You are here: Forums Sedans Best new or used vehicle for $30,000

Best new or used vehicle for $30,000

64 messages,  Last post on Dec 10, 2006 at 6:26 PM

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

What is this discussion about? Honda Accord, BMW 3 Series, Cadillac CTS

Messages Page 6 of 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#45 of 64 subie by qbrozen Feb 13, 2006 (8:54 am)
The Subaru Legacy GT just won a 7-car AWD sedan comparison in one of the big mags (either C&D or R&T, i can't remember) against big hitters like the BMW 325 and G35. At 26 mpg, its a bit below the desired 28 mpg, but, for a 7% gas penalty, you get WAY MORE than a 7% performance gain.
#46 of 64 I am very much in this market by calan Feb 13, 2006 (7:48 pm)
I may be taking a job in the near future that will require me to make a two hour commute each day. So I am in the market for a comfortable large or midsized sedan.   Given the fact that GM will more than likely end up in bankruptcy in the next 6 months to a year, I am not considering any GM cars.   So Far, I have looked at the Nissan Maxima, Ford 500, Honda Accord V6 EX, Ford Fusion, Toyota Avalon, and the Volvo S60.   Nissan Maxima Honestly, There have been a couple of factors that have all but counted out this car. First was when I went to www.nissan.com, and got a website for a computer company. The company claims it is being sued by Nissan America for copy right infringement, and claims they were using the name long before Datsun switched over to Nissan. Weather or not this is true, it makes Nissan America look quite bad. The next strike was at the Dealership. I ended up taking a test drive with a 'Salesman' who was just barely 20, and I knew a lot more about the car than he did. His sales manager did not help much when he told me Ford could not make a reliable vehicle. Apparently, he didn't see the Ford Escape I drove onto the lot (and have been driving for 2 years without a problem). I checked out a couple of Maxima websites, and there appear that the current generation of cars has had more than it's share of teething pains. I like the styling of the car, but I don't think it will hold up very well to my 25k a year driving habit.   Ford Fusion I sat in a fusion at the dealership, and I might schedule a test drive soon. The price is right for me (around $24k with the options I want). I like the exterior styling of the car, but the interior is somewhat lacking. I know Ford is using the same double din radios in most of their cars and truck, and the same AC interface, but after seeing the Honda Accord, and the Toyota Avalon, I think Ford needs to try to get away from this habit in favor of an interior that flows better, and does not appear to have been designed by the finance comittee.   Ford 500 I looked at the limited, with AWD, and the cvt, and just about every option. It drove nicely, and I could get used to the smoothness of the cvt. I have the same complaints about the interior as I have about the Fusion, plus, my wife thinks the car is UGLY. I could live with the looks of the car, but for the $30k price tag, I could be driving an Avalon.   I will hand it to Ford, of all the dealers I have been to, their sales people were the best. I told them up-front I was just shopping, and they still spent a lot of time with me, and appeared quite to know there products quite well.   Honda Accord V6 EX Is it just me, or does every honda car pretty much look the same up front? I have owned a couple of Honda's in my day, including a CRX, and an Insight. The interior of the Accord reminded me a lot of the Insight. All of the controls felt the same, and the dash layout was similar (with the obvious exclusion of the speedometer). My biggest complaint about the car was with the ergonomics. I am a big guy (5-11, 205lbs), and I felt like my elbows were too low, and the steering wheel was too close. Honda deserves kudos for getting away from a standard din radio, but I think they may have taken it a bit too far by combining the radio with the AC controls. It took me a while to learn to operate the AC in my Insight, and I imagine there would be a learning curve on the Accord Radio/AC system.   Toyota Avalon I think this would be the car for me if it weren't for the price tag. I admit, I want leather, I want the heated seats, I want the navigation option...Unfortunatly, all these wants add up to over $37k msrp. I have considered buying a used one, but it appears that used 05's with under 20k miles are quite hard to come by. If I do buy one, it will be a XLS.   Volvo S60 I sat in one at my local show room. (Im sorry, I didn't SCHEDULE a test drive). Coming from Fords and Honda's, the layout of the control on the Volvo seemed very foreign. The AC control seem down right goofy to me, with the dial temperature controls. To ge the options I could get on the Honda or the Avelon, I am afraid I will end up spending quite a bit more than $30k.   So there you have it, the ramblings of a car shopper. I still have not made up my mind... Replies to this message: blane (Feb 14, 2006 4:03 am) qbrozen (Feb 14, 2006 9:25 am) calan (Feb 14, 2006 11:43 am) averigejoe (Feb 17, 2006 12:38 pm) zodiac2004 (Jun 19, 2006 10:05 am)
