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Good $20-25K cars to look at?

A

amnesiac

Lifer
My truck (2000 Toyota Tundra) is starting to get a bit long in the tooth, and I figure since I drive a few hundred miles a month more than usual to visit clients, and since gas is now $2.23 a gallon for 87 octane (regular), a smaller car with better mileage might be a wise investment. $45 fill-ups once a week tends to get pricey.

So far, I'm considering:

Toyota Prius (Hybrid drive, gadgets galore, it's a Toyota.) $25,575 loaded
Mazda Rx-8 (SEX MACHINE GOOOOOO!) $25,700 bone stock
Mini Cooper $22,000 fully loaded

What else should I look at? Keep in mind that $25,700 is the high end of my budget. I may be able to get a discount on Toyota and Nissan.

Of course, I need to test drive these and make the final decision for myself, but I just want ideas at the moment.
 
Go prius!

EDIT: Also, you can't get the RX8 if gas is your problem. Edmunds is saying it gets 18/24mpg. Thats pretty damn bad. Go prius!
 
Any money you'd have saved in gas you will probably lose in interest, assuming your car is paid off and your new one won't be paid in cash. That said, I would probably pick the Prius.
 
Get a mini cooper in gray w/ black stripes...and the S trim model (with the super charger)

Or, 2004 Accord V6 coupe! I don't know if you could find one for under 25k though... (The coupes are fast {14.5 quarter mile}, the four doors are slow{15.9})
 
I would say get a Prius but good luck finding one for 25k. Dealers right now are backed up and only taking special orders and you have to wait about 8 months to get one. That's here in Florida, my Dad wanted one but he want to wait 8 months and the dealers that had one or two wanted 30k and up.
 
Cross shopping a Toyota Prius with sports cars like the Mini Cooper S and Mazda RX-8 😕

If you're looking for something fun to drive and sporty you can't go wrong with the Cooper or the RX8. If you want something that will put you to sleep...err I mean if you want a Toyota then you'll get awesome gas mileage and some pretty cool technology.
 
Originally posted by: amnesiac
My truck (2000 Toyota Tundra) is starting to get a bit long in the tooth, and I figure since I drive a few hundred miles a month more than usual to visit clients, and since gas is now $2.23 a gallon for 87 octane (regular), a smaller car with better mileage might be a wise investment. $45 fill-ups once a week tends to get pricey.

So far, I'm considering:

Toyota Prius (Hybrid drive, gadgets galore, it's a Toyota.) $25,575 loaded
Mazda Rx-8 (SEX MACHINE GOOOOOO!) $25,700 bone stock
Mini Cooper $22,000 fully loaded

What else should I look at? Keep in mind that $25,700 is the high end of my budget. I may be able to get a discount on Toyota and Nissan.

Of course, I need to test drive these and make the final decision for myself, but I just want ideas at the moment.
Click to expand...

2005 Altima 3.5SE.
New interior, slightly updated exterior.
It burns premium though, but whatcha gonna do. VQ is one smooth powerplant.
 
Originally posted by: Howard
How many passengers? What are your requirements besides high mileage numbers?
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Preferably NOT a two-seater.

Aside from mileage (Even the RX-8's 18/24 is a LOT better than the 12-14mpg I get on my truck), I'm looking at safety and ride enjoyability. Most of all, however, is price. The WRX is just at the top limit of my price range (stock) but it's too much of a ricer car for me.

Also, I don't do stick shift. Before anyone starts getting their vaginas in an uproar about it, keep in mind that I live in LA and am stuck in traffic longer than I sleep on any given day. F--- that noise.

 
Originally posted by: boomdart
Or, 2004 Accord V6 coupe! I don't know if you could find one for under 25k though... (The coupes are fast {14.5 quarter mile}, the four doors are slow{15.9})
Click to expand...

Actually the auto 4 doors are still pretty fast, people seem to consistently get 15 flat out of them stock.

I mean, sh*t, i have a basically stock 4dr auto i4 and I could probably break into 15s at sea level.

 
Originally posted by: fjorner
PT Cruiser, baby!
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I would rather potter around town on a unicycle while having a flaming broomstick shoved up my ass than ride in that abomination.

Next.


Oh, and performance is pretty much meaningless to me. I've long since worked the SPEED RACER urges out of my system. As long as it has enough juice to climb the 2 mile canyon on the way to work I'm fine. I've seen both the Prius and Mini handle it fine.
 
I was reading an article a couple days ago and it basically says if you don't mind driving 500k miles go a head and get a prius. Thats how many miles it will take for the cost over a simular sized toyota(corolla maybe) to pay off in gas mileage with a prius. If you looking to save cash that doesn't seem like a very good way to go about it. A VW TD on the other hand only took around 50k miles to make up the difference over a gas version.
 
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