Please help me decide between...

1racefan

Have you thought about a full sized, crew cab pick up? Seating for 5, towing capaility, and hauling ability. I would think you could buy a used 1 year old domestic (thinking F-150), put 60K on it, and only lose $8,000 - $10,000 when it comes time to sell. I have heard that after the first year or 2, full sized pick ups depreciate at a lesser rate than do SUVs. I have nothing to back this up, but I have been told this by a couple of folks that claim to know.

jkumpire24

Need a little advice here:

I am looking to replace a car for my wife.

We ran into a very clean 2001 Honda Civic Ex, for 11 K, with 31K miles, and very clean.

The alternative is a 2005 Ford Focus ZX4 4 door, with 32K miles and about 12K.

I am stuck as to which one to choose:

The Ford is newer, the dealer is local, the car has more head room. CR has it as an average car reliability wise

The Honda has really low miles, sunroof, to me a better interior and the usual CR high quality rating.

Cons: Honda dealer is a long way from us for repairs, and I am unfamiliar with the maintenance requirements, i.e. who can work on them. It is 4 years older. I didn't test it on the highway, where some people complain the engine has little pick up and the wind noise is bad.
Ford had a noise that was in the back enbd to get fixed, and 15K miles a year on the car tell me it's a rental and I'm not happy about that.

What say ye? What would you buy?

corvette

The sunroof in the Civic eats into the headroom.

The Civic's maintenance should be something like:
every 10k - oil change, tire rotation.
20k - oil and filter change, tire rotation, inspect brakes and other items.
40k - all of the above plus air filter.
Replace brake fluid every three years.
Probably no tune-up or ATF change until 100k.

The Civic sounds like a low-mileage, one owner car. You could get a newer one with more miles for the same price, but there wouldn't be that much advantage to doing so. What is the condition of the body and interior of both the cars? Rental cars (like the Focus) tend to be a little beaten up; I'm guessing that a private owner vehicle would be in better shape.

The Civic's warranty is out anyway--if you have a local mechanic who is familiar with imports, you could go to them for repairs.

jkumpire24

The bodies of both look to be okay, just a couple of scratches on the rear bumper of the Civic.

I am surprised about Honda maintenance,you mean no oil change every 3K miles? Do they recomend full synthetic? It seems so different than other cars.

Do Civics have a lot of noise at highway speeds? That to me is the big issue, though some also say they are unclomforetable for long drives. If I knew the Civic was not a wind tunnel, I'd be heading to the dealer now to pick it up. I usually drive Fords, I like the cars a lot, our family has used nothing but Sables/Taurus models for years. But the Honda seems like a nice low cost car to have.

asafonov

The Civic's maintenance should be something like:
every 10k - oil change, tire rotation.

My Accord calls for 7500 miles oil changes under normal schedule only. I consider mine severe and change oil every 3.5-4k. Also, change the filter every time oil is changed, not every other time.

Other than that, pretty accurate description of Honda maintenance, I think. What about radiator flushes, though?

british_rover

I belive honda uses a 7 year 100,000 mile interval for coolant changes.

I would cut that in about half to say 3 year 50,000 miles though.

cccompson

Drive the Civic to see if it meets your preferences. If so, you can't hardly go wrong with one. It is always worthwhile to pay a little extra for a premium used car.

The Ford will likely not be as reliable and its resale will be worse.

jlawrence01

The Ford will likely not be as reliable and its resale will be worse.

Two comments:

1) On a used vehicle, the greater reliability of the Honda is reflected in the price. If you can buy similar models of the same model year for significantly less, the Ford could easily be a better deal. Personally, I would see if I could negotiate the price on the Focus down at least $1000 as the price seems a bit high to me.

2) In this case you are comparing a 2001 model with a 2005. Parts fail due to mileage and age. The OP needs to be somewhat careful will low mileage vehicles to ensure that proper maintenance has occurred.

I have seen a lot of cases where there is a car that is 6 years old with 30k miles that still has ALL the original equipment. That means the buyer will be replacing the tires, belts, hoses and other stuff during the first months of ownership. Trust me, those cars are NO bargain.

cccompson

Buyers always need to be careful that proper maintenance has occured regardless of age or mileage.

