Need something around $20-$25K and need room & mpg.....

[redgtxdi]

Of couse, if it doesn't look like butt, that would be nice too.

I was hoping I could hold off a little while longer, but not gonna happen + I've probably held out too long as it is. I'm all for the best deal going ('14 Camrys are 0% for 5yrs right now) but do wanna get the best equipment for the $$$. (I've debated used, CPO, etc. but I'm thinkin' new is probably worth the peace of mind)

Camry??

Accord??

Altima??

I'm a prime candidate for hybrid (Prius?) as I drive 99% city.

I've got an F150 Scab (weekend stuff) and a Toyota Venza (wife) already so this is mostly 3rd wheel stuff & most likely a sedan, but I'm open to options.

 

[Imported]

Depends how much city driving you do. I went from 50mpg to 40mpg in the Prius after I moved closer to work. Most likely cause the car doesn't get a real chance to warm up..

 

[Yuriman]

The Accord hybrid is rated 50 city / 45 highway and has close to twice the power of a Prius, and 7MPG better than the Camary (hybrid). It would be my choice if I were buying new in that price range.

 

[redgtxdi]

The Accord hybrid is rated 50 city / 45 highway and has close to twice the power of a Prius, and 7MPG better than the Camary (hybrid). It would be my choice if I were buying new in that price range.

Sounds good. I hadn't actually considered the Accord hybrid but definitely will. (I know the Camry hybrid improvements over prior-gen almost by heart but will need to read up on the Honda).

Also, thanks to Imported on the Prius info. Ya, my commute *might* be too short if that's true (I'm about 10 miles both ways, all stop & go signals & stop signs) to do it justice except I thought that's where the Prius (any hybrid) excelled, no?

 

[MongGrel]

I like my little Mazda 3 they about a little over 20K decked out for a 4 door hatchback still I think.

Mines getting long in the tooth, got it in 2006, but I still like it, and the new models look pretty interesting.

Just a option I guess.

http://mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/display...eter=modelsMain&vehicleCode=M3H#exterior-view

*EDIT* I guess a grand touring around 23K, pretty sure that mine was but I bought it at the dea;er and had some extras added and paid 20 then.

 

[Imported]

10 miles both ways may be fine. Mine's about 5 miles both ways.

 

[redgtxdi]

I like my little Mazda 3 they about a little over 20K decked out for a 4 door hatchback still I think.

Mines getting long in the tooth, got it in 2006, but I still like it, and the new models look pretty interesting.

Just a option I guess.

http://mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/display...eter=modelsMain&vehicleCode=M3H#exterior-view

*EDIT* I guess a grand touring around 23K, pretty sure that mine was but I bought it at the dea;er and had some extras added and paid 20 then.

And that's still in the wheelhouse @ $23K so no prob there. And that also reminded me, I know one of the auto-rags recently put the Mazda6 and/or the Hyundai Sonata at the top of the heap in a recent mid-sized sedan review.

Did you ever consider the 6 & would it net significantly more interior room? (I'm 6'3", 200lbs)

 

[toronado97]

I absolutely love my 2014 Mazda 3s GT. That being said, it's city fuel economy isn't fantastic. Granted I have the bigger 2.5L engine, but the EPA estimates are very similar between it and the 2.0L available on the 3i models. The Mazda 6 is going to use the exact same 2.5L engine to pull around a heavier vehicle, so it's not going to do as well. The 6 also uses the older infotainment system until next year, and for that reason alone I'd stick with a 3. As much as I love my 3, if you're doing 99% city driving I think you eliminate a lot of reasons for owning a 3, who's primary claim to fame is it's fantastic handling and fun driving characteristics. The interior is absolutely outstanding, class leading in fact and just landed on Ward's top 10 interiors of 2014, and to say the car is feature rich is an understatement. It's got available options like radar cruise, lane departure and blind spot monitoring that aren't even available on most cars in its segment. If you're after fuel economy though, the Volt might be something to think about. I think with tax incentives you might be able to knock it into an acceptable price bracket for ya.

 

[Wingznut]

I've said it before and I'll say it again...

