New engine

D Walker · Postby **D Walker** » Thu May 12, 2011 9:14

New Acuras are on my list of cars to NEVER OWN OUT OF WARRANTY. Audis (esp turbo Audis) make that list along with the GTR Skyrine, BMWobblys with I-Drive, and a few others. Reason? Because the electronics in the car cost more than the car is valued at even a few years old. And as they age, it is a matter of time before those expensive electronics fail. Like a hand grenade with the pin pulled, at some point it is going to go bang and be expensive, and most likely there will always be some small issue since dealer techs are not trained particularly well on these extraneous computer systems.

Seriously, a nice used TDI VW would be a great choice

Number2 · Postby **Number2** » Thu May 12, 2011 9:14

$7k? Maybe take a look at the Scion TC? One could be picked up for around that price, with relatively low miles. Plus it's a toyota, so it'll run forever. The cars come loaded with features as well.
In case you're wondering, it's not on the list of cars that have the 'run-away-into-walls' gas pedal.

erod550 · Postby **erod550** » Thu May 12, 2011 9:14

If you're trying to avoid electrical problems on out of warranty cars I don't see how a TDI Jetta is going to be better than an Audi. VW makes them both and VWs are no less prone to electrical issues. I had a 2002 Jetta 1.8T and loved the car but at about 70k miles it started doing funky things like losing electrical power as you would slow down to a stoplight. Like you said, the dealer techs aren't generally trained to diagnose such odd issues, and after giving them $800 to fix it, it started happening again a month later. It was then that VWs went on my list of NEVER OWN OUT OF WARRANTY, heh. I have friends that have owned VWs that have had strange electrical issues also.

And yea tut, the 3.2CL is definitely my least favorite Acura. But different people like different styles.

Learjet45 · Postby **Learjet45** » Thu May 12, 2011 9:14

I think it's the coupe combined with the car being an Acura. And it's a V6

I know some people don't like them, but I like them better than the 3.2TL or the older CLs. And it's a reasonable price and fairly reliable.

We are still figuring out what to do. We can sink the money in and get a close to a new car with what's being done and also have a warranty on the engine. The issue with the used car is that looking at them for about $10,000 or less, most of them are such high mileage that whose to say we won't have this same issue or other problems down the road?

Oh, and my 4th cylinder wasn't firing at all.

Learjet45 · Postby **Learjet45** » Sat May 14, 2011 9:14

So here's where we stand:

Chances are very good we will be getting another Mazda. A certified pre-owned one. My dad found a 2010 Sonata, a 2008 Civic, and 2007 Mazda3 online that we were going to look at. We went over to look at the Sonata and found it is sold earlier. That's off the list. We went over and test drove the Mazda3. Not a bad car. 45k miles, CPO, very basic, $14k. It's a sedan though, and I don't like the sedan 3s very much.
I started looking online and saw an 08 6 for $15k at groove. Nice alloy wheels, bose stereo, power driver seat, nicer car overall, 9k fewer miles. Better deal IMO.

Mazda6 at Groove
Mazda3 at McDonald

Gonna be a cash deal. Looking to get the car soon. Going to pick up the 6 from the shop tomorrow and bring it home to finish cleaning it out and going to figure out what to do with it.

chromal · Postby **chromal** » Sat May 14, 2011 9:14

Another thing working in that particular mazda6's favor vs that particular mazda3 is that that 6 has a 2.3l engine at a 5-spd AT, vs the 3i's 2.0l engine and 4-spd AT. I'm not a fan of torque converter ATs, but if you've gotta have one, I'd think the more gears the better.

Since you're shopping around anyway, have you considered something with a MT?

Learjet45 · Postby **Learjet45** » Sat May 14, 2011 9:14

I want one. My sister refuses to learn how to drive a MT nor will my parents buy one, even if it's the deal of all deals of the century.

chromal · Postby **chromal** » Sat May 14, 2011 9:14

*nod* that's usually how it works in these situations. Ah well, I guess when it's your own financing, you get the luxury of choice.

Mazda6 looks best of those two, at least it has manumatic shifting...

Learjet45 · Postby **Learjet45** » Sat May 14, 2011 9:14

Both have the manual mode.
I find the 6 to be a much better deal. It's not like either is a bad car. But the 6 is a bit nicer of a car for the price, and the price can be negotiated on. Power seats, the upgraded stereo, slightly bigger engine, 5 speed auto vs 4 speed. I like my 6 much better than the 3 we drove. The 3 feels small and too compact for me. I would much rather have a 6. But the challenge is convincing my dad to actually go for the 6. He has some freaking weird *** idea that once you buy one model car once, you can never ever own one again or there will be some car god that will smite you and the car will kill you or something. He is so annoying.

chromal · Postby **chromal** » Sat May 14, 2011 9:14

Ah, so it does. A manumatic on a 4-spd AT.... heh. Well, some of the safety features expected as standard these days were optional on the '07 MZ3 i Sport. Check and see if it has side curtain airbags, ABS, or DSC. That Mazda6 appears to have all of the above. Perhaps that could be a pretty big selling point with parents.

Learjet45 · Postby **Learjet45** » Sat May 14, 2011 9:14

Very true. Thanks for that. Any more info I can get on why I should get the 6 and not the 3 helps! I know KBB was asking me about some of those features.

Learjet45 · Postby **Learjet45** » Sat May 14, 2011 9:14

List of reasons to get the 6 so far:
Fewer miles along with a year newer combine for a longer period on the warranty
Larger/heavier can result in better handling for the snow (in my parents' opinion that is, all that matters)
TPMS (not a real great advantage, but it can help notice when tires are low)
Traction Control
Brake Assist
ABS
Better crash test ratings
Better overall value for the car

Anything I'm missing that could help?

Number2 · Postby **Number2** » Sat May 14, 2011 9:14

Bigger back seat?

Giggidy giggidy.

Learjet45 · Postby **Learjet45** » Sun May 15, 2011 9:14

So that 6 I linked to earlier is gone. So the new options on a 6:
08 6i Touring
That one has been wrecked before, but not too badly apparently. Learned yesterday that it's illegal to certify a car with frame damage.
07 6s
Fewer miles, 16k so that would have to go down to 14k out the door, but it would also be more to insure because it is the v6 model. I would much rather have this one, but it'll be hard to convince my dad to go see it and haggle on the price.

Postby **RX-7 Chris** » Mon May 16, 2011 9:14

I think you would be happier with the V6 model. Also I wouldn't buy a car that has been wrecked if you can help it.

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