Mind you, the 9-5 is reliable enough by comparison. It's the last of the all Swedish designed and built Saabs, and it shows.
The XRX is a god car, too, though it's a very plain and agressive ride(though a lot of people want that as opposed to the near total isolation you get in something like a civic)
If you could find one, the Saab 9-2 aero is nice. Subaru WRX with better Saab styling. The 06 would have the 2.5 turbo with less turbo lag. Problem is finding one of the few they actually sold.
Yeah my only thing is I like the sedan better than the wagon, although I can't really say either one is stylish. I think the WRX (especially the bug eye ones) have a face only its mother could love, but its so homely its likeable.
I like the blue one because its a year newer and has a sunroof, but they both seem to have high mileage for the year. They are also both priced out of the ballpark, so either they have ALOT of flexibility or I can keep looking. Any thoughts?
I didn't know you were in Ann Arbor. My folks live there and I spent 20+ years growing up there. I'm now in OK (for almost 20 years), but I get back to A2 twice a year.
I test drove an 04 WRX wagon when new and really liked just about everything about it. The Subie clutches seem a little finicky to me having driven Honda, Toyota, VW and Mazda (briefly) 5-speeds. I always liked the WRX for the AWD, functional cargo space of the wagon, and what I thought was a kind of stealthy appearance/speed ratio. The stealthy aspect was challenged on my test drive when some high schooler in a truck blew past me and then swerved into my lane hitting the brakes and sending up a cloud of dust and smoke. After the light changed he pulled a burn-out on what remained of his pathetic tires and kicked up another cloud of crap while he and his buddy yucked it up.
In the end I didn't buy the car, partly because of the kid, but mostly because of the high insurance costs (I was around 47 years old at the time). I also couldn't bare to part with my 92 MR2, which I have babied.
In 04 the WRX Wagon I looked at was selling under invoice and was something like $21500. The dealer was pretty desperate to make a sale because I got a identical quote from another OKC dealership and they wanted to throw in more perks. Somewhere I have the dealer's quote and it may even have been less. Didn't Dunning Toyota take over the Subaru dealership on Jackson Rd.?
Have you checked out the Mazdaspeed3. Even at MSRP the sport edition, with more HP and greater torque is only $22.8K, but it's not AWD. I checked some out at the Mazda dealer in Ypsilanti during the Christmas holiday and they are NICE! Those WRXs seem way overpriced to me.
Thanks for your thoughts. I was actually also looking at the MazdaSpeed6 at the place in Ypsi but waited a bit too long and they were all gone. They were a pretty phenominal deal at the end of the summer. As it turns out, I went to Dunning (yeah its on Jackson, the old Subie lot is a BHPH) and drove the blue one because the salesdude said the silver one was out on a ride. I came back with the blue one and he told me the kid driving the silver one just wrecked it in a head on collision. I too am worried about the insurance costs from the WRX, but I just cant get myself to buy a '03 Civic like everyone keeps telling me to.
In 04 I was quoted about $450/6 months. For comparison our 02 Rav4 is $300/6 months. Recently I got quotes for a Civic SI sedan $400/6 months, a Mazdaspeed3 $420/6 months and a VW GTI 4-door (5-door, really) $435/6 months. Interestingly, I also had my insurance agent check an Acura TSX and that was $355/6 months, which really surprised me since it costs anywhere from $3500-$8000 more than any of the other models.
The above quotes are from a mainstream insurer with 100/300 comp/coll. My wife and I have no accidents or moving violations, no kids and have each been driving for 30+ years. we also have our house insured with the same company. I'm not sure why the Subie should be the most, but it's not substantially higher than any of the other sporty cars on my short list. The insurance costs are what keep me from pulling the trigger, not the cost of the cars, but then my MR2 and Civic EX only cost me about $400/year for both! Of course, no comp/coll. for either.
Was the silver one crashed on a test drive? That can't be good for anyone. Maybe that's why the insurance is so high.
Okay, so a couple of life events later, I am back looking for a car. I think the WRX is still at the top of my wish list but my budget shrank a bit, so I don't know if its still gonna make the cut.
I need: 4 or more doors manual transmission ABS < 5 years old (2002 or newer) < 60 k at the absolute max ~$15k (although 12k would be better) *a sunroof would be nice, but that isn't a necssity like the other things are.
I have an odd choice for you that you might not have considered.
