View Full Version : Looking for an object with 4 wheels
So yea, I'm looking for a car. I don't mind used. Needs to be a reasonable price, below $12,000. I'm looking for a newer model (2006 or higher) of any sedans as long as it's a Toyota, Honda, Nissan, one of the foreign cars. Aston Martins are okay though... Anyway, less than about 50,000 miles, good mileage etc etc. I looked on ebay, but if I'm going to spend $14,500 on the car plus $500 shipping, I may as well put in that extra 2k and get a brand new Corolla or Camry...
Also, I haven't seen many, so I don't know, but how are Scions?
I'm actually looking for two cars if they're both under $9,000.
Sledgehammer70
3 Oct 2007, 10:40pm
You should take up beer drinking and drive a mail truck :) and with the extra money you save snag a Iphone :)
You should take up beer drinking and drive a mail truck :) and with the extra money you save snag a Iphone :)
only 16...
edit:
iPhones suck
Buddy J
3 Oct 2007, 10:43pm
Scions are Scions. They're love-it-or-hate-it cars. Decent mileage, divisive looks, and usually they offer some nice options.
xA - They're slow and fuel efficient, and don't have any major issues that I know of.
xB - The box. The first gen model has the same underpinnings as the xA/Vitz. Small motor, decent interior room, not as good but still decent gas mileage. The new version is larger all around, with the 2.4L Camry motor. Blind spots may be an issue due to the fat C-pillar.
tC - A two-door Camry/Corolla cross. It fits in between really. But, as a 2-door, it's probably not what you want.
xD - Replaced the xA this year. It has a bit more power, a bit more room and isn't too bad. I've yet to drive it, but sitting in it was okay.
That's the Scion brand. Check them out. Decide if you can stand the center mounted gauge clusters in some models.
A car to add to you list of things to look into is the Pontiac Vibe. It's the Toyota Matrix with a Pontiac badge. Their resale tends to be lower due to wearing the "wrong" badge on the hood, so you can get an import at American car prices.
Sledgehammer70
3 Oct 2007, 11:03pm
only 16...
edit:
iPhones suck
Someone isn't going to get an ibeer :)
tC - A two-door Camry/Corolla cross. It fits in between really. But, as a 2-door, it's probably not what you want.
This car is a common chick car around here. if your a guy driving this vechile your most likely swinging in left field.
Someone isn't going to get an ibeer :)
This car is a common chick car around here. if your a guy driving this vechile your most likely swinging in left field.
I probably should have mentioned this. I do not a fairly large car, so a 4 door would be best.
Btw, I'm not a car guy, so how's a Pontiac? Is it as reliable as Honda and stuff? My dad has went through about 4 American cars, and they have the weakest transmissions ever (3 of the 4 had transmission problems that led them to the junkyard), so he wants to get Japanese only.
My cousin recently purchased a very clean and awesome Lexus for $6,000. Leather interior, CD Changer, everything... My first truck which I still drive to this day 8 or so years later cost me about the same haha.
drasnor
4 Oct 2007, 12:09am
I'd head over to my local Honda dealerships and start checking out their used car sections. I got my 4-door '06 Civic LX sedan for 18k new tax & title right after they came out so you should be able to do pretty well.
-drasnor :fold:
Buddy J
4 Oct 2007, 12:21am
The Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix are the same cars. They have all Toyota mechanicals... Toyota motors, transmissions, brakes, suspension. Both are a result of a joint effort the two companies started years ago with the Corolla/Geo Prism. When Geo died and they quit with the Chevy Prism, the plant switched over to making the Matrix/Vibe.
The 1ZZ-FE motor in most models is a nice little motor for commuting. It's not very sporty, but it's proven to be reliable. It's bigger brother, the 2ZZ-GE found in the Matrix GT and Vibe XRS is more powerful but doesn't have the best reputation for reliability. I'd look to the base model instead for your needs.
Like most Toyotas, your biggest problems will be alternators and waterpumps, both of which last pretty long. Parts are easy to get and repairs shouldn't be a big issue. Most shops would be very familiar with the car.
Hondas, in general, have a slightly higher resale value than the Toyotas. Reliability is the same and so they're usually a good bet. My personal preference is Toyotas. I'm rather biased.
Civic, Corolla, Vibe/Matrix
dunno if the Yaris or Fit are in your price range yet, but they'd be the second tier I'd look at.
Then, prolly on to the Nissan Sentra. Maybe a Mazda3, although that gets really close to Ford country, which you seem to want to avoid.
Time to go car shopping!
Buddy J
4 Oct 2007, 12:26am
This car is a common chick car around here. if your a guy driving this vechile your most likely swinging in left field.
