What would you buy? Small car for 10k - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Jorn · #31 11-02-2011, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

Find a Z3 Break that hasn't been abused. Beautiful AND somewhat practical.

I like those, but would think they are more then $10K.

Jim B. · #32 11-02-2011, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwrock

If you want something thats solid, reliable, sporty, stylish, and decently fast, check out a W210 E55 or W202 C43.

They can both be had for 10-12k.

Yep.

Fine cars if SOMEBODY ELSE
pays for all the fuel.

barry123400 · #33 11-02-2011, 05:21 PM

Like the more modern eficent diesels. It appears the north american market has been pretty well ignored up to now for any direct injection gas cars pretty well.

The honda has an economy mode switch. I was wondering what they were doing. Aparently if you do a reburn of the exhaust with direct injection the milage soars. I do not know if this is what honda is doing but it would fit.

Some of the possibilities are in that excellent gdi article published for direct injection gasoline engines in a prior post on this thread. Actually almost old technology in some parts of the world that I never knew about. my life is too sheltered I guess.

It appears that you can design direct injection for more power or more milage. Perhaps both in a clever design. Even honda seems to have already had quite a bit of experience with it. Just not here.

The one unescapable conclusion is they all decided not to mass introduce the concept into the north american market until now. Probably has been a standard feature in many other markets for quite awhile.

tjts1 · #34 11-02-2011, 05:23 PM

Honda doesn't have a single GDI engine thus far. They've really let themselves fall behind.

TheDon · #35 11-02-2011, 05:38 PM

what about a plain ole civic?

barry123400 · #36 11-02-2011, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjts1

Honda doesn't have a single GDI engine thus far. They've really let themselves fall behind.

Available 2012 honda models I understood in Canada. Same with hyundia and kia. Maybe fords focus as well. Not on toyota here but now will be in 2013 I imagine as toyota is no longer having any choice. Your going to need it to stay compedative in the new car market.

I read a report some years ago that the only real fear the major japanese companies had in the future was the korean cars once they got their act together. Huyundia have advanced features compared to the japenese right now.

The quality though is still not up to the japanese leading brands. In my opinion but coming on very fast. They may have already slid by the big threes offerings quality wise very quietly.

In this area of quality usually it takes time to establish what is reality versus hype. I actually fear the old big three may cease to exist in north america simply because they will be unable to compete in the not too distant future.

tbomachines · #37 11-02-2011, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjts1

Honda doesn't have a single GDI engine thus far. They've really let themselves fall behind.

Have to agree...they've practically handed the compact market to Hyundai. The CR-Z is one of their more visible recent mistakes.

TylerH860 · #38 11-02-2011, 05:49 PM

You have the Jeep for winter utility and hauling, so if I were in your place I'd want something fun. First choice would be a Honda S2000, second choice Mazda MX5, third Acura RSX type S. RSX will give you cargo space, others not so much.

iwrock · #39 11-02-2011, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Yep.

Fine cars if SOMEBODY ELSE
pays for all the fuel.

I suggested a Sentra/Fit/Yaris.

My latter suggestions will be OK on fuel. My C43 would return 16-18 city, and about 26-28 freeway! The E55 should return approx 14-18 city and 25 freeway.

Better than my E55k. It eats fuel to the tune of 7MPG when getting flogged.

barry123400 · #40 11-02-2011, 06:04 PM

Why not? The car is both technically advanced compared to the lower cost japanese offerings. Plus it is well established they have quietly been on a course of seriously improving their quality year over year.

I do not think they yet have the equivelant of japanese quality but they seem to be headed that way. Once decent resale prices are established for the kia and hyundia brands I think they will have really arrived.

The current elantra is a lot of car for the dollar especially if you can pick it up on one of their sales promotions. Fairly roomy with decent roadability. With a large trunk and catchy styling that may or may not become dated.

Epa of 58 miles per highway gallon on our imperial gallon. This should put the epa highway in the states with your smaller gallon in the area of 50 plus miles per gallon. Generally of course you never get the epa rated milage. Yet even 45 miles per gallon in a car that size is going to interest people. Huyundia even have a car called the optimist or something simular on their lots to compete with the top end cars. They are targetting the lexus,infinity,mercedes, bmw market and many others this year I suspect at far less dollars. I saw one the other day and it was impressive. I also had a glimpse at their hybrid elantra.

