RIP Saturn...next?

So my second Saturn has died with 198K miles on her. I just failed my emissions test for the 4th time in a row. I got her tuned up and took it in only to have the emissions fail by much worse. Then, I had to replace alternator/battery and belt for a mere $300 just to keep her on the road. Then 3 days after getting that done, i was driving to the Basin when the battery light went on again. Turned around, took her into the shop, and the 'belt tensioner' had snapped. Now...I'm no car mechanic but it seems that since they replaced the belt 3 days earlier and the tensioner snapped within 3 days, that they did something wrong. They didn't buy that and want me to pay for the part and 50% of the labor to put it in. Fuck it..the car may be worth $500.

So the time has come for a new vehicle. ANy Denver Mags have good luck at certain dealers or any advice on what car I should get? Looked at an Outback yesterday and I heard decent things about some sort of Jetta diesel wagon thingy...but have yet to see one.
advice?

TDI VW = 50-60 mpg
During summer diesel = 10-15 cents cheaper than LOW grade gas, during winter diesel = mid grade prices
Diesel engine = car falls apart around engine not the other way around

I know a few people that have them and they all love them. Plenty of power and of course great mileage. Once you go diesel you'll never go back :)

Of course you could also get a wrx vagon....

Once you go diesel you'll never go back.
Smell that smell. Get a Farm plate and it's even cheaper.;)

Spotted on one of those cutesy license plate brackets on a Saturn:

"It's a good thing Saturn doesn't make airplanes."


Heh.

how much for a TDI VW??
might have to check that out.....

VW's TDI engine is nice.
A dude took a golf TDi entered it into the production class SCCA rally series about two years ago and won the whole class against a bunch of gas engines, so the performance is up there with the gas egnines, plus the fuel economy is great which will cut down on emiisions -> cleaner environment -> less global warming

you should be able to get into a diesel wagon for under 20K (no frills) and could spend upwards of 25K on one also.

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Originally posted by lemon boy
TDI VW = 50-60 mpg

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Wait what the Hell is a VW TDI? like a van or what 50-60 mpg diesil is freaking good

old mercedes diesels are the way to go.

That being said, speaking from a car enthusiast point of view, I dont think I could ever go diesel. Sure Alpina put out some incredible diesel bmws, but the whole rev to 3k thing doesnt work for me. Never will. For a pure performance standpoint, unleaded is the only way to go.

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Originally posted by lemon boy
Of course you could also get a wrx vagon....

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I'll second that. Of course it totally depends on your budget.

ak_p_m-

it is vw's 1.9L diesel engine (TDI=Turbo, Diesel, Injection). 100 ponies. They go in their cars (passats, jettas, bugs, golfs etc). They're also putting different diesel engines (bigger and badder) in the toureg.

Cantdog- Even my truck doesn't redline at 3K. Admittedly, they are not as quick as a gasser but that's a pretty narrow gauge of "performance"

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Originally posted by CantDog
old mercedes diesels are the way to go.

That being said, speaking from a car enthusiast point of view, I dont think I could ever go diesel. Sure Alpina put out some incredible diesel bmws, but the whole rev to 3k thing doesnt work for me. Never will. For a pure performance standpoint, unleaded is the only way to go.

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Like LB said, "Once you diesel you'll never go back. "

It took me a while to get used to shifting at 2200rpm after 20 years of rice redlines of 6500. But man, if I shift my truck at 2200 rpms I can make it boogie. I think it redlines at 3500rpm but I never go above 3000, there is no point. I have gobs of available power as I idle down the road at 1400 rpm.

As mentioned above VW diesels fall apart around the engine. A freind with a mid 80's Jetta diesel got over 600000km on his. Sure he had to get in through the passenger door and the trunk was held closed with a bungie cord, the thing would not die.

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Originally posted by lemon boy


. Admittedly, they are not as quick as a gasser

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I dunno LB there are a couple guys on the ford diesel forum who would disagree. Some of those guys are running 7.3l turbo charged engines with propane injection, 4" dual stacks, forged pistons,bla bla bla. They like to brag about smoking (literally and figuratively) Mustangs and Camaros etc.

Personally, I want my next car to be an old mercedes diesel boat.

The TDI's are sweet! Only 90 hp, but something like 180 ft/pounds of torque, so they still have some balls. But I would still take a gti over a TDI. An r32 would be even better, 240 horses, 236 ft. lbs, six speed tranny, and awd! Gotta love it.:D

I drove a Toyota Prius hybrid the other day... Not *super* cheap, but pretty good, and you get a steep tax break, plus you double your gas mileage.

It was a great driving car, too, for what it is.

http://www.edmunds.com/media/2003/ne...us.f34.500.jpg

Styling is probably a personal thing, but since you drive a saturn, you're obviously not worried about that. ;)

http://www.toyota.com/prius/

You might have a tough time finding one, though... dealers are pretty backed up.

I was thinking about those guys but I think at the end of the day if you put the same number of dollars into a comprable gas vehicle you'll still not be keeping up. That's not to say that you can't make a diesel FAST. And by another measure of performance you'll never get a comprable gasser to drag things like a diesel will and you'll never get the mileage from one.

BTW beav is yours a turbo? Isn't your redline 3800 like mine? Lately I've been living on the edge and taking er up to 3500 for getting on the highway and will roll on the highway at 3300 if I'm hurrying (4:10 rear end)

I would look at the Prius. My ski coach has one and loves it. He drove from Maine to NJ and back again on a single tank of gas(something like 750 miles). It can cruise at 75 or 80 on the highway. It would prolly cost more and won't last as long as a diesel, but its a cool concept nonetheless.

-Ben

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Originally posted by PaSucks
The TDI's are sweet! Only 90 hp, but something like 180 ft/pounds of torque, so they still have some balls. But I would still take a gti over a TDI. An r32 would be even better, 240 horses, 236 ft. lbs, six speed tranny, and awd! Gotta love it.:D

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Looks good on paper huh... only problem is they must have put lead weights all over the car. The damn thing weighs something like 3400 lbs?!?! So say good bye to what should be a great power to weight ratio.

No LB, I have no turbo and it makes me sad sometimes. I don't know exactly where it redlines. I never send the needle that far over so I don't need to watch for the redline. Ya, those guy pour a lot of cash into thier trucks to make them fly, the same cash in a gasser would make for a dragster.

Ohhh beaver take me hooommme!

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Originally posted by VTskibum
Looks good on paper huh... only problem is they must have put lead weights all over the car. The damn thing weighs something like 3400 lbs?!?! So say good bye to what should be a great power to weight ratio.

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Yeah it weighs a lot, but it is still fast, not M3 fast, not even sti or evo 8 fast, but still fast. And with some after market forced air, you can be better then evo or sti fast, and not pay BMW prices, plus you still have awd, which you don't get with a beemer. I'll admit the car isn't for everyone, but I love 'em. A great looking hatchback with good performence and the potential for tons more.