Need help chosing a new car...

[indimom]

DH & I are need to buy a new/er car. We have a budget of $25,000 (or less ) and are primarily looking for reliability, a good warranty, and good service. Oh, a four-door and with a decent safety rating.
Additional pluses: good gas mileage, CD aux. in, and 2+ power ports.

Tell me what car you love and why! Thanks!!

 

[tvguy]

I think Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry, and Honda Accord are a good place to start looking. Everyone that has one of those cars loves it. I've heard the new Ford Taurus is pretty nice too, don't know anyone yet that owns one though. Kia and Hyundai are good options too. My sister in law has had a Kia Sorento for about a year and loves it.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

I'm partial to the new 2012 Ford Focus. Great technology and fuel economy - 28/38 for automatic and there is one trim in the sedan version that gets 40mpg on the highway with an add on package. I put in my order in January and am waiting *somewhat* patiently for it to come in.

 

[WDWBarb]

My vote is for the Prius!

I drove my first one for seven years and it was never once in the shop. I put 120,000 miles on it and got 50+ MPG for the entire time I drove it.

I got my second Prius in November and I love it, too! I love that car and I can't wait to try out the solar sun roof (that keeps the car cooler in the summer) when the weather turns warm!

 

[claudia]

Honda Accord...

 

[crazelion]

Nissian Sentra. I love may 2009 Sentra . Did mention order 2009 candy apple red Sentra. The new sentra is a big car. But have good gas milage. Also had 1993 Sentra that is still going strong

 

[JDX4]

I am partial to the Hyundai Sonata. It's rated tops by Consumer Reports, and has lots of nice features.

 

[Anne34]

We have a newer Chevy Malibu that we really like a lot. Great gas mileage and fun to drive.

 

[CowboyCO]

DH & I are need to buy a new/er car. We have a budget of $25,000 (or less ) and are primarily looking for reliability, a good warranty, and good service. Oh, a four-door and with a decent safety rating.
Additional pluses: good gas mileage, CD aux. in, and 2+ power ports.

Tell me what car you love and why! Thanks!!

Accord -- hands down.

 

[tvguy]

My vote is for the Prius!

I drove my first one for seven years and it was never once in the shop. I put 120,000 miles on it and got 50+ MPG for the entire time I drove it.

I got my second Prius in November and I love it, too! I love that car and I can't wait to try out the solar sun roof (that keeps the car cooler in the summer) when the weather turns warm!

Prius prices (at least here) rise and fall with gas prices. I know in early 2002 when gas prices were up, dealers here wanted $27,000 for the lowest cost Prius. At the end of 2003, that same Prius could be had for a hair under $20,000. So I'm not sure the Prius fits in the price category.
I think if you are looking for lowest cost over the life of a car, I'd look to other cars. The outstanding fuel mileage doesn't offset the higher purchase price, higher sales tax, higher insurance premiums, and if you are in a state like California where your annual registration is not a flat rate, but a percentage of your car's value, your registration fees will be higher. Won't get into the cost of a new battery pack.

 

[bicker]

I'm probably going to start looking this coming Fall (if we are both still employed ) and will be focusing on finding a certified pre-owned Fusion. Everything I've read indicates it is the car for us.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

With a budget of $25,000 I'd look at the:

Honda Accord
Hyundai Sonata
Ford Fusion

 

[Megan_J]

I'd go for a Honda Civic sedan. I've had mine for 4 1/2 years and haven't had a single problem with it. It's cheaper than the Accord but the quality is just as good.

 

[indimom]

Thanks for the input everyone.

We have looked at tons of cars and seem to keep coming back to the Fusion, Focus, Accord, Camry, or Corolla.

We haven't looked at the Malibu, Prius or Sonata, yet, so we'll check on those.

Anyone with repairs/service stories, please share!! We plan to keep this car for its lifespan so it will need repairs someday and I don't want to end up with one that costs twice as much to repair.

Thanks everyone.

 

[metalis4ever]

Chevy Impala.......I bought a 2009, it is the smoothest, most comfortable ride I have ever owned. I get great gas mileage commuting to work, satellite, auxiliary input, 3 power ports, remote start, OnStar (which provides monthly diagnostics) plus the biggest selling point of all when you need to kick it that good ol' Chevy engine takes off like a rocket...I have left many fools in the dust......

