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Hatchback participants, introduce yourself here!

124

Comments

  • snakerbillsnakerbill Member Posts: 272
    Hi everybody, I have posted a message before I had enough sense to introduce myself. I read everything I can find about cars, and have owned over 300 (yes 300) cars in my life. I am 70 years old and still drive 4K to 5K miles a month. My current car is a base automatic RSX which I bought new on 3-ll-03. I now have 32K miles on it and am trying to decide what o4 car to trade for. See the last message on the hatchback board. Hope to hear from all of you.

                                   
  • revkarevka Member Posts: 1,750
    and thanks for your introduction. 300 cars! So did you own several vehicles at a time, or were you trading in every other few months? Also just curious, how many of these were Hatchbacks? ;-)

    I look forward to seeing you around Town Hall!

    Revka
    Host
    Hatchbacks & Wagons Boards
  • snakerbillsnakerbill Member Posts: 272
    Yes i did have several cars at one time and years ago,I owned a used car lot and I traded cars with my self every few days or so. But I did buy a car every few months for years. I tried to remember everyone of them but I lost track at the 300 mark. When car prices went up I slowed down with new car purchases, but in the last two years I have owned 6 new cars. I know it sounds crazy but I was earning good money and spent a lot of it on cars.. I have no debts and am now retired but my investments allow me the luxury to continue to trade often. However I no longer buy high dollar cars, and I look for the best deals. My latest car is an RSX automatic which I bought for l8900, so I just add a few bucks to this trade and get another car at roughly the same price. You have to remember that I am 70 years old and the early years (l950-60-70) cars were way cheaper than they are today. In l960 I bought a 356 C porsche for 3900 out the door. At that time a new Cadillac could be bought for 2900 also, I made a good deal on a Volvo Pl800 sport coupe and got money back on my trade (the Porsche) I think you get the idea. The only thing I like better than cars is trading cars. None of the early cars were hatchbacks, but a lot of recent cars have been. My current car is the 3rd RSX I have had. In between these I have had 2 V6 Accords one LX one EX neither of these first production cars were any good and had too many body rattles, and the Bridgestone EL 41 tires were junk with twisted belts and 3 of the 8 tires took over 7 ounces of weight and still vibrated like crazy. American production is not up to the quality of the Japan built RSX, Snakerbill
  • 5speeder5speeder Member Posts: 97
    Hello All:

    This doesn't look like a very active board, but it's nice to see one devoted to hatchbacks! After a 20 year hiatus, I'm in a hatchback again. A few months back I bought a '99 Saab 9-3 as a second car and am really enjoying it. (My previous hatches were: '74 Vega, '75 B210, '76 Capri, and '80 310.) To be honest, I didn't buy the 9-3 because it was a hatchback, I just wanted to try a Saab. But now that I've had it a couple months, I remember what great utility these cars can be.
  • SylviaSylvia Member Posts: 1,636
    If you look at the categories on Edmunds.com, you will notice that Hatchbacks is merged with Coupes. We are thinking about doing the same in Town Hall...a Coupes, Hatchbacks and Convertibles board. Many of the discussions we have here also appear in the Coupes board.

    I wanted to toss this out to see if there were any strong feelings for or against.

    We don't have our minds completely made up yet, but are leaning towards merging the two boards.

    I look forward to your posts (really!)

