Car for my grandmother

[Nick R]

While I'll be visiting my family in ohio starting next thursday, my grandmother wants me to help her get a new car. she's currently driving a 2003 Cavalier with 143k on the clock, and she's tired of pouring money into it (hah, sounds familiar).

She has a budget of about $18.5k. Mixed highway/city driving. Wants good gas mileage, automatic is a requirement.

Right now, I'm thinking a Cruze LS, 2012 Focus S, or a Fiesta Sedan SE. She wants a bit larger of a car, doesn't want anything smaller than her cavalier, so I'm leaning toward the Cruze, with the base 1.8L and Automatic. She doesn't need any of the bells and whistles, just a reliable, comfortable, cheap to own car. Thoughts?

 

[addyguy]

A Cruze with the base 1.8L would be a good choice. They've been criticized for having somewhat 'soft' handling, but that might suit your Grandmother better (not trying to typify you grandma).

Another great option, similar in size to the Cruze, is the brand-new Hyundai Elantra - the newest ones look like a real winner, and they have a non-DI 1.8L.

If she wants to go even a bit bigger, an base Fusion 4-cylinder sedan might be a good option - don't know if they stay withing the budget.

 

[Nick R]

Oh, but she does want A/C, and cruise control.

 

[RamFan]

Domestic-
Chevy Cruz
Ford Fiesta

Foreign-
Kia Forte

I was seriously looking at both the Forte and Fiesta for a while and would have been happy with both, however the Forte offers more for the money IMO. As far as mileage goes the Fiesta would easily be a better choice. Cruz, ehh not much of a Chevrolet fan but that is just a personal bias. I've heard that the new Dodge Avenger has gone through a complete overhaul so you might want to consider that as well, I have not personally looked at it/researched it so I cannot tell the details.

 

[synthetic_crazy]

I would strongly encourage you to check out a one to two year old Toyota Corolla. It would meet all of your requirements with ease. I absolutely LOVE my Corolla and would highly recommend one; it provides very reliable transportation with gas mileage that the Cruze cannot attain. Personally, I would stay away from the Cruze, they have had too many problems with it already...steering wheel falling off, steering shaft issues, etc. GM just hasn't gotten it "right" with this vehicle.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Maybe add Elantra and Corolla to your list?

 

[Spazdog]

$18,500 is a good budget to work with.

I'm sure she could get a leftover or very lightly used Impala LS on that. That's got some size over the Cavalier

If it needs to be new, Corolla LE should fit the bill.

 

[Nick R]

I neglected to mention that my grandma is even more fanatical about Buy american than I am. All 3 of her kids (my dad and his siblings) are in the military, she lives in Lorain OH (Lots of ford plants) and her ex husband worked for Ford at the cleveland engine plant for years. She would die before buy a non domestic branded car.

 

[Bill in Utah]

I'd stay away from ANYTHING first year. Esp a NEW platform.

Look at something that has been built for at least for one-two years successfully.

The last thing I'd want is my Grand Mother to be having to deal with stealership service on warranty work / beta tester.

Get something that is towards the end of the product life so its a known vehicle. That is what I did for my parents and they have had ZERO issues with both their 02 Silverado (almost to 100k) and 05 Vue (well past 100k).

When my Dad bought his 01 Civic (new model year) it "only" required a new block @ 14k, suspension work on the rear a few times and new struts on the front. Each and every time they tried to up sell him when he was there for warranty work. Seen it happen with my Uncles 2005 F150 when he needed warranty work.

Get something simple. Pass on the sync this and nav that.

Simple is the mission.

Bill

 

[TomYoung]

Right now, Honda dealers have the new Civic (2012) and the old (2011) Civic on the lot. You can probably score a great deal, and with the possible exception of the Corolla, the Civic is a more reliable sled than any of the other cars mentioned.

The Corolla is being replaced, and in my neck of the woods, the dealers will do what they can to sell one.

Some of the advice given really makes me wonder. Avenger? Really??? Are you folks from some part of the country where consumer reports and car magazines are not available?

The Elantra is not a bad choice. The Fiesta and Focus are new, unproven and the Fiesta is small, but both are probably okay.

