Automobiles

[mimbresman]

Must fit a teacher's budget, have adequate truck space, plus get 40+ mpg, and be comfortable and fun to drive. Yesterday the Coconino went for a ride...
image.jpg

[mimbresman]

Must fit a teacher's budget, have adequate truck space, plus get 40+ mpg, and be comfortable and fun to drive. Yesterday the Coconino went for a ride...
image.jpg

image.jpg
Btw, the car I found to fit the above criteria is my 2013 Dodge Dart, now with 14,000 miles on it. It has the Fiat 1.4 turbo (same engine as the Abarth) which produces about 165 HP and about 190 lb-ft of torque (with the K&N intake). A real kick in the pants to drive, and it regularly gets 40+ mpg on my 100 mile commute. I am really happy with it.

[TTX1]

Late to the discussion (and relatively new to the forum), but here's my $0.02...

Living in Boston, and active outdoors 4 seasons (bikes-skis-bikes-skis), Audi works well for me. Presently driving a 2002 S4 Avant, which has provided the lowest TCO of any car I've owned - new or used.

I picked up the S4 in late 2010 for @ $10k. Aside from regular maintenance, I've had to replace discs and rotors, plus two wheel bearings. That's it. Even if I blow a turbo (~ $3k replacement), my TCO remains super low over 4-5 years.

On the road, it's the ultimate sleeper wagon - functionally similar to the Jetta wagon, but with a 250hp (stock) bi-turbo 6-cyl. With minor tuning, it's a junior sportscar capable of truly respectable track performance. It doesn't have TDI fuel economy, but the TDI doesn't accelerate like the S4...

Plus, AWD for the requisite four season performance.

B5 S4s are getting harder to come by in good/unmolested condition with relatively low mileage, and good wagons are even harder to find. Fewer than 1500 were sold each year from '00-'02, iirc.

I'm going to drive this thing as long as I can. It's a pleasure to drive, and I seem to have one of the good ones.

The picture isn't my car - more or less a twin, though.

[christian]

If a B5 S4 has the lowest TCO of any car you've owned, I'd love to have lived in your previous garage! Bristol Blenheim, Mercedes E60 AMG, Iso Grifo Can Am?

[Mabouya]

I've had to replace discs and rotors, plus two wheel bearings.

Just out of curiosity, how many miles on the car when you did this?

[roseyscot]

If a B5 S4 has the lowest TCO of any car you've owned, I'd love to have lived in your previous garage! Bristol Blenheim, Mercedes E60 AMG, Iso Grifo Can Am?

I can assure you my 1995 S6 has nowhere near a respectable TCO, but damn, is it a blast to drive, and a total cheater when the New England weather is sloppy. If I can just get it to last another 2 years without bankrupting me, I'll be a very happy man.

[TTX1]

If a B5 S4 has the lowest TCO of any car you've owned, I'd love to have lived in your previous garage! Bristol Blenheim, Mercedes E60 AMG, Iso Grifo Can Am?

For reference, this is Audi #5 for me.

As mentioned, I purchased the S4 for $10k... adding minimal maintenance and relatively low insurance rates for a ~10 year old wagon, and you get low TCO.

For example, the S4 TCO has been much lower than our 2007 Pilot (wife's ride, purchased new) over any 3-4 years of the ~ 7 years period we've owned it.

Apples and oranges, yes, but it's not a radical statement to suggest that a $10k car with minimal failures over ~3+ years has low TCO - even anticipating high cost failures such as turbo.

The key is to understand and anticipate the likely failure points and associated costs. The B5 S4 is at risk for turbos, transmission (auto). Other items such as timing belt, brakes, and suspension are more or less inline with what you might find on other 10-yr old cars.

Even if I had to tackle all of the above in a single year, I'm still well below the cost of a "new" or "newer" replacement vehicle such as a Jetta TDI or A3 or A4 Avant.

It's really a shame Americans don't buy wagons anymore.

The sport wagon rules in Europe, not so much here...

[TTX1]

Just out of curiosity, how many miles on the car when you did this?

