Need some advice

[MBrown]

In about a month I will be trying to buy my first car.

I am looking for the following:
1: Under 17k
2: MT
3: Good gas mileage
4: A/C
5: Brand new

I was researching the cobalt. I know it looks like crap, but it gets 37mpg highway and has 155hp. And its $15,785 for the base model. Is there anything better for that price?

 

[Atrail]

Fusion?

 

[mc866]

Any specific reason you want to get brand new? If you went used 17K would get you quite a few different options in something 3 years old or less that may have been around $24K new. Everyone has their own preference but personally I like buying lightly used because of the depreciation you incur when buying a brand new car.

 

[boomhower]

Civic? 2009 LX for $17K starting out 34MPG on the highway. Or for much less money the new Focus has been getting some pretty darn good reviews 35MPG on the highway.

 

[Need4Speed]

Originally posted by: mc866
Any specific reason you want to get brand new? If you went used 17K would get you quite a few different options in something 3 years old or less that may have been around $24K new. Everyone has their own preference but personally I like buying lightly used because of the depreciation you incur when buying a brand new car.

+1 .. let the first owner take the 50% depreciation.

 

[Vette73]

The Cobalt you should be able to get much cheaper with all the deals right now. Not a bad car for basic A to B.

The Fusion is also good but its popularity has gone up a little so the price can move a little depending on the dealer.

Civic I think is ok but I don't see any great deals for what you get.

Corolla is bland to me and deals are mixed like the Fusion.

Also look into the Saturn Astra. Its a Euro car with US engine. So rides more like a euro car but has better reliability. Also has $2500 off so you can get the XR edition (hgiher end model) for $15,545 right now.

 

[desy]

You don't buy NA cars new, :Q you buy them used!
If you have to have new go Japanese
Used, a Focus is better than a Cobalt in that class of vehicle, or tier 2 Japanese like Suzuki SX4 or Mitsu Lancer

 

[ayabe]

The new Focus is pretty awesome for what it is.

If I were in that market, between a Cobalt, Corolla, Civic, etc. I would choose the Focus without a second thought.

Maybe a Mazda 3 but the new ones are just...lame.

 

[MBrown]

Originally posted by: Need4Speed

Originally posted by: mc866
Any specific reason you want to get brand new? If you went used 17K would get you quite a few different options in something 3 years old or less that may have been around $24K new. Everyone has their own preference but personally I like buying lightly used because of the depreciation you incur when buying a brand new car.

+1 .. let the first owner take the 50% depreciation.

I wanted to get a fresh warranty.

 

[LTC8K6]

Focus.

 

[imported_Imp]

I'd go for a slightly used Focus. I've seen some from the past 5 years around $10k here. Mileage is sub 50,000 Km too.

 

[mc866]

Originally posted by: MBrown

Originally posted by: Need4Speed

Originally posted by: mc866
Any specific reason you want to get brand new? If you went used 17K would get you quite a few different options in something 3 years old or less that may have been around $24K new. Everyone has their own preference but personally I like buying lightly used because of the depreciation you incur when buying a brand new car.

+1 .. let the first owner take the 50% depreciation.

I wanted to get a fresh warranty.

Again this is my preference but as long as you aren't buying a german/luxury brand automobile I wouldn't think warranty would be a major issue because most cars in your price range aren't going to be very expensive to have work done on unless it's a major issue.

 

[desy]

Why worry about warranty when you can bank the 5G of a slightly used car
You can get a lot of non-warranty work done for that much cash

 

[SparkyJJO]

You can do better on that cobalt. Friend got a new Cobalt SS turbocharged for that much.

 

[angry hampster]

Screw new. Save yourself thousands and get a used Volvo S40 or Audi A4.

 

[Kirby]

Originally posted by: angry hampster
Screw new. Save yourself thousands and get a used Volvo S40 or Audi A4.

Does not compute.

 

[angry hampster]

They've gotten very reliable in the last 5-10 years I do believe. VW certainly has.