Looking for a replacement car

[Jeff7181]

A few years ago I leased a 2008 Altima Coupe, 2.5S. Last summer my lease was nearing end and because Mitsubishi, Honda and Ford wouldn't negotiate with me, I went back to Nissan and got a 2010 Altima Coupe... another lease. Then in February I got a new job that involves a 75 mile a day round trip commute. So my 39 month, 39k mile lease is not going to end well. The guys at Nissan told me to bring it back once I've had it for 14 months and they'll buy out my lease and get me into something else. The problem is, I'm not sure I want another Nissan... I looked at the Juke, but I don't want to be forced into using premium fuel. I don't want another Altima, I'm bored with them. A Sentra might be an option, but it doesn't do anything for me, I'll be bored with it again quickly.

So I was looking at the Mitsubishi Lancer and I kinda like them, but I dunno if its worth the money to me. I'm considering a Fusion since Ford always seems to have some awesome deals on them. Also considering the Chevy Cruze since they have some good deals on those too.

One of my coworkers has a Subaru Impreza and really likes it because it's AWD and he averages 30 mpg and the car is under 20k.

I was also looking at a Jetta TDI because I like the idea of a turbo diesel and the 30/42 mpg piqued my interest even though diesel tends to be more expensive than gasoline.

What I'm really looking for is something fun to drive (maybe something semi-sporty like my Altima Coupe or the Lancer GTS), not too small but not too big (no bigger than an Altima sedan). Also want something that gets good mileage - at least 30 mpg combined. I haven't really looked at Toyota or Honda and I don't know why.

Any suggestions? Anything other than a Nissan would, of course, require that the dealer work with me and be willing to buy out my lease like my Nissan dealer is willing to do, but I'll deal with that once I find a car I like.

 

[Doppel]

Don't do a mitsubishi for the love of God.

Hyundai Elantra, Consumer Reports top pick in that segment, lots of options in base model and 29 city, 40 highway.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

2012 Focus SES W/ Sport suspension?

 

[Jeff7181]

2012 Focus SES W/ Sport suspension?

I tried to get one last summer before I got the 2010 Altima and the best they would do for me on a lease was $350/mo. I thought that was utterly insane for a lease on a Focus. SES or otherwise.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

I tried to get one last summer before I got the 2010 Altima and the best they would do for me on a lease was $350/mo. I thought that was utterly insane for a lease on a Focus. SES or otherwise.

The one right now is much improved, also with better lease rates. Can't hurt to check it out.

 

[Bignate603]

I tried to get one last summer before I got the 2010 Altima and the best they would do for me on a lease was $350/mo. I thought that was utterly insane for a lease on a Focus. SES or otherwise.

The 2012 is a completely new car. It's worth looking at.

 

[Jeff7181]

The 2012 is a completely new car. It's worth looking at.

It's worth looking at, sure. But I'm not paying $350/mo for a Focus.

 

[Doppel]

Are some of you getting kickbacks on the Focus, it seems the answer to everything :biggrin:

$350 is insane, don't do that or anything close to it. You can get an elantra for $200/month with just tax, title, etc. out of pocket, or for that matter a new altima, not that you want one, but you can.

 

[Jeff7181]

I'm going to go take a look at the Chevy Cruze today. I want to check out that 1.4L turbo engine even if I don't end up liking the fit and finish.

 

[Doppel]

I'm going to go take a look at the Chevy Cruze today. I want to check out that 1.4L turbo engine even if I don't end up liking the fit and finish.

Please do check out the elantra, too. I get no money if you buy one. I bought a new car recently and it wasn't an elantra but you owe it to yourself. As I've heard, the look is divisive; if you hate how they look then don't bother.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Are some of you getting kickbacks on the Focus, it seems the answer to everything :biggrin:

$350 is insane, don't do that or anything close to it. You can get an elantra for $200/month with just tax, title, etc. out of pocket, or for that matter a new altima, not that you want one, but you can.

I test drove a 2012 Focus Titanium Hatchback a couple weeks ago and was thoroughly impressed with it. It is at the top of my short list of replacements for my aging Maxima actually.

It is a bargain as far as I'm concerned and no, I'm not getting kickbacks.

 

[Arkaign]

Yeah the new Focus occupies a completely different space than the older model. The older model was a basic economy compact car, and the only smart way to buy one was to get them dirt cheap (which they were, unless someone tried to rip you off). They are great simple basic cars, light, easy to work on, extremely reliable, etc.

The new Focus basically abandons the basic/cheap philosophy for a much more premium setup. It's more expensive (don't believe the ~$15kish base msrp, they will probably only make a handful of strippers just to say it starts at that price, when in reality it will be hard to find much of anything south of $18kish). It's a considerable step up from the typical compact car like Civic/Corolla/Mazda3/Cruze/etc.

The new Fiesta takes over from the old Focus as the entry-level Ford economy car. Although it can be outfitted pretty decently, it's widely available in very affordable/basic configurations like the old Focus.

They almost should have changed the name of the car, but oh well.

