replacement vehicle

[Studebaker]

My Cherokee has hit the 150k mark, and I will be giving it to the daughter as her first car. The wife drives an '03 Wrangler and it has 110K on it now. She just took a job at a hospital, 3 12 hr shifts 3 days a week, 50 mi each way, and she averages 20-25k a year normally. I figure I'll take that one over, and get her something better on gas.
I have 10-15K cash.
She really wants a Toyota, but I find the used one depreciate so slowly, it may be almost better to get a new one. We have a dealer in town who advertises his lowest prices on the net. I am finding '04 Camry's with 60,000 miles on them for about $15k.
He advertises '08 Corollas from $13.5-15.5k. He has new Camry's LE's for $19,500.
I read consumer reviews on line, and there were a lot of complaints on the Camry auto transmissions from '03 to the present.
Is a used Camry better than a new Corolla? Am I better just getting the new Camry? Is the Corolla too small for trips? Just me and the wife at home, and 90% of the time it will be just her.
Also, the new camry comes with side airbags. Am I putting too much emphasis on that?

 

[refaller]

Most of those are questions only you can answer. I would definitely test drive them and then decide which you and your wife prefer, then work at the best deal. Seems silly that people will spend $15,000 on something if it is not something that they truly like. I do agree that Japanese cars depreciate too slowly- that is the price for prior years reliability. Good luck!

ref

PS- Why does she only want a Toyota?

 

[ClarkB]

FWIW, I had a friend looking at used Corollas and he decided it was better off to go new. Wait, make that two separate friends in the last 3 years who have done that. The way they don't depreciate, it's almost better to go new instead of saving $2K on a vehicle 3 years old. Check out the crash test ratings for the Corolla. Doesn't look bad to me.

As far as trips, I drive a '99 Civic and don't have a problem. I'm 6'2" and it's not bad. Less roomy than a Camry or Accord but if you really want room buy a Cadillac. Considering your wife's driving pattern and the fact that most of it is 1 person I see no real reason to go with a bigger car.

Clark

 

[MrCritical]

If you can get a new Camry for 19 grand plus change, then yes, 15 grand for a 4 year old one with 60k is a poor, poor investment.

 

[BGK]

The used car market is starting to get flooded with repo'd cars from the housing/mortage mess. Regardless, new or used, prices will be dropping. Unless a used car comes with a FACTORY warranty, I'd go with the new car. The new redesigned Corolla should be quite an update over the current model, particularly in areas relating to safety and comfort.

 

[Bill in Utah]

My 2005 Corolla has been perfect (ok, save the thin paint) for 100k now. Average MPG for 100k is right at 43 mpg with the high being 47 and low being 38.

Never had it back to the dealership for anything. I've only changed oils, air filters and wash it.

It needs soon the coolant changed, flush the brake fluid and I think a new set of tires next fall (OEMS have over 80k on them, snow tires the rest)

I'm 6 foot 6 and weight too close to 300 lbs. I find it very comfortable for my 50 mile one way commute. My wife (who also is a nurse with 3 12 hour shifts

) loves driving it. Her car (07 Subaru) was hit by a semi and when it was out getting repaired, she drove the corolla and said its a fun car to drive.

Real good deals going on right now with the 08s (2 co-workers have bought corollas in the last 2 weeks) with the CE going out the door for less than $14k.

The engine 1ZZFE is a real good motor and EASY to work on. The EASIEST of any car I've seen. Chain for the cams so no maintenance there.

A local lab has many Corollas that they all have well over 300k and they are driven hard. They are going to Cobalts next year so it will be interesting how they hold up.

Take care, Bill

PS: My 05 is a stick, expect 2-3 mpg less with autos. (or at atleast folks I've talked to with Autos) Still a good MPG car.

PPS: The new Corolla is same size length, 2 inches wider. Same wheelbase. And I am old school, NEVER buy a new model. My dad bought a 2001 Civic and it was trouble.

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:
NEVER buy a new model. My dad bought a 2001 Civic and it was trouble.


If he waited until 02 or 03 to buy it ..it would have been better

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Quote:
NEVER buy a new model. My dad bought a 2001 Civic and it was trouble.


If he waited until 02 or 03 to buy it ..it would have been better

Well, it needed some major rear end work (which they fixed after about 3 months after) and a long block @ 14k.

If he bought a 2001.5 or 2002 would it have been better?

