another used car suggestion

[T2urtle]

my brother is going to college soon (U of I) which is roughly 150 miles away from chicago. First time driver, he really has no road experience that I'm aware of anyways, he got some experience getting his license but i don't think he has touched a car. This summer i'll be letting him drive me around to get a feel and stuff.

My father has told me wanted to get him a sedan with 50-60k and AWD. not 100% why he wanted AWD but he does, he told me about $6-8k budget and cheaper on the insurance side. My father has aways been a anti small car type of guy. Growing up i wanted to get a civic/integra and he always shot me down. He agreed to pay half of a 96 camry as my first car in 2003 for myself.

my father has been looking at the passat AWD b5 platform. I'm trying to tell him just get him a 4 banger accord, whatever year is in our price range. Parts are out there for it. Price shouldn't be inflated, cheap to insure and maintain. I'm hope to be able to get a 04+ sedan for him, as i like that style but i dont think i can find a solid one for the money. THe only car that comes to mind is subaru for AWD. a 04 impreza RS might work but i fear the prices for insurance are on the same levels as a WRX.

I wanted to get my brother's thought as he will be driving but he doesn't have much to say. He doesn't want to drive my G35 sedan as he its BIG. He drives my father's 98 maxima around and does decent with it. I wanted to lean with a Matrix/Vibe. we can get a Vibe for cheaper but my dad isn't exactly easy to convince its still a toyota.

 

[Jumpem]

Impreza or Forester.

 

[SearchMaster]

That's a pretty tough bill - 60K, AWD, and under $8K.

In my area I found an '03 Aztek and a rebuilt title '03 Legacy.

If your Dad won't believe a Vibe is a Matrix, with Google showing "about 1,850,000 for vibe same as matrix", then he's probably stuck in the '70s mentally and may be hard to convince to expand his shopping range or price range.

 

[alkemyst]

damn, break away from this shit. Let your dad be a dad....

 

[desy]

Ford 500
Big AWD Reliable
ugly

 

[duragezic]

That's a pretty low budget for AWD with 50-60k miles, especially 2004 or newer. I know there aren't any around here fitting that. A Passat is in there? All of the VWs I've seen are pretty expensive. I would have thought a Subaru or Vibe is more affordable.

I'd think you need to expand your miles or drop AWD.

I'm not sure how much snow Chicago gets but I grew up way north of that and had no problems driving in a FWD small car in all kinds of snow and ice. Problems usually come from stopping, so if anything just try and get something with ABS.

Depending who you have, you could do a quote online on the Impreza vs WRX. I wouldn't think it would cost as much to insure.

 

[T2urtle]

the AWD should be able to be dropped from the list. but then it MUST be FWD.

it doesn't have to be 04 or better. I just mention 04+ because i like that year accord. much better then the prev gen with the auto tranny blowing up.



Yea i can always let my dad be dad. But i'm trying to help my brother out and put him in a car that he can like. I got that camry and well, i was happy i was on the road but thats about it.

 

[HannibalX]

Ford 500
Big AWD Reliable
ugly

Not for $6-8k.

 

[desy]

I saw some 05's on craigs for 8 bout 80k miles

 

[HannibalX]

Maybe a salvage car. I doubt there are solid AWD 500s or Montegos for 8k.

If you're going to get one, go with the Montego - factory HIDs and LED tail lamps on all models, even entry level models. Nice cars, Ford shouldn't have quit making them.

 

[T2urtle]

at this point its looking like a matrix. FWD 1.8 engine but with 80k. least thats the norm for the price range. I'm sending my brother on a mission to test drive these at the dealerships new and used to know what one should feel like and etc.

 

[Arkaign]

Matrix/Vibe is probably the best thing Toyota makes (made?) at this point, along with the Prius (great car, stupid marketing/hype).

 

[HannibalX]

Matrix/Vibe is probably the best thing Toyota makes (made?) at this point, along with the Prius (great car, stupid marketing/hype).

LOL based on what?

 

[CraigRT]

Something Subaru... I personally wouldn't buy anything else AWD on a budget other than Subaru.

(in that price bracket at least)

 

[T2urtle]

Matrix/Vibe is probably the best thing Toyota makes (made?) at this point, along with the Prius (great car, stupid marketing/hype).

not fan of prius and that technology. I like being able to work on the cars. Plus even if i can parts are $$$$$$ since there is only 1 prius and no parts are interchangeable.

I think the rolla is the best thing toyota ever made.

Me being a gear-head i'm trying to push the XRS matrix. Least i can drive it have some fun.

 

[CraigRT]

not fan of prius and that technology. I like being able to work on the cars. Plus even if i can parts are $$$$$$ since there is only 1 prius and no parts are interchangeable.

I think the rolla is the best thing toyota ever made.

Me being a gear-head i'm trying to push the XRS matrix. Least i can drive it have some fun.

I've driven an XRS Corolla.. Not a bad car, good powertrain, etc.. I just hate how Toyotas look.

 

[Arkaign]

LOL based on what?

Heh, well :

The Corolla is anemic and incredibly boring to drive, unless you get the one with the upgraded motor and suspension/wheels (XRS?), but it still looks ridiculous and doesn't get all that impressive fuel economy considering the size.

The Camry, well it's turned into what buicks used to be, a boring old man car.

Their trucks are pretty good, but $$$, an equally-equipped F150 is a lot less, and imho as good or better.

So that leaves a couple interesting cars, the Matrix and the Prius.

The Matrix is really roomy, gets about the same fuel economy as the silly Corolla, drives well, and looks decent. I think it's similarly priced as well.

The Prius, in real world tests (not WOT around a racetrack obviously) gets incredibly good fuel economy, it's quiet, it's surprisingly comfortable, has been really reliable from what I can tell, and so on. I don't particularly like the exterior styling, but whatever. It's also not all that expensive. Given the choice between a Camry and a Prius, I'd have to take the Prius, a lot of drivers get ~45-55mpg in town, as long as you drive it right. Nobody knows if something stupid will happen and gas prices shoot up to $5/gallon or more, so it's hard for me to fault someone for looking at those if fuel economy is really important to them.

Edmunds really likes the new one :

http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/prius/2010/testdrive.html

I know they're not exciting cars for the gearheads in the garage, but I think they're great everyday runabouts.