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This Year Is Starting Off Expensive-Updated


Calamity Kris

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We were recently told our washer and drier are soon to expire.  Friday, I was informed if Mazda North America can't find the problem with my car, I will soon be paying tribute to my Tribute. 

 

Sooooo, it looks like I may be in the market for a car soon.  Much sooner than I want to be.  The cars I'm considering are the Mazda CX9, Mitsubishi Outlander or the Ford Explorer.  Is there anything else I should consider?

 

Thanks.

****************************************Updated 1/19********************************************************

Well, the techs at Mazda North America must what they are doing.  They recommended a fix to the dealership and it seems to have worked.  I've only had it back for a couple of days but it's running better than it has in years.  Uno says that's a good thing because it will have to last me for at least 300K miles now.  :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

 

Thanks for the advice.  I'll hang on to it in case my situation changes.

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Although there is nothing wrong with my 2003 Ford Expedition, it is 15 years old.  I'm concerned that if something does break, I may not be able to get parts for it. More importantly, my 75-1/2 year old knees and back aren't getting any younger, and "stepping up into the saddle" of that beast isn't getting easier.  While I hated to do it, my wife and I decided it was time, and we bought a 2018 Ford Flex, which is only a bit smaller, has quite a bit of cargo capacity with the third seats down (my gun cart does fit) and us lower to the ground.  Hated to do it...but once every 15 years whether I need it or not! :rolleyes:   Only drawback to the new vehicle is all the danged gadgets that are electronic. (And I did not get all the possible add-on's!)  Fifteen years?  Well, by that time I'll be 90. My Mom didn't quit driving until she was 90, so...

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I like Fords for pickups and Subarus for smaller awd vehicles. Check Consumer Reports ratings and others. We're crazy about our new Outback.

 

 

 

2018 Subaru.jpeg

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I was always a station wagon fan.  Only went to the Expedition when they quit making wagons. Although the industry doesn't like the term "station wagon", the square-backed Flex is really just that.   Ford calls it an "SUV Crossover"! :P

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Schoolmarm and I REALLY like the Buick Enclave. Averages 20 mpg and hauls all our gear for cowboyin’, the band gear when I’m gigging, or the whole dam family with equal aplomb!

 

Stangely enough, it gets as good gas mileage as the Honda CRV that it replaced and does EVERYTHING better!!!!

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2 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Subaru.

Ima and I have 2, Forester and Outback-Lov'em.

OLG

Lumpy with more than one you must be a tree huger.:D  They definitely are reliable.

My only grip are the Subaru's w/CA plates driving on I80 above 5k feet elevation in the winter when there is ice on the road.

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12 minutes ago, J.D. Daily said:

Lumpy with more than one you must be a tree huger.:D  They definitely are reliable.

My only grip are the Subaru's w/CA plates driving on I80 above 5k feet elevation in the winter when there is ice on the road.

My Forester is an '03 and SWMBO's is an '07 Outback.

Every vehicle we own is some form of AWD/4WD.

When it comes time to replace one of the 'cars'. It will be another Forester or Outback.

OLG

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In our 50+ years of marriage the misses has always selected the vehicles we've owned.  After we retired we tried living with a 1994 Jeep CJ & 2000 F250 extended cab 4WD w/7.3L Powerstroke.  Neither vehicle got more than 16 MPG.  You froze in the winter in the CJ & the F250 is not a city vehicle.  When we got a doxador puppy as an animal companion for our Golden it became obvious that we needed a vehicle with more room for the dogs.  The wife did a 3 month search for a vehicle to replace the CJ.  She selected a 2014 Kia Soul.  The only complaint we have is it doesn't have AWD; so, we have to chain-up (PITA) or drive the F250 in the winter to check on the family cabin in S. Lake Tahoe or family in CA.

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29 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

My Forester is an '03 and SWMBO's is an '07 Outback.

Every vehicle we own is some form of AWD/4WD.

When it comes time to replace one of the 'cars'. It will be another Forester or Outback.

OLG

The wife's ex sister in-law drove a Subaru for years & when it was very long in the tooth she asked family for replacement recommendations.   She had several; however, she bought an Outback.  She has little need for the AWD except in the remote possibility of need to visit family when there is snow on the roads at 2000-2500 feet elevation.

