Time to buy a car.(shudder) Tell me about the cars you love

[SoCalDem]

We are looking for a car no older than an '04 and are not picky about style..(nothing smaller than our '91 Accord, which we are keeping as our back up)

any suggestions / warnings?

[Gidney N Cloyd]

1. I'm on my second Saturn and very happy.

[Syncronaut Seven]

2. Love lots!

Good place to start is with a list of requirements.

BMW is one of my most faves. Nissan Quest is a rockin good van.

[SoCalDem]

3. That's the thing.. we don;t really HAVE requirements

other than the obvious.. power windows & A/C

that's about it..

we are not "car people"..

[distantearlywarning]

4. We've had a Scion XB for a year.

We love it! It runs well, is gas efficient, and extremely roomy on the inside for a compact car. And it's cute and weird looking.

[MissMillie]

27. I just bought one--and love it!

Everyone is surprised at how roomy it is inside.

[ganeshji]

5. I love our Buick.

Very reliable but it's ugly, to me anyways. My mom just gave me her Honda. It is a great car, extremely reliable, as you know, and looks and runs great. A few of my family members have bought used Kias in the last few years and have been extremely happy with them. Good luck to you.

[NMDemDist2]

9. i bought a 1991 Buick this summer with 131K miles

it rides great and gets over 25MPG

since it's clean on the outside and I paid $1000 for it it's beautiful to me :rofl:

the interior is clean except the driver's door armrest has come loose, nothing a little vinyl tape didn't cure

I'll probably buy a Saturn in a few years when it's time for a new car. I'm hoping I can get a hybrid by then or (better yet) an electric car

[ganeshji]

15. Our Buick is just the opposite.

It is very ugly on the outside but it runs great. I see a lot of Buicks that look great, though ours is pretty long in the tooth. I would recommend a Buick to anyone for an overall great car.

[NMDemDist2]

18. oh mine RUNS good! but it's paint and fenders still look good

in spite of being 16 years old

yeah, those straight 6s they put in those old buicks just run and run and run

[ganeshji]

19. 1991 must have been a pretty good year.

For some reason it is peeling, looks like it has sunburn. 160,000 miles and starts up every time. I plan to sell it to a guy I know who desperately needs a car so it may just live on a bit longer!

[NMDemDist2]

25. i think this one lived in a garage

it came from an Estate in (I kid you not) Muleshoe, Texas

:rofl:


that's the only way the paint could still be shiny in this sandy, windy area

[JCMach1]

39. Buick is the best thing GM makes...

[Little Wing]

6. If you dont' care about style, get something that's safe

like another Accord

[Kutjara]

24. Definitely.

It's one of the few in its class that gets 5 stars from NCAP across the board. And it comes with ABS and side curtain airbags as standard.

[malta blue]

7. I love my Subaru!

It is essential in upstate NY because of the all wheel drive, although I gather you don't have to deal with much snow....
It has 150k on it and is still running great.

[catmandu57]

21. You can't go wrong with a Subie

They're great cars.

[spindrifter]

29. I love the 'rus!

I've had three of them--have two of the three now and only got rid of the other one because there was no real reason to hold onto it. They are sturdy and reliable. I can't say the same for my several VWs (electrical issues on all of them). Had a Hyundai that I liked before I got hooked on the 'rus.

[YankeyMCC]

8. I love my Prius

Not a sports car but I think it looks good.

And of course gas milage is great.

Rides well, overall just a good car so far.

[Orsino]

51. Great car.

Possibly a good family car, too. It seats four people my height in comfort, and the mileage is great, of course.

[YankeyMCC]

52. Three can fit comfortably in the back

Unless someone's been had to much holiday feasting of course. ;)

[Midlodemocrat]

10. Just bought a 2004 Camry for the teenager to drive.

Great car, fabulous condition. Very safe.

I used to drive an Accord and I absolutely LOVED it. That was when I only had two kids, now I drive the requisite minivan.

[itsmesgd]

11. I'm on my second Corolla...

the first was an 88 back in highschool. My current Corolla is a 2006 base model (the cheapest thing I could find, but is great). I also had a 2000 Ford Ranger that I put nearly 200K miles on before it fell apart after 5 years of HARD driving. I would rec either a Ranger or Corolla. They both get great gas mileage.

[SoCalDem]

12. We still have a 1981 or 82 Corolla wagon w/ 200K+ miles

Bought it for $500 waaay back when.. and every one of our grown kids have had possession of it from time to time.. but we will be parting with it when we buy a newer car.. I already have a buyer..for $500.00 :)

[LaurenG]

13. I'll say toyota

Just about any toyota will do. I've driven nothing but Corolla's since 1983. I highly recommend them.

[Oeditpus Rex]

14. Some old beater

[SoCalDem]

16. I think my husband would be very happy to drive that oldie

:)

[flvegan]

17. Mazda3

The sedan is good, but the 5 door sportwagon is where it's at. Most come pretty loaded up, and fairly cheap for a newer, reliable car. The wagon hauls crap like an suv, but gets great mileage. I have the predecessor, the PR5 wagon, and I love it.

