Opinion on selecting a $15k used Sedan
- Thread starter Phishin
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Originally Posted By: dparm
Phishin: I would suggest visiting a local CarMax (or two). You can drive all the cars you want back-to-back. Should make the decision a lot easier since the last vehicle will still be fresh in your mind.
Just don't buy the vehicle from CarMax. They are a rip-off. At least the one here is.
Phishin: I would suggest visiting a local CarMax (or two). You can drive all the cars you want back-to-back. Should make the decision a lot easier since the last vehicle will still be fresh in your mind.
Just don't buy the vehicle from CarMax. They are a rip-off. At least the one here is.
You know you're buying into the worst part of the used car market. The one with the least value. (If you're considering the best as in Toyota and Honda)
I say go for an older car in the 7-8000 dollar range with low mileage.
Get a Camry with under 80k on it and the next 200,000 miles are in the bag. Sell it and repeat.
Putting 20,000 miles a year on a car - there should be only one word you're concerned with. TRANSMISSION. Which is why I suggest a Toyota.
I say go for an older car in the 7-8000 dollar range with low mileage.
Get a Camry with under 80k on it and the next 200,000 miles are in the bag. Sell it and repeat.
Putting 20,000 miles a year on a car - there should be only one word you're concerned with. TRANSMISSION. Which is why I suggest a Toyota.
Go with a 3-4 year old used Camry or Accord - you pay a little more of these cars in used market but their reliability is excellent and Camry and Accord resale is always higher when you sell so the secret is that they really end up costing less to own than most other cars.
I'd avoid Kia/Hyundai/Mithsubishi - they depreciate faster and not as reliable as they age.
I'd avoid Kia/Hyundai/Mithsubishi - they depreciate faster and not as reliable as they age.
Some of the above about the civic is nonsense.
The auto trans issues were fixed by 04 mine is flawless at 123, 000 miles.
Also they do have high resale....that's hardly a bad thing. Thats like saying buying gold is foolish because its value is high.
They have high resale because they are good cars. I wouldn't even consider a ford everyone I know with a newer ford has quality issues. A corolla is safe bet but boring. Hyundai are ok but I wouldn't buy one over a honda or toyota. A dodge dart would be worth a look.
The auto trans issues were fixed by 04 mine is flawless at 123, 000 miles.
Also they do have high resale....that's hardly a bad thing. Thats like saying buying gold is foolish because its value is high.
They have high resale because they are good cars. I wouldn't even consider a ford everyone I know with a newer ford has quality issues. A corolla is safe bet but boring. Hyundai are ok but I wouldn't buy one over a honda or toyota. A dodge dart would be worth a look.
Originally Posted By: Spazdog
Originally Posted By: dparm
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Malibu or fusion should be doable.
I second the Fusion. Have had them as rentals a few times -- very nice cars. Strong V6, comfortable, well-laid out cabin.
The 3.0 V6 gets okay mileage but really no better than the competition's 3.5s. That is unless the Ford variant gets remarkably better gas mileage than the Mazda version of the same engine.I average about 23mpg.
I prefer the cabin lay-out of the Mazda6...so I bought one.
I've rented Fusions. Went to pick it up in the dark and turned on the wipers when I tried to turn on the lights. Had to open the door to turn on the light so I could find the light switch. The gear selector has an "L" position but it doesn't really hold it in low or anything. Since it is the same platform as my Mazda I got lulled into a false sense of capability because of the identical seating position and where the controls are. Almost wadded the thing taking a corner that my Mazda would have tracked right through.
You do get a lot of Malibu for $15,000. 2011 1LT Malibu is easily found. Sometimes it seems like the Malibu is cheaper than a similarly equipped Cruze
I'm with you there. I don't like the way Fusions drive and the interior feels. But last year's generation of mazda6 drives better than the Fusion and is one of the few Japanese cars I'd recommend to someone who values a good driving feel without sacrificing comfort.
For a economical, reliable and comfortable family car the Malibu is as good or better than many.
Originally Posted By: dparm
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Malibu or fusion should be doable.
I second the Fusion. Have had them as rentals a few times -- very nice cars. Strong V6, comfortable, well-laid out cabin.
The 3.0 V6 gets okay mileage but really no better than the competition's 3.5s. That is unless the Ford variant gets remarkably better gas mileage than the Mazda version of the same engine.I average about 23mpg.
I prefer the cabin lay-out of the Mazda6...so I bought one.
I've rented Fusions. Went to pick it up in the dark and turned on the wipers when I tried to turn on the lights. Had to open the door to turn on the light so I could find the light switch. The gear selector has an "L" position but it doesn't really hold it in low or anything. Since it is the same platform as my Mazda I got lulled into a false sense of capability because of the identical seating position and where the controls are. Almost wadded the thing taking a corner that my Mazda would have tracked right through.
You do get a lot of Malibu for $15,000. 2011 1LT Malibu is easily found. Sometimes it seems like the Malibu is cheaper than a similarly equipped Cruze
I'm with you there. I don't like the way Fusions drive and the interior feels. But last year's generation of mazda6 drives better than the Fusion and is one of the few Japanese cars I'd recommend to someone who values a good driving feel without sacrificing comfort.