Don't buy anything without test driving the 2014 Mazda 6 first.

It's an excellent car, very well engineered. Plenty of room, very fun to drive, 39mpg hwy EPA estimate, and easy on the eyes.

The Accord and Camry are snoozefests compared to the Mazda 6.

 

[ScottFern]

I actually have my eye on the 2014-2015 Mazda 6 as well to replace my 2007 Camry.

 

[redgtxdi]

I've said it before and I'll say it again...

Don't buy anything without test driving the 2014 Mazda 6 first.

It's an excellent car, very well engineered. Plenty of room, very fun to drive, 39mpg hwy EPA estimate, and easy on the eyes.

The Accord and Camry are snoozefests compared to the Mazda 6.

Nice! You sound about as passionate on the 6 as I *used* to be about the Camry in the 90's. I will definitely test-drive the 6.

I drove a new Accord already & wasn't all that impressed, plus CVT just smacks of ackward to me still, but I know they're probably the future.

New Camry is.....well....little to no better than Toyota made 15 years ago & it's taken them 15 years just to get BACK to where they were 15 years ago and that's *IF* you consider the current Camry as good as the old Mr. Toyoda days. (sad, but true)

 

[A5]

Accord Hybrid is going to hit above your price range a bit. Probably $29K if you can find a dealer that will go under sticker at all.

Altima seems popular but I don't know anything about it.

Toyota is off in quality, but like you noticed there are some screaming deals on the Camrys right now. I can get a Camry Hybrid XLE for $24,573 without negotiation.

My 2009 Mazda 6 (old engine, platform, etc) has been solid. Only real complaint is the awful mileage, but they fixed that with the new ones. Good deals available on these, too.

 

[redgtxdi]

Accord Hybrid is going to hit above your price range a bit. Probably $29K if you can find a dealer that will go under sticker at all.

Altima seems popular but I don't know anything about it.

Toyota is off in quality, but like you noticed there are some screaming deals on the Camrys right now. I can get a Camry Hybrid XLE for $24,573 without negotiation.

My 2009 Mazda 6 (old engine, platform, etc) has been solid. Only real complaint is the awful mileage, but they fixed that with the new ones. Good deals available on these, too.

Well, and I just read an article saying Accord hybrids are scarce. That does NOT bode well for prices on that puppy.

And, seriously?? You can do a Hybrid XLE for under $25K??? Somebody you know or your area just full of 'em right now? (I might have to seriously consider that if doable)

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Not seeing the need for a third car here... Any reason as to why you don't just drive the f150 everywhere? Unless you're driving 100+ miles daily then it's highly unlikely this car will even come close to paying for 5% of itself with gas "savings".

 

[halik]

Not seeing the need for a third car here... Any reason as to why you don't just drive the f150 everywhere? Unless you're driving 100+ miles daily then it's highly unlikely this car will even come close to paying for 5% of itself with gas "savings".

About this, unless you get something small and used (thinking jetta tdi or similar), the economics of this will never work out.

Trade the F150 in for a unibody SUV? Unless you need the towing capacity or the bed (supercab* ... im gonna guess no, unless you actually run a crew of people), you'll get better interior and gas milage with something like an ecoboost explorer.


* I've got a long standing hypothesis that like 80% of people with supercabs/crewcabs are the all hat no cattle variety.

 

[Imported]

Well, and I just read an article saying Accord hybrids are scarce. That does NOT bode well for prices on that puppy.

And, seriously?? You can do a Hybrid XLE for under $25K??? Somebody you know or your area just full of 'em right now? (I might have to seriously consider that if doable)

Well the new model was just announced.. I could see the prices going that low.

 

[redgtxdi]

Not seeing the need for a third car here... Any reason as to why you don't just drive the f150 everywhere? Unless you're driving 100+ miles daily then it's highly unlikely this car will even come close to paying for 5% of itself with gas "savings".

Well, 2 reasons.....(F150 & Venza both paid for)

#1.) Going from 12mpg in the F150 to 25 or more in anything else is going to pay back significantly.....(I paid myself back in-full & then some on my Geo Prizm inside of 2 years)

#2.) I have 1 kid starting to drive now & another will be 2 years behind. 3rd car mandatory.