Check out a 2003-2004 Mercedes C230 Kompressor* You want the following: - No GPS, No Sunroof, Manual everything if you can get it. - No leather(their leather is actually fake "pleather" at this level. Not unless it's no extra cost. - Manual transmission. - Supercharged 4 cylinder (1.8L) engine. (189HP - more than enough) - Sedan(90% of what you will find like this are the coupes)
This combination is reliable and works. Looks sharp as well. The base engine is a slug and the others are problematic. The manual gearbox is the one they use in Europe and is reliable(automatic - yeah, not at all). THe electicals are prone to breaking, so go basic. Even so, it's a very nice little car and surprizingly quick. Gets over 30mpg as well.
Note: To you naysayers, I only recommend this EXACT combination. You mileage WILL vary otherwise.
I will see if one pops up in my searches. Finding these nitch vehicles used with manual transmissions has proven to be a challenge in the midwest (less so on the west coast).
Man, I am really picky about spending my money. I WAS looking for a reliable used car and had finally decided on the Santa Fe. Luckily I did not go out and buy a used one yet, because as I can see the gas prices are going to be high this summer and probably forever, lol. I also have read that the claims of gas mileage on these is false, its actually lower. I liked this vehicle because 1. it sits up higher 2. it has great crash test ratings 3. it claimed to have ok gas mileage 4. from what I can tell its reliable.
I am used to sitting up higher than a car would now in my current car (the very small geo tracker, which has been very reliable). So going back down into a car is a bit well strange, lol.
So I am struggling with myself right now to either purchase a large sedan or stick with my orginal choice. I had narrowed my choices down to a Buick Lasabre, Chevy Impala or the Hyundai Santa Fe (and honestly also had a Toyota Sienna to that list but the newer styles are out of my price range, every older style I have looked at on the lots has either a trillion miles on it or sludge problems).
Do I choose the SUV that gets not so great gas mileage, or choose either the buick or chevy that will provide good gas mileage???? Which one would you choose?????
So I am struggling with myself right now to either purchase a large sedan or stick with my orginal choice. I had narrowed my choices down to a Buick Lasabre, Chevy Impala or the Hyundai Santa Fe
On the Impalas, the OLDER design (pre 2006 MY) does better on gas mileage than the NEW model.
On the 2004, we were getting 28 mpg in mixed driving. The new one is struggling around 25 mpg which isn't all that bad for full sized but not as good as expected.
Do realize that gas costs are just one part of the equation. I recently switched from a 96/89 Olds Ciera that were averaging 25 mpg to a Toyota Corolla at 32 mpg just to find out that the increase in insurance premiums offsets any gas savings.
What are your needs? What does the car have to do? I need a car to go to work and back with a short commute and occasionally haul my family around. Is there a reason you need a large vehicle (either SUV or minivan or sedan)? Do you need the ground clearance of an SUV or the cargo capacity of a minivan?
I will see if one pops up in my searches. Finding these nitch vehicles used with manual transmissions has proven to be a challenge in the midwest (less so on the west coast).
Was this car made after MBZ bought Chrysler?
Yes, it was, but the engine and drivetrain date from the pre-Chrysler Kompressor models(same engine used in the little CLK roadsters). The only things that broke on them were the electronics and gizmos and automatic(which was a D/C toad). Stripped of all of that, its a fine car. A co-worker has a CLK from the same era with the same engine and manual gearboix and he's happy as a clam with it. Reliable and not unreasonably expensive to repair. Just don't expect it to last more than about 12-15 years. It's not an older E or S class from the 90s.
But Mercedes DID offer it, so manuals exist. Somewhere.... :P
I recommend the navy blue or dark green as the windows were tinted light blue and green respectively, which makes them look much more attractive.(plus the lighter colors stink IMO, since every car these days is some shade of tan or beige or silver.)
(plus the lighter colors stink IMO, since every car these days is some shade of tan or beige or silver.)
Yeah I've noticed that too. Enough of that already. We have a silver car and a black car now, and I am trying to avoid having 2 silver cars and its somewhat challenging.
Hmm.. which engine do you have in both your impala's?? I looked at a Toyota Corolla too, and liked it (I was surprised by the amount of room in it, but felt with two kids hitting near 6' in the near future probalby not the best choice, lol).
I noticed that the 06 ex rental models are coming up for sale in mass and are around 12500, but they have the smaller engine (flex fuel though, which would work for me because our town has a station).
Do realize that if you use the E85, you will get 25% LESS gas mileage (per the Impala Owners Manual). The stations that I have seen selling E85 in Central Illinois are pricing E85 at a 15% discount to the regular gas price.
