liked it lots but ive really been eyeing the 05.5 and up Audi A4's and really like the new Volvo c30. Whatever we get will have to be used so the Volvo is probably out.
Anyone have experience with any of these cars, or im open to suggestions on others.

 

[Grn92LX]

I've got an 02 Audi A4 1.8T quattro 5speed. Its an awesome car and handles like its on rails. Just give it synthetic oil changes with the large filter every 3-5k miles and make sure the timing belt/water pump service is done on time. I've got to get mine done soon.

 

[1990Coupe]

Stay away from Audi's.. They fall apart and have numerous electrical issues. I know ALOT of people that have issues with them. nice cars but completely unreliable.

I too am looking at and XB to replace my current cherokee for DD duties.

 

[strtrcr50]

I'm looking for an awd talon/eclipse. I used to be a mitsu mechanic and those cars are pretty indestructible.

 

[1990Coupe]

Minus the glass transmissions

 

[strtrcr50]

I've only seen the trans break with a LOT of power. Not like it's a t5 And I'm looking for a 1st gen so I don't have to deal with crank walk..

 

[25thmustang]

Minus the glass transmissions

My 2003 A4 1.8T has one of those options as well...




Nice car, runs great, love the options and the interior, but it has had its share of electrical issues, and like stated above, I might have trashed 3rd gear!

 

[HankyGT]

I haven't had an AWD DSM that I haven't had to replace the trans on. The one went through 2 of them.....nice $1200 and $1500 jobbers respectively.

And yet I just got done building another

 

[NIKwoaC]

Are you guys kidding me with the XB??! I can't even think of an insult witty enough to describe those cars, but a few choice words that come to mind are "fad", "cliche", and "ghey". Seriously. Buy a sedan or a real hatchback. XBs are good for nothing other than fleet duty as lunch food delivery vehicles with the company logo pasted on the side.

I.E.

I rest my case.

P.S. Why not one of the new Ford Focus or Fusion? The Focus can be had for pretty cheap, and if you already have an Escort, the Focus is a reasonable upgrade.

 

[1990Coupe]

Are you guys kidding me with the XB??! I can't even think of an insult witty enough to describe those cars, but a few choice words that come to mind are "fad", "cliche", and "ghey". Seriously. Buy a sedan or a real hatchback. XBs are good for nothing other than fleet duty as lunch food delivery vehicles with the company logo pasted on the side.

I.E.




I rest my case.

P.S. Why not one of the new Ford Focus or Fusion? The Focus can be had for pretty cheap, and if you already have an Escort, the Focus is a reasonable upgrade.

The XB is awesome on gas, and it has plenty of room. I beg to differ on your comment that they are good for nothing but fleet duty. They have a community just as large as ours.

ScionLife Home of the Scion xA, Scion xB and Scion tC owner and enthusiast

unfortunatly most focus's make it to fleet duty

I wish ford would hurry up and bring there euro stuff here. I'd like a Fiesta

 

[ryan218]

that muffler is horrible bro. tuck that thing up there then it would look sooo much better.

idk. after driving a 02 WRX im sold on them there fun as hell. get damn good MPG while still being in and out of boost. I would LOVE to buy one as DD after highschool but i dont want a car payment.

check out a few WRX's. my buddys with mild mods. a few bolt ons. would pull a fender on a 99 cobra and then cobra pulling a fender on the wrx and this would go on till 140.

quick, and reliable. and you can find a nice one for like 10k

 

[1990Coupe]

that muffler is horrible bro. tuck that thing up there then it would look sooo much better.

idk. after driving a 02 WRX im sold on them there fun as hell. get damn good MPG while still being in and out of boost. I would LOVE to buy one as DD after highschool but i dont want a car payment.

check out a few WRX's. my buddys with mild mods. a few bolt ons. would pull a fender on a 99 cobra and then cobra pulling a fender on the wrx and this would go on till 140.

quick, and reliable. and you can find a nice one for like 10k

I second this..

Although for the OP's purposes he doesn't need a fast car. I had a 2003 WRX and LOVED it.

 

[HankyGT]

Muffler has been tucked awhile ago....it was hanging cause it wasn't connected to the DP

 

[Grn92LX]

My 2003 A4 1.8T has one of those options as well...




Nice car, runs great, love the options and the interior, but it has had its share of electrical issues, and like stated above, I might have trashed 3rd gear!

What electrical problems do you have? I've yet to hear about this on any of the Audi forums I go on. Unless you're talking about the stock ignition coils. All mine were replaced with the "R" version under warranty by the previous owner. Do you have any mods on yours?