[Ron Green]

20. VW TDI - we have two of 'em, one gets 45 mpg, the other gets 50!

You can get it in the Golf, Beetle or Jetta (also the Passat, but the fuel mileage won't be as good.)

Plus they have 7 air bags, and drive like a real car, not a wet Udon noodle.

[bullwinkle428]

47. Unfortunately, they're not available for the 2007 model year beacuse of

changing emissions regulations. VW plans to have new TDI models that will supposedly be emissions-legal in all 50 states for the 2008 MY, helped by the fact that ultra-low-sulfur diesel will be mandated at that point. Another poster here at DU has a Golf TDI, and she's mentioned how much she enjoys the vehicle in several posts.

[Flaxbee]

22. A Honda Accord or Toyota Camry

Have had both, and they're terrific cars. Wish I had one now. Maybe soon!

[Kutjara]

23. Just bought a new Accord and am loving it.

Among the other cars I considered were the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima and Mazda 6. In the end, the deal on the Accord was so good there wasn't any real decision, but I'd have been happy with any of the others.

[bullwinkle428]

50. I'm on my fourth Accord right now - 2002 model with 113,000 miles on it.

The previous one was a '93 with over 250,000 miles on it before I sold it to my ex-wife, and she took it to over 300K before some exhaust system parts bascially rotted away and it wasn't really cost effective to put that money back into a car that old with that many miles...

[querelle]

26. Toyota Camry

I'm on my third Toyota. Best most reliable cars ever.

Q

[LuckyLib]

28. Ditto. We're on our second. They last forever, only thing you do

is change oil and buy tires. Outstanding cars, and the smoothest ride on the road that's affordable.

[Initech]

30. I'm looking at the Chevrolet HHR for my next car.

[graywarrior]

31. Toyota Camry.

I have a 95 I bouth for $1000 with 40,000 orginal miles on it. Got it last year. Put $500 into it. 35 MPG on the highway, 28 in the city. LOVE it.

[MoseyWalker]

46. good deal you got!

any toyota. Can't go wrong there.

[MichiganVote]

32. Hunydai Sonata, 115,000 aint' done nutin' to it

[UTUSN]

35. Ding ding DING!!!1 We have a winner!!!1 Hunydai Sonata!!!1

I don't "love" cars. I was on-the-go in my job and had no time for appreciation, just had to have something dependable, and there was no time for luxuries like washes and waxes. Just something that got me there.

I thought that the Nissan Sentra was dependable, but it is the first vehicle I have NOT reached the 100,000 mile mark before trading it in. From near the beginning there was a knocking sound in breaking and it soon got into the habit of taking two or three turns of the key before it started.

By the time I got it to the dealer, the warranty was up. Friends and family saw what a hassle I was having, and one of them took the liberty of checking out cars and pretty much made the deal for me with this Sonata.

The first several months I was still in PTSD over the Sentra, expecting it not to start for the two or three turns. But it has been a DREAM!!!1 Not a bit of trouble, and it is larger, heavier, and has a big car feel.

[MichiganVote]

37. We had a Sentra once, blew a head gasket at 40,000. Never own another one.

[JCMach1]

41. Hyundai Terracan

Had to have something to get around the desert... It is a dream SUV

[MichiganVote]

43. I'll keep that in mind

[Squatch]

33. BMW M5 - Absolute perfection in a car

[Syncronaut Seven]

34. F*ing M-5's

Is there really any need to pass at 180Mph? :evilgrin:

[JCMach1]

40. Buy one if you want to keep it as much in the shop as the road

BMW are cheap as chips here, but I would not own one.

[SKKY]

36. I'm in the market as well. I've got it narrowed down to either...

...the BMW X3 or a Volvo S60. I was hoping to wait a bit longer because I think in the next couple of years
most automakers will be offering flex-fuel as an option, but my hand may be forced before too much longer. Since
I'm overseas, I can get a crazy good deal on a really nice car, mostly by not having to pay taxes on it.

[jakefrep]

38. I have a Pontiac G6 which I am quite happy with.

[spooky3]

42. Toyota Rav4 has been very reliable and versatile

Not very elegant or smooth but a good reliable car that can haul a lot of stuff for a little car.

[Rabrrrrrr]

44. Mustangs, Vipers, or Mini-coopers. Convertibles only, please.

[Rosco T.]

45. We have an '04 Honda Element

Love the little guy to death. Massive (and I mean MASSSIVE room inside), good gas milage, handles good, not a SINGLE problem in the 2 2/1 years we've had it... I can recommend it without reservation.

We've been seeing more and more of them as we are out... I think I counted at least 15 of them while we were out today.

One possibly important point... in the 2 1/2 years, I've only seen ONE on other than a Honda dealers Used Car lot. People get these and hang on to them.

[bullwinkle428]

48. My ex drives one (2004 model) and really loves hers, but wants to get

a new one with the monochromatic body work as the grey panels are the only thing she doesn't care for about the car!

[Rosco T.]

49. We're waiting for the '08 Elements to trade...

word is they will be hybrids.

and yeah, I like the new full painted versions.. but those cladded panels sure save on parking lot dings!

[Coventina]

53. I love my Subaru Forester

But if I had to buy another car in the near future, I would maybe go for a Honda Civic Hybrid.