Cars and Now

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sicbeing

sicbeing

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Cribanox
Some of you may know that months ago I've talked about buying a new car, and I've put it off due to my girlfriend's wages (sounds horrible but she cost me money).

And now, we broke up, bad news for me, but not for my garage.

Anyway, now I was GOING to go look at some cars I had in mind to buy, last time I remember, people were debating for me to buy a Mustang 4.8-5.0 Liter (depending on the year) and some other things like a GST/GSX (Ecplise Turbo) and stuff like a used SRT-4 (Neon Turbo).

But now, the U.S.A. was struck by the biggest damn hurricane I'VE ever seen, and just my luck (and everyone elses) it struck down one of our main resources for oil and gas etc. So, I expect to see no less than $3.00/Gallon on gas in the next week up until next year's beginning.

I had my eye (was going to test drive yesterday) a '96 Mustang GT. Good enough for the streets and possibly that autocross I was reffered too (SCCA?). Anyway, I probably won't be getting that one because the loan rates are a little high right now and it was from a private seller.

But, of course, now that we may have ridiculus gas prices for a little while, I am debating on getting another car, because right now I drive a little economy car (94 Civic Sedan) and I know the Mustang is about half as good on gas as my Civic.

I do commute to work (24 miles there, 24 miles home) and I may even possibly (unlikely but still thinking) have a "long distance" girlfriend (56 miles away, 56 miles back 👎 ). (I just "got done" with a 72 mile away relationship, and I'm REALLY burned out on driving away to see girls).

So worst comes to worst I'll be driving 250 miles a week just to work, and I believe the mustang's gas tank holds 13-something gallons, so thats 39 dollars a fill up, with (let us say) 20 miles to the gallon, I'll get 260 miles out of my tank (enough to keep for the whole week, barely though depending on if I go anywhere else) and it'll be probably 40-50 dollars weekly to keep up with the gas just for work.

I am living at home currently (only 19) and by the end or hopefully the start of next year, I'll have transfered so I won't commute anymore (I'm in training at the moment) and I don't (or won't) have any bills besides my insurance (probably somewhere around 250+ a month for insurance with the stang), and I make about 1100 a month at my job-in-training.

What would you guys do? It's very tempting to get a new car, I've had my civic for a year and I hate it (I really do). Maybe someone else could recommend some other faster cars (than the civic) that are still decent on gas?

Thanks in advance.

(By the way, I "pray" for those in New Orleans)
 
VW Golf TDI, you get enougha ton of torque, the horsepower is meh, the aftermarket is sweet for them, and you get 48 miles to the gallon.

Or you could get a GTi with a 1.8T which gives you 25 mpg.
 
48 mpg? It isn't some kind of hybrid is it? Or is it like, 50hp? Never was a fan or ever even looked into Volkswagon myself. Would have to know more about it.
 
sicbeing
48 mpg? It isn't some kind of hybrid is it? Or is it like, 50hp? Never was a fan or ever even looked into Volkswagon myself. Would have to know more about it.
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No, it's a Diesel ;)

Volkswagon are good quality generally, and they'll run for a good long time. However, VW does make much of its money from spare parts, so if you end up needing to make repairs it's gonna cost you.
 
You get around 120bhp with a VW Golf TDI (it's a Diesel, not Hybrid.), depending on which engine you go for, it's less or more.
 
Diseal? How much does that run for now per gallon?

And I'd also rather not get into a car that needs repairs and etc that cost a lot more than the car will, especially if I am not familiar with the car.
 
BlazinXtreme
VW Golf TDI, you get enougha ton of torque, the horsepower is meh, the aftermarket is sweet for them, and you get 48 miles to the gallon.

