- 9,818
- 5,498
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2005
djlunchbox
You do all your mods yourself?\\ Post Your Car vol. Been a minute //
djlunchbox
You do all your mods yourself?
- 9,863
- 11,418
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2003
Anything I’m able to DIY I’ve done, aero lower and upper parts, intake and interior lighting accents. My mechanic did my lowering springs and installed my ceramic brakes and slotted/drilled rotors.
That steering wheel was the last piece. Now I’ve got all the carbon lol
ALNotSure
Supporter
- 4,130
- 9,943
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2017
- 40,420
- 41,078
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2002
Anything I’m able to DIY I’ve done, aero lower and upper parts, intake and interior lighting accents. My mechanic did my lowering springs and installed my ceramic brakes and slotted/drilled rotors.
That steering wheel was the last piece. Now I’ve got all the carbon lol
- 25,321
- 22,304
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2013
This is why I don't mess with Kia/Hyundai.
Although they are making nice looking vehicles with great technology, they have a bunch of reliability issues. Yes, they have a 10 year warranty, but who wants to deal with headaches all the time?
Although they are making nice looking vehicles with great technology, they have a bunch of reliability issues. Yes, they have a 10 year warranty, but who wants to deal with headaches all the time?
- 29,651
- 39,351
- Joined
- May 25, 2004
They also rip off 75% of their designs
ALNotSure
Supporter
- 4,130
- 9,943
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2017
The FB Hyundai/Kia groups are wild. Issue after issue. 600 miles their fake 4x4 bombed out lol
- 18,192
- 23,927
- Joined
- May 27, 2017
Loser behavior
- 18,192
- 23,927
- Joined
- May 27, 2017
aepps20
Supporter
- 40,465
- 85,669
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2004
I'm helping my niece buy her first car and I wanted to get some suggestions on a good reliable car for under $18K. Thank you all in advance for your help.
- 29,651
- 39,351
- Joined
- May 25, 2004
- 9,863
- 11,418
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2003
They have a notorious habit of their first year models when the car is refreshed having issues. The k5 from 2021 when it took its new form had bad transmission problems as well. My k5 is my 3rd Kia and 6th overall between me and my wife and neither of us have had a single major issue. I will say my wife’s ‘21 Sorento started having push to start button issues where we’d hear just a click, but outside of that we’ve been solid with ours.
- 18,192
- 23,927
- Joined
- May 27, 2017
Toyotas are overpriced for what you get on the used market.
Look at current Mazdas. Same reliability with more features for less
aepps20
Supporter
- 40,465
- 85,669
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2004
Thank you so much. Is there a particular model I should look at? I saw a 2021 3 locally but didn’t know.
- 2,062
- 2,628
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2004
There's a fine line between Toyota being overpriced vs. having strong resale value.
Don't know how they do it. They produce millions of cars a year.
Don't know how they do it. They produce millions of cars a year.
ALNotSure
Supporter
- 4,130
- 9,943
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2017
Same reliability is wild… lol they are not close… There is a reason people value them so highly.
And mind you I absolutely love Mazda. But no way I’m taking a used mazda 6 over a camry if reliability is a major concern. If I want a fun used one, the madza 6 manual is the way to go.
- 18,192
- 23,927
- Joined
- May 27, 2017
I own both brands and my bro just bought the new Rav4 since my family buys Toyota.
Reliability is on par now. My Mazda is made in Japan which Toyota reserves for their more expensive Lexus vehicles.
Toyota purposefully omits features to not sabotage Lexus sales.
Mazda doesn't have a luxury brand to protect.
The last Mazda 6 was on par with the Lexus ES when it was on sale compared with the Camry before they discontinued it. I cross shopped them. I'm using the previous ES as an example because the product cycle is similar.
Last edited:
- 18,192
- 23,927
- Joined
- May 27, 2017
What is she looking for? Passenger and cargo space? Fuel economy? Sportiness?
ALNotSure
Supporter
- 4,130
- 9,943
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2017
I own both brands and my bro just bought the new Rav4 since my family buys Toyota.
Reliability is on par now. My Mazda is made in Japan which Toyota reserves for their more expensive Lexus vehicles.
Toyota purposefully omits features to not sabotage Lexus sales.
Mazda doesn't have a luxury brand to protect.
The last Mazda 6 was on par with the Lexus ES when it was on sale compared with the Camry before they discontinued it. I cross shopped them. I'm using the previous ES as an example because the product cycle is similar.
Reliability isn’t on par. Your experience might be that way but Mazda is behind Toyota and Lexus. You can go back the past few years and results always have Mazda significantly behind. But yes they are more reliable than most.
FYI we have owned a couple of 929’s. They were awesome. No major issues while we had them except I think one had a rough transmission. Some interior things that didn’t hold up as well as my ES over the same time frame. Engine felt stronger and it was RWD but handled like a boat lol.
Yeah the Mazda 6 didn’t touch an ES. The cheap doors and okay dash lets you know that. Wind noise like crazy. Sorry that’s a major reach. The MMC was nice for the interior. Mazda 6 certainly drove a ton better and was certainly more interesting than an Accord or Camry. And if it was better than an ES or on par it certainly wouldn’t have been discontinued. I wish they gave it another shot.
Contrarily Toyota’s features are off the chain right now seriously creeping into Lexus territory. The Toyota Crown showcases that for example. Sequoia has a full pano roof my LX 600 doesn’t have etc etc.
I do agree Mazda isn’t held back and has made the choice to move into the Acura etc space of premium. Above mainstream but not quite full luxury. Mazda has done a really great job with it, better than Acura to me.
Cliffs- Both brands are great, I still give the reliability edge to Toyota. Love what both brands are doing currently.
- 7,973
- 8,437
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2017
get her da safest whip
aepps20
Supporter
- 40,465
- 85,669
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2004
Reliability and fuel economy. My goal is to get her a nice enough car but also encourage her to keep pushing for something better as she gets older
- 3,132
- 2,854
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2004
My Lexus ES300h is the best thing I've purchased in MY LIFE. 192,000 miles, nothing has broken. Nothing, I can't even remember changing a bulb. Just routine maintenance. No rattles, shakes, smooth as ice skating and still 38mpg on the original hybrid battery.
- 7,973
- 8,437
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2017
i would go for this tbh
kinda ugly so it hits ur point of "motivation"
also safe
also has enough space for friends, so if shes responsible its better for her to drive then a knucklehead friend drive
maintenance shouldn't be much and all wheel drive is safe for inclement weather
- 32,766
- 38,405
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2012
My bros 2021 K5 has been pretty reliable aside from battery issues but thats probably his fault. Son starting to rice it out though, he got little animr stickers and added louvres or whatever on his rear quarter panel windows and I said take that BS off immediately.
- 18,192
- 23,927
- Joined
- May 27, 2017
Do not get a used Subaru boxer engine. They are notorious for head gasket problems. Just google iti would go for this tbh
kinda ugly so it hits ur point of "motivation"
also safe
also has enough space for friends, so if shes responsible its better for her to drive then a knucklehead friend drive
maintenance shouldn't be much and all wheel drive is safe for inclement weather
