My New Ride!

[OPBN]

Wagon FTW!

The 2.5 is a nice engine.

The more important question is... DOES IT HAVE 3 PEDALS?

I was looking for a manual, but the selection in my area was pretty low. I remember mention of the transmissions in one of the VW's being a bit unreliable but can remember what gen it was or if it got fixed. I probably should have done more research.

[Fred]

The only transmission issues I recall anything about are the DSG double clutches with tuned (turbo) engines.

I mean if my sister's 2.5l Jetta has lasted like 6-7 years with the 5 speed manual, its gotta be pretty robust.

(my GTI's clutch/6mt is only starting to show signs of age at 130k high boost miles)

[OPBN]

Mines the triptronic. I think it may have been on the Beetles. I just remember something said to me once.

[going_home]

Picked up another fleet vehicle from my company.

All their fleet vehicles are white, I guess thats ok.

2010 Dodge Caliber SXT.

Pics forthcoming....

[sjrtk]

Good looking car. Remember Mobil 1 0W40 or equivalent synthetic oil and timing belt as mentioned be for. All of the VW engines are sludge motors if you don't stay (really stay) up on the maintenance.

Drive it and enjoy it.

[BLachance75]

Don't the 2.5L VW engines have timing chains instead of belts, I'm pretty sure my 2011 does.

[OPBN]

I think you're right actually. Also read up on the "sludge motor" comment and from what I can see its the older engines. My only complaint so far is the gas mileage. While I really didn't like the Honda that this replaced, I am missing the gas mileage a little.... I am averaging only mid 20's at best right now and just getting on it a few times REALLY drops the average quickly. Even babying it around town for a few days only got me in the high 20's. Driving to the beach and back got me up over 30 for about a couple of miles. lol. I do miss the 35-40 MPG the Civic got.

[BLachance75]

I checked my manual and it does have a chain, the 2.0 and TDI have timing belts. I'm averaging about 28mpg on my 2011 SE.

I have 76000 miles on it and it has been a really great car. I did have a problem with the rear defroster and they had to replace the rear window, it was covers by warranty. Other than the 10k oil changes, tires, and some new headlights I haven't had to do anything. I don't know about yours but I know for the 2011 you have to get wipers from the dealer. The auto parts stores say that Bos h blades will fit but I couldn't get them to fit.

[sjrtk]

I don't know about yours but I know for the 2011 you have to get wipers from the dealer. The auto parts stores say that Bos h blades will fit but I couldn't get them to fit.

You are correct the dealer blades are pretty much the only ones that fit. Some of the after market ones fit some don't (box to box really). I couldn't remember off hand if it had a chain or not.

[going_home]

Didnt like it so I sold it.

Keeping the 98 CRV....

[JKR]

Good for you, OPBN!

My wife and I just recently traded our 2011 Honda Odyssey for a 2015 Toyota Sienna...really exciting choices, huh? Anyway, I have been driving a 2007 Honda Fit for 8+ years and have over 180K miles on it. Logic would say we should have traded the Fit in but I drive it back and forth to work mainly and it still runs well so...

My situation on the face of it sounds similar to what you initially described with your ex wife (especially since her work is about 2 miles away and mine is about 26 miles away) but the big difference is that I thought our above arrangement made more sense too.

Best of luck with your new vehicle. Hope you enjoy it!

[nak81783]

OPBN,

Your story sounds somewhat familiar to me, but you win. Congrats! I'm glad you got something you like.

My turn to get something new, and I was really close to getting a new 2015 or 2016 (if I wanted to wait) WRX. My wife suggested we should get something with a third row for traveling with the family, carpooling, etc. Sold my 2008 Jeep Patriot. Bought her a 2015 Toyota Highlander. I inherited her 2011 Toyota RAV4. In fairness to my wife, she did tell me to get the WRX, but my family instincts took over. I wanted her to have the newer, safer, easier-to-get-groceries vehicle since she has the kids in the car way more often than me. The RAV4 is quite peppy with the V6, but I miss a manual transmission. RAV4 would have sufficed for a while longer if we hadn't gotten the dang sport appearance package. It came with horrendous run-flats and deleted the rear-mounted spare. Looks a little nicer, but when it came time to put new tires on, I opted for nice conventional Michelins, bought an extra wheel, mounted one of the old run-flats on it, and threw it in the back for a spare. Takes up just enough of the cargo room, that made us go the Highlander route.