New car choices - maintenance costs?

2wheelsx2 · 01-23-03, 12:14

Seeing all these threads on news cars and the comments people have been making has made me curious. My new wife needs a new car. She is currently driving a Hyundai Accent (need I say more?

)

So my budget is quite flexible, since we are DINKS. I am thinking a fairly new second hand car, or a modestly priced new car. However, my main concern is maintenance costs. I have read several posts on how VW's have higher maintenance costs than Japanese cars, and I know how Bimmers and Mercedes are quite exorbitant.

Having said this. the cars I am considering are all 4 door sedans. Criteria is that they have 4 doors, but are quite compact, offer either Tiptronic or manual tranny (no full autos, but my wife is not sure she wants a stick in the city). It can be AWD, FWD, or RWD.

The candidates are:

Used:
Lexus IS300
BMW 3 series
Audi A4

New:
VW Jetta
Mazda 6
Subura WRX

Can the folks who have or know these cars give us an idea of the relative maintenance costs?

BTW, before everyone pipes up and says we have no Acuras and Hondas in there, nor Nissans, I will admit that my wife and I both acknowledge that Honda makes great cars, but for some reason, neither of us wants to own one. We prefer Toyotas when it comes to Japanese cars. And we didn't pick Nissan because all the more upscale 4 door sedans are too large for her, and we don't like the Sentra.

detailbarn · 01-23-03, 01:17

I'd say go with the BMW or Lexus. Both are great vehicles and will last a long time. As far as maintence they should be really close , I drive a 01 Toyota Tacoma and a friend of mine drives a 99 3 series , and our maintence cost have been about the same.

2wheelsx2 · 01-23-03, 01:47

Really? The 3 series maintenance costs are that low? Or were your Tacoma's costs high? I drove an '89 Toyota 2WD 1/4 ton pickup SR5V6 for 12 years, and all it cost me were 4 sets of tires, oil changes, one set of front brake pads, new shocks, and 2 tuneups. Never even did the timing belt. No maintenance cost to speak of. That's why I am still partial to Toyota's.

Iconoclast · 01-23-03, 02:13

Since I have one. Great car (handling acceleration etc) I haven't had a problem with it yet. Built very solid and safe so my insurance rates were suprisingly low. Someone backed into me while I was driving and the car hardly flinched.

If you get a new car you still have the warrenty; used someone else swallows the depreciation. Your choice although it is hard to argue with a BMW

Dale DeSteno · 01-23-03, 02:29

Quote:

Originally posted by 2wheelsx2
Really? The 3 series maintenance costs are that low? Or were your Tacoma's costs high? I drove an '89 Toyota 2WD 1/4 ton pickup SR5V6 for 12 years, and all it cost me were 4 sets of tires, oil changes, one set of front brake pads, new shocks, and 2 tuneups. Never even did the timing belt. No maintenance cost to speak of. That's why I am still partial to Toyota's.

Thats what I am saying! Toyota rules!

I vote Lexus all the way!

abhair · 01-23-03, 03:10

The worse car (maintance wise) was a BMW 328 I . In 55 K mles it was in the BMW service shop about 70 times for different things. Most were check engine light. After the warrenty ran out I could not afford to keep the car. It drove like a dream.
I went back to Acuras and have had no problems. I now have an o3 TL-s and it is great!

2wheelsx2 · 01-23-03, 03:49

Yeah, I like the TL-S too, but it's a bit large for what my wife wants. The CL-S is the right size, but it's two doors, and I don't like the look of them as much.

So far, it looks like Lexus to me.

Jademonkey · 01-23-03, 04:21

Well I have 3 BMWs so you can guess what my vote will be for.

I have never had a major problem with any of them. The 94 325is has not had anything break in over a year. As long as you find someone selling one who cares about the car, you will be fine.
Just get it checked out by a mechanic you trust, or at least a reputable BMW mechanic.

iceman · 01-23-03, 05:16

I would rule out the Jetta and the A4 due to cost and reliability. The BMW 3 series is a good choice but keep in mind that it will cost more to maintain than the Lexus by a bit. Bimmers tend to not have anything major go wrong (unless you include some M3 engines blowing up) but seem to have more small annoying electrical things go wrong like dash lights, power windows that don't close all the way, climate control malfunction, etc. In terms of performance, the BMW is the way to go though the newer Lexus IS300 is pretty good as is the Subaru Impreza WRX, which is basically a street legal rally car.

The new Mazda 6 is getting rave reviews though and you get a new car warranty. It was the TSN Motoring 2003 car of the year, if you put any weight to such type of awards.

I guess it really depends on what your wife intends to do with the car ie. does she want a bullet proof daily grocery getter with low maintenance or a performance oriented vehicle?

Scottwax · 01-23-03, 05:22

On that list? Easy, the Mazda 6.

My brother has had 3 Mazda 626s (and if his wife wasn't expecting in late August, he'd be getting number 4), including a 1988 Mazda 626 GT turbo that he put 215,000 miles on the original transmission, engine and turbo and the car still went like stink. He's had no major problems with any of them.

Besides, the Mazda 6 is a great looking car and the 5 speed V6 version runs low 15's at 93-94 in the quartermile. Even the 4 speed automatic runs mid 16's.

2wheelsx2 · 01-23-03, 05:39

Yeah, I had not thought about the Mazda much because I have a '97 626. I had some brake problems (all four caliper sliders were seized up) at about 90,000km, but it was a lease return from up north that I purchased used for a great price because it is a 5 speed.

I find the car a little boring except for the engine (I have the 2.0 L V6), mostly because of the styling. However, I really like the looks of the new one.

Yeah, I was thinking that the Jetta might be as expensive as the A4 to maintain. I might have to look hard at the IS300 (used) or a new 6.

The dilemma I am having is that my wife would like a good looking reliable grocery getter (women all care about looks) and I would like one that performs well, as that would be our weekend car.

Oh well, I guess I can get the one she wants and hold out for a new sports car for me!

Anyway, I think you have a good point Scottwax. I think I have it narrowed down to a used IS300, the new 6, or a new Jetta, depending on what she likes. I know that she likes the Jetta the best, although that may change when we drive them later this year. Thanks, guys.

Oh, one more question for you Scottwax. You mention in one of the other threads about Toyotas not having a problem with destroying the valves if the timing belt goes, but Honda having that problem. What about the 6?

Scottwax · 01-23-03, 05:51

2wheelsx2-I am almost 100% positive the V6 in the Mazda 6 will have a timing chain that should last the useful life of the car. I don't know about the I4 though. A quick call to your Mazda dealer should give you the information you need though.

Other than the turbo 4, the other 2 626s my brother had were V6s. The 93 (5 speed) was pretty quick and ultra smooth and pulled to 7000 rpm. His current 626 (between the 93 and the 99, he had a 96 Accord EX and a 94 Infiniti Q45 and went back to Mazda) has the V6 and automatic. While the engine is smooth and pulls to 7000 rpm like the 5 speed version, it just doesn't feel as strong as the 5 speed.

I seriously considered a 626 when I bought my Honda, but the aftermarket doesn't support Mazda the way they support Honda and I cannot stand driving a totally stock car. I always have to do something to the engine. The new Mazda 6 is a car I could live with in stock form (once I drop it an inch or so and bolt on much larger anti-roll bars....cold air intake and aftermarket exhaust that is!).