Although I wasn't specifically equating low mileage with premium condition, low mileage usually offers a wealth of advantages for the additional cost just because the car has been used less and will show less wear.

I haven't checked numbers on either of the cars under consideration but the price on the Honda does seems steep for a 6 years old car. It probably sold for less than $17,000 new.

My inclination here would be to search a bit more - there are a great many vehicles available in the $11,000 to $12,000 price range.

jkumpire24

Wow,

Thanks for the information.

First, about the Honda. I took it for a test drive and a detailed inspection today. The road noise was not bad at all, the handling was good, and the dealer had done some work on it, oil change, and some other stuff. There were new after-market tires on it, in good shape. Mechanically the car is sound, and the sticker price price for the car new was in the 18's, and while I can see it costing in the 17's, I'd like to see if anyone ever bought one for under 17K new.
It is a clean car.

The problem is that each rear fender has scratches along the back end of each wheel well, like the former owner scraped the car on a post or garage door or something. There is no signs of body repair, or any signs of damage other than scraped paint, but I am not paying anywhere near 11K for it, if I get it.

As to the age of the car, if the thing has only 5K miles a year, and it has been well-taken care of mechanically, how can it be a problem? I would worry more about a 2 yr. old car with too many miles than an older one with less. If the man who posted about the cars age would say more abou this, I would appreciate it.

Thanks for the Ford advice, I am sure that the car will not be purchased for 12K or anything close to it with its milage if I buy it.

jlawrence01

As to the age of the car, if the thing has only 5K miles a year, and it has been well-taken care of mechanically, how can it be a problem?

A lot of times, when you have a low mileage vehicles, they are garage queens. That is, the proverbial little old lady buys a car that she drives to the market and to church once a week. Heck, i have bought a couple over the years when someone's aunt can no longer drive.

The problem with these vehicles is twofold. First, the engine never really gets much of a workout. It gets started, driven four miles and put away for a few days. Second, people who drive little, generally don't service the vehicle all that much. Some parts, especially the rubber parts deteriorate as much from sitting around as by running.

If the car turns out OK, that is great. Just make sure that the necessary maintenance has been done as opposed to just a little armor-all to make everything look good.

jsylvester

Unless the car was kept in a climate controlled garage, time will cause rubber, metal, plastic, electronics, etc. to deteriorate. It can be minimized through proper storage, but time stops for no man (or machine).

It is all a judgement call on used cars - each one is different, but age is just one factor to consider.

suydam

My son bought one of those "garage queens" -- two years later he has a 1998 LeSabre with only 60,000 miles on it and it is in perfect condition. Never a problem. I would feel even better about a Honda. They hold up very well even when you drive them a lot. I would feel more confident about the Honda than the Ford.

newcarbuyer07

Greetings,

I'm in the market for a new vehicle (will be retiring my 96 p/u w/245,000 miles this summer).

I need a vehicle that gets very good gas mileage (due to a 100 mile per day round trip work commute).

On the weekends I'd like to be able to tow my boat to the lake (the boat/motor/trailer combo weighs 1,200 lbs).

Price should be reasonable ($18,000 or less preferred).

I'm not partial to any specific brand or style.

Can you help with suggestions and/or recommendations.

Nick

joel0622

Will you be paying cash or financing? The reason I ask is that an $18K truck at 6% and an $18K truck at 0% are two different things.

qbrozen

1200 lbs is nothing. there are MANY vehicles that can tow that much.

Any other considerations? number of passengers, etc?

jkumpire24

Thanks for the help!

We got the Honda, and the thing is a dream. Not a bit of trouble, and it is running great. they had it sitting in the right place for us.

My recommendation: Find the lowest milage car you can in the model you want, and find it as old as you can resonably find it. And before you buy it spoend a lot of time on the internet learing about the general history of the model you want. And if you are lucky, once you find a car or two you like, see if you can in touch with the former owner if you are buying through a dealer.

newcarbuyer07

Will be financing with a short term note, so we should see a decent interest rate.

newcarbuyer07

Considerations? Passengers (wife, child, & my self). Somewhat "hilly" terrain out hear in Maine. Other than that nothing really comes to mind

steine13

Pontiac Vibe or Toyota Matrix.

