A car thread...

[Squiggles]

:shit: :eek:

Looking at a Subaru Impreza or Honda Accord. Both Wagons
Sub 150k km
Post 1996

Needs to be capable of towing...
Which would you go for and why? Alternatives?

[blackdog]

Yes. A Caldina. Comes in an AWD variant if you are towing too.

[Edbear]

Yes. A Caldina. Comes in a AWD variant if you are towing too.

Wot he sed! :yes:

[onearmedbandit]

How much do you intend to spend?
What sort of weight are you towing?
Is the Accord 2.2l? 1.8? Auto? (never seen a wagon in manual)
Is the Impreza a 1.5? 1.8? 2.0l? FWD or 4WD? Auto or manual?

[Squiggles]

How much do you intend to spend? To be honest, probably only around 4-4.5k
What sort of weight are you towing? Only a bike or two on a light trailer, no boats
Is the Accord 2.2l? 1.8? Auto? (never seen a wagon in manual) I've so far been looking at 2.2 Autos, haven't seen any manual wagons either
Is the Impreza a 1.5? 1.8? 2.0l? FWD or 4WD? Auto or manual? Any at the moment, will a 1.5 Auto be gutless? Leaning towards a manual if I can find a nice one. Not fussed on FWD vs 4WD, most seem to be 4WD. Also not after a turbo or anything that goes "psssh" / sounds faster than it is. :facepalm:

I suppose a Legacy wagon is also on the cards, something like this (http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/subaru/legacy/auction-442672528.htm)

[blackdog]

I suppose a Legacy wagon is also on the cards, something like this (http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/subaru/legacy/auction-442672528.htm)

That would be a good wagon for $2500.

[SMOKEU]

Buy a diesel Laurel or diesel Corolla or Corona.

They tend to be pretty cheap to run if the speedo mysteriously stops working, which is a common "problem" with old diesels.

[onearmedbandit]

That Legacy is worth more than $2500, cambelt etc has been done and at least one wof at franchise dealer (with someone's name and address to boot!), it's the TSR spec so it has the quad cam engine, which is the better choice than the twin cam model (except for changing plugs and doing belts). It's got a tow bar already so there's money saved, and it's a good clean looking example.

It is in fact a better choice than the Accord (prone to doing transmissions) and to be honest the Impreza (which is quite a good car in itself but the 1.5-1.8 versions drive and feel cheap, the 2.0l not much better, except it finally has some life (not talking the WRX turbo either, just the HX20 and SRX models).

The fuel economy will be a bit higher than the Impreza and the Accord, but overall I still think it's the better choice. Like anything though, it's buyer beware. Especially private sales.

[Madness]

Believe it or not, Hyundai Lantra wagons are bloody good workhorses. I'd buy an older Corolla.

[Virago]

Believe it or not, Hyundai Lantra wagons are bloody good workhorses...

Yep, I'd second that.

My opinion - avoid the Mazda 626 (Capella) wagons - I've had two as work wagons, they chewed up three engines between them.

Currently got a Mondeo wagon, which goes well.

Of the two mentioned in the first post, I'd go for the Subaru. The Accord is a nice car, but I've heard that they can have a few mechanical issues.

[Macontour]

I had an older 2nd hand 626 wagon that just kept on going. I drove it for about 6 years and probably put more than 70,000 ks on it(only 6 ks to work) without a problem. I used to just top the oil up when it got low and near the end of the time I had it, I did the cvs, a new radiator and the front brakes. Apart from one battery and some tyres that was all I ever did.

Great car, pity some toerag stole it just after I did all the above work.

Even my lady liked to drive it and she is used to v8s.

[Squiggles]

Believe it or not, Hyundai Lantra wagons are bloody good workhorses. I'd buy an older Corolla.

A bit fugly (http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/hyundai/lantra/auction-441681172.htm) but i'll keep them in mind. Honda that caught my eye initially was this (http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.asp?id=443493690&cc=602&pid=202372166&hbc=&ct=link) one.

Have driven a caldina before and quite liked it, only they seem to hold their value a bit better than the other options.

How good are the non-turbo subaru engines? (Reliability wise) I know cambelt replacement is expensive :mellow:

[onearmedbandit]

Non turbo engines are fine.

[ducatilover]

Yes. A Caldina. Comes in a AWD variant if you are towing too.
The 2.0 models are great (3SFE/GE) strong, go well. Avoid the 1.8 7AFE lean burn motor, it's horrid.
Great cars.

