General Auto Chat

Discussion in 'Cars, Motorcycles, Boats, Airplanes Talk' started by Maxvla, Sep 26, 2015.

  1. DaveBSC

    DaveBSC Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    18
    Trophy Points:
    3
    On an unrelated note to our new car hunt, WOW what a piece of shit the Lincoln MKC is. Already four open recalls, and repair rates comparable to 15 year old Japanese cars. Ford was never known for Toyota level reliability, but it seems like in the last five years that they've just completely lost the ability to design and build a car that doesn't immediately fall to pieces.
     
  2. Maxvla

    Maxvla Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    118
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    OKC
    Well, since you like the Murano so much...

    [​IMG]
     
  3. DaveBSC

    DaveBSC Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    18
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Hehe. There is at least one or two of those around here amazingly, but yeah, no.
     
  4. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

    Staff Member Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,067
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    I own a 2015 Honda Civic SI (white). Done some modding.

    Mod List
    Boomba Racing Torque Dampers
    PRL Motorsports Cold Air Intake w/ Battery Relocator
    Full Race Downpipe
    Full Race Exhaust
    Clutch Delay Valve Delete
    PRL Motorsports Stainless Steel Clutch Line
    Hybrid Racing Shifter Bushings
    Hondata Flashpro
    Type-R Shift knob

    Tuned by VitViper
     
  5. bixby

    bixby Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,987
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Northern Colorado

    My ex-wifes CVT Murano has had major transmission issues, FWIW. And the drone from the CVT even when newer and working was annoying. Maybe things have been sorted with later models, not sure, but reliability has been reported to be average.

    Why not look at the kings of reliability........Toyota. Highlander is way high on the reliability list and then there is Lexus if you want a fancy interior.
     
  6. DaveBSC

    DaveBSC Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    18
    Trophy Points:
    3
    First or second gen? The first gen Murano was a piece of crap, but the second gen ('09-'14) as far as I can tell is holding up pretty well. Above average for most of those years in CR, and low overall repair rates, particularly from '10 onward, comparable to a Pilot at least if maybe not quite as good as Highlander. Highlanders hold their value too well though, a '12 with under 45K miles would likely be a base stripper to stay in budget, which doesn't interest her.
     
  7. bixby

    bixby Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,987
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Northern Colorado
    Yes, I cannot remember what year the Murano is but I think 08, anyway, just trying to help. I find this reliability data quite interesting. (see below) I think it was mentioned on the old Changstar site. And yes 2012 Limited highlanders with about 50k mi are a hair over 25K. Good luck with your search.

    http://tradeinqualityindex.com/reports/Nissan.html
     
  8. DaveBSC

    DaveBSC Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    18
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Thanks. That trade in quality index site is helpful for people shopping for older cars, but for folks like us looking at late model used cars, I don't think the information is all that helpful. The Maxima for example is rated pretty poor, but what years of Maxima are they talking about? The '04-'08 was pretty much junk, but that car has absolutely no relation to the '09-'14 car that we're looking at. Like the Murano, that Maxima also from '10+ appears to be holding up very well judging by sites like car complaints and true delta.
     
  9. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    14,051
    Trophy Points:
    113
    This thread is super helpful. My wife and I might be looking at replacing her A4 Avant next year before the electrical system takes a shit (because Audi). She's learned to trust my cheapo nature and is down with a late model Japanese SUV. We're looking at the Murano as well.

    I will still drive my poopbox.
     
  10. DaveBSC

    DaveBSC Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    18
    Trophy Points:
    3
    I've been there. Audi Total Electrical Meltdown(TM) is no fun at all. We took a second, longer look at the Murano yesterday, this one a mid level SL with some but not every option. LEs come with basically everything out of the box except for NAV, but pretty much every LE I've seen for sale has NAV on it. The leather seats are definitely more comfortable than the cloth ones in S and SV trim cars, but still a bit lacking in thigh support. This was also the first time I drove the car. I was hoping for at least something like the Maxima's steering calibration, but nope. Not speed sensitive like the Max, doesn't load up with increasing lock or really do anything. Very light, and VERY numb. There at least wasn't a huge on-center dead spot, but the steering definitely doesn't inspire driver confidence at all. You sort of just have to guess what the front wheels are up to. Disappointing. She was less bothered by it.

    The CX-7 apparently left some of its severe quality woes behind starting with the '11 models, so we may look at one just to see what's what. She's leaning towards something with AWD now, so the Max may be out, but the G37x is now on the list.

