Rising petrol costs here in New Zealand, the age of our cars at home (both 1996) and increasing guilt (especially on my part) of the damage my car does to the environment are forcing my wife and I to seriously think of selling or trading in our cars and getting smaller 3 or 5-door hatchbacks.

I like the new 07-08 Toyota Corolla TRD's and the 05 (because the new ones are too expensive) GTI Golfs.

Wife only cares about safety and fuel efficiency, which is more responsible and to be brutally honest is more realistic with the way things are going fuel-wise around the world. Long f***ing gone are the days of big engines and not caring about where the next tank of petrol comes from.

OUR OPTIONS ARE:

A) Suzuki Swift Sport

B) Nissan Tiida

C) Toyota Corolla (TRD hopefully)

D) VW Polo or Golf (tend towards the larger Golf for practicality)

ALSO IMPORTANTLY:

i) PETROL or...

ii) DIESEL

AND:

1) MANUAL or...

2) AUTOMATIC


Secondly - LONG-TERM VEHICLE LEASING

Pros and Cons involved with (non)serviced long-term vehicle leasing as opposed to hire-purchase payments.

A standard serviced 36-month vehicle lease for the above will run you about $600/month roughly. Checking today what the HP repayments would be on a $0 deposit over 4 years for the same vehicles.

Constructive discussion and thoughts very welcome. We're all in the same basket now and I reckon that very soon we're all in for a monumental change car culture wise. Sh-it, I wouldn't be too surprised that by the time I'm 50 (18 years away) personal vehicle ownership is a fond but a guilty memory.

LASTLY, WHAT WOULD YOU TRADE YOUR MAXES FOR GLADLY?

Let's be a realistic here (no Lamborghini Gallardos), so something in the same price bracket.

PHATS

 

go with the vdubs

 

v-dub or toyota

 

F*** cars, buy a bike.






By bike, I mean motorcycle, you nerds!!

 

5-spd vdub or toyota absolutely. Operational costs are low, gas mileage is good, and 5-spd is fun

 

Well, when your 14, that's what you have to do.

 

Motorcycle..... dork.

 

Bicycles are more practical to the global environment.


I wish the word nerd offended me

 

I was being funny. It wasn't meant to offend anyone.

 

I'd only be offended if you actually harmed the global environment.

burn something else besides rubber because that wastes gas and pollutes

 

Really? Bikers have to get energy from somewhere. You can't tell me that it is more efficient for a person to bike 25 miles than to drive using one gallon of gas. They burn all of those calories, and have to refuel with much more food and liquid. It is more harmful to the environment to produce that food that it would be to just burn one gallon of gas.

I had read an article before with more numbers and proof, but i'm too lazy to find it.

 

This thread is fraught with hilarity.

 

i would trade my maxipad for............money

 

A g35 sedan.

 

Get the toyota corolla. They get amazing gas mileage. My cousin has one, and so far it's been pretty dependable. The TRD versions with the lip kits are nice looking as well.

 

cash in and start taking the bus... network and meet weird people.

 

Ferrari 599 gtb fiorano!!!! Haha jk jk I would probably get the toyota if reliability is more important or the v dub if you want to have more fun. I would rather get a civic si or I think civic type-r for you Europeans or how about a fiat panda? Btw: a diesel car will get more mpg

 

get a hummer.. they're great on gas

 

I'll give you two kiwis, six stoats, and three tuataras for your maxima.

 

v-dub ftw

 

wut happened to those things? when i came to USA in 2003 they were everywhere with like 24's on em but now i hardly see a h2.

 

Corolla
They're sitting in used car lots.
There's this hot mom that goes to my gym that drives one.

 

Kiwis--the birds or the fruit?

If it's the birds, I'd definitely jump on this deal!

 

the following cars are on my wish list..

2006 + civics... (i know... its a downgrade.. but i really like them.. and i honestly only use my car are pure transportation... im not a modder... or a racer.. i dont need the extra power and coolness of the maxima )


2006+ Jetta TDI!.... i would LOVE to have one.... they are worth more used than new... literlly.... their bluebook value is higher than what most paid OTD at the dealer... too bad they stopped making the TDI model for a brief time....i heard there arnet any 2008 and 2009 models.... so no dealerships have them anymore... and 50mpg... with 200lbs of torque.. its a great car.


4cyl tacoma... 5sp..with the biggest cab available with that motor... pickup trucks are practical... as long as its the small kind... atleast for me. those big V8s are a huge overkill IMO

dontknow if you guys noticed.. im very economical... .. call me a ***** if you want

 

 

Ha! I am looking to buy a 95 SE to save on gas lol.

 

The Kiwis if they're a healthy mating pair alone would fetch probably the same amount as my car.

Stoats - evil creatures that hunt down and kill our native birds.

Tuataras - no idea how much I'd get on the black market for them.

Thanks for the ideas (the sensible ones - 599 Fiorano? WTF?! 430 Modena FTW!)

 

^^ lol....

 

@ all the bird talk

 

did i misspelled the name fiorano. i meant 599 gtb. i also love the 612 scalgetti, enzo, f430 scuderia.

plus when you have one of these you will save more gas bcus you will get home quicker than a damn 4cyl. lmao

 

I did trade mine and I got a 2005 Scion xA. I miss the power and the luxury. I love the great MPG.

 

two words-> gas prices.

 

ill trade my maxi to the org if you ban this guy l
V

Really? Bikers have to get energy from somewhere. You can't tell me that it is more efficient for a person to bike 25 miles than to drive using one gallon of gas. They burn all of those calories, and have to refuel with much more food and liquid. It is more harmful to the environment to produce that food that it would be to just burn one gallon of gas.

I had read an article before with more numbers and proof, but i'm too lazy to find it. deal?

 

How about a 4 cyl Altima?

 

I would trade my Maxima for a 69 Cevy Nova 350.

 

hmm, cevy nova.. never heard of it!

 

Absolutely. Buy an older Corolla S and get you a bike. My ZX-10 gets over 40mpgs.
Not sure if you put any stock in Consumer Reports, but if you do, they bash the Vdub on lingevity, reliability and maintanance costs. Go for the Toyota.

 

I would trade mine for a CBR 600RR if I could ride in the winter time. lol

 

Thanks for the posts boys.

I'm sticking with my car for a while longer and my wife is leaning towards either a TRD Corolla or a Subaru (WTF?!?!?!?!) something or rather...yuck...I better go and wash my mouth out now...su-barf-ru...

 

man you guys obviously dont understand the American way. I am gunna buy a combine once gas prices get high enough I know they have diesel but I will swap that out for a gas engine.