Or you could get a GTi with a 1.8T which gives you 25 mpg.
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You need to get on the ball Blaz, and just get the damn TDI man. You bring it up a lot, but what happened??? TDIs are the shizz. Get it man, and get it over with. HA HA HA

Hilg
 
I'm waiting on the MKV's to come over since it will be a bigger TDI with more power. I know I suck at life when it comes to getting cars :lol:.
 
here i was like wahh! 2.50 a gallon!!! so i was about to fill up....then i read diesel.
i have yet to ride in a diesel powered anything, but i hear that they are quite loud and the power is kind of like on or off. i feel your pain about having a slow car......stupid standard 89 civic.
 
G.T
You get around 120bhp with a VW Golf TDI (it's a Diesel, not Hybrid.), depending on which engine you go for, it's less or more.
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Europeans shouldn't be allowed in threads created by Americans in which the topic of diesel comes up. :)

We've only ever had two turbodiesel Volkswagen engines in the United States. The first one - 1.9 liters - was used in the 1994-1999 Volkswagen Jetta, 1994-1999 Volkswagen Golf, 1999-2005 Volkswagen Jetta, 1999-2005 Volkswagen Golf, and the New Beetle. The other one - 2 liters - was used in the Passat from 2004 to 2005.

The 1.9 had 90 horsepower (but 155lb-ft of torque) until 2004, at which point it was upped to 100 horsepower and 177lb-ft. The Passat's 2.0 had 134 horsepower and an astonishing 247lb-ft (at 1800rpm!).

The performance numbers for the 1999-2005 Jetta TDI are on CarSource.
 
They are bringing the 2.0L TDI over with the MKV Golfs I do believe.
 
Yes, the Touareg's V10 was a TDI. Made like 300hp, but something like 550ft-lbs, crazy. Like I said, TDI is the shizzz. I'm not sure they still offer it, but it did come here at one point.

Hilg
 
I learned to drive in a Golf TDI (I think it was a '02), and it's a great car. It handles extremely well, the car is comfortable and spacious (for a 5 door), and the diesel does move the car a lot more quickly than you'd think (It's probably not much slower, if not just as fast as a Civic or Corolla in a straight line). I highly recommend it; it would also make a great car for autocross, much better than a Mustang in that sense. But as said before, parts are killer. I know my instructor had to pay an arm and a leg for spare parts, but then again mechanical failures would be more common when students are driving it.

Also, did America get the Mazda Protege 5? It would probably be an excellent alternative to the Golf (much faster, but more thirsty).
 
Ev0
(It's probably not much slower, if not just as fast as a Civic or Corolla in a straight line)
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You're right--the tourque does move it around town quite nicely. But hammer to the floor, even my old '90 Civic could kill a TDI (I raced one off a light). I think they hit 60 (mph) in about 10.5 sec.
 
E55Power
The V10 is a Turbodiesel, no?
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Yep, my bad - it was indeed: 310hp (553lb-ft) 4.9L SOHC V-10TD. Irrelevant to the thread, but it does contrast my statement. It's also the first 4.9-liter engine since the 1995 Cadillac Deville.
 
ExigeExcel
Volkswagon are good quality generally, and they'll run for a good long time.
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I don't think this is true in the U.S. My kid brother used to sell VWs and I think he said most of them were built in Mexico. I'm not saying they are POS, but from what I heard, they are not the most reliable cars(at least in U.S.).

Also, good call on rethinking the Mustang GT choice. I was seriously considering '05 Mustang GT as my next car, last winter. Since then, gas prices has redirected my interest to compacts. :D
 
[uselessstuff]

*waves his hand around like a jedi* You want a 944. (lol)

*hisses at the thoguht of buying a mustang*

get a volvo 740 turbo and have fun with that :dopey:

[/uselessstuff]
 
Ev0
I learned to drive in a Golf TDI (I think it was a '02), and it's a great car. It handles extremely well, the car is comfortable and spacious (for a 5 door), and the diesel does move the car a lot more quickly than you'd think (It's probably not much slower, if not just as fast as a Civic or Corolla in a straight line). I highly recommend it; it would also make a great car for autocross, much better than a Mustang in that sense. But as said before, parts are killer. I know my instructor had to pay an arm and a leg for spare parts, but then again mechanical failures would be more common when students are driving it.

