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Help Me Choose!

3289 messages,  Last post on May 23, 2013 at 11:06 AM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

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

Messages Page 287 of 330

#2857 of 3289 Re: Does this car exist? [syeonwoo] by mr_gone

Sep 16, 2012 (8:15 am)

You could buy a car that met all those criteria, but it would have been made in the 1970s. The two OPEC oil embargoes led manufacturers to find ways to save weight and they jumped on the front-wheel-drive bandwagon as one of the solutions. Broadly speaking, FWD has been the norm since the 1980s, with the exceptions of performance-oriented cars and large relics of that earlier era like the Ford Crown Vic. Some models that had been FWD have moved back to RWD, but they tend to be large vehicles like the Chrysler 300. The smaller Chrysler 200 is FWD.
 
The early Japanese imports, including the Corolla and Datsun 510, were RWD, as were the American models designed to compete with them, like the (cough-cough) Chevrolet Vega and Ford Pinto. Honda's original and highly influential Civic and Accord were both FWD, as was the equally influential original Dodge Caravan.
 
That's a long-winded explanation about why the car you're looking for doesn't exist on today's market.

#2859 of 3289 New car purchase? by steve_ HOST

Sep 27, 2012 (3:39 pm)

A reporter is looking to speak with someone who bought a new car in September. If you’re able to assist this reporter please send a brief description of your purchase and your preferred contact information to predmunds.com.

#2861 of 3289 I need help buying my first new car ever by huh4

Oct 03, 2012 (6:20 am)

I have always driven clunkers and someone gave me 11k to buy a car. I have a few grand myself and I am about to buy new. What is the best bang for my buck in new?
 
I know buying 2 or more years old helps with depreciation but I am going to do it anyway.
 
Thanks for any help.

#2862 of 3289 Re: I need help buying my first new car ever [huh4] by sebring95

Oct 03, 2012 (9:02 am)

Replying to: huh4 (Oct 03, 2012 6:20 am)
It would help if you gave us the exact budget you have. With tax and everything I'm not sure $11k plus "a few grand" will buy anything. But please give us your max $$ you can spend. Also, what features/dynamics/etc are important to you? Automatic...Room for 6 kids....0-60 in less than an an afternoon....

#2863 of 3289 Re: I need help buying my first new car ever [sebring95] by huh4

Oct 03, 2012 (10:53 am)

Replying to: sebring95 (Oct 03, 2012 9:02 am)
I can get a chevy spark for 14,700 out the door bottom line after taxes, tag, fees etc. 10 airbags and 38 mpg is nice but car is super small.
 
need to be under 15k

#2864 of 3289 Re: I need help buying my first new car ever [huh4] by sebring95

Oct 03, 2012 (11:42 am)

Replying to: huh4 (Oct 03, 2012 10:53 am)
Well anything at this price point is going to be pretty small. Nissan Versa at least feels a little bigger inside...and you can get one with automatic and cruise in your price range. The Ford Fiesta is another but you'll have to stick with a manual tranny at that price. Pickings are slim but both are bigger than the Spark.
 
Honestly if super small isn't your thing...you can find something a little bigger and nicer that's almost new. I noticed a used 2012 VW Jetta with 5k miles for $13,999 on a lot recently.

#2865 of 3289 Re: I need help buying my first new car ever [sebring95] by huh4

Oct 03, 2012 (11:54 am)

Replying to: sebring95 (Oct 03, 2012 11:42 am)
thanks for taking the time to respond. I am second thinking the spark now. I am 6' 220 and would be miserable

#2866 of 3289 Re: I need help buying my first new car ever [huh4] by plekto

Oct 03, 2012 (1:11 pm)

Replying to: huh4 (Oct 03, 2012 11:54 am)
You really need to get over the "buy new" idea and get a good car that's just a few years old. You can get a 3-5 year old car 12-15K. Or just about any other 25-35K upper tier or entry level luxury midsize sedan. These represent your best long-term value as they have more safety items, more options, and are built with the idea that people will be driving them for 10+ years as opposed to their being purely rental fodder. Heavier doors, better seats, better brakes, a smoother engine, and so on. And often a LOT safer due to their added weight in a crash.
 
Of course the best deals are Ford and GM due to their higher initial depreciation. About 3/4 of their cars are OK or worse, but the rest are much better than they used to be. Kind of like hidden gems, as it were. You mentioned the Spark, so you probably won't have an issue with domestic make.
 
My recommendation then would be to get the following/something like it:
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listin- - gId=90459030
 
What you are looking at is a Buick Lacrosse. But this specific model has the suspension and engine out of a Cadillac CTS. Plus leather, sunroof, a good radio, and all of the goodies. You'll not be hunched over driving it like in a lot of econoboxes. It drives like a dream and it's $13K. With under 30K miles on it, since most likely it was owned by an elderly person who barely drove it.
 
Did I mention the Cadillac engine? This thing is a rocket. 0-60 in just over 7 seconds, and while that's not as "fast" some other cars, it has maximum torque at 1600rpm. Not 4000+. So it does transitions and responds much quicker than a typical sedan since it's at full power pretty much all the time. (kind of like driving a diesel just without the diesel issues)
 
This car at fifteen years old (10 years from now) will be in better shape than a new econobox after 5 years. As for myself, I typically drive older luxury cars for this reason. If you don't abuse them you'll never wear out a full-size car.
 
edit - note that there is a second choice that's also good. It's reliable, super cheap to fix, and despite getting OK MPG, the low low price more than makes up for it.
 
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listin- - gId=73962461
It's big but it's also quite obviously not a taxi, rental car, or cop car. The whole idea behind that specific color (or the dark red) is to get rid of that image. It's an awesome vehicle in every way. If you are 6 ft tall, it's made for you. You get a big overbuilt car that easily could last another 150K miles and save a ton on repairs. Just keep it until the wheels fall off. Like the Buick, it comes pretty much loaded. I drove one of these for a while and it was awesome. Quiet, smooth as glass, and perfect for commuting to work and back.
 
Keep in mind that this car is about two years old. It'll still probably have that new car smell and half the tread left on the original tires.

Messages Page 287 of 330

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