Not a slouch performance wise either. Economy with power available is a good combination in the elantra. Actually hard to get in the low price fields and I think they have six speed automatic transmissions compared to the four speed automatics still vended in the lower end lines like civics, corolas.

The elantra is currently selling so well the company cannot currently supply enough cars to dealers in Canada.Not that many years ago you could not give them away.

They are still coming up quality wise faster than anyone would have thought possible in my opinion. Their newest top end car has an eight speed automatic by the way.

If there is no hyundia dealer in your area and you are fairly young. Picking up or starting a dealership right away might be a gold mine soon.

tbomachines · #41 11-02-2011, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry123400

Epa of 58 miles per highway gallon on our imperial gallon. This should put the epa highway in the states with your smaller gallon in the area of 50 plus miles per gallon. Generally of course you never get the epa rated milage. Yet even 45 miles per gallon in a car that size is going to interest people.

Not true

depends how you drive. I regularly exceed EPA mileage estimates on every car I drive. In fact, I've been called out to be a "liar" on this forum when I state my mileage in my MBs. 40mpg should be attainable fairly easily on a lot of their models with conscious driving.

FWIW I test drove a Genesis coupe this summer and did not like it at all. I was quite disappointed since I had high hopes for the car.

barry123400 · #42 11-02-2011, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbomachines

Not true

depends how you drive. I regularly exceed EPA mileage estimates on every car I drive. In fact, I've been called out to be a "liar" on this forum when I state my mileage in my MBs. 40mpg should be attainable fairly easily on a lot of their models with conscious driving.

FWIW I test drove a Genesis coupe this summer and did not like it at all. I was quite disappointed since I had high hopes for the car.

We all develop different driving styles. I agee that going easy is going to get greater fuel milage and be less wearing on mechanical systems. I never would expect to hit epa ratings in my stlye of driving. Getting up to speed too fast and depending on your brakes to slow you at the last possible moment are the two largest wasters of fuel. Plus excess idiling and high speed.

Without actually knowing I assume the genesis coupe is a hyundia varient. If so I have not seen one yet.

I was never able to comprehend why the epa figures on diesels where less than the average driver got for a period of time.

tbomachines · #43 11-02-2011, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry123400

We all develop different driving styles. I agee that going easy is going to get greater fuel milage and be less wearing on mechanical systems. I never would expect to hit epa ratings in my stlye of driving. Getting up to speed too fast and depending on your brakes to slow you at the last possible moment are the two largest wasters of fuel. Plus excess idiling and high speed.

Without actually knowing I assume the genesis coupe is a hyundia varient. If so I have not seen one yet.

I was never able to comprehend why the epa figures on diesels where less than the average driver got for a period of time.

Here's the Genesis coupe. Not sure if they are available in Canada, I would assume so though. Its a nice looking car, but it seemed like the base model (all I could afford) substituted a lot of nice surfaces and materials for cheap plastic.

barry123400 · #44 11-02-2011, 07:24 PM

This may have replaced the huyundia tiberon. One of our daughters brought one years ago. Other than replacing the front wheel bearings three times and a really noisy manual transmission in reverse especially it lasted fairly well. She replaced it with an early elantra and come to think about it she did okay with that as well.

tbomachines · #45 11-02-2011, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry123400

This may have replaced the huyundia tiberon. One of our daughters brought one years ago. Other than replacing the front wheel bearings three times and a really noisy manual transmission in reverse especially it lasted fairly well. She replaced it with an early elantra and come to think about it she did okay with that as well.

Ultimately it did replace the Tiburon however the cars are very different. The GC starts around $26k whereas the Tib was about 10k cheaper. The GC competes with the Inifiniti G35 coupe rather than compact cars...its either a 2.0 turbo RWD or 3.8L V6 RWD. As I said though, the bare base model with NO options, auto 2.0L, etc. was a bit too bare. Especially when you consider the fact that I got my GTI for $5k less and has all that and much more (except RWD).