Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe, no contest. Toyota reliability, excellent fuel economy, and huge storage space. If you fold down the back seat there's plenty of room for tubas.
Until the air conditioner craps oput at 46000 and needs $1100 in repair- that's from my reliable mechanic too, not the delaership! (warranty ends at 36000)
I would have recommended a manual shift Geo Prizm (Toyota Corolla, except less resale value - thus a lower price), but I wasn't sure if that (sedan-style only) trunk and back seat would have satisfied the needs outlined in the inquiry.
My '95 Prizm holds my York Monster Eb in the trunk (no case, of course)- the second tuba could go in the back seat. 95000 miles and the air conditioner still works! All 3 of my kids learned to drive stick in this thing (yes, I didi have to buy a clutch at 90000), it's been totalled by the insurance co. because of expensive sheet metal damage, but is still mechanically sound and takes us wherever we want to go.
Funny you should mention it- I'm headed to the Black Hills in 2 weeks- won't be driving the Prizm though. No cruise control and I can only stand 4 hours in those seats. It's a 17 hour drive from here, so it'll likely be the Vibe unless gas comes down enough to allow the F150.
davet wrote:95000 miles and the air conditioner still works!
Your compressor probably won't crap out until you have 160,000 miles on it and are on your way back home from the Black Hills of South Dakota on a 103 degree day. That's when mine went out.
Seems like the older Toys are still better....my 93 truck with 140+ k on it still has a servicible air conditioner ("servicible" in Tucson means I don't die in there when it is 112 out) and burns no oil. I'm only driving it occasionally now since I got the Forester, but it is still the vehicle of choice to take to the dump and the airport. The tuba fits fine in the Roo, and I can even hide it underneath that cover thingy.
hey thanks for all the information guys. What I have found is that it is very difficult to find a specific car in the 5000 dollar price range, and I am already sick of the entire process.
all the used car dealers I have gone to have had one of two options (so it would appear)
1. pay about 5 grand more and get what I want more or less
or...
2. Buy a junker for about 1500-3000 and get dubious quality and much higher miles.
