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Low End Sedans (under $16k)

3820 messages,  Last post on Nov 24, 2008 at 9:45 AM

You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

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


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#3757 of 3820
Thanks for the clarification bobw3 by alpha01
Dec 22, 2006 (8:48 am)
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And that was exactly my point - with respect to side crashes, because scores are comparable across weight classes, it CAN be said that you are better off (which I'll define as lower likelihood of injury/death) in a Yaris (with Side Curtains) or Fit than you are in a Crown Victoria or a Sonata, or Fusion, or Maxima, etc.
 
However, it CANNOT be said that for frontal offset crashes you're better off in the Yaris or Fit (Good ratings) than in a Fusion or Impala (Acceptable.)
 
Again, thanks
~alpha
#3758 of 3820
Re: Will new IIHS scores change your buying decision? [backy] by alpha01
Dec 22, 2006 (8:52 am)
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Replying to: backy (Dec 21, 2006 2:42 pm)

"I read someplace else recently (can't remember where) that another reason that small/light cars are at a disadvantage in a side crash is that they can be pushed further than a heavier vehicle, and potentially putting the car into another traffic lane or other hazardous position."
 
That makes sense. But whatever results from that event is secondary or tertiary to the initial impact, which is what these tests consider.
 
~alpha
#3759 of 3820
Re: Will new IIHS scores change your buying decision? [alpha01] by micweb
Dec 25, 2006 (9:10 am)
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Replying to: alpha01 (Dec 22, 2006 8:52 am)

Changed my decision. I bit the bullet and traded in our family oriented PT Cruiser for a car with standard side curtain airbags - the new car cost $12,888 after discount (plus tax and license and $45 doc fee), weighs 2,900 pounds with a stick shift, and got 5 Star (NHTSA) crash tests front and sides. It has four doors, essential for our little (in size, not numbers) family. Can you guess what I bought?
#3760 of 3820
Re: Will new IIHS scores change your buying decision? [micweb] by lhanson
Dec 25, 2006 (1:45 pm)
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Replying to: micweb (Dec 25, 2006 9:10 am)

I am guessing Hyundai Accent.
#3761 of 3820
Re: Will new IIHS scores change your buying decision? [micweb] by roxy11
Dec 25, 2006 (3:00 pm)
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Replying to: micweb (Dec 25, 2006 9:10 am)

even the new hyundai elantra 5 speed weighs in at just over 2700 lbs, so its definitely not an accent. besides, poor gas mileage wasnt mentioned, so accent and elantra are out.
of course, coming off the gas sucking pt cruiser, anything would be a vast improvement in the mileage department.
#3762 of 3820
Re: Will new IIHS scores change your buying decision? [roxy11] by micweb
Dec 25, 2006 (4:11 pm)
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Replying to: roxy11 (Dec 25, 2006 3:00 pm)

Roxy11 said in part,
 
"coming off the gas sucking pt cruiser,"
 
This comment, unfortunately, is NOT hyperbole.
 
I got a Caliber, which in stick shift configuration is about 2900 pounds, the most porkulent of the economy cars, but fortunately lighter than the PT and HOPEFULLY gets better gas mileage. We got a stick shift this time.
 
I can't blame the sample PT Cruiser we had for bad mileage nor the reportedly "inefficient" Chrysler automatic, since BOTH of the ones we had with auto got bad gas mileage, yet the same engine and transmission in a Dodge Caravan minivan actually got BETTER gas mileage - on the other hand the EPA ratings in the minivan are better, and the highway rating for the PT is only 26 mpg...the stick shift Caliber, on the other hand,is rated 28/32 - an odd combination since the city rating is higher than I would expect for a car of this weight, yet the spread with highway mileage is less than I would have thought (4 mpg spread vs. the more typical 7 mile per gallon or more spread).
 
I will report more on my impressions in the Caliber forum, but my initial impression is that this is much roomier than a Focus or Cobalt.
#3763 of 3820
Re: Will new IIHS scores change your buying decision? [micweb] by bobw3
Dec 25, 2006 (6:27 pm)
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Replying to: micweb (Dec 25, 2006 4:11 pm)

Good LUCK...ever try a foreign make, or do you just drive Dodge?
#3764 of 3820
micweb has tried foreign makes... by iluvmysephia1
Dec 26, 2006 (9:41 am)
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because he once drove a Scion xA. His reports on that experience can be found in the Scion xA thread here on Edmunds.
#3765 of 3820
Re: micweb has tried foreign makes... [iluvmysephia1] by micweb
Dec 26, 2006 (10:08 am)
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Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Dec 26, 2006 9:41 am)

And also a 2003 Honda Civic coupe, plus two VW Golfs (2001 and 2004), and an Echo.
 
The Focii I had, except for the first, were remarkably defect free, as was the second Golf. The Cobalt I have has 3 defects, nothing major, the new Caliber has 2 defects so far (trim panel rattle, and 10% failure to latch on first slam on the driver's door). It will be interesting to see how Consumer Reports rates the Caliber. They rated the Cobalt lower than I would have, and the Honda and Scion higher (Honda one defect, trim rattle in right C pillar, Scion had an aircon damper problem plus one other minor issue). The Echo had four defects.
 
Toyota and Honda definitely jump on minor issues better than other makes. Chevy dealers almost dare you to come back until the defect is loud and/or obvious. But all in all the much lower prices on domestics make up for the slight variance in quality. Plus there are feature sets to consider....
 
(The only "serious" mechanical defect I've had on an American car was a slight whirring from a front wheel bearing once. On my first Golf the ECM started going quirky on me at 40k miles.)
#3766 of 3820
Re: micweb has tried foreign makes... [micweb] by alpha01
Jan 12, 2007 (8:47 am)
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Replying to: micweb (Dec 26, 2006 10:08 am)

I don't know if we are reading the same Consumer Reports, but IIRC, both the xA and xB Scions rate quite lowly, with a whole heap of cars above them. And the Yaris models were rated lowly for tail-happy handling, lack of class-expected interior flexibility, lack of standard safety features, and the stupid center mounted instrumentation.
 
This may change, though, with the introduction of the new Scion xA and xB replacements. Production of the current xA and xB, if I read correctly, has already ceased.
 
Consumer Reports already tested the Caliber and gave it a mixed review, which is consistent all the reviews on the vehicle that I've seen.
 
"The Caliber is pleasant and has some inventive features, but it is outclassed by similar vehicles. Its ride is comfortable, and the continuously variable transmission (CVT) works well. But the car lacks responsive acceleration or agile handling. The interior has poorly finished materials."
 
~alpha

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