Auto enthusiasts please standup.

[lowtech1]

My 91 Taurus has served me well, but now it started to give me trouble.

I?m now in the market for a newer used car, and asking the knowledge people in ATOT to help me out.

I?m currently looking at purchase a 2001/2002 Toyota Avalon/Camry, or Honda Accord (or a wagon would be nice for the occasional camping trip, and am leaning sligthly over toward 6 cylinders), but don't know what is the best bang for buck.

Other suggestions are welcome.

 

[BigSmooth]

The Camry and Accord are both excellent all-around cars, which is why they are so popular. However, that is not something that works to your advantage in the used-car market. The resale values on these cars are quite high.

It's possible to get something comparable from another manufacturer and spend much less money. For instance, the Nissan Maxima is roomy, well-appointed, very reliable, and comes standard with an excellent V6 engine. However, Nissan does not have the reputation of Honda or Toyota so the Maxima's resale is not that great - something that works to your advantage when buying used.

In general, I'd say take a look around on Edmunds.com and check out your local classified ads. You'll be surprised at how much value certain cars will have lost in only a few years' time.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Nissan!!!!!!!!

 

[ScoobMaster]

I like my Dodge Stratus. but then again I am biased - always owned Chrysler vehicles (yep - I am completely out of my mind. I find the Honda/Toyota/Nissan offerings blandly styled an obscenely overpriced in the used car market). I do 90% of my own maintenance and repairs and for the money difference between a 1999 or 2000 Stratus/Sebring and a same year Accord/Camry I could replace and engine or transmission and still come out money ahead.

If you do some of your own work and are not afraid to turn a wrench (do a brake job, change plugs, etc...) then consider some domestics (I prefer Dodge/Chrysler). They are much cheaper to buy in the used market than the Japanese rivals. If, however, you are wrench-shy and the extent of your DIY skills is to put gas in and drive then you may feel better paying more $$ for a Toyota or Honda. Although for what it is worth, my personal experience has been that the over-hyped "quality/reliability gap" between the Japanese cars and the domestics is nowhere near as great as the mythical proportions people make it out to be. Hondas, Toyotas, and Nissans break too. And not all domestic cars belch oil and self-destruct after 50000 miles (especially if you maintain them properly).

Just my opinion and observations........

 

[Muadib]

Have you looked at the Acura TL? It's in the same ballpark as the Avalon pricewise.
2002 Avalon
2002 Acura TL

 

[lowtech1]

After reading the above replies and reading more into the cars I?m leaning more toward the Avalon and Acura TL. The Maxima have a nice niche toward sport car enthusiast which I have out grown (too many speeding tickets in the past). The Acura is very nice with lots of power, and all reviews that I have read point me to the Avalon for it slightly better finishing touch and comfort.

The next few weekends will be my driving test weekend to see which car suite me best.

1. Avalon
2. Acura TL
3. Maxima

And sorry domestic car is out of the equation at the moment, because I want something that doesn?t look like a taxi/cop car.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: lowtech
After reading the above replies and reading more into the cars I?m leaning more toward the Avalon and Acura TL. The Maxima have a nice niche toward sport car enthusiast which I have out grown (too many speeding tickets in the past). The Acura is very nice with lots of power, and all reviews that I have read point me to the Avalon for it slightly better finishing touch and comfort.

The next few weekends will be my driving test weekend to see which car suite me best.

1. Avalon
2. Acura TL
3. Maxima

And sorry domestic car is out of the equation at the moment, because I want something that doesn?t look like a taxi/cop car.

But, but the Sebring looks good.

 

[lowtech1]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: lowtech
After reading the above replies and reading more into the cars I?m leaning more toward the Avalon and Acura TL. The Maxima have a nice niche toward sport car enthusiast which I have out grown (too many speeding tickets in the past). The Acura is very nice with lots of power, and all reviews that I have read point me to the Avalon for it slightly better finishing touch and comfort.

The next few weekends will be my driving test weekend to see which car suite me best.

1. Avalon
2. Acura TL
3. Maxima

And sorry domestic car is out of the equation at the moment, because I want something that doesn?t look like a taxi/cop car.

But, but the Sebring looks good.

You are right....how can I forget the beautiful Serbring. I wouldn't mind try out the convertable.

 

[Shockwave]

I second the Maxima. They do have that kinda sporty image, but that doesnt mean you gotta race and drive like a madman. Reasonably priced and you can get'm with a fairly nice feature set.