New car time ~UPDATE

[RedRyder]

Re: New car time

Time for a mega multiquote!

I would say definitely a 7th Gen Accord if you can find one with low mileage under 10K. If not the maxima's aren't bad cars either. We just bought my wife a 2010 RAV-4 and if the older generations are anything like it, I would put that up their with the 7th gen accord. They get decent gas mileage and feel like your driving a car rather than an suv.

Good luck with the search.

Yeah she likes the RAV4 the most I think, but the generation in her price range doesn't have power anything, or a cd player, I'm sure yours does though. The Maxima and 7GA are both attractive packages imo...

I would avoid the older Equinox's and Trailblazers, they aren't rated so well on CR. Plus, horrible gas mileage.

Personally I probably wouldn't buy an import, just because (IMO) import resales are inflated, or at least domestic resale prices are so drastically deflated I wouldn't spend the extra on a comparable import.

They are boring cars, but around here I've seen 2000-2006 Taurus's/Sables with 50-80k miles all for under $6k. Imports in the same price range are all over 120k miles lol. For the same money, I'd feel more comfortable buying some grandma's Taurus with 50k miles than a car with over 2x as many miles

Good to know about the Chevy's. I agree with domestics having non-inflated resale, but we've both had bad experience with Fords that tarnished their image for us forever. There is a problem with 00-03 Taurus ignitions that I've experienced personally, but yeah they are cheap you're right.

had the same problem last month. Went to enterprise and bought teh wifey an 09 Hyundai Elantra with 19K for $10K

Power window, power locks, CC, four disk brakes, front aux input. Better than the Civic she had before. Got nookie for about a week straight.

Then CLEARLY I should buy her an Elantra. lol I didn't know you were married.

You can get 7th gen accord LX's for pennies now (definitely under $10k). If you wanted to, you could step up to the 2006-07 SE for a few more bells and whistles and still keep it under $12k. Look to spend around $14-16k for a 7th gen EX(-L) retail at a dealership.

This is what I wanted to hear, thank you! I know you sell these things every day. An LX or SE would work, what 7thgen auto trannies or other issues do I need to avoid?

Sure you can. You can get an 00-02 AWD model for about 10k OTD.

I'll sell you my TL for $12,500

Yep, just hard to find one with lower mileage. You're not tired of your TL, are you?

 

[chrismister2k1]

Re: New car time

What about the 00-05 lexus gs300 or the 04-06 tls u can find those for 10000 with low miles. My girlfriend got her gs300 for 7000 with only 70000 miles on it and its a good car

 

[ryan s]

Re: New car time

go for the cr-v. my mom has an 06, and while not the most exciting ride on the road, its a honda and shouldnt have the american-made transmission issues like the accord/tl. well i know the thing is made in japan, but i'd have to see if she has the window sticker or look online to see where the transmission was made.

not real attractive either but if i had to have a trucklet, that would probably be it.

plus i prefer the quality of hondas made in japan...they seem to have fewer issues (look at 1G RLs, made 96-04, with a J series V6...no transmission problems. then look at all the other J series autos made here).

 

[KO iNfAmOuS]

Re: New car time

99-01 RX300's can be had for under $11k, but since they were so popular and people held onto them for so long it's hard to find them with lower mileage. I like the way they look more than a 330 or 350 though. But I digest.

I wouldn't rule out a Mazda 3, good suggestion sir. The car will be her DD, she is a teacher at a preschool so she hauls kids stuff around a lot (books, crafts, supplies, etc). It will also get a lot of miles very fast with all the school meetings and events outside of her everyday driving to work.

I love the 3 hatchback would love to seat myself in an MS3 in the near future as my daily

 

[blacknight]

Re: New car time

Honestly, you won't find any used SUV's with a V6/I6 motor that gets more than 20MPG's
If MPG, is the main concern, you should stick with 4cyl models
The only problem there is that they will be small & narrow, under powered, and have a very low tow rating.
If you want, you can get a used 00-04 Grand cherokee for definitely under $10K
The motor is strong
and it has a 5000lb tow rating.

