Turncoat.. yeap I did just that!

747mopar · Mar 19, 2021

I'm a "buy American" shopper to the core especially when it comes to cars but... My first true ECO daily driver was a Chevy Cruze, loved it, It drove great and got decent mileage but at 120,000 miles it spit out a spark plug? I fixed the plug issue but it still ran like ****, had it put on a scanner to be told the head needed rebuilt, got it rebuilt and still it ran like ****.. low compression on #2! :mad:

At this point I hated the gold grandma Cruzer and decided to run it until it croaked which didn't take long, the transmission went out a few thousand miles later. Looking at the American made ECO offerings and their pros and cons I bought a Mini Cooper and man do I love it! Old school simplicity and performance, love it! I ended up buying an S model (turbocharged manual 6 speed)

khryslerkid · Mar 19, 2021

A guy I worked with bought a new one, turbo. Only had a couple thousand miles on it before the engine blew. Waste gate was the culprit. Everything was under warranty except the waste gate valve. Because this was the source of the carnage the manufacturer wouldn't cover it.

70chall440 · Mar 19, 2021

Yeah there is an episode of wheeler dealers where they buy a Mini S and then go through some turbo related repair which evidentially is essential. Looked like a lot of work but repairable.

1967coronet440 · Mar 19, 2021

I tried so hard to keep buying “American” cars but I got tired of working on and spending money on my wife’s 2016 GMC Acadia. Broke down last night and went “foreign” even though it was developed in California and built in Georgia, anyways went out last night and traded in that junker for this 2021 Kia Telluride SX. This thing is impressive in every aspect, not to mention the 10 year 100k powertrain warranty and 5 year 60k bumper to bumper. Safe and reliable that’s what I wanted for my wife and kids and we got it with this thing.

hugh68charger · Mar 20, 2021

I always wonder. If Iran or Iraq or Afghanistan were to make a really good car.... How many people from the United States of America would buy them?

Michael_ · Mar 20, 2021

I somewhat doubt that a bmw mini is much more reliable?

But i pretty much gave up on modern cars anyway... (Not that i was ever really into them, though...)

If i needed something relatively small and light on gas i would consider a 69 camaro with a 6 banger or if it has to be even smaller an amc pacer.

Photon440 · Mar 20, 2021

BMW originally used Chrysler designed engines in their Mini; built by Tritec in Brazil, BMW, Rover and Chrysler owned the factory and while the 1.6 engine wasn't used in North American Neons, they were used in the Neon sold in Europe. The BMW (Mini) version used chains for the cam drive instead of Chrysler's use of a belt.

BMW sold their interest in the engine factory in 2007 because they didn't want to be partners with Daimler.

Fiat later bought the Tritec factory and continued production.

Cncguy1 · Mar 20, 2021

I mostly buy Toyota for our dailys.

Ghostrider 67 · Mar 20, 2021

Hyundai is your friend......excellent cars. From our friends in South Korea.

chargervert · Mar 20, 2021

My wife leases Jeeps,she does the 5 year leases,the last time she leased two,one for her and one for my daughter. The 2016 Wrangler needed only one $23 dollar wheel speed sensor,I installed it in 5 minutes,zero other issues,just oil changes. The other car is a 2016 Cherokee, I replaced the battery 4 years in,no other issues,just oil changes. She just got her 2021 Wrangler and she loves it! This cool 71 Challenger poster was on the wall at the dealership!

Hilljack68 · Mar 20, 2021

I took the import plunge a couple of years ago. I just had enough of domestic money pits that wouldn't give me 130K miles.

Bighouse · Mar 20, 2021

Honda here. Looking into the Toyota Tundra to replace my 2500hd

toolmanmike · Mar 20, 2021

The wife likes her Buick's so I found her a Envision. I didn't do my homework and found out after we bought it that they are made in China. Nice vehicle. The turbo'd 2 liter scats and the all wheel drive is great here in the winter.

vintage chromoly · Mar 20, 2021

Just traded my wife’s Ford Escape in on a Mercedes Benz.
The German car is light years ahead of the Ford.
I suppose, that is to be expected.

conv67bdere · Mar 20, 2021

Love it . . . always liked that car and wanted one . . . but it never happened . . . yet . . .

Drive it like you stole it and have fun ! But I KNOW for a fact that you will ! ! !

toolmanmike · Mar 20, 2021

vintage chromoly said:
Just traded my wife’s Ford Escape in on a Mercedes Benz.
The German car is light years ahead of the Ford.
I suppose, that is to be expected.

A friend is into Audi's. Damn they are nice. Until you have to work on them! :BangHead:

1967coronet · Mar 20, 2021

So far we still drive American.
Wife is in a 16 impala LTZ with only 50k on it, I'm running a 05 Silverado that I fixed the rust on.
I freaking hate car payments so I drive older good condition cars. Going to retire soon trying to save all the money we can lol.

Runcharger · Mar 20, 2021

I've always owned Dodge/Ram pickups and Chrysler cars. I honestly don't know what I'll buy in the future though. I don't like sending profits from what I buy to whatever the flavour of the month is in Europe so they can reinvest in Fiat, Peugeot or whatever else S+(& box company is currently raping Chrysler. The old Chrysler corp is gone for good and I've never been a fan of GM or Ford especially their pickup trucks. I drive a GM pickup for work currently and hate the electronics in itand the awful sound of the V8 diesel. Ford trucks are good except Ford has never been able to build a decent gas engine other than the 460 and 5.0 and their diesel is again a horrible sounding V8 as well. I think I may try a Ford in the future though. An Asian pickup truck is not in any future plans for me. I'm keeping my Viper probably forever and don't see the need to purchase another car.

Ghostrider 67 · Mar 20, 2021

toolmanmike said:
A friend is into Audi's. Damn they are nice. Until you have to work on them!

Do not get me f*king started....lol.

Ghostrider 67 · Mar 20, 2021

I have owned a bunch of different ones, having lived all over the planet. The two best cars, hands down, that I have ever owned, for ease of operation, comfort, lowest cost to maintain and low frequency of needed repairs other than routine ones are the 1986 Audi 5000 Quattro, and the 2010 Hyundai Elantra Blue. The Audi had a outside door handle chrome appearance strip pop off on a very cold night. The Hyundai has had no issues at all, 137,000 miles so far...fingers crossed.

Turncoat.. yeap I did just that!

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