For a economical, reliable and comfortable family car the Malibu is as good or better than many.
Originally Posted By: salv
2011 or newer Hyundai Elantra. If you can find one at a Hyundai dealer, it will more than likely be "certified", therefore you will get the balance of the 10yr/100k powertrain warranty along with the remainder of the 5yr/60k bumper to bumper warranty.
We love ours! Plenty of options and we got it new for $17,500. Our last car was a Fusion. There are plenty of those around. It was a good, solid car.
2011 or newer Hyundai Elantra. If you can find one at a Hyundai dealer, it will more than likely be "certified", therefore you will get the balance of the 10yr/100k powertrain warranty along with the remainder of the 5yr/60k bumper to bumper warranty.
We love ours! Plenty of options and we got it new for $17,500. Our last car was a Fusion. There are plenty of those around. It was a good, solid car.
Anything? That's pretty basic criteria there...Fusion, Malibu, Civic, Accord, Camry, Focus, Cruze, another Altima, Sonata, etc. Test drive everything and get the one you like best. 4 banger/4 doors/auto/$15K gives you a lot of options, so I would try them all if this is a car you want to live with for a while. Maybe even look at more interesting stuff like used Euro cars if you can deal with the potential quirks.
If I had $15K for a car and needed four doors, I'd probably end up with 10 1992 Explorers. Or maybe a early 2000s F-150 Supercrew and a few Explorers. Your options are wide open with such limited criteria at that price.
If I had $15K for a car and needed four doors, I'd probably end up with 10 1992 Explorers. Or maybe a early 2000s F-150 Supercrew and a few Explorers. Your options are wide open with such limited criteria at that price.
Originally Posted By: ram_man
I wouldn't even consider a ford everyone I know with a newer ford has quality issues.
Probably not as many issues as a Ram though.
I wouldn't even consider a ford everyone I know with a newer ford has quality issues.
Probably not as many issues as a Ram though.
Do those Civics have any leg room in the driver's seat ?
Accord. They will seat a family of four much very well. At 20k/year a much more comfortable ride over a Civic or smaller vehicle.
They have a very good 4cylinder motor that is proven.
If you don't like it a very easy sell in private used market.
They have a very good 4cylinder motor that is proven.
If you don't like it a very easy sell in private used market.
We had an earlier Civic, and it was really nice when we upsized to our Camry. The extra size doesn't matter that much in parking lots; and we have plenty of parking space at home. The loss in mpg does exist (went from 36-40 down to 32--or less with me driving) but overall the extra space of a mid size with family is so much nicer.
I also really appreciate the quiet ride too. Makes a difference on long drives.
I also really appreciate the quiet ride too. Makes a difference on long drives.
Originally Posted By: salv
My wife got a '12 civic as a rental when our '97 Altima got t-boned. I agree, it was very loud and cheap feeling, same as my brothers '08. I loved my mothers '97 and my aunt's '87. modern Hondas are not what they used to be.
My mother's '12 accord is the same story. Disappointing.
If you've been following road tests and reviews you quickly learn that the 2013s are light years ahead of the 2012s on both models. The Civic because of the emergency refresh that added soft-touch interior bits, more sound insulation, and revised suspension tuning. The Accord because the 2013 model is a FMC which has garnered almost universal praise and is unquestionably better than the 8th generation.
My wife got a '12 civic as a rental when our '97 Altima got t-boned. I agree, it was very loud and cheap feeling, same as my brothers '08. I loved my mothers '97 and my aunt's '87. modern Hondas are not what they used to be.
My mother's '12 accord is the same story. Disappointing.
If you've been following road tests and reviews you quickly learn that the 2013s are light years ahead of the 2012s on both models. The Civic because of the emergency refresh that added soft-touch interior bits, more sound insulation, and revised suspension tuning. The Accord because the 2013 model is a FMC which has garnered almost universal praise and is unquestionably better than the 8th generation.
With that budget I'd get a 2006-2007 Accord. My wife and I both had 2007 Accords at one point. I had an EX-L V6 6MT and she had an EX 5AT. It's got a little more room than Civic, that generation of Accord feels and drives like a more expensive car than it is, they updated the rear end in 2006 to add nice LED taillights, it's the last two years of the model run of an already reliable car so there's virtually nothing to go wrong, the K24 is bulletproof, we got ~34MPG highway in her car.
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This is what I've been finding...and liking so far by browsing on the internet.
http://www.donayreshonda.net/detail-2010-honda-accord_sdn-4dr_i4_auto_lx~p-used-10431183.html
A new one is about $22K (base model, like this one). So, quite a bit of savings with this used one.
I think with this low of miles, I'd rather have this than a new base model Civic.
What you guys think about this potential purchase?
http://www.donayreshonda.net/detail-2010-honda-accord_sdn-4dr_i4_auto_lx~p-used-10431183.html
A new one is about $22K (base model, like this one). So, quite a bit of savings with this used one.
I think with this low of miles, I'd rather have this than a new base model Civic.
What you guys think about this potential purchase?
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That is one sharp Accord, and the miles are low for the year.
