New Cars

Topic: New Cars (Read 2140 times) previous topic - next topic

New Cars

July 13, 2009, 07:30:32 PM

My wife has decided she needs a new car. While I'm not totally hip to the idea, she does have a good job and works hard. She also puts a lot of miles on her daily driver. She is really interested in a new Dodge Charger. Anyone have any experience with these cars? I told her if she gets one the only way she's doing it is if she gets the HEMI. Anyone know if they do worth a hoot in the snow? I prefer RWD but she has never had it and I'm afraid she would have trouble on slick roads. I assume they have traction control of some sort?

Any opinions? I need to talk her into a new SHO...

New Cars

Reply #1 – July 14, 2009, 12:11:24 AM

Used to work at chryco.
Front ends are bad on them(tie rods,lateral arms) these parts go quite frequently(20-30k).
Have seen a few front wheel bearings as well.
Front door speaker magnets break off and fall into the front doors causing the front speakers to stop working.
Have seen a few window regulators and front door lock actuators go as well.
Rear brake sliders sieze up due to lack of maintanance and ruin the rear pads and rotors at higher mileage.
If you get the hemi remember thay have 16 copper plugs and can be expensive to tune up.
Stay away from the 3.5L as it has carbon buildup issues and will set constant check engine lights for misfires at higher mileages,it's an expensive repair as most of the time the valve rotate tsb doesn't do and the heads end up having to be removed and rebuilt.
I think that should sum it up,are ya scared yet lol.

New Cars

Reply #2 – July 14, 2009, 02:53:29 AM

My son bought one about just over a year ago. I don't know the call letters but it's second from the top.. (Hemi, but not the SRT or whatever the top model was that the dealership wanted an additional 10K for). Last time I talked to him (2 weeks ago) he has had no problems, just loves it, loves the power, But being 25, loaded with cash, living in Calfornia working at a collage campus, it still wasent enough.. he had a super charger installed that he says (I'm assuming he is exagerating a bit) is +150hp @ 5000rpm.. still loves it, still no problems, and is suppose to be coming home next weekend for 4 days... I'll know more then and see if any of the problems described above have cropped up for him.

last time he was up (pre supercharger) it snowed, he has Track Control... he said it's a death trap in the snow, But then again he's military, been all over the world.. not sure how much snow driving he has done.

I, on the other hand have lived here my whole life (about 30 years driving in the snow about every year) and I bought a Supercharged 04 Monte Carlo SS last fall, with traction control..(FWD) this thing went everywhere except about 10 feet of the steepest part of my driveway I couldent get up... I live on top of a mountan and that Monte would climb right up the hill compleatly covered in snow.

New Cars

Reply #3 – July 14, 2009, 07:14:41 AM

That would be an R/T.
Supercharger at 10psi would definetley add close to 150hp with no exageration.
Your front wheel drive monty(supercharged or not would be much better in the snow but i love to throw a rear wheel drive car around and find it much easier in the snow especially without the torque steer being transmitted through the wheel.
I drive an 89SC in the winter with a set of blizzacks and i can power through anything.
We had 50cm snow for our first snowfall last year and never got stuck once.
Put a good set of snow tires on it all around and it will be fine.
Without snows they are death traps.

New Cars

Reply #4 – July 14, 2009, 09:28:35 AM

I actually prefer RWD in the snow, but I know how to control it and I'm not so sure about my wifes ability to do so. All FWD really gains you is getting started moving on a slick surface. Once you are moving I think they are actually kind of dangerous on snow.

We may be out of the market for a Dodge...my wife went to a local dealer to inquire about Chargers and the salesman basically blew her off. Needless to say he won't be selling us a car any time soon. I talked her into looking at '10 Ford Fusions last night so maybe I can keep her in a Ford! Anyone know if they coming out with the ecoboost motor in the Fusions?

New Cars

Reply #5 – July 14, 2009, 10:30:49 AM

Yes a FORD that is the way to go. Yes help her find a car from a maker that will be around to get parts from. With all the layoff's, shutdowns, and such I'm kinda thinking the newer cars parts will be harder to get once they start breaking. They decreases production, then they shut a lot of them down. They aren't making the cars why do they need to make the parts? Yeah Fiat did buy them most new owners like to make changes. From they way they make it sound on the news if you bought a new GM car or truck before they were NEW GM they might not even have to cover your warranty! So they make it sound. So I say do your homework and pic wisely!

Stuckman

New Cars

Reply #6 – July 14, 2009, 10:36:55 AM

Why not a Taurus AWD? Better yet, how about a Taurus SHO AWD!?! :)

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

New Cars

Reply #7 – July 14, 2009, 11:29:27 AM

Quote from: ProTouring442;282150

Why not a Taurus AWD? Better yet, how about a Taurus SHO AWD!?! :)

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

SHO would be bad ass. Not sure what price point they will fall into though?

Ive mentioned the Taurus several times with her....but her mom drives a 2008 Taurus so she has a stigma that only older people drive them. I've tried telling her that the new ones are waaay cooler. Maybe we can test drive one:burnout:. The new '10 Fusions are definately shagy looking cars too, though.

2010 fusion

New Cars

Reply #8 – July 14, 2009, 05:44:01 PM

The 2010 Fusion Sport AWD looks pretty sweet IMO. My only complaint (besides the forever missing manual tranny in AWD trims) is the 4x4 ride height. No "sport" package should be that high. And I wouldn't count on seeing the EcoBoost in a Fusion... Ford has a history of "protecting" its investments.

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Reply #9 – July 14, 2009, 07:40:17 PM

You say she puts lots of miles on her car? I'd go for a 4cyl fusion, they rate at 34 hwy and Ive heard of people getting 38-39 hwy with the manual.

Or you could go with the hybrid which I hear is really nice.

New Cars

Reply #10 – July 14, 2009, 08:20:06 PM

2010 Fusion is reviewed to be stiff competition for the Camry and Accord. I'd look into it.

For me I'd pick the G8 (based on want, not experience driving one)

New Cars

Reply #11 – July 14, 2009, 08:20:40 PM

Quote from: ProTouring442;282150

Why not a Taurus AWD? Better yet, how about a Taurus SHO AWD!?! :)

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

Very well done.

New Cars

Reply #12 – July 14, 2009, 11:51:54 PM

Wow, that's the first time I saw the new Taurus. I'm not sure I like the tail lights from what I could quickly find on other sites, but otherwise it looks like a huge improvement.

This line from a 2010 Taurus article made me laugh out loud:

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/11/detroit-2009-ford-reveals-2010-taurus-party-like-its-1986/

Quote

The body structure itself is stiffer, and there are enough airbags to float the car across the English Channel.

New Cars

Reply #13 – July 15, 2009, 07:19:39 AM

Wellll....we found a 2010 Fusion Sport and are going to trade. We have to take her Mariner today for them to look at to be sure all our numbers are in agreement, but they gave us a good deal! Now is definatley the time to be buying a new car. I am a bit of a jew and they let me jew them down, plus there were around $2000 in rebates.

Not sure when we will be picking it up but it is a black one with the "moon and tunes" package. We test drove one and it was a nice car. I can't believe how much Ford has improved the quality of their interiors in the last few years. Blows my '07 'stang interior out of the water. Also with the Sport we will be getting the 6 speed that you can shift manually and the 263 hp (I think that sounds right) V6. It gets up and goes pretty good.

Best thing about it is this gets my wife off my a$$ and since our anniversary is next month, doubles as an anniversary gift! lol. I'll get pics up once we get it home.

New Cars

Reply #14 – July 15, 2009, 09:21:10 AM

I really NEED a Tarus SHO but look at $40k for a price.:D