|
My husband had a lot of the same requirements as you and he narrowed the search down to 11 cars and went and looked at all and sat in all and narrowed it down to 3 then test drove them and he ended up with the Ford Fiesta, which surprised me because Ford is not usually his first choice (lol it is always my first choice)but the headlight feature is a desperate button but very easy to find and get to, he did get the keyless start just because it had everything else he wanted in the color he wanted in stock, drove it off the lot same day
|
Test drive a KIA optima, I had one and loved it. Gave it to my son's family.
Now I have a nissan versa hatchback and LOVE it! Good luck! |
My insurance agent recommended a van or SUV simply because the driver sits higher and visibility is better. Also get white as it is more visible to others on the road. My son works on cars and says all of them are "snap together" technology now. Lots of plastic and few bolts and screws. He still recommends Chevy or Ford. Ford's technologies have been tried and true--if it ain't broke, don't fix it theory, I guess.
|
I buy Certified Pre-owned and love them. I have my second one which had on 11k miles when I got it and I saved so much money. Certified cars were never in an accident and you get a complete detailed report of all service records. I bought mine in PA but I am sure you could find the same on the west coast.
|
My MIL drives a Corolla, and she loves it. I won't ride in it, or any small car. Check it out the next time you're in town at a stop light. Where's the bumper on that SUV or pickup in the lane next to you in relation to your head?
Yep. It's an SUV for me...I just have to budget for the fuel, but would rather budget for that than a funeral or medical bills for the head injury. ;) |
I am on my 2nd Cheve Equinox. love it. the newer ones have great gas milage. 32 on the road. And the seats are adjustable and you can sit straight up, cause I do. good luck, It is a tough choice.
|
That was one of the cars I looked at when buying my last one and one of the sales people (can't remember which lot) actually referred to the "Fit" as a "Clown Car." He said it reminded him of the skit where clowns keep pouring out. Every time I see a Fit, I have to chuckle.[/quote]
This Clown Car name is actually a great recommendation. Think of all the fabric you can pack in there with all the gas money you save!! I would definitely test drive the Fit |
Take a look at the Honda Fit. Not sure of pricing, but drovea girlfriend's for a week and liked it. Allows for many carry options - at least the Sport edition - by the way the seats fold down. Good Luck
|
Chevy Cruze
|
Originally Posted by caspharm
How about a used Prius? They are good cars.
|
I Have a Honda "Fit" it's two years old now and I love it more every day. Gets 37 miles to a gallon in the city. More out on the highway. easy parking and just the right size for me.
|
I like the Dodge Caliber. I looked at a lot of the smaller cars-good gas mileage, four door and I wanted hatchback. Most of them do not have a power driver's seat which I really wanted. Back seats fold down for more cargo space if needed.Just a 4 cyl but seemed peppy to me.
|
I hated the Nissan Versa when I took it for a test drive but when I went one size up to the Nissan Sentra I loved it.
I travel 100 miles a day to and from work. The gas mileage is close to 35 mgp. Very conformtable ride.Car is small but not too small. Interior is roomy. Costs under 20K. |
hubs got me a Toyota Yaris - no frills - (you have to hand CRANK the windows down - lol, which is a blessing to find, since the last 3 cars we had came down with electrical window issues and we couldnt roll them down at all LOL - you should have seen us at drive up windows!!), you have to PUSH the door locks shut when you get out of the car! lol
It has a comfortable back seat - Ive ridden in the back, but since there are just the 2 of us I keep the back seat down; we travel in this car all over. There is tons of room for anything we take with us. He is 6,2" and has head room. There is leg room. Great mileage. You can plug in your music player - it has a jack, or listen to the radio, I think its got a CD palyer but Ive never used it! Nice storage and cup holders (silly little things but important.) I had wanted a Prius, but he was leary of it being too new to have all the "bugs" worked out yet, so the Yaris is all gas powered. Brand new (2008) it cost us 13,000$. Dont know what they cost these days. Also, you have to figure in the cost to run: tires, parts, maintaining it. Hubs does a lot of his own work - changes the oil, things like that. We havent had to do anything on it yet but get a set of tires and keep up oil changes. I dont know about the "look" of it. Ive never owned a car based on how it looks; I dont drive a car for its look, it needs to get me somewhere in 1 piece, cheap, thats all I want lol. Good luck in your quest , all I can say is, you have to test drive a lot of lemons before you find your lemonaide, lol sharet |
I have a Mitzubishi Gallant and I love it! Have had it for almost 3 years and it's a great car. Gets good miles and is very comfortable. I would definately check one out if you are searching for a good car.
