Selecting and Buying My First Car

arkitect · June 2005

1983 GMC Suburban 2500 with a 6.2 Liter Diesel Engine for me as a first car.

isellhondas · June 2005

That 6.2 diesel is one of the very WORST engines ever made!

I didn't know there were any left running!

stickguy · June 2005

I think you will scare the heck out of all the sport compacts in the HS parking lot, and you can park anywhere you please. Just don't enter any drag races.

Kirstie_H · June 2005

A reporter is interested in speaking with a parent looking for a vehicle to buy their teenager. He is specifically looking for someone who is thinking about safety issues. If you would like to speak with this reporter, please send your name and daytime phone number to Pam Krebs, Edmunds.com PR, at pkrebs@edmunds.com by Friday, June 24 at 12 noon.

jchan2 · June 2005

With gas prices going through the roof, if I were in your shoes, I'd rather be piloting around in an 88 Civic instead of that Suburban.

voicelit · June 2005

What does anyone think : Mazda Protege 5 ( used ) for around $11,000 ( little less or more ) with around 30,000 miles or for less money ( preferred by wife ) a 1999 , 2000 Volvo ( v40 or s70 whatever they call them ) for about $7,000 but with alot more milage ( 90,00 - 130,000 ) or a ' 98, ' 99, 2000 Subaru - $ 6,000... 8,000 with 60,00 - 100,000 miles ?
We'd have to finance the $11,000 - 12,000 Mazda more ; the new idea is to put alot more money in up front and get the older cheaper wagons.
We're moving into our new house July 8th . It's the kind of place where we'll need the 2nd car with space in back for the trips to Home Depot for this and that and mulch and grass seed... also transporting the new ( soon to be gotten ) dog , at times, with Parakeet in his cage in the back.
Any thoughts ?

Marty

jchan2 · June 2005

A Volvo with that much miles is bound to have problems begin to creep up.

I'd take a look at the Subaru or the Mazda Protege5.

Have you thought of a minivan or a smaller crossover, like a Toyota RAV4?

Would a clean, used 2000 Saab 9-3 hatchback or Saab 9-5 wagon work? (they'd be just as unreliable as the Volvos but Saabs depreciate slightly quicker)

suydam · June 2005

One factor to consider in your decision is the inevitable cost of repairs. If you're in an urban area with lots of Volvo, Saab and Subaru dealers, this may not be an issue. Out in more rural areas there are fewer dealerships to choose from, and repairs tend to be higher on those makes. Mazda, on the other hand, has dealerships everywhere and repairs tend to be less expensive (speaking from the experience of having owned 3 Mazdas and a Subaru). So you might stretch to make the initial outlay for the Protege, but have less costs down the road. The Protege is a great car with a pretty good track record for reliability.

kyfdx · June 2005

No contest... The P5 is the winner... Plus, they almost all come fully loaded.. Nice cars that have decent resale..

cti · June 2005

is a hatchback not a wagon so interior space will be lower, maybe much lower.

My mother purchased a used Protege5 last year and loves it. It truly is a fun car.

I bought a Mazda3 5-door four months ago and looked at the Volvo V50 and the Subaru Impreza wagon but they were more than I was willing to spend. Very, very nice cars, though. Being true wagons they had more space, but I don't really need that much space. All three would have fit my needs. All were nice looking and fun cars. All had a wealth of features, either standard or optional.

As a secondary car, something less reliable or more costly (like the Volvo - also cheaper) to repair won't be as much of a problem because you won't be using it much and have another car handy.

Are you looking at specific cars or just models in general? Maybe the available options will sway your decision.

voicelit · June 2005

It's me , th e " original " poster here on this one. Think it's more a question of the money etc... We have ( my wife has ) a Cambry ( 100,000 some miles , think it's a '98 ) that's still in good shape. We're buying our first house ( Westchester Ny - Yorktown area ) and will be needing a 2nd vehicle for local errands / pet transport.
We had basicly settled on the Mazda Protege 5 , but something got into Cathy's ( wife ) head about the benefits in this situation ( lots of current cash outlay ) of an old clunker. Something about not caring about the insurance and other monies 'cause it's not worth it or something ? A quick search on Auto Trader dot Com for wagons ( not American ) in the $ 6,000.00 to $ 8,000.00 range brought up a number of Volvos and Subarus , here and ther something else. Might even have been one Mazda Protege 5 I found for around $ 8,000.00 something.
Think it's a question of what money to spend versus cost of repairs etc : money down $ 6,000.00 cash or so , so much in cash up front and then finance the rest ? Stuff like that .

Thanks for all the help so far,

Marty ( ... and Cathy )

suydam · June 2005

If you're going to have two cars with more than 100,000 miles each, repairs will definitely be an issue.

jchan2 · June 2005

I'd get something more reliable then.