    Sylvia
  • 5speeder5speeder Member Posts: 97
    Well, looks like it's just you and me here. This may be the only opportunity I will ever get to influence an entire election by my single vote! So I vote "Yes", go ahead and merge. ;-)
  • cnollkampercnollkamper Member Posts: 43
    I don't Like the Idea because it
    1) Gives the perception that Hatchbacks are just as practical as Coupes, which is not necessarily true.
    2) Coupes are two door notchback designs, Hatchbacks are two or four doors,
    3) Hatchbacks need more specialized attention, so that they don't get "swept under the rug" and forgotten again, they need to stand out so the public can drive the automakers to bring more choices to us (the USA).
    You asked..I told.
    8-)
  • gregoryc1gregoryc1 Member Posts: 764
    I think that these boards are "GREAT"! My love of cars started back when I was in elementary school in New York City. When other kids would go to the local parks to play, I would hang around a local repair shop, that was owned by a friend of my father, and I learn about engines, brakes, clutches, and transmissions. Before I entered high school I could assemble an engine, perform a brake job and tune up an engine. Not bad for a kid in the 8th grade. This love of vehicles extended to my collge years, as I majored in Industrial Arts Education earning both a BA and an MA in this area. In addition, I also completed a program in automotive technology at Lincoln Technical Institute prior to entering the Army in the 60's. After teaching Industrial Arts Subjects for 33 years and earning a second MA degree in Human Development, I am now retired and looking for a second career in the automotive world. While working as a teacher, I was also employed as a part time staff writer for a local magazine dealing with the sale of new and used vehicles. My hobbies are boating, fishing and reading technical material. I love to work with people and mechanical things, and I love the sound of stick shift Ford Mustangs with glass packed mufflers. If Honda could design an exhaust system that would sound like a Ford Mustang, they would have a "HIT" on their hands. ----Just my opinion. ----Greg
  • conallconall Member Posts: 91
    I have to agree with what "cnollkamper" said back in October: We need a hatchback discussion, just as U.S. manufacturers need to produce some competitive models for us.
    I have owned several hatchbacks. Don't laugh too hard, but my first was a '71 Vega. While living in Germany I actually owned 2 hatchbacks at the same time: A U.S. spec's 16V GTI (with performance mod's of course) and an Opel Kadett. That Opel only had a 1.3 liter engine, but it could still hit 160km/hr (99mph). Now I have a 300ZX, and another car that looks like a hatchback, but isn't ('83 Audi Quattro). Hatchbacks are very versatile - my GTI prowled all over the American Southwest with my wife, son, and parents-in-law; and all of our luggage!
  • regataregata Member Posts: 8
    I proudly own a 1995 Honda Civic DX Hatchback from OH looking forward to buy another Honda very soon.
  • SylviaSylvia Member Posts: 1,636
    We look forward to you sharing your experiences and opinions.

    Again, welcome to Town Hall and the Hatchbacks message board.
  • conallconall Member Posts: 91
    Has anyone noticed there are more "American" hatch-backs coming on the market? The 5-door Malibu & maybe soon a 5-door version of the Crossfire. It was called the Airflite at the L.A. Auto Show.
  • dudkadudka Member Posts: 451
    I think both of those are fast back. Hatchback, in my definition, has to have some sort of vertical drop off at the end of roof line. Anything that is sloping more than 75° would be a fast back in my view. But I am not sure where the distinction between a hatchback and station wagon ends. To me they are hatchbacks, as well as most SUVs and some minivans.
  • jhpmichealjhpmicheal Member Posts: 14
    considering the low price good looks, i think i could customize it better performance and still leaves some money to spend, so i suitup twin turbo, fiberglass body, larger discs, fixed the steerings and etc. goes about 280hp estimate. well this is my fun car, my parents bought the new kia amanti recently like a month ago. don't be fooled with jaguars, it feels the same!!with less money!!
  • SylviaSylvia Member Posts: 1,636
    Be sure and post in the Hyundai Tiburon discussion as well.

    Welcome to the Hatchbacks board!
  • conallconall Member Posts: 91
  • conallconall Member Posts: 91
  • conallconall Member Posts: 91
    Will the Mazdaspeed6 be available in a hatchback or fastback configuration? Well, the Audi A3 Quattro sure is interesting anyway!
  • jifjif Member Posts: 23
    I've had my si for almost a year and 17k wonderful miles. unlike other cars i have owned and currently own i am looking forward to putting as many miles on my si as i can. iam shooting for 200-300k. wish me luck
  • adamssjadamssj Member Posts: 11
    Hi guysss first time seeing this board so I decided to post, IM SO GLAD I found this place, I just got enough money saved up to buy a decent integra and this place is PERFECT to find out anything I need info wise on those quick little hatches. But anywayz just wanted to introduce myself and look forward to learning alot!
  • fitguyfitguy Member Posts: 220
    Saw this post & wanted to say hi and what a great thing it is that America has re-discovered the hatchback (or is 5-Door more politically correct?) We have a '04 Mazda 6S hatch and it is a fun, versatile car.