|
i love my camry gets good gas milage
|
Go Green with a Toyota Prius. It gets 50 miles to the gallon of gas. 660 miles on a tank of gas. We researched this and the new ones are larger this year. We bought one and it is a dream.
|
How about a Chevy Cruze?
|
try a subaru
|
VW Jetta TDI diesel---5 speed tranny--- 50 MPG---2005-- we love it-- bought it with 99,000 miles last Feb--a used one is good---they go over 300,00 miles---auto matic tranny is OK but Manual does the best--a beetle is good too but you want diesel--Passat is more luxurious---there is something about German engineering
|
My Honda Accord seats go straight up. But it is an 09
|
I have a Chevy HHR. I bought it new in 2006 and I still love it. It is loaded and only cost $22,000. Basic model starts at around $16,000. I too like my seats to go stright up. It gets 30-31 mpg on the highway and 25 mpg in town. I have talked to other who have newer models of HHR's who tell me they are getting about 35 mpg highway. Check it out online to see what it looks like. I think they look cool.
|
Suzuki SX4-
|
Originally Posted by Lisanne
I need a new car, and I'm not wild about anything that's out there. Maybe I'm missing something great, so before I buy something I don't love, I thought I'd ask for your suggestions.
It will be a new car. I know all the arguments for buying used, but I don't buy for resale value, I buy to own it. Must be compact or relatively small. No SUVs, trucks, minivans or boat-sized cars, but nothing that looks like a cartoon car, either (meaning no Smart4Twos or Fiats). I have had a Kia Sentra four door for 10 years! It is an automatic. You are right, the interior is not so fancy... but the back seats fold down to open up an already capacious trunk space to hold long stuff. I have driven it all over the USA and it is still going strong. They gave me a 100,000 mile guarentee, and maybe you can get 200,000 , and the dealer does stand behind it for everything else too! Other needs: -- good gas mileage -- reliable (will last 10+ years or 200,000 miles) -- $20,000 or less -- seat backs that go straight up. My Honda Civic seat slants back, and I'm tried of the neck problems from sitting back and craning my head forward to look straight ahead. -- headlight controls MUST be on the lever by the steering wheel, not a separate button. No kidding, this annoys me no end. (Meaning no Ford Focus.) -- must use a key. No push button ignitions. Call me old-fashioned, but I want to be able to turn the thing OFF and not have a button failure. I have tried: Hyundai Elantra - highly rated, but the seat area is tight and I couldn't see over the windshield or side windows to the lane lines on the road or for parking. Mazda 3 - love how it drives, but gas mileage isn't great and there's the window problem. Ford Focus - weird controls Nissan Versa - hated it. Especially hate that the dashboard is lit when the headlights are OFF amd dim when it's dark and the headlights are on. Toyota Corolla - seats don't go straight up and it doesn't drive as nicely as the Camry, which is bigger than I want. Kia Rio - comfortable to sit in and drive, but cheesy looking inside. So far the front runner, though. I'll take a look at the Forte, but only to hope that it's not as cheesy looking as the Rio. Audi A4 - my one try at a used car. No matter how great the car, I can't make myself take a used one. The headlight control is just like that of the Ford Focus. |
I have a 2004 Elantra by Hyundai. I love it, good car and I am in the process of upgrading to a 2012 Elantra. 40 miles per gallon on hwy. I have no complaints, the only reason I am getting a newer model, is becasue I want one and my husbands care is getting old and he will inherit mine.
