I can't find a car!

[Micah Pie]

Short history: I am German, born and raised and recently moved here to the US.

I want to buy a new vehicle. And that's where my problem starts.

My parents always bought Opels, Kadetts more specifically until my uncle started working at a Ford dealership. We have had a Mondeo, Scorpio, two escorts and about 3 Foci (of which the last one was a 250orsomething HP 6speed Monster that I could EASILY and comfortably to 150 MPH. My mom also bought an Alpha Romeo (awesome cars, but not available in the US )

Well, here in the US, when our 96 Dodge Intrepid went out, we bought a Chevy Venture minivan that me and my wife shared and which we totally love.

Now my job is taking me about 20m out of town and we needed a second car. The Intrepid is dead, so I am driving my father-in-laws old Olds Delta 88.

I love and hate that car. I can see that in 1984, this was an AWESOME car, but what is left after 200000 miles and a life of abuse is just a pain.

As a German raised on station wagons and sedans, I dislike the very concept of BOF and crossover SUVs, I don't need a truck, so I am looking for a small hatchback or sedan.

I want a VW Rabbit or Jetta, since they are known for their reliability (if they are not HENCHO EN MEXICO). But if I can't buy the great TDI, I'm not buying at all.

I wouldn't mind another GM vehicle (and I test drove a BUNCH), but most of the ones on the market are (I'm sorry) junk. The old Saturns everyone in my family had problems with. The current small and med. size cars are all UGLY except for the handsome G6, and the FWD and price really kills that car for me.

The Chevy cobalt is not bad, I like the drive and all, but for the price it's too plain, to simple and I would rather buy something else)

I even went to look in the SUV sector, drove a Jeep Patriot (which's styling I like). I like the price, the design, the interior, but the engine is worth of my law mower and that's it.

So here I am, not a lot of money, a market of inferior cars (and I won't EVER buy Asian "cars" ). Other cars like the BMW 3 and Mercedes C are horribly overpriced, the A isn't even available.

I guess this market is just not made for me.

Anyway... maybe I should give the Olds some paint, a new engine, a new interior and some wheels. I'd be rollin' for sure.

Edited July 20, 2007 by Micah Pie

[Drew Dowdell]

Find yourself another old Olds.

[Oracle of Delphi]

Short history: I am German, born and raised and recently moved here to the US.

Me too, although I came here 28 years ago at the age of 10.

Willkommen zu den Foren. Es ist gut, dich mit uns zu haben.

der Börger

[Intrepidation]

If you're open to any car that's not Asian, try a 2nd gen Intrepid/Concorde/LHS/300M. If you go with the 3.2L or 3.5L you get good power (250 horsepower out of the 3.5L) and good reliability. I would be cautious about the 2.7L models, because the 2.7L has been know to have issues...but then my `00 just hit 187K on the original motor and transmission and runs like she was brand new. They drive and and handle very well too.

If you want a hatch, or better yet, want an Opel, wait for the Saturn Astra to come out. :AH-HA_wink:

Cobalts are good, especially if you go with an SS model.

Did you drive Patriot with a 2.4 and the 5-speed? I image that will be much more peppy than the CVT models. You could also consider the soon-to-be-released Caliber SRT-4 that will make 300 or so horsepower from it's 2.4L turbo.

PT Cruiser GT is also a nice option, as is the HHR (especially the SS or Sport or whatever it's called now model)

A first or second gen Oldsmobile Aurora is a very nice option too if you'd like to have a new, nicer Olds.

As far as RWD...there's GTOs and F-bodies and the Mustang that will fit that bill.

Ford's Fusion isn't bad either...you could also pick up a Focus hatch (later models, since the early ones had reliability issues).

Dunno if any of that tickles your fancy, but just some suggestions...welcome to C&G!

[Flybrian]

Used '01-03 Olds Aurora.

[Micah Pie]

Thanks for all the responses! (And sorry if my posts sounds like a rant, but I am getting rather frustrated...)

Did you drive Patriot with a 2.4 and the 5-speed?

