Anyone purchase a new car lately? About This Page:

[jennie622]

Originally Posted by Ashli

Maybe I'm just a giant (I'm only 5'10" though?) but I was CRAMPED when I rode in my friend's Honda Fit (and it was only a short ride - Universal back to WDW). I felt like my knees were going to hit my chin.

New cars are great, but if you want to save some $$ you might look into used as well. DH still has his 1987 (I think?) Honda Civic that has over 300,000 miles on it and gets ridiculously good gas mileage - better than most new cars, even the "economic" ones. I have a 2000 Toyota Forerunner and it gets pretty good gas mileage for an SUV. As an earlier poster mentioned, I am fiercely loyal to Toyota. My car has over 200,000 miles on it and (knock on wood) all I've had to do was regular maintenance and I think DH replaced the timing belt once or something. These cars last. We're hoping to get a new car (DH really wants a new car just because he's had his for so long - but he'd keep the civic to drive to work since it's a 35 mile drive each way) before too long and we've been looking at Toyota FJ Cruisers. We've been really impressed with them.

Hondas & Toyotas run forever don't they? We've had people come in to the dealership with over 300K miles not wanting to trade, just get another one! This is one of the reasons the used vehicles cost as much as new! The Civic has the highest resale value, we have folks trading used and getting a new for the same monthly payment! Crazy!!

[krisk11]

Honda's and Toyota's have always had a great reputation and I think Hyundai's and Kia's are really starting to give the American cars a run for their money. I know there have been some "disposable" cars out in the past but that was years and years ago.

[Huntermom]

Kris, I've rented a couple of Mazda 3's too and loved them. I've thought of buying one eventually but no longer will buy a new, new car-too much depreciation as soon as you drive off the lot-and I can buy a used car for so much less, especially considering I can put 40K on a car in a year.

[minemoz1]

I'm most likely getting a Subaru Outback as I need something that will handle the blizzards we keep getting here. I love the styling and love the ride. I'll be trading in a Honda Civic. If I didn't care about the snow, I'd most likely buy a Honda or Toyota as they get better gas mileage. I'm not too big on the American styling these days.

Also, if you are Costco members, check out their Auto Program. They offer Costco discounted pricing and no haggle pricing at certain dealers in the area. My car with the features I wanted was $2,000 under most models starting price.

Have fun car shopping!

[lazanya]

We bought a Honda CR-V brand new last spring. We love it! DH uses it driving to work on the tollway and gets great gas mileage with it. I thought he mentioned it was getting around 30 or 31 MPH from driving on the tollway. And the CR-V has lots of room. We drove it down to Texas last summer with plenty of space. I also like how the seats fold down to move big things.

[Colexis Mom]

We will be in the market for a new car soon as well. DH's Honda Civic has over 200,000 miles on it, and his commute is 140 miles/day. Needless to say the next one will also be fuel efficient! I want him to get another Civic. He's looking at a Hyundai Elantra.

[stretch2864]

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

We will be in the market for a new car soon as well. DH's Honda Civic has over 200,000 miles on it, and his commute is 140 miles/day. Needless to say the next one will also be fuel efficient! I want him to get another Civic. He's looking at a Hyundai Elantra.

DBF just bought a 2003 Hyundai Elantra and it seems to be a really nice little car. We will have to see what gas mileage is on it, but so far I am impressed. When I was in Washington earlier this year, my rental car was a 2011 Hyundai Elantra, and I loved it! It seemed like it got close to 40mpg.

Originally Posted by MichaelF

I just bought a new car last week. Its a 2011 Buick Lucerne. Its a nice car with a smooth ride and plenty of power. It gets good gas milage but I bought it for the ride, looks and price. A lot of car for the money because there was a $6500 rebate. I looked at a few cars but my main requirment is that it is built by an american company. I will buy European but you will never see me driving an asian car like Toyota, Honda, Kia, Hyundai etc. They are just built way too cheap.

You might be surprised by some of the imports. My DD has a 2000 Toyota Camry, and it is one of the best cars I have ever seen. Great ride, lots of room, and a huge trunk. When I helped her move across the country, we got 40+ mpg on the trip. Not bad for a mid size car. On the other hand, I have a 1999 Saturn, which is an all-American car, and it is one of the crappiest cars I have ever owned. It has a poor design as well as a lot of mechanical flaws and quirks. If it weren't for the fact that it gets fairly good gas mileage, I would have gotten rid of it awhile ago. My feeling is that you have to judge cars based on your particular needs and wants as well as the individual car's features.