I am 6'1" and BIG. I bought the Corolla as I use it solely to commute 11 miles OW. If I was travelling 50 miles OW to work as my wife does, I would have purchased an Impala. I chose the Corolla because it was a screaming bargain as it is the final year of production.
My apologies if I am using the wrong forum for my questions.
This weekend I got a deal from one the dealer for Highlander and wanted to take some opinions from the experts out here in this forum.
It is a 2006 2 WD, White Color 3.3-liter Highlander with almost 32K miles on it. It have leather seats, third row seat, Moon Roof and JBL sound system.
Dealer bought it from some Rental Car Company. KBB Retail Price for the above vehicle is $26500 and dealer is asking for $19995 + 10% fee (Tax, Title and document etc.). He said till last week, ticket price for the vehicle was $26995 and they reduced it as it is in their lot from last 40 days.
I was surfing the net and talked to some people and I was advised to negotiate for almost 25% of what is the ticket price for a used vehicle from a dealer.
Now how much should I negotiate on $19995? What can be the closest value for this highlander?
My apologies if I am using the wrong forum for my questions.
This weekend I got a deal from one the dealer for Highlander and wanted to take some opinions from the experts out here in this forum.
It is a 2006 2 WD, White Color 3.3-liter Highlander with almost 32K miles on it. It have leather seats, third row seat, Moon Roof and JBL sound system.
Dealer bought it from some Rental Car Company. KBB Retail Price for the above vehicle is $26500 and dealer is asking for $19995 + 10% fee (Tax, Title and document etc.). He said till last week, ticket price for the vehicle was $26995 and they reduced it as it is in their lot from last 40 days.
I was surfing the net and talked to some people and I was advised to negotiate for almost 25% of what is the ticket price for a used vehicle from a dealer.
Now how much should I negotiate on $19995? What can be the closest value for this highlander?
For $16k (maybeless) you can get an Impreza 2.5i Wagon. Yeah the sedan would be on the list as I don't care for the wagon styling, but given the WRX is so much more fun, I think I would feel like I was driving a castrated bull most of the time.
Baby just came and now both of our cars are too small. The oldest and smallest is a 2 door Civic. Basically, was looking to get something bigger to fit the baby and our big dog. Basically looking to spend no more than 15,000 and not that old. Preferably 2005 or 2006. Would love to get a used Vibe, but I am worried that it would be too small. Thus, left with a choice of American SUVs or minivans. We will put miles on this car, so we probably don't want to get a car with more than 40,000 on it and preferably less than 30,000. Which is the best American metal for our needs? Which is the best American SUV and best American minivan in our price range?
Great little car and they actually have one of the best third row seats around.
At the auto show last fall I was trying out all the third row seated vehicles since the LR3 is supposed to have the best third row seat in the industry and I wanted to compare. I must say that the Mazda5 third row seat was one of the best I sat in. Vehicles three times its price were much less comfortable.
You can even get a manual if you want. Just glancing on cars.com shows me that people are asking right around your budget for Mazda5s with mid 20k miles.
Practically exactly same good story with my Accord. Great car! 99 Accord LX. Over seven years of wonderful experience. I think Accord special edition is a VERY good deal. Any Accord.
With that price range the only two cars that just pop into my mind are the Dodge Caravan or the Saturn Vue. These both I think have questionable reliability for the long run. Cars are plentiful at that price range (even larger models). You are pretty much limiting yourself with the newer models, lower miles and the price range. The vibe is a good car (its really a toyota matrix) but the back cargo area is so small, I have a compact SUV that has the same cargo area and as your family grows it will become useless. I can barely fit my groceries in it, and forget trying to fit luggage and a stroller for a longer trip.
Is there some reason you NEED an SUV or Minivan? Those seem like big cars for just three people and a dog?? Have you considered some of the larger sedans? They have ample trunk room, and interior space would be enough to fit a baby and a dog in??? Just wondering.
Our other car is a Legacy sedan. Not exactly a big car, but not exactly a small car either, and our stoller really doesn't fit in the trunk. Basically, the back seat in the Legacy isn't big enough for the baby's car seat and our dog, who is pretty big, because he doesn't have enough room to sit down because of the car seat. Also, my wife can not slide her seat back far enough to get comfortable with the car seat behind her. I was always worried about trunk space for the stoller, but my wife just told me she is more worried about having enough room behind the passenger side seat. Both my wife and I drive a fair amount for work so we really don't want to get a car with a lot of miles because before we know it we will need to replace it. We may end up having to go new and when we went to the car show and my wife really liked the new Outlander because the rear seat slides back, which would give her more leg room in the passenger seat.
