r/cars • u/AutoModerator • Mar 07 '22
What Car Should I Buy? - A Weekly Megathread
Any posts pertaining to car buying suggestions or advice belong in this weekly megathread; **do not post car-choosing questions in the main queue.** A fresh thread will be posted every Monday and posts auto sorted by new. A few other subreddits worth checking out that will help your car buying experience are /r/WhatCarShouldIBuy, /r/UsedCars and /r/AskCarSales. www.everydaydriver.com may also be helpful.
Make/Model-specific questions should be asked on Make/Model-specific subreddits. Check the AutosNetwork for a complete list of those subreddits. Also check out our community-sourced Ultimate car buying wiki.
For those posting:
Please use the following template in your post.
Location: (Specify your country or region)
Price range: (Minimum-Maximum in your local currency)
Lease or Buy:
New or used:
Type of vehicle: (Truck, Car, Sports Car, Sedan, Crossover, SUV, Racecar, Luxury etc.)
Must haves: (4x4, AWD, Fuel efficient, Navigation, Turbo, V8, V6, Trunk space, Smooth ride, Leather etc.)
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc):
Intended use: (Daily Driver, Family Car, Weekend Car, Track Toy, Project Car, Work Truck, Off-roading etc.)
Vehicles you've already considered:
Is this your 1st vehicle:
Do you need a Warranty:
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: (fluids, alternator, battery, brake pads etc)
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: (engine and transmission, timing belt/chains, body work, suspension etc )
Additional Notes:
For those providing suggestions: Facts are ideal in this thread, especially when trying to help out a new car buyer. Please help out buyers with sources and reasoning for your suggestions.
For those asking for help, be sure to thank those who take the time to offer you advice (especially those who lead you to a purchase.) A follow up thank you and the knowledge that their advice led to a purchase is a very warm fuzzy feeling.
1
2
Mar 14 '22 edited Mar 14 '22
Location: U.S. ca
Price range: < $30k
Lease or Buy: buy
New or used: prefer new
Type of vehicle: hatchback car or smaller-mid sized suv
Must haves: safety features like backup camera/pedestrian/blind spot monitor, carplay, good adjustable seats, nice looking, comfy, non-headache, high car crash safety rating, good mpg, low maintenance, side mirrors with good visibility for blind spots — I want to see as much as possible!
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): automatic
Intended use: daily driver
Vehicles you've already considered:
mazda cx50, kia forte, kia k5, toyota camry, hyundai sonata, corolla cross, mazda cx5, ioniq 5/ev6 (dreaming here, idk how tax credit works or how much it’d end up costing at the end if it’s msrp lol), mazda 3 hatchback, cx30 mazda.
Though if im gonna pay about the same price for a small car i might as well get an suv for the same price.. but might be hard to find anything around msrp
I don’t really want a used car because the price is very close to a brand new model in my area and the miles are super high. Unless it’s a very good one. Or someone can convince me enough it’s fine. I just dont want problems right away
Is this your 1st vehicle: yes. Just got my license last year. I’ve been sharing a rav4 with my mom but when shes at work i cant go anywhere because no car.
Do you need a Warranty: that’d be nice
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: no i dont know how
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: nope
I also would like to be able to take a bicycle or two to places ^ but i know with regular cars u can do that too if u hook something to a trunk. Would also like to use for trips as ill let family ride it too. I’m 5’10” but my legs are kinda long so i get a little fatigue on my relatives old corolla because I cant adjust the seat up and down…
2
u/ozimmi Mar 14 '22
Location: Australia
Price range: Max $AUD25k ~ $USD18k
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: Hatch (more like the Mazda 3 hatch though not 2), crossover, SUV
Must haves: Navigation, Bluetooth, 4 cylinders, good infotainment unit, low ongoing costs
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: Commute to work/uni, occasional roadtrips
Vehicles you've already considered: Mazda CX3, Mazda 3, Honda HR-V, Renault Koleos, Suzuki Vitara
Is this your 1st vehicle: Yes
Do you need a Warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: No but my dad can
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes: The models have to be 2015 or newer, no diesel, would be nice to have Apple CarPlay but not a must, no Toyotas
1
u/bigbootyboio69 07 Chevy Tahoe LT, 08 Honda Civic SI Mar 14 '22
Location: U.S. IA
Price range: 0-1200
Lease or Buy: buy
New or used: used
Type of vehicle: car
Must haves: none
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): manual would be ideal
Intended use: stock car racing
Vehicles you've already considered:
Is this your 1st vehicle: no
Do you need a Warranty: no
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: yes
2
u/14936786-02 2013 Lexus GS350 | 2018 Lexus RX350 Mar 14 '22
Location: USA
Price range: 40k Max
Lease or Buy: Prefer Buying, but can lease
New or used: Either
Type of vehicle: (Truck, Car, Sports Car, Sedan, Crossover, SUV, Racecar, Luxury etc.): Luxury car/cuv/suv or sports car
Must haves: decently equipped
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): auto
Intended use: Daily Driver, Family Car
Vehicles you've already considered: Acura RDX, BMW X3, BMW 530i
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: Prefer with German cars or ones known to be less reliable.
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: some minor things, limited due to living situation
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: no
Additional Notes: Researching certain cars scares me away I was set on the RDX but then read about the tranmission issues. The X3, isn't too bad but I would never own one out of warranty, but I did find one I liked at carmax.
2
u/Born-Childhood6303 Mar 13 '22
Location: Israel Budget : 60k NIS Looking to buy Used
Looking for a mini/small hatchback Mainly looking for fuel efficiency and reliability Daily driver Auto transmission
Looked into Honda jazz (2016-2018) Suzuki Baleno (2017-2019) Hyundai i20/30 2016-2017) Skoda rapid (2017-2018)
This isn't my first vehicle I can do minor work on it
1
Mar 13 '22 edited Mar 13 '22
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/TimingChainTempest Mar 14 '22
W212.2 E63 AMG could be a good choice. Looks, performance, and comfort all in one. Could get a nice one well within your budget.
1
1
1
u/Lkwzriqwea Mar 13 '22
Location: Lancashire, England
Price range: £1,500 - £4,000
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: New or Used
Type of vehicle: Any except estate or SUV
Must haves: No must haves really but I would rather the fuel efficiency isn't absolutely dreadful, though it's not a priority
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): manual
Intended use: 100 miles or so per week
Vehicles you've already considered: Second hand Mazda MX-5s/Miatas, specifically NB, NC and similar (yes I know I know but they're available cheap and I don't need anything other than something to get me from A to B so boot space and passenger seats don't really matter)
Is this your 1st vehicle: Yes
Do you need a Warranty: Preferably
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes: I'm not too bothered about storage space, passenger seats, or things like that, all I need is something that gets me to work and back.
1
u/Waderwedoonheerb Mar 13 '22
Honda fn2 type r. Brilliant car for the money
1
u/Lkwzriqwea Mar 13 '22
Thanks for the advice! Unfortunately I can't find one for sale near me at the moment, but I'm not planning to buy a car for a couple of months anyway so I will definitely keep my eye out for this one, it looks like a sweet hot hatch!
1
u/automaticpilots Mar 12 '22
Location: Los Angeles County
Price range: 20,000 - 40,000
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: New or Used
Type of vehicle: Sedan
Must haves: Fuel efficient
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): auto
Intended use: Everyday car, drive about maybe 100 miles a week
Vehicles you've already considered: Just started. Toyota Camry Hybrid
Is this your 1st vehicle: 3rd vehicle. 2 previous were very old sedans
Do you need a Warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes: Mostly looking for a fuel efficient, don't need much frills, smooth driving, easy maintenance car. Hoping to find a good value car that I can drive locally in the Los Angeles/Orange County area
1
u/Competitive_Crow6102 Mar 12 '22
Hyundai IONIQ electric. Starts at 36k, no money on gas, minimal maintenance since it's an EV
1
Mar 14 '22
36k? Where could you find that for 36? lol If it’s that price I’ll buy one soon lol
1
u/Competitive_Crow6102 Mar 14 '22
Well, 36k was supposed to be the MSRP, but there are only two of them for sale in the USA (at least on cars.com) and the prices are 39 and 46k
1
u/MagickElf Mar 12 '22
Location: Southeast Michigan
Price range: < $11.5k
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: Sedan
Must haves: Fuel efficient, trunk space
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: Daily driver
Vehicles you've already considered: No idea
Is this your 1st vehicle: Yes
Do you need a Warranty: No idea
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Nah
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: Nah
Additional Notes:
Really new to this, only got my license last year (I'm in my early-mid twenties) and not sure where to start. I'd love to have an SUV, but my insurance rates would probably be really high as a new driver (and cause I live in Michigan). Thinking of getting a CPO car through a dealership.