Also, did America get the Mazda Protege 5? It would probably be an excellent alternative to the Golf (much faster, but more thirsty).
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They do/did... I've got a 2.0 Prot' and they're not very thirsty (well of course compared to a TDI, anything would be!)... make great autocross/rally cars, nimble, decently quick.
 
M5Power
Yep, my bad - it was indeed: 310hp (553lb-ft) 4.9L SOHC V-10TD. Irrelevant to the thread, but it does contrast my statement. It's also the first 4.9-liter engine since the 1995 Cadillac Deville.
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Wasn't the E39 M5 a 4.9 Liter engine? And that was produced until 2003, I believe?

Sorry that this posts off topic to the thread. :nervous:
 
Crash852
Wasn't the E39 M5 a 4.9 Liter engine? And that was produced until 2003, I believe?

Sorry that this posts off topic to the thread. :nervous:
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Country of origin Germany
Years of production 1998 - 2003
Numbers built 1997 : 1
1998: 678
1999: 5425
Body design N/A
Weight 1720 kilo / 3792 lbs
Drivetrain
Engine 90º V 8
Engine Location Front , longitudinally mounted
Displacement 4.941 liter / 301.5 cu in
Valvetrain 4 valves / cylinder, DOHC
Fuel feed Bosch MSS 52 Fuel injection
Aspiration Naturally Aspirated
Gearbox 6 speed Manual
Drive Rear wheel drive
Performance figures
Power 400 bhp / 298 KW @ 6600 rpm
Torque 500 Nm / 369 ft lbs @ 3800 rpm
BHP/Liter 81 bhp / liter
Power to weight ratio 0.23 bhp / kg
Top Speed 250 km/h / 155 mph (limited)
0-60 mph Acceleration 5.2 s

but alot of magazines and people just consider it a 5.0
 
My bad - it was a 4.9. That engine was also used in the 2000-2003 Z8.

As nismo4life said though, most magazines (the ones not concerned with the petty matter of reporting facts - R&T, C&D, MT) call it a 5-liter.
 
the audi A8 has the most powerful diesel in the world I believe.

Sicbeing get a golf TDI you can easily get a chip uprgade for extra 20hpand still get 40mpg. Oh and black two door golf are gangsta. (in the UK anyway)
 
a6m5
I don't think this is true in the U.S. My kid brother used to sell VWs and I think he said most of them were built in Mexico. I'm not saying they are POS, but from what I heard, they are not the most reliable cars(at least in U.S.).

Also, good call on rethinking the Mustang GT choice. I was seriously considering '05 Mustang GT as my next car, last winter. Since then, gas prices has redirected my interest to compacts. :D
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The engines in the VW use the same engines for most of their models. In germany VW and audi combined probably make it the most used engine in germany and quite frankly they are just as reliable as any other car as long as its serviced and maintened and not raped everytime you drive it.
 
blargonator
here i was like wahh! 2.50 a gallon!!! so i was about to fill up....then i read diesel.
i have yet to ride in a diesel powered anything, but i hear that they are quite loud and the power is kind of like on or off. i feel your pain about having a slow car......stupid standard 89 civic.
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For the record, My Excursion has a 6.0 Liter Power Stroke Diesel.
1. Yes it is very loud at idle. You will have to shut it down in the drive thru to order your food.

2. Yes, it is very big and hard to park. But it gets nearly 20 MPG, versus the Gas version which gets about 12 MPG on the Highway.

3. Diesel is about 20 cents or more cheaper per gallon, than gasoline.

4. Yes it would just about cost me less to drive my Excursion to work daily (40 Miles one way) than it's costing me to drive my Ranger.

So what does that have to do with a VW?

It will save you money at the pumps. So if the cost of a TDI equipped V-Dub, whether it be a Golf or a Jetta, if similar in price to the 'Stang, will save you money in the long run.
If you want to be fast and broke, don't buy the V-Dub.
 

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