Car Buying Advice - Which new car?

tranthe

I'm fresh out of college and working and am in the market for a new car. I am an enthusiast, so im looking for a car that has some power behind it. I'm also going to have my girlfriend and other friends with me at times, whether it be a weekend getaway or a week-long trip, so I need either 4 doors or a modest back seat of its a coupe. Lastly, we have a lot of back roads where I live. I want a car that will handle those and put a smile on my face. I have thought about Nissan Maxima's, Buick regal gs's, or the new fusion sport's. I don't have an unlimited budget, but 30k is where I'd like to land, and certified used is an option too. Thanks for the help!

Michaell

tranthe said:

I'm fresh out of college and working and am in the market for a new car. I am an enthusiast, so im looking for a car that has some power behind it. I'm also going to have my girlfriend and other friends with me at times, whether it be a weekend getaway or a week-long trip, so I need either 4 doors or a modest back seat of its a coupe. Lastly, we have a lot of back roads where I live. I want a car that will handle those and put a smile on my face. I have thought about Nissan Maxima's, Buick regal gs's, or the new fusion sport's. I don't have an unlimited budget, but 30k is where I'd like to land, and certified used is an option too. Thanks for the help!

All are good choices, and you may want to consider the Accord Touring also. Let me get some experts over here to offer their opinions - they love spending other people's money

28firefighter

Volkswagen GTI.

Not sure what you want option wise, but the GTI Sport with DSG can be bought for 24-25k and is very nicely equipped.  You can probably step up to the GTI SE and stay in budget. Very utilitarian as well. 

graphicguy

28firefighter said:

Volkswagen GTI.

Not sure what you want option wise, but the GTI Sport with DSG can be bought for 24-25k and is very nicely equipped.  You can probably step up to the GTI SE and stay in budget. Very utilitarian as well. 

I'll 2nd the VW GTI choice. Might look at any leftover 2017 Accords which should be very attainable at that price (maybe even the V6 version, which is quite good as I almost bought one last year).

qbrozen

3rd on the GTI.

Fusion Sport is out of your budget. Maxima, Buick, and Accords all fail to impress me when pushed hard. You can always get a used 3-series or C-class. I have seen 2014s with under 30k miles for low $20s. As a fresh out of college person, I suggest keeping the budget as low as you can.

nyccarguy

The GTI is a phenomenal choice.  I'd also recommend a Civic Si in a heartbeat.  

A few months ago I purchased a CPO 2015 Infiniti Q40 (G37x) AWD for under $25K.  It's fast and very comfortable.  Definitely not as nimble as a GTI or Civic Si.  

Keep us posted!  Good luck!

stickguy

add me to the GTI club. The Si Civic is only a stick shift, which could be an issue.

If you want a little bigger but still fun, can also go with a Jetta GLI.

k5ldb

The 2018 Camry XSE has a supposedly sport tuned suspension and upgraded engine. It also runs on regular gasoline vs. the premium for the GTI. The GTI is a cool car though and you might find an active owner's club to participate with depending on where you are. Good luck.

28firefighter

Really guys? We've gotten too predictable...

ChaseBellows

@Michaell is right, our team certainly doesn't mind making a suggestion, which would end up on having you spend money.

ChaseBellows

@Michaell is right, our team certainly doesn't mind making a suggestion, which would end up on having you spend money.

qbrozen

28firefighter said:

Really guys? We've gotten too predictable...

So where's YOUR unpredictable suggestion? :b

qbrozen

stickguy said:

add me to the GTI club. The Si Civic is only a stick shift, which could be an issue.

If you want a little bigger but still fun, can also go with a Jetta GLI.

Oh, well I would only get a stick in the GTI, too. I don't like the DSG, so if the OP has to have an auto, I'd skip the GTI.

andres3

qbrozen said:

stickguy said:

add me to the GTI club. The Si Civic is only a stick shift, which could be an issue.

If you want a little bigger but still fun, can also go with a Jetta GLI.

Oh, well I would only get a stick in the GTI, too. I don't like the DSG, so if the OP has to have an auto, I'd skip the GTI.

Admittedly I don't have a lot of experience with VW's DSG's (98% of my vast DSG experience coming from Audi programmed transmissions), but during a test drive I didn't find anything too objectionable in the GTI DSG. The Alltrack's works just fine (better than TDI Sportwagen's). I would recommend he test drive them in both D and S modes before committing though to see for himself.

andres3

28firefighter said:

Really guys? We've gotten too predictable...

The GTI really has become the "Standard" by which all other performance cars are measured. Particularly when it comes to "value."

I wasn't a huge fan of the '06-'14 GTI (felt Audi did it better). But with the new MQB platform, along with many other improvements, I don't see anything wrong with the current generation GTI.

I'd trade in my Kia (which was admittedly significantly lower cost) in a hot second for a GTI. Only downside I see is that these Mexico assembled GTI's don't score well in CR reliability surveys. However, they score better than the bottom-feeder models.

tbirdmarco

vw Mosda BMW OUty MB perhaps! Subero WRX Maxima Ford tores Sho

ChaseBellows

@Michaell is right, our team certainly doesn't mind making a suggestion, which would end up on having you spend money.

ChaseBellows

If you're looking for a CPO and want a sedan, why not a BMW 335i, Cadillac CTS, or a Infiniti Q50?

andres3

ChaseBellows said:

If you're looking for a CPO and want a sedan, why not a BMW 335i, Cadillac CTS, or a Infiniti Q50?

I'd add the A3 and A4 to that list (smaller/larger).

rickdon

GTI Sport and Civic get my vote. Both have good exterior form and are reliable.

qbrozen

Pretty sure, at more than 2 months since the thread was started, the OP ain't comin back. We should close out this thread.