    Zero, how important is rear seat room to your wife? The Japanese luxury brands have never done an AWD wagon directly comparable to an Avant, but the closest thing to that is the unloved Infiniti EX. Infiniti designed that car about 10% too small, and so rear seat legroom and cargo room is a major weakness compared to an RDX, X3, or Q5. It's shorter than those cars and a little more wagon like though, and the interior is one of the nicer ones that Infiniti has done. Reliability as far as I'm aware is excellent since it's closely related to the G.
     
  11. kapanak

    kapanak Canucklehead - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    259
    Trophy Points:
    63
    I own a 2014 Mazda 3 Sport (Hatchback) GT with Luxury and Technology Packages. This model is known as Mazda 3 s Grand Touring 5-Door in the USA.

    For the price, and the size, in my humble opinion after test driving nearly 20 cars before this purchase, this is one of the best non-luxury Japanese hatchbacks on the market.

    I recommend people do not overlook Mazda models. The 2016 CX-5 and CX-3 and the 2016 Mazda 6 are also excellent, up to date models.

    PS: Prior to the Mazda 3, I owned a 2008 CRV LX, and prior to that, a 2000 Honda Civic Si.
     
  12. DaveBSC

    DaveBSC Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    18
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Small update: CX-7 is out again. Apparently once they started offering the base, FWD 2.5L 4cyl trim, people stopped buying the turbo AWD version, at least around these parts anyway. Not a single one for sale within driving distance.
     
  13. evanft

    evanft Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Likes Received:
    42
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Taylor, MI
    After spending the summer car shopping, what I've learned is:

    1. Do not eliminate a car based on whether it's FWD/RWD/AWD. All RWD models aren't created equal, though, so do research. But you should be buying snow tires no matter what you buy if it snows in your area. A modern RWD car with winter tires is fine in the winter.

    2. Don't eliminate a car based on number of cylinders. Do research on individual engines. I mean, my 3 favorite engines were the supercharged Audi V6, the BMW N55, and the Ecoboost 2.3L. All forced induction.

    3. Don't eliminate a car based on brand. Some brands have generally higher or lower quality than others, but there are often vehicles within brands that are more or less reliable than the brand suggests.

    4. Have a wide search area. If you're willing to drive 2 hours instead of 1, the number of vehicles available grows significantly.

    5. Don't make a decision based on CPO/non-CPO. Any used car should get an inspection, and if you really care about having a warranty you can always add it on. I mean, I wouldn't buy an out of warranty 335i, but I'd be perfectly comfortable buying an low mileage Accord without one.

    Looking through your wants, I'd also suggest a v6 Accord. Leather, great engine, lots of tech. A Forester XT wouldn't be a bad choice, but the ones with leather get pricey. A used Lexus IS350 may also be in the price range
     
  14. DaveBSC

    DaveBSC Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    18
    Trophy Points:
    3
    She absolutely hates spending money on tires, so RWD with a set of Blizzaks in the garage is not an option. I couldn't even convince her to spend the money on a new set of Continental DWS tires when her first set went. She's got some mid-grade BFGoodrich A/S tires now. There really aren't too many RWD only options that would be under consideration anyway. I've never been particularly enamored with the first gen Hyundai Genesis, German lux cars are out, and there's no reason to choose something like a RWD G37 over a G37x.

    Turbo 4s would be a possibility, if there was one worth looking at. I had initially written off the CX-7 because of the horrible quality problems with the first several years. CX-7s apparently improved in the last few years of production, but people around here stopped buying the 2.3 turbo. There's just no cars to buy. The turbo four in the first generation RDX is not loved by anyone. Lumpy, peaky power delivery is not a good match for a small SUV, and it drinks down premium like a V8. Killing that engine off and replacing it with a V6 was a smart move by Honda in the second gen RDX.

    She's not really interested in the compact SUV class (CR-V, RAV4, Rouge, etc) so probably no Forester. I also doubt that the stereo in the Forester is any better than the garbage in the Legacy, and she wants at least a half decent stereo, which is not something Subaru has ever been particularly known for. No turbo Escape either, the new ones are complete junk. More "Ford quality" there.

