New car options?

[CRLLS]

Using your numbers, I come up with a total fuel increase of about +4 cents per gallon, including DEF and diesel. Some people are very sensitive about fuel cost per gallon. My inconvenience comment was based on my recent travels across the US. I'm not sure how VW handles it, but with ~ 500 miles left of DEF, the GMC diesel I was in told us it was time to fill the DEF. Wouldn't have been bad except traveling in the western states on a Sunday, we had to find someone that had DEF. It was about 1/2 hour excursion off of the planned route and found it at the 4th location we tried. 2 stations didn't carry it at all, and NAPA was closed. This cost us about 30 miles of planned distance that day. My point is, DEF isn't mainstream, yet. You have to search it out.

[aja8888]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRLLS Using your numbers, I come up with a total fuel increase of about +4 cents per gallon, including DEF and diesel. Some people are very sensitive about fuel cost per gallon. My inconvenience comment was based on my recent travels across the US. I'm not sure how VW handles it, but with ~ 500 miles left of DEF, the GMC diesel I was in told us it was time to fill the DEF. Wouldn't have been bad except traveling in the western states on a Sunday, we had to find someone that had DEF. It was about 1/2 hour excursion off of the planned route and found it at the 4th location we tried. 2 stations didn't carry it at all, and NAPA was closed. This cost us about 30 miles of planned distance that day. My point is, DEF isn't mainstream, yet. You have to search it out.

Isn't mainstream

BLUEDEF Diesel Exhaust Fluid, 2.5 gal - Walmart.com

It's in all the Walmarts and auto parts stores.

[mpeirce]

I drive a diesel car that uses DEF (urea). I simply top off the tank every 10,000 miles when I get the oil changed.

The car will warn me when it's down to "1500 miles of DEF". It'll start 10 times, then not start until it's refilled (thanks EPA regs). That's probably within range of a truck stop or another filling station (or Walmart) that sells it.

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRLLS ... My point is, DEF isn't mainstream, yet. You have to search it out.

Or carry an extra gallon/quart(s) for those rare times you won't get to a source in time.

So now diesels have 'range anxiety'! What's this world coming to!

-ERD50

[REWahoo]

Range anxiety?

My truck warns me when I have 1,000 miles of DEF remaining. My fuel gauge warns me when I have 400 miles of diesel remaining - by reading "full".

Edit: In addition to Walmart and auto supply stores, DEF can be purchased at all truck stops - and many stations that sell diesel fuel.

[aja8888]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERD50 Or carry an extra gallon/quart(s) for those rare times you won't get to a source in time. So now diesels have 'range anxiety'! What's this world coming to! -ERD50

Range anxiety is not an issue with me.

My diesel Passat tells me when I am running low on fuel, usually around 650 miles on the tankful and 75 to go. DEF light pops on with a few hundred miles left. Only seen that light once in 13,400 miles.

[braumeister]

For those looking for great fuel economy in a very nice little (compact but quite comfortable) car, I can definitely recommend the one I rented in England last month.

It was a Hyundai i30 diesel, and we found it perfectly comfortable. I put just over 1,000 miles on it in 11 days, and averaged right around 58 mpg.

Caveat: I'm the kind of driver who normally gets better than predicted fuel economy, so most people might not get quite as good mileage as I did, but still...

I have heard that the advanced diesel engines common in Europe are starting to appear in the USA. I'd like to see that trend accelerate.

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aja8888 Range anxiety is not an issue with me. ...

I was just kidding about the range anxiety

- as REWahoo points out, my gas tank has a lot less range than that, in fact my little 14 G tank, and 21 mpg around town, with a gauge and warning light that are on E when I still have over 2 gallons left, means I need to be looking for a station at ~ 250 miles (much farther on the highway though).

So maybe not every gas station carries it, but with every walmart and auto store having it, even a 500 mile warning should not be a problem. And if it really is, an extra quart container would carry you.

-ERD50

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by braumeister ... I have heard that the advanced diesel engines common in Europe are starting to appear in the USA. I'd like to see that trend accelerate.

As I understand it (and I could have this wrong), the emission restrictions here are much tighter, so adjustments are needed to bring Euro-diesels to the US.

Or maybe something about sulfur levels in our fuel?

-ERD50

[Rick_Head]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerome len Buy what you like best! ...................good luck and I believe you save money when you buy a car that you like so much you'll keep it for years.....!

We have a winner folks. Even if it a Ferrari.

My 2005 Mustang GT is still in my driveway and I bet it's still there in 10 years. Yes, it burns more gas than a Prius but if I keep it 25 years it will burn less money than 3 or 4 Prius's/Prius' (what's the plural of Prius?).

