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Hmm…tough stuff, really. I haven’t purchased my own car as of yet (I still have free reign over the family’s mobiles), but I have been told buying new is not a good plan, for much the same reasons you put out: you’ll get molested hard-core (like, bring lube beforehand to soften the blow).

I can, however, tell you that right now we have an ’03 Sunfire, and though it’s got some neat bells and whistles, and it gets me from A to B, it’s not a good car by a long shot, namely in the category of body construction. It’s very poorly built with cheap parts all around. The other vehicle we own is a ’97 Honda Odyssey, and even with it being 11 years old, it runs circles around the Pontiac. We’ve always owned Hondas, be it Civics or Accords, and they’ve always treated us well. In fact, the only reason we have the Sunfire is because our last Civic (a ’92) finally gave out last year when we got back from the cottage. (I went to start it and the timing belt snapped. I finally got to use the ‘I’m late due to car troubles’ excuse and actually mean it!). The old girl not only had body damage from some a**hole smashing it in a parking lot, but had 150,000 km, and being that we were the second owners, when it finally died, the mechanic pointed out the fuel pump was shot, the exhaust system was about to go, the electrical system was ready to fail…all sorts of things, but she still ran!!

From another perspective, a friend drives a Ford pickup. He lives way up in the boonies of Ontario (near Bancroft), and drives the thing up and back at least twice a week. It’s got near 500,000 km on it, and everything’s still original, he says, other than the brakes, of which he is on his third set.

All in all, I’m a fan of the Japanese and their engineering, but also the Germans. The repair bills are steep on the VWs, like you mentioned, but they’re pretty well-built cars. You may also want to look into a Volvo. I hear they’re pretty solid, too.

Hope this helps!

Brad, I advise you to give a thought to buying slightly-used rather than new. For the cost of a Fit, you could get like a 4-year-old loaded Camry or something. Factory-certified, fully loaded, still-under-warranty midsize car for the same money as a new econobox.

I drive nothing right now, so I am not speaking whereof I know, I just have gotten that advice, and with a little research, the numbers added up.

When I do drive, I tend toward Hondas.

Having mechanics all over my family has never really taught me anything. Other than Fords have relatively inexpensive replacement parts.

I’ve always been pretty happy with Chevy products. I like the style of them over most other cars.

Additionally, Toyota is starting to produce pretty reliable cars. Again with relatively inexpensive replacement parts.

Every car is going to break down, so it’s probably better to stay away from Jags and Lexuses unless you have the money for even the most common parts or you’re not above begging on a street corner.

So what’s the word? Did you buy a car, or is this still “in the works”?

Oh, I missed this. My extended family owns a car dealership…they’re not slimy guys, but yes, try to ask a fairly lower price than what they offer, and check Kelly Bleu Blook. Go slightly used, unless you really want a new car.

Only car I’ve had was 6 months with a 2001 Acura last year, which was cheap and sweet.

edit:Had to change my reply since I came in here under the molestation tag, was looking for something different.

The main reason for the switch was the Jetta we have keeps breaking in expensive ways.

We had a scare a few months ago where the catalytic converter was about ready to fall out of the car and would have cost us several thousand dollars. Mr. Muffler patched it up for $200 though so we seem to have skated on that. There have been two other repairs that cost >$2000, like when one of the brackets holding the engine in place snapped and the engine started banging against everything under the hood.

But I think it might be wise to keep driving it until we get a bill that’s too expensive and then run out and get another car, etc.

I got a Dodge Dakota and it’s pretty sweet.