I purchased the car with 110k miles. Did the first bearing at 120k and the second at 125k. Similar schedule for discs and rotors - did the front around 120, and the rear a little while later.

Of course it's impossible to predict average wear on these specific parts - wear varies by driver and local roads.

The car had one previous owner (older male doctor, always garaged), also in the Northeast. All service was done at the dealer. The proverbial creampuff.

[davids]

For reference, this is Audi #5 for me.

As mentioned, I purchased the S4 for $10k... adding minimal maintenance and relatively low insurance rates for a ~10 year old wagon, and you get low TCO.

For example, the S4 TCO has been much lower than our 2007 Pilot (wife's ride, purchased new) over any 3-4 years of the ~ 7 years period we've owned it.

Apples and oranges, yes, but it's not a radical statement to suggest that a $10k car with minimal failures over ~3+ years has low TCO - even anticipating high cost failures such as turbo.

The key is to understand and anticipate the likely failure points and associated costs. The B5 S4 is at risk for turbos, transmission (auto). Other items such as timing belt, brakes, and suspension are more or less inline with what you might find on other 10-yr old cars.

Even if I had to tackle all of the above in a single year, I'm still well below the cost of a "new" or "newer" replacement vehicle such as a Jetta TDI or A3 or A4 Avant.

It's really a shame Americans don't buy wagons anymore.

The sport wagon rules in Europe, not so much here...

A totally different beast, but I made the same argument with the Sable Wagon I bought, with 27k on it, for $7000.

We regarded that thing as a seven-seat mule, and pretty much drove it into the ground. I got $1300 in trade-in for it after putting 75k miles on it. It had one major repair while we owned it, along with oil changes and other regular maintenance. It was a stupid car, and stupid cheap.

[TTX1]

A totally different beast, but I made the same argument with the Sable Wagon I bought, with 27k on it, for $7000.

Nice! Personally, I'm pretty much done with new vehicles. Glad to spring for my wife, but between lack of interesting choices for myself (where are the sport wagons!) and huge depreciation on increasingly cost optimized products, I'm happy to drive an older car.

[davids]

Nice! Personally, I'm pretty much done with new vehicles. Glad to spring for my wife, but between lack of interesting choices for myself (where are the sport wagons!) and huge depreciation on increasingly cost optimized products, I'm happy to drive an older car.

I'm a big sports wagon fan. But lately, my strategy has been to buy new Hondas and then keep them for at least a decade.

[Roman]

I'm a big sports wagon fan. But lately, my strategy has been to buy new Hondas and then keep them for at least a decade.

I can't kill my wife's old 1993 civic hatchback, no matter how hard I try. The salt is beginning to expedite to its demise.

[Brandon White]

These are perfect for the polar vortex.

[Nierman]

My old shoes. Comfortable - and comforting - knowing a little salt, snow or skip off a concrete median ain't gonna hurt nothin'. Still gets around 30mpg and 1 quart per K. Nearing 200K. Less than $400/yr to insure. Embarrasses my kids, though. In 20 yrs they'll understand.

It does have leather & sunroof. So don't think I don't have standards.

[robin3mj]

These are perfect for the polar vortex.

What, no Ladas?

[mimbresman]

What, no Ladas?

I had a Lada...a real POS.
This is Mimbres Man: POS Niva

[maunahaole]

What do you expect when you have a Fiat built by Soviets?

[mimbresman]

What do you expect when you have a Fiat built by Soviets?

The coolest things about the Niva was A.) the styling, B.) the door handles (art decoish), and C.) all the engine parts and the spare tire were cast with CCCP. Also had the original owners manual in Russian. Had a clever design where all you needed was a 13mm, 14mm, and a 15mm wrench to fix about anything on it. The 4x4 system was clever as well. Engine was unreliable as hell. It'd vapor lock and overheat all the time. It hated the tropics. Left me stranded once too many.

[Mabouya]

I didn't know this: In a Lada Niva the spare tire is stored above the engine!

NYT story about a 1000 mile road trip to Sochi in a Lada

[zetroc]

A lot of older Subarus did the same. The flat 4 left a lot of headroom.