No, the CVT. The dealer did not have a manual shift in stock. The CVT is a joke.... it still sounds like it "shifts" (and feels like it, too) but about 2000rpm too late. I couldn't stand that engine noise. Plus it has that "I'm not letting go of the clutch" feeling.

I do like the 2nd gen Intrepids, I just didn't know if they are any good (had many problems with the 96, but then again it had way over 200.000 miles on it)

And if I could find a mint, low-milage Delta 88 (with a mint Olds engine), I would buy it.

[AAS]

I'll second Dodgfan's vote, and say HHR!

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

Hello and welcome.

Used Oldsmobiles from the 1990's

1992-1999 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight or LSS

1991-1996 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight

1997-1998 Regency

2001-2003 Aurora

1997 Intrigue with 3.8 liter V6

Alero 1999-2004

1990-1992 Toronado ( check engine and brake lines and fuel lines)

Used Buicks

Regal - 1997-2003

Century- 1997-2003

LeSabre- 1992-2005

Park Avenue-1991-2004

Saturn ASTRA ( Like Opel Astra) comes to market this fall

Saturn Aura( like Opel Vectra)

Many Chevrolets to choose from that are good( Impalas, Cobalts, Malibus,Monte Carlo, HHR)

Pontiac G5

Pontiac Grand Prix- 1997- to present)

Just a thought.

On The Ford side:

Mercurys and Lincolns( Milan, Sable)

A few Fords( Fusion, Taurus)

Edited July 20, 2007 by NINETY EIGHT REGENCY

[Intrepidation]

Thanks for all the responses! (And sorry if my posts sounds like a rant, but I am getting rather frustrated...)

No, the CVT. The dealer did not have a manual shift in stock. The CVT is a joke.... it still sounds like it "shifts" (and feels like it, too) but about 2000rpm too late. I couldn't stand that engine noise. Plus it has that "I'm not letting go of the clutch" feeling.

I do like the 2nd gen Intrepids, I just didn't know if they are any good (had many problems with the 96, but then again it had way over 200.000 miles on it)

And if I could find a mint, low-milage Delta 88 (with a mint Olds engine), I would buy it.

The CVT is junk, it sucks all the power from what is otherwise a reasonably powerful 4-banger.

1St gen Intrepids and other LH models suffered from a lot of quality problems, however the 2nd generation LH models including the Intrepid have much better quality. The 2.7L is the exception, like I said...a lot of problems seem to occur with it, although I can't testify to that. 3.2L or 3.5L models are great bets. The engines are very reliable. The 2nd gens have nice interiors (that shame most of what Chrysler is putting out right now), handle great, stop great, have good steering feel and drive like a smaller car. Look great too IMO.

Aurora is also a fine car!

[Flybrian]

Astra is also a good consideration if you can wait a few months.

[!!!TED!!!]

Astra is also a good consideration if you can wait a few months.

BINGO!!!!

[ZL-1]

Like Flybrian wrote, if you can wait a little bit then get the Astra.

[Oracle of Delphi]

Or I can get you an Opel GT!

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

A Regency:

It was around for two years 1997-1998.

[Intrepidation]

A Regency:

It was around for two years 1997-1998.

One of those hit the Shadow...and totaled it...the Regency I mean...Shadow had no major damage besides a dented fender.

Edited July 21, 2007 by Dodgefan

[daves87rs]

Astra is also a good consideration if you can wait a few months.

Agreed...

An HHR would work too...

[toesuf94]

The HHR's are great. And the new Astra should be a great car as well.

[caddycruiser]

Because of your love of VW...and mine...I suggest a 2008 Jetta/etc. TDI with the new TDI engine, if you can push out that long. Here's one, for show, right here:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/auto...ws/4218116.html

You could always just get a 2006 Jetta TDI, which they actually made a stockpile of because of having to stop the TDI production with '06s, and there's still some new ones to be found. They're fantastic cars, not boaty, but not midgets, built very well, and the TDI...well, that's just self explanatory.

