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Comments
Really?
Huh. I think the new one is gorgeous, personally.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
2004 Accord EX, cloth, 69K miles, one owner and well maintained
2007 Elantra GLS with good options, 30K miles, prior rental car
Close in price. Accord is a bit "more car" that we need, but think we will be getting a more reliable car. We are car keepers. This one will be the second car, and used mainly for short distance commuting.
Like the newer safety features on the Elantra, and see that initial quality has improved. Stats on long term reliability (from CR) are not impressive.
Clearly not apples to apples..and that is what makes it tricky!
Those are two of the cars under discussion in this topic: Midsize Sedans 2.0. You'll also find individual discussions (lots) in the Accord group and the Elantra group.
Folks around here are very familiar with both models for several generations back, so I'm sure you'll find lots of opinions.
Good luck and have fun!
Who knew?
The main downside to the Accord is that it has 69k miles on it. At that mileage, parts can need replacing at any time--brakes, struts, battery, exhaust system etc. So be sure to have the car thoroughly checked by a mechanic to see if there's anything that might need work soon. There is of course also no warranty on the Accord, but there is still at least 3 years (maybe more, check the in-service date from Carfax) and 30k of factory bumper-to-bumper warranty left on the Elantra.
I have been looking around a lot lately at used cars in this price range, roughly $12k. There's a lot of good ones out there at that price, including some 2006-7 loaded Mazda6i Sports (very nice cars and fun to drive) and 2006-7 Sonata GLS I4s, all with low miles. Interestingly, I've found the 2007 Elantras actually are priced higher than some mid-sized cars like the Mazda6 and Sonata, with similar miles. The Sonata has an advantage of ESC too. In fact I am currently trying to decide between a 2006 Mazda6i Sport with 40k miles, a 2005 Mazda6i Sport hatchback with 40k miles (red and pretty hot looking), and a 2007 Sonata GLS I4 with moonroof with 35k miles, all in excellent shape and all for around $12k. The best I've found in a 2007 Elantra is around $12.7k with about 30k miles, for a GLS with moonroof. I am also toying with the idea of getting a 2000 323i that has only 40k miles on it.
This is definitely not apples to apples, so it is hard. I won't drive the car much, maybe 7500 miles/year, so the extra FE of a car like the Elantra doesn't mean much to me compared to a car like the Mazda6i or Sonata I4. The Accord is a fine car too, but I'd rather get a newer car under factory warranty than get an older one with more miles.
Hope this helps a little. Good luck!
What is FE? I also won't drive the car that much..which is why $12K is the top of the budget.
We hadn't even looked at the Sonata. Mainly because I started looking at Civic, Fit, Matrix. Moved into Elantra and Accord as I looked into features/safety on older models.
I like the suggestion of checking out the Sonata. The Mazdas weren't on the list. Safety and reliability in CR didn't compare to Honda. Though, I didn't look into the 6..only the 3. It seems like the prices in my area on the Mazda's are higher than what you are finding. But..I haven't dug too deep. Probably should check some more before making a decision.
Thanks for helping me think more broadly.
The Mazda6 is pretty well regarded by CR, and is in fact Recommended. I encourage you to take one for a spin. They handle great for a mid-sized sedan, and the prices are a lot lower than comparable Accords. For example, I've found a 2006 Mazda6i (I4) that is pretty loaded (17" rims, ground effects and spoiler, power seat, CD changer, leather wheel with audio controls, 5-speed automatic etc.) for around $12k at 40k miles. I found a similar car that's a 2007 with 27k miles that I think I could get for about $13k with some haggling. Be sure to look for a car with the side bags/curtains--these were optional on the Mazda6 until fairly recently.
Listen to backy; he won't lead you wrong. A big proponent of Hyundai products, but he's been served well by them (as I have Honda) so his like of Hyundai is justified, for sure.
The Mazda 6 and Sonata are good choices indeed, and offer more features for the dough than the Honda will; the question will be with whether or not you like them as much, or actually like them more! They are drastically different (the 6 and the Sonata), and the Accord falls somewhere in the middle.
Good luck, and I'll check in a little later!
As far as choosing between these two, its a matter of your needs and desires. The G35X is a ton more fun to drive, far far more powerful, a bit nicer inside, quieter, etc. But it sucks a helluva lot more gas (I'm getting 21mpg on premium in mixed driving) and of course is used.
So what do you want? Good gas mileage? Or a near-luxo sports sedan?