    Last (and only) other hatchback owned: a 1984 Escort I bought for my wife to learn how to drive a stick and not wreck the clutch on my new '87 Accord! Functional? Yep. Fun? Nope.

    Now, if Chevy could just figure a way to make the Malibu Maxx pretty........:)
  • nikkimalandnikkimaland Member Posts: 1
    I am interested in buying a 2002 Honda Civic Si, but I can't seem to find one that is an automatic. This would be my first car and I am a little shakey on getting a Manual because I learned on an automatic.
    Does anyone know if they made automatics for this model? Or does anyone know where I can buy one? :confuse:

    Thank you all.
  • SylviaSylvia Member Posts: 1,636
    Welcome! If you ask in the Honda Civic Si / SiR there will be plenty of people who can provide you with the history and option of this car.">link title
  • doohickiedoohickie Member Posts: 949
    You can plainly see at Honda's website that, no, they do not offer the Si with an automatic.
  • doohickiedoohickie Member Posts: 949
    Hi, I'm Doohickie, and I'm looking for a hatchback.
    [Everyone else: "Hi, Doohickie!"]

    Here is where I'm at: In August, my wife starts her teaching job. At that point, I will put my daily commuter, a 95 Ford Aspire with 115k miles, up for sale and be looking to replace it. Looking to spend about $14-18k on a car that I will likely drive myself for about 5 years, then turn over to my son who's just starting high school to use when he is away at college (figuring no car for him freshman year of college). Hope to get about 10 years out of the car in total.

    Must have: Automatic (Mrs. Doohickie doesn't drive stick, which was a problem at times with the Aspire), Hatchback, A/C, Cruise, Pwr Windows/Locks, Keyless Entry, Rear Wiper & Defogger, must make 30+ mpg freeway.
    Highly desireable but not show stoppers include: 6-disc CD Changer, Intermittent Wipers, Antilock Brakes, makes high 20's or better mpg in the city.
    Nice to have: Leather, Side Airbags

    I had a list of about 30 models and narrowed down to these finalists: Scion xA & xB, Hyundai Elantra 5 dr, Kia Spectra5, Suzuki Reno & Aerio SX, Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix, and Ford Focus ZX3.

    I started posting around here looking for insights into the different models. I was geeked up by the Spectra5 and Elantra owners, figuring maybe these were good cars. Test drove both today and was sorely disappointed with both. Interior design and quality of materials was substandard, acceleration was poor on both, and both had a shimmy at 70 mph. Two peas in a pod.

    I've also driven the xA. I will readily admit it is underpowered, but was impressed by the build quality and the way they got the most out of the little engine.

    The Focus drives like a Ford. This isn't all bad, since I've had an Escort Wagon for 10 years (the car my older son now drives) and am used to it. My Escort with 110k miles has a better ride and better acceleration than either of the Korean cars I drove today.

    I think the B in xB stands for Butt-ugly. Seriously. But after driving the Elantra, I went over to the Toyota dealer with my younger son (who may get this purchase as his college car) and he immediately fell in love with it. Althought it is butt-ugly on the outside, it's beautiful from the driver's seat. I may drive it tomorrow.

    I have yet to really check out the Matrix/Vibe. I love the configuration of the Aerio SX wagon (especially the interior), but am worried about Suzuki reliability over the long haul. I plan to check it out, as well as the Reno; if they don't ride well I'll cross them off my list.

    Any advice about these cars? Are there others I should consider (Mazda3 5-door is too pricey for what you get in my opinion). What should I look for?
  • SylviaSylvia Member Posts: 1,636
    Welcome! I see you have found the "Which Hatchback?" discussion and jumped right in. :)
  • colleenmcolleenm Member Posts: 2
    Hi I just bought a Ford Focus 4-door Hatchback on Saturday and found when I drive long distances my foot falls asleep. Does anyone know how to remedy this problem?
  • twistylocstwistylocs Member Posts: 20
    Hi,

    After years (and I do mean YEARS) of research, kicking tires, and waiting until our ship came in, my husband and I finally took delivery of a 2005 Ford Focus ZX5 (SES) today. It's our first car together, and our first new car (he's bought used cars from friends and family before).

