Offensive Threat Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Avoid any other American vehicles though.. I Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Losing With Pride Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 www.carcost.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armada Posted April 13, 2013 Author Share Posted April 13, 2013 Aren't you the guy who constantly posts about your Mazda and how you got a good deal and it's in great shape? Funny how things change. There's a lesson in here for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaBestPlaceOnEarth Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Buying new is crazy, soon as you drive off the lot you're out thousands of dollars. Buy one that's "slightly used," saves you a bundle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canucklax Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 This thread has gone upside done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 [/ Mazda execs have always wanted to get rid of the best selling car in their lineup since its debut. Theyve been upset that this model single handedly makes Mazda a profitable company. FACTS: Yes, they are heavily discounting leftover 2012 models since we are over halfway through the 2013 model year already but Mazda still makes and has no plans to discontinue the Mazda3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thema Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 What a hilarious thread! As someone who has owned at least half a dozen Italian cars (as well as German, Japanese, French, British and American ones) all I can say is "thank you" to the legions of moronic fools who bleat out the good old "fix it again Tony" bias that has permeated North American car culture for the last 40 years or so. I have owned about 25 cars in my life. The most reliable one by a mile was my old 1970's Fiat 128 which was not only completely bulletproof but got 45 MPG, seated 4 fairly comfortably and cost me... ZERO! Working on it was dead simple (I could take out the whole rad and cooling system in 5 minutes) and parts were both quite easy to find and dirt cheap. After my Fiats (I also had a Strada which was like a Rabbit but waaaaay more fun and a quarter of the price) and 3 Peugeots (best ride ever in any make of car and all 3 COMBINED were less than $2000) I discovered Alfa Romeos and all I can say is that once you've driven a good Italian car you will never go back to the garbage that is made in North America nor the boring (and super expensive to fix) Japanese. You might be tempted to go with the super reliable German ones but remember that a lot of them are actually made in Mexico just like the Chevy Cavalier and, yes, the new Fiat 500's and they are BRUTALLY expensive to fix (especially Mercedes; my brother's rear window brake light was $800!!!!! to fix). A broken corner light on my Alfa was $35 and took 3 days to get here; my brother's Ford Escort had the same problem and was $130!! The new Abarth is a riot and is seriously overpowered for its weight; make sure you don't overcook it or you will get yourself in trouble fast. My chief complaint is the lack of variety of colours and the fact that it seems a tad expensive. I'm waiting for Alfa to come back to North America (next year?) since the new Giulia will probably not be a whole lot more $ and will apparently be a terrific car with a turbo 1.8 4 banger that produces more HP per cc than any car in production history. Having said that buying new is expensive and no matter what you buy the depreciation is instantaneous and severe so you had better like what you buy because you will be stuck with it or you will lose your shirt if you go to sell it after a couple of years or so. And to all the fools who think their 5.0L Mustangs will beat my 1987 2.5 Milano (cost: $500 2 years ago and trouble free with only a new alternator needed since then) in a race from Victoria to East Sooke all I can say is you will be both surprised and embarrassed. Driving a well sorted out Italian car is like getting a massage at 100 MPH. Have fun. Ignore the ignorami. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canucklax Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 What a hilarious thread! As someone who has owned at least half a dozen Italian cars (as well as German, Japanese, French, British and American ones) all I can say is "thank you" to the legions of moronic fools who bleat out the good old "fix it again Tony" bias that has permeated North American car culture for the last 40 years or so. I have owned about 25 cars in my life. The most reliable one by a mile was my old 1970's Fiat 128 which was not only completely bulletproof but got 45 MPG, seated 4 fairly comfortably and cost me... ZERO! Working on it was dead simple (I could take out the whole rad and cooling system in 5 minutes) and parts were both quite easy to find and dirt cheap. After my Fiats (I also had a Strada which was like a Rabbit but waaaaay more fun and a quarter of the price) and 3 Peugeots (best ride ever in any make of car and all 3 COMBINED were less than $2000) I discovered Alfa Romeos and all I can say is that once you've driven a good Italian car you will never go back to the garbage that is made in North America nor the boring (and super expensive to fix) Japanese. You might be tempted to go with the super reliable German ones but remember that a lot of them are actually made in Mexico just like the Chevy Cavalier and, yes, the new Fiat 500's and they are BRUTALLY expensive to fix (especially Mercedes; my brother's rear window brake light was $800!!!!! to fix). A broken corner light on my Alfa was $35 and took 3 days to get here; my brother's Ford Escort had the same problem and was $130!! The new Abarth is a riot and is seriously overpowered for its weight; make sure you don't overcook it or you will get yourself in trouble. My chief complaint is the lack of variety of colours and the fact that it seems a tad expensive. I'm waiting for Alfa to come back to North America (nest year?) since the new Giulia will probably not be a whole lot more $ and will apparently be a terrific car with a turbo 1.8 4 banger that produces more HP per cc than any car in production history. Having said that buying new is expensive and no matter what you buy the depreciation is instantaneous and severe so you had better like what you buy because you will be stuck with it or you will lose your shirt if you go to sell it after a couple of years or so. And to all the fools who think their 5.0L Mustangs will beat my 1987 2.5 Milano (cost: $500 2 years ago and trouble free with only a new alternator needed since then) in a race from Victoria to East Sooke all I can say is you will be both surprised and embarrassed. Driving a well sorted out Italian car is like getting a massage at 100 MPH. Have fun. Ignore the ignorami. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thema Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 You're basing the reliability of this 500 with the one from the 70's? Any car from that era is immensely simpler than any car made today with all of the technological advances, there was much less under the hood and no on board computers. Reviews of the 500 from the modern age, not the 70's go along with what has been said that they have numerous reliability issues. Keep waiting on Alfa to come back, its been rumored to be back next year the past 15 years. My dad has an 84 spider and its great to drive, but may be one of the last ever on this continent, there's never enough traction for FIAT to send them over and instead are putting the tech into "boring" north american cars like the new Dart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PENGUINScanFLY Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Welcome to incorrect generalizations from the past! Most north american cars now rank near the top in every category of automobile. Usually at a substantially lower price than their Japanese competition. I know , you think some 1998 right hand drive Skyline was the perfect car. You live in the past with your taste in cars and your very out of date knowledge of automobiles in general. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canucklax Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 I would appreciate it if you could direct me to any reviews that talk about the new 500's "reliability issues" since I have been unable to find a single one anywhere. As for your dad's spider being "one of the last ever on this continent" you are dead wrong; as I speak there are literally dozens of them for sale here in B.C. and they are by far the most common Alfas. The rare (and cheap) ones are the sedans which are usually more reliable and faster than the spiders. There are literally thousands of Alfas still in the USA (mostly rust free California ones) and they are a ridiculous bargain for the most part. The whole Italian car prejudice is/was mostly a function of 1970's US car industry slander and a weak dealer network (which won't be the case since Fiat bailed out Chrysler mainly to provide them with a solid dealer network in the North American market). In my experience the biggest problem with Italian cars in North America is ignorant North American mechanics, most of whom don't even know which weight of oil to put in them. Older cars also can have electrical issues (just like older cars from anywhere else) and they can be a headache; I usually pass on a car with wiring issues. Find a sympathetic competent mechanic and you will be a happy man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thema Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 First result on google http://www.edmunds.c...er-reviews.html First post is about reliability issues, looks like about 1 in 3 are experiencing reliability issues including: " I just scheduled my 8th service visit. It pains me to say that I have started looking at the best way to get rid of this car with the least amount of loss. With 13,000 miles on it, it acts like a car with 100,000, and that simply doesn't work." Had the car for a year "bought brand new car, only 3K miles, sometimes it would start, sometimes it wouldn't...not a good feature in a car! at first dealer suggested I was doing something wrong, but after having it towed 3 X, they finally realized I wasn't making this up." "Car had to have engine replaced at 10K miles and had transmission problems at 16K miles." All the reviews agree its a fun car to drive, which I bet it is, but too many issues to deal with on a consistent basis. Yeah finding a competent mechanic will keep a car running, but those bills are going to add up and with the situation the OP is in, that's not what he needs. I'm not biased against Italian cars, they have the most soul out of any country's cars and will be fun to drive whether its a 500, Alfa, Maserati or one of the big boy Ferrari/Lamborghinis, but they will also be expensive to maintain, and have reliability issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canucklax Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Fair enough, there will always be a bad car or two in a batch but the 4 1/2 out of 5 star overall rating suggests that these problems are very much the exception rather than the rule and remember these cars are super cheap. Also FWIW whenever I see one of these new 500's in a parking lot with their owners nearby I ask how they like it and 100% of the time they have said that they love it. At any rate I welcome bad press for any and all Italian cars because it makes them super cheap for me to buy used. I'll grant you this; if you are a dumbbell that doesn't ever check your oil or do other routine maintenance then you should avoid Italian cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thema Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 I'm sure the drivers love it, theirs are the ones that still work While some of the issues probably are caused by people thinking they don't have to do any work, other issues are popping up too early to be owner-laziness related. I think the everyday person probably isn't ready to own an Italian car, it can be too much to try to listen for while driving to keep in shape. However, if someone has experience under the hood and can regularly check on the health of it, Italian cars can be worth it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DYU3ster Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Just a heads up. Mazda is giving huge discounts on the Mazda 3 2012s right now. 4.5 - 6k off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DYU3ster Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 ^ where? Accidentally entered prematurely on ipad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Argon Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 I guarantee if you buy this vehicle, your going to regret it as soon as you have real expenses, unless you plan on living at home till your 28 and having your parents pay for everyting... also, having an 8 year comitment really restricts you in your life, unless you make boatloads of money and can afford to take time off or to change careers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pouria Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 If you want to buy a car, at least buy something that looks more edgy like this: Not talking about Evo, but it's clone in Lancer. They are cheap and come with a 10 year warranty and have better reliability than Fiat. They also look better than a Fiat which looks like a girls car to me. And if you are spending that much on the Abarth, you could get the fully loaded GTS version of Lancer that has 168 hp, more hp than the Fiat along with paddle shifters, 6 disc CD changer, 700W Subwoofer stereo system, heated seats, moon roof, body kit w/ rear spoilers and the whole schabang. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armada Posted April 14, 2013 Author Share Posted April 14, 2013 If you want to buy a car, at least buy something that looks more edgy like this: Not talking about Evo, but it's clone in Lancer. They are cheap and come with a 10 year warranty and have better reliability than Fiat. They also look better than a Fiat which looks like a girls car to me. And if you are spending that much on the Abarth, you could get the fully loaded GTS version of Lancer that has 168 hp, more hp than the Fiat along with paddle shifters, 6 disc CD changer, 700W Subwoofer stereo system, heated seats, moon roof, body kit w/ rear spoilers and the whole schabang. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pouria Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Not a bad idea, I was looking at the Lancer SE 10th anniversary. Today I'm going back to the Fiat dealership to see if their new terms their offering to me. If I don't like them I'll stop by the Mitsubishi dealership. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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