Believe it or not, Hyundai Lantra wagons are bloody good workhorses. I'd buy an older Corolla.
I had a Lantra, was an excellent car
The early Hyundai made 1.6s tended to drop the skirts off the pistons at high milage and the gearbox won't take abuse, I'd own another though, very quiet and comfy for a car of the type


A bit fugly (http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/hyundai/lantra/auction-441681172.htm) but i'll keep them in mind. Honda that caught my eye initially was this (http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.asp?id=443493690&cc=602&pid=202372166&hbc=&ct=link) one.

Have driven a caldina before and quite liked it, only they seem to hold their value a bit better than the other options.

How good are the non-turbo subaru engines? (Reliability wise) I know cambelt replacement is expensive :mellow:

I'd go for the Caldina over the lot, I like how they drive. Or a legacy 250T B-spec, great suspension.
The cambelt really shouldn't cost much, they're piss easy on the Legacy.

[Usarka]

Purely from own observation, an accord is likely to give you less mechanical woes..... But maybe all the subby owners I know have been unlucky....

One drawback of owning a honda is that every time you watch topgear you get reminded that your a bland nigel no-mates. :lol:

[slofox]

I have had three Legacy wagons in a row, which tells you I like them.

Couple of points though:

1) They chew up gas - especially the quad cam engines.
2) The 2.5 litre four cylinder engines do sometimes blow head gaskets.
3) 2, above, is expensive to fix (DAMHIK)
4) The transmission is not as good as some although failure is not that common.

Other than that, they go like stink if you want them to and will tow bloody near anything. All three have been cheaper to maintain than a Ford Sierra I had before the first Sub. The two I have sold through auction went damn cheap for what they were. I still like 'em and would have another if I could afford it.

[Edbear]

I have had three Legacy wagons in a row, which tells you I like them.

Couple of points though:

1) They chew up gas - especially the quad cam engines.
2) The 2.5 litre four cylinder engines do sometimes blow head gaskets.
3) 2, above, is expensive to fix (DAMHIK)
4) The transmission is not as good as some although failure is not that common.

Other than that, they go like stink if you want them to and will tow bloody near anything. All three have been cheaper to maintain than a Ford Sierra I had before the first Sub. The two I have sold through auction went damn cheap for what they were. I still like 'em and would have another if I could afford it.

Just remember Subaru is the number 1 stolen car, ESP Legacy's. Any 2lt car will do what you want just balance condition and cost

[blackdog]

Yup, you gotta like paying for gas with the soobys.

If it was me I'd be thinking along these lines.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/toyota/carib/auction-440148841.htm

[shafty]

Good advice all round

I read the Dog and Lemon Guide and worked backwards resulting in a V6 Camry and 1500 Corolla to last the next half decade

I've repped in 2 Subaru Legacy Wgn 2.5's and loved them as a work car - well over 200,000 km's in each = very reliable

Evidently later on they cost a few bucks to maintain but hey, close to 300K?

[Hopeful Bastard]

Yupp. I'd definitely be going along with BlackDogs lists... Toyota Carib/Caldina etc. Cheap to fix and bloody durable.


Mates Subie broke down on the Motorway bout a month ago. Snapped the Timing Belt. Had just bought it from a Trade Me member who was driving it that day too...


$1000 later he had a running car again....



The higher CC you go per Cylinder, the more it will cost you fuel wise.


I'd rather run a V6 2.5L than a 4Cyl 2.4L.

[ducatilover]

Purely from own observation, an accord is likely to give you less mechanical woes..... But maybe all the subby owners I know have been unlucky....

One drawback of owning a honda is that every time you watch topgear you get reminded that your a bland nigel no-mates. :lol:
Horrid trans and good luck getting one in manual...everything else about them tends to be quite good though. I'm a bit of a Honda fan

[SMOKEU]

Good advice all round

I read the Dog and Lemon Guide and worked backwards resulting in a V6 Camry and 1500 Corolla to last the next half decade

I've repped in 2 Subaru Legacy Wgn 2.5's and loved them as a work car - well over 200,000 km's in each = very reliable

Evidently later on they cost a few bucks to maintain but hey, close to 300K?

Anything you read in the Dog and Lemon Guide should be taken with a grain of salt. They basically say that the best car is a Toyota Corolla and that every European car is going to self destruct.

[ducatilover]

Anything you read in the Dog and Lemon Guide should be taken with a grain of salt. They basically say that the best car is a Toyota Corolla and that every European car is going to self destruct.

