Hi Scotty, I'm so glad I discovered your channel. I have a 2011 Impala that I've owned since new. I commute 180km each day for work. The car has been very reliable but after 300000km, things are starting to break. Would a used Toyota or Honda handle that kind of pounding? I live in Alberta, Canada so we get all the temperature and weather extremes. Thanks.
Definitely, if you take care of the car.
@yaser
Thanks. I've burned through a lot of used cars doing this. They just couldn't take the pounding. That's why I bought new. I just can't afford new right now and my Impala just isn't worth putting the money into.
Probably you bought not good used cars and I guess it is because you may rush it. You. Should take your time and look for a good one. 9 out of 10 used cars you check, are not good.
Yes, vehicles like Civic and Corolla, Accord and Camry can be candidates, but be aware that such vehicles are closer to the road surface than your Impala ever was, and you'll have issues driving in snow conditions with 4" of snow or greater (powder or pack).
Also, such vehicles don't stand up very well to road salt, nor do they fare well on unimproved surfaces. In addition, none of the mentioned vehicles can be fitted with tire chains.
I know Alberta conditions can be harsh in winter (I have relatives that live across the border near Shelby), and therefore would recommend vehicles having higher ground clearance, can be fitted with tire chains and/or be AWD/4WD, and overall handle winter conditions much better.
@oldrangernut
huh? Other normal sedans are greatly "closer to road surface than Impala ever was"? (I'm not talking about those jacked-up "cross-country" versions with cladding like certain Volvos or Subarus). Maybe Impala has a quarter to half an inch greater ground clearance than a Camry or Accord, but it's certainly not a major reason to prefer it over the others. If you need serious ground clearance, get an SUV, not a sedan.
@oldrangernut
@mazda_787b
Simmer down gentlemen. They're just cars.
A 2013-2014 Honda CR-V is a great choise!
I can't account for your winter/snow/ice as I live in the dry deserts of Phoenix, Arizona. I drive 180km (100 miles), all freeway, no stop/go traffic, each day to work and I needed a new commute car.
I was tired of economy-boxes beating me up and working 4 cylinders hard and wanted something that would be cheap to buy, cheap to maintain and a softer ride for my aging back. So I test drove a Mercury Grand Marquis that one of our resident snowbirds was selling. So in 2018, I bought that 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis with 76,000 miles and in near mint condition. My only repair has been a leaking pinion seal; otherwise it's been ridiculously cheap to run. What a soft, comfortable, noiseless, stress free commute and that V8 is so quiet and effortless to keep it trucking along at a steady 75mph (120 km/h) and a suspension that soaks up every impact before it gets to you (unlike my 4-bangers where I felt every road bump in my spine). It's been a dream of a car and I'm glad I didn't stay with 4-banger economy-boxes. Around me you can buy these cream puffs in private sales for between $2,500 and $3,500 everyday. People make fun of me for driving a "grand pa" car, but hey, that 100 miles of sitting on a seat like my living room couch and soft suspension makes those straight-line freeway miles fly by like driving on air.
