(no subject)

[nolly]

My insurance says the truck is totaled; hers hasn't looked yet, but I'm sure they'll concur. So, I'm taking suggestions on my next car! 2-4 years old, probably, fuel efficient but zippy enough for SoCal freeway driving, not too expensive. I prefer something aesthetically pleasing, but I'll take what I can get. I know some of you are car people; any tips on what to look at?

Comments

[koyote.livejournal.com]

saturns get REALLY good mileage (the wagon gets 31-34 average depending on load) BUT BUT BUT don't get one > about 75k miles.

you *might* be better off, especially where you are, getting a late 70s to mid 80s datsun or toyota and having a full rebuild (so, a $1,000 car with a $2,000 "make it new" - not popular, but you live in the right place to do it- no rust, no road salt, and you can get the body and interior done dirt cheap with a trip to TJ

[nolly.livejournal.com]

I've seen a Saturn after a wreck. No thanks! Too breakable. I'm thinking Toyota or Honda, or the equivalent.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Before you give up entirely on Saturn, you might at least consider one of the newer (since 2003) Ions. They're a bit more sturdy than the earlier SLs, and get almost as good mileage.

Other than that, the Toyota Corolla is always a good bet if you can find one, as is the Honda Civic. The small Mazdas are also good cars if you can find one.

[koyote.livejournal.com]

true- while the frame does what it's supposed to like any decent toyota would, the saturn body panels do look pretty bad after a wreck. Not that body panels do much to protect people.

[nolly.livejournal.com]

It was the tire at ~45 degrees to the ground that made me say "never", actually.

[koyote.livejournal.com]

if it was a rear, I'd be disappointed in saturn, but on front wheel drive cars the rear wheels are just there to keep the bumbper off the gorund and iprove gas mileage (less friction if you aren't dragging the back of the car on the ground)- they don't *do* much else.

Front wheels- on front wheel drive cars the front wheels are VERY VERY moveable- as they have to be able to be driven (deliver power from the drive train to the earth) at constantly shifting angles. so it's extremely unlikely that the whole wheel and (flexible because it S tttttttttttt) drive shaft/axle assembly could come off. Bend? YES! because it is designed to- it has to to run on anything other than straight rails.

So what's keeping it "level" so to speak is the strut and shock system. if an accident breaks that system, it's probably going to look pretty ugly, like a wheel sitting at a 45 degree angle. But that's not anything in the car breaking except part of the suspension. Which is actually a good design consideration, since the suspension system gives a time-effect absortion of stress before failure.

[nolly.livejournal.com]

Pretty use it was rear, unless my memory is scrambled.

It's looking like an '04-06 Civic Hybrid may be feasible, though.