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Help Me Choose!

1950 messages,  Last post on Nov 23, 2009 at 6:58 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Malibu, Nissan Maxima, Mazda MAZDA3, Nissan Altima, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Lexus IS 250, Acura TSX, Car Comparisons, Sedan

#1823 of 1950 Re: Altima 2006, 2007 or 2008? maybe Accord? [whitall] by jayrider Apr 06, 2009 (7:06 am)
Replying to: whitall (Apr 05, 2009 4:01 pm) You can buy a brand new Honda Fit or Scion in that price range. New car warranty, latest safety and lots of add-on accessories to customize the car. By the time you add wheels and tires to an altima you can trick out a new Fit [my choice] but don't know your son's taste. And yours as well. By the way, is dad footing the bill?
#1824 of 1950 Re: Altima 2006, 2007 or 2008? maybe Accord? [igozoomzoom] by thegraduate Apr 06, 2009 (7:53 am)
Replying to: igozoomzoom (Apr 05, 2009 10:43 pm) There are fitments made for new stereo equipment, at least in the Accord you pictured.
#1825 of 1950 Thanks.... by whitall Apr 06, 2009 (12:01 pm)
I did some looking last night and I'm sure the Altima can be made to fit an aftermarket head unit. The Accord I think can be made to accept it, but not as easily, and doesn't look as good. I think he will lean to the Altima.   Therefore, do you think the '07 will be reliable? I guess I should ask on a Nissan specific board. Always leery of new model year.   I'd prefer the Honda for the safety rating, but at least I am pushing him toward the '07 and '08 Altima which have more safety features than the '06.   Hubby and I just saw the Ford Fusion yesterday in a parking lot and liked it too. Problem is that he has a Taurus that he is dying to get rid of and I don't know if Ford has the image he wants. He wants to get rid of the Taurus because it has integrated climate control and he cannot change the head unit. It CANNOT be done. I'll have to look at the Fusion some more and point it out to him. What year did that come out? Long term reliability is a big question on new designs, isn't it?   I know there are smaller cars out there, like the Fit, but I grew up in a bigger is safer household and still hold that belief. I wish he could afford a Maxima! (so does he)   We paid half on his very used Taurus and will throw him about $2k toward this one. He is footing the bill for the rest. He goes to college and works A LOT. He will be paying for all his upgrades too, and any increase in insurance. Replies to this message: thegraduate (Apr 06, 2009 12:29 pm) igozoomzoom (Apr 11, 2009 5:14 pm)
#1826 of 1950 Re: Thanks.... [whitall] by thegraduate Apr 06, 2009 (12:29 pm)
Replying to: whitall (Apr 06, 2009 12:01 pm) Problem is that he has a Taurus that he is dying to get rid of and I don't know if Ford has the image he wants. He wants to get rid of the Taurus because it has integrated climate control and he cannot change the head unit. It CANNOT be done. I'll have to look at the Fusion some more and point it out to him. What year did that come out? Long term reliability is a big question on new designs, isn't it?   The Fusion made its debut in 2006, and according to Consumer Reports, has better reliability than the Accord, Camry, or Altima. Class-leading in quality and reliability, and not bad to drive either. Plus, it looks distinctive and sharp, unlike the big-butt Altima, and relaitve yawns of the Accord and Camry (I'm 21 years old and like the Fusion exterior better than that of my 2006 Accord). The Accord's interior from 2006-2007, however, is as good as any in my opinion.   Trust me, the Fusion "ain't no Taurus."
