i realize this is an acura rdx forum. for now, it's just me, wife and baby. we'd need 2 cars but the 2nd one will just be for the train commute (to/fro train station) - 5 miles one way. really like to stick with this brand but there's nothing smaller than the tsx.

what would complement our rdx for our purpose? ideally, we'd like to wait for the 2012 civic but if we cant hold out, we'd like a reliable vehicle to say the least.

right now, subaru impreza looks good. anyone w/ any experiences with mitsubishi lancer? i tend to stick with japanese brands due to reliability reputation (rightly or wrongly). budget = $25-30k and we'd like to purchase it new. if tsx is really "worth it", lemme know too. {just find it a "waste" to buy such a vehicle only to be used to go to the train station and back}

 

Feels like we're in the same boat, but i needed a daily driver to commute 25 miles, one way. The RDX is too guzzly on gas as a daily driver, so i had a pickup truck. It only sat 2 people, and I have a baby & wife. I eventually sold the truck and purchased a 2008 VWGTI. Realiability? I took the chance. It is CPO with an additional 24k mile warranty, after existing 50K BtB warranty expires this September; it is currently at 32k miles. Ironically, I live next to CalTrans.

Overall, the GTI is blast to drive, and i'm afraid to say that it's more enjoyable than the RDX, but these are two different beasts of its own kind. The wife drives an 08 Prius.

With a budget of $25-30k, you will find a nice car.

 

GTI is the smokin' hot girlfriend who's always on the rag.....but she's worth it.

For OP, I say Honda Fit.

 

If space is not a must, I probably would look for a Mini. If you are making the Japanese rule, I guess a Civic, or even a CR-Z, perhaps a Mazda 3. I cant think of more "fun to drive" cars in that segment.

 

The Mitshbishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart @ 29g is what you want!!

http://www.mitsubishicars.com/MMNA/j...#/?page=colors

 

I have an 08 RDX and 06 TSX. My son is now 13 years old and about 5’4” tall and he fits in the back seat with no problems. If you have 2 or more kids, the TSX will be too small. The TSX works best for our family with only 3 folks in the car (I’m 6’3” and need the seat all the way back).

I like the 06 TSX because:
- +70,000 miles of trouble free driving and counting
- Combined mpgs of 24-25 avg winter and 27-28 avg summer with 60% hwy/40% city
- Hwy mpgs 31-33 with the 5AT with cruise control at 80 mph.
- I get about 335-375 per tank in the city and 425-475 per tank on the hwy (12-15 gal avg refill).
- Pretty much the same Acura luxury (mem seats, HID, blue tooth, navi, XM, safety, etc..)
- All the buttons in the same place as the RDX
- Fun to drive like the RDX (I have A-spec suspension and Progress RSB on the TSX)
- Great commuter car for me (7 miles one way)

Things I don’t like about the TSX:
- Limited visibility compared to the RDX, TSX seems to have more blind spots.
- Having to rev the TSX to high rpms to accelerate (great on gas, only A-OK on acceleration w/ 5AT)
- Don’t have a lot of utility with TSX; limited trunk space for strollers, hard to put a bike rack on the car, baby car seats are harder to get in/out.

 

Bike rack? go for a roof rack, nothing more appropriate for a sedan.

 

I made the same trip back and forth to the train station for two years before I got a spot in a garage downtown. I used my wife’s old Accord for the 10 mile RT commute. It was cheap to keep and always started on those chilly mornings.

Right now there’s a good selection of those 4-5 year old Accords that are showing up on used lots and Craigslist as people decide to buy some new technology. For example,you can buy a 2007 Honda Accord EX-L Sedan 4D 2.4ltr for less than $15K. Like this one\/. Don’t like the color? Need navigation? Keep shopping; there are over 100 for sale here in Portland, Oregon.

Buy a good used car and SAVE YOUR MONEY

 

And I meant: CalTrain

I think you would do well with a pre-owned/CPO Prius. The Prius we just bought had 35k miles, touring package (Lthr, Navi), $19k before taxes/fees. Plus, you may even consider driving it on days you don't feel like taking the train. Average miles we achieved on city/highway-mostly is 55MPG and can achieve 480 miles per tank. It's not the most entertaining vehicle (a bit lethargic), but it will make you curb your driving habits for the best.

Regarding the comment about TSX not being as utility...
IMO, the RDX is semi-utility, only if you don't need to include a full-sized stroller in the trunk. Space is limited with a stroller; it also requires the base-board to be removed to stack your luggage on top, which will limit your rear view, as well as your items being crammed and stuck when immediate access is required.

 

Yessir!

 

+1 on the Fit. It's pretty spacious and fun to drive.
Or you could get a miata or a used S2000 if you only need 2 seats and want fun to drive and don't live in a snowy place.
Although the GTI is also nice, I wouldn't recommend it since the OP asked for a reliable vehicle.

 

thanks for the insights/suggestions. forgot about the fit - will go and test drive that this or next wkend. VW, while nice hasnt been "recommended" for reliability... ralliart?! to the train station?

my train commute takes 30 miles one way (35 miles if drive all the way to work and with traffic could take 1-1.5 hrs each way vs. train at 30 mins express).

 

Sure, why not? I love my Ralliart sedan -- fun and very reliable. A scalpel in traffic. The sport wagon makes even more sense.

If you are looking for a commuter car -- a used Corolla will go 300k miles. But you are willing to spend $25 to $30k -- that buys a lot of car.

 

Boxster or Cayman S. Totally impractical. Useless in the winter. But FUN in the summer! And better gas mileage than the RDX...if you drive it like a granny.

Used ones are fairly inexpensive, compared to 911's. Reliablity is rated high.

 

sportback yes, ralliart, maybe overkill?. i dont think i can even use the turbo as the route to the train station has cops monitoring the speed limit almost every 3-4 days. if i get ralliart, ill be driving all the way to work instead ... thanks for the push though, i do like mitsu's

 

Yeah maybe a little over..........but yeah sportback

 

If a two seater is an option and you want efficiency too, how about the CR-Z Hybrid?

 

+1 on buying used and choosing a Fit. It's Honda's crossover with paddle shifters. An RSX would also compliment the RDX nicely but it's not so convenient for the third person in the back to get in and out.

 

I've driven the CR-Z enough to really appreciate how much fun it is and I like the styling. I would like to be able to justify a CR-Z purchase. The problem for me is the Fit does pretty much everything the CR-Z does for a lot less money, with a lot more practicality and without the complexity of the hybrid system. Also, driven hard, you can deplete the CR-Z battery, which leaves only mediocre performance.

 

alright! finally got a few choices that seem to fit the bill - will try them all in test drives the next few months (good too while it's snowing still to see how it compares to SH-AWD although yes, 5 mile commute shld be ok withOUT sh-awd!).
thanks for all the suggestions.

 

Go for the Mini Cooper S or even JCW if you find a very good deal. On this combination since I got the RDX (owned the Mini before) and is a blast.

 

If you just plan to drive back and forth to the train and let the car sit in a parking lot all day, I'd get a mid-90s Integra or Camry. Honestly, I wouldn't spend much money on a vehicle if that's its main purpose.

 

i see your dilemma. you want reliable cars, so fit seems to "fit" the bill. save your $ and get the smallest reliable vehicle needed. (i dont mind korean so my personal vote is the new elantra, the interior of the new civic 2012 seems too bare)

 

Honda Fit FTW!!!!