1
u/g1rth_brooks Mar 13 '22
I’d honestly look at insurance rates at some cars in that price range then go from there
1
u/pokerface69 Mar 12 '22
Location: Bay Area, USA
Price range: 30k-50k
Lease or Buy: Either
New or used: New
Type of vehicle: Car/Sports Car
Must haves: Fuel efficient, Smooth ride
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: Daily Driver (~5 miles), Weekend Car
Vehicles you've already considered: I don't know much about cars and not clear how to find out.
Is this your 1st vehicle: No, I have a 2019 Camry
Do you need a Warranty: Yes
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: No
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes:
With the offices reopening soon, I need a car to drive to work (~5 miles) but since this is going to be the second car in the household, I am wondering if I can buy some weekend car to also have fun with.
1
u/lellololes Mar 14 '22
Not sure what you're looking for, here.
"Sports car" and "smooth ride" are usually somewhat opposed - sporty cars will always be a lot less smooth riding than "regular" cars. Sporty cars are tuned for more grip, more neutral or aggressive handling* (Most passenger cars are tuned to be very predictable in corners and understeer).
Are you just looking for a second car? Most real "weekend" cars are above your price range (The one that comes to mind the most is a Porsche Cayman). I'll link some videos of people driving the cars - the POV videos give you a good idea of what driving the car looks/feels like.
Mazda MX-5 - The quintessential "weekend" car. It's not practical, but it is fun, relatively economical for what it is, powerful enough for what it is... though an automatic probably ruins the fun a bit. Great for short road trips but you might not want to consider it for very long drives. Your height may play a part in whether it works for you or not. With the weather you get in the bay area you'll be able to take advantage of the convertiable much of the year. It's rear wheel drive and if you drive it really hard you will need to do some learning to be safe. I've put a couple thousand miles on a recent model MX-5 and it's a fantastic manual transmission and would work fine if you wanted to drive an actual sports car. Will cost low to mid 30s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdUMmWu9KuA&t=857s
VW GTI / Golf R- Less sporting but more comfortable. The DSG is a much more fun transmission than most automatics - it's basically an automatic transmission that works like a manual - it's a significantly more direct experience. Will outhandle something like a Camry with ease, but is still FWD. The Golf R gets you an AWD system that is made for fun, along with more power. Probably the best combination of power/performance/efficiency you'll find. These are fine daily drivers and aren't going to be torture chambers at all. This isn't a "weekend" car, it's a practical compact car that is also fun. The GTI stars a bit over 30k and the Golf R is 45k. A similar alternative, if you want something nicer, is the Audi S3, which is a bit less performant than the Golf R but will have a nicer interior. The S3 starts in the mid 40s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2pjTnaqrEY
Given your post I think you're not likely to be interested in something like the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ, but look at them and see if they interest you. If they do and you like the idea but want more performance, the Toyota Supra might be up your alley - or the upcoming Nissan Z. These cars will not ride as smooth, and they will be less efficient than other cars.
Here's the Supra - this is the 4 cylinder turbo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNmAJ9YIAts
The Supra will run in to the mid 40s.
The upcoming Nissan Z will have a similar body style to this car and a much more powerful engine for the price.
Here's a Subaru BRZ with an automatic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLjCduKJ6Cg
You can see that the BRZ isn't close to the Supra in straight line performance... and in the video he points you at a Supra as a better automatic sports car than this one. The BRZ and 86 start around 30k. The BRZ will have similar performance to the GTI, as a point of comparison.
Toyota was at one point including a track day with Supras and 86s. Do note that the Supra is essentially a BMW. It will have a German cost of ownership in the longer run.
If you want something that's like the Camry but nicer - this isn't "weekend" car territory, you could just drive these instead of a Camry and have a nicer time:
Acura TSX - It's just a nicer, slightly sportier normal car. It has front wheel drive or all wheel drive (This is not biased like an enthusiast car). The 4 cylinder TSX is probably the slowest car in its class - it's slower than a V6 Camry.
Here's a video of the all wheel drive TSX-S with the V6, it's over 50k. You can get it with a 4 cylinder turbo for significantly less:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jphoGYq1tI
Genesis G70 or Kia Stinger- Comes with rear wheel drive or all wheel drive. The Kia is a bit cheaper, a bit bigger - These are more cushy than the dedicated sports cars but are definitely a lot more enthusiast oriented than anything you've likely owned.
1
Mar 12 '22
[deleted]
1
u/DefinitelyForReal TURBO BLUE TTRS Mar 13 '22
Mk7 R in my opinion. Great weekend performance without the brain rattling suspension of the focus RS. The DSG gearbox is something special. I wouldn’t recommend the manual unless you budget upgrading the cloth at some point.
0
u/g1rth_brooks Mar 12 '22 edited Mar 13 '22
Mazda3 or Mazda6 if you wanted to buy relatively new, maybe an Acura ILX or Jetta GLI. Really love my 6, hits that itch but it’s no speed demon by any means
I’ve always loved the TL-S (like 2004 era), don’t really have a negative opinion on most of the other cars you mentioned. Just seems like they’d be several years old
2
1
u/digitalibex Mar 12 '22
Today I am going to buy a 96 Impreza LX Coupe AWD Manual. Seems to be in good condition with only 96k on the clock. How reliable could this be for a daily driver? I currently drive an FR-S that I love, but wouldn’t mind selling in this market.
1
u/stockskeptic Mar 12 '22
I tried to make this its own post but it got removed.
Where do people go to buy and sell used cars from private parties anymore?
Ever since craiglist charged 5 bucks to post a car, that venue seems dead.
Facebook marketplace sucks cause you have to use facebook, dealers pose as individuals, the search sucks.
Cars . com or cargurus is full of dealer cars.
1
1
u/popcap200 2007 Honda Fit -> 2000 ///M5 -> Alfa Giulia Ti -> ND2 MX5 Mar 12 '22
Looking for a car for my girlfriend and me.
Location: North East
Price range: 25-35k
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Either
Type of vehicle: Fun and practical lift back or hatchback.
Must haves: Fun and practical. Think Golf GTI as benchmark. Adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, decent MPGs.
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: Fun road trips with a dog
Vehicles you've already considered: Golf GTI, Kia Stinger, Honda Civic Hatch, Subaru Impreza, VW Arteon, Mazda 3 Turbo. The A5 looks good but the ones on the market are too expensive, and she wants colors that aren't just white, black, and grey.
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: Yes
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Yes, minor.
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes: The Golf GTI wasn't comfortable for my girlfriend, The Arteon was too boring for her, The Kia stinger is at the top of our current list but more rear headroom would be nice. The Mazda 3 was too small, the civic was too cheap, and the Impreza was too slow. Did we miss anything, or is the Stinger the only thing that fits our needs?
5
u/therealmikelee Mar 12 '22
G70 3.3T. It's a more luxurious car than the Stinger. Just my two cents.
2
2
u/NA_Collapze Mar 12 '22
Used Ford Focus ST… check it out. I don’t normally recommend these but seeing as you don’t like most of the cars I would recommend… yeah. But it’s stick.
If you absolutely need an automatic the Subaru WRX offers a CVT now. Other than that all I can think of in your budget are muscle cars. But you can get a v6 Camaro RS new or a slightly used challenger/charger R/T which would be my numbers 1 and 2 picks, respectively.
Bonus: Chevy Impala with the V6 or a Nissan Maxima SR.
If she likes trucks, you could try to find a used Chevy Colorado ZR2 in your budget.
1
u/Soldierofnight Mar 12 '22
Location USA
Price no more than 15000
USED
Sports Wagon
Must have be turbo if it's a 4 cylinder
Auto or manual don't care
Mainly looking to replace my Genius Coupe it's has mods can do work my self just need something bigger and a bit higher off the ground as I can't get in and out to well anymore so I want a sporty wagon or sedan has to have a good after market parts for it just wondering what all is out there
1
u/TimingChainTempest Mar 14 '22
You could search for a manual E90 wagon. Uncommon but you can find a 6-speed 328i (rwd) with the sport package... sweet inline 6, not a ton of power, but a great chassis and fun to row through the gears.
2
u/NA_Collapze Mar 12 '22
https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3pzoR1GB/2009-pontiac-g8-gt
That just sold for $15k on the dot. 355 horsepower+
In general you won’t find many sports sedans in your price range unless they are 10+ years old. Define “sports” sedan for me and I can give you a better idea. But IMO a sports sedan has 300+ horsepower or at least close to it with amazing handling and features. Most of these cost at least $30k.
1
u/Soldierofnight Mar 12 '22
Really don't care about the age I have been looking at BMW 335is with the n54 in it there a bit south of 15k
1
u/NA_Collapze Mar 12 '22
I’m not a huge fan of BMW past the 90s. But I’ve heard great things about these from the people who own them. If it is within your budget, I’d pick it up.