#1827 of 1950 Going from a TL to a TSX by greenacura Apr 10, 2009 (3:44 am)
Has anyone gone from a TL to a TSX? I have owned 3 Tls ('00, '04 & currently '07). I am thinking of leasing the 2009 TSX with the tech package. I don't like the look of the new TL but the 2009 TSX reminds me of my current TL. On the test drive, it seems to be fine, maybe even a bit more peppy than the TL and lower speeds. I am thinking of pulling the trigger but I don't want to regret it a few months down the road. I'm thinking of looking at the Accord EX-L V6 but somehow, the idea of going from an Acura to a Honda seems like a step back plus from these forums, it doesn't seem like there will be much of a price difference. Also thinking of the Altima although the wife doesn't like the idea of a Nissan. Also, back in 2007, I looked at the Altima and it priced the same as the TL (granted the Altima was a new model then, so no leasing discounts). Any advice? Replies to this message: igozoomzoom (Apr 11, 2009 5:36 pm)
#1828 of 1950 Help me choose by greenacura Apr 10, 2009 (6:17 am)
Thanks for the responce. My budget allows me to lease in the $300 to $500 range. I do prefer the Acura brand over Nissan, Honda, Mazda plus the longer warranty covers me for the entire 36months 45K. The car is used as a daily commuter for my wife and I into downtown Boston each day. I do require the navigation system & XM radio, which is offered in the cars mentioned above. I'm just thinking the TSX is a bit too small, especially in the back seat yet the Accord seems too large plus the Accord back end is just plain ugly. Not sure what other makes/models that will work. I do really like the look of the TSX though.... Replies to this message: igozoomzoom (Apr 11, 2009 5:39 pm)
#1829 of 1950 Decisions, decisions by backy Apr 10, 2009 (10:06 pm)
I have always told myself that one reason I spend so much time researching cars is because you never know when you'll need to buy a car fast... like if your car is totaled in an accident. OK, I do it because it's fun, but what if I had to buy a car without notice?   I have that predicament now. My 2005 Jetta was hit by a guy running a red light this week and was declared a total loss by his insurance company. So I need to buy a car tomorrow because I won't have time for car shopping for the next few weeks after tomorrow due to a heavy work schedule. Since I just went through this process at the end of last year, when I bought the Jetta, I have a pretty good idea which cars I would want to buy. I am relating my thought process here in case it is useful for others facing this decision--and if you are reading this discussion, you probably are facing this decision.   Main requirements: Reliable (preferably with manufacturer warranty for at least 2 years); safe (must have 6 airbags, decent crash test scores, and ABS minimum); economical (e.g. I4 engine, no bigger than mid-sized); clean CarFax (not a guarantee, but better than nothing); automatic tranny (more for other drivers in family than for me); power windows/locks/mirrors, remote entry, cruise; good blend of ride and handling (not too firm of a ride, as the roads are bad in my area); styling/color I can live with (e.g. no black cars); and price ceiling of $13k before T&L (could go a bit over that if needed). Would prefer something closer to $10-11k.   Plusses: Higher the fuel economy, the better; electronic stability control; moonroof; power seat; "certified" car.   The Short List (Car / Price before negotiation / Miles / Notes), in general order of preference:   2007 Fusion SE / $9k / 37k / Does it have ABS? Why is it so cheap?? 2008 Milan Premier / $13k / 20k / Loaded car! 2008 Mazda6i Sport / $12.4k-12.9k / 14-20k / Several samples available 2007 Civic LX Coupe / $12.8k / 41k / How much to certify? 2005 Prius / $13.8k / 51k / Looks/drives like new, Pkg 4, good price for a Prius 2005 Jetta GLS 2.0 / $11.8k / 25k / Not VW certified (but is certifiable), moonroof 2006 Jetta 2.5 / $12k / 49k / VW certified 2005 Jetta GL 2.0 / $11.3k / 32k / VW certified 2005 Jetta GL 2.0 / $11k / 42k / VW certified 2008 Sonata GLS / $10.8k / 39k / Hyundai certified, ESC, moonroof   A few others I saw online that were a bit out of my price range but intriguing were a 2007 Accord LX with 15k miles for $14k, a 2006 Accord SE with 25k miles for $13.5k, a 2007 Civic EX coupe with 30k miles for $14k, and a 2008 Civic LX 4-door with only 9k miles for $14k. I might make a play on some of these, see if the price will come down any.   