    Even though I grew up in a Ford family, if it wasn't for the new Family price promotion, we probably would have ended up with a different car. But as it stands now, we really like our new car and look forward to learning all there is to know about it!

    BTW, does anyone know of any other Focus forums on the web that aren't totally "racer and performance" oriented? We intend to keep the car mostly stock.
  • twistylocstwistylocs Member Posts: 20
    The only thing I can think of is that the angle of the seat must be pressing against a nerve and/or cutting off your circulation. Try changing the seat height to see if that helps, or if not, try wearing a different kind of shoe.
  • autonomousautonomous Member Posts: 1,769
    took delivery of a 2005 Ford Focus ZX5 (SES) today ... Even though I grew up in a Ford family, if it wasn't for the new Family price promotion, we probably would have ended up with a different car.

    The automatic was rated number one by Consumer Reports I believe. Have a great summer!
  • twistylocstwistylocs Member Posts: 20
    Hi Autonomous!

    Seems like you've been along for this whole wild ride while we decided on a car! ;)
    Enjoy your summer - I know we will!
  • golfactorgolfactor Member Posts: 5
    Had a good exp. with my local dealer and Cert Pre Owned. 2yr warranty for a 2001, 55000, AC, Monsoon w/5disc changer. I could not believe how clean this Golf is. Whom ever owned it before me must have garaged it all the time. I got a nice deal, all this 10,000 out the door. URL for photo.

    GOLFACTOR

    2001 Golf IV 8v 2dr Tornado Red
  • doohickiedoohickie Member Posts: 949
    Have fun! I looked at a used Golf, about that same as that, and they wanted $13k I think.
  • badpennybadpenny Member Posts: 1
    Came here after searching and searching during downtime at my home forum, I am a proud owner of a 3G Civic DX. Still in the process of getting it back on the road. Thought I would say hello.
  • SylviaSylvia Member Posts: 1,636
    Welcome! Glad to have you on board!
  • woddywoddy Member Posts: 12
    I'm glad to see a message board dedicated to this topic. I truly believe that hatchbacks are one of the greatest design advances for automobiles. It was surreal in the early 2000s that they were beginning to phase out. The brilliance of hatchback design is what enabled my good buddy Jeremy to transport his gigantic upright acoustic bass around in his tiny 1990 Civic Si, while no gargantuan sedan ever built could do the same. I've had a Ford Escort hatch, which was a nightmare, a 2000 Honda Civic which I loved, and just bought a 2002 Mazda Protege5 which is sort of a hatchback meets station wagon meets hotrod, and I am in love with it.
  • neosetnaneosetna Member Posts: 7
    Hey all, I just bought a new 2006, MZ3 GT Sport Hatchback. Awesome car...great handling and of course...I got t fully loaded, came to 27, 000 CDN. Anyone who is interested in hatchbacks...forget honda, forget toyota, go to your nearest Mazda dealership...or you know what...buy a lease back fro 2005 or 2004...what ever! just go test drive one of these cars...you will love the reponse, handling, the gear shifting...if your a manual freak like myself..and overall, great on the gas. Especially...now a days...gas prices suck. So yeah, check it out!!! :P
  • conallconall Member Posts: 91
    :( Too bad the Audi A3 isn't doing well, and too bad I'm not in the market for a car now. I tried one on at the Audi musem in Ingolstadt last summer. It was the 2.0 FSI Quattro - not yet sold over here.
    On the bright side of things, I bought a Mazda 3 a year ago. ;)
  • doohickiedoohickie Member Posts: 949
    I've sold my 95 Ford Aspire in preparation for buying a new hatch. I'm driving the kids' car, an Escort Wagon, around until I buy something new. I'm down to these models that I might buy, based on what stock is out there a week or two from now:

    #1: 2005 Hyundai GLS hatchback w/ AT. This car is my top choice not for the car itself (a solid choice but I think the styling is dated), but for the online support available, including access to Hyundai's technical data online as well as several forums that can help solve any issue that may come up. The problem here for me is availability, since local stocks of 05s are very low.