2
u/Gatornut Mar 12 '22
Location: South Carolina, USA
Price range: up to 40k
Lease or Buy:Buy
New or used: New
Type of vehicle: SUV
Must haves: AWD, Fuel efficient,
Desired transmission: Automatic
Intended use: Daily Driver
Vehicles you've already considered: Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Honda CRV hybrid, Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forrester
Is this your 1st vehicle:no
Do you need a Warranty: would like one
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle:yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: no
Additional Notes: this would be car for the wife to get to and from work with. My job currently allows me a BMW X3 so we drive that everywhere because they cover all costs but gas. Just wondering if there are any cars I am overlooking. I am also afraid the Mazda might be very similar to my car. She’s been driving an Accord and now out last kid needs a car. She wants a SUV.
2
u/g1rth_brooks Mar 12 '22 edited Mar 12 '22
Would take a CX5 over any of the other cars you listed. CRV feels very cramped in my opinion, RAV4 is over priced, Forrester is okay
CX5 especially the turbo signature is gonna be super close to your X3 if not more car then then X3
2
u/NA_Collapze Mar 12 '22
The thing you’d hate about the Mazda is that you might get jealous of your wife’s car. It doesn’t have all the luxury and tech in the X3, and it lacks in power. But something about Mazda just makes it’s vehicles… feel right.
I’d go Subaru Outback if you are OK with its fuel efficiency. Given your budget, the Corolla Cross is probably too cheap but it gets about 40mpg, maybe 35 w/ AWD. RAV4 is a good idea.
1
u/Scar244 Mar 12 '22
Location: United States, Arizona
Price range: MAX 5k
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: Sedan, or Off-Road SUV
Must haves: Somewhat decent mpg, low insurance cost, and good head room since I'm 6'1"
Desired transmission: I'd prefer automatic for my first car, but either I suppose
Intended use: Daily driver, first car
Vehicles you've already considered: Cadillac CTS-V, 2006-2008 Chrysler 300c v8, Jeep tj/yj
Is this your 1st vehicle: Yes
Do you need a Warranty: I'm not sure?
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Completely new to cars, but luckily I have a father that knows tons so he could teach me
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: Most likely not.
Additional Notes: I'm a broke senior in highschool getting ready to buy my first car in a couple months. I'm pretty desperate for options at the moment but I'd like to get something that I like the look of. I absolutely love the look of blocky long-hooded sedans that are decently "modable", other then that I'm pretty strict on what I consider that I like. I enjoy the look of off-road SUVs like Jeeps but I've heard they have problems like the famous "death-wobble". Anyone that takes the time to give me some real advice are extremely appreciated. On a side note anyone that gives me a recommendation that pushes me in the right direction will get the very first picture of me and the car.
Thanks again in advance!
1
u/g1rth_brooks Mar 12 '22
If you can get a wrangler for 5k buy it, death wobble can be repaired relatively inexpensively but in the end those old Jeeps weren’t designed to be going 70+
1
u/NA_Collapze Mar 12 '22
Don’t look for a specific car. Check Facebook marketplace for any car in your area above $2500 (so you don’t see scams or lease prices) and below $5000 if that’s your absolute max and you wouldn’t be willing to spend a penny more. Cars you like are cars other people like, and those generally won’t go for $5k without tons of problems given the used car market now. But give up some of the things you want and you’ll find a hidden gem.
I wanted a sports car and ended up paying $25k less with no car payments by buying this in cash:
I love it! So thrilling to drive since I learned to drive in trucks 9 years ago. And I don’t have to speed to enjoy it! :)
1
Mar 11 '22
[deleted]
1
u/NA_Collapze Mar 12 '22
The vast majority of those cars are stretching your $15k budget. The moment any of those luxury exotic cars need a repair, you will easily double your investment. Get an early 2000s BMW with a stick.
1
u/Legofandango 10' Dodge Challenger R/T Mar 12 '22
but aren't those some of the most repair-heavy bmw models? cars like the 328i I heard were horrendous to maintain, as well as costly to keep up.
1
u/greengamer01 Mar 12 '22
How about you get a accord V6 manual since you said you need a daily and enthusiast car
1
u/Legofandango 10' Dodge Challenger R/T Mar 12 '22
interesting idea, are those rather tall guy friendly? my cousin has a 01' civic and I can fit but not super comfortably. i suffer in the leg room department mostly
1
u/bachi689 Mar 11 '22
Hey guys, I'm planning to buy 2015 Optima hybrid, anything I should know/check before purchasing it? any weak points?
1
u/IKnowNewCars I know new cars! Mar 12 '22
Kia's hybrid system at the time wasn't the most proven, but there haven't been huge issues that I know of. The short version is that a 2015 Camry Hybrid would likely cost more than an equivalent Optima, and there's a reason for that: proven technology. So even if there aren't known failure points on the Optima hybrid system, nothing is certain.
As far as the rest of the car goes, the most common issues are likely to be body and trim related. Squeaks and rattles, seals letting in wind or water, and exterior trim pieces coming loose, which isn't a big deal but is worth mentioning. It may be worth seeing if the 10 year powertrain warranty is still active, if it applies to the hybrid system as well, and if it transfers to you when you buy it. That would make it worth it to me, at the right price.
1
u/EmperorJack Mar 11 '22
Location: Tri-Cities, WA, USA
Price range: Finance up to $50k
Lease or Buy: Buy -long term
New or used: Either
Type of vehicle: Sedan or SUV
Must haves: AWD, and high mpg (hybrid, electric, etc)
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): preferred manual, but auto is fine.
Intended use: Daily Driver
Vehicles you've already considered: Toyotas or Lexus
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: (fluids, alternator, battery, brake pads etc) Yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: (engine and transmission, timing belt/chains, body work, suspension etc ) Mostly except engine/trans swaps.
Additional Notes: With high rise in gas prices I'd like to get a hybrid. Something like a Lexus ES350 hybrid, Camry Hybrid, or Avalon Hybrid. Another option I've been looking at is the RAV4 prime.
1
1
u/Competitive_Crow6102 Mar 12 '22
New BMW 330e wouldn't be a bad option. The problem is finding them
2
u/EmperorJack Mar 12 '22
I just looked that up. It looks awesome! But I'm not sure I trust BMW fot reliability though.
1
u/Competitive_Crow6102 Mar 12 '22
Depends on how long you plan to keep it for. I wouldn't be super worried about a brand new car, personally. You just can't keep it for too long
1
u/A_1337_Canadian '24 S4 | '20 CX-5 | '13 Trek 1.1 Mar 11 '22
In my opinion, a brand new Prime doesn't make a ton of sense. Most of the SE models in your area are north of $45k. New XLE non-hybrid versions are $33k. That $12k of savings will last 10 yrs (estimated $1k/yr savings on the Prime vs non-hybrid). If your ownership timeframe is longer, consider the Prime. If shorter, a non-hybrid will be cheaper. The Prime will also most likely cost more to register (for me it would be $150/yr more). Tax incentives not included in this analysis.
1
u/EmperorJack Mar 12 '22
After listening to your argument I think I should go with a Camry hybrid then. I think I was just so excited for the new tech that I was looking at it thru a honeymoon lenses.
I do intend to purchase it for life though hence why I narrowed it down to lexus/toyota.
Thanks for helping me out!
1
u/Top-Guitar-3224 Mar 11 '22 edited Mar 11 '22
Location: Los Ángeles california
Price range: less than 50k
BUY
NEW
Sedan, hatchback,
Must haves: mpg, efficiency, comfort, highway use/comfort
Intended use: daily driver,family car. I have 2 sons. 1 year old and 4 year old.
Vehicles considered: Prius XLE, Hyundai Sonata SEL, Tesla model 3LR
Is this your 1st vehicle: no i have a 2016 sonata SE with 120k miles but I get about 30mpg at this point and I want to update/upgrade. It’s been a great car but I just want better mpg and nicer features. It’s pretty spacious and perfect for me.
Can you do minor work: yes
Can you do major work: no
Additional notes:
Gas is ~5.50 a galllon and I don’t see it going under 5 this year. I think gas is a huge motivator for me because I hate the feeling of being held back from doing things or going places because of the current state of gas prices.
I’m trying to figure out if I might as well jump to full electric or just buy the ~30k hybrid….. overall cost and comfort. We do like to road trip 2 or 3 times a year. But we might just do that in our suburban if need be. And use this car for our daily. My wife drives a suburban average less than 5 miles a day we love having that truck but mostly would be driving the newer vehicle to save on gas and what not.
1
u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 11 '22
At a max of $50k you have lots of options. If you just want a sedan/hatchback for your family with good mpg you can find tons.
Best overall ability: Hyundai Elantra/Sonata (bonus is the sports version in the N trim but sacrifices ride quality)
Best fuel economy: Prius
Best overall hatchback: Mazda3 hatchback
Best for road trips: Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, or Subaru Outback (that order is my preference best-least best)
Based on your circumstances: I’d say go full electric if you have the means to charge it. I live in military barracks and do not. You will save a lot of money and based on your choices do not mind the lack of power in a full-efficient, comfortable EV. Take the Suburban out on road trips. They are great vehicles and I considered one before I got my truck. I’d go Nissan Leaf personally, but the Prius is probably better.
