My Mazda, 1997-2010
Cidu Bill on Sep 2nd 2010
After 13 years, my car has given up the ghost. I work at home, so all I really need is something to safely get me “around town”: any longer trips, we’d all be piling into my wife’s car which is nice and comfy.
So, cheap and reliable: any thoughts?
Filed in Bill Bickel, cars | 36 responses so far
Walt Morris Sep 2nd 2010 at 09:06 am 1
You might be a good candidate for the new Nissan Leaf - all-electric, good range especially if you’re only doing ‘around-town’ errands.
Powers Sep 2nd 2010 at 09:09 am 2
I hate to say it (as I’ve been a Chevy guy my whole life) but I agree with Walt. The Nissan Leaf is made for exactly what you want to use a car for.
Detcord Sep 2nd 2010 at 09:16 am 3
I realise this might be anathema for an American, but as you contemplate short trips around town, why not use a bicycle? The bike would be cheap - or as cheap as you wish - and the reliability would be up to you. (Something I assume would improve as you became even more fit
)
Kathleen Sep 2nd 2010 at 09:32 am 4
Honda Civic. Not the cheapest of the smaller cars, but reliable as heck. It will also maintain its resale value better than its cheaper competitors.
Another Kathleen Sep 2nd 2010 at 09:39 am 5
I agree with the other Kathleen and recommend a Honda Civic, and the price range on them varies a lot by model. I went for the sportier version and paid more for that, but it looks great, and I get approximately 30 mpg just around town, and almost 40 on trips. And with the new computers onboard you no longer have to get serviced every 3-5,000 miles, but it goes by your driving. Mine only calls for it about every 6,000 miles.
Jeff S. Sep 2nd 2010 at 09:47 am 6
At the end of February, I paid $7500 cash for a 2008 Chevy Aveo 5. I think it was one of the best purchases I have made. It was the first car with manual locks and manual windows my kids had ever seen.
Mark Dalrymple Sep 2nd 2010 at 10:13 am 7
We’ve got a Honda Fit. It’s roomy and fun, but not terribly expensive for a car.
Bradley K. Sep 2nd 2010 at 10:42 am 8
Depends where you live. Do you need a car? Can mass transit + taxi + zipcar meet your needs?
mitch4 Sep 2nd 2010 at 10:44 am 9
I’m happy with my Hyundai — 2006 Elantra hatchback.
So, thirteen years for the Mazda. A friend once staged a “car mitzvah” for his vehicle that made it to 13.
Kedamono Sep 2nd 2010 at 10:54 am 10
I gave up on the car 20 years ago. I either walk to the store, catch a bus, or I ride my Honda Reflex. You can find a good used one, they get around 60 MPG. Or you get a new 150cc scouter that gets around 70 to 80 MPG.
Another Josh Sep 2nd 2010 at 10:59 am 11
I’d check the used car lots for a mid-2000s Honda, Toyota, or BMW, then take it to a trusted mechanic to get checked out before buying it. No need to get a new car for light use (unless you really want one, then go for it).
My 1997 Saturn’s odometer just rolled over 100,000 miles, I got it in October of ‘96. I keep looking for a small pickup, preferably a hybrid, to take it’s place, but they all seem to be getting bigger and bigger (maybe I’m just shrinking, and no one has the heart to tell me). I just want something that isn’t a gas guzzler that can sometimes carry some mulch, wood, or a piece of furniture every so often.
Catelli Sep 2nd 2010 at 11:31 am 12
I have a 1999 Saturn SW1 wagon that refuses to die. Like Jeff S.’s Aveo, it has manual windows and locks. It has AC though (thank goodness).
I want to replace it (at 6′6″ I don’t really fit in it) but it’s so cheap to own and so damned reliable I can’t in good conscience get rid of it. Doesn’t mean I like the damned thing, but I sure as heck respect it.
I am sorry the Saturn brand is gone. My other car is a Saturn too. It I like.
AMC Sep 2nd 2010 at 12:16 pm 13
New - Honda Civic.
Beater to get around - Mercury Grand Marquis. Not as bad on mileage as you might think. Pretty cheap for older used models. Nice ride. Well made. Just have the tranny checked before you buy.
ShireNomad Sep 2nd 2010 at 12:23 pm 14
I’ve never owned anything but Hondas. My first was an ‘84 Civic, 130K miles old when I got it in 2000; I drove it until 2005. It couldn’t handle mountain roads in summer without overheating, but for street driving it still operated fine, if not pretty. I only sold when the state of California offered $600 for it (it grandfathered its way past a lot of environmental regs and they wanted it off the road).
