What Should I Buy? Making a Statement for $30,000 or Less

Edmunds.com

What Should I Buy? Making a Statement for $30,000 or Less

There's some CL-Class in the CLA250's shape. | April 01, 2014 | Mercedes-Benz

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skw0123

Weird article. Was this supposed to go up yesterday? (This article is dated 4/2). How many people, upon learning that it is almost impossible to find a CLA for less than say $36K, let alone $30K, would decide to buy a Juke instead?

emajor

Sat in a $28.5K Juke at the dealership recently. I hope this thing drives like a GT-R, because it has all of the interior polish of a Versa and absolutely no passenger or cargo room. Cheap, nasty, and expensive. You'd have to possess a curious sense of value to drop anywhere near that kind of money on one.

wackford

What has happened to edmunds.com. Not that long ago, it was the place to come for up-to-date, interesting news on cars, etc. Now, they rarely have anything interesting and their updates are infrequent. It used to be my first port of call, but now there are other sites that do a much better job. Come on Edmunds, pull your socks up!!!!

darthbimmer

Want to spend $30k the smart way on an entry luxury car? Forget buying a brand-new CLA -- if you can even find one optioned that close to base price. Buy a slightly more upscale car as a CPO or good-condition used vehicle.

tacomamudpit

Interesting article - If you find a CLA at or 'under' 30K you better buy it. Those things come loaded from the factory and sticker in the "HIGH" 30's (mosy likely a special order for the 30K version @ No options, fake leather, no S/F, No nav etc). That Jeep for a starting price $23K - Um, dunno - I could be wrong? But is that the 2WD with small 4 banger engine? Get the 4WD, V6, and add some options you will be at 30K real quick! Just say'in...

zimtheinvader

skw0123, I think they are just 3 widely varied ways to 'get noticed'; not comparable ways. Although I do agree with the silliness of theme. I would love it if they'd actually compare and contrast some of their long term cars and have asked in several posts how the Mazda3 and CX5 compare for handling, ride, noise and room and if the different tradeoffs are worth it. Since that would be something that people that regularly drove both should be able to comment on I'd find posts like that much more interesting and helpful.

desmolicious

I'm wondering how long it will be before Edmunds pulls the plug on InsideLine and "what's hot".
IL used to be great years ago. Now the editors who are knowledgeable like Dan Edmunds hardly ever post anymore. The other editors are continuously corrected by readers. Real issues are never addressed. Most of the entries are terribly written fluff pieces. The quality of tests and photography are laughable compared to sites like roadandtrack, caranddriver etc.
The site Edmunds is still relevant. IL is not.

oxmead

Another stupid article. Since when is $30,825 30k or less. And good luck finding one close to that!

evodad

I think you'll get more notice than the three cars you posted combined in a frs/brz, or any number of used cars that can be had for <$30K

mnorm1_

wackford, couldn't agree more. Seems to me Edmunds has been sliding since Karl B. left. Edmunds needs to bring him back, or find someone similar.

greenpony

To get noticed under $30k, you need standout styling and a sticker price under $30k. The CLA doesn't qualify on either account. There are Wranglers everywhere, so it doesn't really stand out. The Juke is the only one that belongs on this list. I'd also put the BRZ/FRS on this list because it's rare enough to still turn my head when I see one. Then, maybe a Focus ST or a Volt to round out the three.

nh6

You guys forgot the Veloster Turbo. Even the Fiat 500 and a couple Minis should be on this list. The CLA has no place here whatsoever. It's a glorified sardine can for poseurs and idiots who can't see it as a way to screw people over.