Need your opinions...I'm buying my first car

[yngliberal]

I noticed another thread mentioning a Toyota Prius and a Honda Fit. I like both of those cars and they are in my price range but if you were to buy a new car today, what would it be? I know I will be buying a Toyota or Honda, just not sure what model yet.

[Scout1071]

1. I would not recommend buying new.

You lose so much value as soon as you drive off the lot. I've worked with many auto dealership owners and they all tell me NEVER buy new.

[Nebraska_Liberal]

6. This is correct.

Never buy new. Buy a 10 year old honda with less than 100k miles, pay less than $5k in cash(no debt). You will get 30+ mpg, have cheap insurance, have a relaible car that if something breaks has cheap parts and is easy to work on. Especially for a first time driver, dont buy a new car that you have to have full coverage on and loses a ton of value when you drive it off the lot.

[killbotfactory]

28. It's a rip-off

I learned that the hard way. Buy a decent used car, and use the hundreds of dollars you'll save every month on something more useful.

[Xenotime]

50. Agreed! Buy used and pay cash!

[kenny blankenship]

2. Make it a Honda

Scooter. A nice 100mpg Honda Scooter.

[babylonsister]

5. That might not work so well during ice storms in OK. nt

[Sammy Pepys]

3. Hard to say

I'd probably go with something made by Toyota, like a Corolla or Camry. I've had excellent luck with both of those models in the past so I wouldn't hesitate much in buying either again. While I do like the Toyota Prius, I'm not quite ready to take the plunge on one yet for the price.

I also like the stuff Nissan has been making lately....but I'd have to log a little more test drive and research time with those.

[MadHound]

4. I would buy either a hybrid,

Or a diesel vehicle, and make my own biodiesel. Not everybody can do that however, it requires some garage space. However the new biodiesel kits they've come out with make producing biodiesel a breeze.

If you have the money, look into getting a Smart Car from Europe. They get as good, or better mileage than a Prius.

[LiberalPartisan]

7. Don't buy American

Long term reliability of American made cars is awful. They're fine in initial quality and up to 5 years but after thant forget it. I assume you plan on keeping your new car well after you have it paid off. It is then you will apprecicate the superiority of Japanese design.

p.s. - I know two folks with Hyundais and they LOVE them. I hear they've got great dependability.

[Nebraska_Liberal]

11. ah...

Hyundais are not Japanese, they are Korean... The fit and finish on a honda or toyota is much better than a hyundai.

[musiclawyer]

16. Nonsense

"The fit and finish on a honda or toyota is much better than a hyundai."
You must be reading consumer reports from 10 years ago. Hyundais are some of the tightest cars made in the world now. Dan Niell, the respected auto writer of the LA times, called the new 2006 Sonata, made in Alabama, the new benchmark setter for the middle class sedan segment. Your assertion is not supported and contrary to published facts. See Edmunds . See CR

[gizmo1979]

38. That's the dumbest thing

I ever heard.You can't back that up with facts,I have JD Powers right in front of me.There's very little difference in quality any more.Hyundais ranks last in customer satisfaction,and they are ugly as hell.If you're spending alot of money buy something that doesn't make you look like a loser.

[nickinSTL]

8. it depends a lot on what you're looking for

you can't go wrong with Toyota and Honda on reliability.

Other than that...do you need traction control? If so, I think Toyota's gotten to the point where that is at least an option on most vehicles.

Do you need space for more than 2 passengers? For cargo?

What about mpg? Certainly the Prius and the Fit should both be good for that, as would a Civic (particularly the Hybrid), a Corolla...Matrix isn't too bad, the new Yaris from Toyota will probably be good.

As I said, really depends on what you're looking for.

[CottonBear]

23. Toyota parts are much less expensive thatn Honda parts.

I drive a Corolla. Great car. I used to have a Toyota PU truck too. Great truck.

[Ganja Ninja]

9. I've been considering buying a new Toyota Yaris.

40 mpg highway & 35 mpg city! It sells for around $13,000 out the door.

[CottonBear]

24. Way cool! n/t

[mwooldri]

48. You want a Toyota Butt?

This car's name is the laughing stock in the UK (at least according to my Dad)- Yaris sounds like the slang for your backside to me. It's a nice enough car though. Fortunately it's not saddled with the name Nova.

Mark.

[politicaholic]

10. I have a friend with a Civic hybrid and he thinks its the bees-knees...

it has some nice pick up and still costs only around 20 samolians to fill even now!

[BOSSHOG]

12. How bout a Toyota RAV4?

You might find an end of the current year model sale and get a deal on a 2006. 30+ miles per gallon. You get a little more room and its a Toyota.

[Warpy]

29. Anything with a spare tire on the back is risky

because even a light tap on a pole will shatter the back window and dent the gate and those things are expensive to repair.

[CountAllVotes]

13. my advice

I'd say buy yourself a Honda Civic hybrid. I've personally owned 3 Civics and I now own an Accord. I owned a Toyota corolla and also a small Toyota pick-up truck as well.

I think Honda's are far better in all respects.

