Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Why don't you look at something other than the bottom of the barrel cars on the market?
This seems to be your contribution when anyone looks @ an entry vehicle. People's requirements vary, peoples preferences vary, peoples BUDGETS vary. I'm sure a fit @ 5K more is what you might suggest.... 8)
I will defend the choice of a low cost purchase, low cost to run vehicle; it is appropriate for many people.
Sorry, I should have stated my response in a less controversial manner.
For $15k (or less), none of the new cars in that price range are worthy of their cost IMO.
I understand the OP may be concerned about low cost of ownership and low initial cost, but he must also consider that entry level cars in this price range are built with lower attention to detail and may not be desirable to own as they age. From my experience, entry-level subcompacts do not hold up well as they age; for a longer lasting car, you are better off with a mid-sized sedan.
In case some of you have not read JHZR2's posts lately, some of these entry-level cars are not truly economical, as they do not deliver significantly better fuel economy than four-cylinder midsized sedans. Their tires are sometimes just as expensive as well, which takes away much of the lower cost of ownership argument.
IMO, the OP is much better off with a gently used, late model 06-07 Accord I4 than a new Versa. The Accord will get just as good fuel economy, be rock-solid reliable and is likely to last longer. And no simple_gifts, I would not recommend a Fit-- my opinion of the Fit has been well-documented on this forum.