What new car under $25k is the best "value"?
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IMHO, the Subaru WRX, Mazdaspeed 3, VW GTI 4 door. They all offer wonderful performance/utility/fun to drive with slightly different flavors.
I love my 2004 WRX Wagon! Reliable, utility, traction and a hoot to drive all in one package purchased for $21.5k brand new. Right now one child seat with infant seat coming soon
I love my 2004 WRX Wagon! Reliable, utility, traction and a hoot to drive all in one package purchased for $21.5k brand new. Right now one child seat with infant seat coming soon
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IMHO,
a 5 spd Accord can be had for way less than 25K, and would be a reliable, fast, economical, and long lived all purpose car.
For 25K or less, however, there are a whole bunch of choices. What do you want in a vehicle?
a 5 spd Accord can be had for way less than 25K, and would be a reliable, fast, economical, and long lived all purpose car.
For 25K or less, however, there are a whole bunch of choices. What do you want in a vehicle?
You get what you pay for in a Sentra believe me. Possibly the 2008's with the new 2L might be O.K. but the 1.8L is pure junk and so is the 2.5.
Hey I'm married with a small child and we fit in our Mz3 hatch just fine. There's even room for the dog in the back.
I'd have to concur with the Mazdaspeed3. That or maybe a new Civic Si.
That's incorrect.
The new xD has a 1.8l, 128hp engine. Hardly a Camry engine.
I'd rather a new CR-V than any of the sport hatch vehicles mentioned.
I see a lot of people asking the intended use for this "best value" vehicle. Honestly, I think this question is based answered without knowing how or where the vehicle will be used.
To me, best value means the most amount of engineering and best quality of materials that go into a vehicle for a given price.
A couple years ago, bogatyr, who used to come to this site, and I were at a car show and he was wowing at a Jeep Rubicon. I looked at the sticker, balked at the $25,000 price and said: "Wow, why so much?"
bogatyr, who fancies 4WD vehicles, informed me that the Rubicon was the "Big Dog" and had 'Detroit Locker' diffs.
I said yeah, but is that worth several thousand dollars more than an identical-looking Jeep Wrangler? What kind of technology, metallurgy or labor goes into the production of a Detroit Locker? Once you tool up for large automotive components, you'd be surprising how cheap they are.
It seemed to me that the Rubicons were significantly overpriced for what you got. Of course, they weren't the only ones. Another example that comes to mind was the Toyota Celica of the mid 90s. One version was several thousand dollars more expensive than a very comparable Acura Integra. Again, seems to me the Celica was a poor value ... or maybe the Acura a terrific one?
If you know a lot about muscle cars, it is maddening to find out how significant improvements could have been made to vehicles (engine, transmission, suspension, body structure, etc ...) for just a few dollars more per vehicle: Increased nickel content in the engine blocks, 4-bolt main bearings, better heads and exhaust manifolds, etc ...
Cars that incorporated many of these little improvements for the same or a similar price should be considered a "good value" ... regardless of how they are used and whether or not any given purchaser appreciates it at the time.
To me, best value means the most amount of engineering and best quality of materials that go into a vehicle for a given price.
A couple years ago, bogatyr, who used to come to this site, and I were at a car show and he was wowing at a Jeep Rubicon. I looked at the sticker, balked at the $25,000 price and said: "Wow, why so much?"
bogatyr, who fancies 4WD vehicles, informed me that the Rubicon was the "Big Dog" and had 'Detroit Locker' diffs.
I said yeah, but is that worth several thousand dollars more than an identical-looking Jeep Wrangler? What kind of technology, metallurgy or labor goes into the production of a Detroit Locker? Once you tool up for large automotive components, you'd be surprising how cheap they are.
It seemed to me that the Rubicons were significantly overpriced for what you got. Of course, they weren't the only ones. Another example that comes to mind was the Toyota Celica of the mid 90s. One version was several thousand dollars more expensive than a very comparable Acura Integra. Again, seems to me the Celica was a poor value ... or maybe the Acura a terrific one?
If you know a lot about muscle cars, it is maddening to find out how significant improvements could have been made to vehicles (engine, transmission, suspension, body structure, etc ...) for just a few dollars more per vehicle: Increased nickel content in the engine blocks, 4-bolt main bearings, better heads and exhaust manifolds, etc ...
Cars that incorporated many of these little improvements for the same or a similar price should be considered a "good value" ... regardless of how they are used and whether or not any given purchaser appreciates it at the time.
The Acura Integra was an amazing value... but maybe I'm biased
I just bought an 07 civic LX five speed about 4 months ago. paid 16000 plus tax and title (which i think is around invoice) I love it, i've been getting around 39 mpg on each tank, love the honda quality ( since i was a life long GM guy, but that's a different story). Can't go wrong with the civic.
xd is a vibe clone, if you reread my original post I said "xb" I was wrong on one front, msrp per edmunds is $16,600 2.4 L camry engine 28 mpg. scion xb is made in Japan.
Edmund's scion xb specs
The lockers were front and rear. That is pretty expensive and they were electric lockers from the factory. The big thing was that it came with 4.10 gears and Dana 44's front and back which would be even more money to go after market and have them installed on a standard jeep. Axles are expensive plus. Just to re gear a 4x4 is pretty expensive. So unless you can weld a new axle on and re gear then I think it was a good factory deal. Plus you got to love a manufacture that is willing to put lockers front and rear on a vehicle. Thats all MHO of course.
Oh ... I thought the xD replaced the xB.
A lot of people get too focused on one aspect of a car. Best this or largest that. I like a car that does a lot of things well.
Being a truck person, I would have to say that the Dodge Ram with the SXT package is probably the best value out there for under $25K. The SXT package has base model wheels, bumpers, etc...but comes with cloth, carpet, power everything, a CD player, and all the basic features most people want. I have seen Quad Cab, V6, auto, STX package Rams selling for $17,000 brand new. You basically get a full size truck for the same price as a similarly equipped compact truck.
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