Welcome to car talk! I have no idea what car to get

[mattkime]

special wrote:
the engine is DONE.

Is that how it is these days?

about 40 years ago, I recall watching my Dad rebuild an engine by replacing the pistons and cylinders. No idea if that is still possible these days with modern engines.

I don't think you're picturing what happened. The grounding strap of a spark plug was mashed into all sorts of internal components. cylinder walls scored, etc. Carnage.

[mrbigstuff]

Keep the vw for a kids project. When they want to go to college, point to the car and tell them they can go, if they can fix that.

[Rolando]

My 2015 Mazda3 Hatch is still going strong. The CX30 is basically a lifted Gen4 3 Hatch, the CX50 is stretched and lifted 3. The CX5 is an older design, based on the Gen3 Mazda 3. I've seen Mazda3's lifted using CX suspension parts.

[kj]

The rav 4 is great unless you like to enjoy driving. The CRV irritates me because it doesn’t get anywhere near its rated mileage.

[carl]

As a previous owner of a 2017 VW Alltrack SE, who now owns a 2024 Honda CRV Hybrid Sport, I really like the CRV. The Alltrack was an excellent vehicle and we enjoyed it, but we finally outgrew it. We needed a back seat an adult could fit comfortably into on highway trips, and that just wasn’t the case with the Alltrack. The CRV Is averaging 37 mpg, with about 2/3rds of the mileage being on the highway, it’s very comfortable, and has good power and decent handing. As far as not having a spare, I bought one and put it in the back when we travel out of the local area.

Yes the Alltrack was more fun to drive, but the CRV is much more practical (easy to enter/exit, more room in the back and front seats, better gas mileage, and it has all the modern safety and convenience features. Just like the Alltrack, the CRV is very easy park and maneuver in city traffic.

Overall it’s been a great replacement for the Alltrack, my wife and I are very happy with it