Sign In Join 



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


Messages Page 382 of 383
1
...
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion

#3803 of 3820
00-04 3-6k choices by kgambit
Apr 29, 2008 (6:34 pm)
Reply
Hello everyone,
 
Sorry if this has already has been covered but I'm looking for my own first car and could use a little help. Mostly it will be used for commute. It doesn't need to be super cool but if it doesn't look lame that's a plus. Currently driving a fricken minivan, not swell with the girlies lol. Anyway I just need something simple and reliable. I'd like ABS, cruise control, cd player and enough room for a 6'1-2 guy like myself but these aren't an absolute must. Unfortunately I do need an automatic as I have a hand/arms disorder where I get fatigued quick so I don't want to shift a bunch.
 
Currect top list-Kia Spectra, Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Elantra 01-04. My budget is the above listed 3-6k, does anyone have some good choices out there for me? Thanks much for any advice.
 
Wes
#3804 of 3820
Re: All Over the Board! [backy] by thegraduate
Apr 29, 2008 (6:46 pm)
Reply

Replying to: backy (Apr 29, 2008 6:26 pm)

The one big down-side is that it doesn't have curtain airbags, so the IIHS side impact test score was Poor. Might be a deal-breaker for them.
 
That likely would be. Safety, especially in a small car, is pretty high on the priority list. If they go for a small car, I imagine they'd end up in a new one, since the budget allows; but at this stage, who knows? Haha - I actually looked at a 2007 Versa 1.8S tonight at our local Dixie Nissan, here in the Birmingham metro. It had PW/PL 4-sp Auto, CD, no cruise control, and the asking price is $13,990. I guess that could be negotiated to $12k-$13k - It has 26k miles. That wouldn't be a bad vehicle!
#3805 of 3820
Re: All Over the Board! [thegraduate] by backy
Apr 29, 2008 (7:01 pm)
Reply

Replying to: thegraduate (Apr 29, 2008 6:46 pm)

If they go for the Versa be sure they get the ABS option. Without it, stopping distances are long, dry and wet.
#3806 of 3820
Re: All Over the Board! [backy] by thegraduate
Apr 29, 2008 (7:06 pm)
Reply

Replying to: backy (Apr 29, 2008 7:01 pm)

Trust me that'd be at the top of the list.
 
Thanks for all the discussion!
#3807 of 3820
Re: 00-04 3-6k choices [kgambit] by backy
Apr 29, 2008 (7:06 pm)
Reply

Replying to: kgambit (Apr 29, 2008 6:34 pm)

See my post above on the Elantra. In the age/price range you're looking at, I think that's one of the best options. The Spectra is far inferior (in that vintage), as is the Accent. ABS can be hard to find on the Elantra though. You might be able to find a Protege for near the top of your range, and maybe a high-miles Civic.
#3808 of 3820
Re: All Over the Board! [thegraduate] by jeffyscott
Apr 30, 2008 (4:34 am)
Reply

Replying to: thegraduate (Apr 29, 2008 5:05 pm)

I've mentioned the Fusion...before and they just can't get past the "bling bling front end and cheesy tail lights."
 
Yes, that is one reason I am driving a Mazda6 . But how about the Milan?
 
With moon roof (I think you mentioned them wanting that) and auto, invoice on the I-4 is right around $20K, so with $2500 rebate plus $1000 conquest rebate, should be able to get one for $16,500 or less.
#3809 of 3820
Re: 00-04 3-6k choices [kgambit] by jeffyscott
Apr 30, 2008 (4:46 am)
Reply

Replying to: kgambit (Apr 29, 2008 6:34 pm)

My 20 year old son was in the same boat, driving our old minivan after he totaled my old Contour.
 
He ended up getting a 2001 Focus ZX3 with 85K mi for $4400, not a great deal but he hates shopping for cars, so he took it. He is 6' and is comfortable in it. Focus has average (average is pretty good these days) reliability, according to CR. I believe back in 2000-01 the Focus was also the top rated small car in CR road tests.
 
I think youngsters find the ZX3 version more attractive than the sedan. I know my son did, as despite his aversion to car shopping, he went out of his way to find a ZX3 rather than settle for a sedan.
#3810 of 3820
Re: All Over the Board! [backy] by micweb
Apr 30, 2008 (8:05 am)
Reply

Replying to: backy (Apr 29, 2008 7:01 pm)

Backy, one of the magazines (Car and Driver?) just concluded a long term Versa test and they noted that the stopping distances came way down (improved a lot) after the brakes had seated in and worn in a bit. It was good to see, since most magazines reported significantly longer stopping distances with the Versa compared to its competitors.
#3811 of 3820
Re: All Over the Board! [micweb] by backy
Apr 30, 2008 (10:17 am)
Reply

Replying to: micweb (Apr 30, 2008 8:05 am)

That is good news! So the key is to make sure you don't need to do an emergency stop until the Versa's brakes are worn in.
 
Personally I'd get the ABS.
#3812 of 3820
Re: All Over the Board! [backy] by jacksan1
Apr 30, 2008 (2:58 pm)
Reply

Replying to: backy (Apr 30, 2008 10:17 am)

Consumer Reports guys drive their test vehicles a lot before subjecting to them the tests whose results are released in their publications. In other words, they don't test brand-spanking new vehicles. Their breaking tests revealed that their non-ABS Versa had a rather long stopping distance despite having driven it for months before the test.

Messages Page 382 of 383
1
...
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion
To POST a message, please Sign In.

New? Join Now!

Forum Tools

Please sign in.
Email Address:

Password:

Forgot Password?

Search Forums

Enter Keyword(s)

Advanced Search

Browse by Vehicle



View All Vehicles
Advertisement
Ask the Community
See What People Are Asking

Browse by Board

Browse by Topic


View All Topics

Today's Chats

Advertisement