Considering Jap
Discussion
Hi All,
I've always been, well over the past few years, a big VAG fan. But a mate of mine works for a Honda dealer and i had a nosey there yesterday.
He worked previously at VW and said he'd rate the Hondas better than VWs in terms of value and reliability.
So, got me thinking of going down the Jap route next time.
Open to suggestions but my father in law had a Jazz 1.2 last and that appeared bomb-proof - other than a dodgy window winder, and now has a Note 1.6 N-Tec - that goes well and has plenty of kit on it.
Mine would need to be a diesel.
What is your experience of Jap metal - is it a long-term thing - and what sort of mileages are you getting out of diesels, and to what cost - big service costs or not?
Cheers
I've always been, well over the past few years, a big VAG fan. But a mate of mine works for a Honda dealer and i had a nosey there yesterday.
He worked previously at VW and said he'd rate the Hondas better than VWs in terms of value and reliability.
So, got me thinking of going down the Jap route next time.
Open to suggestions but my father in law had a Jazz 1.2 last and that appeared bomb-proof - other than a dodgy window winder, and now has a Note 1.6 N-Tec - that goes well and has plenty of kit on it.
Mine would need to be a diesel.
What is your experience of Jap metal - is it a long-term thing - and what sort of mileages are you getting out of diesels, and to what cost - big service costs or not?
Cheers
But I dont have a diesel Mine ideally needs to be a diesel, or very economical petrol, or even a hybrid (saying that we have a Civic IMA on fleet at work and the driver thinks it's economy is worse than his old Astra van diesel, by some way!).
Needs to be family car size - saying that - could get away with smaller but just need to get 5 in. A Jazz would suffice i suppose - if there are ever 5 in, would be short trips - the Mrs runs the family car in our house.
New-ish too - 58 plate onwards.
Ideally looking at Civic/3/Auris, or Accord/6/Avensis - or otherwise something a bit out of the box - i.e. an Urban Cruiser or FRV. I could at an absolute push try to twist the wife's arm over an RX8 but it'd be no easy task.
Subaru STI's out of the question - my mate has a Forester WRX STI and it costs him around £11 a day to get to work - 35 mile round trip. For £11, i'd be wanting around 100 miles!
Needs to be family car size - saying that - could get away with smaller but just need to get 5 in. A Jazz would suffice i suppose - if there are ever 5 in, would be short trips - the Mrs runs the family car in our house.
New-ish too - 58 plate onwards.
Ideally looking at Civic/3/Auris, or Accord/6/Avensis - or otherwise something a bit out of the box - i.e. an Urban Cruiser or FRV. I could at an absolute push try to twist the wife's arm over an RX8 but it'd be no easy task.
Subaru STI's out of the question - my mate has a Forester WRX STI and it costs him around £11 a day to get to work - 35 mile round trip. For £11, i'd be wanting around 100 miles!
Thanks Paulmoonraker.
Nice suggestion but out of budget.
I buy them around the £10k mark tops and look to run them into the ground.
The Boxer Diesels do like quite nice though.
Would appear that the Mazda 5 and 6 is the cheapy of the bigger end of the market, whilst the Auris is the cheaper at the compact size end.
RX8s look very tempting and for the money, i could really be tempted out of a family car and away from a diesel for one of them. Various 06 plates around the £5k mark on autotrader.
Nice suggestion but out of budget.
I buy them around the £10k mark tops and look to run them into the ground.
The Boxer Diesels do like quite nice though.
Would appear that the Mazda 5 and 6 is the cheapy of the bigger end of the market, whilst the Auris is the cheaper at the compact size end.
RX8s look very tempting and for the money, i could really be tempted out of a family car and away from a diesel for one of them. Various 06 plates around the £5k mark on autotrader.
sider said:
my mate has a Forester WRX STI and it costs him around £11 a day to get to work - 35 mile round trip. For £11, i'd be wanting around 100 miles!
sider said:
RX8s look very tempting and for the money, i could really be tempted out of a family car and away from a diesel for one of them.
Ginger goblin said:
sider said:
my mate has a Forester WRX STI and it costs him around £11 a day to get to work - 35 mile round trip. For £11, i'd be wanting around 100 miles!
sider said:
RX8s look very tempting and for the money, i could really be tempted out of a family car and away from a diesel for one of them.
Rather than just Jap metal i think you need to really see what you are wanting in your next car, a diesel Auris and an RX-8 are not a common what car combination. I can fully understand the idea to move away from VAG stuff for a change, but rather than just country of origin set out a few must haves and then see what cars fall into that group.
