planning to buy new car next year....

[brelandt]

My truck is getting old. 2004 with 130K. Plan on keeping it but would like to get a new vehicle with in a year.
Went over my budget to see what I can afford. when I bought my truck new in 2004 it was $16,200 for my regular cab prerunner. Toyota doesn't make them in that configuration anymore so I would have to upgrade to 4x4 and now they are selling them for nearly $24,000!!!!!! Nuts! The base model with nothing in it is now $18,000.
So, looked at a Ka Rio. It's in my price range. Any other good vehicles in that range I should consider?
Would love to get another small japanese truck again. I bought a bone stock 93 Nissan hardbody new back in the day for less than $5000! Wish those days where still here.

 

[Zaedock]

I wouldn't go near a Rio with a ten foot pole.

My mother had one. It blew through one timing belt in 54K miles (which destroyed the engine) and then again with the replacement engine 40-something K later.

Junk, IMO.


She has an '08 Cobalt with 87K, and all we've done done are filters, oil changes, and tires.

 

[JHZR2]

What is the matter with the truck? CA is a decent climate, and toyota is supposed to be the foremost in quality, so 130k and 9 years old is not much to be concerned about.

For the value of the depreciation hit on the new car alone, you could fix all potential trouble spots once and for all, and have the rest of the money in the bank.

 

[Quattro Pete]

You're considering Toyota Tacoma but also Kia Rio? So, do you want a truck or a car?

I would just keep your current truck if it's not having any major issues.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
You're considering Toyota Tacoma but also Kia Rio? So, do you want a truck or a car?

I would just keep your current truck if it's not having any major issues.



+1

 

[badtlc]

if you are keeping the trucky, why not look at a car?

 

[brelandt]

no issues with my truck, can drive it for many years to come. The new truck pricing I mentioned was for comparison only. Sorry. It worked in my head but just didn't convey it out right when typing it.
Looking for a car really. I do not like high tech gadet things. I like plain and simple. So no Turbo this with 50 forward gears or hybrids. simple 5 speed 4 cylinder hatchback that's easy to look after is what I'm looking for. Sort of like the 90's Civic hatchback.
Want something new. I work on other peoples cars all day long 5 days a week and I know how they take of them. No thanks!

 

[Quattro Pete]

Hyundai Elantra maybe?

But as far as hi-tech gadgets, all new cars are loaded with them, unfortunately.

 

[Mr Nice]

I would keep the Tacoma and look for a low mile Civic coupe 1999-2005 as your daily econobox. Since you are in CA, the Civic are like ants and can be found all over the place, rust free and unmodded.

 

[brelandt]

If I had 25 cars come in the last 6 months with little to no oil in them 20 where Civics some some reason or another. Mostly lack of maintenance from owners who believe that Civics run forever.
I'm dead set against trying to find the one diamond in the rough. Rather get a new one so that like my current truck I know it's been cared after.
Getting a used car that has been taking care of is possible, but I'm just to busy to hunt it down.

 

[BlastChamber]

I know you said "no hybrids", but you might want to reconsider. I never pictured myself being a hybrid owner (my truck is a diesel), but last week I bought a 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid.

It's an amazing car and drives just like a normal Camry. So far is giving me an average of 39mpg during my daily 100-mile commute. Invoice pricing and 0.9% for 60 months made it just too good to resist.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: BlastChamber
So far is giving me an average of 39mpg during my daily 100-mile commute.

I'm assuming majority of it is highway?

For comparison, a non-hybrid Camry is rated 35 mpg highway, and it can probably be exceeded if not driven with a heavy foot. Yet, you avoid the complexity of a hybrid.

Now, if your driving is mainly in the city, then hybrid is definitely more economical.

 

[BlastChamber]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: BlastChamber
So far is giving me an average of 39mpg during my daily 100-mile commute.

I'm assuming majority of it is highway?


About 50% highway (55mph with hills), 40% freeway (65mph with hills), and 10% city. Not ideal driving conditions for a hybrid like stop/go traffic would be, but I'm expecting fuel economy to improve slightly as the car and tires break in.

I did look at a non-hybrid Camry and the Prius as well. The small difference in price between the two Camry's made me want to try the hybrid. If there had been more of a price premium I probably would have chose differently.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: brelandt
simple 5 speed 4 cylinder hatchback that's easy to look after is what I'm looking for.


So why not any of the mcsubcompact cars? corolla, civic, cobalt, focus, elantra, even yaris, fit, etc.

 

[getnpsi]

Hyundai elentra made a wagon/hatch that are very reliable. not sure of the year range but they are 8-10 years old by now.

The problem with older civics that are unmodded and cherry means the people who mod them are trying to steal them. I don't care if a crx gets 40 mpg and has 190hp with an engine swap, all for 1800 bucks. It will disappear.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: getnpsi
Hyundai elentra made a wagon/hatch that are very reliable. not sure of the year range but they are 8-10 years old by now.

They make a new one, too.

 

[Oil Changer]

Base. Honda Accord with MT. Keep the truck for sure.

 

[ClutchDisc]

Originally Posted By: brelandt
Looking for a car really. I do not like high tech gadet things. I like plain and simple. So no Turbo this with 50 forward gears or hybrids. simple 5 speed 4 cylinder hatchback that's easy to look after is what I'm looking for. Sort of like the 90's Civic hatchback.
Want something new. I work on other peoples cars all day long 5 days a week and I know how they take of them. No thanks!
I'm afraid every new car out there is high tech and not plain and simple.

If I were you I would get a nice used car from a private seller who took good care of it. I'm sure there are plenty of plain and simple older used cars in great condition in your area, you don't have all the rust problems we have over here.

 

[badtlc]

Ford Fiesta with a hatch. Simple, reliable and great MPGs. They easily exceed their EPA estimates.

 

[ClutchDisc]

Originally Posted By: badtlc
Ford Fiesta with a hatch. Simple, reliable and great MPGs. They easily exceed their EPA estimates.
That's probably one of the simplest cars they make these days, but it's not simple enough for my liking. If it has a touch screen it's too complicated for me.