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  #11  
Old   
FanJet
 
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Default Re: New car purchase - 10-28-2005 , 05:43 PM






zonie wrote:
Quote:
Look at the crash tests. Elantra at bottom of list. Scott
Try again, their ratings are virtually identical:

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov

The Elantra *is* a better buy though.




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  #12  
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Don Fearn
 
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Default Re: New car purchase - 10-28-2005 , 06:42 PM






I coulda sworn "TenPercent" <tenpercent (AT) not-real-address (DOT) com> typ'd:

Quote:
Hi, I'm having trouble deciding between two cars to buy.

I'm either going to purchase a new 2005 Hyundai Elantra GLS
hatchback for $14,200 OR a new 2006 Toyota Corolla
CE 4-door sedan for $15,100 (or $15,500 depending
upon the option package).

These are solid, final prices I negotiated with both dealers
over the phone.

People say the Toyotas are built better than the Hyundais
and most other vehicles for that matter, but the Elantra comes
with a 10-year 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The Corolla
comes with 5 years of powertrain.

Which would you choose? I plan to keep the car forever,
so trade-in value or the speed of the car's depreciation is
not a factor in the decision-making.
No contest. Don't buy either. Buy a 2006 Scion xB. Toyota quality; LOW
price.

That's what I did when I was looking for a car in that price range,
and am I ever glad I did!

The xB is a small car on the outside and an SUV (Scion's Utility
Vehicle) on the inside, gets nearly 40 MPG, and it's the MOST fun car
I've had since that Datsun 240Z I had as a kid . . . .

-Don (wish I still had the Z, though!)
--
"Ladies and gentlemen take my advice.
Pull down your pants and slide on the ice."

-- Sidney Freedman


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  #13  
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Christopher Wong
 
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Default Re: New car purchase - 10-29-2005 , 03:52 PM



In article <zeg8f.193$Nd.57882 (AT) newshog (DOT) newsread.com>, TenPercent wrote:
Quote:
Hi, I'm having trouble deciding between two cars to buy.

I'm either going to purchase a new 2005 Hyundai Elantra GLS
hatchback for $14,200 OR a new 2006 Toyota Corolla
CE 4-door sedan for $15,100 (or $15,500 depending
upon the option package).
I think these aren't really even comparable models: you're trying to choose
between a stripped-down Corolla and a loaded Elantra. With the latter, you
get things that are either unavailable or optional on the stripper Corolla:
a more powerful engine, rear wiper, power locks, alarm/keyless entry, power
windows, heated mirrors, rear disk brakes, side air bags.

Those in the market for a stripper Corolla might want to compare to the 2006
Accent instead, which is less loaded than the Elantra. It claims to have
interior space comparable to the Corolla and has better gas mileage than the
Elantra. It also has side air bags standard unlike the Corolla, and should
be even cheaper than the Elantra.

Chris


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  #14  
Old   
High Tech Misfit
 
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Default Re: New car purchase - 10-29-2005 , 04:24 PM



Christopher Wong wrote:

Quote:
Those in the market for a stripper Corolla might want to compare to the 2006
Accent instead, which is less loaded than the Elantra. It claims to have
interior space comparable to the Corolla and has better gas mileage than the
Elantra. It also has side air bags standard unlike the Corolla, and should
be even cheaper than the Elantra.
But Corolla still gets better gas mileage than both Elantra AND Accent.
EPA's estimates for Accent are 26/35 for the automatic and 29/33 for the
manual. For Corolla, they estimate 30/38 for the automatic and 32/41 for
the manual. In fact, my folks recently took a trip in their '04 Corolla CE
(automatic), and it got 40mpg. As I said elsewhere, if one intends to do a
lot of driving, the Corolla may cost a little more to buy, but in the long
run it will cost less to refuel.

The new Honda Civic should not be overlooked either. The base Civic DX is
priced about the same as the Corolla CE and has similar gas mileage, but it
has ABS and 6 airbags standard.


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  #15  
Old   
TenPercent
 
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Default Re: New car purchase - 10-29-2005 , 08:25 PM



Christopher Wong wrote:
Quote:
The new Honda Civic should not be overlooked either. The base Civic DX
is priced about the same as the Corolla CE and has similar gas mileage,
but it has ABS and 6 airbags standard.

Thank you for suggesting the Honda Civic. Anti-lock breaks would
definitely be useful, and it's nice to see ABS standard on the
base model Civic, which has an Edmunds TMV of about $15,800 in
my zip code (automatic trans).

The only problem I see with the base model is that it doesn't
have air conditioning or the 60/40 split-folding rear seat.

The base price for the Corolla CE is about $15,100, and it
comes standard with air conditioning and the nifty
cargo-expanding folding rear seats. What's a real
shame, though, is that the dealer tells me that CE's with
ABS are not shipped to our region--perhaps they're saving
the ABS for the snowier, slippier north (?), but we get
lotsa snow in Columbia, Missouri--and I remember as a kid, I
would have wrecked my Dad's Oldsmobile Eighty Eight if it
hadn't had ABS one icy night.