Buying a used car for my daughter to go to work and narrowed down to two Ford Focus now.
Both are 2003. One is a ZX5 ($10,250, Zetec 2.0/130hp, PW/PL/PM, 75,000km traction control, ABS, Aluminum wheel) and SE ($9,250) 2.0 110 hp engine, PW/PL/PM, 77,000km, extended warranty to June 2010/125,000)
The ZX5 is in a much better shape (both engine/upholstery) than the SE.
I like the ZX5's but having trouble not to look at the SE because of its warranty (Ford ExtraCare).
Two schools of thoughts are on the two opposite sides: go for the ZX5 as if it is maintained well from day one, you will be much better off to start with even if there is no warranty. The other side emphasized on the fact that North American cars are not as reliable (but I am looking at a Focus...) and always nice to have a warranty.
Since the cars are only 4.5 years old, I would go for the extended warranty on the SE. That's more than 3 years of worry free driving.
Now if you have reason to believe the SE was abused or not maintained properly, then I would go for the ZX5. A car's not much good if it's always at the dealership being repaired.
I would just go out and hit the lots with no intention to buy anything and just figure out which cars you like and which ones would work. I would suggest resisting the urge to buy on your first visit. Find the car you like, then go home and solicite quotes from several dealerships, check Edmunds for TMV, etc.
The Malibu Maxx has backseats that are adjustable. There are actually a lot of cars with adjustable backseats now. The Equinox is kinda neat looking and has the adjustable backseat (not sure about the Torrent). The newer style Rav4 is nice, and I think has somewhat adjustable seats in the back too.
The point is the options are many, but you really won't know how the car works and fits for you and your family until you go out and sit in them. You will know instantly if the car works or not. Good luck.
I am in Toronto and not too far from Buffalo, NY. We are paying about 40% ontop of the US car price though the exchange rate is anout 12% only.
Problem of getting a US car into Canada would void the warranty as they view this as a grey market activity. Toyota & Subrau are the only two good about it. Ford & GM are bad.
Problem of getting a US car into Canada would void the warranty as they view this as a grey market activity.
You are buying a USED car that is 4 years old. A warranty should not be an issue for the most part. And ANY Ford dealership will service any Ford product throughout North America.
If I was in Toronto and looking for a Focus, I would NOT be looking in Buffalo for a used one. I would be in the Metro Detroit area where there are generally boatloads of off-lease Ford Focus vehicles at many of the dealerships. (Look at some of the dealerships on Michigan Ave. in Dearborn.)
I spent several years in Detroit/Windsor and could generally find a way to make any transaction work with a bit of creativity.
Do you know of a website that lets you search for cars by price range? It would be great if you could type in like 15k and get every vehicle with a TMV around 15k. There is too much of a different between asking and transaction prices to use retail.
it would be neat, but i think really tough for used cars. I mean, without restricting to year or body type, you'd have a LOOONNGGGG list of $15k cars.
Edmunds is somewhat useful, although not exact. I've been looking at convertibles, and its a bit helpful to be able to click on verts, then click the year, then the category (for instance, i know if I want a 2001 convertible for under $10k, there is no point in clicking on luxury or sport, so i can click vert, 2001, compact and get my list).
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Yeah I concur about the long list, there would have to be some additional filters. I think one of the reasons I like that idea is because for a given year, there are luxury/sport sedans that are about as much and the more mundane vehicles. An 04 Saab 9-3 is about the same money as an 04 Honda Civic, etc.
For 15K, you can get a new car. For $15K I could get an 8 year old S420(last of the big square ones), so it's going to generate a list a mile long.
I usually go to cars.com and plug in a few searches, then ignore the dealer ones - go right to private party. That's what you should be paying after haggling at the dealer, and close to what most banks will loan you.(They almost all go by sources other than KBB)
The 15k was just for example's sake, but yeah there would have to be room for additional criteria, like age/miles/condition/features/options. Stuff has even come out of this board that I hadn't thought of before like the C230k.
one place i've been able to filter extensively at is Ebay. For instance, speaking of the convertible search, I have it set that Ebay emails me daily with all of the convertibles within 100 miles of me that have an automatic transmission and are priced between $1 and $10,000. If I wanted, I could also limit the years and include more search terms.
