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Smart Shopper What's the best vehicle for my needs?
1145 messages, Last post on Sep 17, 2009 at 12:59 PM
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Replying to: CdnRdr (Jan 14, 2009 9:54 am) You may be able to get a new Elantra for about the price tag you want. They have a 5 yr/60k bumper to bumper warranty and 7 yr/100k mile powertrain. Buying new, the Elantra would be my first choice. Used, i would go with the Corolla.
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Replying to: dtownfb (Jan 14, 2009 12:19 pm) well, since the OP wants a stick .... |
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Forget the Elantra...tried to buy one for the past month and theywouldn't budge from otd of high $16k. Ended up buying the kid a Nissan Versa SL with CVT and ABS for mid $16k, but the S we thought she'd get was around $15k. Very impressed with the car actually. ANother choice could be the Accent GLS which we bought for the other child in November for $14.3 plus T,T&L. It's also got the ABS and other bells & whistles. Check out the Mazda 3i also. Not as fun to drive as the wifey's S model, but a nice car overall and very reliable with decent mileage. The Kia Spectra was very nice when we test drove it a few weeks ago and also look at the Optima sedan. Many choices out there for $15k and quality is vastly improved in all these makes...they're actually quite good. I consider tier 1 imports as Honda, Nissan, Toyota & Mazda and tier 2 imports as Hyundai, Kia ,Suzuki & Scion. A vast amount of excellent choices out there and dealers are looking to move some metal. We were the only one's in the store when we test drove and bought both of my girls cars recently. Got under invoice on both with rebates and doc fees being dismissed...they just rearranged the numbers to reflect it. Felt we got two excellent deals. Good luck shopping! The Sandman 
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Replying to: sandman46 (Jan 14, 2009 3:41 pm) Scion IS Toyota
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Replying to: CdnRdr (Jan 14, 2009 9:54 am) When one of my kids was shopping for a cheap car a dealer (when the car he actually came to see was not what it was supposed to be) convinced him to test drive a Toyota Corolla wagon with 325,000 miles on it, plus it was a rusted out heap. The saleman says "its a Toyota, it'll run forever"...to which the approporiate response is "it already has" .
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Replying to: CdnRdr (Jan 14, 2009 12:19 am) I'd second the vote for a brand new Honda Fit- you do get a lot of car for your money, and it's a better handling car, per the reviews, than the Versa or Yaris. However, all things considered, I would also take a look at the Nissan Versa. It's quite a bit of car for the money... The Yaris doesn't really move me that much, although the 5-door models do seem somewhat intriguing. Either way, the Scion xD is probably a better buy within the Toyota family. Stay away from the Chevrolet Aveo. Just.... no. The Cobalt could be ok, but at your price point, you can get a much better car for not much more money. |
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Already know this, but would rather buy a Toyota personally. The Versa drives very nicely for a small car and we got the "SL" hatch with rebates for around $15.7k with just tax & tag since they took off the dealer fee. Got it for the price I was originally quoted for the "S" hatch. She's pleased so I'm pleased. The seats are very comfortable and not like the horrible front seats in the Fit we tested...ouch! Definitely not back friendly! The Sandman
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I have been researching which USED car would be the best for my needs. Our price cap is about $15G. When I began my search, I had fuel economy as my number one priority, but I now realize that I will have to sacrifice a little bit on that feature in order to end up with a car that offers enough room for my family of four to be comfortable, for my two teenage kids and any friends/gear, and for longer trips when we will have luggage, etc. I've been avoiding SUVs (on principle), but I haven't ruled them out entirely, I guess. The Prius appeals to me, but it is out of my price range. Honda Civic is too small. Generally, I'm leaning towards wagons. I have looked pretty carefully at the Toyota Matrix and the Mazda 5, both in 2008s. The 5 wins on safety and overall interior configuration. But, ultimately, the predicted 19 city/25 hwy gas mileage ratings seem pretty pitiful to me. I've skimmed the Mazda 5 forums here on Edmunds and am now more confused than ever. Many claim they're getting 30+ averages, but there's always the odd poster or three who says they're getting even less than 19. The 2008 Matrix lists fuel economy at 26 city/33 hwy, which pleases me. (I was shooting for something above 25 in town as 80% of my driving is local, rual stuff.) Oddly, the 2009 Matrix lists only 20-21 for city mileage. What the heck?? Is the 09 that different from the 08, or do the 08 Matrix figures lie? My current car is like comparing apples to kuquats -- a 1988 Volkwagen Westfalia/Vanagon. No real safety features, 17 mgp. But, since I'm moving "up" in the world, I'm struggling to make the best choice here. Help.
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Replying to: shawbeg (Jan 23, 2009 11:31 am) Looks like 17 is the EPA hwy figure for that ancient machine. So I would guess that whatever you buy, you will get ~ the EPA hwy number. The 2009 Matrix has an optional larger engine, that version has the lower mpg figures. Not many actual wagons have been sold in recent times. There was a Mazda6 wagon for several model years. But since that comes only with a V6, mpg is not the greatest. There was also a hatchback Mazda6 and that had a 4 cyl version availalble. Passat and Taurus (not sure how long ago they stopped making that) are the only other wagons that come to mind, in terms of a true conventional (mid-size or larger) wagon.
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Replying to: jeffyscott (Jan 23, 2009 12:10 pm) |
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