|
My only comment regarding a new car is that my next new car will be "Made and Assembled in America." Our auto industry supports so many people. Ford Motor Company did not take out any bail out money so those are the cars I will be looking at when the time comes. My daughter had a Ford Focus which she loved; good gas mileage and safety features. I'm starting to look for more and more items "Made in the USA." I really want to put our country back to work.
|
we recently purchased a Hyundai Sonata....just over 20k....love the car....it is getting 35mpg for city driving and 40-42mpg for highway....it has all the bells and whistles we needed....big trunk space with back seats that fold down for more room if needed...safety features everywhere....stabilitrack is standard....and made in the US!
|
Originally Posted by MaryStoaks
I'm on my second Hyundai Accent, I liked the first one so well I bought another. Mostly I like the seat, I have back/neck problems and with this car I can drive forever. It has great AC, the interior is upgraded, wonderful gas mileage. It is a cheapy car, I only drove the first one 100 thousand miles, no trouble with it. I bought the new one because I live in the desert and I will not drive an old car for fear of being stranded in the heat. Good luck in your search.
|
Buy American.
|
Toyota can't beat
|
Try a Subaru....very reliable.
|
I have a 2003 Nissan Murano....love, love, love, love it. I park in all the compact parking spaces in any parking lot. Plus it has great room in the back for groceries and/or sewing machines when I'm off quilting with my friends. The back seats fold down for even more room. Just brought a love seat home from the store. It slid right into the back with no problems at all.
I have arthritus in my hips so this car sits up high enough that it is really easy to get in and out of, great visability out the windows. My next car will be a new Murano ! I love it so much. My husband loves it too. He drives the Maxima. |
Originally Posted by lfw045
Cars are like sewing machines.everyone has a preference. Maybe you should go American made and try a Chevrolet Impala..they get good gas mileage and are a comfortable ride. I am partial to my Dodge Grand Caravan but then that is my preference.....lol!
|
VW jetta just bought one for youngest daughter. Hers was toffee colored (hardest color to find wouldn't you know it) with latta colored int. We jokingly call it the Coffee Bean with colors like that , great car which is really hard for me to say because we are Ford people.
|
I was going to suggest the toyota Matrix as well. We have a Pontiac Vibe that I love and neve want to give up because they aren't making them anymore. But it is basically a Matrix with different outsides and trim. We would have bought the matrix, but the seats were horrible for me...too straight and stiff....so you'll probably love them!
|
Originally Posted by MrsGuava
I have a Nissan Altima, 6 cyl..great on gas..four door, very roomy for MrG and the pups.
I've got a Dodge Stratus but that's probably bigger than you want...love mine. |
I have a Jeep Liberty and love it, gets good gas milage and had no problems with it. But it's consider SUV....14,000.00 the time we bought it....Good Luck with your search...
|
We just bought a Dodge Avenger. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Fits all the requirements you listed and is a great looking car.
|
I have a Subaru and love it. Check them out.
|
Thanks for all your recommendations. I went yesterday and tried a few, no decision yet.
I told the college student salesman what I wanted, and he just didn't focus on it at all. I said new, and he said, "I see you in a used car." I said small sedan, and he kept pointing out big vehicles. "It's not an SUV, it's a sport activity vehicle." I will not buy a car I have to climb up into! The only thing he managed to keep in focus was my price limit. I really should have taken control and said that if he really wanted to make a sale, he'd stick to what I was asking for. I asked about a used Prius, and he laughed. I mean, burst out laughing! He says they almost never have any, and the resale price is sometimes even higher than when it was new (I guess lower than this year's new price, though). Then I went to another area of several car dealerships, only to find that the one I wanted wasn't there. Got directions, and don't you know, the exit off the highway I needed was closed for roadwork. I gave up for the day and collapsed from heat exhaustion from driving around in the 90+ degree heat in the un-ai conditioned car. This is a serious health issue for me. Pennsylvania has this archaic law that cars can't be sold on Sunday, so no car hunting today. I must make a decision in the next day or two. |
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 08:26 AM. |