Granted, the one flaw here is that a car currently "priced" at $1 could have a $50,000 reserve on it. But I find that doesn't happen as often as you'd think. At the most, I get about 8 new ones emailed to me each day (all in 1 email each morning).
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Yeah, eBay's search engine is a thing of beauty. I occasionally really obscure computer/electronic parts for legacy equipment at work, and I can usually find it on eBay (getting purchasing to give me a PO for something off eBay is another story...).
I have a standing eBay search for original (82-85) US spec Audi Quattros. There are a couple thousand max in the US and there are usually a couple looking for a new home at any given time.
You just have to be careful is all. I actually prefer Craigslist, though, because it's all local and you can filter out dealers. There are a lot of good deals out there. I could find a car for $5K cash that would serve as reliable transportation for three years or more almost any day.
Ebay is very much a see it before you bid on it thing with cars. low-resolution photos can hide a plethora of ills.
My vote, though, is to definitely wait until September so you get a years more depreciation out of any purchase.
Oh - and I was only half joking about the '99 S420. Lovely car and worth every penny. These can be had private party for $12K or so last I checked, and this fall, should be closer to $10K if you shop around. The accessories and electronics will cost to maintain(that is if you care - most people let them just stay broken), but the mechanicals are as close to indestructible as it gets. MPG is not the best, though.
Me - I'm likely going to get a Smart when it comes out in Jan. The trick will be to keep my old truck running until then.
I think my budget is enough that I should be able to avoid the criagslist bottom feeders. In my area there are only really expensive and really cheap end-of-life vehicles on craigslist. I agree that I wouldn't buy a vehicle off eBay without being able to see it first. EBay also brings out anomalies based on region (people in the midwest paying 5-6 for tapped out CRXs when they are 2k in CA). I think waiting until September is only helpful if I don't have to put more $$$ into my current vehicle between now and then. I think I am at $10-15k/2003+/<50k/4+drs/5spd stick/fun. Autotrader lets me do pretty much that search with asking prices for cars that are available close to home, but not necessarily harder to find vehicles, and it goes off asking prices (obviously).
2003 C230K Sedan gets my vote, then. Very fun car and a step up from something like a Corolla. Or a 2004 model in three months.(or search and haggle - the real deal though is to find a factory certified model via MBUSA's website/search feature. This gives you a warranty on the drivetrain that is stupidly easy to boost a few more years as part of the negotiation - or for a very reasonable fee.
Especially given that the clutch won't be covered and you'll be looking for a factory warranty covering only the mechanicals - it should be only a few hundred a year to add on until it's 5-6 more years.
I have $8000 to spend on a used car. My choices seem to come down to this. A 2003 Ford Focus with 50k miles A 2003 Chevy Malibu with 50k miles A 1998 Honda Civic with 95k miles A 1998 Toyota Corolla with 95k miles.
Should I get the newer American car with low mileage or the older foreign car with high mileage??? What's the best choice for my 8 grand? Thanks
I would lean towards the Malibu. You don't mention whether it is regular, or LS model. If this is private party, you should be able to get it for less than $8000.
Comments
The XRX is a god car, too, though it's a very plain and agressive ride(though a lot of people want that as opposed to the near total isolation you get in something like a civic)
WRX B
I like the blue one because its a year newer and has a sunroof, but they both seem to have high mileage for the year. They are also both priced out of the ballpark, so either they have ALOT of flexibility or I can keep looking.
Any thoughts?
I didn't know you were in Ann Arbor. My folks live there and I spent 20+ years growing up there. I'm now in OK (for almost 20 years), but I get back to A2 twice a year.
I test drove an 04 WRX wagon when new and really liked just about everything about it. The Subie clutches seem a little finicky to me having driven Honda, Toyota, VW and Mazda (briefly) 5-speeds. I always liked the WRX for the AWD, functional cargo space of the wagon, and what I thought was a kind of stealthy appearance/speed ratio. The stealthy aspect was challenged on my test drive when some high schooler in a truck blew past me and then swerved into my lane hitting the brakes and sending up a cloud of dust and smoke. After the light changed he pulled a burn-out on what remained of his pathetic tires and kicked up another cloud of crap while he and his buddy yucked it up.
In the end I didn't buy the car, partly because of the kid, but mostly because of the high insurance costs (I was around 47 years old at the time). I also couldn't bare to part with my 92 MR2, which I have babied.
