I think the CR-V is a great choice as others have mentioned. It's built well and the K24 in it is nearly bulletproof. Only problem is to get one in you range will probably mean a high mileage vehicle. So short of that I'm thinking a 2nd gen Matrix/Vibe in front wheel drive would be your best bet. If snow is a real concern, a set of snow tires will probably mean more to you than AWD and all-seasons anyway.
So lost. Used car shopping sucks
- Thread starter Stregone
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Buying used cars unless its a toy is a PITA, new is slightly better. Somewhere between getting a cavity drilled and ripping out a hang nail.
To make SOMEthing about the process a BIT simpler...remember that no car, well very FEW cars are given full trade-in value by dealers..."Sir/ma'am, this would be worth $X top value IF it were not for the repairs we have to do to make it presentable for sale." So, if you're buying from a dealer, always keep in mind that LOW/NOTSOCLEAN trade in value is YOUR SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE.
MTX or ATX?
MTXs: Kia Spectra5, Saturn Vue (2.2L ecotec 2005+ with manual is darn reliable, but uninspired to drive), Mazda3 hatch
ATX: Vibe/Matrix (read issues with their MTXs)
These are vehicles that came across my radar in searching in the past and all seemed viable options. I prefer MTX for long-term reliability.
CRV/RAV4 held their value too much and I ended up with a much newer Vue with less miles.
MTXs: Kia Spectra5, Saturn Vue (2.2L ecotec 2005+ with manual is darn reliable, but uninspired to drive), Mazda3 hatch
ATX: Vibe/Matrix (read issues with their MTXs)
These are vehicles that came across my radar in searching in the past and all seemed viable options. I prefer MTX for long-term reliability.
CRV/RAV4 held their value too much and I ended up with a much newer Vue with less miles.
A tip about the mazdas mentioned (3 hatch and 5 minimini): mfr non-specificed transmission fluid change interval- OFTEN neglected.
If you find one ask to see the service was performed, if not, haggle your [censored] off. If so, it should be no less than 30k ago (the mfr extended warranty's required interval), then haggle your [censored] off.
Great cars, I love my 3 and it had 146k miles.
If you find one ask to see the service was performed, if not, haggle your [censored] off. If so, it should be no less than 30k ago (the mfr extended warranty's required interval), then haggle your [censored] off.
Great cars, I love my 3 and it had 146k miles.
We had a Pontiac Vibe and it served us well. Bought it from my FIL, drove it for a while, and then sold it back to him so we could buy his company Dodge Nitro as he preferred the Vibe over the Nitro.
Originally Posted By: Stregone
Wow! What a response. Thanks guys. This will help me focus my efforts.
I agree, the Focus is a great choice (cheap parts, probably cheaper to insure too).
I'd recommend something like an 07 wagon..would suit your needs perfectly
Wow! What a response. Thanks guys. This will help me focus my efforts.
I agree, the Focus is a great choice (cheap parts, probably cheaper to insure too).
I'd recommend something like an 07 wagon..would suit your needs perfectly
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
My mom has a Focus Wagon. What a piece of junk. Every interior piece rattled and rattled and horrible vibrations throughout the car. This was at 40k miles and it was totaled at 54k miles. Very soft in the crash.
I drove a family members HHR. The entire dash was deformed from the heat and it was dead slow. Also not a high quality car.
I'd buy a Toyota Matrix or a Honda Element
I drove a family members HHR. The entire dash was deformed from the heat and it was dead slow. Also not a high quality car.
I'd buy a Toyota Matrix or a Honda Element
If you don't need the back seat when you have the dog crate, a 1st gen xB is a good choice.
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
My mom has a Focus Wagon. What a piece of junk. Every interior piece rattled and rattled and horrible vibrations throughout the car. This was at 40k miles and it was totaled at 54k miles. Very soft in the crash.
I agree, even my 07 Focus has a buzzy interior. The only thing that keeps me content with it, is it's reliability and the low purchase price.
As for the accident, aren't you glad it was soft in an accident? I sure wouldn't want a car that had ME taking the brunt of the impact
My mom has a Focus Wagon. What a piece of junk. Every interior piece rattled and rattled and horrible vibrations throughout the car. This was at 40k miles and it was totaled at 54k miles. Very soft in the crash.
I agree, even my 07 Focus has a buzzy interior. The only thing that keeps me content with it, is it's reliability and the low purchase price.