The Mazda Protege5 is probably the winner in this case.

A clean 2000 Taurus wagon would work also though.... And it'll hold a ton of stuff.

ateixeira · June 2005

I think you're really looking at 2 scenarios, here. I like both the P5 and the Forester. Get the latter if you need AWD (snow/gravel/whatever).

-juice

voicelit · July 2005

Me , still : with all the Mazda Protege 5 Subaru , Volvo used wagon questions. Yes, we continue to lean towards the Mazda P5 wagon/hatchback with about 40,000 miles on it for around $9,000.00 . But the more we take in the extent of work needed on our new house , the more we wish we could get away for less money on the car. ( 2nd car , for back and forth to Home Depot and stuff, grass seed, big bags of dog food... that kind of suburban stuff )
What if someone had $6000.00 to plop down cash; for some kind of small used wagon ( american, foreign whatever ) ... automatic trans, 4 door... what would be the best deal for something that would last another -maybe- three years ?

Marty (... and Cathy )

user777 · July 2005

wow - you've been considering this for some time. consider the following light-heartedly but sincere 'cause i think i can save you some serious change here:

when i first read your first post, i thought buying a house?...better wait and see how the finances go (taxes, insurance, mortgage and stuff for the house - like electricity and water and all the stuff you want to fill it with)...then there is food. got kids?

if it were me - first thing: i'd skip the dog. was there a dog involved? i forget...

but seriously...get the dog trained. some dogs in new surroundings end up chewing and scratching stuff that will cost you good $ to repair.

ultimately this is what i'd do. i'd wait. i'd use the vehicle(s)? i had to make my runs to the home improvement store. believe me - even in a toyota corolla you can fits lots and lots of stuff in the trunk, and lots in the seats...also remember your seats probably go down. and those 2x4s? they go from the back seat out the front window quite nicely (with the passenger seat down).

well then, what about that plywood? first qn: do you really need to buy plywood? (an extreme example of something oversized you might want to deal with. was plywood involved? i forget..)

some basic options come to mind for the really big stuff:
1). depending on vehicle - you use cheap suction-cup roof racks

2). you rent the improvement store's truck for $19 an hour;

3). you meet your neighbors (better than 1 or 2) since you borrow their truck and they help you with your project.

4). you have them deliver...

simple.

think outside the box (and off the suburban / SUV-minded bullet train you are on for the moment). buy only what you need for the next year. skip the new to you vehicle for now. feel the freedom that you don't have those car payments to deal with when you've got other expenses comming at you. get settled. slow down a tad and relax those busy minds. enjoy your home purchase and start your little projects (which will have a cost of their own). meet those great neighbors the seller's agent told you about. exchange grilling techniques. go on vacation.

voicelit · July 2005

Thanks, but... thing is we only got the one car ( Toyota Cambry 1997 130,000 miles ) at the moment, Wife will take that to work; I'll be home - no vehicle. Kind of place that there's nothing you can walk to... So, we gotta buy some kind of car anyway. Yea, there's gonna be a dog. Plywood's no problem. Marty (... and Cathy )

jlawrence01 · July 2005

Personally, I would look around for a domestic sedan, 4 door, about 6 years old, and in the $3-4k range. There are a ton of them out there as people rush to buy new cars because of the various incentives on new car purchases.

I would agree with the previous poster about RENTING when you need a vehicle for a short term reason. Rental vehicles (especially on the weekends) are generally pretty cheap. Using them as a supplemental vehicle is a lot more economical than buying more vehicle than you need.

For the record, I live in Chicagoland and have a 10 year old sedan with 108k miles. It is an ideal vehicle for commuting 10 miles each way on country roads. However, if I need to go on a road trip, I head to the local Enterprise/Hertz/Avis and rent a car for somewhat under $20/day. I would rather have a brand new vehicle for a long trip. The $200-300 I spend on rental cars each year is about equal to the additional amount that I would pay for insurance if I had a newer car.

ghulet · July 2005

.....If you really just need something for local errands and/or schlepping, I don't think a Volvo wagon (any age) or Protege5 are necessarily the best solutions. If I had a new-to-me house and $6k cash for a car, I'd stick to that amount and not have any payments. Your house is going to surprise you, a tuckpointing here, dead furnace there, I'd keep as much of monthly cashflow as possible. $6k can buy you a decent older domestic SUV (Blazer/Explorer), not that I like them or their gas mileage, or a small truck or a decent domestic sedan or wagon (Taurus, etc.). If it has to be something kinda fancier/posher/yuppier, $6k could buy you a pretty nice '97-98 SAAB 900 four-door hatch that is fully capable of hauling mulch and taking you to the club, though you may need that much again for repairs in the next three years. Maybe an older Honda CRV or RAV4, though for $6k it's likely to be very miley.

voicelit · July 2005

Yea, I see alot of Tauruses listed for around $6K. "posh" isn't the issue as much as repairs etc. Just seems the Euro/Asian thing is better at staying out of the shop. I seem to see alot of Subarus and Volvos - can't remember if the milage is all that high. Think so.

