Helping friend look for new car.

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Hollow

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A friend of mine is in need of independant transportation again. She is of the type that totally does not understand cars except they make you go. Not clueless, but has never been educated nor has any real interest on learning how to work on one. Very good teacher, very not great with hands on things.

So, simple and reliable are good.

Criteria by her:

Compact size for city driving.
Decent MPG because Chicago gas is extremely expensive.
Non domestic as apparently her family had a run of bad GM experiences in the 1990's and won't touch a domestic vehicle if you paid them now.
Ideally at or under 125,000 miles. Want it to last several years.
Budget is about $8,000.


I'm thinking Corolla, Civic, maybe Impreza. The Impreza is the only one I know how to work on and what to look out for. Any things to be of note for Corollas and Civics? Any other things I should consider?
 
Honda Fit. A 2007-2008 should be about $8000 by now. Good city gas mileage, extremely easy to park, and still manages to fit 4 adults comfortably. They've also proven quite reliable and safe.
 
I always find the best deals buying cars I find on craigslist or from people I actually know. You have to be careful and check things out really well, but usually save a lot vs buying from some sort of dealer or place like Carmax. I found a 2004 Nissan Sentra 1.8 automatic for my ex on craigslist for $3400. Nice cheap car with 109,000 miles. No rust (here in SC) and runs and looks perfect, or at least it did when she first got it back in July/Aug. Owner said he always used Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30 changed at 10k miles, and the oil cap and what I could see inside the engine was spotless. Car gets close to 40 mpg on the highway she says and she is very happy with it.

I recommend getting a southern (non-coastal) car with no rust and one that gets 35-40 mpg on highway if possible. Gas ain't gettin no cheaper and nice to start out with your used car having zero corrosion.
 
New Versa. Finace the last $5k, when its paid off it will be the good used car you were looking for.
 
With an $8k budget, she'd be better off finding the best leasing or very low interest purchase deal on a new car. Get something with free or very cheap maintenance and an OLM.

Hyundai Accent
Toyota Yaris
Nissan Versa

It's a buyers market. Go to a website that has already negotiated the lowest prices for nearby dealers and just play them off against each other. Tell the Toyota dealer you are looking at Nissan and Hyundai and vice-versa.

A dealer's dream is someone who walks in and says they love a particular car. Your buyer has a huge advantage as she doesn't care what she gets, so you should just choose the 3 cars that are a) most reliable and b) fit her criteria and then buy the one that gives the best value for money.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Andy636
Hyundai Elantra with manual trans. Good cars overall.

Please don't forget to remind the other readers that you are in europe.
that 2.0 in there and the 2.0 in here are the same engines but completely completely different ECU programming.
 
Here is a great idea. Suzuki are leaving the US. The Kizashi is a great car. I'm going to look into it myself!
 
toyota yaris hatchback/sedan (probably with some luck 2007-2008 vintage)
subaru forester/outback. (that's up to you)
hyundai accent hatchback/sedan
mazda protege
kia rio
hyundai elantra (with evidence of timming belt done at 60k/5 years)

probably cars that she doesn't care if have the marks of "good neighbours"

get freindly with a good mechanic and check under car for estimate of rust (will be there, it just depends how much...)
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: MarkStock
Here is a great idea. Suzuki are leaving the US. The Kizashi is a great car. I'm going to look into it myself!

not in her budget
also not many dealers in Chicago area....
you have a better chance of seeing a fiat than a kizashi on these roads.
 
sorry to keep jumping in:
really really important:
check the list of most stolen/most broken in cars in Chicago area:

you don't want to buy a creampuff acura that ends up half thored down in police impound...(ask how I know...)

actually the 2-4 police impound is your another source of cars worth checking.
 
Originally Posted By: Andy636
Hyundai Elantra with manual trans. Good cars overall.

actually a very good suggestion for the money
also the GT version (GLS is base model) comes with better brakes, suspension and is a hatch for more space
 
Originally Posted By: HollowEyes

Non domestic as apparently her family had a run of bad GM experiences in the 1990's and won't touch a domestic vehicle if you paid them now.

Seems pretty unfair to condemn Fords and Chryslers because of a bad experience with GM. That's like saying "Toyota is junk because I had a bad experience with an Accord." Just sayin'...
 
Originally Posted By: eljefino
New Versa. Finace the last $5k, when its paid off it will be the good used car you were looking for.


Im very anti-debt but given the criteria that plants her smack in "bad value" territory, I think that this is the best advice. But the car should be spartan and manual trans, IMO.
 
Mazda is selling their 2012 Skyactiv Mazda 3 touring models for ridiculous discounts. We just picked a GT version for below invoice. She might have to finance the last 7~8k , but with decent credit she shouldnt have a terrible payment.

That way she has something new, reliable, economical and with warranty requiring barely any maintainence for the next 3~4 years. She should be able to pay off the loan by then.
 
Originally Posted By: MarkStock
With an $8k budget, she'd be better off finding the best leasing or very low interest purchase deal on a new car. Get something with free or very cheap maintenance and an OLM.


That's the worst possible advice. The person in question can only afford an $8,000 car, and suggesting they lease or finance is financially irresponsible. Either scenario will put her further into a financial hole.

She's much better off finding something within her $8,000 budget, and then over the course of the next few years make the monthly payments that she would have spent on the (foolish) financing or (even dumber) lease to herself. Earn a little interest on the money she's paying herself, and in 4-5 years she can pay cash for a new/newer car if she wants.
 
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
That's the worst possible advice. The person in question can only afford an $8,000 car, and suggesting they lease or finance is financially irresponsible. Either scenario will put her further into a financial hole.

She's much better off finding something within her $8,000 budget, and then over the course of the next few years make the monthly payments that she would have spent on the (foolish) financing or (even dumber) lease to herself. Earn a little interest on the money she's paying herself, and in 4-5 years she can pay cash for a new/newer car if she wants.


Wouldn't she be better of just saving her $8k and not buying a car at all?

Furthermore, at only $8k, that is solidly in the well-used catagory. If she only has $8k (which we're not sure about--it sounds like that is what thse thinks she has, but we are not privy to how that number was generated) then she should buy a car at no more than what, $6k? that way she can afford any immediate repairs; and afford any neglected maintance costs that might pop up in the next year or so.

In the same tack, you could say, buy at $4k, so she could afford any and all repair that might pop up over the next few years; and even have some cash left over for rentals while it's in the shop.
 
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