In 04 the WRX Wagon I looked at was selling under invoice and was something like $21500. The dealer was pretty desperate to make a sale because I got a identical quote from another OKC dealership and they wanted to throw in more perks. Somewhere I have the dealer's quote and it may even have been less. Didn't Dunning Toyota take over the Subaru dealership on Jackson Rd.?
Have you checked out the Mazdaspeed3. Even at MSRP the sport edition, with more HP and greater torque is only $22.8K, but it's not AWD. I checked some out at the Mazda dealer in Ypsilanti during the Christmas holiday and they are NICE! Those WRXs seem way overpriced to me.
Gogiboy
As it turns out, I went to Dunning (yeah its on Jackson, the old Subie lot is a BHPH) and drove the blue one because the salesdude said the silver one was out on a ride. I came back with the blue one and he told me the kid driving the silver one just wrecked it in a head on collision.
I too am worried about the insurance costs from the WRX, but I just cant get myself to buy a '03 Civic like everyone keeps telling me to.
In 04 I was quoted about $450/6 months. For comparison our 02 Rav4 is $300/6 months. Recently I got quotes for a Civic SI sedan $400/6 months, a Mazdaspeed3 $420/6 months and a VW GTI 4-door (5-door, really) $435/6 months. Interestingly, I also had my insurance agent check an Acura TSX and that was $355/6 months, which really surprised me since it costs anywhere from $3500-$8000 more than any of the other models.
The above quotes are from a mainstream insurer with 100/300 comp/coll. My wife and I have no accidents or moving violations, no kids and have each been driving for 30+ years. we also have our house insured with the same company. I'm not sure why the Subie should be the most, but it's not substantially higher than any of the other sporty cars on my short list. The insurance costs are what keep me from pulling the trigger, not the cost of the cars, but then my MR2 and Civic EX only cost me about $400/year for both! Of course, no comp/coll. for either.
Was the silver one crashed on a test drive? That can't be good for anyone. Maybe that's why the insurance is so high.
Gogiboy
I need:
4 or more doors
manual transmission
ABS
< 5 years old (2002 or newer)
< 60 k at the absolute max
~$15k (although 12k would be better)
*a sunroof would be nice, but that isn't a necssity like the other things are.
I have an odd choice for you that you might not have considered.
Check out a 2003-2004 Mercedes C230 Kompressor*
You want the following:
- No GPS, No Sunroof, Manual everything if you can get it.
- No leather(their leather is actually fake "pleather" at this level. Not unless it's no extra cost.
- Manual transmission.
- Supercharged 4 cylinder (1.8L) engine. (189HP - more than enough)
- Sedan(90% of what you will find like this are the coupes)
This combination is reliable and works. Looks sharp as well. The base engine is a slug and the others are problematic. The manual gearbox is the one they use in Europe and is reliable(automatic - yeah, not at all). THe electicals are prone to breaking, so go basic. Even so, it's a very nice little car and surprizingly quick. Gets over 30mpg as well.
Note: To you naysayers, I only recommend this EXACT combination. You mileage WILL vary otherwise.
Was this car made after MBZ bought Chrysler?
For $16k (maybeless) you can get an Impreza 2.5i Wagon.
5-door
5-speed
177 NA Hp
Great Milage
AWD
Full WARRANTY, etc.
I priced these out recently in the end of Feb at they were going for $16.5k w/1.9% financing for the 07.
You should be able to get em for about $16k or less now.
-mike
Motorsports and Tuning Host
I am used to sitting up higher than a car would now in my current car (the very small geo tracker, which has been very reliable). So going back down into a car is a bit well strange, lol.
So I am struggling with myself right now to either purchase a large sedan or stick with my orginal choice. I had narrowed my choices down to a Buick Lasabre, Chevy Impala or the Hyundai Santa Fe (and honestly also had a Toyota Sienna to that list but the newer styles are out of my price range, every older style I have looked at on the lots has either a trillion miles on it or sludge problems).
Do I choose the SUV that gets not so great gas mileage, or choose either the buick or chevy that will provide good gas mileage???? Which one would you choose?????
On the Impalas, the OLDER design (pre 2006 MY) does better on gas mileage than the NEW model.
On the 2004, we were getting 28 mpg in mixed driving. The new one is struggling around 25 mpg which isn't all that bad for full sized but not as good as expected.
Do realize that gas costs are just one part of the equation. I recently switched from a 96/89 Olds Ciera that were averaging 25 mpg to a Toyota Corolla at 32 mpg just to find out that the increase in insurance premiums offsets any gas savings.
