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CloFan posted:Any opinions on the 2017 Civics? Looking for a car for my wife, and she really likes the new body styles-- specifically, the hatchback. Unfortunately for us we're in the market now/near future, I would love it we could wait a year and get a year-end deal or something gently used. We test drove one today and they feel nice, so we're pretty sure this is 'the one'. Should be a good, sturdy car. Acceleration and handling will be adequate, not great. Interior spartan but comfortable. Excellent car for getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss or cost. The fun will be in being at your destinations rather than getting there. It performs that function with minimal maintenance and cost. An enthusiast would consider it a fairly boring car, but if it meets your needs and you like it well enough you'll get good service form it for years. It's the sort of car you appreciate rather than love. You could do far worse. Enjoy your Honda.
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Mar 26, 2017 05:01
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prom candy posted:Do most newer cars have the seat memory feature? My mom and my sister borrow my car a lot, it'd be nice to just press a button to get it where I like it. Depends on the car. It's more of an upscale feature.
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Mar 28, 2017 04:15
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Leasing a used car doesn't sound like a good idea. Others can discuss the economics of it better than I can. You might try a Honda Civic. They are reported to have be good for tall drivers. The main issue is whether or not you feel comfortable in the driver's seat, so test fit a bunch until you know what you like. Then you can zero in on a model/year combination that fits your budget. Reliability is almost a red herring these days. All new cars are quite reliable on the average. There are differences to be sure, but they are comparatively small. Get a car you like and feel comfortable in. The rest will take care of itself.
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Apr 1, 2017 18:56
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GenJoe posted:Proposed Budget: 23,000. I'll go higher if I absolutely fall in love with the car, but 23k is a good soft limit I think. There's a bazillion cars that fall in that category. The Fusion is certainly a good car. Other cars that seem to fit your criteria: Toyota Camry Nissan Altima Honda Accord Subaru Legacy Mazda Mazda6 Chevy Malibu Hyundai Sonata Buick Verano Mostly it's a matter of driving some and finding the one you like best. Almost every manufacturer has something in the price range and style you're considering, so visit some car lots and have fun.
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Apr 2, 2017 03:36
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sbaldrick posted:So are there any cars that sit high, I'd rather not do an SUV. Sitting high and not an SUV sounds like a minivan. '14 or '15 Odyssey will fix you right up.
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Apr 4, 2017 03:24
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Car and Driver test several cars that come up a lot in this thread head-to-head: 2017 Chevrolet Cruze LT RS vs. 2017 Honda Civic Sport, 2017 Mazda 3 Touring 2.5, 2017 Volkswagen Golf Wolfsburg Edition The Honda wins, even though they hate its styling.
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Apr 5, 2017 02:32
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nm posted:Isn't this the first year that CR won't recommend the civic due to reliability issues? I learned several decades ago to get car advice from CD rather than CR, and have never regretted it.
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Apr 5, 2017 03:52
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nm posted:Consumer reports has the most accurate reliability ratings. (CD doesn't even do it.) CR's reliability ratings are nowhere near as accurate as they would like you to think. The statistical value of many of their distinctions is pretty dubious. There simply aren't enough cars of most make/model/year combinations to make valid comparisons to others with the kind of accuracy they claim. Their ratings also tend to overvalue comparative differences at the expense of absolute. The failure rate of alternators on 2014 Fords may be higher than those on Hondas, say, but the rate is sufficiently low in either case that it makes no practical difference. I'm not saying they're useless, just that they shouldn't be taken overly seriously. There's lots of problems with their ratings they gloss over out of self-interest.
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Apr 5, 2017 04:03
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Residency Evil posted:What would you suggest using for reliability then? I've never particularly worried about it. I've bought cars I liked or filled a particular need and repairing them was just part of owning them. The differences are not so big as to be all that important, IMO and experience. New cars will be under warranty for at least three years, used cars will start wearing stuff out and need repairs regardless of brand. As far as methodology goes, I like these guys - it's based on actual warranty claims for each car. Unfortunately, it's based in the UK and only partially useful for the US market. My advice is always to buy a car you like and don't worry about it. If you're on a budget or have particular needs, your options are usually limited so again don't worry about it.
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Apr 5, 2017 04:30
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Throatwarbler posted:It's pretty neat how people who own FIAT-Chrysler products suddenly assemble every time the words Consumer Reports is mentioned in a thread. I've owned cars made by VW, Nissan, Ford, Chrysler, Mazda, Honda, and FIAT. I haven't cared about CR's ratings on any of them.
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Apr 5, 2017 04:52
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Number_6 posted:I became wary of CR back in the '80s when they'd sometimes give a bad reliability report on imported cars rebadged as a domestic GM/Ford/Chrysler, while giving a good rating to the same car badged as a Toyota or Mitsubishi or whatever. And at least at the time, you could palpably sense the hatred CR had for any kind of performance-oriented car like the Camaro/Mustang/Corvette over "socially responsible" cars. That's about the time I gave up on them, as well. Rating the Omni/Horizon "unacceptable" for failing a weird lane-changing maneuver that no one else could duplicate was what did it for me. CU was pissed about Iaccoca wanting loan guarantees and they clearly went out of their way to beat up on Chrysler as a result. They've hated Chrysler ever since. I would also look up ratings of badge-engineered twins as a kid and laugh at the discrepancies. Another fun game was looking at their ratings of new cars in back issues, then following how they panned those same cars as used cars years later. My Dad was obsessed by CR's ratings and growing up I watched him buy a series of cars he really didn't like based on their recommendations. I determined to look elsewhere for advice and have been happy with the result.
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Apr 5, 2017 14:34
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Taffer posted:I looked at some Prius's today but the selection here is not great. They were older and higher priced than I'd like. I test drove a Civic and enjoyed it. 2014, $14k, low miles. Is that a decent choice? Yeah, a Civic would be fine. Priuses may be cheap to operate, but they're boring as hell. I'm the contrary voice that doesn't particularly like them.
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Apr 7, 2017 14:33
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Michael Scott posted:I want them to explain why they like such a boring color, Thermopyle. Look at a parking lot. 90+% of the cars will be red or monochrome (somewhere on the white-grey-black spectrum). Lots of people seem to like boring colors. A pet peeve of mine is how little choice there is in car colors these days, though. I may not want to buy a chartreuse or electric orange car, but I should have the option, damnit.
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Apr 11, 2017 16:40
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Mr Gorgon Holmes posted:I work at a car dealership, recently a Volvo S60 T5 came in 275 000 klms on the clock the wholesaler offered it to me for dirt cheap. If you like it, go for it. $500 for a functioning car of any type is a steal; if it's something you actually like it's even better. If it blows up in 100 miles, you're not really out that much. Looks like a low risk, high reward situation.
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Apr 12, 2017 14:13
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C... posted:Proposed Budget: 10,000-13,000 CAD No first hand account, but if you're into the Chevy spirit there's the Sonic, which is a bit smaller than the Cruze but otherwise similar. A 2014 model ought to be right at your price point.
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Apr 14, 2017 04:41
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The Renegade generally outscores the Crosstrek in reviews. Yes, it's a Jeep (made by FIAT) so it's going to be less reliable than the Subaru, but compared to how much you're already spending, the extra cost in maintenance isn't going to be all that much. Buying a car is like buying a pair of shoes. If it doesn't fit, you're going to hate it and resent every penny you spend maintaining it. Every car is going to need maintenance, and the difference between the best and the worst isn't very big. Get what you like and have fun with it.
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Apr 16, 2017 23:53
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nm posted:There's the best, the worst, then FCA. The number of people I know with FCA lemon law experience on fiat based products is getting ridiculous. This isn't about cost, it is about your car being in the shop all the loving time. My experience with FCA products has been quite different from yours, apparently. ETA: Edmunds seems to agree with me: 2016 Jeep Renegade True Cost to Own: $26,506 2016 Subaru Crosstrek True Cost to Own: $30,282 So whatever issues the Jeep may have, the Subaru will likely be worse. Deteriorata fucked around with this message at 00:15 on Apr 17, 2017 |
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Apr 17, 2017 00:10
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nm posted:Were your products made and designed by Fiat or Chrysler? Like the RWD products and some of the tracks aren't made, but the fiat based ones have some issues. The renegade is made in Italy and mostly is a fiat. Mostly Chrysler, as FIATs had not been sold in the US for 30 years. I currently own a FIAT, however.
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Apr 17, 2017 00:16
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Big City Drinkin posted:I have a question about what to do about my old car, which I'm definitely getting rid of. It's a 2000 Audi A4 and is seriously the biggest piece of poo poo on the planet. CEL always on, oil pressure warning (though two mechanics have said there's no actual issue), awful interior condition, all speakers blown, battery dies in about 3 days if not driven (any battery; I've replaced many), only working lock is on the trunk (which can open the doors), weird herky-jerky revving issue when stopped in drive, auto dimming mirrors blew up and leaked auto dimming stuff all over, coolant and oil leaks, window regulator acting up (after having replaced it once already), hood pneumatic rod thing won't stay up, etc. The list goes on but I can't remember everything. It also needs to pass emissions soon and that'll probably cost > $1000 to get done. There's no way I'm doing that. What to do with it depends a bit on whether or not you need to replace it immediately. A dealer would take it off your hands as a trade-in, may not be interested as a straight sale. As a trade-in they'd just wholesale it and it would be someone else's problem. The car is maybe worth $1000 as is, its scrap value might be $400-$500. You could try a Craig's list ad for $1000 as a parts car and take $800, maybe. From what you describe I would feel awfully guilty fobbing it off on someone who intends to drive it.