TBH, that comment was uncalled for. ZOMG DONT BUY A TC OR UR GAI!!!:rolleyes2
Leonardo
4 Oct 2007, 6:06am
This car is a common chick car around here.When you really need reliable transportation through a proven brand with superior fuel economy, the girl car/guy car stigma suddenly seems such a vanity. I understand what you mean, though. :) I'd head over to my local Honda dealerships and start checking out their used car sections.I think that's very good advice. V|P, three or even four years on a Honda or Toyota is really minimal, unless it was abused or just has tons of miles on it. I wouldn't buy any used car that had signs of being riced up. That would be a fair bet it's been abused and buggered. But whatever brand you select and whatever seller, get a Carfax report. It's not a security guarantee, but it's better than no history at all or merely relying on the seller's word.
IndigoRed
4 Oct 2007, 8:53am
You should take up beer drinking and drive a mail truck :) and with the extra money you save snag a Iphone :)
OMG! And whom, pray tell was THAT aimed at???
rowr pfft!!!
GHoosdum
4 Oct 2007, 1:51pm
Can you drive a manual transmission? I've often found manual transmissions to have more longevity on any vehicle, regardless of country of origin.
Take it with a grain of salt if you will, but this is coming from someone who had to spend $3000 in 2 years on two transmission rebuilds on an auto Toyota.
I'd still pick Toyota over Honda in a heartbeat. Honda is slipping in the reliability ratings but Toyota is still at the top of the heap. Also, by now almost every American make has caught up to where Toyota and Honda were in the '90s. That may not be saying much, but the '80s and '90s were what built the reputation of those manufacturers as the cars to get.
Sledgehammer70
4 Oct 2007, 6:47pm
Hey Chrysler has a lifetime warranty now :)
Get this...
Coincidentally, my dad's been driving this Caravan for the past two years, and the transmission just died.... today.... They're saying $2000 to fix it. That's totally ridiculous, that's 1/3 what we paid for the car...
This is I think number four or five that has lost a transmission...
Gargoyle
4 Oct 2007, 11:34pm
Get this...
Coincidentally, my dad's been driving this Caravan for the past two years, and the transmission just died.... today.... They're saying $2000 to fix it. That's totally ridiculous, that's 1/3 what we paid for the car...
This is I think number four or five that has lost a transmission...
Transmissions are just about always that expensive to repair or replace. It does suck, though. That's why I'd advise buying something dirt cheap and old (if something expensive breaks, just get rid of the car), or something with a warranty.
Buddy J
5 Oct 2007, 1:04am
That's why I'd advise buying something dirt cheap and old (if something expensive breaks, just get rid of the car),
Then you're still spending money. $2k for a new transmission, or $2k+ for another car.
or something with a warranty.
Which you usually pay extra for.:bigggrin:
Face it guys, the joy of car ownership is maintenance. Personally, I try to keep a reserve fund of a couple grand stashed back to cover these PITA repairs. If you're looking at spending $14k, consider buying a $10k car and stashing some money back that'll give you the piece of mind knowing that you can cover most repairs.
Gargoyle
5 Oct 2007, 1:08am
Then you're still spending money. $2k for a new transmission, or $2k+ for another car.
Sure, but at least you have the option of getting rid of the car or fixing it at that point, instead of being stuck with a car you may still owe money on, or feel obligated to keep because you spent so much money on it. I got rid of my Mazda when the engine needed rebuilt, and I suppose I could have fixed it, but the car also needed new tires, new shocks, new A/C... I cut my losses.
...and stashing some money back that'll give you the piece of mind knowing that you can cover most repairs.
That's kind of like buying a warranty ;)
Sure, my capital is no longer liquid if I buy the warranty up front, but I'd just spend it on liquor and women, otherwise.
Buddy J
5 Oct 2007, 2:58am
Nope. Apples and Oranges. It's money in the bank that you keep and have the potential for gaining interest on, vs money you pay in hope that by the time the warranty period runs out, you'll have spent less money on buying the warranty than you would have spent of the actual repairs themselves. One, you're hoping to never use; the other you hope to use all of it.
Gargoyle
5 Oct 2007, 3:22am
Apples and Oranges.
Both are fruit. In my case, I just don't care about a negligible amount of interest I'll earn on the amount of money my warranty cost over the three years it lasts. Considering I've also factored in risk (I drive a car that Chrysler made), and that one major repair would cost probably twice as much as my warranty did: calculated investment/gamble. Oranges, please :)
Buddy J
5 Oct 2007, 4:02am
You know what happens when we get oranges? Ooo da lolly. ;)
//end threadjack//
Nightwolf
5 Oct 2007, 5:55am
Get yourself and old Ford truck with a 300 c.i.d. and C6, it'll last you forever.
but seriously.
You could get a nice prelude for $12,000. Or an older Integra DA, for $3,000, and have the rest to do a nice swap.
You should take up beer drinking and drive a mail truck :) and with the extra money you save snag a Iphone :)
I see what you did there.
Scions are Toyota's. Just with a little funk. tC's are driven by both sexes around here.
Its Vibe GT and Matrix XRS BuddyJ. But either is a Toyota engine. Well the base model is, The 2ZZGE engine is made by Yamaha. My XRS gets 28mpg city and 33mpg highway, but they only come in 6-speeds. The base engine models hit around 38mpg.
