Low End Sedans (under $16k)

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

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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

#2521 of 3871 Hyundai by dispencer1

Apr 17, 2004 (6:06 pm)

I liked the comment about the Accent being simple. I think that more and more with the high price of gas there will be a move afoot to get a simple 10k car. I am certainly keeping my 2001 Malibu as a daily driver and the 2003 Deville sits in the garage. When I get rid of the Malibu I'll look at a Hyundai -just air and auto on it - that's all.

Replies to this message:

280hp (Apr 18, 2004 4:58 am)

#2522 of 3871 simple 10k car by 280hp

Apr 18, 2004 (4:58 am)

Replying to: dispencer1 (Apr 17, 2004 6:06 pm)

yup. i think thats what its all about. keep the nicer car for family outings etc, and keep n ole beater s a commuter car.

but im wondering whether the accent fits the bill. the entry price is right, but i have heard some worrying comments indicating that maintenance and repairs r in the german car range.

any1 already driving korean who can give some figures ? or who can point out where to get the figures. preferably online. im not in the habit of buying car mags. nice, but pricey...

#2523 of 3871 Car Magazines by dispencer1

Apr 18, 2004 (7:58 am)

Car magazines are incredibly expensive on the rack and incredibly cheap if you subscribe. I recall that Car and Driver was 8 or 10 dollars a year when I subscribed recently - same with Motor Trend and even Automotive Magazine (the best) was a fraction of the newstand price. Check out the coupons inside the issues. I subscribed to Auto Week but was disappointed - most of it seems to be dedicated to racing. Anyway -with the Accent warranty and perhaps an extended warranty (if they offer one) I wouldn't worry about something serious breaking. I haven't checked out normal maintenance since we don't have a dealer here. I agree about German maintenance and repairs - I had the misfortune to own an Audi once back in Washington DC (suckered in by the car magazines) -maintenance was covered for 50,000 miles as was repairs. It was a 50,000 mile throwaway and spent most of its time at the dealership getting electronic things temporarily fixed. - I dumped the lemon at 48k.

#2524 of 3871 Re simple 10k car by backy

Apr 18, 2004 (8:04 am)

Where did you hear the comments--from late-model Accent owners? That would be the best source of info. One source of online info is right here, the Edmunds.com TCO info on every new car. I looked at the TCO numbers for the Accent GL 4-door automatic and there was something strange. First year maintenance costs were estimated at $855! There is no way that maintenance on a car like the Accent can be that high in the first year or 15k miles. The only servicing it would need in that time is at most (assuming severe service schedules) five oil changes (every 3000 miles), a tire rotation, and some checkups. The 15k service would be a little more involved I expect. My Hyundai dealer charges $25 for a 3k service that includes the oil change and all necessary checks. That's $100, plus whatever the cost of the 15k service is and one tire rotation. I'll bet those are less than $755. To compare, the Kia Rio has first year maintenance costs estimated to be $430, one-half those of the Accent. What could account for a $425 difference in these very similar cars? Over five years, Edmunds.com estimates the Accent will have $2300 more in maintenance costs than the Rio. Something doesn't make sense there.

You might want to post your question on the Hyundai Accent board here to see what owners say.

#2525 of 3871 Interesting discussion on Rio vs. Accent maintenance by iluvmysephia1

Apr 18, 2004 (11:39 am)

costs over a year. Anyone who owns either a Kia Rio(any model year)or Hyundai Accent(any model year)care to chime in with what you are paying for maintenance? That doesn't make much sense, the Rio costing only half of what the Accent does for maintenance.
To add to my last post above concerning the relationship between Hyundai and Kia, yes, Hyundai does own a 51% controlling interest in Kia. That is true, but, saying that Kia is a subsidiary of Hyundai does not mix right with press releases from both Hyundai and Kia regarding their relationship. Their earnings are separate, for one thing. A certain percentage of Kia vehicle sold doesn't go into a Hyundai pot, for instance. Yes, Hyundai can and I'm sure they do dictate some factory jig and tooling and platform decisions to Kia. It would be interesting to know more about this relationship between them, perhaps a knowledgeable insider could take this project up and write a book on it. I'd go out and immediately snatch it right up.

#2526 of 3871 BTW-it is the Nissan Micra minicar...................... by iluvmysephia1

Apr 18, 2004 (11:53 am)

that should be coming into America in the not-too-distant. Yes, Mazda is making a similarly-named little crossover Vibe-type vehicle(boxier, though)that they're naming the Mazda Micro. It's a small 4-door wagon/SUV crossover model. The little Nissan Micra is much more interesting looking to me...they were going bonkers writing about it in the UK car magazine I was reading, but they like the smaller cars there. This one has a small and buggy-eyed look to it's front end shape that, right off the bat, Americans far and wide could never imagine themselves driving. It's way too small for most Americans, although there is a crowd that would buy Micra's, for sure. One only has to look at the success of the new-VW Beetle to see that truth. We'll be hearing more about it in the upcoming weeks. It should fall into this low-end range, albeit not as a normal sedan, though. I notice the Nissan Sentra is one of this thread's example cars.

#2527 of 3871 Re maintenance by backy

Apr 18, 2004 (12:55 pm)

Yes, something is not right with the Edmunds.com figures. In 3-1/2 years of ownership of my '01 Elantra GLS, 26,400 miles, my total maintenance costs have been under $500. And I've had everything done by the dealer except wiper blades. I have been following the "severe service" schedule. The total includes some services at the 15k service that were not required (I have to be more careful in the future). I will have some significant maintenance in six months at the 30k mark, including the 30k service that will probably be at least $200 and new tires (about $400). With the five-year bumper-to-bumper warranty, I shouldn't have any other significant costs until the car is five years old, or more likely 60k miles.

#2528 of 3871 "Service" vice oil change by dispencer1

Apr 18, 2004 (2:21 pm)

I will never in the future make the mistake of asking for the 100k "Service" or 50k "Service" or any other "Service" when I want an oil change, tune up, etc. I took my '98 Silhouette in for a tune up at 100k miles and told them to do the "100K tune up". The book says that the plugs need to be changed at 100k miles. A tune up (essentially plugs, fuel filters, air cleaner, etc) usually runs about $150 or so at a GM dealer -sometimes less. The cost ran me over $300 because I had made the mistake of mentioning "100k miles" and they assumed that I wanted the 100k "service" and charged about $150 for checking a bunch of things. Next time I need a tune up I'll either take it to my independent mechanic or tell the dealer just to do a tune up. Same with an oil change. If - like my GM dealer does - they check a bunch of things for free when they do the 3k mile oil changes (they even wash it), it is fine. When - like Toyota does - they charge hundreds of dollars for a 15k "service" - no thanks. If or when something breaks I'll get it fixed. Watch what you ask for!

#2529 of 3871 costs by kneisl1

Apr 22, 2004 (7:29 am)

I recently looked at a 96 Camry a friend was thinking of buying. The owners had all the receipts for everything done to the car, and he had all the service done at Toyota exactly when required. We figured he spent $1500 just in maintenance over 80k miles. They were chargeing like $350 for a 30k service. Most if not all of that is inspection. ANYONE can change their oil, filters, and sparkplugs. With a little experience they can do all of the inspection stuff too. Toyota is raking people on this one.

#2530 of 3871 15k for a Toyota by majorthomecho

Apr 22, 2004 (4:29 pm)

My roommate's car is due for the 15k and I asked the service advisor how much it is going to be. She indicated under $100 so the cost for this might depend on the dealership and not the make. Also might depend on the model. My roommate's car is an Echo like mine and it seems like it cost me a lot more for my 15k service at a different dealership.

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