Thirsty, fast, ugly = Scooby
Thirsty, quick, nimble = RX-8
Economical, bomb-proof, really f
king comfy = Avensis D4DBut equally there are quite a few non VAG cars that cover those bases.
omgus said:
My thoughts exactly, if you think you can run an RX-8 then you should definitely look at un un-modded WRX/STI.
Rather than just Jap metal i think you need to really see what you are wanting in your next car, a diesel Auris and an RX-8 are not a common what car combination. I can fully understand the idea to move away from VAG stuff for a change, but rather than just country of origin set out a few must haves and then see what cars fall into that group.
Thirsty, fast, ugly = Scooby
Thirsty, quick, nimble = RX-8
Economical, bomb-proof, really fking comfy = Avensis D4D
But equally there are quite a few non VAG cars that cover those bases.
Thanks for that Omgus and Ginger Goblin.Rather than just Jap metal i think you need to really see what you are wanting in your next car, a diesel Auris and an RX-8 are not a common what car combination. I can fully understand the idea to move away from VAG stuff for a change, but rather than just country of origin set out a few must haves and then see what cars fall into that group.
Thirsty, fast, ugly = Scooby
Thirsty, quick, nimble = RX-8
Economical, bomb-proof, really f
king comfy = Avensis D4DBut equally there are quite a few non VAG cars that cover those bases.
I thought RX-8's would be fairly economical?! I'm not that naive to think that a 1.3 is going to give Fiesta-like economy but didn't think they were that bad.
I think my key thing here is the reliability.
I've done the French thing, having run 3 Peugeots. First one was a 2000 106 1.1 that was 'old school' - i.e. not very complicated in terms of technology and that was fine, then i got a 206 2.0 HDI that was slightly more complicated and broke slightly more, and then a 307 1.6 HDI that was just a bit of a nightmare towards the end.
Moved onto the Bora then - that was bomb-proof, and then my current Ibiza - which has a mega reliable engine - it's the other bits - like suspension and brakes that worry me and seem to cost me at present.
So, i heard the Jap stuff was very reliable and decided to look down that route. I suppose there is good and bad here too - and 'Friday afternoon' cars as well - but Japanese cars just have such a good reputation, thought it was an avenue to consider.
With regards the economy issue - i've told the Mrs previously that i'd love an Impreza WRX - and i would - but i think i'd buy it, hoon it back from the garage with a big grin on my face, then start to use it for work (1500+ miles per month) and really start to regret it and feel it in my pocket. Similarly, i've previously been a massive fan of Evos, but it'd be the same story there!
Two brands i really didn't even consider yesterday were Nissan and Mitsubishi. I really like the current shape Lancer saloon, and for the money, could live with a Sportback too. Also, quite like the Qashqai too.
Need to have a good look round - this was almost an impulse thing yesterday and have been looking at prices online, but need to get out there and drive some of these cars. I'm a good few months off a change yet so no rush.
cheesesliceking said:
omgus said:
Thirsty, very fast, ugly = Scooby
Very Thirsty, quick, unreliable, nimble = RX-8
ammended that for you... :O)Very Thirsty, quick, unreliable, nimble = RX-8
Over-fuelling issues that will get fixed soon, but it makes my exhaust pop and bang every gear change so i quite like it
omgus said:
The better forums tend to be make/model specific.
Have you made your mind up yet?
Not yet! Work has been manic for the last few weeks so my minds been elsewhere but thinking again now. Have you made your mind up yet?
I've got quite a big shortlist though!
Subaru Impreza or Legacy - DIESEL - however, seem very expensive - even 12 months old.
Mazda 3 or 6 - like both of these quite a lot.
Toyota Avensis - quite dull - so the car mags say - but i like them.
Auris - look ok and drive well, driven one before - but boot is small.
Mitsubishi Lancer - Sportback is ok in GS3 spec. Like the 4 doors quite a lot but they don't seem as well put together than the Toyotas.
Honda Civic and Accord - like these both. But perhaps worth waiting for new Civic. Accord seems quite expensive.
Suzuki - the new Kizashi seems worth the wait. Sounds good.
Nissan - quite like the Juke and Qashqai.
So - shortlist isn't very short. Got out of thinking of S2000's and 350Zs though. Which would be nice - but not very 'me' considering my big miles and growing family!
ScoobieWRX said:
How about a G-Whizz or a Leaf? Scrub that....I reckon Segway!! 
Where i come from they can get a whole family of 5 on a 50cc moped so any of the above should accomodate well enough.
Can't believe those Leafs are £25k+!Where i come from they can get a whole family of 5 on a 50cc moped so any of the above should accomodate well enough.
Can't believe even more that the Mitsubishi I electric version is nearly £24k too!!!
Gassing Station | Japanese Chat | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff