Which New car to buy?

[madhu]

Any suggestions re buying a new car?

Thanks

[Anakin]

That's pretty difficult to answer without knowing anything about your budget, use of the vehicle, family size, local geography, etc.

I'm partial to the BMW X5.

[phideaux]

Sorry, I can't resist opportunities like this.

[graspAU]

What's your goal with the car? We have one 4*4 suv, one 4 door sedan, and one coupe for fun and tinkering(hobby car). When the fwd 4 door sedan goes (10yrs old 155k miles) I will probably want to replace it with something that gets very high mpg (now about 32mpg hw, thinking next is a used prius 50mpg).

[hoarder]

None. They're all junk. You're better off finding something 10 or 20 years old in good condition.

[Zed]

Any suggestions re buying a new car?

Thanks

Korean... Hyundai, cheap, reliable well built.

[GOLDZILLA]

[Lore]

Any suggestions re buying a new car?

What are your requirements?

[Shortstack]

American made, UAW or nothing

[Zed]

American made, UAW or nothing

Now I know you are a dedicated troll!

[WhyKnow]

Any suggestions re buying a new car?

Thanks

In the future, don't take your cars boating too.

[silverblood]

Buy an older car that is in good condition that you can pay cash for. Preferably one without a computer or a black box or any means of built-in tracking.

[Last Stand On Earth]

My choice for sedan would be .... Hyundai Sonata.

Beautiful styling that turns my head every time I see one on the highway. Great prices (can get one around Knoxville new @ $18,900). 100k warranty. Up to 33mpg. Very good performance for an everyday sedan. I really love everything about this car from a practical perspective.

Check out the video below.

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/vehicles/2...ta/experience/

[Last Stand On Earth]

My economy car pick would be the Kia Soul. Great price (can be had in Knoxville for $13,000). I like the styling for an economy car. Finally, and again the 100k warranty.

http://www.kia.com/#/soul/explore/36...?cid=sem&ppc=y

[Last Stand On Earth]

My performance car choice would be the Ford Mustang.

http://www.ford.com/cars/mustang/

[Last Stand On Earth]

My pick for SUV / Offroad would be the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon.

http://www.jeep.com/en/2011/wrangler...738&channel=PS

[Zed]

My performance car choice would be the Ford Mustang.

Sorry but give me a GTR Godzilla if you want to make a get away!

[madhu]

Thanks. i currently have a 10 yr old bmw that served me well. more than 110,000 miles but is needing maintenance.
Hyundai and kia are attractive because of the 100 k warranty. But are they trouble free?
I need a winter car that i can take to my skiing trips
But really impressed with the pelosi gtx, i dont think i can afford that price
Thank you all

[Zed]

But are they trouble free?

Small Hyundai's and I mean the cheap 10K one will do 300,000 K... they are bullet proof, they top the customer satisfaction polls. They are especially reliable when you look at the declining quality of German and Japanese competitors that are not what they once where.

[Last Stand On Earth]

Thanks. i currently have a 10 yr old bmw that served me well. more than 110,000 miles but is needing maintenance.
Hyundai and kia are attractive because of the 100 k warranty. But are they trouble free?
I need a winter car that i can take to my skiing trips
But really impressed with the pelosi gtx, i dont think i can afford that price
Thank you all

OK. So I had to search what you meant by Pelosi GTX and while I was reading I came across this thread on Yahoo Answers of all places. Check out reply #2. The message is spreading.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...8000057AAYEBd6

[Shortstack]

Now I know you are a dedicated troll!

You don't know much of anything. Look at the consumer reports on Union made in the USA vehicles. Then, go outside and look at your 5 year old entry level Hyundai and ask yourself this. Can you carve out the $$ from your mom's allowance needed to upgrade to a Ford?

[ErrosionOfAccord]

Chevy volt so that all of us U.S. taxpayers can start to get our GM dividend checks in the mail.

[Ruprick]

I'm a true blue, Flint Michigan USA guy - up here it is GM country.....I'm pretty impressed with the Chevrolet Malibu. Get as plain jain as possible....as they are still very nice and reasonably low cost. The all have 6 speed automatics.....all you need is the 176HP Inline 4 cylinder....plenty of power.....great economy. A lot of bang for the buck.

Otherwise - look at a low cost Toyoto.....I think their enrty level car is the Corolla...that is a rung down from the GM Malibi.....Toyota Camery would be the Malibu fighter. Toyota makes a fine care...but so does GM....or the equivalent from Ford.

Just keep it basic....a car is transportation....and even the simple cars are very nice these days as compared to days of old. All are very reliable....most I4 engines will deliver well into the 30's MPG on the highway.

[TnAndy]

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.

[Zed]

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 bought a new Suby in 2009, made me wish I'd bought another Honda..... they are over rated, 1st and last one for me. Honda, to the best of my knowledge, are still a quality mark.

[Rusty Shackelford]

Otherwise - look at a low cost Toyoto.....I think their enrty level car is the Corolla...

Just keep it basic....a car is transportation....and even the simple cars are very nice these days as compared to days of old. All are very reliable....most I4 engines will deliver well into the 30's MPG on the highway.

Actually, Toyota now has the Yaris which is their entry/economy car. Somewhere around $13K if memory serves me correct.

As far as the last part of the quote?? Pretty sage advice.

[highroller4321]

Small Hyundai's and I mean the cheap 10K one will do 300,000 K... they are bullet proof, they top the customer satisfaction polls. They are especially reliable when you look at the declining quality of German and Japanese competitors that are not what they once where.

If you want a cheap looking uncomfortable ugly car to sit in...go ahead and choose a KIA.








My advice is DON'T buy brand new!

[TnAndy]

I bought a new Suby in 2009, made me wish I'd bought another Honda..... they are over rated, 1st and last one for me. Honda, to the best of my knowledge, are still a quality mark.

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.

[phideaux]

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.

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).

[Lore]

You could get a Ford Flex, and then everybody will think you work at a funeral home...

[obilly]

i love GM,,,always pay cash ,,,never buy new,,,,,it has to be big enough to sleep in,,,prefer something with a 8' bed.

[Zed]

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!

[Zed]

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).

They are not what they where.... Suby are cheaping out... Mother dearest upgraded from an older model and is also not so impressed.

[phideaux]

They are not what they were....

So true about a lot of things....

[Irons]

+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]

Well, whatever car you choose, be sure that you get it in one of these two color options - silver or gold.

[Zed]

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...



I don't know how reliable they are.

[madhu]

how about the electric cars, /hybrids?

[KGMe]

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]

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?

[Zed]

It depends what you are buying.... I wanted a five star safety rating, old cars don't cut it.

[TnAndy]

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.

[TnAndy]

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).

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]

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]

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]

When/if gas hits $5.00, what kind of car would you buy. Buy that one now!

[TnAndy]

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]

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.

[Zed]

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.

[Meh]

I nominate my Honda Fit...36mpg around town, lots of cargo space, relatively inexpensive, durable, fun to drive and cute as a button.