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Apr 17, 2017 00:56
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Empress Brosephine posted:Proposed Budget: Trading in Tacoma that I owe $18k on If MPG is seriously all you care about, look at a Prius or other hybrid. Any of the cars you listed would get lower MPG but probably be a lot more fun to own and drive, so test out a bunch and see what you like. The Mazda3 tends to be a good compromise of economy and drivability.
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Apr 17, 2017 17:51
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Empress Brosephine posted:I'll stay away from the corolla then. Guess Honda or Mazda for me Try one and see for yourself, though. Coming from a Tacoma, you may feel right at home in a Corolla. That it's the latest, greatest whatever matters less than it being something you actually like, rather than something you feel like you're supposed to like. How practical or roomy does it need to be? Being in a warm, sunshiny state may make a convertible attractive. If you're not in a hurry to buy, take your time and learn what's available.
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Apr 17, 2017 19:12
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Careful Drums posted:I have a third kid on the way and I'm thinking its time to sell my Charger for a minivan (I just asked about minivans in the parenting thread). We bought a minivan a few years ago (2013). The T&C seemed fairly crude in comparison to the competition at that point. It was getting long in the tooth and was replaced with the Pacifica shortly thereafter. We ended up with an Odyssey and have been very happy with it. Getting one used is difficult, though. People tend to hang onto them. I remember the Nissan having a huge center console that we found obnoxious. I don't think our Toyota dealer had a Sienna in stock, so we didn't drive one of those. It seems pretty nice, though. You'll probably find more Siennas than Odysseys on the used lots, and get a better deal. I would recommend either of them.
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Apr 18, 2017 20:31
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RoastBeef posted:I have a 2012 Subaru Outback 3.6R. I'm look for basically a luxury Subaru Outback. Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT More realistically, a Porsche Cayenne.
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Apr 25, 2017 18:36
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Stupid_Sexy_Flander posted:Proposed Budget: Bout 6k or so. MAYBE more, but not much. Late 200x Subaru Forester, Honda CR-V, or Mazda Tribute/Ford Escape should do you pretty well. No 10+ year-old car is going to be gas-n-go, but those should all do well. They all should get around 25 mpg, as well.
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Apr 26, 2017 23:32
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Stupid_Sexy_Flander posted:I forgot to mention in trying to avoid land yachts. I currently drive a 97 ranger, so something with near the same footprint would be awesome. All three vehicles I mentioned are shorter than a Ranger. Forester and CR-V are about 180", the Tribute is about 175". The 4Runner mentioned earlier is about 190".
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Apr 27, 2017 00:13
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Careful Drums posted:Last van update - bought the '14 Sienna with 28k miles for 21k at sticker price (at the recommendation of my mechanic, it passed inspection with flying colors). I did get them to come up 1k on my Charger trade-in though. Everyone (wife, kids, MIL, and myself) is really happy with the purchase. Hoping I can get many miles and memories out of this van. Thanks goons for the help! 21k with only 28k miles is a good deal. I hope you like it!
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Apr 27, 2017 14:08
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rincewind101 posted:Heyo AI/AT/thread - I'm in the market for a new sedan or hatchback or something! I got rekt by a fellow and my 2012 Ford Focus SE is now totaled - so I'm looking for something to replace it. If you want another Ford, it will do fine. Parking assist is available on the Focus if you really need it. I consider it a neat technology with limited actual utility. Ford is about the only manufacturer that offers it in your price range, anyway. If you are looking for something other than another Ford, you'll need to do some research and narrow the field down a bit. There's a hell of a lot of cars that cost about $20k, get good gas mileage, and are compact. Virtually all manufacturers sell several vehicles in multiple trim levels that fit that description, so there are literally dozens of possibilities. You may need to spend some time defining exactly what you're after a bit more.
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Apr 29, 2017 02:36
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Stupid_Sexy_Flander posted:Trying to get a bit more info. For a car that old, the individual car matters more than the manufacturer. Output quality is a bell curve, and even bad manufacturers can make some gems, and vice versa. The real lemons are in the junk yard by that age, so whatever is left is likely to be decent. The maintenance and repair history of the car would be the most important guide. The newer the better, generally. Maintenance costs increase pretty much linearly with age.