    The Maxima is better than the Accord in pretty much all aspects, so there really isn't a compelling reason to go after one. Same goes for the Camry, Altima, Sonata, Optima, 200, previous gen Mazda6, Legacy, Malibu, and in some ways, the Fusion. The 13+ Fusion Titanium is a nice car, if rather pathetically slow with the 2.0T compared to its NA V6 rivals. I don't believe those power and torque numbers for a second. It's got way more tech than the Maxima does which isn't a surprise considering its a generation newer, but the interior is pretty low rent in a lot of places, My Ford Touch is still kind of crappy, and the steering wheel feels like it costs about 12 cents. Way to cheap out on the one touch point you use 100% of the time you're in the car. Nissan wheels have nothing on say, VW's, but they are a fair bit better than Ford's new ones at least.

    The previous gen IS is a remote possibility, but it usually costs more than the Infiniti G, and you get a lot less car for your money. The 250 AWD was dog slow, and the very dated AWD system they use with its massive transfer case really doesn't fit behind the big V6. They shoved it in anyway during the last few years of production, but it eats up a large amount of footwell space, and there wasn't that much to begin with. IMO the IS has always been somewhat of a hamfisted car that Toyota still doesn't know how to do very well. I suppose they're in better shape than Infiniti though, the Q50 is a complete disaster.
     
  15. GelockS

    GelockS Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    114
    Trophy Points:
    43
    I'm also looking for a new car (2015/2016 model) and I have a "problem"... I LIKE JEEP! LOL!
    So I was waiting for the Renegade to come up here and... well, I personally like their looks, the Trailhawk model is definitely cool-looking and capable for what I would use it for (i.e. more normal driving than off-roading) but I've been reading so much about transmission issues, electrical systems issues and so on that I don't know if I should bite.

    I also looked into Honda's HR-V (feels to cramped for me... I'm 6'4 250lbs), Mazda CX5 (nice but it's really a car basically...), and a few others (actually liked Ford Edge Sport but too expensive...) and then... http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2015/02/review-2015-jeep-grand-cherokee-altitude-4x4/

    Love how it looks (especially in Silver and White), robust, capable and transmission issues don't seem to plague this one... too much! LOL. Price is still a bit high, but man, if I were to choose right now between Renegade and JGC, I'd choose the JGC... Probably will have to sell my Kidneys along with some stuff. I don't want to give my current Jeep Liberty (05) for Trade-in though...
     
  16. DaveBSC

    DaveBSC Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    18
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Very different products. Any brand new, first year design from FCA for me is an immediate no go. Aside from that, it's a very Jeepified Fiat 500L, complete with that lovely ZF 9-speed piece of garbage. On the quality front, the JGC is maybe a bit better, but not all that much. Aside from the Wrangler, Jeeps have never been put together especially well.

    If you want something that can do serious off-roading like a Jeep, and is basically unkillable: 4Runner. A 15 year old 4Runner is less likely to give you problems than a brand new Jeep anything.
     
  17. Maxvla

    Maxvla Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    118
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    OKC
    Most SUVs are built on car platforms, so they are all 'basically cars'. It's only when you get to something like a suburban that it is built on a truck frame.
     
  18. DaveBSC

    DaveBSC Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    18
    Trophy Points:
    3
    That's true, but that doesn't mean there aren't significant differences between unibody based SUVs. The first gen VW Toureg/Q7/Cayenne for example were built on a dedicated platform that wasn't derived from something like the Passat, but it was a unibody "car type" platform, not a separate chassis like a Chevy Tahoe. They were designed to be supremely capable off-road. Same goes for the Range Rover.

    Now SUVs or "crossovers" if you prefer that are directly derived from sedan platforms like the Pilot and Murano, those tend to be much less capable off-road. That's not to say you can't build in off-road abilities on top of a mainstream platform - that's basically exactly what Jeep does with most of its products. It's more that engineers have to make a choice between onroad handling and comfort and off-road ability, and most engineers bias in favor of the former because they know that the vast majority of their customers will not venture onto anything more challenging than a gravel driveway. Nobody who bought the Toureg really cared about competing in the Dakar rally, so they cut most of the elaborate AWD gear out, and saved hundreds of pounds of weight in the process.
     
  19. kapanak

    kapanak Canucklehead - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    259
    Trophy Points:
    63
  20. GelockS

    GelockS Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    114
    Trophy Points:
    43
    That's the thing, old Cherokees, 4Runners, etc. are good and all BUT call me shallow, I just don't like how they look! LOL!
    I might indeed get a Wrangler in the future so I don't mind if all I have is AWD and that's it...

    Ford should bring this to the States --> http://blog.caranddriver.com/the-br...ular-troller-t4-for-brazil-is-pretty-bitchin/

    LOL.
     

Share This Page