Thank god for ABS. One might make a case that it should be
standard on all cars?? But even more importantly, I would
love to see a nationwide law that mandated manufacturers to
make cars that physically would not start if the driver's
seat belt was not engaged. I think lotsa serious injuries
could be avoided with such a law.


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  #16  
Old   
TenPercent
 
Posts: n/a

Default Re: New car purchase - 10-29-2005 , 08:37 PM



I should have said that the base price mentioned above for the Corolla
CE is for an automatic transmission.

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  #17  
Old   
Don Fearn
 
Posts: n/a

Default Re: New car purchase - 10-29-2005 , 08:50 PM



I coulda sworn "TenPercent" <tenpercent (AT) not-real-address (DOT) com> typ'd:

Quote:
Christopher Wong wrote:

The new Honda Civic should not be overlooked either. The base Civic DX
is priced about the same as the Corolla CE and has similar gas mileage,
but it has ABS and 6 airbags standard.


Thank you for suggesting the Honda Civic. Anti-lock breaks would
definitely be useful, and it's nice to see ABS standard on the
base model Civic, which has an Edmunds TMV of about $15,800 in
my zip code (automatic trans).
ABS is standard on the xB.

Quote:
The only problem I see with the base model is that it doesn't
have air conditioning
Air conditioning is standard on the xB.

Quote:
or the 60/40 split-folding rear seat.
The xB rear seats fold.

Quote:
The base price for the Corolla CE is about $15,100, and it
comes standard with air conditioning and the nifty
cargo-expanding folding rear seats. What's a real
shame, though, is that the dealer tells me that CE's with
ABS are not shipped to our region--perhaps they're saving
the ABS for the snowier, slippier north (?), but we get
lotsa snow in Columbia, Missouri--and I remember as a kid, I
would have wrecked my Dad's Oldsmobile Eighty Eight if it
hadn't had ABS one icy night.
The xB has ABS *everywhere* it's shipped.
Quote:
Thank god for ABS. One might make a case that it should be
standard on all cars?? But even more importantly, I would
love to see a nationwide law that mandated manufacturers to
make cars that physically would not start if the driver's
seat belt was not engaged. I think lotsa serious injuries
could be avoided with such a law.
No. BAD idea. We don't need more laws. ESPECIALLY laws to protect
idiots from themselves . . . .

-Don
--
"Ladies and gentlemen take my advice.
Pull down your pants and slide on the ice."

-- Sidney Freedman


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  #18  
Old   
Ray O
 
Posts: n/a

Default Re: New car purchase - 10-29-2005 , 09:59 PM




"TenPercent" <tenpercent (AT) not-real-address (DOT) com> wrote

Quote:
Christopher Wong wrote:

The new Honda Civic should not be overlooked either. The base Civic DX
is priced about the same as the Corolla CE and has similar gas mileage,
but it has ABS and 6 airbags standard.


Thank you for suggesting the Honda Civic. Anti-lock breaks would
definitely be useful, and it's nice to see ABS standard on the
base model Civic, which has an Edmunds TMV of about $15,800 in
my zip code (automatic trans).
"Brakes" stop a vehicle, not "breaks."

Quote:
The only problem I see with the base model is that it doesn't
have air conditioning or the 60/40 split-folding rear seat.

The base price for the Corolla CE is about $15,100, and it
comes standard with air conditioning and the nifty
cargo-expanding folding rear seats. What's a real
shame, though, is that the dealer tells me that CE's with
ABS are not shipped to our region--perhaps they're saving
the ABS for the snowier, slippier north (?), but we get
lotsa snow in Columbia, Missouri--and I remember as a kid, I
would have wrecked my Dad's Oldsmobile Eighty Eight if it
hadn't had ABS one icy night.

I believe Columbia MO is part of Toyota's Kansas City Region. Each region
orders vehicles according to what they think will sell. They probably feel
that Corolla CE buyers are more price conscious than S, LE, or XRS buyers.
There are thousands of possible model/color/option permutations so it is
difficult to anticipate what a particular buyer will want in a particular
production cycle.

Quote:
Thank god for ABS. One might make a case that it should be
standard on all cars??
The biggest reason that ABS is not standard on all vehicles is cost. Buyers
of lower-priced vehicles tend to be more price sensitive so manufacturers
try to keep prices down by making some non-essential features optional. One
could argue that traction control, stability control, electronic brake force
distribution, all wheel drive, side airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners,
parking assist sensors, laser cruise control, and automatic dimming rear
view mirrors should also be standard since they enhance the safety of the
vehicle, and they are on much more expensive vehicles.

