It gets worse

[tigertoy]

My car is not fixed. They had it taken apart, they said everything seemed to be OK. They put it back together with the new clutch and slave cylinder and it would not shift -- the transmission seems to work when they shift it by hand but it doesn't work when connected to the hydraulics.

I think I need a new car, and I don't even know where to start. What I've been able to find with Google so far has been very unhelpful -- all the sites start by asking what make and model you want. I don't know what make and model I want, I want as cheap a car as I can find that fits my needs: has to be reliable, has to get decent gas mileage, I would distinctly prefer a hatchback with a manual transmission. I don't care what make it is as long as it's not something exotic that's super expensive to maintain.

Comments

[shockwave77598.livejournal.com]

I love my 2006 civic. Gets 40mpg on the freeway with cruise control, is simple, and today would be a cheap used car.

[billroper]

I don't know if it's available with a manual transmission, but if you can find a used Pontiac Vibe / Toyota Matrix (they're twins), that might fit the bill. They seem to be running around $7K with 100K miles though, so maybe not in the price range.

[tigertoy.livejournal.com]

The current car is a Matrix. I like it a lot, but I don't know how easily I'd be able to find another one.

[billroper]

I ran a used car search and they're clearly out there. The Vibe is the same car (from the same factory) with a Pontiac badge, so it's a bit cheaper on the used market, but not a lot cheaper.

[guppiecat]

Try this one: http://www.myproductadvisor.com/mpa/base/autolanding.do

When you get to brand, select them all, then leave them in the middle position on the next step.

It won't lead you to your dream, but it should simplify the process.

Failing that, just buy a used Toyota, Honda or Subaru with a good history. They're all good.

[shockwave77598.livejournal.com]

My only caveat to that would be that VWs are great cars until they hit about 400Kmiles. Then everything breaks at once. Parts that aren't possible to break, break. My Scirocco blew out an oil cooler, which is nothing but a metal tube with fins. The part had to come from Wolfsburg because they were "impossible" to break.

They are great until they reach a certain age.

[braider.livejournal.com]

Email Car Talk at their website and see if they can figure out what might be wrong. Though the show's no longer produced weekly, they do have message board things.