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11 minutes ago, J.D. Daily said:

In our 50+ years of marriage the misses has always selected the vehicles we've owned.  After we retired we tried living with a 1994 Jeep CJ & 2000 F250 extended cab 4WD w/7.3L Powerstroke.  Neither vehicle got more than 16 MPG.  You froze in the winter in the CJ & the F250 is not a city vehicle.  When we got a doxador puppy as an animal companion for our Golden it became obvious that we needed a vehicle with more room for the dogs.  The wife did a 3 month search for a vehicle to replace the CJ.  She selected a 2014 Kia Soul.  The only complaint we have is it doesn't have AWD; so, we have to chain-up (PITA) or drive the F250 in the winter to check on the family cabin in S. Lake Tahoe or family in CA.

 

The last Jeep CJ was made in 1986. ;)

OLG

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2 hours ago, J.D. Daily said:

Lumpy with more than one you must be a tree huger.:D  They definitely are reliable.

My only grip are the Subaru's w/CA plates driving on I80 above 5k feet elevation in the winter when there is ice on the road.

I have to go downhill to get to 5,000 ft, :D

 

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I was replacing a light on my Tundra the day before yesterday and realized the store had given me the wrong item after I had things apart (You have to take out the battery to get to it). It had started snowing and the temperature was falling after raining on and off all day. I knew my Neon wasn't going to get me out of the driveway (it's uphill). My wife came in and stopped up by the road. She told me to take her WRX to get the part. I've driven it before but this was the first time in snow and ice. I had zero problems getting to and from the store, while I was seeing plenty of other 4WD, FWD and RWD vehicles having challenges. I know I would have had all kinds of issues in my Neon, and my Tundra might not have handled it as well, even in 4WD.

 

I love my Neon, it's an R/T model and handles great when it is dry. I love my Tundra because it will take me where I want and carry everything I need. But the next time I need a new vehicle, it will be a Subaru.

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4 minutes ago, DocWard said:

I was replacing a light on my Tundra the day before yesterday and realized the store had given me the wrong item after I had things apart (You have to take out the battery to get to it). It had started snowing and the temperature was falling after raining on and off all day. I knew my Neon wasn't going to get me out of the driveway (it's uphill). My wife came in and stopped up by the road. She told me to take her WRX to get the part. I've driven it before but this was the first time in snow and ice. I had zero problems getting to and from the store, while I was seeing plenty of other 4WD, FWD and RWD vehicles having challenges. I know I would have had all kinds of issues in my Neon, and my Tundra might not have handled it as well, even in 4WD.

 

I love my Neon, it's and R/T model and handles great when it is dry. I love my Tundra because it will take me where I want and carry everything I need. But the next time I need a new vehicle, it will be a Subaru.

I suggest one with a bit more ground clearance then the WRX.  Just in case.I've had many cars over the past 50 years or so and I can say that the Forester was my favorite. Now the Outback is. :D

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2 minutes ago, Utah Bob #35998 said:

I suggest one with a bit more ground clearance then the WRX.  Just in case.I've had many cars over the past 50 years or so and I can say that the Forester was my favorite. Now the Outback is. :D

 

Mrs. Doc's first Subie was an Outback, her second a Legacy Wagon. She has always loved sports and sporty cars, and decided since she isn't hauling kids and stuff around anymore, she wanted a fun car, so the WRX fit the bill. I'll definitely opt for more ground clearance. I was talking with a guy at the dealer Mrs. Doc and my youngest daughter got their Subie's through (A Forester) while getting an oil change, and they looking are looking into the possibility of maintaining the factory warranty if they put on a small lift on Outbacks, Foresters and Crosstreks. They are a dealer for company out of Canada that makes them. Just enough to fit more aggressive all terrain tires. Sounds like it would be ideal for me for a camping vehicle, since I don't do a lot of off-roading anymore, but do like to get into out of the way places when I do camp.

 

Having said that, it is hard to wipe the grin off my face after I get a chance to drive her WRX. 