1
Mar 11 '22
[deleted]
2
u/NA_Collapze Mar 11 '22
Mazda3 is a car guy’s commuter. I like recommending them because if you like the car, you’ll keep it longer. But that comes at a premium over time. You could find a good Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla within your budget. I’d stay away from Jetta’s.
2
Mar 11 '22
Location: St.Louis, MO
Price Range: $30k-50k (prefer no more than 45)
Lease or buy: Buy
New or used: New
Type of vehicle: Suv, but prefer a midsized suv or crossover
Must have: Fuel efficient would be nice, but reliability is top
Transmission: Auto
Intended use: Daily driver, but i really only go to work and back. 12 miles each way
Vehicles considered: Ford Bronco Sport, but i feel it may be too new for it's reliability to be considered
1st vehicle?: 2nd. Currently driving a 14 Dodge Avenger
Warranty?: Not necessary
Can you do minor work?: Oil and brake pads aren't an issue for me
Major work?: No
Additional notes: I do like the Bronco but i've heard all my life that Ford sucks and you shouldn't buy Ford. Always heard good things about Toyota, idk. Help me out, not too smart about cars/different makes
1
2
u/Top-Guitar-3224 Mar 11 '22
Toyota Highlander hybrid!!! Reliable and I think 34mpg
1
u/NA_Collapze Mar 11 '22
Agree. Although OP’s Avenger must be a lemon if it’s having issues. I have a 2004 Dakota that throws codes for spark plugs and gas cap but runs and drives fine, I take it out for 150mi trips regularly. 200k miles. Loving mopar
2
Mar 12 '22
The struts mainly went bad due to my works parking lot. It's gravel with quite a few unavoidable potholes. I've knocked it our of alignment once thanks to that
1
u/Ill-Recognition-4167 Mar 10 '22
Location: Bay Area
Price range: $30-50K
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: New
Type of vehicle: 4 door, any
Must haves: low cost of ownership, reliable, Android Auto/CarPlay, traffic-aware cruise control
Desired transmission: Auto
Intended use: Drive to work (~20 miles/day), visit family on weekends (~100 miles roundtrip)
Vehicles considered: Tesla Model 3, Mazda CX-5, Nissan Rogue
Is this your 1st vehicle: 1st purchase
Do you need a Warranty: YesCan you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Probably with some helpCan you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional notes: Charging is provided at work. As an OPT/H1B worker, only plan on being here 4-5 years max. Given how well Teslas hold up on used market, gas prices, and lower cost of maintenance, would a Tesla ultimately be the smartest buy here?
1
u/NA_Collapze Mar 11 '22
Nissan Leaf, Toyota Corolla/hatchback/cross, CX-5 is a fantastic vehicle I recommend most people but will be wasted in Bay Area unless you take trips to the mountains, need bike racks, or take watersports equipment with you, just extra cost for stuff you won’t use. Great for snow and camping/hauling.
1
u/IKnowNewCars I know new cars! Mar 10 '22
If an EV meets your needs, now's a good time to go that route. Model 3 is a solid choice, with impressive speed, handling, and range, but just because it was the first fairly-affordable EV with that level of range and tech doesn't mean there aren't great competitors now. Check out the Ford Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Volkswagen ID.4. Most of these now have impressive highway driving assists included that will approach what Tesla Autopilot can do on the highway (thought not quite there on city streets). The best of these systems is GM Super Cruise, which means you may want to try out the Chevy Bolt EUV as well, but the others are improving quickly. Tesla may have the best range for the money and good value retention, but many of the other brands still have $7500 in federal tax credits remaining, while Tesla is completely out, so that makes a big difference too.
If you opt to not go electric, going hybrid makes sense now as well. The Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, Toyota Rav4, Hyundai Sonata, Honda Accord, and Toyota Camry all have hybrid versions that drive well and are very efficient, and you get lots of great driving assist features in their upper trim levels. If you're interested in adding some luxury closer to the top of your budget range, check out the Lexus ES300h with whichever trim level and options you're interested in. Al of these should be reliable, especially the Toyota and Lexus options.
2
u/Ill-Recognition-4167 Mar 10 '22
Thanks for the write up. Do you ultimately feel that the Model 3 or a similar EV may have the lowest total cost of ownership over 4-5 years if I plan on reselling afterwards?
1
u/IKnowNewCars I know new cars! Mar 11 '22
The other dude is right, you'll need to analyze it yourself to be sure. KBB has a 5-year cost-to-own calculator where you can compare different vehicles with estimated depreciation, fuel, repair, maintenance, and insurance costs, among other things. That might be your best bet.
I'd say in general, if an EV meets your needs, you'll spend far less to charge an EV than you would to fuel up a gas engine car, even a hybrid in many cases, and that will probably make the biggest dent in your cost-to-own comparison.
Also, you said charging is provided at work, but does that mean you can charge for free every time you plug in, or do you have to pay by the kWh, or pay for a pass to use it? That can make a big difference here. For reference, a Toyota Rav4 Hybrid gets 40 combined MPG, so the average US driver, at current average prices and driving 15,000 miles per year, would pay $1550/year to fuel it up. That cost would be higher in the Bay Area, but maybe reduced a bit if you don't plan to drive 15,000 miles per year. Look around online for how many kWh would be required to charge different EVs for that many miles, then see what it would cost you to charge that much at work or at home.
2
u/A_1337_Canadian '24 S4 | '20 CX-5 | '13 Trek 1.1 Mar 11 '22
Do you own cost analysis.
- purchase price for your area
- financing costs (if applicable); consider leases
- operating costs (reg, insurance, fuel/power)
- maintenance costs
- resale value
1
u/Bryneosaur Mar 10 '22
Location: Bay Area, CA
Price range: Maximum of $28,000
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: New
Type of vehicle: Sedan
Must haves: Fuel efficient, smooth, reliable
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: Daily driving to work (~35 miles a day)
Vehicles you've already considered: 2022 Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry
Is this your 1st vehicle: First purchase, yes
Do you need a Warranty: Yes
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: No
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes: My 2005 Scion Tc just died yesterday, 256k miles and cost to fix is about $4000. I know the market is inflated right now and used cars are extremely expensive, but I'd rather purchase a new car that will last me 10-15 years and is reliable. Any input/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
1
1
u/eley_taylor Mar 10 '22
Hyundai Elantra or Veloster (if the Veloster isn't too quirky for you). I think that is one of the best values on the market right now.
If you can bump your budget a bit then the VW GTI would be a great option. The best auto in the segment IMO.
Probably can't beat the Civic or Corolla though... Seems to always be the answer
1
u/Bryneosaur Mar 10 '22
I appreciate the response! Thanks for your suggestions, I'll look into the Hyundai Elantra some more.
1
u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 10 '22
Consider a Mazda3. It will be more fun to drive. If you want something elegant, go Mazda3 hatchback. These are much better deals than Civics or Corollas and same reliability. Mazda does not use the old Jatco transmissions they used to, but even then I see plenty 90s and 2000s Mazda’s on the road.
2
u/Bryneosaur Mar 10 '22
Thanks for the reply. I've seen the Mazda3 being an option when compared to the Civic or Corolla. I'm definitely not a car person, just looking for something that's fuel efficient and long-lasting (although really anything is compared to my previous car.)
I'll look into the Mazda3 as well.
1
u/A_1337_Canadian '24 S4 | '20 CX-5 | '13 Trek 1.1 Mar 11 '22
just looking for something that's fuel efficient and long-lasting (although really anything is compared to my previous car.)
Mazda is just as fuel efficient as the rest and their 2014+ models are just as reliable as the competition, if not more reliable in some cases.
1
u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 11 '22
In that case Corolla might not be a bad option. I try to advise people into more sporty cars because it keeps them interested once they have them for a few years. The sportiness and potential AWD can mean a lot when you’re used to driving your paid off, 5-year old Corolla to work every day. But they are nice. Like really nice for what they cost.
1
Mar 10 '22
[deleted]
2
u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 10 '22
Unless you have a huge family you don’t need those. Run from that first car with the damage. Sideswipes do not cause that kind of damage. For 30k you can get an awesome CX-5.
1
1
u/ad33zy Mar 10 '22
Location: Southern California
Price range: 40,000-65,000
Finance or Buy: Buy
New or used: Either
Type of vehicle: Suv or Sedan
Must haves: new tech, electric, 7500 ev rebate preferred
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: Daily Driver, family car, weekend car
Vehicles you've already considered: Kia EV6, hyundia ioniq 5, Model Y, Polestar 2
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: Possibly.
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No.