Probably a better deal new than used; with the Vibe, a used one may pop up for the right price.

I used to own one and probably will again. It's got the same space as many SUV's -- Gd Cherokee is no bigger inside -- it has decent ground clearance, and it gets great gas mileage.

Super reliability is also a factor.

I installed a $120 hitch on mine in a couple of hours. Easy. Max towing is 1,500, I think.

-Mathias

Kirstie_H

A large local newspaper is looking to interview consumers who are considering purchasing a Ford vehicle. If you are interested in speaking to the reporter, please reply to jfallon@edmunds.com no later than Friday, April 20, 2007 with your daytime contact info.

peetert

We are looking to replace the family minivan and have begun the process of determining what would best fit out needs. We have 3 kids with 1 in a booster & 1 in a car seat so that means 3 rows since the occasional grandparent will be along. Also, we would like to have AWD capabilites as we do travel in to snowy regions quite frequently. Since the wee one (2-1/2) is getting bigger, we no longer have the need to tote along as much stuff as we used to (amazing how #3 will be fine in a shopping cart, but #1 "Needed" the full travel system). So we can get by with a smaller cargo area, but would still need space for groceries, etc.

I've been doing some research and my wife has looked at a few options, but then, I had a different thought. One of the cars we tested was the Ford Freestyle. My wife liked it, and it seems to fit our requirements. I currently also have the ability to buy with the X-Plan so that makes it appealing as well. But... (there's always a but) The Volvo XC90 also is X-plan eligible and, to my wife's delight, is a Volvo! ( We currently have an S70 that was bought used and is still going strong). However, a new XC90 is a bit out of our budget.

Now, after all that, here comes the part where I could used some opinions. While a 'new' XC90 is out of the question, an off-lease one that is certified can be got for about the same price as a 'new' Freestyle similarly equipped. So, the question is do I go for a 'new'car in it's last model year or a 'used' car that may last longer. As a note, when we bought our S70, it had 36k miles on it and they replaced all 4 tires, brakes and rotors as well as doing the 40k service. At 103k, it's still going strong and still looks good too.

Thanks!

Peeter

cccompson

Does the Volvo really offer enough room and ease of use?

If so, between the two, I suppose it would be the better choice since the Ford's resale will be so bad.

However, if I was in your shoes, there'd be only one choice: an AWD Toyota Sienna.

neile457

The Freestyle, while technically is in it's last year, it really isn't. It mainly is changing it's name to the Taurus X, plus some cosmetic changes. If you want to go with the X plan, go with the Freestyle. Have you looked at the Pacifica? Or will the x plan work with Mazda? If so, what about the CX-9. Those are suppose to be real nice. Good luck!

basscadet

Not to sound like a jerk, but 100 mile per day commute?

I think I would focus more on moving or finding a new job.

joel0622

Let me know your ZIP Code and I will pull programs for your area and let you know if there are any extra rebates for plan customers. In are region there is $2500 rebate or 1.9% on 60 months. There is also an extra $300 for X-Plan Marketing Associates.

joel0622

Not to sound like a jerk, but 100 mile per day commute?

I think I would focus more on moving or finding a new job.

Thats just the way of the world in allot of places back east. Its cheaper to commute then live in the city.

british_rover

Yup people in this area commute to NYC every day and that is way more then 100 miles.

Granted most of them take the train but still.

yajiv01

I have a 04 Nissan Quest SE. I see that Nissan is offering a 3K rebate on the 07 Quest SE. For 2004 owners, there is an additional 2K rebate totalling 5K in rebates.

Is it a good idea to trade in my SE and get a 07?