I agree with others that a mid-size is a must here...family of 4 in a compact will fit, but you'll be sitting on nerves!
My suggestion would be 4-cylinder Malibu or fusion, BUT you can't go wrong with a 4-cylinder Accord, they are pretty bulletproof.
I agree with others that a mid-size is a must here...family of 4 in a compact will fit, but you'll be sitting on nerves!
My suggestion would be 4-cylinder Malibu or fusion, BUT you can't go wrong with a 4-cylinder Accord, they are pretty bulletproof.
Originally Posted By: Phishin
What you guys think about this potential purchase?
That looks like a pretty good value to me. We bought a 2008 CR-V used in 2011 and paid about 70% of the new MSRP. That's right where this Accord is it looks like. You can pay less for other cars, but Honda's drivetrains from this era are very solid, their chassis tuning offers a very nice balance of ride quality and nimble handling, and the car just feels well built in general. If you enjoy the way the Accord drives, and it fits you and your family well, that's really all that matters.
What you guys think about this potential purchase?
That looks like a pretty good value to me. We bought a 2008 CR-V used in 2011 and paid about 70% of the new MSRP. That's right where this Accord is it looks like. You can pay less for other cars, but Honda's drivetrains from this era are very solid, their chassis tuning offers a very nice balance of ride quality and nimble handling, and the car just feels well built in general. If you enjoy the way the Accord drives, and it fits you and your family well, that's really all that matters.
Originally Posted By: Miller88
There are a lot of NEW cars on the market with a lot of space for $15K. Used market is horrible right now.
Originally Posted By: ram_man
Some of the above about the civic is nonsense.
The auto trans issues were fixed by 04 mine is flawless at 123, 000 miles.
Also they do have high resale....that's hardly a bad thing. Thats like saying buying gold is foolish because its value is high.
They have high resale because they are good cars. I wouldn't even consider a ford everyone I know with a newer ford has quality issues. A corolla is safe bet but boring. Hyundai are ok but I wouldn't buy one over a honda or toyota. A dodge dart would be worth a look.
Ah, a sheeple!
You continue to buy your overpriced Honda Civic! I paid significantly less than one can pay for a used Civic for a brand new ford focus.
What I didn't pay for was an inflated ego.
Continue to be a sheep and buy your overpriced Japanese cars.
Why do you feel the need to take shots a people, big man?
Why is it a bad thing for someone to choose a (made in America or Canada) Civic when it gets good write-ups in the automotive press, is statistically one of the most reliable cars you can own, and has incredibly high resale value (which offsets a potential higher initial transaction price)? Are you smarter than the automotive journalists and the ~350,000 people per year who buy a Civic which is more than the number of people who buy Focus (even with fleet sales)? Further, Focus has been criticized for a poor feeling AT, the terrible my Ford touch system, and lacking interior room in some cases. Do those things make it a bad car? No, every car has strengths as well as things that can be criticized and even with those things Focus is a very good car, but you're no definitely no smarter than a Civic buyer for choosing what you did.
There are a lot of NEW cars on the market with a lot of space for $15K. Used market is horrible right now.
Originally Posted By: ram_man
Some of the above about the civic is nonsense.
The auto trans issues were fixed by 04 mine is flawless at 123, 000 miles.
Also they do have high resale....that's hardly a bad thing. Thats like saying buying gold is foolish because its value is high.
They have high resale because they are good cars. I wouldn't even consider a ford everyone I know with a newer ford has quality issues. A corolla is safe bet but boring. Hyundai are ok but I wouldn't buy one over a honda or toyota. A dodge dart would be worth a look.
Ah, a sheeple!
You continue to buy your overpriced Honda Civic! I paid significantly less than one can pay for a used Civic for a brand new ford focus.
What I didn't pay for was an inflated ego.
Continue to be a sheep and buy your overpriced Japanese cars.
Why do you feel the need to take shots a people, big man?
Why is it a bad thing for someone to choose a (made in America or Canada) Civic when it gets good write-ups in the automotive press, is statistically one of the most reliable cars you can own, and has incredibly high resale value (which offsets a potential higher initial transaction price)? Are you smarter than the automotive journalists and the ~350,000 people per year who buy a Civic which is more than the number of people who buy Focus (even with fleet sales)? Further, Focus has been criticized for a poor feeling AT, the terrible my Ford touch system, and lacking interior room in some cases. Do those things make it a bad car? No, every car has strengths as well as things that can be criticized and even with those things Focus is a very good car, but you're no definitely no smarter than a Civic buyer for choosing what you did.
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Increase your budget to 20K and buy a brand new car in Mazda6 and/or Accord. Even in the base trim, these cars are equipped nicely.
It makes no sense to buy used car with 15K as a primary daily driver when you get new for 20K. That is my personal opinion. For that kind of money either I would go full fancy on a used aka MB or BMW or new Civic/Corrola/Mazda3 or with little bit more Mazda6/Accord.
It makes no sense to buy used car with 15K as a primary daily driver when you get new for 20K. That is my personal opinion. For that kind of money either I would go full fancy on a used aka MB or BMW or new Civic/Corrola/Mazda3 or with little bit more Mazda6/Accord.
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