[Micah Pie]

Me too, although I came here 28 years ago at the age of 10.

Willkommen zu den Foren. Es ist gut, dich mit uns zu haben.

der Börger

Hey, vielen Dank! (Auch wenn ich beim besten Willen nicht weis weis was ein Boerger ist...)

Well, I don't really like the HRR, the styling just throws me off (even though the PT cruiser is very popular in Europe)

I like the new Astra, but does anyone have any info on Pricing?

Like I said, there is just no car out there that excites me right now, so I'm not spending my hard earned money on just 'something'.

I might wait for the Astra.

Concerning the TDIs .... there was a 06 Jetta TDI ? How come there isn't anymore??

[Oracle of Delphi]

Hey, vielen Dank! (Auch wenn ich beim besten Willen nicht weis weis was ein Boerger ist...)

Well, I don't really like the HRR, the styling just throws me off (even though the PT cruiser is very popular in Europe)

I like the new Astra, but does anyone have any info on Pricing?

Like I said, there is just no car out there that excites me right now, so I'm not spending my hard earned money on just 'something'.

I might wait for the Astra.

Concerning the TDIs .... there was a 06 Jetta TDI ? How come there isn't anymore??

Ja ist das nur für Deutsche geheim! :AH-HA_wink:

[pow]

ASTRA, Focus, Fusion (like a plus-sized Mondeo), Rabbit (Golf), and Jetta are all good choices...

[pow]

Concerning the TDIs .... there was a 06 Jetta TDI ? How come there isn't anymore??

There weren't any '07 Jetta TDIs because they couldn't meet emissions (NOx, HC, CO, and particulates, not CO2) requirements. The upcoming 2008s will meet them.

[Sixty8panther]

If you want to spend money, buy a gently used CTS

and you will have RWD & a shapr, well made car.

If you want to save money go through the local ads

and find a cheap used RWD dinosaur. There's tons

of good deals on NICE big GM boats, just make sure

they have like 80K miles, not 200K.

Here's a few great deals:

http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/car/377579608.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/car/377237377.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/car/374715391.html

wish this one hd a photo:

http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/car/378202502.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/car/377899637.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/car/379596618.html

[mustang84]

Welcome to the boards, Micah!

Like others have said, the Astra will be here shortly, there is a new Focus coming later in the year (still not as good as the ones in Europe), the Ford Fusion is a good choice (V6 is a better engine than the I4 though...much smoother)...but yeah, you're going to find it hard to find many small cars here that are on the same level of quality as small Euro ones. Americans haven't been shifting into small cars in large numbers until recently, so we're playing catch up.

Alfa Romeo is being reintroduced to the American market in 2009? I believe, and I also think I heard Peugeot was looking at coming here.

I lived in Rome last spring for a semester and got to travel around Europe and see all the different cars there that we Americans never really hear about. I love the Alfas over there, especially the 159! I'm glad GM is bringing the Opel stuff over here, because they seem like stylish little cars. Euro Fords are also very nice, especially the Mondeo. We rented a Renault Clio when we were in Greece...it was a pretty peppy little car for only having 136 hp.

Edited July 22, 2007 by mustang84

[Micah Pie]

I don't understand why Ford (as an american company and all) has such awesome looking and driving cars in Europe AND Australia and we have a lackluster Focus, 2000+yo Crown Vics, 500s and all that, plus OBVIOUS Rebadges EVERYWHERE.

I do like the Fusion, but it is a little bit out of my range price and size wise.

I would be in a Rabbit TDI in a heartbeat. I might consider the Jetta, a lot of the people I know have Jettas and they are very happy with them.

[Camino LS6]

I could sell you my Maserati

Welcome to C&G, and good luck in your search.

[pow]

FWIW, Ford is running some great deals on the Fusion. You could probably get one for the price of a discounted Civic LX or incentivized Cobalt LTZ.

[Oracle of Delphi]

I could sell you my Maserati

Welcome to C&G, and good luck in your search.

Ain't that thar one of dem I Talian cars from It Ly?

[Camino LS6]