My 04 is in excellent condition (new brakes), 33K miles

qbrozen

its never a good idea to trade in for a new car when your current vehicle is in good working order with low miles and will serve you just fine for years to come.

jipster

Has your 04' been problem free? A lot of 04's have had quality/reliability issues. If your's has been relatively trouble free... from a financial standpoint I'd hang onto it.

dtownfb

Also the 2004 have the 5 yr/60k mile bumper to bumper warranty that Nissan gave to all 2004 Quest owners for the 1st year problems. I would drive it (I Have a 2004 Quest) until the warranty runs out.

yajiv01

I had the rotors cut recently. The dealer covered it in warranty but did warn it will not be covered in the future. Had to replace both my front and rear brakes. These are the major ones. The rest were minor and covered under warranty.

After reading the forums, I am afraid that I may face more problems and end up spending a lot out of pocket.

dtownfb

Brakes are a maintenance item. Yes you will have to replace the rotors and pads at some point in the future. And yes it will cost some money, about $300 per axle. Nothing you can do about it.

You have another 2 years and 27k miles left on your BUMPER to BUMPER warranty from Nissan. This warranty is equivalent to most manufacturer's 3 yr/36k mile warranty. Nissan issued the 5 yr/60k mile warranty to ALL 2004 QUEST OWNERS so everything other then maintenance items are covered.

steine13

I dunno about $300/axle... I just slapped new pads on my wife's 03 Sienna with 75k... cost me 90 minutes and $23.

That'll last about 25k miles, at which point I'll spend $110 or so to replace rotors and pads. Then I'm good for 50-70k.

Drum brakes are a pain, and I always have those done. But discs are as easy as falling off a log.

A good independent should keep the cost reasonable, I would think.

-Mathias

dtownfb

I was including the rotors at dealership rates. But you are correct, if you are handy, you can do the work in a short afternoon.

I just don't see the sense in getting rid of a car while you ahve so much left on the warranty just to get a newer version of the same vehicle. But to each his/her own.

jyd247

Hi, I am in the hunt for either a new or used car this winter and I am very undecided what to buy. My limit is around 35K. I was hoping to get a used Audi S4 (2004-2005) but I hear of reliability problems, plus the usual cost of maintaining a German car. I am hoping to get my hands on a reliable, fun driving, quick (fast), women approve kind of car. I am just not sure if American cars are reliable anymore. Are there any cars our there comparable to an S4 that are reliable?

Any suggestions?

Thanks for any direction you can get me in.

joel0622

I am hoping to get my hands on a reliable, fun driving, quick (fast), women approve kind of car.

Do you mean approval from a women you already have or approval from women you are looking for? Big difference

thenebean

one word - convertible

maybe a mustang, toyota solara, volvo c70, a4 cabrio...pontiac G6 hardtop convertible...

just some options...

good luck!

-thene

Kirstie_H

Infiniti G35 Coupe...
assuming that you're looking for a grown-up "chick magnet"

qbrozen

heck, considering the poster's pricerange, get a new G37.

oregonboy

BMW 3-series convertible (sorry about the width)

thenebean

ooh ooh! hot car

hey, im a chick, and i LOOOOVE that car (but i also love the new Nissan GTR - but its not out yet, and not for $35k)

-thene

jyd247

I mean women that I am looking for and don't have. A chick magnet would be nice. I am 37 years old. A reliable car is a must also.

jyd247

the G37 looks pretty nice. Kind of what I'm looking for. not sure of the MSRP on it though. The G35 coupe is another option that kirstie suggested. I very well could be leaning this way. Thanks for the suggestions

qbrozen

well, a used G35 coupe with low miles will run you around $25k. The new G37 will start around $33k and top out around $40k (at least, this is what i've read).

kyfdx

Chicks don't care that much about cars.. They did a big wallet.

Or.. to be more accurate... An open wallet.

pat

Um, sexist much? :P

I love cars and I have my own wallet, thankewverrymuch!

kyfdx

I don't think that is sexist.. Our original poster wanted to know which car would attract women.

So, with the parameters set, I just think there is a more cost-effective way to achieve his goal.

However disgusting that I personally think that goal might be!!

(Is that better?)

regards,
kyfdx
(not the host here, obviously)

qbrozen

i wouldn't want a chick that likes me for my car ... but what do i know? i'm married.