#47 of 64 Re: I am very much in this market [calan] by blane Feb 14, 2006 (4:03 am)
Replying to: calan (Feb 13, 2006 7:48 pm) calan,   You wrote, about the Honda Accord V6 EX, "My biggest complaint about the car was with the ergonomics. I am a big guy (5-11, 205lbs), and I felt like my elbows were too low, and the steering wheel was too close."   Perhaps you didn't realize that all Accords have tilt and telescopic steering columns. The EX-L also has 8-way power driver seat adjustment.   Those ergonomic amenities should permit you to customize the driving experience to your satisfaction.
#48 of 64 Re: I am very much in this market [calan] by qbrozen Feb 14, 2006 (9:25 am)
Replying to: calan (Feb 13, 2006 7:48 pm) you might want to try out a Nav-equipped Accord. With the voice controls, all you have to do is tell the car what temp you want it at. Doesn't get much easier than that.   On the S60, they are about $5k off sticker right now. So carsdirect tells me that a 2.5T with premium, convenience, and climate packages would run me $30,442. So I think the street price might be right there in competition with the others.   Since you are looking at the Ford products, you might want to check out the Mercury and even Lincoln equivalents. The interior upgrades might suit you better, and the exterior styling might please your wife more. Replies to this message: calan (Feb 14, 2006 11:43 am)
#49 of 64 Re: I am very much in this market [qbrozen] by calan Feb 14, 2006 (11:43 am)
Replying to: qbrozen (Feb 14, 2006 9:25 am) you might want to try out a Nav-equipped Accord. With the voice controls, all you have to do is tell the car what temp you want it at. Doesn't get much easier than that.   Ok, I didn't know that, and it borderlines on cool...   Actually, last night I took a took at the Acura TSX, and that may be a contender.
#50 of 64 Re: Don't forget Hyundai in this market [calan] by averigejoe Feb 17, 2006 (12:38 pm)
Replying to: calan (Feb 13, 2006 7:48 pm) I'm not telling you to buy one, but do go look at and test drive a new 2006 Hyundai Azera and a new 2006 Sonata LX. You can get either one brand new for less than or even way less than $30,000. Buy one new for less than the used cars you might be considering. Check out HyundaiUSA.com to find out what rebates you qualify for. Either car has more features than any of the competition and at lower prices too. The performance and quality are excellent. The warranty is a great feature: 5 years/60k miles bumper to bumper and 10 years/100k miles on drivetrain.
#51 of 64 Re: Best new/used vehicle for $30,000 [irv88] by averigejoe Feb 18, 2006 (11:19 am)
Replying to: irv88 (Feb 12, 2006 1:32 pm) So how much, before adding tax license and title, did your used Passat cost? Is it a 2003? Or a 2004? And what motor does it have? Is your warranty good until the odometer reads 50,000 miles? What date does your 4 year warranty expire? Although your post is not clear on it, I am guessing you paid $15,000 plus tax license and title.
#52 of 64 Help with used BMW 325 convert by omrster Mar 12, 2006 (8:21 pm)
Just got into the market for a convertible and found a 2004 BMW 325, prev executive lease car, auto, premium, cold weather, 6 CD changer with ~6400 miles offered at $36000 with 18 months left on 48mo warranty. The dealer tells me the car was a manufacturer buyback in another state becasue of a transmission problem and the transmission was replaced and so the car is not CPO. I've looked around, but am not sure how worried to be about buying a car with a branded title. Any thoughts? Replies to this message: kyfdx (Mar 13, 2006 3:50 am) rsterling (Mar 21, 2006 7:08 pm)
#53 of 64 Re: Help with used BMW 325 convert [omrster] by kyfdx HOST Mar 13, 2006 (3:50 am)
Replying to: omrster (Mar 12, 2006 8:21 pm) I would be very worried...   I don't know the options on that particular car, but a brand-new '06 325Ci convertible stickers for around $45K.. I'd say $36K would be the right price, if that car had no issues and was CPO..   With MBB on the title? It might be worth $6K-$10K less than that.   If you were certain that the vehicle didn't have any other issues, and you were going to keep it for 5-6 years, and you were getting a great deal... it might be worth it..   But, you can't be certain, you probably won't keep it that long... and that surely isn't a great deal....   The low mileage may be clouding your judgement on value... You would be better off buying a similar car with 30K miles and a CPO warranty.. The price should be in the same ballpark.   regards, kyfdx Host-Prices Paid Forums Replies to this message: rsterling (Mar 21, 2006 7:08 pm)
#54 of 64 Re: Help with used BMW 325 convert [kyfdx] by rsterling Mar 21, 2006 (7:08 pm)
Replying to: kyfdx (Mar 13, 2006 3:50 am) Thanks for he input. Too much to be concerned aboutwith the MBB.   Started negotiating on a 04 325ci, auto with 13,700mi, cold weather, HK audio, PDC, premium pkg, sport pkg, rear airbag, xenon headlights with 27months left on original warranty, CPO, $39k.

Messages Page 6 of 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Sedans Best new or used vehicle for $30,000