Well, thanks again

( .. Oh, got the dog. Not what I wanted. I wanted some kind a ... " back of the pickup truck " dog... happened to see a dog from a shelter on display outside a pet store.. seemed a little bigger at that moment and was told it was a " boy ", went back for my wife... one thing to anoteher: we have a small " border collie " type female 1 yr old. )

Marty

jchan2 · July 2005

Maybe a 1998 Honda Odyssey? What's the resale on one of those things anyways?

Do you have Flexcar in your area? You might want to join Flexcar.

Some more Ideas:
Ford Taurus Wagon (Mercury Sable is the EXACT same thing, save some trim differences)
Ford Focus Wagon
Saab 9-3 hatchback (well... This is a posher/more prestigious ride, but could cost you in repairs)
Suzuki Vitara (very trucky)
Can't think of much more...

rroyce10 · July 2005

.. ** issue as much as repairs** .......

Bunches of nice low mile Buicks, Tauruses, Sables out there for your price range, and no they won't being seeing any more or less "shop" time than a Euro/Asian .... if they do it will be for alot less $$ ....

Terry.

ateixeira · July 2005

Nothing like a good beater. Get a car that isn't cosmetically perfect, a cheap one, and you don't even need collision insurance on it.

How 'bout it?

-juice

blueiedgod · July 2005

I was thinking the same lines. Like you said you need a car to go to home depot and stuff. What is better than an old pick up truck or a full size domestic station wagon. You can have those for $500 these days.

I have a brand new CR-V, and recently bought a house. With all the trips to Home depot and Lowes, the back of my CR-V is all scratched up from the 200 or so bricks, 26 foot ladder, snow blower, bags of peat moss, mulch, top soil, plumbing supplies, replacement windows and general stuff.

When I first bought the house, I had a 2002 Civic Si, with the versatility of a hatchback, I was able to carry a dishwasher home (in the box), mower, some other gardening stuff. But it is much easier to carry all that in the CR-V.

I wish I had room in the driveway for an old pick up truck. But I already have a Prelude, CR-V and my girlfriend just leased an Escape. It is only a 1.5 car garage, Prelude gets it by seniority.

ateixeira · July 2005

Same here, except I lose the covered parking spot because the kids go in the other 2 cars and they're protected from rain. So ironically the convertible sits in the weather.

-juice

jchan2 · July 2005

same here.

I have a 3 car garage. I park the Infiniti I35 and the Odyssey in the garage because they're worth the most.

There's no room for the Civic in my garage because that last spot is storage- the Toro lawn mower, the wheelbarrow, the cleaning supplies, and the fake Christmas tree.

ateixeira · July 2005

Funny thing is I'd like to have a trailer so really I'd want 4 spots. At least. :-)

My Ideal House: a 5 car garage with a small loft where I can crash. LOL

-juice

jchan2 · July 2005

are a REALLY popular option in my neighborhood. My house isn't one of them though...

user777 · July 2005

nor are 3 or 4 car garages common in the vast majority of neighborhoods.

if you can afford a 3-car garage home in a 3 or 4 car garage neighborhood - what are you doing cutting your own lawn? store the tree and miscellaneous in the attic or basement or closet, and more fully embrace the trickle-down economy concept... get rid of the lawnmower and let someone else handle the grass.

ateixeira · July 2005

If I hired someone then I'd complain that I didn't get enough exercise. LOL

-juice

petermk · July 2005

I'm currently in the process of selecting my first car. I don't want to buy a new vehicle but rather lease one, buy a certified one or buy a used one.

My driving instructor told me that most, if not all, certified vehicles in NYC have their odometers rolled back and it would be a total waste if I decided to go the certified route (I was actually thinking of buying a certified Volvo S40 for around $17K).

As far as leased cars go, he told me that I would have to pay the highest insurance there was and my monthly payments, including insurance, would be as high as if I decided to buy a new vehicle.

Finally, he told me that a used vehicle would be the best fit for me because he knows a good used car dealer in Pennsylvania (I'm sure he gets his share from that dealer) and could take me to that delaer and select a car with me.

What do you think would be really the best option for me? I've had my license for 4 years but never owned a car.

Thanks

bolivar · July 2005

Regarding your 'driving instructer' - Run Away! Run Away!

You have a good feeling about him 'getting his share from that dealer'.

petermk · July 2005

but what route I should go? lease, certified or used?

lancerfixer · July 2005

Of the three, I'd go certified. Also, don't listen to a thing about what your driving instructor says regarding "rollbacks" and his buddy in PA.

guss · July 2005

Go used or certified used if you are in NYC. The car is going to get a lot of dings and that first one on a new car is always painful.

