# Help...think its time to buy a different car **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [March 1, 2010, 8:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-think-its-time-to-buy-a-different-car/45328 "2010-03-01T08:36:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![begoing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/74df32/32.png) [@begoing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/begoing)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 8:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-think-its-time-to-buy-a-different-car/45328/1 "2010-03-01T08:36:03Z")
My Cougar is giving me problems again. so i’m thinking about getting a car. but what? i think i want this in a car: 1. it zips. i like the acceleration of my current 2.5L V6. 2. good handling. like the decent handling of a coupe, but tired of the coupe feeling. 3. decent mpg, at least 25. 4. decent cargo/passenger space. i like hauling a bike or a couple of big boxes every now and then…and leaving those things in there for extended periods of time 5. reasonable maintenance costs. i like the audi a4/a6 avant, but not the bills it can rack up. 6. gotta look cool. hey…don’t want an uncool looking car, right? ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 10:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-think-its-time-to-buy-a-different-car/45328/2 "2010-03-01T10:35:36Z")
You do know that fixing your current car would be cheaper? ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 12:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-think-its-time-to-buy-a-different-car/45328/3 "2010-03-01T12:37:25Z")
I agree that fixing your car would be cheaper. But why mention an Audi and be back here again perhaps with the same complain. Log on to CR on line, subscibe and start looking at models that are reliable, good looking and fill your needs. You can search them by the different needs you have. That will give you a good start…then expand your search into the commercial testing publications to get more opinions and details. Return to us with more specific models that some of us may have subjective opinions on. That’s the way I’d proceed. You always have the right to spend your money and buy a new car for whatever reason you want. But I wouldn’t put reasonable maintenance costs and Audi in the same sentence. Guess I just did. ---
**Author:** ![twotone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@twotone](https://community.cartalk.com/u/twotone)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-think-its-time-to-buy-a-different-car/45328/4 "2010-03-01T16:55:07Z")
BMW 3/5-series wagon Subaru WRX wagon MB E-Class wagon Twotone ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-think-its-time-to-buy-a-different-car/45328/5 "2010-03-01T16:58:48Z")
How much are you willing to spend? Cars that might fill your needs are an Infiniti G35 or a Nissan Nissan 350Z, depending on whether your coupe comment means you want more access or fewer seats. You can get a bike rack for almost anything. Also let us know whether you want 25 MPG highway, city, or average. ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 11:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-think-its-time-to-buy-a-different-car/45328/6 "2010-03-01T23:56:22Z")
You sound like you could use a small wagon like the Mazda 3. If you can drive stick, the Speed3 would be worth a good look-see. A Scion xD is another choice, I don’t think they’ve been affected by the Toyota recall yet. ---
**Author:** ![kb0001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7bcc69/32.png) [@kb0001](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kb0001)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-think-its-time-to-buy-a-different-car/45328/7 "2010-03-02T14:40:04Z")
I have a friend who is incredibly happy with her Mazda 3Speed. ---
**Author:** ![mleich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@mleich](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mleich)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-think-its-time-to-buy-a-different-car/45328/8 "2010-03-02T15:12:28Z")
Agree. Mazda 3 wagon is awesome, as is a Honda Fit. ---
**Author:** ![begoing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/74df32/32.png) [@begoing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/begoing)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 5:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-think-its-time-to-buy-a-different-car/45328/9 "2010-03-03T05:30:39Z")
yep. totally agree. that philosophy only goes so far. fixed the alternator two years ago… twice, cost 3000 bucks. fixed the alternator again last year and replace battery again, cost 2500 bucks. frustration costs: priceless. even though getting a new/different car will cost more, i think my frustration and angst will decrease greatly. thanks. appreciate the reply. ---
**Author:** ![begoing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/74df32/32.png) [@begoing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/begoing)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 5:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-think-its-time-to-buy-a-different-car/45328/10 "2010-03-03T05:38:01Z")
see above post re: cost of fixing my car. its just hard to start somewhere when you don’t know where to go or what you want. plus, i got jury duty coming up, a stack of paper at work, might have to go out of town next week…blah, blah, blah… but will give CR a shot. thanks. ---
**Author:** ![begoing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/74df32/32.png) [@begoing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/begoing)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 5:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-think-its-time-to-buy-a-different-car/45328/11 "2010-03-03T05:46:00Z")
i was considering the wrx. a friend had CR rating that. said something about the transmission problems. i think bmw and mb maitnenance costs are right up there w/ audi’s, right? ---
**Author:** ![begoing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/74df32/32.png) [@begoing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/begoing)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 6:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-think-its-time-to-buy-a-different-car/45328/12 "2010-03-03T06:04:27Z")
G35…read edmunds review on it. will consider it. 25 would be average. btw, i meant i do not want a coupe. but did like the fact that the rear seats fold down, which most rears seats do now a days. ---
**Author:** ![begoing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/74df32/32.png) [@begoing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/begoing)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 6:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-think-its-time-to-buy-a-different-car/45328/13 "2010-03-03T06:13:34Z")
the 3 and xD look like a beefed/souped up version of the 80’s honda civic hatch back. kinda wanna move away from that look. but since they’re four-door cars, i’ll look at that. ---
**Author:** ![begoing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/74df32/32.png) [@begoing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/begoing)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 6:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-think-its-time-to-buy-a-different-car/45328/14 "2010-03-03T06:15:24Z")
a friend is suggesting that, too. its sort of a “collegy” car, know what i mean? ---
**Author:** ![Scrabbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Scrabbler](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrabbler)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-think-its-time-to-buy-a-different-car/45328/15 "2010-03-03T14:46:10Z")
2010 Nissan Altima ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 12:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-think-its-time-to-buy-a-different-car/45328/16 "2010-03-04T00:07:49Z")
Well, there’s also the Focus wagon and the Vibe/Matrix. Also, I don’t really care for the Fit, they look weirder in person than in pictures. ---
**Author:** ![Ranck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Ranck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ranck)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-think-its-time-to-buy-a-different-car/45328/17 "2010-03-04T17:04:55Z")
3 GRAND?! to fix an alternator!?!? It shouldn’t cost much more than 3000 to rebuild the whole darned engine! Unless your cost figures have an extra zero on the end by mistake, you need to find a new mechanic. ---
**Author:** ![Ranck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Ranck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ranck)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-think-its-time-to-buy-a-different-car/45328/18 "2010-03-04T17:10:22Z")
It may miss on your MPG spec, but other than that, how about a Honda Accord Crosstour?