In short, if you want a long-term vehicle, buy a Honda; you’ll be passing it on to your kids.
Nicole Sep 2nd 2010 at 12:48 pm 15
I am currently driving a 1998 Toyota Corrolla with 250,000 plus mile on it and it runs like a dream. I got it for $5000, with 140,000 on it and the only non-maintianence repair I have made is to replace the starter .. and that was about 2 months ago.
I have also owned Hondas with similar experiences — sorry American manufacuters …. for me it is still Japanese cars
Chipper Sep 2nd 2010 at 01:12 pm 16
I keep my cars until they die. Usually from rust because of the salt on the roads in the winter. I’ve had both Subarus and Toyotas and usually get over 200,000 miles, and never had an engine give out - it’s always the body (My last one was a Subaru Forester with over 300,000 miles. I sold it back to the guy I bought it from because the gas tank and the rear sub frame needed replacement. He was going to try to fix them for himself since the engine was still running great). So now I buy them after they already have around 100,000 miles and don’t pay too much for them. They both have been very reliable. Be sure to change the oil every 3 -5 thousand miles. I also usually get standard transmission.
Definitely take any used car you are looking at to a mechanic you trust to look it over before you buy it.
Cheers,
-Chipper
Echo Owner Sep 2nd 2010 at 02:05 pm 17
If you are going to be looking for a used car, I’d look for one of the smaller Toyotas (Yaris, Echo, Corolla) or Hondas (Fit, Civic). I found that using cars.com to search for a used car saved tons of time and effort. I could sift out things fairly easily.
That being said, cheap used cars are alot morre rare than then used to be. People are keeping their cars longer, so less supply of cheap used cars.
Lots to be said for a bicycle though!
Elyrest Sep 2nd 2010 at 02:26 pm 18
I’m looking for a used car myself so all of this info is very helpful. I’ve had Toyotas before and loved them. I can attest to the fact that the body usually goes before the motor
It’s great to think of using public transportation and bicycles, but some of us live where there isn’t any public system and bikes don’t really cut it when winter hits. Unfortunately it’s almost a necessity to have a car in certain areas because there really aren’t that many alternatives.
Jesse Sep 2nd 2010 at 02:37 pm 19
I second the Elantra hatchback. I have an 04 and love the little thing. I call it my ghetto Saab.
Jordan Sep 2nd 2010 at 04:23 pm 20
Man, you and Mark Evanier on the same day?
Val Sep 2nd 2010 at 06:22 pm 21
If your Mazda lasted 13 years, why not another? I’ve been a Mazda fan since 1986.
Danny Boy (London Derriere) Sep 2nd 2010 at 06:31 pm 22
You mean the Yaris is real?? According to those videos it reproduces by fusion, and fuels itself like a mosquito. So I thought they were a fictional creation …
Rebecca Sep 2nd 2010 at 07:08 pm 23
Bicycle?
CIDU Bill Sep 2nd 2010 at 07:15 pm 24
Bicycles are fine in theory — not so fine when you live in a town designed like a roller coaster.
4dof Sep 2nd 2010 at 09:36 pm 25
Find an old Mercedes 190 E. (1987 - 1991). You can pick them up for dirt cheap, often less than $1000. If they’re well maintained, they last 300,000 miles or more. They’re not stellar on gas mileage, but they’re not gas hogs either. The best part is you get all the perks of a compact car, yet the soft, comfy ride of a big car. While modern minivans can out accelerate them, they’re still pretty fast . Just like the old adage, “cheap, reliable, performance: pick two”, you picked two. As I drive a 190 E 2.5 as my daily driver, I can say it’s a rare example of getting all three.
Either that, or get an old Suburban. Mine wont die, even if I tried to kill it. You might think that poor fuel economy hurts the environment. But if you’re just driving “around town”, it’s not going to use that much. It hurts the environment much more to buy a new Prius. (Batteries shipped around the world twice, etc.)
If you want another Mazda, I wouldn’t recommend an old RX-7. I have one, and I love it to death, but it’s not exactly cheap or reliable.
As for the rest of you people with your Yarrises, Aveos, and Hyundais. You drive soulless junk. Slow, rattling, poorly handling automotive appliances that represent everything that is wrong with the current automotive industry. The whole “10 years old, and it’s a clunker”, and the “I just want a car that goes from point A to B” attitudes are why there is nothing but trash on the market, while some of the most interesting vehicles made are always shredded and sent to China to make cheap steel, long before they outlive their usefulness. Shame on you.