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46 minutes ago, DocWard said:

 

Mrs. Doc's first Subie was an Outback, her second a Legacy Wagon. She has always loved sports and sporty cars, and decided since she isn't hauling kids and stuff around anymore, she wanted a fun car, so the WRX fit the bill. I'll definitely opt for more ground clearance. I was talking with a guy at the dealer Mrs. Doc and my youngest daughter got their Subie's through (A Forester) while getting an oil change, and they looking are looking into the possibility of maintaining the factory warranty if they put on a small lift on Outbacks, Foresters and Crosstreks. They are a dealer for company out of Canada that makes them. Just enough to fit more aggressive all terrain tires. Sounds like it would be ideal for me for a camping vehicle, since I don't do a lot of off-roading anymore, but do like to get into out of the way places when I do camp.

 

Having said that, it is hard to wipe the grin off my face after I get a chance to drive her WRX. 

The Outback and Forester have the same clearance as I recall. Don’t know about lifting and the warranty.

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7 minutes ago, Horace Patootie, SASS #35798 said:

Never owned a Subaru, but how does one choose between the Outback and Forester? What are your reasons for choosing one or the other?

Horace

 

Both have the same ground clearance. The Forester along the lines of a small SUV. It is very slightly shorter, with a couple of inches shorter wheelbase than the Outback but it is taller inside. The Outback is more like a station wagon. It comes down to choice as to what you will do with it.

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36 minutes ago, Utah Bob #35998 said:

The Outback and Forester have the same clearance as I recall. Don’t know about lifting and the warranty.

 

Both are 8.7" ground clearance. Traditionally, doing a lift, even just a spacer lift, will void certain parts of the warranty. The guy I talked to at the dealership said he wasn't sure about what would happen if they installed the lift they sell, as far as the factory is concerned, but he was going to look into it. They had a late model Outback that they were using as a demonstrator. They picked it up as a flood vehicle for cheap, then they had installed a 2" spacer lift, wheels and all terrain tires, a roof rack with an awning on the side, and grill guard with off-road lights. It was the sight of it that got me thinking about lifting one.

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I'm kinda surprised you're considering another Mazda if your current one has a problem the manufacturer can't solve. Or maybe the Tribute is something you've had awhile or otherwise gotten your money's worth? Just curious, nothing more.

 

So much good stuff out there, it's hard to make a choice. When my wife needed a new car in 2016, we subscribed to Consumer Reports just for their online reviews. Well worth it.

 

We ended up with a 2014 Buick Encore with a manufacturer's certified warranty. Only 24,000 miles on it and the warranty covers so much that it's like having a new car. It's for 36 months and the important stuff is actually covered to 60k vs 50k for new.

 

The only reason I bring this up is for to you check out a manufacturer certified used car from one of the big car makers. Ours isn't just certified by the dealer we bought it from, it's good at any GM dealer in the country. Yes, there's a bit of a premium on them vs standard used, but we saved about $10k versus new. I'm sure makers other than GM offer something similar.

 

 

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23 minutes ago, Horace Patootie, SASS #35798 said:

If I read correctly, the Forester has more cubic interior space than the Outback. Maybe that is height related.

Horace

 

Without double checking, I believe that is correct.

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32 minutes ago, Horace Patootie, SASS #35798 said:

If I read correctly, the Forester has more cubic interior space than the Outback. Maybe that is height related.

Horace

Yes it does. If you were in to camping and hauling a lot of gear, the Forester would be the best choice. We decided we didn’t need the extra cargo space so we went from the Forester to the Outback.

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  I refuse to buy any car/truck/ SUV/ etc. new. Too much electronics and too ...make that very too many sensors. All it takes is ONE of the right sensor's to say...ok...enough and you'll end up sitting by the road waiting for someone to tow you home. A very close friend has a Grand Cherokee...a 2006 or 2007...it has according to his mechanic...256 sensors. 256 chances of failure.

  My newest is a 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis with a tad over 100,000 miles and very well maintained. My little beater is a 1994 Ford Escort (31-34 MPG around town and 35-39 mpg on the highway) it has well over 200,000 miles. I bought it with a bad motor but now it has a 93 motor that has about 120,000 miles on it but I keep it maintained. My last one is a 95 Dodge Ram, 3/4 ton 2wd and a manual trans with a Cummins diesel that has 267,000 miles on it.

  I shudder each time I think about paying more money for a new vehicle than I paid for my 1st house. These will outlive me.

 

Best of luck finding what you want CK.

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Charlie-The sewing machine I bought my wife:wub: so she could make her award winning Victorian Dresses, cost more than my first new car did. ;) :lol:

Suby's are among the highest rated cars on the road, and have a fair price to go with them.

