Suggestions for a new car ?

[VTECOverRated]

Chevy Trax, look great, basic transportation. Starts at 20k so expect to pay 23 or 24k
Chevy dealers all over, easy to service.
https://www.chevrolet.com/suvs/trax

1.2L turbo in a 4200lb car?
This will be laughably unreliable, even for an American car.

 

[cb_13]

cheapest prius I found was 29k+tax so over 30k.

https://www.toyota.com/prius/
I was strictly going by msrp which may not be accurate in todays world. I know we bought a Pacifica when the local Toyota dealer wanted 10k over sticker for any Sienna on their lot. They did tell us they’d sell special orders at msrp but to expect a 6 month wait. This was late ‘21 for 22 model year vehicles.

 

[Boomer]

VW Jetta.

 

[mosaud1998]

2024 Hyundai Elantra. Starts at $23k~

 

[Triple_Se7en]

2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer LS...... right around 25k

 

[VTECOverRated]

https://www.toyota.com/prius/
I was strictly going by msrp which may not be accurate in todays world. I know we bought a Pacifica when the local Toyota dealer wanted 10k over sticker for any Sienna on their lot. They did tell us they’d sell special orders at msrp but to expect a 6 month wait. This was late ‘21 for 22 model year vehicles.

Get one that is a year or two old with sub 20k miles. The car will last 300k miles and you will save thousands on the price.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I need a new car. Something reliable with decent insurance rates and less than 30K. Preferably under 25K.

No SUVs. Or trucks, Or crossovers. Just a car. Basic transportation - doesn't need to be fancy.

Retired owner. Mostly rural area. 15 miles to town. Occasional interstate and long trips. Probably 15k annual mileage.

Whatcha got ?

 

[4WD]

Some under 30k miles units were rental - use dog years

 

[CKN]

Exactly why I'm asking. There's a lot of knowledge here.
Thanks. And yes, I'd like to have a new one. Small cars are OK, also.

I've been out of the car market for ten years....

Anything under $25,000 is a penalty box.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Corolla hatchback

 

[proveitwithdata]

anything toyota ice as its cheapest to acquire and maintain. However idk whats your location, so you might be in that one region where one toyota dealerships serves 100 square miles, has no inventory, and everyone has to pay for some bogus coating.

 

[reemoeMO]

2024 Hyundai Elantra. Starts at $23k~

Love my 2018 Elantra--71K trouble-free miles so far, getting great gas mileage (mid 30s)!

 

[Hillbilly Deluxe]

I’d be looking for a 3-4 year old Toyota Avalon.

Sit a little higher than a Camry, comfortable and will last 3-400k miles easy.

 

[THORROMIG]

Base model Corolla for the win!!! Not sure price, imagine close to your budget???

 

[SC Maintenance]

https://www.toyota.com/prius/
I was strictly going by msrp which may not be accurate in todays world. I know we bought a Pacifica when the local Toyota dealer wanted 10k over sticker for any Sienna on their lot. They did tell us they’d sell special orders at msrp but to expect a 6 month wait. This was late ‘21 for 22 model year vehicles.

Its not really even the dealer market adjustments. MSRP doesn't even include delivery which is typically another $1200. Even floor mats are $500 bucks, and usually not optional. This is the cheapest one within 500 miles of me. Its showing in transit, could very well be sold already - toyota simply shows you whats in the pipeline. If your outside SE Toyota's grasp you could likely get it $1K cheaper without the toyoguard platinum and other BS>

 

[IndyIan]

I would see what a $15k Prius looks like in your area? But a new one should have good resale value when you are ready to move on.

 

[DuckRyder]

jetta.

Civic a reasonable 2nd.

 

[sloinker]

To actually drive off a dealers lot with a NEW car for no more than $25000 is going to limit you severely in the real world. Nissan Versa comes to mind and that's about it. You will be challenged to find any NEW Toyota for that $25k limit in the real world. Entry Level Kia, Mazda3, Volkswagen, Entry level Hyundai. Possibly, not likely. I think all of these have except the VW/Mazda have CVT's. A deal killer for me personally.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Seems you could get a Corolla - Toyo is doing $1000 cash back. Not sure I would want its 5.3 inches of ground clearance on a gravel road?

 

[VTECOverRated]

To mactually drive off a dealers lot with a NEW car for no more than $25000 is going to limit you severely in the real world. Nissan Versa comes to mind and that's about it. You will be challenged to find any NEW Toyota for that $25k limit in the real world. Entry Level Kia, Mazda3, Entry level Hyundai. Possibly, not likely.

It is physically impossible to get an actually good vehicle under 25k from a dealership. I have been looking at cars and shopping for a few months now, add 10K to what ever price you see online, MINIMUM. If you can't pay a 10k premium, don't even look.

Showed up to a dealership for a 35k car, the mark up was to 45. Showed up for a 45k car, mark up is 55k. Watching new corollas get marked to 30k is a joke. Can't wait for the car crash, housing crash, the whole 9 yards. Hope they all hurt too, they deserve it.

Went to pick up a car that was clean title, single owner, 28k miles, v6, 3 years old. MSRP was 38. They wanted 28. After all the "optional" cough not optional cough 2500 in add on's, and 2000$ in fees, put the car at a whopping 32.5k. Argued about the addons, saying thats illegal to add if it says optional, they obliged and took it off. Fine, I was okay with the price, drove 2 hours to look at it. Found a crappy cover up job of a wrecked rear end, bondo everywhere, messy trunk, could tell they just fixed it. Got underneat the car, tags were hanging off the aftermarket exhaust. Sure, "one owner no accidents clean title". What a waste. they dropped the price like 1000$ I said the issue isn't the price anymore but your shady practices.