New Car Advice Please

[wdwmom0f3]

I am about to buy my 16 year old daughter her very first car and I am torn between two cars. Please help me decide.

Car #1 Hyundai Elantra 2011 with 44K miles, certified at a Hyundai dealership and 6 year 100K warranty. The car was a lease.

OR

Car #2 Hyundai Elantra 2013 with 26K miles, warranty until 60K miles. Has two small better features, sat light radio & fog lights on the front. Everything else is the same. (located at a different non Hyundai dealership)

There is only a $500. difference in the price. Same make & model and the same color and everything, just two years apart. DD wants new, I'm thinking long term costs & expenses, but resale would be better on the newer one. I am so torn and confused.

What would you do? This car needs to see her through college.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

No advice? I'm torn if newer would be better OR the longer warranty?

 

[PurpleDog]

Easy choice.
#2 is newer and has way less miles.
If it was me, I tell #2 about #1, and try to get the price on #2 lowered a bit.
Or ask #2 to provide a 100K mile warranty.

Also, I think that people with leased automobiles tend not to care for them as well as people who own the car.

Just my 2 cents !

 

[JeanfromBNA]

Did you price them on kbb.com and Edmunds?

I have purchased a lot of used cars; a 3 year old car should be more than $500 less than last year's model.

If she will be selling the vehicle 5 years from now, model year alone matters less than engine, mileage, & condition.

If the warranty on #1 is original, that could save both of you money and peace of mind.

I would buy #1, if I could get a good price. Keep working at it and look at vehicle reviews of the model years to compare.

 

[barkley]

I am about to buy my 16 year old daughter her very first car and I am torn between two cars. Please help me decide.

Car #1 Hyundai Elantra 2011 with 44K miles, certified at a Hyundai dealership and 6 year 100K warranty. The car was a lease.

OR

Car #2 Hyundai Elantra 2013 with 26K miles, warranty until 60K miles. Has two small better features, sat light radio & fog lights on the front. Everything else is the same. (located at a different non Hyundai dealership)

There is only a $500. difference in the price. Same make & model and the same color and everything, just two years apart. DD wants new, I'm thinking long term costs & expenses, but resale would be better on the newer one. I am so torn and confused.

What would you do? This car needs to see her through college.

if you are looking at long term expenses-call your insurance company and find out the difference between insuring either car-there can be a significant difference, esp. with a new driver.

also consider-if she gets the one with satellite radio that's going to be an on-going expense as well.

I agree w/checking KBB and Edmunds, but also look at consumer reports-identical cars made in different years can have vastly different performance reviews.

 

[tvguy]

if you are looking at long term expenses-call your insurance company and find out the difference between insuring either car-there can be a significant difference, esp. with a new driver.

also consider-if she gets the one with satellite radio that's going to be an on-going expense as well.

I agree w/checking KBB and Edmunds, but also look at consumer reports-identical cars made in different years can have vastly different performance reviews.

I would start with the cost of insurance , but since they are the same make and model car, and only $500 difference in price, I doubt there is much if any difference in insurance price. I know you're trying to choose between those 2 cars, but I would take a step back and ask my insurance agent "what make and model car is the least expensive to insure a 16 year old in". When my son got his license 11 years ago, the cheapest cars to insure him in were a Ford Crown Victoria, Buick Le Sabre, Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable. Anything from Honda, Toyota or Nissan added hundreds to the annual insurance cost.

 

[mrodgers]

My choice would be neither. I'm not a fan at all of Hyundai. I would rather have a 36,000 mile warranty and not need or need 1 car repaired in 100,000 miles than have a 100,000 mile warranty and constantly need to be in the shop.

 

[LadyJayne813]

I would go with the 2013.

I bought a new 2013 Elantra in August, and am in love with it. I did not renew the satellite radio when it expired however b/c I think it's an unnecessary expense. Plus, for a new driver satellite radio is just one more thing to distract them. (Changing channels while driving and what not)

The warranty on Hyundai is 60,000 full warranty, and 100,000 powertrain.

 

[Shmily1]

Be sure the warranties you are comparing are equal. It sounds to me like they are different.

Check insurance before choosing either. When DS was getting his first car, I was told he would get cheaper insurance on a Mustang than on a Camry, Altima, or equivalent because they are foreign made cars and not as cheap to fix. Needless to say, he still drives a Mustang.

 

[wiigirl]

I would go with the 2013.

I bought a new 2013 Elantra in August, and am in love with it. I did not renew the satellite radio when it expired however b/c I think it's an unnecessary expense. Plus, for a new driver satellite radio is just one more thing to distract them. (Changing channels while driving and what not)

The warranty on Hyundai is 60,000 full warranty, and 100,000 powertrain.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

The difference in the warranty is that with the 2013 looses the 100k power train warranty because it's not transferable and only a Hyundai dealership can "re certify" it, at a cost of $500. The 2011 will have that.

My mother has a Sonata and she loves it. It has been a very good car with no problems. We are normally Honda people but my DD like this one better than the Civic and I really do too. It drives better too, to us anyway.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I would go with the 2013.

I bought a new 2013 Elantra in August, and am in love with it. I did not renew the satellite radio when it expired however b/c I think it's an unnecessary expense. Plus, for a new driver satellite radio is just one more thing to distract them. (Changing channels while driving and what not)

The warranty on Hyundai is 60,000 full warranty, and 100,000 powertrain.