    #2: 2005 Kia Spectra5 w/ AT. This car has better styling, resembling the more expensive Mazda3 wagon. It shares a lot of the Elantra's mechanicals. Local stocks are still high since my local dealer is the #2 volume Kia dealer in the country.

    #3: 2006 Kia Rio5 w/ AT. This is kind of a wild card. Right now, only the new Rio sedans are at the dealer, no hatches yet. Once they get there, I don't know if I will have much bargaining power since they are a brand new model and there are no incentives from Kia yet (aside from owner loyalty). I like the car a lot. It is the direct descendent of my Aspire, and is much improved over that car. The mileage is great and the ride surprisingly good for a car that size, better than both the Scion xA (which is too stiff) and Chevy Aveo (too soft). If I were buying a year from now, there would be incentives in place to make it competitive, but I'm afraid I will end up paying more for a new Rio5 than for the larger Spectra5.

    This is probably the most thought-about purchase of an economy hatchback in history! :surprise:
  • autonomousautonomous Member Posts: 1,769
    #1: 2005 Hyundai GLS hatchback w/ AT.
    #2: 2005 Kia Spectra5 w/ AT.


    From a reliability point of view, the order makes a lot of sense: the first has a good track history which trumps the second which has had poor reliability in years past and runs all the risks of the first year model.

    p.s. You may want to check the latest issue of CR for a revealing look at how the model year relates to its rate of problems.

    p.s. Spectra5 resembles but does not match the Mazda3
  • doohickiedoohickie Member Posts: 949
    p.s. Spectra5 resembles but does not match the Mazda3

    Ummm... that's why I used the word resembles. The Mazda3 price does not match that of the the Spec5 either. Which is a good thing for the Spec5.
  • zoomzoomitiszoomzoomitis Member Posts: 45
    doohickie, looks like your heartstrings are pullin' ya towards that Rio ("...direct descendent of my Aspire...") but I think you're on it when you suggest the timing may be wrong. Rio is not the "deal" at the moment rebate-wise and both you and I KNOW it.

    FWIW, we ARE in the same boat. ;) Two middle-aged guys not jumpin' on the Escalade/Beamer bandwagons of our peers. Kids, wife, dog(s) etc. etc. Just looking for the most bang for the buck. Gas mileage matters. Quality matters. Certain bells and whistles matter. And then of course there's that PRICE thing. :)

    If I could close my eyes and see into the future it sure would help. I almost feel like I'm steppin' out on some thin ice on a pond somewhere looking at these non-[non-permissible content removed] economy cars (something they, the Japanese, have gotten VERY good at over the years), hoping it won't crack and get me all cold and wet. I think you get the picture. We know Mazda (Toy', Honda etc. etc. for that matter) make damn good products...for a price unfortunately. So much so, Zoom Zoom Inc. has taken me right out of the Zoomer fold I'm afraid.

    That said, these Korean entrants do have appeal IF the quality is going up as so many have noted on these boards and various other publications. Mighty big IF!You've a much different situation then myself in that you've already been the happy owner of the highly esteemed, world reknown, impeccably assembled and regarded Ford product known as the late Aspire ;) for all these years. IOW, your comfort level may in fact be considerably higher than mine at the moment in this search of ours. I've got all twenty fingers and toes crossed while you've only a couple touchin'. :D

    I agree with you. It does finally come down to doors #1 & #2 as you've pointed out. Only Monty knows which is the better "deal" (BTW, what's your costume? Mine's a Jack Nicholson look-a-like from One Flew Over the Coo-Coo's Nest right now - going nutso!) and Monty ain't on the boob-tube anymore holding those big wads of cash in case you go chicken. You are doing exactly what I am at the moment my friend in this last week of the quarter...at the end of the model year... COUNTIN' HOW MANY BLEEPIN' DOOR #1's there are and how many BLEEPIN' DOOR #2's there are and going from there. Everyday there seems to be less and less doors! :mad:

    I can't wait to see what happens the end of this week. After 9/30 the rebate game rolls into the next round. Pendulum might swing my way. Might not. Darn gas prices aren't helpin' the situation any sending all these SUV/Big Truck freaks OUR way on the neighborhood econo-box lots. Grrrrr...Heck, with my zoomer crossin' 177,000 this week without a hiccup, if things don't go my way, might just have to wait 'til year end (12/31) in the middle of a snow storm to go in and see what Mr. & Mrs. Kia have to offer on that candy red lil' Spec5 of theirs. Hold together baby...three more months of zoomin'...maybe.
  • doohickiedoohickie Member Posts: 949
    Another thought to add to the mix: The number one midsize car in the latest JD Power customer satisfaction survey? Kia Optima. I have no doubt Kia is on the way up.

    I think my window will likely be Oct 1 to Oct 14 for my purchase, simply because I would like to have the deal closed before my son comes home from college for his high school homecoming (that way, he will have a car to drive around while he's home).
  • doohickiedoohickie Member Posts: 949
    Another thought to add to the mix: The number one midsize car in the latest JD Power customer satisfaction survey? "The Kia Amanti was the highest-ranked midsize car in a customer-satisfaction survey released Wednesday by J.D. Power and Associates, marking the first time an entry from Korean automaker Kia Motor Co. had made it to the top of the list." I have no doubt Kia is on the way up.

    I think my window will likely be Oct 1 to Oct 14 for my purchase, simply because I would like to have the deal closed before my son comes home from college for his high school homecoming (that way, he will have a car to drive around while he's home).

    The Kia Amanti was the highest-ranked midsize car in a customer-satisfaction survey released Wednesday by J.D. Power and Associates, marking the first time an entry from Korean automaker Kia Motor Co. had made it to the top of the list.
  • chrisducatichrisducati Member Posts: 394
    I have been posting on Edmunds for years and have over looked this discussion. I'm a die hard hatchback fan. Own a 2006 Matrix XR at this point. Past hatchbacks owned have been, Vega, Gremlin,Monza, B 210 ,Rabbit, Strada, R5, Omni, Shadow, Corolla (2), not in that order but that is how they popped into my head. :)
  • rgarcia2rgarcia2 Member Posts: 1
    I purchased my first hatchback in December 2006, it is a black 3-door 2007 VW Rabbit. Being an artist and musician I can't say enough good things about how functional and how well it drives. Not to mention it's good looks. :shades:
  • kserrauskserraus Member Posts: 2
    Hi all, I have an '01 Hyundai Elantra hatchback and wondered
    if there was anyone here who also owned one? It's been a great little car for me, though some of the cheaper trim items are showing their years. I'm concerned about what might start going wrong with it, and what other people may have experienced, even though I know that engine's solid!
  • yerth10yerth10 Member Posts: 431
    Ideally all Hatchbacks and Wagons should be brought under CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle) segment since it has 2-box type (Bonnet and the complete body) section like CUV.

    Now a days, CUV's are gaining fast at the expense of SUV's.
    CUV have 56 % market share among CUV/SUV combination in Feb-2007 sales.
  • autochallengedautochallenged Member Posts: 1
    Hi good hatchbackers, I inherited a 98 Volvo V70 XC, which I cannot afford to drive due to the cost of gas. I am in the process of selling it. I love Hondas and was in the market for a Civic hatchback in the $1100-1200 range. Then I saw a slightly used Yaris at a CarMax. Do you have opinions about the new, cheap Yaris (I would buy a manual) versus a 2003 or 2004 Civic hatchback for the same money. I am a costume designer and need to move much more stuff than people. The gas mileage is primary because I make very little money. Thanks for any advice or suggestions for another sturdy, reliable, cost effective hatchback (I don't think I can afford a Fit), Autochallenged
  • mmmargeaummmargeau Member Posts: 2
    Hey! I was just looking at cars online and decided I needed to find a good forum site about cars. FOUND IT! I'm a 16 year old car lover. I have a 1996 Saab 900 hatchback so here I am introducing myself!
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