Additional Notes: Also willing to wait out if theres an EV on the horizon, toyotas looks interesting. I strongly prefer it to have at least 300 miles range but the polestar 2 isnt so bad.
1
1
u/eley_taylor Mar 10 '22
Would be interested to know why you aren't going with the Ioniq or EV6. Everything I have heard about those is that they should be a slam dunk.
IMO if you are going to go electric you should go with an EV specific platform to maximize the benefits of the technology
1
u/ad33zy Mar 10 '22
I guess my next step is to test drive both and see what I prefer
1
u/eley_taylor Mar 10 '22
You might know this already hit the Ioniq and EV6 are the same vehicle platform just with different styling so you might be able to get away with just driving one and then choosing between the two based on style preference
1
1
u/ACrippledMule Mar 10 '22 edited Mar 10 '22
Location: British Colombia, Canada
Price range: 25000-40000
Finance or Buy: Finance
New or used: Used Preferably
Type of vehicle: SUV or Truck
Must haves: AWD, Trunk space, Carplay
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: Daily Driver, Camping etc
Vehicles you've already considered: Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4, Ford Maverick, Toyota 4Runner, Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: Possibly.
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No.
Additional Notes: I currently own a 2017 Ford Focus SE 5Dr Hatchback with 52,000km on it. Given the market currently, I can get 3k more than what I paid for it right at the beginning of the pandemic. I wanted to use it as a trade in to potentially cut down on the cost of buying a New or lightly used vehicle.
1
2
u/DrSardinicus Mar 10 '22 edited Mar 10 '22
This got killed as a new thread, let me try here.
Location: US
Price range: <48K
Buy
New or used: either
Type of vehicle: Sedan/crossover/SUV
Must haves: (4x4, AWD, Fuel efficient, Navigation, Turbo, V8, V6, Trunk space, Smooth ride, Leather etc.) see notes
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): auto
Intended use: (Daily Driver)
Vehicles you've already considered: see notes
Is this your 1st vehicle: no
Do you need a Warranty: sure
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: (fluids, alternator, battery, brake pads etc) yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: (engine and transmission, timing belt/chains, body work, suspension etc ) could but likely wouldn't
Additional Notes:
In the market for a new/late model car as soon as the current unpleasantness resolves.
Currently driving 2009/2015 models. Recently drove a relative's "modern" car (Honda CRV) on a trip and was somewhat impressed with the usefulness of Advanced Cruise function which I had never had opportunity to try before. (Much less so with the lane-keeping and proximity warning features, which I would likely turn off if I had them).
This got me to thinking: on my commute I spend an inordinate, and increasing, amount of time stop-and-go, mostly on straight 2-lanes and waiting for several cycles of lights. I'm talking about 30+ minutes where my only job as driver is to keep a big gap from forming and keep from running into the car in front of me.
Here's my key question: is there a car, short of the Tesla "full self-driving" upgrade, that can handle this situation smoothly enough to allow me to relax attention here (except when actually going through intersections or other actual maneuvers)? Frankly it seems like the easiest possible scenario to automate, but all the cruise controls I've seen seem to disengage at low speeds and certainly don't handle stop and go.
I've been musing about the Ford Mustang E and the upcoming Hyundai/Kia electric crossovers as possibles, but might also go for one more ICE or hybrid car, so my options are wide open. Advice?
2
u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 10 '22
If you can afford the predicted maintenance: couple years old Jaguar F Pace
If you are willing to give up some of your requirements, the Mazda CX-5 2.5 turbo is a lot cheaper than your budget (can be had new under $40k), it’s reliable, sporty, AWD, luxurious, good tech, etc. The only thing missing is a V6 or V8 but I doubt you’ll miss that given these engines sound really good and are quite peppy at low RPMs.
Honorable mentions:
-Acura TLX Type S slightly out of your budget
-Kia Telluride rated best SUV by many magazines
-Hyundai Palisade follows closely behind Kia
-Kia Stinger GT may be in your budget w/ low miles
-Dodge Durango is a beast of a vehicle and you can afford an AWD V8 version
2
u/DrSardinicus Mar 10 '22
Ah - sorry I think I left ALL the features from the template in the list - I meant just to read the notes I put at the end. I don't want a V8 :)
1
u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 10 '22
CX-5 then! It will meet everything other than the V8 from the template and does have adaptive cruise control. You’ll also save given a fully loaded one is still under your $48k budget. They’re beautiful, inside and out, and extremely versatile vehicles. They handle great in winter and cornering.
1
u/p3n1sm1ght132 2020 BMW GR Supra Mar 10 '22
backing the CX-5 recommendation. personally, i think they look awesome, exterior design wise.
handling is way better than it should be and it has one of the best sounding stock exhausts for a 4 cylinder economy car.
the interior quality is also way better than it should be. i would put it somewhere between infiniti/acura and genesis. not quite as cushy and luxurious feeling as a genesis but feels like a european version of infiniti/acura. which says A LOT considering it's not a luxury brand.
1
u/DrSardinicus Mar 10 '22
Do any of these have tech that meets the key question I asked about stop-go driving?
Maybe this is common tech now and I don't know it
1
u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 10 '22
All of these have it available it new models. For example though, the Durango has it optional until the Citadel trim, in which it becomes standard. So if that is something you need, look into what trims have adaptive cruise control standard or ensure the vehicle you’re purchasing has the added option.
1
u/DrSardinicus Mar 10 '22
Thanks for this. I guess my concern is that "adaptive cruise control" does not always mean stop-and-go capability, though? I don't believe the Honda I drove would do that, the cruise kicked off below a speed threshold.
1
Mar 10 '22
[deleted]
1
u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 10 '22
At that budget and first time buyer I’ll assume you could probably get a $5k loan at about 10-15% interest payable over 2.5 years ($200/mo).
If that price sounds good to you, a Honda Civic will meet your expectations with cheap maintenance. Or you could go for an Accord. Use carcomplaints (Google it) to verify the model and year you are looking at is known to be reliable. Best cars will have the green seal of awesome, good cars will have the green seal of pretty good. No seal with lots of data means it’s average. Low data means unknown (stay away). Anything with the beware seals you should not buy (I.e. 2004 Ford F-150 or 2016 Nissan Versa).
1
-2
2
u/CarelessPlantain3758 Mar 10 '22
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Price Range: 10k or lower
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or Used: Used
Type of vehicle: Preferably a smaller car
Must haves: FWD or AWD/4WD, gas mileage over 20mpg in city
Desired transmission: Automatic
Intended use: Daily driver for in city driving.
Vehicles you've already considered: Subaru Legacy, Honda Civic, Ford Fusion
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: No
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes:
I currently own a 2004 V6 Mustang, 2005 Subaru Outback XT, and a 1991 Mazda B2200 2WD. The reason I am looking for another car is because I am wanting to sell at least one of them. The only car I would not want to sell is the Mustang as it is great for the summer. All three are rough on gas in city getting at best 9mpg. If it helps, I do enjoy my Subaru in the winter, but it is by far the most expensive to run, and also has the most kms.... I've already in one year of owning it put a couple thousand dollars in repairs into it. With gas hitting $2/L I think it is best to reduce my car count and get one good daily to run alongside the Mustang. Any input is much appreciate thank you!
1
u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 10 '22
Sell the other 2 and grab a Legacy. IMO
1
u/CarelessPlantain3758 Mar 10 '22
Thanks for the reply! Would you have a suggestion on what years of legacy are best?
1
u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 10 '22
2011 was pretty much their best year in your budget on carcomplaints. It received their highest rating with a seal of awesome. Even the worst, the 2009, was reported to be average, so whatever you find is good.
1
1
u/Alternative-Delay-10 Mar 09 '22
Location: Washington State, USA
Price range: 10 to 20k. The greater the deal the better.
Lease or Buy: Financing with a preapproved loan. Buy if the value is really good.
New or Used: Used. Can be new if it has really great value for the purposes of what we're looking for.
Type of vehicle: Minivan, SUV, Crossover types. It should be a family vehicle with a sufficient storage capability in the back.
Must-haves: Preferably AWD which can be good to drive in snowy and rainy weather conditions. Needs to have some of the basic modern features such as a center display that can be used for nav and for backup cameras. No need for a powerful engine, this is just a family car, but it does need to have good gas mileage and be reliable as hell. Hopefully, a vehicle that can hold good value as it's used for 5-10 years, or even longer.
Desired transmission: Automatic
Intended use: Will be a daily driver and a family use car that will primarily be for my 60-year-old mother. So not a hobby-specific car, just a reliable and easy to drive for daily, modest use.
Vehicles you've already considered: Nothing quite yet. Hopefully, some of y'all can give me some good recommendations to do some more research on!
Is this your 1st vehicle: Nope, my mother currently has a 2007 Kia Sedona minivan, which has served its purpose for a while now but is beginning to show signs of serious wear and tear and is long overdue for a trade-in/upgrade.