I like the Cruze, but the steering wheel coming off on the highway is completely unacceptable.

 

[Nick R]

We'll do some looking around, it all hinges around final price. Luckily I can use my GM Employee Pricing and Ford X-Plan I get through Best buy with her.

what about a used Malibu? There is a dealer in her area that has a 2008 Malibu with 30k miles, and everything she wants on it for mid 15s.

 

[RamFan]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
I neglected to mention that my grandma is even more fanatical about Buy american than I am. All 3 of her kids (my dad and his siblings) are in the military, she lives in Lorain OH (Lots of ford plants) and her ex husband worked for Ford at the cleveland engine plant for years. She would die before buy a non domestic branded car.


Does she know that the majority of US cars have either parts imported from other countries or are built outside the country? On the flipside KIA, Hyundai, BMW, and I believe Toyota have plants in the U.S. The idea of buying American means to buy an American brand is just a nostalegic social construct, with globalization it is very hard to find a product that is American through and through.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: RamFan
Originally Posted By: Nick R
I neglected to mention that my grandma is even more fanatical about Buy american than I am. All 3 of her kids (my dad and his siblings) are in the military, she lives in Lorain OH (Lots of ford plants) and her ex husband worked for Ford at the cleveland engine plant for years. She would die before buy a non domestic branded car.


Does she know that the majority of US cars have either parts imported from other countries or are built outside the country? On the flipside KIA, Hyundai, BMW, and I believe Toyota have plants in the U.S. The idea of buying American means to buy an American brand is just a nostalegic social construct, with globalization it is very hard to find a product that is American through and through.


this is the last i'll say on the subject, as I do not wish this thread to be deleted, but she will NEVER consider a brand that isn't one of the D3. She's cool, but she's old school that way.

 

[Hokiefyd]

If she's only considering an American-branded car, her choices are few and obvious.

I wouldn't consider anything smaller than a Fusion or Malibu, unless she specifically wants something small. If that means a used car, then that's what it means.

 

[addyguy]

"She's cool, but she's ignorant that way."

Fixed it for ya......

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
"She's cool, but she's ignorant that way."

Fixed it for ya......




You must never have lived in an area where there are....

3 Ford plants (2 assembly, and 1 engine)
Numerous US Steel Unionized Steel plants
Lordstown OH Assembly plant

Especially since my grandfather worked for Ford, and my other grandfather worked for US Steel for 45 years.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I thought you said the last you were gonna say on the subject.

A friend of mine lives in Michigan and works for an automotive supplier. He drives two Hondas.

Nostalgia is a powerful thing, no doubt about it, and it sounds like your grandmother has a lot of it. She'll miss a lot of great vehicles for her, but the Malibu or Fusion will work just fine.

 

[RamFan]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
Originally Posted By: addyguy
"She's cool, but she's ignorant that way."

Fixed it for ya......




You must never have lived in an area where there are....

3 Ford plants (2 assembly, and 1 engine)
Numerous US Steel Unionized Steel plants
Lordstown OH Assembly plant

Especially since my grandfather worked for Ford, and my other grandfather worked for US Steel for 45 years.


Ahh so you've got a family tie to the US automotive industry. Totally understandable to keep supporting them then I suppose. If new is a must, I would have her try out the Fiesta, it has a good history in Europe and our version is actually better then the model released in Europe for a change. The only complaint I've heard of it so far is that it doesn't have an armrest and that the speedo has been off by about 3-5 MPH on many vehicles. I would strongly consider looking at a Fusion also though, a little more money but a very solid car.

 

[pbm]

I'd buy the 'new' Focus if I were her.
First off it has been in Europe for years so it's not really new.
Secondly,it would allow her to remain loyal to Ford (her husband, Ohio etc...).
Third, Ford is making some of the best cars in the world right now,IMO.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
...

this is the last i'll say on the subject, as I do not wish this thread to be deleted, but she will NEVER consider a brand that isn't one of the D3. She's cool, but she's old school that way.


time for a trip to Marysville, OH and then pick up a Civic LX on the way home.

My brother in law in Cincinnati was the same way, but he bought his wife an Accord when he found out it was an Ohio car.