New Budget Cars, 101: May 2015

Look after your car and it will look after you

Newer cars really don't need much work, do some simple jobs yourself and save time, money, and life on your car.

There seems to be a stigma out there that new cars are being built to not last as long as older cars.

There are two main reasons why cars are not lasting as long as they used to.

People want a new car sooner so they just get rid of them faster, the accelerating technology also aids to the want of a new car and impression of the old car not working properly.
People are not taking care of their cars like they used to, they are getting lazy. Because people can lease and trade in a car after just a few years they feel like they don't need to put any work into it because it will be someone else's problem later.

For those of you that are in the #2 category, shame on you. If everyone kept their car for just a few more years the amount of material saved from not having to make as many new cars would be staggering. It would also mean that less material is ending up in the landfills and junkyards.

You actually end up spending a lot more money if you constantly lease cars rather then drive them until they start falling apart. And its not that hard to fend off the day when your car just isn't worth driving anymore.

Lets go over some simple things that anyone with a driveway can do to help keep their cars longer (sorry condo and apartment people, you do need decent room for some jobs).

Change the oil and the filter!

In every car manual it will tell you exactly when you should change the oil and the filter, and what types to use. It is the #1 thing you can do to keep your car running well, it is also one of the easiest things you can do on the car.

In short, you buy the oil and correct filter, if you can't figure out what to get, ask the guy at the counter from the place you are buying the stuff from, or ask Google. You will also need a drip pan, a wrench set, some paper towels, and most likely a funnel. You also want old clothes you don't care about because you will get a little dirty.

Run the car for a few mins to the get the oil warm (NOT HOT or you will burn yourself) if the car has been sitting overnight, just driving around the block once should be enough.

Changing the oil is a bit different for each car, so the best plan is to read your manual or just search your car on YouTube and add "oil change". There should be step by step instructions on where to locate your car's drain plug, filter, and oil filling spot.
The basics are:

Lift front of car up a bit so you can get underneath a bit to look around (every car should come with a jack so it shouldn't be a problem). Make sure the parking brake is on!
Locate the drain plug, put drip pan underneath, unscrew the bolt.
Let drain.
Unscrew the old oil filter (may be very tight...)
Put drain plug back in.
Put new filter on (put some new oil around the rubber ring on it first).
Fill with new oil from the top on engine.
Check oil level with the dipstick, add more if necessary.
Clean up and take the old oil in some sort of container to a hazardous waste drop of spot

Change a flat tire (or all 4 if moving to a winter set)

Honestly most people really don't need to do this any more as almost everyone has some sort of road side assistance package but if you don't:

Locate spare tire (usually in trunk under the floor or underneath the car held on by a bolt or two)
Find car jack (usually in the trunk by the spare tire)
Put the car in park, with the parking brake on. If you can, find a large stone or block to put behind at least one of the other tires to make sure car doesn't roll away.
Jack it up.
The jack points are usually close to each of the wheels underneath the doors (look at the manual)
With the jack there should be a metal rod with a open end that will fit over your wheel bolts.
Unscrew the bolts in this order:
Put the new tire on following the same steps. (hopefully you make sure it is fully pumped up at least once a year)
Pack everything up, remember that stone or block by the wheels. Get that tire fixed or replaced as soon as you can, like in a day.

Changing the brake pads (disk brakes)

Almost all new cars have 4 disk brakes which are much better than drum brakes and are much easier to replace by yourself.

Once again check your manual for the type or Google, or the guy behind the counter on what type of pads you need or should use. They are usually around $40 for a pair (every wheel needs a pair).

The brake pads are a bit trickier than just wheels to replace so watching a video is the best way to learn how to do it. Once again, just go to Google or YouTube and type in how to change brake pads for a (your car name).

It is quite a dirty process so make sure you have plenty of paper towels or rag cloths and clothes you don't care if you get dirty.

Basically, just google some simple work you can do on your car. There are bound to be plenty of YouTube videos about it and save some money on your car. Doing work on your own car will also help you understand and feel when your car is no longer working at its peak so you can get it fixed before a small problem becomes a major one.

Have fun!

J.K.

Small, Efficient, Fun!

I have finally been able to test drive this super popular car and I think you need to get it!

The VW Golf (sometimes known as the Rabbit) has been selling successfully for over 40 years now and it shows. This small VW has clearly been absorbing everything it has been learning to slowly perfect itself over the years. Besides the VW "Bug", the Golf has been one of the most recognizable VW cars on the market. There are many variations of the Golf in the world so I will just be focusing on the ones in North America, and just the hatchback version, not the wagon (estate) or Jetta wagon versions. The car was slightly changed for the 2015 year, so I will try to show and cover the previous generation and the current one.
Lets take a look: (left are pre-2015)

Different Styles:

While the golf may come in a variety of different styles around the world, in North America it currently comes as a 3-door hatchback, 5-door hatchback, and a 5-door wagon. I will focus on the 5-door hatchback.

The VW Golf also comes with a variety of different engines. As a few versions of the Golf are not really considered economic or budget, I shall focus on the ones that are.

From 2010-2014 the Golf could have a 2.5L 5 cylinder gas engine, which is the same engine in the VW Beetle I reviewed here:

2012-15 VW Beetle 2.5L

It could be had with a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.

