Low End Sedans (under $16k)

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3871 messages, Last post on Dec 30, 2011 at 10:54 AM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

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What is this discussion about? Toyota ECHO, Chevrolet Aveo, Kia Rio, Nissan Sentra, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Toyota Yaris, Kia Spectra, Suzuki Forenza, Sedan

#2320 of 3871 iluv by dunworth

Aug 29, 2003 (5:24 am)

I too dislike the giant SUVs although, to be fair they are much less popular up here than in the US where people have more disposable income and gas is cheaper. In Canada, the best selling vehicle class is the small car (compacts especially). Our best selling models include the Civic, Corolla, Cavalier/Sunfire, Neon and Focus. Popular truck types are the smaller utes like the Sportage, CRV and Rav4 and minivans.

I am helping a good friend buy a car this week. He has it down to an Elantra, Corolla or Saturn ION(one Korean, one Japanese and one American). They all have a similar MSRP around C$18,300 plus freight and tax. The difference is the interest rate. This makes the cheapest car (Elantra) $80 per month less than the most expensive (Corolla). The ION is mid pack. Oddly the Echo works out only $10 per month cheap than the Corolla despite having less equipment. The only way to buy a cheaper Echo is to buy a 2003 not a 2004. All Corollas up here are 2004 now.

The Corolla is the industry benchmark for quality but I actually prefer the ride and the room of the Elantra. The ION drives and rides well but is quirky looking (but he really liked it. He is not familiar enough with the Kia Spectra which is a new model for us. Kia is also a new brand in Canada having been here only a few years.

#2321 of 3871 iluv by dunworth

Aug 29, 2003 (5:27 am)

You may know this already but the Kia Rio won a rally race up here in Canada. Here is a link.

http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/030820-2.htm

#2322 of 3871 dunworth by dinu01

Aug 29, 2003 (6:17 am)

As a Mazda fan I have to do my duty and say this:

Protege LX stickers at $16.750.

Options:

A/C - $1.000
Auto - $1.000
ABS w/EBFD - $500

Packages:

GT Package - $1795
Includes Power windows, Power Adjustable Body Coloured Mirrors, Cruise Control, Fog Lights, 15" Alloy wheels, Moonroof, Rear Spoiler.

or

Convenience Package - $1750
Includes Air Conditioning, Power windows, Power Adjustable Body Coloured Mirrors, Cruise Control.

And Mazda offers 0%/48mths!
And it's one of the few trully "Made in Japan" cars left over in NA. The Protege just got back from Montreal yesterday - 65.000kms and tight as ever.

Let us know what you friend goes for, the options and obviously cost

Dinu

#2323 of 3871 The house next to us just sold a month or so ago and the new owner's by iluvmysephia1

Aug 29, 2003 (10:17 am)

have two cars, she a Mustang GT(newer model-dark blue)and he a Saturn(sorry I don't know the exact model but it's newer and grayish in color). Anyway, we were chatting cars and he says his Saturn's doors and quarterpanels will pop back out if they're dinged. I could not counter and say my Sportage's will match that! It's the composite materials(I won't say fiberglass but fiberglass might be a part of it). That is a nice feature on the Saturn. My Sportage didn't have any door moulding on it when I bought it(I don't have the bodyside cladding that the more deluxe Sportage version has)so I ordered some over the Internet and put it on. I can't tell you that it's saved any potential door dings(I HATE door dings!)but I don't have any to speak of. I have a slight small pea-sized ding on the hood up towards the windshield. It was a rock bouncing off of a log truck on I-5 north of Seattle over a year ago. It hit the hood first, then the windshield(just a tiny dot left on the windshield)and over the top of the mini-ute it went behind me. I don't know about you guys but it seems trucks are starting to rule the roost on the nation's smaller highways AND larger freeways and they mean business in a large way, eh?

#2324 of 3871 Cars at the Fair by backy

Aug 31, 2003 (8:23 pm)

I stopped by the car exhibits at the Great Minnesota State Fair today. The most interesting for me was the Chevy exhibit, as they had the new SSR as well as the Malibu. Neither is a low-end car, although the current Malibu can be had for well under $15k. If the new Malibu drives as well as it looks (inside and out), it should be much more competitive (and fetch a higher price). They had pictures and information on the Aveo but no cars. Next door was a Scion exhibit, but alas no cars to see. Toyota was there too, with Corolla (I didn't see an ECHO) and many others; I took a close look at the Sienna since I'll be replacing my minivan next. The smallest vehicle I saw was at an exhibit for the Segue. Very cool, but very impractical. 15 mph top speed, 15-20 mile range, and no place to carry anything.