I made my choice. No way in hell I was getting another FWD economy family sedan.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Good luck on your decision.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
And I do speak from experience. Leased a new Accord. Got fed up within 18 months and dumped it at 27 months for a used G35X.
About 7 miles less per gallon, but I've come to the conclusion that I'd rather be happy with my ride than save $2.50/day in gas.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
And then there are some of us who do both.
There is no doubt on day one the G35 would be more fun. However, in three years, I would rather be drivin the Altima. I'm not a proponent of buying used mass-market vehicles. And I don't. After I got rid of my BMW I bought a new appliance car.
X years later I've come to the conclusion, I'm happier with my appliance than I would have been with a 6 year old entry level luxo sedan. Of course, the dang turbo is killing my gas mileage.
7 mpg is a huge difference when you drive 20 to 30K a year. I would rather pocket the $2.50 and in three years still have a vehicle under warranty.
That's why there are choices.
Plenty of folks (the majority, in fact, as sales numbers indicate) are happy driving appliances.
Personally, I know the vehicle I was happiest with for the longest period of time was a entry-luxo sedan I bought used. Bought it 3 years old and kept it till it was 8. Warranty wasn't an issue. HOWEVER, that's me. You make a good point about warranty because when I'm making recommendations to friends and family, I take that into account. If I know the person knows little about cars, drives them without thought to repairs, and does minimal maintenance, then I try to steer them to a new appliance rather than a used luxo-car.
Although, if you have a turbo, it doesn't sound to me like you bought an appliance.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Would she be better off buying a 2007/2008 Ford Edge or a 2004/2005 Cadillac SRX V6? She likes how the Edge is newer, but thinks the SRX is more stylish and luxurious. She asked me for advice but I'm not sure what to tell her...
The real question is does she need three rows?
The Ford will still have warranty, most likely. The Caddy won't.
24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Tesla Y LR / 03 Montero Ltd
anybody have any info on them?
thanks
Do not get into debt.
If you really must have one, I'd get a beater for the cash you have on hand. Its just going to get trashed in the city anyway and you won't need it that much that it needs to be something incredibly reliable.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
I agree with previous posts that the most practical thing to do would be to get a car you can pay cash for. You should be able to find a good small economy car for your $4500. The $300+ you save each month in car payments (and extra gas and insurance) because you didn't buy a $20,000 car like a used Maxima can be used for many things, including having some cash on hand for the inevitable repairs an older car will need.
However... you said style is important to you. And it is your money. So a compromise would be a small, stylish, economical, reliable, fun-to-drive, and relatively low-cost car such as a used Mazda3i. Other options would be a used Civic coupe or maybe even a Celica (my all-time favorite car from my 20s). Since you are 22, are single (yes?), and live in NYC, a small car would be your best bet vs. something like a Maxima or Altima. You might consider a small hatchback, for their versatility if not their style. You could even pick up a new hatch like a Yaris or Versa for around $13k if you get a stick, or you could get a used Mazda3, Rabbit, Elantra, Matrix/Vibe etc.
I'm considering the Mazda3 hatchback Grand Touring model or the Honda Civic EX-L. Though either would be a step down from my Audi, I'm treating myself to the bells and whistles so I don't feel too deprived :-) I'd like to get the nav system on either one, though it looks like finding models equipped with nav is difficult.
Anyone have any thoughts on these two cars? I'm going out this afternoon to do test drives.
If fuel economy is real important to you, the Civic will top the Mazda3 there. But IMO the Mazda3 is more fun to drive, and as a hatchback much more versatile than the Civic. The test drive should help a lot. Be sure to drive the cars over the roads you would normally commute on. I've found both cars have quite a bit of road noise, probably moreso on the Mazda3 with the low-profile tires. I recently drove a 3 for a few days on LA freeways and would describe the ride as "punishing".. not pleasant to put up with every day. If you want a quieter ride, you could go for something like the Malibu, or maybe the Accord or Fusion. Camry and Sonata would have softer rides also, but given what you have and are looking at I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be happy with their handling.
I am curious why you aren't considering the Rabbit or Jetta this time? Also have you considered getting a portable nav unit? Since the car will be used mostly for commuting, it doesn't seem you would need the nav much. That would reduce the price quite a bit and give you a better choice of cars.
Thanks for the responses. I hadn't considered the Malibu - perhaps out of some fear of buying a Chevy right now given the state of American auto makers.
Yes, I think I probably will look at a portable nav system so that it can be used in both cars. I'm an electronics gadget guy so I think I'm probably compensating for the step down from the Audi with as many gadgets as I can :-)
Perhaps I should look more closely at the Rabbit. Frankly, I've been a bit disappointed in the reliability of our Jetta which is probably why I've shied away from them.
