Buying my first car

[AllanB]

Quick question. I've always avoided small engine cars with auto but I'm seeing favorable reports on dinky Jizz's, Gitz and the like? How do they go? I've had fun in dinky manuals but autos on hills or overtaking were terrible.

1300 cc engine up is OK, 1500 a lot better. I ran a Toyota Vitz 1300 (auto) for a week - good around town, fine up to say 110 on the open road after that you waited. Passing at speed - it the vehicle in front was doing 80 and you had a run-up it was fine. Doing 90 - just tuck in a slipstream them and enjoy phenomenal fuel economy.

My advise - look at 1300cc plus engines if hooked to a auto.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Aston Martin V8 Vantage. You will pik one up for around 80 to 100. Nice car.

Y no love for Subaru ITT?

[Akzle]

Aston Martin V8 Vantage. You will pik one up for around 80 to 100. Nice car.

Y no love for Subaru ITT?

vanquish, you pussy.

And subaru are ghey. Weak drivelines, shitty turbos, poor awd. Sideways engines.

[Paul in NZ]

Swallow your pride - get a Toyota or Nissan from the mid to late 90's... Literally run forever if you service them... Finding it hard to find a replacement for my Caldina...

[Maha]

Swallow your pride - get a Toyota or Nissan from the mid to late 90's... Literally run forever if you service them... Finding it hard to find a replacement for my Caldina...

Probably very good advice.

[haydes55]

At my old job we had a primera as a work wagon (thankfully not my work wagon). No less than 6 times the CVT was malfunctioning and needed repairs. Twice fully replaced CVT. In the end sold it cheap because it was costing more than made sense.

As for manual vs auto, in my turbo diesel ute, I wanted a manual, because they are just so much better at life.

But 1st and 2nd gear are so short, but 2nd is too high to take off from, and it's such a peaky power curve from the turbo, it's not smooth when I try take off fast (unless I ride the clutch, then I can keep the turbo spooled up from take off til 2nd). I'm actually thinking an auto would smooth this out and offer a better power curve, instead of going from lag to boost to clutch in. All of the tourques to none of the tourques...

[EJK]

Swallow your pride - get a Toyota or Nissan from the mid to late 90's... Literally run forever if you service them... Finding it hard to find a replacement for my Caldina...

Non-turbo Caldina AWD with manual transmission. Great fun and can last for over 600 years.


Or this as an alternative if you win the lottery this weekend.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used...1048015959.htm

[Akzle]

At my old job we had a primera as a work wagon (thankfully not my work wagon). No less than 6 times the CVT was malfunctioning and needed repairs. Twice fully replaced CVT. In the end sold it cheap because it was costing more than made sense.

As for manual vs auto, in my turbo diesel ute, I wanted a manual, because they are just so much better at life.

But 1st and 2nd gear are so short, but 2nd is too high to take off from, and it's such a peaky power curve from the turbo, it's not smooth when I try take off fast (unless I ride the clutch, then I can keep the turbo spooled up from take off til 2nd). I'm actually thinking an auto would smooth this out and offer a better power curve, instead of going from lag to boost to clutch in. All of the tourques to none of the tourques...

change of diff may see ya right.

But generally, turbo is gay, just get a bigger engine.

[EJK]

change of diff may see ya right.

But generally, turbo is gay, just get a bigger engine.

No replacement for small penis displacement.

[Blackbird]

Our daughter has an auto Toyota Camry which she picked up a couple of years ago for about $4000. Ex-rental. Seriously impressed with it as it just runs and runs with no bother at all. It's done around 200k, doesn't burn oil and is amazingly quiet. It uses a bit more fuel than the smaller capacity cars but it's by no means a guzzler and it's more comfortable on longer runs and can carry a decent amount of luggage. As others have said, everyday Jappa cars might not be particularly inspiring, but they're cheap to run and you won't get stranded waiting months for parts if anything does go wrong.

[Akzle]

No replacement for small penis displacement.

meh. I enjoy knowing that i could tow most other shit on the road backwards (or, as needed). Passing uphill in fifth makes for cruisy driving too.

[Paul in NZ]

Non-turbo Caldina AWD with manual transmission. Great fun and can last for over 600 years.


Or this as an alternative if you win the lottery this weekend.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used...1048015959.htm

I don't think the 4 speed (well 3 and OD) auto in those caldinas have ever failed ever... Mines only done 240,000 and biggest expense other than a cambelt every 100K was the rear shocks last year - I just about had a heart attack having to spend money on it...

[OddDuck]

Swallow your pride - get a Toyota or Nissan from the mid to late 90's... Literally run forever if you service them... Finding it hard to find a replacement for my Caldina...

Rust in the body might be an issue by now. The sealant used along weld lines goes hard and cracks, letting water in to metal that may or may not have been painted. Shame really, I think the mid '90's was about the peak for reliability combined with ease of service for Japanese cars in general, they've been getting fussier, more expensive and harder to work on since.

Caveat: that comment about rust based on a sample of 1... and it was a Mazda... your mileage may vary

[Paul in NZ]

Rust in the body might be an issue by now. The sealant used along weld lines goes hard and cracks, letting water in to metal that may or may not have been painted. Shame really, I think the mid '90's was about the peak for reliability combined with ease of service for Japanese cars in general, they've been getting fussier, more expensive and harder to work on since.

Caveat: that comment about rust based on a sample of 1... and it was a Mazda... your mileage may vary

True that although its not evident on most of the survivors... Caldinas will go around the A pillar but its an easy fix $$ wise compared to a mech fix on later cars. Vicki has a Diahatsu Srion which is really a toyota and its stone axe reliable but needed suspension bushes last wof... Sorry - dont sell the bushes, you replace the whole arm... $850 for a $10 bush... Pathetic... Reliability is a key factor in reducing the damage done by cars. Sure a later cars more fuel efficient but it still needs to be manufactured...

Cheers

[OddDuck]

True that although its not evident on most of the survivors... Caldinas will go around the A pillar but its an easy fix $$ wise compared to a mech fix on later cars. Vicki has a Diahatsu Srion which is really a toyota and its stone axe reliable but needed suspension bushes last wof... Sorry - dont sell the bushes, you replace the whole arm... $850 for a $10 bush... Pathetic... Reliability is a key factor in reducing the damage done by cars. Sure a later cars more fuel efficient but it still needs to be manufactured...

Cheers

Check Rockauto.com for aftermarket parts, they might have some goodies. Way cheaper than dealer if they do. They will ping you on postage, see if you can freight forward.