Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site amdahl.UUCP Path: utzoo!utcs!lsuc!pesnta!amdcad!amdahl!howard From: howard@amdahl.UUCP (Howard C. Simonson) Newsgroups: net.auto,net.consumers Subject: Re: New car shopping--my criteria and what I've discovered Message-ID: <1111@amdahl.UUCP> Date: Fri, 8-Feb-85 01:48:13 EST Article-I.D.: amdahl.1111 Posted: Fri Feb 8 01:48:13 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 8-Feb-85 15:19:09 EST References: <303@mhuxm.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: Amdahl Corp, Sunnyvale CA Lines: 45 Xref: utcs net.auto:5301 net.consumers:1787 > only *maybe* more reliable. The Nissan Stanza is available including > airconditioning for about $9500 including dealer's charges. The Ford > Tempo for $8000. The Toyota Camry (seems pretty desirable but expensive) > for $11,000. The cheapest Honda Accord is about $12,000. I can't > ... > ... > I am leaning towards the Nissan Stanzas. The dealers aren't acting > as independently as the Toyota dealers. Besides, the roofs of the > Toyotas seem to give less headroom than the Stanza. I couldn't > fit into the Corolla. The Stanza price is reasonable ($9500). It's > got to be reliable since it's Japanese. But there was some talk > that the Nissan was not as good a product as the Honda, Toyota, > or Subaru. Maybe Consumer Reports found their reliability to > be occasionally worse than the latter. So that may account for > the greater availability and consequently lower price. > I have owned a Stanza since 82 ( yes, I bought a first year car ) and am still completely pleased with it. It has already turned 50 and is still running like it just got off the line. My criteria when I bought it was: A car with good power ( it has ), good room ( hatchback is excellent ), fits both the wife ( 5'2'' ) and me ( 6' ) comfortably, LOW maintenance ( record to follow ), and good mileage. The lucky thing is all this comes wrapped in a fairly attractive body ( its not a box-on-a-box ). Maintenance: It has been smacked in the rear ( by a station wagon! ) and smacked in the front ( by a van! ) and you would never know by its handling or looks. Of course it helps to know where to get good body work :-) . Really, a very solid frame, excellent robot welding job. In the realm of high-perf. I should probably stop dusting the occassional "hot rod" on the street. I'm not saying my Stanza puts away Corvette's but as for most street stuff... Still, my occasional red-line tendencies may have taken a toll on it. I have replaced the head gasket once, but according to other Stanza owners, it was me, not the car. I honestly don't remember any other service than routine checkup. All things considered, I would recommend the Stanza as a car that fits your posted criterion. If you or anyone else have questions, mail, mail, mail'em in. *** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** -- Do not walk in front of me, I may step on your heel. Howard C. Simonson Do not walk behind me, ...{dragon,hplabs,ihnp4,nsc}!amdahl!howard I may stop abruptly. Just walk beside me, and be wary of sharp turns. -- HamuS [ Opinion? What opinion. I think you have the wrong guy... ]