Comments on: Question of the Day: Did I Do The Wrong Thing?

By: cretinx

cretinx — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:52:53 +0000

Jonny – you screwed up – the 4 banger Accord doesn’t have aggressive variable valve lift, and mostly makes due with variable valve timing.

Not to mention your statement about VTEC head gaskets is completely unsubstantiated by mine or my colleague’s personal experiences(as the owner of 5 Civics, including several with motor swaps and original engines having various evolutions of VTEC throughout Honda’s years)

Hondas are indestructible.

By: whatsanobeen

whatsanobeen — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:16:25 +0000

Like Axel said, the G35 is the way to go if she’s a car enthusiast. In any other case, the Accord is a better car for her.

If she’s just looking for basic transit, then she won’t really be able to enjoy the G for what its worth.

She might complain of how cheap the interior details (dashboard material, “metallic” trim pieces that are possibly worn out, etc.) look in comparison to the Accord, while ignoring the G35’s BMW-like handling, the mechanical beauty of its Front-Midship mounted VQ V6, and its Nissan Skyline roots.

By: Axel

Axel — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:45:11 +0000

If she likes to drive, the G was the right choice.

If she aims her car to direct it from point A to point B, the Accord was still overpriced, and she should have been looking at 4-pot Camries or Yarises.

It’s like comparing a pair of tennis shoes to stylish high heels. I mean, you don’t do a value comparison, you get what you like.

By: Jonny Lieberman

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:23:28 +0000

USAFMech: Dammit man, you’re right!

By: David Holzman

David Holzman — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:27:52 +0000

Unlessthere are no other dealers within 50 miles, I would have told her to keep looking for a fit–or maybe a civic.

By: Jon Paul

Jon Paul — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:57:27 +0000

Wow, you’re really suggesting that Nissan makes a better motor than Honda? Is there some link to this head gasket problem, because I haven’t hear much about Accords dying.

IMO and experience, the Accord will be far more practical/reliable, but the Infiniti will be more fun to drive, and be more posh.

By: dolo54

dolo54 — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:46:28 +0000

I would go with the G35. I don’t really think those windows will stop working… c’mon. But it does really depend on the driver. Does she want a sports car or an appliance? Most people just want an appliance and the G35 is, from what I hear, fairly sporty with a harder than average ride.

As the previous commenter mentioned, why not Subaru WRX? That is better on gas, pretty fun to drive and very practical, especially in wagon form. I’ve seen decent used WRX wagons on craigslist for $6-$8k.

By: Redbarchetta

Redbarchetta — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:54:45 +0000

Jonny didn’t you first suggest a Subaru WRX and she thought it was too common and not unique enough, and now she is looking at a Honda Accord, does it get anymore generic than that, I guess a Camry.

It looks like she needs to spend some serious time on the internet looking at all kinds of cars and make a serious short list before she wastes anymore of your time. Her choices are all over the place.

I have a suggestion how about a first generation Infinity M45. They sold in small numbers so she will rarely see another one and that was one hell of a luxury hot rod.

By: nudave

nudave — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:19:02 +0000

Jonny – Ask HER in five years.

By: Turbo G

Turbo G — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:27:44 +0000

Why has no one suggested the TTAC TBAG champion, the Mazda 3?

By: Landcrusher

Landcrusher — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:14:12 +0000

I cant’ see anyone who was serious about that citreon liking the Honda too long. The infiniti was definitely the better choice, if for no other reason than she is less likely to see one next to her at every other stop light.

By: berndl

berndl — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:06:52 +0000

People choose the answer they want by who they ask for advice. So don’t second-guess yourself because that would be missing the point.

By: USAFMech

USAFMech — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:04:13 +0000

What is wrong with you people?

Jonny, tell her to turn around and go back to the SM. It’s the only sensible option in this appliancial quicksand she’s stuck in.

Yes, I made up a word so that I could conjugate “appliance”.

By: BlueEr03

BlueEr03 — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:25:16 +0000

Tell her to test drive the C30, it is a blast to drive and looks amazing as well. Not to mention the fact that it is roomy, comfortable, and has an amazing sound system. You can’t go wrong with one.

By: pleiter

pleiter — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:53:03 +0000

Are not the car shows appearing soon in your area ? great opportunity to sit in all the cars, with minimal hassle. Also, is this not ‘tent-sale’ season on 2008’s ? What about color — kids won’t wear white t-shirts, because that is the donor color.