#2325 of 3871 I took another look at the Aveo 4-door sedan on GM's by iluvmysephia1

Aug 31, 2003 (9:03 pm)

website this weekend and kind of like the little buzzbomb. It has that same spunky, neat look that the old Chevy Sprint had. By neat I mean small and appointed-not that I really like it. It looks like it wouldn't satisfy me though after sitting up higher for so long in the Sportage 4x4 or dreaming of sitting WAY lower in the Tiburon GT V6. I read that they(Hyundai)are dropping Carbon Blue and Mystic Teal from their color lineup for 2004 Tibs and replacing the Carbon Blue with another variety of blue(sounded vague like I'd need to see a real Tib in that shade-therefore my mind quickly blocked it out)and they're not-I repeat NOT going to add the burnt orange color that Tib owners are drooling over. None of these developments are causing me distress as Rally Red is staying as an available color. DUH! If ever there was a DUH to DUH! A sports car NEEDS to be available in RED to be considered a sports car. What if MG never offered an MGB in red? What would you think of calling those people?

#2326 of 3871 dinu and iluv by dunworth

Sep 02, 2003 (7:02 am)

dinu - Thanks for the Mazda info. My friend however has not included the Pro due to the lack of cheap financing for 60 months - it is available for 48 only.

iluv: I really liked the Aveo at the Toronto car show in February. It is too small for me but pretty neat , like that new Echo hatchback we are getting.

I was at the Hyundai dealer this weekend with my friend. While we were there for an Elantra, I was drooling over the XG350. The refresh looks really nice. There were a couple of sharp looking Tibs there as well.

#2327 of 3871 dunworth-I read tonight that Hyundai is showing a Coupe by iluvmysephia1

Sep 02, 2003 (8:51 pm)

(European name for the Tiburon)at the Frankfurt Auto Show that is in concept form right now but will be a convertible. It is designed by Hyundai and the sub-contractor is the respected Karmann. The driver can choose from shut glass roof to partially open roof to full down(slid)roof as is slides down into position shut. Hyundai and Karmann have designed it to not take any more room up with this option which is a nice feature. I posted a link to the article in the Hyundai Tiburon(Owners & Experiences)thread. I'm gonna want to see this concept-form Tib in a real picture(or even better in person!). Yeah, the Aveo is sort of like Suzuki's Aerio 4-door sedan, I can see why they didn't want to take on selling the Aveo in America. I do think Aveo will be a decent small car for those who are are looking for good fuel economy and small-car benefits for a low price. I believe Aveo 4-door sedan base will sell for right around $10,495.
dunworth-what did your friend decide about the Elantra?

#2328 of 3871 iluv by dunworth

Sep 03, 2003 (5:58 am)

No he has repaired his 1988 Corolla for now. I expect it will be good for a couple of more weeks. The decision between Elantra VE, ION2 and Corolla CE has not been made yet. Each car offers value but he is still trying to sort out the best deal. I expect now that he has seen the cars, and has brochures he will start doing some research on the pros and cons of each.

BTW in Canada we will also get the Aveo as the Suzuki Swift which will be priced slightly lower than the Aerio. I suspect that it will end up like the Echo and Corolla sedan where the cheaper car is not cheaper once you add on basic options.

What do you think about the the full size Kia Opirus. The XG350 is really nice and in general I like the look of all Hyundai/Kia's cars but I can not warm to the front of this car. The silhouette looks is pleasant, like a Lincoln, the inside looks like an Avalon and the lights are Jag. But that grill is early 1950s Austin A40.

#2329 of 3871 dunworth, that grille is ominous and is the only question mark I by iluvmysephia1

Sep 03, 2003 (9:49 am)

would put up at this point. The car is absolutely loaded-I think Kia is going for the most "grab your attention appeal" they can with the front-for what it's worth IMO! Should be a spacious and comfortable car to drive that is styled quite nicely as well for a great price.

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