I'm so happy that you love yours. We drove it and fell in love too. It's a very cute car.

I'm not paying for satellite radio, it just has that feature if you wanted it. She is more excited to be able to plug her iphone up to it and play her own music.

I need to check on insurance this morning. I'm nervous about that!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Be sure the warranties you are comparing are equal. It sounds to me like they are different.

Check insurance before choosing either. When DS was getting his first car, I was told he would get cheaper insurance on a Mustang than on a Camry, Altima, or equivalent because they are foreign made cars and not as cheap to fix. Needless to say, he still drives a Mustang.

That's funny! My 13 year old has his eye on a Mustang. I guess it may be worth looking in to when he gets older. he is watching every dime I spend on this car for his sister to make sure I keep this even when he gets that age.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I would start with the cost of insurance , but since they are the same make and model car, and only $500 difference in price, I doubt there is much if any difference in insurance price. I know you're trying to choose between those 2 cars, but I would take a step back and ask my insurance agent "what make and model car is the least expensive to insure a 16 year old in". When my son got his license 11 years ago, the cheapest cars to insure him in were a Ford Crown Victoria, Buick Le Sabre, Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable. Anything from Honda, Toyota or Nissan added hundreds to the annual insurance cost.

I'll ask, but I'm getting this child out of a dream of a Range Rover or a BMW into a Hyundai. I doubt very seriously she would cave anymore and drive a le Sabre or a Taurus.

 

[daughtersrus]

I am about to buy my 16 year old daughter her very first car and I am torn between two cars. Please help me decide.

Car #1 Hyundai Elantra 2011 with 44K miles, certified at a Hyundai dealership and 6 year 100K warranty. The car was a lease.

OR

Car #2 Hyundai Elantra 2013 with 26K miles, warranty until 60K miles. Has two small better features, sat light radio & fog lights on the front. Everything else is the same. (located at a different non Hyundai dealership)

There is only a $500. difference in the price. Same make & model and the same color and everything, just two years apart. DD wants new, I'm thinking long term costs & expenses, but resale would be better on the newer one. I am so torn and confused.

What would you do? This car needs to see her through college.

Be sure to compare the details of each warranty. The 6 years probably started when the car car first sold. If so, there's probably only 2 years left on it.

Hyundai website says that the 100,000 mile warranty only applies to the original owner. If you choose that car, I would get the specifics in writing from the dealer saying you have coverage even though you're not the original owner.

 

[3happydancers]

Honestly, I would not buy any Hyundai (had a bad experience with mine) but if this is what you like:

-Check with your insurance company (other posts already suggested this)
-Check with Kelly BB and Edmunds.com -Very Important!
-Ask for the Carfax Report on both cars (it might not give you all the info on the car but it could provide some important history on a used vehicle!)

Also, in general, I'd want my DD in a vehicle a bit larger and one that handles well in inclement weather. We are in LI and anything goes in the winter!

 

[LadyJayne813]

I'm not sure what your budget is, but I would also look into buying new. They have majorly marked down the 2013's, and are offering a lot of finance deals.

My car payment on a new Elantra is actually less than if I bought used. I got a 0.9% rate, which helps keep the payment down.

 

[3happydancers]

I'm not sure what your budget is, but I would also look into buying new. They have majorly marked down the 2013's, and are offering a lot of finance deals.

My car payment on a new Elantra is actually less than if I bought used. I got a 0.9% rate, which helps keep the payment down.

Yes, and if you consider a new car, definitely ask for GAP insurance! Reason: Once you take ownership the car depreciates. Should for any reason the car gets totaled, you would still owe the difference between the cost of the car and book value. In other words, you'd be paying for a car you no longer have. GAP will pay that difference for you. (Especially with an inexperienced driver!)

 

[mrodgers]

I'll ask, but I'm getting this child out of a dream of a Range Rover or a BMW into a Hyundai. I doubt very seriously she would cave anymore and drive a le Sabre or a Taurus.

Ha, now this reminds me of the video of that teen girl who whined when she saw her new Mercedes, "Awe, Daaaaddddyyy, I said I wanted a blue one!"

On birthday: Hey, here's your Ford Taurus.

Awe, I don't want a Ford Taurus.

Day after birthday: I want to go to the mall.

Sorry, I just sold the Taurus you ungrateful..... The grocery store is hiring and you can buy your own car.

That's how I would handle it

 

[ceecee]

Ha, now this reminds me of the video of that teen girl who whined when she saw her new Mercedes, "Awe, Daaaaddddyyy, I said I wanted a blue one!"

On birthday: Hey, here's your Ford Taurus.

Awe, I don't want a Ford Taurus.

Day after birthday: I want to go to the mall.

Sorry, I just sold the Taurus you ungrateful..... The grocery store is hiring and you can buy your own car.

That's how I would handle it

Really!!! My DD is getting what WE decide to be the safest car to get her to college, which is my Honda CR-V! If I was handed a car when I was a teen I would have taken anything! My mom co-signed so I could get a nicer car. It did teach me about managing $. She did bale me out by making my car payments while I was in college and not working. They were $50!!!