:kick:

[godhatesrepublicans]

14. My vote: I have a 2002 Saturn that gets 30 MPG.

Bluebook around 5 grand, great crash test safety record, and as good a mileage as you can get with a non hybrid. Don't get me wrong, I'd buy a new hybrid if I had money to burn, but I'm just a poor preacher. Buy a good used car, and pocket the money, you'll need it over the next few years as the Bushco's chickens come home to roost.

[Sinti]

15. Honda Civic Hybrid, baby

If I could afford a new car, I'd get one of these :)

http://www.hybridcars.com/civic.html

"The Civic hybrid breaks the 50-mark for both highway and city EPA numbers, and qualifies or Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions status in all 50 states."

The Accord (non-hybrid) with manual transmission that I drive gets 38-40 highway, 32-35 city, and runs like a champ with over 100,000 miles (a few cross-country trips) under her belt.

Edited to add:
Buy a hybrid and mother nature will love you back ;)

[Brazenly Liberal]

17. I'd buy a Smart Car - 60 mpg is looking good right now

[Warpy]

21. I love those things

but I can't cram fleece, yarns, spinning wheels, or weaving equipment into them.

Otherwise, I might have considered it. I did consider the Mini, gave it a miss because of the piss poor cargo room.

[Brazenly Liberal]

30. I won't be buying one any time soon, either

The car I have (a Ford Escort) is like the Energizer bunny. It's almost 14 years old, has more than 300,000 miles on it, and still starts first time every time and it keeps going and going and going...

I have to drive a small car, one in which I can feel the road. I really don't like driving the bigger, smoother-riding cars. Even my husband's Taurus feels like a boat to me.

[bullwinkle428]

36. Sat in a Mini last weekend - felt like a clown car to me, and you're

right about the complete lack of cargo space. I'm nearly 6'2", so I don't want to feel completely claustrophobic.

[LSK]

18. im waiting for the Jeep Patriot to come out

I like a SUV because I like to go camping and throw my bike in the back and I take vacations on backroads in Colorado.

This new jeep has a 2.4L 4cyl and will compete with the RAV4, Escape and other small-utes. But it will have real 4x4 capability while the others are not recommended for offroad use.

Its coming out in the fall and will sell for under $20k.

[jpak]

19. Toyota Yaris Liftback, $11-13K, 34-40 mpg

n/t

[Warpy]

20. I just bought a Korean econobox

It's a company that's always had neat body design, but this is the first model year they've managed to iron out all the wrinkles. The only complaint from reviewers was that you could hear the engine at highway speeds and some of them thought the interior was a little "basic." Since I drive a standard shift, that is NOT a drawback. Message boards had the usual run of complaints about automatic door locks and other stuff that shows up on every gripe board, but nothing consistent in complaints.

I chose it over the other station wagon body types out there because it had more cargo room. I'm a fibre craft person, and I do haul a lot of stuff from time to time. I chose it over the Ford Focus and a couple of the other domestics because it came with standard AC, a pricy option on domestic cars (I live in the desert and after 15 years, it's time). It's funny, it wasn't even on my list when I started researching.

I chose what I did because I just researched it all online, plugging in body style and going from there. You could also do it by "economy" or "hybrid" or any other search word. To access the gripe boards, just type in the model you're considering and "complaints" or "bulletin board."

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

44. You can eliminate some of the engine noise with special panels

There are companies like FatMat (http://www.fatmat.com) and Dynamat (http://www.dynamat.com) that sell ultra-light padding you can install behind your door panels and on the floor and firewall of your car to eliminate some of the engine sound. They also keep your car cooler in summer by improving insulation when you have the air conditioner on.

[Warpy]

46. I'm used to a rattletrap truck

and I think the engine in this little car is a little too quiet.

Thanks for the suggestion, though.

[Digit]

22. It depends...

How much do you drive a year?
What is your lifestyle?

I thought my old 1992 Accord was low to the ground, but was surprised that the new Accords and Civics were even LOWER! (we measured) I absolutely hate scraping the pavement when I enter a driveway. It is like nails on a chalkboard except worse. My driveway has a dip at the bottom, so it did matter.

The Toyota Corolla was higher and did not have that low grill piece on the front.

You can ask your insurance agent what the cost might be for different vehicles. I was surprised to learn that a 2005 Honda CRV is only 4 dollars more per year to insure than a 2003 Toyota Corolla.

[graywarrior]

25. Subaru Forester...if you can find a used one.

People tend to hold on to them. Or a Toyota. I like the Toyota trucks.

[geniph]

34. I *heart* my Forester

It gets fairly decent mileage too, especially when I can use the cruise control. It's the perfect size for me; I've never been unable to fit something I needed to carry either in or on it.

[graywarrior]

52. It saved my life in a car accident.

Solid as a rock even in a head on collision.

[SammyWinstonJack]

26. Buy an SUV.

:hide: :rofl:

[lectrobyte]

33. I have to ask why that suggestion, especially when the person seems

to be looking at compact cars?