Like I said above, change the oil with Audi/VW approved synthetic and the large filter every 3-5k miles and make sure the timing belt/water pump service is done on time.

 

[Notchbck93]

My escort is about to turn south and the wifes mustang is over the 100k mark so the plan is im going to drive the deathtrap aka my escort around town and park her mustang (for a future project car) in favor of a new(er) car. We drove my bosses scion xB and liked it lots but ive really been eyeing the 05.5 and up Audi A4's and really like the new Volvo c30. Whatever we get will have to be used so the Volvo is probably out.
Anyone have experience with any of these cars, or im open to suggestions on others.

1) The 100k mustang... 6cyl or v8? V8's will go 300K and to park it is a sin.

2) If you're going to replace an eco car, stay eco because I guarantee the fuel prices will rebound eventually.

3) If so, what will meet the needs of your family on a cheap, practical level? Do you haul stuff? Do you need to fit a baby seat? Do you drive enough to warrant a hampster powered vehicle? What is your budget?

 

[25thmustang]

What electrical problems do you have? I've yet to hear about this on any of the Audi forums I go on. Unless you're talking about the stock ignition coils. All mine were replaced with the "R" version under warranty by the previous owner. Do you have any mods on yours?

Like I said above, change the oil with Audi/VW approved synthetic and the large filter every 3-5k miles and make sure the timing belt/water pump service is done on time.

I have lightbulbs blow out every week or so. My moonroof when in the vent position closes on its own a few times before staying open, and one time even opened on its own. I had the radio cut out one day until I unhooked the battery. The glove box light stays on, then one day stopped working even when open, and now it only goes on if I open the glove box and then actually push the door further open. The passenger rear window doesn't go down automatically anymore. Although not electrical the windshield washer spray doesnt work anymore, it pumps the fluid out somewhere under the car. Also not sure if it ever worked, or what it does but the lumbar on the seats is a 4 way switch. Front and back on the switch works the seat back lumbar, but the up and down on the switch does nothing. Every once in a while after stopping and starting I notice my third brake light (not sure if it's just the third or all of them) stays on after I'm long off the brakes. Like between 1st and 2nd gear I still see it glowing, then it usually goes off.

Nothing major, nothing mechanically wrong, just annoying little things that bother me. I wouldn't call the car junk, as they all have their issues (My 95 Jeeps electrical issues make this one look great) but I was hoping to avoid these things with a newer car.

 

[Mr. Rustypwnz]

that muffler is horrible bro. tuck that thing up there then it would look sooo much better.

idk. after driving a 02 WRX im sold on them there fun as hell. get damn good MPG while still being in and out of boost. I would LOVE to buy one as DD after highschool but i dont want a car payment.

check out a few WRX's. my buddys with mild mods. a few bolt ons. would pull a fender on a 99 cobra and then cobra pulling a fender on the wrx and this would go on till 140.

quick, and reliable. and you can find a nice one for like 10k

Words cannot express how much I want a nice wrx/sti with a big fmic and a t3/t4 and a big fat exhaust, they just sound so damn nice....

I need to go work on the 5.0 now, ill dream later....

 

[ryan218]

AWD dounts in 2nd gear are fun. 2 drunk girls in the back 1 drunk up front a sober one driving..ahhh good times!

 

[1990Coupe]

HAHAH Any AWD donuts on a WRX = Blown transmission!!!!

 

[NIKwoaC]

I have lightbulbs blow out every week or so. My moonroof when in the vent position closes on its own a few times before staying open, and one time even opened on its own. I had the radio cut out one day until I unhooked the battery. The glove box light stays on, then one day stopped working even when open, and now it only goes on if I open the glove box and then actually push the door further open. The passenger rear window doesn't go down automatically anymore. Although not electrical the windshield washer spray doesnt work anymore, it pumps the fluid out somewhere under the car. Also not sure if it ever worked, or what it does but the lumbar on the seats is a 4 way switch. Front and back on the switch works the seat back lumbar, but the up and down on the switch does nothing. Every once in a while after stopping and starting I notice my third brake light (not sure if it's just the third or all of them) stays on after I'm long off the brakes. Like between 1st and 2nd gear I still see it glowing, then it usually goes off.

Nothing major, nothing mechanically wrong, just annoying little things that bother me. I wouldn't call the car junk, as they all have their issues (My 95 Jeeps electrical issues make this one look great) but I was hoping to avoid these things with a newer car.

Typical German car. BMWs are the same way. No serious reliability issues, just little things constantly going wrong.