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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
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> 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... ]