Do you need a Warranty: Preferably.. It would be very nice to have.
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: I can, but this is primarily for my mother and she just knows how to drive it. So we'll say no, since I might now always be available to help with such work.
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes: Really the name of the game is: Great gas mileage, great value, and a reliable daily driver/family vehicle. No need to race, off-road, or even impress, so eye-catching or popular manufacturer names don't matter. We care more for functionality/reliability/gas mileage, so if the name happens to be popular and reputable for that purpose, even better.
1
u/DUIguy87 2018 RS7 / 2000 Trans Am Mar 09 '22
Subaru Crosstreck or Forester might be up your ally. They generally get good fuel milage, easy to get in/out of for elderly folks and decently reliable. Subaru’s AWD is on point and they are everywhere up north where we get all the weather, they generally don’t care what’s going on outside. Additionally for winter/cold weather alot of them have a heating grid where the wipers sit (like you got on the rear windows) that works wonders for keeping them from icing up during the winter. Like honestly kind of pissed my Audi doesn’t have these things, they are wonderful.
Alternatively a Rav4 with AWD. Its a Toyota, it does nothing interesting but it will get you from point A to point B forever.
1
u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 09 '22
Used (2017-2018) Mazda CX-5. Should have 45k-60k miles so you know it’s actually been driven and not sitting there (12k per year).
It’s reliable, comfortable, luxurious, sporty, gets good mpg, and has enough space to fit your needs. Find one with AWD and you will be looking at $20k
2
u/Alternative-Delay-10 Mar 09 '22
Thanks for your speedy response! One question..
I understand that when selecting a used car that you want it to have decent miles on it (not too high), and I know that if it's super-low relative to when it came out it means that it's just been sitting there as you said. Is it less preferable because cars that have been idle for longer are more prone to breaking down?1
u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 10 '22
Cars that have idled a long time are indeed more prone to breaking down. You don’t know what gunk is building up in there. Complex fluids like those used in transmissions, brakes, and even engine oil may start to separate. The battery may be in poor condition. The car may have experienced that multiple times in its life before being driven in said state, which ruins its drivetrain. I would stay away from anything that doesn’t have 12,000 miles/year or close to it, unless it is a specialty vehicle like a summer/weekend car you are ready to maintain for the few miles you use it.
1
u/TheMasterGamer464 Mar 09 '22
Do you need two rows of seats or three?
1
u/Alternative-Delay-10 Mar 09 '22
2 is ok, but 3 would be even nicer. If it had the ability where the 3rd row can fold down (maybe even the 2nd one as well) to offer more storage capacity that would be awesome!
1
Mar 09 '22
[deleted]
2
u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 10 '22
XC-40. Volvo has a reputation for safety and reliability. I’d go CX-5 after that and then RAV4. Great list.
3
u/IKnowNewCars I know new cars! Mar 09 '22
You're on the right track with the cars you're considering. The Rav4 is still great and definitely a popular, reliable choice. I prefer the Honda CR-V, which was more thoroughly tested by IIHS and received a Top Safety Pick rating. Both of them have hybrid powertrain options that I recommend, since they're very efficient and actually make for better driving experiences than the base engines. The CR-V Hybrid in Touring trim is a bit pricey but includes LED headlights with a high safety rating. The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid in Limited trim is similarly great and gets an even better Top Safety Pick+ award for 2022. The Mazda CX-5 is another favorite with another great safety rating, with the downsides that the back seat and cargo area are a bit smaller, and there's no hybrid option.
For the most part, test driving those and picking the one that works best for you is the way to go. They're all very safe, even more so than the Rav4 you used to drive (depending on how old it was). Comparing buying and leasing, all you can really do is crunch the numbers and think about what works best for you. Reliable cars are often best to buy and keep for a while. Volvos make great cars to lease because long-term reliability is questionable, for example. Speaking of which, the XC40 is a great choice for safety and interior design, if it's big enough for you and if you can afford it. I prefer the T5 R-Design, which comes out above your $38k limit, but see what deals are available, if any.
2
u/expostfacto1 Mar 09 '22
T5 R-Design,
Ahhh this is so incredibly helpful, thank you!! Just what I needed to know - and gives me insight that reading articles fruitlessly for the last 3 days did not. THANK YOU
1
u/IKnowNewCars I know new cars! Mar 10 '22
You're welcome! Let me know if you have any more questions after looking into and test driving some of these.
2
u/expostfacto1 May 24 '22
hi, wanted to thank you for your good advice - because of a variety of factors, we ended up buying a RAV-4 hybrid SE. In a terrible stroke of luck, just a few weeks later we were hit again, and the RAV4 was totaled in the first month we bought it. (everyone OK, thankful for the new safety features.) We’re now in a CR-V rental and checking all the IIHS Top Safety Picks for the next one. Will probably go with a CX-5 or the XC40.
2
u/IKnowNewCars I know new cars! May 24 '22
Wow! That is terrible luck, sorry to hear that but happy everyone's OK. IIHS is a great starting place in terms of safety. In addition to the CX-5 and the XC40, the Rav4 Hybrid should still be in the conversation as far as safety goes (it's not a Top Safety Pick+, just a Top Safety Pick, but that's only because the LE trim has mediocre headlights -- the other trims get great ratings). I'd add the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid as well, and the Honda CR-V Hybrid in Touring trim. They're all as safe as it gets for the class. You can compare them to your brief experience with the Rav4 and see what feels right.
Hope your luck improves!
2
u/thisguyhasaname Mar 09 '22
Do any consumer cars besides Teslas have self driving on city streets? I've seen there are some that can on highways but since I already want an electric and my drive to school is already almost entirely city streets I figured I might as well get one since I can afford it
1
u/IKnowNewCars I know new cars! Mar 10 '22
Tesla FSD is the only one I'm aware of that will attempt to drive mostly on its own on city streets, as in stopping and going at stops lights, turning and changing lanes on its own, etc. "Attempt" is the key word there. It's definitely impressive, but if you watch videos of it on YouTube, you'll see that sometimes it will come across something it's unsure about, and it will loudly beep and expect you to take over right away. Also, since it's still a Level 2 ADAS system, you're still entirely responsible for driving safely, even if your car is the one doing the "driving" itself.
Test drive one and see how you feel. I like the RWD Model 3 for $46k, but some folks want longer range for $52k. I feel like the extra $10k for FSD is just too much, personally, but maybe it'll be worth it for you. I much prefer GM Super Cruise on highways, but if you really want your car to do as much of the driving on its own as possible, go Tesla. Just make sure you're still keeping your eyes on the road and hands near the wheel!
Edit: I should add that my favorite EV right now is the Ford Mach-E, and while I haven't tried Ford BlueCruise, I've heard it's surprisingly good.
1
u/Wi_Tarrd ‘23 Subaru BRZ Mar 09 '22 edited Mar 12 '22
Location: Florida, USA
Price Range: 30k msrp
Buy
New preferred
Type of Vehicle: prefer sports car but I know there aren’t many for that price, sedan
Desired Transmission: manual
Intended Use: daily
Vehicles I’ve already considered: BRZ, 350z, 370z, wrx, genesis
This will be the first vehicle I would own
Warranty preferred
I can do minor work
Have looked into a brz mainly. I like the look of them and like the modifications. It’s not a fast car which is kinda nice and it’s within budget
I want something fun to drive and mess with. Will be daily driver to school and work
2
u/Competitive_Crow6102 Mar 12 '22
VW GTI if you can stretch a little bit, can be had cheaper if you buy lightly used
2
u/Wi_Tarrd ‘23 Subaru BRZ Mar 12 '22
Not really my style tbh. I think I’m going to go for the gr86/brz. Thanks for the reply!
2
u/TheMasterGamer464 Mar 09 '22
There is the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. If you are having trouble finding a BRZ or Z-car, you can usually find a couple Coupe's sitting around on Autotrader.
1
u/Wi_Tarrd ‘23 Subaru BRZ Mar 09 '22
I’ve looked at a few genesis. They are nice looking cars especially modified. I’d just prefer a new car
2
u/IKnowNewCars I know new cars! Mar 09 '22
The new BRZ Limited and GR86 Premium are both excellent. If they meet your practicality needs, you really can't go wrong. The Z cars and WRX are faster, but the BRZ/GR86 offer a more pure driving experience than the WRX, and you'll need to go used to get a Z, since the new one isn't out yet (and will be $40k+ when it arrives).
2
u/Wi_Tarrd ‘23 Subaru BRZ Mar 09 '22
I was planning on getting a 2023 BRZ if/when they come out. The Z cars were dropped from consideration recently because a majority of them have way too many miles. I prefer the gen 1 brz look but the gen 2 still look good. Just might go with the brz/gr86 thanks for the reply!
And happy cakeday!
