Just got a great new day job, problem is, it's a 25 mile commute with lots of traffic and hilly back roads.
I have 2 cars, a 21 Nissan Leaf with 15K miles (my wife's car) and a Manual 06' Honda Element with 230K miles. Element runs great, except for a slow (undiagnosed) oil leak.
Obviously, manual Element isn't the most practical commuter car. But my wife doesn't drive a manual. Can't afford to buy another car on top of the Element at the moment, but also not great losing SUV utility trading it for a second econobox automatic.
What do y'all think I should do?
Welcome new member,
Thats an interesting dilemma.
First of all: It makes a big difference what the oil leak is, whether it is just something simple like a valve cover gasket or the start of a bigger problem. You need to get that sorted before you’ll know what you really have to work with.
I totally understand the hassle of driving a manual in commuter traffic. The irony is that may be the best thing about the car; Honda’s automatic transmissions are their Achilles heel, but having a manual solves the problem.
The fact of the matter is that other than the gear box, you have the best car you can get for what it’s worth. Anything you trade it for will have its own problems.
The thing to do is be patient. Do your homework to understand exactly what your car is worth in your area. Keep it spiffed and maintained so that when you find something else that better fits your needs you can sell it quickly and at top $.
FYI: some suggestions for reliable, functional cars that you might find in your price range would be Rav4, CRV, first gen Venza, and maybe an Accord Crosstour (mixed opinions on that last one, but I like them). You might also look for a well maintained Accord or Camry station wagon; they’re all getting pretty old, but they can be a great buy because they aren’t “fashionable”.
Good luck!
- Well I would have never bought a leaf. They don't go very far. I'd fix the Honda myself. Those elements can go 3400,000 mi