ABS is a wonderful safety feature but a skilled, experienced driver can
easily stop a car safely in the snow without it. ABS does allow an extra
margin of safety for an unskilled, inexperienced, or inattentive driver,
but one must modify one's braking habits to take advantage of it.

But even more importantly, I would
Quote:
love to see a nationwide law that mandated manufacturers to
make cars that physically would not start if the driver's
seat belt was not engaged. I think lotsa serious injuries
could be avoided with such a law.
You're showing your young age. Back in the 1970's, vehicles were equipped
with seat belt interlocks. They caused so many no-start problems that they
were discontinued.
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply




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  #19  
Old   
Ray O
 
Posts: n/a

Default Re: New car purchase - 10-29-2005 , 10:50 PM




"Hachiroku" <Trueno (AT) ae86 (DOT) gts> wrote

Quote:
On Sat, 29 Oct 2005 20:59:33 -0500, Ray O wrote:


"TenPercent" <tenpercent (AT) not-real-address (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:aqU8f.252$Nd.79753 (AT) newshog (DOT) newsread.com...
Christopher Wong wrote:

The new Honda Civic should not be overlooked either. The base Civic DX
is priced about the same as the Corolla CE and has similar gas mileage,
but it has ABS and 6 airbags standard.


Thank you for suggesting the Honda Civic. Anti-lock breaks would
definitely be useful, and it's nice to see ABS standard on the
base model Civic, which has an Edmunds TMV of about $15,800 in
my zip code (automatic trans).

"Brakes" stop a vehicle, not "breaks."


The only problem I see with the base model is that it doesn't
have air conditioning or the 60/40 split-folding rear seat.

The base price for the Corolla CE is about $15,100, and it
comes standard with air conditioning and the nifty
cargo-expanding folding rear seats. What's a real
shame, though, is that the dealer tells me that CE's with
ABS are not shipped to our region--perhaps they're saving
the ABS for the snowier, slippier north (?), but we get
lotsa snow in Columbia, Missouri--and I remember as a kid, I
would have wrecked my Dad's Oldsmobile Eighty Eight if it
hadn't had ABS one icy night.


I believe Columbia MO is part of Toyota's Kansas City Region. Each
region
orders vehicles according to what they think will sell. They probably
feel
that Corolla CE buyers are more price conscious than S, LE, or XRS
buyers.
There are thousands of possible model/color/option permutations so it is
difficult to anticipate what a particular buyer will want in a particular
production cycle.

Thank god for ABS. One might make a case that it should be
standard on all cars??

The biggest reason that ABS is not standard on all vehicles is cost.
Buyers
of lower-priced vehicles tend to be more price sensitive so manufacturers
try to keep prices down by making some non-essential features optional.
One
could argue that traction control, stability control, electronic brake
force
distribution, all wheel drive, side airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners,
parking assist sensors, laser cruise control, and automatic dimming rear
view mirrors should also be standard since they enhance the safety of the
vehicle, and they are on much more expensive vehicles.

ABS is a wonderful safety feature but a skilled, experienced driver can
easily stop a car safely in the snow without it. ABS does allow an extra
margin of safety for an unskilled, inexperienced, or inattentive driver,
but one must modify one's braking habits to take advantage of it.

But even more importantly, I would
love to see a nationwide law that mandated manufacturers to
make cars that physically would not start if the driver's
seat belt was not engaged. I think lotsa serious injuries
could be avoided with such a law.

You're showing your young age. Back in the 1970's, vehicles were
equipped
with seat belt interlocks. They caused so many no-start problems that
they
were discontinued.


See my other post. 1974. Only year. Disconnected because (Jim told me) of
a Court Case.
I never heard a definitive explanation for why the seat belt interlocks were
disconnected. Being unconstitutional would be a good one!
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply




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  #20  
Old   
TenPercent
 
Posts: n/a

Default Re: New car purchase - 10-29-2005 , 11:16 PM



I appreciate the comments about ABS and starter-linked
seat belts, and especially the reassurances that high
quality, well-built Corollas come out of the NUMMI plant.
I'm now no longer worried about buying a Corolla, even though
my old Tercel's VINny started with a "J."

But I can't be convinced that safety belts shouldn't be
linked to the starter. I would say it's better to have lotsa
people late for work because of malfunctioning seat
belt interlocks than lotsa people seriously injured and dead
because of outlawed interlocks, which is what we have today.

Sounds to me like the worst court ruling ever. Maybe I'm
wrong, but I don't think the human body evolved over eons
to somehow withstand the forces involved in even a
20 mile per hour collision, let alone 55.

And over time, had the interlocks been given a chance, I'm
sure their malfunction rate would have been greatly reduced,
as is the case with many new things.

I'd guess hauling around 3 thousand pounds of metal at 65
miles an hour is just about the most dangerous thing
most of us has ever done, and we do it every single day for
years and years. How's that for being a super dare-devil
and risk-taker!

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