View Full Version : Which New car to buy?
obilly
03-08-2011, 03:38 PM
i love GM,,,always pay cash ,,,never buy new,,,,,it has to be big enough to sleep in,,,prefer something with a 8' bed.
What model did you buy ? We were looking for an SUV or something like that. The Honda CRV was plain uncomfortable to us....seemed like they chopped a couple inches off the seat depth. Probably ok for around town, but I'd think a killer on a trip. The Pilot was just ridiculously overpriced.
It came down to a Hyundai Sante Fe, which would have been a couple grand less, but also 2wd and less gas mileage or the Subaru Outback. Didn't care for the feel of the Subaru Forester. I think we choose the right one for us, but time will tell. Another factor is the local Honda dealer is an AH to deal with.....every time I took our car back for service, there was an issue.
Top of the line Forester but it is the ECU and gearbox that are thoroughly unimpressive, it's agricultural 60's level engineering in the box and the ECU is just plain orrible! You can keep their drive by wire and .... and... don't get me started!
A buddy of mine has an old Subaru GL from the mid 1980s: 375,000+ miles, still runs relatively strong. Just keep changing the oil (and the timing belt). :biggrin:
They are not what they where.... Suby are cheaping out... Mother dearest upgraded from an older model and is also not so impressed.
phideaux
03-08-2011, 05:38 PM
They are not what they were....
So true about a lot of things.... :biggrin:
Irons
03-08-2011, 05:58 PM
+1 on the Malibu, I got a low mile used '07 wagon a year ago for 9k and it's a great car. Yep, I like wagons for cars.
They are like small covered pick up trucks.
JayDubya
03-08-2011, 09:06 PM
Well, whatever car you choose, be sure that you get it in one of these two color options - silver or gold.
If you want a cheap looking uncomfortable ugly car to sit in...go ahead and choose a KIA.
Which is why I said buy Korean... specifically Hyundai.
FWIW we consider most US cars "cheap looking uncomfortable ugly", they sell cheap here and have a bad reliability reputation. It is a cultural thing...! Not that I love Hyundai styling but they are well built.
And as you mention it KIA have improved styling out of sight, the new Cerato is a nice looking car...
http://www.icars.sg/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/kia-cerato-forte-001.jpg
I don't know how reliable they are.
madhu
03-09-2011, 05:23 AM
how about the electric cars, /hybrids?
I don't know if Hyundai is still offering their "Assurance Program", but if your job is not 100% secure in this economy, it's worth checking out. Lose your job in the first year, drop the car back off at a dealership and walk away. Yeah, you can lose several months worth of payment, but you can also get out from under a debt without much effort if you really need to.
EDIT:
Looks like they still have it, and have expanded the benefits.
http://hyundaiassurance.walkawayusa.com/
Oldmansmith
03-09-2011, 06:57 AM
I will never buy a new car, but that's just me, biggest waste of money on the planet (other than hookers and blow). I paid $2,500 for my Geo Prizm seven years ago and it is still going strong with no major repairs. How do you think I could afford gold and silver?
It depends what you are buying.... I wanted a five star safety rating, old cars don't cut it.
TnAndy
03-09-2011, 06:35 PM
I don't know if Hyundai is still offering their "Assurance Program", but if your job is not 100% secure in this economy, it's worth checking out. Lose your job in the first year, drop the car back off at a dealership and walk away. Yeah, you can lose several months worth of payment, but you can also get out from under a debt without much effort if you really need to.
EDIT:
Looks like they still have it, and have expanded the benefits.
http://hyundaiassurance.walkawayusa.com/
Not worth a lot if you just pay cash. :D
TnAndy
03-09-2011, 06:54 PM
A buddy of mine has an old Subaru GL from the mid 1980s: 375,000+ miles, still runs relatively strong. Just keep changing the oil (and the timing belt). :biggrin:
We only put about 15k or less miles on car ( previous 98 Accord had 170k on it, and it sold in about 24hrs on Craig's list, BTW ). I figure this one will last to the point gasoline will be so high nobody will be driving much.
hoarder
03-09-2011, 07:30 PM
Fortunately I live 4 miles beyond pavement and none of my vehicles are shiny. "Shiny object syndrome" is very expensive. I was cured of this condition years ago.
If "self-esteem" is your motivation for buying a new vehicle, you're making a mistake ( I know, I know...your wife wants a new car).
I can understand buying a new vehicle if you can afford to pay cash and have plenty of silver already. A vehicle is NOT an investment, it's just transportation.
I like US cars 1967 and prior, US trucks 1972 and prior.
Toyotas are pretty good but quality has gone downhill a little in the last decade.
Oldmansmith
03-09-2011, 07:56 PM
It depends what you are buying.... I wanted a five star safety rating, old cars don't cut it.
I've never had an accident, can't get any more stars than that!
latemetal
03-09-2011, 08:14 PM
When/if gas hits $5.00, what kind of car would you buy. Buy that one now!:bear_tongue:
TnAndy
03-09-2011, 08:16 PM
I've never had an accident, can't get any more stars than that!
Last one I had was in 1980. 16yo gal licensed 2 wks ran a stop sign and T-boned us. Fortunately, she HAD come to a stop, because I looked over at her, and saw her stop.....for some reason, she then hit the gas, and Ka-bamm. Olds 98 hits VW......not much left of ours, dent in the fender of hers.
TnAndy
03-09-2011, 08:27 PM
Fortunately I live 4 miles beyond pavement and none of my vehicles are shiny. "Shiny object syndrome" is very expensive. I was cured of this condition years ago.
If "self-esteem" is your motivation for buying a new vehicle, you're making a mistake ( I know, I know...your wife wants a new car).
Not self esteem.....simply don't like to work on vehicles if I can avoid it. Wife actually didn't really care, but I hate to send her off to a meeting road trip she has to take couple times/yr in something I'm the one gonna have to drive 2-300 miles to go fix. The Honda was gonna need some work ( like 3-5k ) to keep it in decent shape, money I'd rather not put in it.
I can understand buying a new vehicle if you can afford to pay cash and have plenty of silver already. A vehicle is NOT an investment, it's just transportation.
Got cash, got all the silver I need, and a whole lot of other "things"....no debt, few monthly bills, we live pretty simple. This is our one real splurge per decade. Last one was my new Silverado in 03.....and if like the 86 Ford pickup before it, (that's 17 YEARS if you're counting) I'll have the truck probably after the age of gasoline.....ahahaaa. 9 years old now, and just turned 60k miles.
Agree, vehicles not only NOT an investment, but a depreciating pile of metal, for sure.....but I assure ya, that's the ONLY thing I buy in that category. Most every thing else either IS an investment, or a tool that pays for itself many times over.
I've never had an accident, can't get any more stars than that!
Till you do... talk to people who pull people out of wrecks for a living, its not always their fault.
I nominate my Honda Fit...36mpg around town, lots of cargo space, relatively inexpensive, durable, fun to drive and cute as a button.
hoarder
03-09-2011, 10:13 PM
Not self esteem.....simply don't like to work on vehicles if I can avoid it.
My post was directed at OP, not you. I know you have uncommon sense enough to make a practical decision.
DrillAndFill
03-10-2011, 07:42 PM
You could get a Ford Flex, and then everybody will think you work at a funeral home...
You just ruined the Ford Flex for me.
deadheadharry
03-10-2011, 11:59 PM
Haven't skimmed through everything, but the simple answer is this:
Honda, Subaru or Hyundai.
All are great, top of the line and have whatever you need. Personally, if I had the $$$, I would be buying the Hyundai Equus.
shades
03-11-2011, 01:52 AM
6880
__________
Not worth a lot if you just pay cash. :D
True. Although in this economy I took the loan (0.0%) when my old car was totalled. Thought it would be safer. Now that my year is up, I'm having a hard time justifying the sale of PMs to pay it off early.
elroy
03-20-2011, 07:55 PM
Looked around a lot recently to replace our 12 year old Accord, which was a nice car.
Bought a Subaru Outback, 2.5i Limited. 4cyl, AWD. 22/29 mileage.
Picking it up this afternoon.
I deliver these cars out of the plant in Indiana so I get to drive a lot of them. They are in very high demand, dealers can't get enough of them to stock their lots. I think the dealers really believe in this car. Many of these dealers tend to be smaller family owned dealerships and have sold them for years.
They tend to sell well in places that have bad winters and lots of hills/mountains due to the all wheel drive.
Hope the new car works well for you.
I like the Kia Soul also for a little cheap car.
Steve
03-22-2011, 09:56 PM
Madhu,
I got a 2010 Hyundai Accent last year for a 70 mile a day commuter car and I couldn't be happier with it. It's very well built for the price and I haven't had a hint of a warranty problem or any repairs whatsoever. It's absolutely excellent on gas and will run like a scalded cat if I need to get somewhere quick in Dallas traffic.
Ok, so it's obviously not a Lincoln or a Lambo, but for me it's the best of both worlds when you're on a budget.
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