 

[Jeff7181]

The Cruze did not impress me. It was quite cramped compared to what I was expecting by looking at the outside, and more than I'm willing to spend ($300/mo for a 10k mile/yr 36 month lease). I drove an automatic Eco version. The peak power from the engine is impressive considering it's 1.4L displacement. But, there's something awkward about it. The power delivery is not smooth at all... there's turbo lag and it feels like power falls off after about 3000 RPM, which is what it revs to when gently accelerating from 40 to 45 mph. I absolutely would not give up my Altima for this car.

Another of my coworkers just took delivery of his Focus Titanium hatchback. It's an interesting car, but I can't see paying the same for it as my Altima.

The more I look, the more I think I made the best choice when I got my first Altima 4 years ago. Maybe I'll just pile on the miles and buy it at the end of the lease.

 

[NutBucket]

To be fair, the Titanium-trim Focus has an MSRP of $28k!

Also, saw some awesome lease rates advertised for the Kia Optima.

 

[Doppel]

Find some local dealerships, like a couple chevy a couple nissan, etc. and on their website they should have "newspaper ad" link, this will show you their best opening offer. You may or may not be able to beat it depending on the vehicle, but it will give you an idea before you even bother touching foot in the showroom. For example I checked a few local Toyota dealerships and none had anything good, this mirrors my knowledge that Toyota has no incentives now.

 

[Arkaign]

TBH, you sound like a terrible candidate for leasing with that kind of usage. Definitely don't lease something like a Hyundai, although they're great cars they still lose value relatively quickly, making the payments oddly high, ditto the Cruze, GM is coming up, but resale is still lower.

The Altima is hard to compare to compacts, as yours is a coupe derivitive of a midsize sedan. It will definitely be roomier inside than most/all compacts. I considered one, but the pricing was just outrageous on them when I looked in '08. Altima sedans were easy to find in 2.5S trim for ~$13k with all power locks/windows/etc, CD audio, while the Altima Coupe 2.5S was more than double that price. Yeah I'm gonna pay double so you can take two doors away. Pfft.

Of the options you list, the most promising for a fun to drive vehicle is the Impreza if you get it in WRX setup. It's a truly massive step up from the Altima coupe in performance and handling/sportiness. I drove a 2.5S Coupe back in 08, and it handled okay, but definitely less responsive/sporty than one would expect from it. Getting away from FWD will be a plus for you.

 

[Jeff7181]

Well, I've pretty much come to the conclusion that I have to get another Nissan. No other dealerships are willing to buy out my lease. They want to give me what they say is the trade-in value... around 15.5k. Really? For a 1 year old car with 15k miles with a 23k MSRP? No, not happening.

Anyway... I was curious about the Juke, but the fact that it's a little more than I want to spend and requires premium is enough to deter me from that.

So now I'm looking at the Sentra. They have some SR's with the Special Edition package for around 20k. I don't really need the Special Edition package, but it would kinda be nice for a change to have things like a sunroof, upgraded sound system, bluetooth, etc. It is in my price range, the only problem I have with it is the seat... feels like a wooden bench compared to my Altima... no lateral support.

I'm undecided about it, but it seems like my only option short of waiting for the Versa Sedan, but I think that's going to have the same issue I have with the Sentra's seat.

 

[Doppel]

Well, I've pretty much come to the conclusion that I have to get another Nissan. No other dealerships are willing to buy out my lease. They want to give me what they say is the trade-in value... around 15.5k. Really? For a 1 year old car with 15k miles with a 23k MSRP? No, not happening.

Anyway... I was curious about the Juke, but the fact that it's a little more than I want to spend and requires premium is enough to deter me from that.

So now I'm looking at the Sentra. They have some SR's with the Special Edition package for around 20k. I don't really need the Special Edition package, but it would kinda be nice for a change to have things like a sunroof, upgraded sound system, bluetooth, etc. It is in my price range, the only problem I have with it is the seat... feels like a wooden bench compared to my Altima... no lateral support.

I'm undecided about it, but it seems like my only option short of waiting for the Versa Sedan, but I think that's going to have the same issue I have with the Sentra's seat.

Juke needs premium? LOL, not even the V6 Altima now requires premium.

Why not just keep leasing it. You don't even know if you'll keep this job and if you do great, you can buy the car out at the end. Seems like a waste of time/money going to a Sentra from your altima coupe, I think you may end up regretting it severely every time you get in that sentra and know it could have been a more or less new coupe instead.

 

[Jeff7181]

Juke needs premium? LOL, not even the V6 Altima now requires premium.

Why not just keep leasing it. You don't even know if you'll keep this job and if you do great, you can buy the car out at the end. Seems like a waste of time/money going to a Sentra from your altima coupe, I think you may end up regretting it severely every time you get in that sentra and know it could have been a more or less new coupe instead.

I'm fairly certain I'll keep the job... I may move closer, though. And yes, premium. The Juke has a 1.6L turbocharged engine that makes 190 HP.

You have a point... but the reason I'm ready to ditch the coupe is because I may need something more family friendly (think car seat) and having something that sips a little less gas would be nice.