As for the accident, aren't you glad it was soft in an accident? I sure wouldn't want a car that had ME taking the brunt of the impact
mazda protege5
mazda mpv
ford frestyle (CVT seems biggest risk)
ford taurus X
ford taurus wagon (they made them up to 2004)
ford connect
chevy pt cruiser
suzuki aerio sx4 (wagonish htachback similar with vibe/matrix)
suzuki forenza wagon (actually a daewoo/chevy)
mazda mpv
ford frestyle (CVT seems biggest risk)
ford taurus X
ford taurus wagon (they made them up to 2004)
ford connect
chevy pt cruiser
suzuki aerio sx4 (wagonish htachback similar with vibe/matrix)
suzuki forenza wagon (actually a daewoo/chevy)
Originally Posted By: Lolvoguy
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
My mom has a Focus Wagon. What a piece of junk. Every interior piece rattled and rattled and horrible vibrations throughout the car. This was at 40k miles and it was totaled at 54k miles. Very soft in the crash.
I agree, even my 07 Focus has a buzzy interior. The only thing that keeps me content with it, is it's reliability and the low purchase price.
As for the accident, aren't you glad it was soft in an accident? I sure wouldn't want a car that had ME taking the brunt of the impact
Buzziness varying with the engine rpm is a motor mount or two, passenger side one is liquiid filled and made all the difference in my car. Now the fact I had to change a mount at 35k miles isn't great, but I don't know how the previous owner drove it and its an easy job.
It's not a Lexus but I find its road manners pretty good, reasonably quiet, smooth, tracks straight, and gets blown around far less than it should really, being light but with huge side area. I find its about the same as my parents 06 CRV in terms of NVH.
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
My mom has a Focus Wagon. What a piece of junk. Every interior piece rattled and rattled and horrible vibrations throughout the car. This was at 40k miles and it was totaled at 54k miles. Very soft in the crash.
I agree, even my 07 Focus has a buzzy interior. The only thing that keeps me content with it, is it's reliability and the low purchase price.
As for the accident, aren't you glad it was soft in an accident? I sure wouldn't want a car that had ME taking the brunt of the impact
Buzziness varying with the engine rpm is a motor mount or two, passenger side one is liquiid filled and made all the difference in my car. Now the fact I had to change a mount at 35k miles isn't great, but I don't know how the previous owner drove it and its an easy job.
It's not a Lexus but I find its road manners pretty good, reasonably quiet, smooth, tracks straight, and gets blown around far less than it should really, being light but with huge side area. I find its about the same as my parents 06 CRV in terms of NVH.
Also the Versa hatch is pretty big inside. They weren't far off $8k new as well.
You need to be watching Craigslist like a hawk. I found my 09 Vue with 81k for $8,000 cash. Keep an open mind and find something you will not mind driving for a long time, research the exact model you are buying. When I first started researching the Vue I almost walked away because the transmissions are TERRIBLE. But with a little research I realized it was the trans that was mated to the V6 that was terrible. Couldn't find one complaint on my specific model. Good luck and keep us updated.
Thanks for for all your help, I finally bought something! Although I don't think anyone recommended it, lol.
2013 Chevy Spark, 13k miles, $11,700. Put $6k down, $122 per month.
I really really like this thing. All the other cars I was looking at were older, much higher mileage, and/or had no power windows/locks and etc. This thing has power everything, plus bluetooth, xm radio, and the 7" touch screen. And the crate fits!
Had a little misadventure before I came across that one. I went to see one of the dealerships that contacted me after a did the truecar.com thing on a new yaris. I went down there, but they didn't have any more yaris' (yaris's?). He showed me a few used cars, but they weren't hatch/wagons,a nd it didn't look like they had anything I wanted. Then he showed me a used rav4. I test drive it, and liked it. He said lets check out the new one you might be able to afford it. I test drove it and really liked it, but was really skeptical that I could afford it. During the test drive he brought up the idea of doing a lease, but I said I did not want one. He said he' would show you all your options'. So we went inside, did some paperwork and he disappeared for a while, and came back with a paper with "$5000 down, $253 x 36" written on it. This was a little higher than my budget but I eventually decided to go for it. SO he disappeared again, some lady came by to upsell me on undercoating and [censored]. Then eventually I go to the finance office. She mentions the word 'lease' and I go 'WHAT?'. She asks me "You were not aware that this was a lease?", "No I wanted to BUY a car", "You have the option to buy", "How does that work?" She shows me how it works and adds everything up and the final cost if I decide to buy the [censored] thing is just over $30k. By this time the salesman came back. I told him I was not comfortable with this at all. He does all the math trying to tell me its better this way than buying it. Then his boss comes in and does all the same stuff. I tell him I am not comfortable with this at all, I was originally planning on looking at a yaris. He says he can get me a good deal on a corolla and starts punching the numbers into the computer. I don't want a corolla, and I am absolutely not buying a car today. After going back and forth for a little bit I finally get out of the office, the salesman gives one last half hearted push and then we start walking towards the exit. Before we get there one of his coworkers or something calls us over and goes over all of the same explanations and math, saying "maybe they didn't explain it to you right." No infact it was exactly the same, the phrasing was so similar that I am sure that they are all trained to do it exactly like that. After another 10 minutes of filling a sheet of paper with numbers I finally get up and walk out the door. Waste of an entire afternoon. Was probably there for 5 or 6 hours. The only upside is that the salesman had given me his personal cell number when he first contacted me, and the day I decided to go down there was his day off, but he came in to work to show me the car. So his afternoon was a complete waste as well!