I have only owned Pontiacs or Chevys, this is my 3rd vehicle. My first was a 1998 Pontiac Sunfire that I bought brand new when I was 17 years old, I ran it into the ground and never had any major service issues with it what-so-ever. I gave you my age of purchase to give an indication that I didn't take care of it and it still lasted me until 2003 with close to 140,000 miles on it with no major repairs. My next vehicle was a brand new 2003 Pontiac Grand AM which again lasted me until 2009, 120,000 miles with no issues, I then bought a brand new 2009 Chevy Impala. It is easily the best vehicle I have ever driven, like I said above it is smooth, comfortable, roomy, safe and a beast if/when you need it to be. Since purchasing it I haven't had any troubles 27,000 miles in what-so-ever and nothing has been identified by the OnStar diagnostics. In other words I have had nothing but great luck with GM, but then again it may just be luck

 

[The Mystery Machine]

DH & I are need to buy a new/er car. We have a budget of $25,000 (or less ) and are primarily looking for reliability, a good warranty, and good service. Oh, a four-door and with a decent safety rating.
Additional pluses: good gas mileage, CD aux. in, and 2+ power ports.

Tell me what car you love and why! Thanks!!

I don't know a thing about them, but I would seriously look at Hybrids for the gas mileage. DH and I are really thinking about getting one if gas goes up to 5 bucks again.

 

[golfgal]

Toyota Corolla is the most reliable car on the market. It has an almost 40 year history in the US to track that reliability. For the price difference between a Corolla and a Prius, you really aren't giving up that much in gas mileage. We owned our first Corolla for 18 years and the only "repair" we did was to put in a new starter after 15 years.

 

[powellrj]

I have a 2010 Fusion and I love it. I had driven Camrys for the last 2 cars I had, but I think my Fusion edges out the Camry.

I drive ALOT, I bought it new at the end of April and it already has over 28,000 miles on it and I haven't had that first thing wrong with it. I get the oil changed at 7,000 miles too which is nice.

I love the sync. My DH has been a Ford fan for many years and I was the Toyota person, but I think he may have converted me. He drives a Focus and loves it. Its too small for me, but it works well for him.

I have to get a rental car on Monday because my car was hit in a parking lot and has to be repaired, so I will see how other cars compare to my Ford.

 

[Kimberly]

I don't know a thing about them, but I would seriously look at Hybrids for the gas mileage. DH and I are really thinking about getting one if gas goes up to 5 bucks again.

It takes a LOT of driving to make up the cost difference in a hybrid. Much like the Ford Fusion, the hybrid variant really doesn't save you the thousands of dollars cost difference in the long run, unless you drive a LOT.

You're better off getting a 4 cylinder smaller family sedan, like the Fusion, Camry, or Accord. Used, you'll have no problem finding one under 25k. Hybrids tend to retain their value a bit more, but they still aren't a better buy. The Hyundai Elantra just came out, and apparently is worth looking at as well.

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/elantra/

Starts cheap too... and a killer warranty. If you just want a people mover, Hyundai seems to be the brand to go with at the moment. Playing with the configurator, I couldn't even come within 1500 dollars of 25,000... and that's brand new!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

It takes a LOT of driving to make up the cost difference in a hybrid. Much like the Ford Fusion, the hybrid variant really doesn't save you the thousands of dollars cost difference in the long run, unless you drive a LOT.

You're better off getting a 4 cylinder smaller family sedan, like the Fusion, Camry, or Accord. Used, you'll have no problem finding one under 25k. Hybrids tend to retain their value a bit more, but they still aren't a better buy. The Hyundai Elantra just came out, and apparently is worth looking at as well.

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/elantra/

Starts cheap too... and a killer warranty. If you just want a people mover, Hyundai seems to be the brand to go with at the moment. Playing with the configurator, I couldn't even come within 1500 dollars of 25,000... and that's brand new!

Thanks for the info.

We drive 2 trucks. My Yukon XL is getting 12mpg and dh's Tahoe is getting 13mpg.

I drive 10,000 miles per yr on my truck. 770gallons at 3.25gal equals 2500/yr in gas money.

Comparison.....35mpg (random throw out mpg)

I would save 1600/yr just in gas. So car would not "pay for itself" at 3.25.

Gas would have to be 7.00 in order for the car to "pay for itself" or I if I double my mileage, I will need a different car to drive. We will just park the truck.

DH did the calculations. We have 2 jet skis and a boat we pull so getting rid of our trucks is not an option.