By: guyincognito

guyincognito — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:46:10 +0000

If she asked you she must be expecting a pistonhead response and thats what you gave. Sounds justifiable to me. Not that anyone ever listens to my advice, but I always advise that they get the most fun car that has a resonable chance of meeting their budget and needs.

By: no_slushbox

no_slushbox — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:15:49 +0000

Jonny

Tell her to forget the C30 and go back to the Mazda dealer. Ford owns all of Volvo but only 1/3 of Mazda and the difference is clear.

I don’t know the entire back story, but my answer is new or used Miata or Kappa twin (turbo if she has the budget).

Paying to live in LA and driving a hardtop (especially FWD) is like paying for a house in Aspen when you don’t like to ski.

By: Hondaphile

Hondaphile — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:15:43 +0000

I like the Accord in this instance, not just because of the reputation Honda has for being a safe bet, but, you know, some people actually LIKE accords. Not everyone who buys an Accord does so by default because that’s just ‘what you’re supposed to buy’ to get good value for your dollar. Aesthetics and intangibles play a big role in car buying – you should tell your friend, after all the specs have been looked at, and if deemed equal – get the one she likes best.

By: SherbornSean

SherbornSean — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:04:35 +0000

I might suggest she take a step back and ask a few questions:
– how many miles/annum will she put on the car?
– how long does she plan to keep it?
– how often will there be more than 2 people in it?
– how often will se be carrying more than her purse?
– is parking an issue (i.e. is smaller better)?
– what is more important: $ or image?
– does she prefer sportiness over luxury?

I don’t know where this will lead, but I wonder if the MX-5, Mini and Civic might not be more appropriate choices.

By: rpn453

rpn453 — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:01:18 +0000

It sounds like you’re getting too involved in the final decision making process. You need to guide her, not tell her what to buy. When my friend’s mother wanted me to help her buy a vehicle, I sat down with her over coffee and discussed what type of vehicle she’d prefer. She intended to get a reasonably fuel efficient 4-door vehicle in a sedan or wagon. Preferably a wagon for the extra cargo space, but sedan would be okay if that was the best option. We discussed transmission options, and decided that a standard is best for her. Then we narrowed down the possible brands, which, based on our experiences, we both agreed should be of Japanese descent. So off we went to the Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Subaru, and Mazda dealers where she drove 14 different cars and decided on a Subaru Forester. I provided some input and talked about the cars with her, but she made her own informed decision. I still preferred the Mazda3 after all that test driving but there were a few cars she liked better than the 3.

By: HarveyBirdman

HarveyBirdman — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 22:33:09 +0000

Sounds like your friend needs to sit down and think about what she REALLY wants in a car before signing on the dotted line. With the cars you’ve listed just in this post, Jonny, it seems like her interests run the whole gamut. Either that means that she hasn’t really prioritized what she’s looking for in a new car, or else (and more likely) she’s going to buy a car based on emotion regardless of what you or any of the rest of us have to say about a particular model. There’s nothing wrong with that; it just means we’re relegated, ultimately, to the task of making the emotional buyer feel good about her (or his, in other cases) purchase after the dust has settled.

By: Areitu

Areitu — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 22:21:29 +0000

I don’t think the Infiniti will be unreliable. Neither cars are a bad choice once you remove the need for absolute sportiness out of the equation. Personally, I think the Accord will be a more pleasant car to own, overall, for a non-enthusiast. Not to mention better gas mileage and more room.

Why not shop around at other dealerships for Fits? They’re pleasant peppy cars, even with only 109 horsepower.

By: Student.Driver

Student.Driver — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 22:16:44 +0000

LOL! But it’s great if she unloads it before all the whack-ass things show up. One friend had the G35 6MT sedan, and the thing starting leaking water into the cabin and having strange electrical issues. So, he traded it in for a truck.

However, another friend got a G35 6MT coupe and it’s been fine, save for a little weird clutch pedal action during a couple autocrosses (which never happened, and they’re not racing even if they did!). But, I don’t think either of them crossed the 50K miles mark, so who knows how bad they’ll get.

By: quasimondo

quasimondo — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 22:11:17 +0000

Non car people should be given two choices:

Large Car – Toyota Camry
Small Car – Toyota Corolla

Anything more than that and you’re asking for trouble.

By: Jonny Lieberman

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:52:20 +0000

Now she’s texting me about the Volvo C30…