2013 Chevy Spark, 13k miles, $11,700. Put $6k down, $122 per month.
I really really like this thing. All the other cars I was looking at were older, much higher mileage, and/or had no power windows/locks and etc. This thing has power everything, plus bluetooth, xm radio, and the 7" touch screen. And the crate fits!
Had a little misadventure before I came across that one. I went to see one of the dealerships that contacted me after a did the truecar.com thing on a new yaris. I went down there, but they didn't have any more yaris' (yaris's?). He showed me a few used cars, but they weren't hatch/wagons,a nd it didn't look like they had anything I wanted. Then he showed me a used rav4. I test drive it, and liked it. He said lets check out the new one you might be able to afford it. I test drove it and really liked it, but was really skeptical that I could afford it. During the test drive he brought up the idea of doing a lease, but I said I did not want one. He said he' would show you all your options'. So we went inside, did some paperwork and he disappeared for a while, and came back with a paper with "$5000 down, $253 x 36" written on it. This was a little higher than my budget but I eventually decided to go for it. SO he disappeared again, some lady came by to upsell me on undercoating and [censored]. Then eventually I go to the finance office. She mentions the word 'lease' and I go 'WHAT?'. She asks me "You were not aware that this was a lease?", "No I wanted to BUY a car", "You have the option to buy", "How does that work?" She shows me how it works and adds everything up and the final cost if I decide to buy the [censored] thing is just over $30k. By this time the salesman came back. I told him I was not comfortable with this at all. He does all the math trying to tell me its better this way than buying it. Then his boss comes in and does all the same stuff. I tell him I am not comfortable with this at all, I was originally planning on looking at a yaris. He says he can get me a good deal on a corolla and starts punching the numbers into the computer. I don't want a corolla, and I am absolutely not buying a car today. After going back and forth for a little bit I finally get out of the office, the salesman gives one last half hearted push and then we start walking towards the exit. Before we get there one of his coworkers or something calls us over and goes over all of the same explanations and math, saying "maybe they didn't explain it to you right." No infact it was exactly the same, the phrasing was so similar that I am sure that they are all trained to do it exactly like that. After another 10 minutes of filling a sheet of paper with numbers I finally get up and walk out the door. Waste of an entire afternoon. Was probably there for 5 or 6 hours. The only upside is that the salesman had given me his personal cell number when he first contacted me, and the day I decided to go down there was his day off, but he came in to work to show me the car. So his afternoon was a complete waste as well!
"....He said he' would show you all your options'....."
Exit cue.... YOUR options? I think not....THEIR options!
Exit cue.... YOUR options? I think not....THEIR options!
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Nice looking car, and I hope the dog approves too.
You should really send the salesperson/dealership an invoice for the time they jerked you around. I'd think that $150/hour would be a fair rate.
You should really send the salesperson/dealership an invoice for the time they jerked you around. I'd think that $150/hour would be a fair rate.
The misadventure was at Lustine Scion/Toyota in woodbridge, VA. I bought the spark from Pohanka Chevy in Chantilly, VA. Buying the spark was an almost pleasant experience. The finance guy was pretty nice. Since this was my first car loan he went over my credit report with me and gave me some tips (having a car loan is a big one apparently), he also went over a bunch of other general car buying stuff like extended warranties (inclusionary vs. exclusionary). Overall thumbs up, I highly recommend them.
Well, its good you found something that works for you, I imagine the Spark will be cheap to run for many years to come.
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