Personally, I like both the 3 and the Civic (I'm a 2-Accord owner here, but am not overwhelmed with Honda quality as of late - never been stranded, but had a few niggling issues with my 2006 Accord; misaligned gas-flap from the factory, inside rear-view mirror glass wasn't attached, and actually fell out of the housing, needed a new center console lid because the fabric came unattached around 33,000 miles, and a new CD changer was necessary at 37,000 miles; all covered by warranty).
Have you test-driven anything yet?
1. post-2006 Honda Civic Coupe
2. 2006 Mazda 3
3. 2005-06 Nissan Altima
Any advice would be great
* 2006-7 Mazda6i
* 2005 or 2005.5 VW Jetta (get one VW Certified, with warranty if at all possible)
* 2006 Fusion or Milan
* 2007-8 Sonata
* 2007-8 Optima (but be careful, most do NOT have ABS/ESC)
I've seen all of these in your price range, and they are all pretty reliable and safe.
If you go with a Civic, try for a 2006+ (I know, hard to find under $11k). They are much improved in crash safety over the pre-2006 Civics, and all trims have ABS standard. A used Mazda3i is a good choice, but be sure it has the optional ABS and side airbag package.
I am 27 with a medium-high risk credit score. The most I can honestly afford would be $250 a month. I am worried about insurance, but gas should not be a problem. (I live less than 1 mile from work.) Is it even feasible to get financed for a car that much at a dealer or should I look towards another lender. I have already been turned down by Citibank via www.lendingtree.com and I fear that asking for money I might not get will do more harm than good. My girlfriend told me that dealers will only finance a car that is 5 years old or newer. Is there any truth to that?
If it were me and between a pre-2006 Civic or a 2006 Mazda3, I'd take the Mazda3 in a second. A whole lot more car.
Another thought, if you continue to have trouble securing a loan, is wait until you can save enough cash for a decent car. It might not be a $10k car, maybe a $3k car, but it will get you to/from work and on dates with your girlfriend (or maybe she can drive ). If you have a little cash saved now, you could save enough for such a car in less than a year. As an example of what you could get for that kind of money, my oldest son drives my 2000 626 ES now as his get-to-college car. It has a private-party value of about $3000, has 102k miles on it, but it runs strong, everything works, body and interior are still good.
Another route many young people take is to borrow money from parents or relatives. You can give them a higher interest rate than they could get on savings, and you get a car. If you do that, draw up a formal loan agreement though--treat it just as seriously as a bank loan.
Honda Civic EX: $18,398
Mazda 6 i touring: $19,450+$1250(sunroof)=20,650 ( I like sunroof)
What would you choose based on the performance of the cars and their prices?
Thanks.
Mazda3
;b
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Any thoughts?
" Are you buying this car? Then make sure you are buying it from a licensed dealership. Otherwise, you could be a victim of curbstoning, which is illegal. A curbstoner poses as a private seller to sell vehicles for a large profit. Be sure to buy this vehicle from a licensed dealer."
The rest of car history looks clean..
I called up the owner and she said that she works for a dealer and the car is with her. She is going to show the car at a local target but said that final paperwork will be done at the dealer. I searched for the dealer on google but coul not find any information.
Does it seem like a scam or I am reading too much into it...
I love the new Elantra but the loss of traction is a real concern. Would different tires make a difference. The elantra is heavier than the protege, so do not understand why the traction would be less favorable.
lnw
Tires could make a big difference. You might get a good set of winter tires. Also your Hyundai is considerably more powerful than the Protege, with more torque, so you may need to use a lighter foot than you are used to in such conditions.
The most slippery roads we get in CT is when there is rapid accumulation and the temp is freezing +/- about 2 degrees. That's because the snow will start to melt but will then freeze as more snow falls. We had one of those storms about 2 weeks ago. No more than a half inch of snow & cars were sliding all over. There's a bad hill near my house. During that storm there 2 cars facing sideways at the first curve. I turned around and took an alternative route.
When the temp has been in the 20's for a sustained period and the roads are colder, I can get up that hill (but it is still an adventure).
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=s0&oq=curbstoning&ie=UTF-8&rl- z=1T4GGLJ_en&q=curbstoning+meaning
I recently purchased a used 2009 Murano. Upon delivery I noticed the center dash electronic display would shut off when the lights were turned on. The dealer gave me a rental and it was repaired in a week. Luckily he was only a few miles away and I picked it up after work.