I lied....reason #3.......I live in a 1st world country, am getting older & want something nice for myself just because. Same reason I bought the 3D full-array backlit LED TV instead of the 2D side-lit & saved the $$$.

P.S. Yes, I'm way more hat than cattle, but truck does sure come in nice when towing and/or picking up stuff at the Depot.

 

[Yuriman]

Driving 20,000 miles per year, you would save around $2400 per year in something like an Accord over an F150 (assuming you didn't drive it at all) at current gas prices. Never mind what you could get for the F150 if you no longer feel the need for a vehicle that can tow several tons, move large appliances, and survive off road. I don't suppose you're the type to drive a car for 10 years, and cars are more than an appliance to most, but the Accord would literally pay for itself in that time if you drove it that way.

Edit: I was using the EPA rating of ~20mpg for the F150. At 12, it would be $5000 per year saved, or $50,000 over the life of the car.

 

[redgtxdi]

Driving 20,000 miles per year, you would save around $2400 per year in something like an Accord over an F150 (assuming you didn't drive it at all) at current gas prices. Never mind what you could get for the F150 if you no longer feel the need for a vehicle that can tow several tons, move large appliances, and survive off road. I don't suppose you're the type to drive a car for 10 years, and cars are more than an appliance to most, but the Accord would literally pay for itself in that time if you drove it that way.

Correct.....Kinda' sorta' what I did with the Prizm & pretty much parked the F150 except for weekends. Again, it costs little to insure, little to register, carries all 4 of us if needed & wouldn't want to pay another $30k for a new one. (I have this thing about body-on-frame vehicles....they're damn-near forever!)

That said........again, this is still just a replacement ride for "dad". (Driving a '95 Geo Prizm the last 9 years is about 6 or 7 years longer than I planned to. Time to get dad something nice!)

 

[Midwayman]

* I've got a long standing hypothesis that like 80% of people with supercabs/crewcabs are the all hat no cattle variety.

That goes for SUVs as well. People buy these huge cars and then use them once or twice a year if that. You'd be better off renting when you really need to haul.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I do the same thing tbh. I have a 03 silverado I pretty much park until the weekends then I'll drive it to the store or run errands in it. My daily driver is a 13 honda fit. It makes a good utility car because of mpg and also it can carry a lot of crap in it with the hatchback and fold down seats and what not. Having said that I kinda regret getting such a boring car as my daily driver. Sure it's practical but lately I've been day dreaming of something like a new v6 camaro with a 6 speed manual transmission. 323hp with a 6 speed. drool...

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

That goes for SUVs as well. People buy these huge cars and then use them once or twice a year if that. You'd be better off renting when you really need to haul.

Yes because it's so easy to get a rental truck on a saturday when you just found a killer deal on a item you need to haul away right now.
Or you use said rental and dent it up loading stuff in the back.
There are plenty of reasons to have your own truck.

 

[Yuriman]

Yes because it's so easy to get a rental truck on a saturday when you just found a killer deal on a item you need to haul away right now.
Or you use said rental and dent it up loading stuff in the back.
There are plenty of reasons to have your own truck.

And buying that truck let's you save so much money buying used couches twice per decade.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

And buying that truck let's you save so much money buying used couches twice per decade.

It's more than that. I have a home and a fairly sized yard and shop. I'll admit it isn't best financially to have it but it is much more convenient and that offsets the costs imo.
Every real man needs a truck, home, and a shop. I'm only fulfilling my duties as a man.

 

[halik]

That goes for SUVs as well. People buy these huge cars and then use them once or twice a year if that. You'd be better off renting when you really need to haul.

I think it used to be true in the past, these days with unibody SUVs you get the same interior quality, sound deadning and ride (multilink suspension wee) and the gas milage is comparable. They're essentially bigger station wagons.

Agreed on the help move your friends couch once year thing, Uhaul is 20 bucks a day. Or get a utility trailer, harbor freight sells em for like 200 bucks.