Apparently any rear wheel drive will kill you, anything without a Toyota F series head will fuck out, any cambelt is going to snap, any headgasket is going to blow up.

Then misses many common problems on many models and speculates about the crash stats or safety, speculates about reliability most of the time. He's a hopeless cunt who knows fuck all :angry:

[StoneY]

Someone earlier in thread mentioned Caldina's.
We just traded in our Caldina GTT, I would not recommend it as a tow car.
Very sluggish down low, they're geared and tuned (standard) to run up and boost when the turbo kicked in.
Off the mark had to thrash the crap out of it. Had crap electronics, they have to have the cam belt done every 100k (I do mean HAVE to) and our one was falling apart by 200k........ despite regular servicing etc.

Avoid Turbo's for towing, but then again the non turbo Caldina GT 4wd might have been better if it was to be a tow car (better than the turbo anyway)

I suggest a Subaru Legacy 2.5T (the non turbo 4wd) the one I had 2 years ago was an awesome tow car.
Reliable, pulled well down low, loads of space, but a bit thirsty at that too..........

[Indiana_Jones]

Austin 3L

-Indy

[blackdog]

That Legacy is worth more than $2500.

You would write a cheque for more than that if someone drove it onto ya yard? Not sure I would.

[ducatilover]

Someone earlier in thread mentioned Caldina's.
We just traded in our Caldina GTT, I would not recommend it as a tow car.
Very sluggish down low, they're geared and tuned (standard) to run up and boost when the turbo kicked in.
Off the mark had to thrash the crap out of it. Had crap electronics, they have to have the cam belt done every 100k (I do mean HAVE to) and our one was falling apart by 200k........ despite regular servicing etc.

Avoid Turbo's for towing, but then again the non turbo Caldina GT 4wd might have been better if it was to be a tow car (better than the turbo anyway)

I suggest a Subaru Legacy 2.5T (the non turbo 4wd) the one I had 2 years ago was an awesome tow car.
Reliable, pulled well down low, loads of space, but a bit thirsty at that too..........

Auto/manual and what model year?
I've noticed the ones with he old CT20b take a bit to get on song :facepalm:
The 2.0 3sfe motors are good.

[onearmedbandit]

You would write a cheque for more than that if someone drove it onto ya yard? Not sure I would.

Now you are putting words in my mouth. Trade value, no it's not worth more than $2500, retail value on the other hand. But whoever talks trade prices, except dealers and customers of said dealers.

[pete376403]

I vote for Hondas, I had a 96 US Accord wagon which proved very reliable in all the time I had it. Was going to trade it on a '03 Accord wagon but they only offered $1500 so I gave it to my daughter. She's also having a very good run with it, only issue is the airbag light accasionally needs resetting.

The '03 is a super nice car, pretty grunty as well (This is the high spec 2.4 140Kw)

[AD345]

I'd go for the Accord too

I've had 3 in a row (all new though it must be said) and all I've ever done is put petrol in them

In fact with the last 2 I've never even opened the bonnet...

[nosebleed]

Apparently any rear wheel drive will kill you, anything without a Toyota F series head will fuck out, any cambelt is going to snap, any headgasket is going to blow up.

Then misses many common problems on many models and speculates about the crash stats or safety, speculates about reliability most of the time. He's a hopeless cunt who knows fuck all :angry:

Agreed. Unfortunately all sorts of people buy the guide which just reinforces his delusions.

[StoneY]

Auto/manual and what model year?
I've noticed the ones with he old CT20b take a bit to get on song :facepalm:
The 2.0 3sfe motors are good.

ha if it was a bike I could give ya them specs.
Cars are just cars to me as a rule.
Was an Auto (4 speed tiptronic) 97 4wd Turbo GTT is all I know man :)
Talking with our Toyota dealer when we traded it, he said it was a 'low compression' motor, hence why it did sweet fuck all till 3,500 rpm where the Turbo kicked in.........
Also said it was a known maintenance pit :(

[ducatilover]

ha if it was a bike I could give ya them specs.
Cars are just cars to me as a rule.
Was an Auto (4 speed tiptronic) 97 4wd Turbo GTT is all I know man :)
Talking with our Toyota dealer when we traded it, he said it was a 'low compression' motor, hence why it did sweet fuck all till 3,500 rpm where the Turbo kicked in.........
Also said it was a known maintenance pit :(
Yeah those auto ones are poo, any of the turbo japs with a 4 speed auto are a failure back then. They're all low compression when they have a huffer fitted.
I do much prefer bikes, cars are beige.