My attack plan is to check out the Fusion, Milan and Mazda6s first, since they are all at the same dealer. If the Fusion checks out and has ABS, that could be it. If not, I'll move down the list, trying to negotiate as low as possible on the price (since I have many options and there's more where these came from).   In case anyone wonders why the Sonata is so far down the list, given it meets my requirements well and is priced reasonably: I looked at it the other day and it needs a little work (broken driver's mirror, door trim damaged, small hole in rear seat back, smoky interior). Also, it was advertised as pearl white, which I like, but it is actually plain white (which I can live with but am not excited about). It drove fine and the body is pristine, and it has a clean CarFax, so I'd consider it but there's other cars I like better.   Got to get to bed so I can hit the dealers first thing in the morning! Replies to this message: backy (Apr 11, 2009 10:11 am) alamocity (Apr 13, 2009 10:31 pm) irismg (May 03, 2009 3:52 pm) backy (May 04, 2009 9:49 am)
#1830 of 1950 Re: Decisions, decisions [backy] by backy Apr 11, 2009 (10:11 am)
Replying to: backy (Apr 10, 2009 10:06 pm) Epilogue: I bought a car. However, it was none of the cars on the list I posted earlier. It was a car I found out about this morning, doing another search on the Web before I left for my hunt. So the lesson learned there is, never give up looking until you've handed over the money. But my research paid off I think because I was able to tell the sales rep truthfully that if he did not meet my offer, I would head off to look at all the other cars I had zeroed in on in the $11-12k range.   Oh yes... I bought a 2007 Rabbit 6AT, blue, 34k miles, 4 years/40k of VW warranty left (including 2 years of VW Certified warranty). Paid $11,050 + T&L. Got 4.09% for 60 months from Think Mutual Bank (highly recommended for folks in the Twin Cities or Rochester, MN areas--their 48 month rate is 3.99% now). Since this is an upgrade from the car that was totaled (2005 Jetta GL) and I lowered my payment about $80/month, I almost don't mind the knot in my forehead now. Replies to this message: alamocity (Apr 13, 2009 10:31 pm) irismg (May 03, 2009 3:52 pm) backy (May 04, 2009 9:49 am)
#1831 of 1950 Re: Thanks.... [whitall] by igozoomzoom Apr 11, 2009 (5:14 pm)
Replying to: whitall (Apr 06, 2009 12:01 pm) The Fusion was introduced in 2006. Although it is a Ford, it is based on the previous generation ('03-'08) Mazda6 platform. My best friend has an '08 Ford Fusion SEL V6 and it it feels more like my Mazda3 than a traditional Ford.   Consumer Reports rates the 2006 Fusion as Better Than Average and '07-'08 models Much Better Than Average (Excellent) reliability. The Mazda6 gets similar ratings, especially '06-'08 models.   The Fusion and Mazda6 are sportier-looking than the Altima or Accord, IMO. The cars share powertrains- 2.3L 4-cylinder with 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic or 3.0L V6 with 6-speed automatic.   The '07 and '08 Altima are rated as Average (4-cyl) to Better Than Average (V6) reliability, so the '07 seems like a safe bet even though it was the first year of the current model. For a 19-yr old, the 4-cylinder is the safest bet...both for safety and insurance cost. The Altima with 175hp 2.5L is among the quickest 4-cylinder sedans. The 270hp 3.5L V6 is more power than I'd want my kid to have!   Another consideration with the '07 and newer Altima is the transmission. Instead of a conventional automatic transmission, they have a CVT. To date, the CVTs have had no reliability issues, but there's no long-term, high mileage reliability info yet. If he hasn't driven a CVT-equipped Altima, a thorough test drive is a very good idea. Some folks (myself included) don't care for the CVT's driving characteristics.
#1832 of 1950 Re: Going from a TL to a TSX [greenacura] by igozoomzoom Apr 11, 2009 (5:36 pm)
Replying to: greenacura (Apr 10, 2009 3:44 am) It's unfortunate that the new TL is so hideous. The last two generations ('99-'03 & '04-'08) were among my favorite cars!   I agree that the TSX is much better looking. I'd suggest a long test drive in a TSX before making any decisions. If you have a relationship with a particular Acura dealer, they often will let you take one overnight. If the 4-cylinder has enough power for your driving style, go for it!   FYI- the 2010 TSX will be available with a 280hp 3.5L V6, if you aren't in a rush to buy!

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