Honda Civic's are great cars. 40mpg. End of story.
VW's are nice also. Parts can be expensive depending on the area you live in.
My advice: Just go test-drive a bunch of cars you are interested in and then pick what you want.
Avoid Ford & Dodge cars. (Unless its the new Dodge Challenger FTW)
Leonardo
5 Oct 2007, 7:12am
VW's are nice also. Parts can be expensive depending on the area you live in.They're fashionable right now, like BMWs in the 80's. For the money, Toyota is a better car. No, I'm not anti-VW. I've owned two or them - 84 Jetta Diesel and an 87 gas Jetta. VW's long term reliability rating is no better than GM's.
Buddy J
5 Oct 2007, 3:49pm
My sister's new-ish New Beetle is an electrical nightmare. Supposedly the newer cars (one or two years old) are of better quality, but I can't say for sure. I'd only consider a VW is you really wanted one and loved your mechanic.
fatcat, I call it a Vibetrix GTRS ;) Some day I'll put the motor set from one in an MR-Spyder and rock out.
airbornflght
5 Oct 2007, 5:27pm
If I did it all over again I'd look for a Honda accord s type manual. Nice cars, decent power plant, reliable. Not all too expensive, and most important of all fuel efficient if you drive 'em right. My jeep gets a whopping 12-15 mpg...:(
My girl friend lives in Tulsa and it costs me ~$60 round trip to go see her not counting what ever I spend on what we do while I'm there. I drove up there to see a concert at Cain's Tuesday night with a friend in her car and I made it THERE AND BACK on less than half a tank. Her tank is only 14 gallons. That is my wet dream. It takes around 10 gallons for me to just get there.
Sledgehammer70
5 Oct 2007, 11:03pm
I am lovin my Dodge Caliber :)
I'm going with Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius, Nissan Altima, or Nissan Maxima. What do you guys think as far as best price/reliability/gas mileage ratio is? All brand new or < 10,000 miles and 2006 or 07 models.
airbornflght
6 Oct 2007, 5:15am
I'm going with Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius, Nissan Altima, or Nissan Maxima. What do you guys think as far as best price/reliability/gas mileage ratio is? All brand new or < 10,000 miles and 2006 or 07 models.
Get a manual. Automatics just aren't as hearty as manuals in my mind.
One good stereo and Four Wheel Drive (http://youtube.com/watch?v=yBGJDqLXclA) will do ...
GHoosdum
6 Oct 2007, 5:19pm
Get a manual. Automatics just aren't as hearty as manuals in my mind.
I think you meant "hardy" rather than "hearty"; if so, I agree. :tongue:
Leonardo
6 Oct 2007, 10:16pm
I think your list is great, V|P. I would look for slightly used. It cuts potentially thousands of dollars off the sales price and you still get a 'new' car for all practical purposes. That's what I do - buy one-month to one-year used, even though I could afford off-the-showroom floor new.
If it's just slightly used, the factory warranty will still be good.
airbornflght
6 Oct 2007, 10:53pm
I think you meant "hardy" rather than "hearty"; if so, I agree. :tongue:
Yeh sorry, I am really tired. Even after 11 hours of sleep. I don't know what's wrong with me.
Yeh sorry, I am really tired. Even after 11 hours of sleep. I don't know what's wrong with me.
I've gotten the Kelley Blue Book prices and everything for brand new. They're okay, but I saw a Corolla on Ebay with 15,000 miles on it and it looked like it was in perfect condition other than a small black stain on the passenger seat. They were asking $14,500 for But It Now, but I decided to bid at $13,000, but I didn't meet the reserve. I decided to call the guy to see if he would still sell it even though the auction is over and he agreed, but he said it was a rental car. Should I still be interested? My dad says it could have been in rough use and we really have no way of knowing since it's a rental...
airbornflght
6 Oct 2007, 11:46pm
I've gotten the Kelley Blue Book prices and everything for brand new. They're okay, but I saw a Corolla on Ebay with 15,000 miles on it and it looked like it was in perfect condition other than a small black stain on the passenger seat. They were asking $14,500 for But It Now, but I decided to bid at $13,000, but I didn't meet the reserve. I decided to call the guy to see if he would still sell it even though the auction is over and he agreed, but he said it was a rental car. Should I still be interested? My dad says it could have been in rough use and we really have no way of knowing since it's a rental...
If you're serious I would have a mechanic give it a thorough check. The biggest thing I'd worry about on a rental is transmission and suspension.
Leonardo
7 Oct 2007, 12:27am
Good point, Airborn.
He's right, if any question at all, have an independent mechanic take a look. If the seller won't let you take the car to a mechanic, run away as fast as you can.
Good point, Airborn.
He's right, if any question at all, have an independent mechanic take a look. If the seller won't let you take the car to a mechanic, run away as fast as you can.
Okay, will do. The car I was talking about is gone, but I put a bid on ebay for this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=003&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBI%3AIT&viewitem=&item=130158263361&rd=1
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