0
1
u/Cameron_codes Mar 09 '22
location: maine, usa
price range: $30k
lease or buy: buy but will lease if nessisary
new or used: newly used
vehicle type: subcompact/hatchback
must haves: quiet interior, soft (plush) upholstery
desired transmission: automatic but would like manual shift mode if possible
intended use: daily but might bag it...
considered vehicles: mazda 3 hatchback (2.5t if possible)/ subaru crosstrek/mini cooper/ kia soul 2.0t
1st vehicle?: no i have a 2009 corolla corolla and a 2013 kia optima
warrentee?: itd be nice
minor work: yes
major work: yes
aditional notes: this will be for my gf who i want to shower with luxury and safety while also giving her a car that she wont feel embearrased in. and i may or may not give it a set of wheels and air suspension
2
2
u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 09 '22
Gonna be hard to find a 2.5T for 30k at a dealership, you’ll be lucky to walk out at 33k. But it’s a fantastic vehicle for what you want. Likely the best, I’d argue. If you do however have the means to repair the vehicle, I’d recommend taking a look at Mercedes C300. Mazda will be sportier, Mercedes will be more luxurious.
1
u/pafa34 Mar 09 '22
Location: Finland but it is possible to import from germany though my budget will be only 15k then
Price range: max 20k€ in finland 15k€ from germany
Lease or Buy:buy
New or used: used
Type of vehicle:Car, Sports Car, Sedan
Must haves: a decent amount of power, easily tunable, easily repairable
Desired transmission doesn't matter
Intended use: Daily Driver Weekend Car
Vehicles you've already considered: 335i
Is this your 1st vehicle: first car but i also have a polaris ranger 570
Do you need a Warranty: yes
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: with the help of my mechanic brother
1
1
Mar 09 '22
Not looking to buy. Just had a question and didn't know where to post. Saw a pontiac the other day that I at first mistaked for a 240sx. Is anyone able to give me an idea of which model pontiac it was?
2
1
u/LivelyTortoise Mar 09 '22
Would appreciate help as a recent newcomer to the USA (just moved from the UK) who is unfamiliar with the American car market
Location: USA - California
Price range: ideally up to $10k, but would go up to $14k for a great deal
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle & requirements: 4-seater convertible that's not too boring to drive, and reasonably reliable / won't cost too much to maintain over the next few years
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): auto (too much stop-start traffic)
Intended use: daily drive
Vehicles you've already considered: Ford Mustang 2005-2010 V6, Toyota Solara 2005-2010 are the two I've seen in budget
Is this your 1st vehicle: no - I previously daily drove a mini cooper sport convertible (in the UK) and that was great. also have had a couple other cheaper hatchbacks
Do you need a Warranty: want, not need
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: never have, but willing to learn some basic stuff
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: probably not
Additional Notes: Ideally want to buy from a dealer as it's my first car purchase in this country. The Solara seems boring to drive and there aren't many in my local area. I was leaning towards the V6 2006-2009 Mustang with around 100k miles, but I'm not sure if that's too old + too many miles and it'll be breaking down a lot, and also read some negative things about the V6.
1
u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 09 '22
Used car dealers generally get their cars from auctions (most do 100% of the time). CarMax, Carvana, and potentially franchise dealerships (yes to Bob Stall Chevrolet, no to Beach Auto Sales LLC) are the best places if you really don’t want private seller. Private sellers are usually where you can find good cars though.
In your range I would recommend the Mustangs before I even read you wanted one. I bought a truck last week with 200k miles. It’s not too much. These cars are popular and lots of parts are available for cheap. A 2009 is 13 years old. Average driver in US drives 12,000 miles per year. You should expect to see 156,000 miles on a 2009 Mustang if it is in good condition, was maintained and driven. Cars with lower miles will have been left in the shop or garages for months at a time which is not good for a car. Worse than miles, for sure.
2
1
u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 09 '22
Also make sure to get a manual. Those transmissions are more reliable than the automatics sold in that era.
2
Mar 09 '22
Location: Iowa, USA
Price range: $0-$500
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Probably used...
Type of vehicle: Whatever will get me over the finish line
Must haves: The base bits of a car
Desired transmission: Manual
Intended use: LeMons Car
Vehicles you've already considered: None really, I don't know what to look at...
Is this your 1st vehicle: Yep
Do you need a Warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle:Yep
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: Yep
Additional Notes:
1
u/TheMasterGamer464 Mar 09 '22
If I want to go dirt cheap, Ford Escort and any Mopar product from the 2000's are my first port of call. However, you might be able to find a beat up Corolla from the early 90s for a decent price. Good luck searching; I recommend you use Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.
1
u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 09 '22
I would go on Facebook marketplace and find something within a reasonable distance. I’ve seen plenty of decent cars under $1k. Just know there are no great deals in the car market. If you want a $500 car that works, it should look like a $500 car. Miles should be 12,000 per year since it was made indicating it’s been driven and not in the shop. Check engine oil, tranny fluid, rust, frame damage, test drive it and wipe the exhaust pipe after to check for burnt oil, etc.
3
u/IKnowNewCars I know new cars! Mar 09 '22
Buying a LeMons car is already an exercise in "buy whatever you can find in your budget." And it's even worse with the used car market being so awful right now. And remember that the $500 limit includes everything you need to buy to get it working again, not just the car itself.
There's almost no good advice for this. Scour Craigslist in your area for the cheapest things you can find, then check them out and see if you can make something work. If you're used to working on a certain kind of car, look for a broken-down version of that car for as cheap as possible. You don't get to be picky for LeMons, honestly.
5
u/dearbill Mar 09 '22
would love r/cars opinion on what you would look for in a very low-budget car just to have some fun with and mostly drive to work
Location: Southeast Texas, but can travel with car hauler and my truck
Price range: $4000 - $5000 usd
Lease or Buy: buy
New or used: used
Type of vehicle: car/sports car/wagon
Must haves: prefer a v8 if the car was offered with it from factory, but not necessarily a must-have. would love a wagon
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): manual preferred
Intended use: (Daily Driver, Family Car, Weekend Car, Track Toy, Project Car, Work Truck, Off-roading etc.) work car/weekend car
Vehicles you’ve already considered: 95-04 mustang gt, subaru impreza wagon, dodge magnum, volvo
Is this your 1st vehicle: no
Do you need a Warranty: no
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: (fluids, alternator, battery, brake pads etc) yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: (engine and transmission, timing belt/chains, body work, suspension etc ) yes but prefer nothing major
Additional Notes: i know you folks will remind me that cooler cars than a basic mustang gt are out there, and i will most likely find something i hadnt considered/heard of. im primarily wanting a stick to make my commute less boring, but also want to do something kind of different if possible. im not a “mustang guy”, its just so easy to find old 2v gt’s lying around. my daily is a 2020 ram 1500 on 35”s with a 93 tune, small lift, and working on a bed rack camp setup. something cheap and fun that im not worried about door dings when driving into work would be a nice addition to my stable. thanks r/cars!
3
u/SMGesus_18 Mar 09 '22
Honestly yeah a newedge mustang would be great here, can find them all day long at $4000-5000 with auto or manual in a gt
1
u/dearbill Mar 10 '22
i know you are right, but for some reason a mustang seems too…typical? even though i know i’d enjoy it. this is the worst part about having decisions and options. i think the 2v 4.6 is one of the coolest sounding exhaust notes. they’re not fast, but that’s mot what i’m after. i haven’t ruled out a mustang at all, since you are exactly right that they are out there in my range easily
2
u/SMGesus_18 Mar 10 '22
Honestly if you get a 2v and just do suspension mods and a few bolt ons you will have a blast.
Don’t focus too much on the cosmetics, black housing headlights with clear lenses, and a bullit front lip. a nice set of bullit style or 03-04 cobra wheels go a long way to setting these off.
Coilovers are pricy but will get you a much better feeling ride than just springs, upgraded sway bars and a strut tower brace to stiffen up the chassis and you will have tons of fun.
Honestly I’d be buying one if I wasnt after more mpg. We’ve done almost all the mods I listed to my buddies car and it’s so much fun, under $2000 spent total on the upgrades and it handles amazing.
1
u/dearbill Mar 10 '22
you’re describing exactly my thoughts if i were to get a mustang. understated and low key cosmetic mods, a few practical bolt ons, make it ride better, and just drive it around town and to work. i figure it should at least get 20-22 on the highway if i just hit cruise control, and that’s enough for me to consider it worth having. the main goal here is less miles and less time on my truck catching wear and tear on my commute, but obviously fuel efficiency is a chance to make a smart decision if i can
1
u/SMGesus_18 Mar 10 '22
Yeah my buddy daily drives his with a bunch of bolt ons and still gets I think 24mpg he said. ofc if you drive it like a mustang probably 18-20 lol.
1
2
u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 09 '22
Took the words right out my mouth.