Is there a reason you need a large vehicle (either SUV or minivan or sedan)? Do you need the ground clearance of an SUV or the cargo capacity of a minivan?
Was this car made after MBZ bought Chrysler?
Yes, it was, but the engine and drivetrain date from the pre-Chrysler Kompressor models(same engine used in the little CLK roadsters). The only things that broke on them were the electronics and gizmos and automatic(which was a D/C toad). Stripped of all of that, its a fine car. A co-worker has a CLK from the same era with the same engine and manual gearboix and he's happy as a clam with it. Reliable and not unreasonably expensive to repair. Just don't expect it to last more than about 12-15 years. It's not an older E or S class from the 90s.
But Mercedes DID offer it, so manuals exist. Somewhere.... :P
I recommend the navy blue or dark green as the windows were tinted light blue and green respectively, which makes them look much more attractive.(plus the lighter colors stink IMO, since every car these days is some shade of tan or beige or silver.)
Yeah I've noticed that too. Enough of that already. We have a silver car and a black car now, and I am trying to avoid having 2 silver cars and its somewhat challenging.
I noticed that the 06 ex rental models are coming up for sale in mass and are around 12500, but they have the smaller engine (flex fuel though, which would work for me because our town has a station).
Do realize that if you use the E85, you will get 25% LESS gas mileage (per the Impala Owners Manual). The stations that I have seen selling E85 in Central Illinois are pricing E85 at a 15% discount to the regular gas price.
I am 6'1" and BIG. I bought the Corolla as I use it solely to commute 11 miles OW. If I was travelling 50 miles OW to work as my wife does, I would have purchased an Impala. I chose the Corolla because it was a screaming bargain as it is the final year of production.
This weekend I got a deal from one the dealer for Highlander and wanted to take some opinions from the experts out here in this forum.
It is a 2006 2 WD, White Color 3.3-liter Highlander with almost 32K miles on it. It have leather seats, third row seat, Moon Roof and JBL sound system.
Dealer bought it from some Rental Car Company. KBB Retail Price for the above vehicle is $26500 and dealer is asking for $19995 + 10% fee (Tax, Title and document etc.). He said till last week, ticket price for the vehicle was $26995 and they reduced it as it is in their lot from last 40 days.
I was surfing the net and talked to some people and I was advised to negotiate for almost 25% of what is the ticket price for a used vehicle from a dealer.
Now how much should I negotiate on $19995? What can be the closest value for this highlander?
Thanks in Advance !!!
This weekend I got a deal from one the dealer for Highlander and wanted to take some opinions from the experts out here in this forum.
It is a 2006 2 WD, White Color 3.3-liter Highlander with almost 32K miles on it. It have leather seats, third row seat, Moon Roof and JBL sound system.
Dealer bought it from some Rental Car Company. KBB Retail Price for the above vehicle is $26500 and dealer is asking for $19995 + 10% fee (Tax, Title and document etc.). He said till last week, ticket price for the vehicle was $26995 and they reduced it as it is in their lot from last 40 days.
I was surfing the net and talked to some people and I was advised to negotiate for almost 25% of what is the ticket price for a used vehicle from a dealer.
Now how much should I negotiate on $19995? What can be the closest value for this highlander?
Thanks in Advance !!!
Yeah the sedan would be on the list as I don't care for the wagon styling, but given the WRX is so much more fun, I think I would feel like I was driving a castrated bull most of the time.
-mike
Great little car and they actually have one of the best third row seats around.
At the auto show last fall I was trying out all the third row seated vehicles since the LR3 is supposed to have the best third row seat in the industry and I wanted to compare. I must say that the Mazda5 third row seat was one of the best I sat in. Vehicles three times its price were much less comfortable.
You can even get a manual if you want. Just glancing on cars.com shows me that people are asking right around your budget for Mazda5s with mid 20k miles.
Mazda5
99 Accord LX. Over seven years of wonderful experience.
I think Accord special edition is a VERY good deal. Any Accord.
Is there some reason you NEED an SUV or Minivan? Those seem like big cars for just three people and a dog?? Have you considered some of the larger sedans? They have ample trunk room, and interior space would be enough to fit a baby and a dog in??? Just wondering.
will need some collective wisdom here ...
Buying a used car for my daughter to go to work and narrowed down to two Ford Focus now.