My only concern is that it you have to keep up on the maintaince, and you should get a 5 speed auto
Many SUV come in a 4 speed auto which sucks because it's either in one gear for a long period of time, or it's constantly downshifting/upshifting trying to find the best gear if you're really easy on the gas

 

[hiddengamer7]

Re: New car time

This is what I wanted to hear, thank you! I know you sell these things every day. An LX or SE would work, what 7thgen auto trannies or other issues do I need to avoid?

There are no transmission issues with the 7th gen 4cyl. The V6 was still plagued with the notoriously bad transmission issues until 2004 when they redesigned 2nd gear (I believe it was the oil delivery system). The K-series 5 speed autos are totally rock solid though.

 

[AllGOnoSHOW]

Re: New car time

Don't forget to look at VW's. I've been looking at them for years (since I am leaning towards that avenue). A mechanic friend lives by VW's and has bought and fixed up/owned numerous ones. You can get her a VW wagon that will take care of all her hauling needs along with maintaining good MPG and reliability. Good luck on your search.

Plus my significant other has a Passat with 207,000k on the ODO and is still running strong!

 

[blacknight]

Re: New car time

Personally, I would stay away from used German cars/suv's
Just think of teh maintainance for those vehicles

 

[AllGOnoSHOW]

Re: New car time

Personally, I would stay away from used German cars/suv's
Just think of teh maintainance for those vehicles

 

[RedRyder]

Re: New car time

Great feedback so far, thanks and keep it comin.

What about the 00-05 lexus gs300 or the 04-06 tls u can find those for 10000 with low miles. My girlfriend got her gs300 for 7000 with only 70000 miles on it and its a good car

3G TL's for her price range have high mileage and/or have not been well maintained. At least around here. And I agree the GS is a great value, but I don't think it's her style.

go for the cr-v. my mom has an 06, and while not the most exciting ride on the road, its a honda and shouldnt have the american-made transmission issues like the accord/tl. well i know the thing is made in japan, but i'd have to see if she has the window sticker or look online to see where the transmission was made.

If she did go for that, it would have to be an 01-02. I would assume those would be just as reliable than the 04-08? Definitely true about the 1G RL and other Japanese made trannies.

Honestly, you won't find any used SUV's with a V6/I6 motor that gets more than 20MPG's
If MPG, is the main concern, you should stick with 4cyl models
The only problem there is that they will be small & narrow, under powered, and have a very low tow rating.
If you want, you can get a used 00-04 Grand cherokee for definitely under $10K
The motor is strong
and it has a 5000lb tow rating.

My only concern is that it you have to keep up on the maintaince, and you should get a 5 speed auto
Many SUV come in a 4 speed auto which sucks because it's either in one gear for a long period of time, or it's constantly downshifting/upshifting trying to find the best gear if you're really easy on the gas

Yeah I ruled out every V6 SUV. The only thing we would ever tow (and this is my hope lol), are a couple jet ski's. I've never looked much at SUV's until now, and there are a lot of 4spd autos out there. The 01-02 CR-V and RAV4 are auto 4spds. After my 4spd, I'll never buy another one for myself.

The Grand Cherokee doesn't look bad, but there's no 4cyl unfortunately.

There are no transmission issues with the 7th gen 4cyl. The V6 was still plagued with the notoriously bad transmission issues until 2004 when they redesigned 2nd gear (I believe it was the oil delivery system). The K-series 5 speed autos are totally rock solid though.

So any 03-07 Accord 4cyl auto should have little or no issues? And if she wants a V6, only 04-07 are solid?

Don't forget to look at VW's. I've been looking at them for years (since I am leaning towards that avenue). A mechanic friend lives by VW's and has bought and fixed up/owned numerous ones. You can get her a VW wagon that will take care of all her hauling needs along with maintaining good MPG and reliability. Good luck on your search.

Plus my significant other has a Passat with 207,000k on the ODO and is still running strong!

Know what? My fiance loves the 00-04 Jettas. But the idea of working on a German car intimidates me for some reason. I know the electricals, etc are a little more complex and I think maintenance/parts would be a little more expensive.

Btw didn't I meet the guy you're talking about at IA? Had a red GTI and girlfriend who was bored the whole time? lol

And yeah I remember seeing your wife's Passat at that ****ty Motel 6. Looked good for having so many miles.