Never had an issue with either of ours.

I do ALL of the maintenance on our vehicles.

OLG

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21 hours ago, Utah Bob #35998 said:

I have to go downhill to get to 5,000 ft, :D

 

If I lived a 7k' I'd have a 4WD truck with studded tires & plow plus a couple of snowmobiles, standby generator & a month's worth of food.  For a daily driver it would be a Subaru.  A skid steer would be nice to have for clearing deep snowfalls/drifts.  Not an issue here at 4,000' where the average annual rainfall is 5" & snowfall 7".

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Take a peek at the Hyundai Santa Fe Ltd with the 3.3 liter motor and all wheel drive. I have an ‘09 and love it. I can get 2 cowboy carts and gear in the back and still get 25 mpg on the highway. Very nicely appointed in and out and very comfortable. Big front seats and lots of legroom and easy to get into and out of. I am 6’4” and have no issues. 

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New or used?

 

Toyota or Toyota.

 

 

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On 1/14/2018 at 10:02 AM, Calamity Kris said:

We were recently told our washer and drier are soon to expire.  Friday, I was informed if Mazda North America can't find the problem with my car, I will soon be paying tribute to my Tribute. 

 

Sooooo, it looks like I may be in the market for a car soon.  Much sooner than I want to be.  The cars I'm considering are the Mazda CX9, Mitsubishi Outlander or the Ford Explorer.  Is there anything else I should consider?

 

Thanks.

How is Uno??

 

TL

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21 hours ago, Abilene Slim SASS 81783 said:

I'm kinda surprised you're considering another Mazda if your current one has a problem the manufacturer can't solve. Or maybe the Tribute is something you've had awhile or otherwise gotten your money's worth? Just curious, nothing more.

 

 

You hit the nail on the head.  The Tribute is 14 years old and has 180K on the clock.  Before this funky problem cropped up, it had been bulletproof.  I believe it's an electrical issue that was caused by the installers of a new radio when a spilled soda caused the death of the OEM radio.  The Tribute is our 3rd Mazda.  My '95 Protege has 250K+ on the clock and it's still running great, according to the kid who bought it from me.  Uno's '83 RX-7 had 280K on the clock before it wouldn't pass Cali's stricter smog rules and had to be crushed. 

 

57 minutes ago, Dantankerous said:

New or used?

 

Toyota or Toyota.

 

 

 

I would love to be able to afford a Toyota.  I can't justify $55K for an SUV.  Gently used ones are difficult to find.  For now, I will have to look elsewhere.

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2 minutes ago, Calamity Kris said:

 

... I would love to be able to afford a Toyota.  I can't justify $55K for an SUV.  Gently used ones are difficult to find.  For now, I will have to look elsewhere.

 

Heck, when I shop for a vehicle I look for something about 10 years old with reasonable mileage. It's about the only way somebody can afford a vehicle these days unless they are a doctor or a lawyer. And I'm not whining about my income because it's pretty decent, I just refuse to participate in the automobile payment program that most of the country buys into. That brings us back to Toyota. The extended family has had Toyota's for decades and not very many of them because they last and last and last. It is my opinion that Toyota quality is superb and cannot be matched by Mazda by any stretch of the imagination. This is based on my personal experience. My last vehicle purchase was last year, a 2008 Toyota Sequoia. That is their large SUV with a 400 horsepower v8. With 120,000 miles on the odometer I paid $13,500 for it. Yes it was used and was not a show car by any means but I'm not one to lose $10,000 in immediate depreciation by driving a new car off the lot. I can live with a few scratches and dings. It took a while to find that automobile for that price but I was patient and it paid off. Otherwise you can expect about another 5 to $7,000 for a lot price on top of what I paid and that is still a decent price for that vehicle.

 

I know several people who are driving Toyota Camrys, albeit not an SUV, but these Camrys go over 300,000 miles with minimum maintenance.

 

 

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14 minutes ago, Texas Lizard said:

How is Uno??

 

TL

 

Loving it here in Fla.  Having a blast in his new job.  All is great.

 

7 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

 

I think he's the 'washer & dryer'-:lol:

OLG

 

No, Lump.  He would just load the laundry baskets into my car and tell me where the nearest laundromat is.  Oh and make sure I hung his shirts up as soon as I took them out of the drier.  :o

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