It’s not like I expect everyone to be a gearhead or a car nut. Most people spent at least an hour or two a day in their cars. You don’t live in a filthy run down apartment and wear ripped sweat pants to work (right?), so why drive the automotive equivalent?
Chakolate Sep 2nd 2010 at 11:54 pm 26
I just got another car - a 1990 Mazda 323. With only 100,000 miles on it, it’s good for another 100k.
Tudor Ford Sep 3rd 2010 at 01:01 am 27
Heh, you sure haven’t seen my apartment!
El Cucui Sep 3rd 2010 at 04:08 am 28
Power-assisted bicycle. A fraction of the cost of a car. The power-assist technology amplifies the power of your pedaling by up to 20x.
http://www.electric-bikes.com/
Kilby Sep 3rd 2010 at 04:43 am 29
@24 - … or in a place where it often rains.
billytheskink Sep 3rd 2010 at 09:55 am 30
Mazda and American Motors fan here. I’d recommend buying one of those brands, probably the one that has been making cars over the past 22 years. Of course, if you can find a Rambler Six with less than 75,000 miles on it…
Seriously, though, I can’t think of many cars I’d rather have than my 2005 Mazda 6 sation wagon. Those new Mazda 2’s look to be good “around-twon” cars, but I doubt you’ll find any paticularly inexpensive or used ones at this point in time.
dc Sep 3rd 2010 at 11:16 am 31
I’ve been a happy Mazda driver for 20+ years. My 1989 Mazda was sadly lost in 2002 when I collided with a deer and the insurance people wouldn’t fix her. The 2002 Mazda that replaced her (yes, I bought new… some folks are ok with used. I buy new and keep until they die) is a solid, hassle free vehicle… good on gas, low maintenance and very reliable. Go Mazda…. zoom, zoom!
MaryMargaret Sep 3rd 2010 at 01:27 pm 32
Just got out 2nd Pruis after hubby got t-boned by a small SUV. 2005 totaled, but thanks to all the safety features my hubby TOTALLY FINE. Bought a 2005 again for under $8K. LOVE IT & so worth it!
Erik Sep 3rd 2010 at 01:35 pm 33
@4dof: I appreciate that you appreciate the finer points of automotive design. Believe me, even though my ‘90 Corolla is reliable as heck and pretty good on gas mileage, sometimes I still get car lust. If I could swing it, I’d get a 2002-04 Mazda Protege 5 wagon. Sporty design, good handling, ok mileage. (The later version of that is not aesthetically pleasing). However, some of us are forced to keep our “soulless” cars going because it’s just not in the checkbook to upgrade. However, I have upgraded my sweatpants this year.
I have mixed feelings about the Mercedes 190. My folks have one, an automatic. I drive it when I visit them. It is comfortable, but (on their automatic, at least) the acceleration is average at best. EPA mileage is 17/25 (17/21 for the automatic) not that great for a compact. A Camry with an automatic 6 cylinder gets 17/25, but with a lot more room front and back, and better acceleration.
FeelinOld Sep 3rd 2010 at 04:33 pm 34
CIDU #24: On bicycles, I hear you, I live in a small town on a river valley, I live at the top of the hill on one side, and the stores, library etc are either at the bottom or on the top of the other side, I keep thinking one of the electrically assisted bicycles might be the way to go, just to help me getting up the hill after a day out. But that’s still only good for half the year, I’m NOT a snow cyclist.
FeelinOld Sep 3rd 2010 at 04:42 pm 35
Do people actually buy cars based on the “safety ratings”?, I’ve never bought a car and thought oh good, it’s safe so I can wreck it…
But besides that, I’d be looking at one of the smaller imports. I’m in much the same boat, and couldn’t really see forking out a ridiculous sum for a vehicle that may not move for over a week. Looked around in the lower price range and settled on a Hyundai Tucson which has been 100% reliable so far, a far cry from the last couple pieces of american steel.
jjmcgaffey Sep 5th 2010 at 05:28 am 36
Love my Scion xB - small on the outside, roomy on the inside (either great cargo space as a 2-seater or great people space with about 4 grocery bags of trunk). Mine is a 2005 - anything up to 2008 is good, I’d avoid the 2009-2010 remodel. Bigger engine on a heavier car, so worse mileage and not noticeably better acceleration. Bah. Scion is a Toyota spinoff and has that quality. Any Toyota/Scion or Honda is worth looking at, definitely, and my mom has a 2005? Hyundai with really good build quality (they used to be tin cans, hers clunks when the doors close (instead of clinking)). Worth checking out.