[Derslickmeister]

Not thrilled with any of these three. Would pick the VW if that is all I had to chose from (anything but a Chevy, well almost, not sure about the Fiat) I'd look at the Toyota Corolla to meet your requirements...

[ExFlyBoy5]

Picking a car is as subjective as picking a woman/man...so I won't go there. For reliability, I would take a look at KBB. They have the 'professional' reviews and then the 'owners' reviews. They will combine all the owner's reviews (over time) and will give it a rating from 0-10 (also changes over time). I have found that they are good at representing what issues you might have with a car. As an example, I have an '09 Infiniti with 80K miles. If you were to believe CR and the predicted reliability...it's a crap car. I can tell you otherwise...it drives as well today as when it was new. No rattles, no squeaks, no issues AT ALL. On the KBB owner's site, it shows that it is rated a 9.2/10. As a comparison, the '09 Accord is LOVED by all the reviewers for reliability, but if you read enough owner reviews, you will see that there is a question of a decrease in quality over the last few years. The KBB owner's rating is 8.1/10...LOWER than the 'crappy' Infiniti.


Another good website (you have to sign up, but it's free) that has a lot of data is True Delta. I have also found that you are able to root out common problems with cars...as we have with the wife's Toyota Highlander (I hate it, but the wife loves it...very subjective, eh?).


One last thought...I do think VW has come a long way, but I have a friend that owns a VW repair shop and he stays VERY, VERY busy with the models that are 6 or more years old. That's the ONLY brand car he works on, and he's doing just fine. He gives me a hard time when I come visit in the Infiniti (which I call the 'Nissan') saying that I don't need to be taking up parking spots up front with dependable cars.

[calmloki]

6'4" and drove the Fiat 500. About two blocks. Really wanted to like the quirky, not to say ugly, duckling. HATED the driving feel, which was pretty much like an electric bumper car. Looking hard at the Honda Fit and the new HRV, but won't get the automatic CV transmission - loud and removes any kind of fun. Probably will go used though; can get a bunch more car for less money, which gives a nice repair bill cushion.

[cooch96]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick_Head We have a winner folks. Even if it a Ferrari. My 2005 Mustang GT is still in my driveway and I bet it's still there in 10 years. Yes, it burns more gas than a Prius but if I keep it 25 years it will burn less money than 3 or 4 Prius's/Prius' (what's the plural of Prius?).

I say 'Prii' and get funny looks. But I'm pretty sure I'm right and everyone else is wrong, just like always.

[cooch96]

Quote:

Originally Posted by calmloki 6'4" and drove the Fiat 500. About two blocks. Really wanted to like the quirky, not to say ugly, duckling. HATED the driving feel, which was pretty much like an electric bumper car. Looking hard at the Honda Fit and the new HRV, but won't get the automatic CV transmission - loud and removes any kind of fun. Probably will go used though; can get a bunch more car for less money, which gives a nice repair bill cushion.

My father has an Accord with a CV and loves it, which shocked me. Sounds like they've gotten a lot better over the past three years: fixed ratios that feel more like a planetary gear system, quieter, and better able to handle torque.

I'm still skeptical, but I'm willing to test drive one now, whereas I would've dismissed one out of hand just a few years ago.

[aaronc879]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derslickmeister Not thrilled with any of these three. Would pick the VW if that is all I had to chose from (anything but a Chevy, well almost, not sure about the Fiat) I'd look at the Toyota Corolla to meet your requirements...

Can't even get my knee past the steering wheel in the Corolla just like most other cars. The corolla was my first choice and is the car i'd own if I was under 6 foot.

[ProspectiveBum]

The Nissan Versa Note might be worth a look. Surprisingly roomy inside (although perhaps slanted more to headroom), and gets 40mpg highway. MSRP is under $15k for the base model. I think they even look pretty good, as compact hatchbacks go.

[W2R]

Edmunds.com has a list of their top 10 sedans for tall drivers:

Top 10 Sedans for Tall Drivers for 2014 | Edmunds.com

I have no idea if any of them will accomodate someone 6'6", though.

[Mr._Graybeard]

A Camry hybrid might fill the bill.

[aaronc879]

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2R Edmunds.com has a list of their top 10 sedans for tall drivers: Top 10 Sedans for Tall Drivers for 2014 | Edmunds.com I have no idea if any of them will accomodate someone 6'6", though.

I guess car manufacturers assume all tall people have a lot of money. All those cars are bigger, higher end, cars. I assume smaller cars have to save space in the back seat by removing space in the driver seat? Maybe I should look at cars that have no back seat like the Smart fortwo? Are there any other cars that don't have a back seat and get very high gas mileage?