The Golf could also have the 2.0L, turbo 4-cylinder diesel engine which is the same as the VW Jetta I reviewed here:

2011-14 VW Jetta 2.0L Turbo Diesel

It could be had with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automated manual (DSG) dual-clutch transmission.

Starting in 2015, the Golf can have a 1.8L, turbo 4 cylinder engine with either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Styling and Comfort Impressions:

I will admit I am a bit biased in favour of hatchbacks. But it seems like the whole world, not just me, thinks the VW Golf is a great looking car. The 2010-14 generation was quite good, but the update for the 2015 year made the car look a lot better; more sporty and edgy. All the proportions are very good. Large windows, a boxy back for good cargo space, the wheels are not too small or too large. The lights are not too crazy but are aggressive-looking enough to give the Golf some personality. Some people might look at the Golf against competitors and say that it looks too plain. It may be, but at the same time that slight lack of pizzazz means that this car will still look good once the overall style and fad of current cars moves on, just like it has in the past.

Going inside, the Golf has a very functional, smart looking, but slightly plain interior. The materials all look and feel good and work well together inside. It can have either a black layout or a dark tan for the seating and carpets.

The front media unit changed a bit between the last generation and the 2015 one. The new ones have more shiny piano-like black surfaces and chrome trim (which always makes thinks look better). The layout is still very functional with large, easy to reach buttons and controls. Same with the dashboard. The front seats are very well supported and are made of nice materials that feel sporty and long lasting. The boxy shape of the Golf roof-line is a bit higher meaning that the seats can be a bit more upright, which is a more comfortable position for longer driving and provides great leg and headroom.

Take a look: (2015 front is the 3rd photo)

The rear seats get the same good treatment with upright positions and plenty of room or legs and heads. The Golf is also a decently wide car so fitting 3 people in the back isn't as awful as in other compacts. The head rests don't lay flat like in some other hatchbacks, but they are not too large, plus the rear window is large meaning visibility out back is still good.

The center seat can have the middle part folded down so long items can be put though the center like skis or a snowboard while still allowing there to be two people comfortably sitting in the back. The trunk is large and boxy in shape meaning that it can take a lot of stuff without needing to put the seats down. If you do need to fold them down the overall cargo size is pretty large, almost Honda Fit large. Finally, I need to mention that the car has a great sound system and comes with a variety of features that you will love like heated front seats in the 5-door.

Driving Impressions:

Now for the really good part! Sitting in the diver's seat in the Golf means your have great visibility in basically every direction. The windows are large and and the seats are high meaning that only the rear quarters have any sort of blind spot. All controls are within reach and are laid out properly. Starting up the engine it feels solid and is neither loud or rough. Driving around in tight cities or parking lots will be easy due to a small turning circle and boxy dimensions meaning that when you can't see the car any more it really means that is the edge of the car.

The engine continues to be smooth and quiet in and around the city with plenty of power and torque for quick acceleration, maybe just a little bit less than the 2.5L 5 cylinder.

When pushed hard the little engine does start to make some sound, but it is still not loud, and it actually sounds pretty good (must have a good exhaust system). There is a tiny bit of turbo lag in some situations but not enough to be an annoyance.

Once on the highway the engine gets into a good groove and the car is still overall very quiet. Suspension seems to be a good mix of comfort and sporty handling as the car does not bounce over bumps but is not rough through potholes and dodging them is fun as well.

Speaking of fun, shift the gear selector into "sport" and hold on as revs are higher and gear shifts are faster. The combination of small dimensions, tight handling and plenty of power make this a fun little car to drives around, while not using too much gas.

Overall:

If you're in the market for a new small car, get a VW Golf! The car has small dimensions but a large interior. The outside looks smart, the inside is functional and well put together. There is enough room for 4 adults and all their stuff. With a variety of engines and options you can make this car perfect for: a budget second car (2.5L or 1.8L turbo), a highway cruiser (TDI), or a serious sport car (GTI and R versions not reviewed due to higher price and lower efficiency). The only other car I have reviewed so far that was as fun to drive was the Mini Cooper, but that car just isn't big enough for 4 people and is too expensive for some to justify the purchase. While older VW cars may have been plagued with issues and maintenance problems, these new ones (2010 or newer) seem to have fixed all that and are serious contenders that should fit just about anyone's lifestyle. New or slightly used, if you are in need of a small car, definitely check out the VW Golf!

There will apparently be an electric version of the Golf coming out soon, so keep an eye out for that as well.

Facts/ Figures:

Price ( for mid trim level): $25,000+

FWD

Max HP: 1.8L (170), TDI (153)

Max Torque: (200), (236)

MPG (approx*): 1.8L City: 24 Highway: 35, TDI City: 31 Highway: 43

Cargo room (approx*): 23, 53 CuFt

Length: 168''

Width: 71''

Tank Size (gal): 13.2

Miles on one tank (using combined MPG figures): 382, 488

Average used price with 60,000KM or less: $15,000+ (TDI $19,000+)

* when I say "approx" I usually am using the numbers given by the actual manufacturer or Consumer Reports, minus 1 to be a bit more realistic.

**No pictures featured are my own, they have been taken either from Google images or the manufacturer's website and their rightful owners should get any credit for them. This review featured all pictures from the manufacturer's websites ( some through Edmunds.com).

Links:
VW Canada

VW USA

Nissan Leaf

2010-14 Honda Insight

Enjoy!

J.K.