[SammyWinstonJack]

35. I was being a smart ass.

:evilgrin: Sorry. :blush:

[lectrobyte]

40. Not a problem, I thought maybe you were serial or something. Some of

the small SUVs do seem kind of tempting, I could see Ford Escape/CRV/RAV4 etc. as fairly practical vehicles for folks who are too cool for a little wagon but need more room than a car. My SUV experiences are limited to Chevy S-10 Blazer and Jeep Grand Cherokee -- neither of which were especially practical or reliable, or just even fun to drive most of the time.

[cboy4]

27. I've had my black Honda Civic Si stolen two times in the past four years.

Honda Civics are the #1 choice of car thieves everywhere.....not only here in California.

Too bad, because I adore Hondas. They never have any mechanical problems and the gas mileage is great.

So now, I'm buying a Hummer. KIDDING!!

Anyway, just keep in mind Japanese cars are wanted by the thieves :(

Good luck with your search!

Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau (2004 data released in November 2005)

1. 1995 Honda Civic
2. 1989 Toyota Camry
3. 1991 Honda Accord
4. 1994 Dodge Caravan
5. 1994 Chevrolet 1500
6. 1997 Ford F-150
7. 2003 Dodge Ram
8. 1990 Acura Integra
9. 1988 Toyota Pickup
10. 1991 Nissan Sentra

Hawaii does not report thefts to the National Crime Information Center, which is utilized for this study. Picture courtesy of the manufacturer; on some older models, picture may not reflect the model year listed.

[SoCalDem]

31. Buy a two year old Honda Accord EX

You'll get all the bells and whistles, and you'll have a great car.. We have loved ours for 13 years now, and other than a new paintjob and the usual maintenance, it still drives like a new car..

[lectrobyte]

32. That's a pretty broad price range. I love my Prius, but I don't think

you can go wrong with either choice. The Honda Civic Hybrid might be a little roomier than a Fit, and more comparable to a Prius.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

37. Buy a two-seat commuter turbo diesel hybrid car in the $5000 - $7000 range

5 speed, with no frills, no radio, no air conditioner, built with an obsession for making it as small, aerodynamic and lightweight as possible to get about 60 mpg or more and run on biodiesel or regular diesel.

Whoops, although our automakers could build one, they choose not to. It wouldn't maximize profits.

[bullwinkle428]

41. The Insight is probably the closest thing on the market to what

you describe! I know, there are still a few key differences...

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

47. The Insight is too expensive for me

Obscenely expensive, in fact, at least to me. I'm talking about a working man's car for the proletariat with absolutely no frills and a very small diesel engine that will last 300,000 miles or more without a major overhaul. Of course, if you have money, you can buy something like the Maya 100, a new all electric vehicle that has about a 230 mile range before recharging and a top speed of 80 mph, and a large car at that, using new lithium-ion polymer battery technology. I think improved lightweight battery technology is the wave of the future, along with new technology to lower the cost of electricity and the effect on the environment. Unfortunately, this car costs about $70,000 right now.

http://www.electrovaya.com/innovation/zev_tech.html

[bullwinkle428]

39. If fuel efficiency is your #1 priority and you have the bucks,

then a hybrid or diesel would be your best options. Go hybrid if the majority of driving is short trips around town; diesel if the majority of your driving is highway/extended cruising above 40 mph or so.

[mod mom]

42. I just bought a Prius after driving a Saab station wagon..

(2 kids and 2 big dogs). I am very happy with it. Knowing the cost of fuel will be sky rocketing and we are faced with global warming, I would recommend the most fuel efficient car available right now: Prius (plus you get a tax credit! (Prius should get about $3,100)

[warrens]

43. The new Prius is a knockout

Far more comfortable and reliable than the early models. This is a case where buying used is not the best option, since the used ones maintain most of their price due to shortages of new models. A friend of mine got one last fall and it's just an incredible car.

[Eurobabe]

45. Honda hands down

A slightly used one would be a good bet, although the new Civics get some kick ass gas mileage! And they have good horsepower too. I'm not sure if I would buy a hybrid, I've heard mixed reviews about one problem or another with all of them. The difference in the gas vs. hybrid mileage with the Civic is miniscule anymore. And the regular gasoline cars are cheaper! JMHO

[lithiumbomb]

49. get a used toyota or honda

Get something that is 1-2 years old, 20k miles or so. Don't get a hybrid at this point in your life, it will take _years_ to make up the price premium in saved fuel costs. Plus there's the unknown maintenance cost of battery replacement as it gets older. Just go for a standard Civic or Corolla (or Accord or Camry if you need something bigger), you'll get great milage, low maintenance, high reliability. Preferably go for a private sale, but a "certified used car" might be worth the extra cost from a dealer, if the included warranty and services are good. IMO. Use www.edmunds.com for your research.

[mondo joe]

51. We just bought a Toyota Scion XB and we love it.

I never expected to buy a new car. But the fixed pricing on the Scion and the good reputation made it appealing. While we tried to decide I found other people (usually in parking lots!) with Scion XB's, and asked them what they thought. Every one we asked loved theirs, and that clinced it for us.



The base price is about $14k - we opted for some accessories that increased that price.