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Apr 29, 2017 17:49
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Subaru seems to fit the bill for you. A Crosstrek hybrid, Impreza, or Legacy all get over 30 mpg and come with 4wd.
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May 2, 2017 16:17
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German cars out of warranty are generally a nightmare. They have lots of "clever engineering" bits that cost a fortune to fix. Italian cars aren't the best these days, but are considerably better. If you want a cheap and fun 10-year-old car, get an MX-5.
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May 3, 2017 00:32
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Michael Scott posted:Man you guys always make me feel like a sucker. Guess I am and it's rightfully deserved. Why is there still a hefty used market for these cars if they are at severe risk of being pieces of crap? It's a status symbol. People generally don't drive BMWs or Audis because they're awesome economical vehicles. They drive them because they want to be seen driving a BMW or Audi.
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May 3, 2017 15:23
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DNK posted:I think you get a lot of poo poo for sometimes little reason, but exactly yes. This is literally the BFC/AI thread about maximizing car value per dollar for <use case>. Eh, it's a generic car advice thread. Cheapest to own is not the only criterion that matters. It's about helping people find the right car for themselves. Repair costs are part of that, but only part. If he enjoys his Audi and can afford the repairs, then more power to him. It's not something I would ever recommend to anyone, though.
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May 3, 2017 16:45
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Precious few hatchbacks in the US, unfortunately, so your choices are limited, particularly for $8k. A VW Golf might work for you. 2012/13 Hyundai Elantra comes in hatchback or wagon. Not exactly a hatch, but the Nissan Cube tends to rate well. You may be able to find a Subaru Impreza you like. Most of the stuff later than 2010 and under $8k is tiny. A 2012 or so Focus wouldn't be great, but nothing else is much better.
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May 3, 2017 22:53
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BirdOfPlay posted:Pittsburgh must have a truly hosed used market, barely any of the Mazda3's on Craigslist are under $8k are newer than a decade. VWs are probably better than other German cars. At least they're cheaper to fix. Most people seem like them enough that the repairs don't bother them. The Golf and Rabbit are the same car, just different names, by the way. Reliability is a tradeoff. VWs are below average in reliability, but that also means they generally depreciate faster and a newer car can be found for the same money. Cars with high reliability reputations are rare and expensive. Any car you get is going to be out of warranty and will have repair issues. A Kia Soul is another compact wagon to consider, anyway. A Mazda3 (as was recommended) is always a good option if you can find one. You'll just have to pick the best available, I guess.
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May 4, 2017 02:28
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IMO this thread benefits by a diversity of opinions. It's too easy to fall into robotic group-think. Inquirers benefit by seeing both the advice and the banter back and forth about it. They learn more and can come to a better decision that way. Hence, I don't think anyone should be told to get out.
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May 5, 2017 17:56
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big crush on Chad OMG posted:Didn't you once make an unsafe recommendation on which axle to put 2 new tires? Yes, I did. And I was corrected about it.
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May 5, 2017 18:13
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Cowslips Warren posted:My Altima is at 270k miles. So the debate now is do I pick up another used Altima (I found one at a dealer, no PPI, that is a 2008 with 120k miles on it for about 5k) or keep using my own until she dies? My mom wants me to trade it in, but she's a 1999 Altima whose door locks don't work, the windows don't roll down, etc. Dealers generally just sell trade-ins at wholesale auctions. They don't fool with them themselves, usually. They reason they can give you $4000 for anything is because they've got more profit than that built into the deal before you even walk in the door. Do what you want with your old Altima. It's a matter of when it costs more to fix it than it's worth.
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May 7, 2017 01:03
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An oddball suggestion to at least consider: Kia K900. It's not a driver's car by any means, but may be the sort of sofa-on-wheels she'd like. Kia is making good quality cars these days, so it ought to be good on maintenance.
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May 14, 2017 03:27
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BirdOfPlay posted:Wow, I'm really interested in (good) CVT's now. No shifting? You make a deal on the car. Sometimes involves a down payment, usually just a handshake. You get the VIN, take it to bank/credit union/wherever and arrange for the loan. Shop around, sometimes dealers will offer very low rates as part of their incentives. You call your insurance agent, making the insurance effective on the day you plan to close the deal and make payment arrangements. Insurance usually grants you a short grace period (a couple days) of coverage before the first payment gets there You go back to the dealer with check from lender, close the deal and drive away in your new car.
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May 19, 2017 20:22
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My wife commutes daily in her Odyssey and is fine with it. Gets upper 20s MPG so it's not expensive. I don't like driving it just because it's big. As big vehicles go, it's pretty good.
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May 24, 2017 19:19
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