Originally Posted by krisk11

I have a 2005 Ford Focus and I love it. I haven't had any problems with it and I go a little over the normal yearly milage with my dd playing travel hockey. I will be buying a new car somewhere between Sept and Dec since dd will be a licensed driver come this December and I will be giving her the 2005 Focus. I'm thinking about either another Focus or a Fiesta as they are both good cars. We are also considering a Mazda 3 as one of my dd's softball teammates drives one and her parents say it's a good car and I rented one once and liked it.

Glad to hear that you like the Ford Focus! I am thinking of replacing my Saturn soon and have been thinking of getting a Ford Focus. I would love one in lime green!

[Huntermom]

Marni, when I was looking at used cars last year, both my boys thought Hyundai Elantra was a really good car for the money. The only downside was that a lot of the used ones we looked at had few extras, including air conditioning.

From looking at them, I didn't think they had the really solid feel of the civic or corolla. I have rented and ridden in Hyundai Sonatas and really liked them but I think you lose a lot of fuel efficiency.

DS2 is really impressed by the new Ford Fiesta and he is a fuel efficiency fanatic. My former SIL also has a civic hybrid, which she loves and get great milage, even in the city.

[cubfancolleen]

Haven't bought a new car in a few years, but we are a hybrid-only household now. I have a Prius, which I LOVE (my current tank of gas, I'm getting 49.6 mpg on!), and DH has a hybrid Highlander, averaging 30 mpg (which isn't great for a car, but is good for a small SUV).
We think we'll get 2 more of the same (hybrid Toyotas) when it's time to replace them. I know they say that paying extra for a hybrid isn't always the best deal money-wise, but we tend to have a car for 10 years or so, so it does make up for the difference, AND I like knowing I'm helping reduce our carbon footprint at least a little!

[Tink and co.]

I recently purchased a Mini Cooper,and I'm getting about 40mpg! It's so fun to drive. I feel like I'm zipping around in a gokart or something. We drive our cars into the ground and always stick with Honda and Toyota; but once I test drove the Mini, nothing else would do. DH was not sold until he drove it, and now says next car will be the four wheel drive version of Mini... It's a great little car for the money.

[kurtholley]

just my .02 most of you must not work in the auto industry or supplier to them. with all the foreign cars being talked about.


will only buy American. Being from Detroit area you see more American cars around here. visited Cali. and was the opposite

guess they never had to spend time being laid off


not bashing you people that drive other stuff
I just try and buy as much American stuff as I can

[Huntermom]

Just for the record, many "Japanese" cars are now manufactured in America. All the major Asian manufacturers have plants here.

[Colexis Mom]

Originally Posted by kurtholley

just my .02 most of you must not work in the auto industry or supplier to them. with all the foreign cars being talked about.


will only buy American. Being from Detroit area you see more American cars around here. visited Cali. and was the opposite

guess they never had to spend time being laid off


not bashing you people that drive other stuff
I just try and buy as much American stuff as I can

I did work in the auto industry for 15 years. My company supplied to the Big 3, as well as foreign ones. I personally designed components for tranmissions, axles, ABS systems, you name it. Many of the "foreign" companies cars are built right here in the US as mentioned above, so to say that if you buy a foreign car you are not buying American is a gross understatement (on most models). Look at your sticker when you buy the car. It used to list the American content on it (not sure if they still do that or not).

[kurtholley]

Lol I knew that was going to happen. I do work for all the tier suppliers also. And have been to other countries to work. I know a lot of foreign cars are built here and employ people. Which is great. The same plant that builds the mustang also does the Mazda 6


And if you look at a sticker in the window it will tell you how much of it is US made

Like I said not bashing or trying to start a missing match. I personally like having the money go into a US companies pocket.

And I know the quality people like on a foreign car. I like some of them also

And if a foreign car fits your needs that a us company doesn't go for it

[MichaelF]

Originally Posted by Huntermom

Michael, I just had to comment as a person who has owned multiple Toyotas, Hondas, Mazdas and Nissans. I run my cars into the ground. I consider 200K just broken in. I have always found them to have great rides-even the Corollas and Civics I have owned. I had a 1993 Camry Wagon until last year that drove and road like a dream until I decided not to fix the transmission at 240K because it was beginning to rust and we have lots of salt on the roads up here,

I am curious as to why you feel they are built "way too cheap." Have you spent any time driving one?

My family parents and brothers have been in the auto repair business for a very long time. I was in it with them until I needed a change and left. I have seen through that angle many things including costs associated with repairing those vehicles. I am also a VERY patriotic person and support U.S. products every chance I get. I understand that Toyota and others build some of the vehicles in the US and cars and parts on GM, Ford and Chrysler are made out of the country. However they are still american companies and I will support them over a foriegn one. Just my opinion. I don't knock you for what you buy. Just enjoy what you spend your money on