If you like the Volvo S40 , look at the Mazda 3 also, basically the same car for $5k less. Other good choices for city driving would be a automatic Pontiac Vibe or Ford Focus made after 2002. The Mazda has a 4 year Warranty so you would not need it certified.

asafonov · July 2005

So, where in NYC do you live and drive?

The following vehicles come to mind, all used: Crown Vic/Grand Marquis, Chevy Caprice, old Jeeps. Oh, and the Checker...

petermk · July 2005

I live in Queens. My primary choices are Volvo S40, Honda Accord and Nissan Altima. I'd also consider Jeep Grand Cherokee.
I'm not going to use this car much, as I work 5 days a week and my current salary just won't let me park in Midtown Manhattan 5 days a week :-) So, basically I am going to drive only 2 days a week.

ateixeira · July 2005

He was clueless. Ignore everything he said, given the bad advice we know he gave you.

I'd buy used. The S40, though, I'd get the new generation, which was a big improvement over the last one (made my Mitsubishi, clone of the Charisma).

Car theft is a big issue in your area, I believe, so I'd avoid anything too flashy or known to be commonly stolen. Accords are stolen a lot, Volvos are a little flashy, so from those 3 I'd pick an Altima, maybe slightly used.

-juice

petermk · July 2005

So, is leasing a car not a good idea? As far as used cars go (not certified), I'm afraid I might get a vehicle that will be spending most of the time at the repair shop.

gsemike · July 2005

The insurance will be the same whether you lease or buy. If you lease in NY, the lease company will require you to take 100/300 liability. Even if you buy, you'd be crazy to go with any less. Maybe if you buy, you can get away with 1000 dollar deductibles instead of 500.

I live in Queens also, and it's hard to keep a car nice. Look at the bumpers of some of the cars in your neighborhood. For that reason, I'd tell you to buy rather than lease. I leased a Civic and had to have practically the whole thing sprayed before I turned it in.

I currently own an 03 Altima and am very happy with it. One thing I would say is that it can get pretty tight on some streets because the side mirrors really stick out and do not fold. It can get tricky when you're passing a double parked car.

Good luck and make sure that you shop for insurance before you do anything. It can be very expensive and vary greatly based on the car and company. I've done great with GEICO.

petermk · July 2005

Is it true that dealers in NY do "rollbacks" on certified cars?

gsemike · July 2005

I'm sure that it happens but any dealer that does it is asking to have his franchise yanked. What you really need to look out for is all the used lots along Queens and Northern. I wouldn't be a skateboard from any of them.

jlawrence01 · July 2005

Not only franchises pulled but ... fines and imprisonment.

petermk · July 2005

What dealers in NYC would you recommend?

gsemike · July 2005

I don't buy that often. Avoid Major World and Paragon. They post ads in the paper and can't back up the prices they publish. I leased a Civic from Paragon and got taken a little. I bought my current car from Koeppel. I thought that the purchase experience was good but service has been so so. They do however have alot of $9995 specials on their used lot.

user777 · July 2005

personally, leasing never ever made since for me, probably because i hang onto a car for a very long time. if i buy a quality vehicle, i'm able to sell it and have it still be worth something significant, even with 150-200K on the odometer (Honda, Toyota) and 9-10 years of ownership.

my real caution to you regards "certified". evidently, from what I have read on Edmunds, this doesn't mean that the vehicle has been more thoroughly inspected or brought up to specifications than any other used vehicle. you'll be paying a premium for basically an warranty of some form. look in the certified forum. i think you'll be surprised.

my thinking if you need a vehicle in the city, buy something used, preferrably single owner from down south, clean carfax, which wont cost to much to buy or maintain. get it inspected by a mechanic you hire to examine it well (i don't know how much that would cost in your area - but you need an independant assessment, after you've done your own assessment).

gsemike · July 2005

You don't need to go down south. If you look on Long Island or Westchester, the cars available there will have lived a much easier life.

qbrozen · July 2005

No, it doesn't necessarily mean it has been more thoroughly inspected, but it does usually mean that it comes with an extended warranty (as you stated). To me, THAT is the important part and is usually worth the added premium.

Interesting writeup in Autoweek about this very topic. Their numbers were really incorrect, but I think the overall idea was pretty much in line with my own thoughts on the subject.

user777 · July 2005

right - but the important thing is - you are paying a premium for that warranty.

rroyce10 · July 2005

....... Leasing usually is a bad idea first time out, get your feet wet before you jump into that pool ....

Find a quality pre-owned, get a great deal, then go on ... once things "settle" down like a job, women, house, bad Sunday bets and your friends using your new ride as an ashtray then look around and then decide ..... just keep in mind, leasing is alot like renting a car, but worse ....

Terry

Selecting and Buying My First Car

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