I think so. He would not have bought a "beta" model. (his was one of the first US built Civics with the new body style)

He bought it new.

Bill

 

[Gary Allan]

I figured that was what you meant. I too do not like to buy the first year of any new "introduction". Let the flocking public be the vanguard of my approach to "new".

 

[The Critic]

Camrys sell for 18,600 + TTL in my area and Corolla CEs sell for under 13k.

The 2007 Camry auto transmissions were plagued with software problems that caused hesitation issues. The 2008 model Camrys have the latest software (beginning in Aug 2007) that resolves this problem. No complaints on the 2008 models as far as I know.

An inexpensive alternative to the Camry is the Hyundai Sonata. They sell for the price of a used Camry and the quality is equal or better.

 

[TheLoneRanger]

Studebaker, I see you've owned Jeeps. Have you looked at the 07 Wranglers? How about one with a hardtop, power windows and locks, AC, automatic, stereo? You can find them for about $18K now, with 15-20K miles.

 

[JHZR2]

An MT 4-cyl camry, or better yet, a still new, MT 4-cyl accord of the last model, that the dealers are trying to get off the lot.

JMH

 

[Schmoe]

Save the cash and buy new. Or, put down a good chunk down and make small monthly payments. Of course, I'm talking about a civic or basic accord. You can get really good deals right now on the 07 models. From where I'm at, we've seen an influx of cars coming from New Orleans and the recent flooding we had here in Oklahoma. Sure, you can run a title search and all that, but there are ways to get around that if someone really wants to. Not just worth the worrying. Plus, I get the feeling your a "keep it until the tires fall off" kind of guy and a Honda will serve you well.

 

[Studebaker]

I don't like the engine in the newer Wranglers, and the gas mileage is pitiful. I was leaning towards the Corolla, but I am concerned we are in the last year of a generation, and also concerned about the safety of a smaller car.
I like the idea of a MT accord, but the new Honda's are selling at 2-3K over the Toyota's in this area.

 

[Studebaker]

One alternative I am considering is buying a used Camry, until the Diesels arrive. But even used Carry's are at a premium.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Studebaker
I don't like the engine in the newer Wranglers, and the gas mileage is pitiful. I was leaning towards the Corolla, but I am concerned we are in the last year of a generation, and also concerned about the safety of a smaller car.
I like the idea of a MT accord, but the new Honda's are selling at 2-3K over the Toyota's in this area.


No, get the last gen accord. If you find one, the dealers ought to be itching to get it off their lot, especially in 4-cyl MT trim...

JMH

 

[Gary Allan]

$15k buys a lot of fuel and that Wrangler isn't going to be down for another 200k with her driving profile. She's doing 300 miles a week on her commute, very close to my wife's 250/week (4 day week X 25+ one way). She has 136k on hers (99 TJ).

I'd buy some domestic model that holds no retail value but has plenty of life left in it for a lot less. Some Taurus with decent appointments. Stash the leftovers for any repair/rental.

We gave up on "like" after our jeep ownership. We'd have to hit it real large to care about anything other than utility in a vehicle. Not that you can do much sensible in a Wrangler, but you abandon many things that you noticed in other rides. Handling, ride (although it's not bad) ..break neck acceleration, spacious interiors..etc..etc. Fuel economy is something you don't have with them either, but if they're paid for, the alternatives are not that favorable in a cost comparison.

 

[Studebaker]

I am not at all complaining about the wife's wrangler. I love it. I promised the daughter (lives with ex) a vehicle when she gets her license, and she is ready. My Cherokee just passed the 150K mark, and would be a perfect vehicle for her. I put less miles on a car (I have a motorcycle too) than her, so my plan was to take the Wrangler over (110,000 miles on the 2003) and get the wife something more comfortable and more fuel efficient.

 

[Gary Allan]

I just hate parting with money for vehicles. I'm a confirmed beater driver outside of my Wrangler. The wife considered commandeering my son's 96 Neon ..but he went back to an 80 mile commute. If we do buy, it's going to be something over the major depreciation hump. Lots of 27+ mpg for small coin and still in reasonable shape.

..but that's just us

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

It's so counter-intuitive that Corollas depreciate so little and that their prices haven't been raised substantially, but that's what it is.

On the other hand, domestic automakers have problems because of the rapid depreciation of their models due to rebates, incentives, etc. of new models.