Both are 2003. One is a ZX5 ($10,250, Zetec 2.0/130hp, PW/PL/PM, 75,000km traction control, ABS, Aluminum wheel) and SE ($9,250) 2.0 110 hp engine, PW/PL/PM, 77,000km, extended warranty to June 2010/125,000)
The ZX5 is in a much better shape (both engine/upholstery) than the SE.
I like the ZX5's but having trouble not to look at the SE because of its warranty (Ford ExtraCare).
Two schools of thoughts are on the two opposite sides: go for the ZX5 as if it is maintained well from day one, you will be much better off to start with even if there is no warranty. The other side emphasized on the fact that North American cars are not as reliable (but I am looking at a Focus...) and always nice to have a warranty.
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance for the advise.
puzzled
Now if you have reason to believe the SE was abused or not maintained properly, then I would go for the ZX5. A car's not much good if it's always at the dealership being repaired.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
The Malibu Maxx has backseats that are adjustable. There are actually a lot of cars with adjustable backseats now. The Equinox is kinda neat looking and has the adjustable backseat (not sure about the Torrent). The newer style Rav4 is nice, and I think has somewhat adjustable seats in the back too.
The point is the options are many, but you really won't know how the car works and fits for you and your family until you go out and sit in them. You will know instantly if the car works or not. Good luck.
Problem of getting a US car into Canada would void the warranty as they view this as a grey market activity. Toyota & Subrau are the only two good about it. Ford & GM are bad.
You are buying a USED car that is 4 years old. A warranty should not be an issue for the most part. And ANY Ford dealership will service any Ford product throughout North America.
If I was in Toronto and looking for a Focus, I would NOT be looking in Buffalo for a used one. I would be in the Metro Detroit area where there are generally boatloads of off-lease Ford Focus vehicles at many of the dealerships. (Look at some of the dealerships on Michigan Ave. in Dearborn.)
I spent several years in Detroit/Windsor and could generally find a way to make any transaction work with a bit of creativity.
Edmunds is somewhat useful, although not exact. I've been looking at convertibles, and its a bit helpful to be able to click on verts, then click the year, then the category (for instance, i know if I want a 2001 convertible for under $10k, there is no point in clicking on luxury or sport, so i can click vert, 2001, compact and get my list).
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I usually go to cars.com and plug in a few searches, then ignore the dealer ones - go right to private party. That's what you should be paying after haggling at the dealer, and close to what most banks will loan you.(They almost all go by sources other than KBB)
Granted, the one flaw here is that a car currently "priced" at $1 could have a $50,000 reserve on it. But I find that doesn't happen as often as you'd think. At the most, I get about 8 new ones emailed to me each day (all in 1 email each morning).
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I have a standing eBay search for original (82-85) US spec Audi Quattros. There are a couple thousand max in the US and there are usually a couple looking for a new home at any given time.
Ebay is very much a see it before you bid on it thing with cars. low-resolution photos can hide a plethora of ills.
My vote, though, is to definitely wait until September so you get a years more depreciation out of any purchase.
Oh - and I was only half joking about the '99 S420. Lovely car and worth every penny. These can be had private party for $12K or so last I checked, and this fall, should be closer to $10K if you shop around. The accessories and electronics will cost to maintain(that is if you care - most people let them just stay broken), but the mechanicals are as close to indestructible as it gets. MPG is not the best, though.
Me - I'm likely going to get a Smart when it comes out in Jan. The trick will be to keep my old truck running until then.
I agree that I wouldn't buy a vehicle off eBay without being able to see it first. EBay also brings out anomalies based on region (people in the midwest paying 5-6 for tapped out CRXs when they are 2k in CA).
I think waiting until September is only helpful if I don't have to put more $$$ into my current vehicle between now and then.
I think I am at $10-15k/2003+/<50k/4+drs/5spd stick/fun. Autotrader lets me do pretty much that search with asking prices for cars that are available close to home, but not necessarily harder to find vehicles, and it goes off asking prices (obviously).
2003 C230K Sedan gets my vote, then.
Especially given that the clutch won't be covered and you'll be looking for a factory warranty covering only the mechanicals - it should be only a few hundred a year to add on until it's 5-6 more years.
I vote Mazda3.
Would be WAY less than 50k miles for that price, probably.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
A 2003 Ford Focus with 50k miles
A 2003 Chevy Malibu with 50k miles
A 1998 Honda Civic with 95k miles
A 1998 Toyota Corolla with 95k miles.
Should I get the newer American car with low mileage or the older foreign car with high mileage??? What's the best choice for my 8 grand?
Thanks
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S