Need a new car

[grapedrink]

Friend of mine is looking for a new car. He wants something newer with AWD. Doesn't want to spend more than $16k and is going to keep the car for 10-15 years so it must last.

He is looking at Subarus that are 4-5 years old. I told him he should look at the VW golf or jettas. Needs to get some descent gas mileage so the TDIs would be a good option.

He doesn't want to have major things go wrong with it in the next 5-10 years. He just wants a solid reliable car that he can drive and perform general maintance.

Option 2 is to drop the AWD.

If he is going to drop the AWD I said to look at some E36s like a 328 or something.

Country of orgine is not important but what he wants from a car elimates a few.

Option 1
-reliable
-awd
-newer
-15k
-gas mileage
-manual trans

Option 2
-reliable
-newer
-15k

[nando]

if he wants awd stay away from anything VW (heavy, low performance). Scoobies are overated IMO but at least they will be reliable.

Also, diesel is more expensive than gasoline and it's only going to get worse when cleaner diesel is mandated by the government; the mileage savings will go out the window. and I wouldn't call anything made recently by VW reliable..

[grapedrink]

So thats a no on the VWs then.

Will the newer scoobies last for 15 yeras?

[parkerbink]

Toyota or Honda (after 2002) if 10-15 year reliability are wanted.

[augusta325is]

Ditto Toyota or a Honda.........

[The Fast One!]

I'm selling my 2002 honda civic, :)

[MitchFong]

I'm selling my 2002 honda civic, :)

Can you say FWD

[PeaveyBassist]

Toyota or Honda.

Will

[The Fast One!]

Can you say FWD

why do you think I bought an e30 :p

[chuckybob]

i read a new car reliability report for 2005 in which suburu came in dead last, he might want to stay away from those.

[PУCCKAЯ_e30ka]

get a hunduh and convert to awd... j/k subaru is kinda low on its reliability, I'd go with new acura's

[JeffG]

owned several subaru's, two 88 wagons, and a 99 outback. i've put many thousands of miles on them and they are solid. outback is now my parents car and it's still rockin without any problems. all three have been driven a lot with little problems, if any. i can personally attest to reliability, i dont trust consumer reports that would say otherwise.

subaru's are not cars to buy for bling factor unless you're talking about STI's and stuff. to me they're a workhorse, and i treated all of mine as such with road tripping and ski trips, hauling gear and bikes dogs around to places.

imo, subaru's are solid and you can't go wrong with them. parts are fucking expensive, but just keep feeding them gas and oil and do that timing belt and they'll keep on truckin for a long time, just as your friends wants his future car to.

[grapedrink]

Will the E36s if well taken care of last 10-15 years?

[Digitalwave]

If he wants it to last 10-15, an E36 should be his last choice.

I say get in a brand new Civic, the new design looks amazing and I am sure you can get into a brand spanking new base model for $15k.