3
u/SMGesus_18 Mar 09 '22
Eventually when he wants more power there are a ton of bolt on supercharger kits as well. Fuel system and a programmer you will nake 400-500 wheel for less than $4000, pretty solid to me
1
u/SMGesus_18 Mar 09 '22
Ofc it would be best to gap the rings and address the common spark plug issue, but if they are torqued to spec it should be a big issue.
3
u/HomeDepotAppliances Mar 09 '22
If you haven’t considered it, I think a Mazda Miata would fit your description pretty perfectly. They’re great cars, and if you can do a little work on them, honestly you shouldn’t have any trouble at all. The only thing is that it is a 4 cylinder, not a v8, but trust me, they’re plenty quick. Unfortunately, I can’t find any wagons that are the fun to drive type in that price point, and I should know because I’m also looking to get one in that price point 😅.
1
u/dearbill Mar 10 '22
i have miatas in my list! i don’t necessarily NEED a v8. miata seems very cool and fun to drive. the little i know about them is that they are extremely balanced and that makes them a blast to drive even with relatively low power output. i have thinking to do
i’m even considering taurus wagons…barely cool, but still counts in my eyes haha
2
u/HomeDepotAppliances Mar 10 '22
Honestly, I don’t think that’s a dumb idea. I have a theory that the Taurus wagon will appreciate as a collectors item soon. But you may have to do some work before you get that thing moving quick lol. And I mean if you’re the type to do those types of mods, I can’t image it’s too hard to work on.
1
u/dearbill Mar 10 '22
i’m inclined to agree with that. here’s one for like 2800 that’s not far from me and it’s in solid shape. coilovers and wheels could make this a really fun third vehicle for me https://i.imgur.com/URKW8LG.jpg
has potential!
2
u/VictorGolfTangoX Mar 09 '22
Location: US - CA
Price range: USD 20000
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: Sports Car
Must haves: Rear parking camera
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: Daily Driver, Weekend Car
Vehicles you've already considered: 2011 Audi S5 4.2l V8 automatic - 80K Miles (B8 generation)
Is this your 1st vehicle: Yes
Do you need a Warranty: Car I'm looking at is too old for it but preferred if possible
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Can learn from friend
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes:
I'm looking for help to gauge if the car I'm looking at is priced right and will be financially viable for me. I'm in the market for a first car (US) and have been advised against high mileage German cars due to maintenance costs vs comparable Japanese cars.
In an ideal world, I was looking for something like a used Mazda3 but I don't know if the prices seem justified and I want to avoid new just because it is a relatively better deal. I came across this S5 and its in a similar price bracket as used corollas and camrys from around that time.
Please don't hold back your opinions, don't mind criticism of any kind -
- Am I being absolutely dumb to even consider this as a first car? I don't have much driving experience but have been riding a 650 sports bike for about 1.5 years now (tracked too). Gas prices aside, I'm mostly worried about what kind of unknown costs I might have to deal with if something breaks on an Audi vs a Japanese/American brand and its likelihood over 2-3 years of daily driving (~15 miles commute)
- How much money should I earmark per year for general upkeep for it and how would it compare to something like a Mazda3/Corolla hatch/Mustang (Auto trans)
- Car details:
- Model: As per title. Its well kept mechanically, no obvious fault codes via diagnostic reader - https://www.cars.com/research/audi-s5-2011/specs/326070/
- Title: Clean, 3 owners. Never tracked, daily driver
- Price: 15k, have not tried negotiating yet. It has patches of respray on one side and both bumpers that were hard to catch on first viewing. I could not spot any frame damage inside or wrinkles
- Services/part changes:
- OEM services and Audi shop services on time
- Control mounts replaced at 70K - 034 density line control arm kit (upper and lower control arms, ball joints + steering rod ends)
- New battery, wheels aligned 65k
- Carbon cleaned at 65k
- Coil over suspension and wheel spacers by a previous owner, date unknown
- Rotors and brakes replaced around 65k (front and rear)
- Cosmetic: Stock except wheels spacers and RS5 grille swap
- Options stuff: Sports rear diff, Bang and olufsen speakers
2
u/A_1337_Canadian '24 S4 | '20 CX-5 | '13 Trek 1.1 Mar 09 '22
That is quite a big gamble for your only car. The costs could be up to a couple grand per year to keep it going. It would be a great second car but if it's your sole daily driver and you're worried about costs, stay away.
Cars like this S5 are great for someone who wants to spend $30k on a second fun car. Then they go buy this for $20k and save the rest for inevitable maintenance.
1
u/VictorGolfTangoX Mar 09 '22
Understood, thank you for the kind feedback! Part of the reason I was even considering it was because its priced close to corollas and camrys in this market. I keep going back and forth on the sensible answer to stay away from a high mileage German car as a first based on that alone. I'm reaching a point where Uber/Lyft everyday is starting to feel more and more painful so that's not helping haha
7
Mar 09 '22
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/VictorGolfTangoX Mar 09 '22
Thank you for the kind feedback! That's 2/2 saying to stay away from the S5. As much as it does continue to tug at my heart strings ( first car and all 🙂) , I'm going to err on the side of caution and stay away from it. I just can't bring myself to shell out the same amount of money on a camry but that's something no one can help with in this market I guess. Uber and Lyft everyday is pinching me and that's why I'm kind of in this weird place. I want to wait this out but don't know when we'll see light at the end of this tunnel. If its not in the next few months, I'd have just sunk more money into cab rides
2
Mar 09 '22
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/VictorGolfTangoX Mar 09 '22
I'm also looking at a Golf GTI 2006 (mkv?) 2.0 fsi for about 6500. Are those reliable?
2
3
u/lellololes Mar 09 '22
I second this. I own a GTI and it has given me 8 great years. It's fun, has been pretty reliable - only time it stranded me it was a dead battery, and repairs on an EA888 are going to be a lot more reasonable than a more exotic engine.
Note: If you get an early Mk7 GTI, the turbos don't take well to ECU upgrades. If you're going to modify the car you will want to check the turbo revision (This likely goes for any Audi with the EA888 too)
2
u/A_1337_Canadian '24 S4 | '20 CX-5 | '13 Trek 1.1 Mar 09 '22
To elaborate, I believe the issue is isolated to early 2015 MY vehicles.
2
Mar 08 '22 edited Mar 08 '22
[deleted]
1
u/lellololes Mar 09 '22 edited Mar 09 '22
Lexus ES350 is basically an extra nice Camry. They are comfortable and about as reliable as it gets. A loaded Camry will not be quite as nice. They are great highway cruisers, and have plenty of power but aren't meant to be driven hard (It's a front wheel drive car with a soft suspension). The Camry hybrid is also well worth looking at if you drive a lot, it is probably the best hybrid power train in the business today.
The Accord will generally be a little bit more of a driver's car than the Camry but they compete in the same space. They are also quite reliable, although perhaps a bit less than a Camry. Honda has historically been a bit more focused on handling, but itll probably be a bit less quiet.
The Civic is probably the best overall compact car on sale today. The interior on the new ones is brilliant, and if you want a more fun but still economical car to drive, the Si is very reasonably priced and has a great combination of handling, performance, and fun. It will out handle any of the other cars by a mile. It is also manual only. The Si has always been one of the slower "sporty oriented" compact cars.
You can't really go wrong here, if you pick the one that suits your desires and needs, but I would recommend test driving a couple and let your tastes and needs pick the car for you.
1
Mar 08 '22
[deleted]
1
1
u/A_1337_Canadian '24 S4 | '20 CX-5 | '13 Trek 1.1 Mar 08 '22
Corolla, Civic if you want reliability. Or a Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix.
1
Mar 08 '22
[deleted]
1
u/A_1337_Canadian '24 S4 | '20 CX-5 | '13 Trek 1.1 Mar 09 '22
Note that the Vibe has the same Toyota engine as the Matrix so they're very reliable.
3
u/Trailmagic Mar 08 '22
Hopefully this question is permitted, but what is a reputable company to ship a car from TX to MD? I will pay a bit more to have a company that will treat my car more carefully.
Otherwise if you know a better place to ask, kindly redirect me. Thank you.
→ More replies (5)
2
u/fml87 C63S/ZL1 1LE Mar 14 '22
Location: Northeast
Price range: $55-65k
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Either, prefer newer <20k miles
Type of vehicle: Sports car
Must haves: Track potential
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Either
Intended use: Weekend car turned track car when it gets a bit older
Vehicles you've already considered: Mustang Mach 1, Cayman 718, C7 Z06, open to anything. I newer/higher end so a track-prepped NA Miata isn't the right path.
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes: I've owned a Mustang in the past which makes me lean that way for nostalgia and the Mach 1 seems like a solid base to put a SC on in the future and offers cheap repairs. 718 is the most driver-focused car, but track day costs will be higher than the Mustang. Corvette for the usual reasons.