New car questions... Hybrids worth it?

[kyzen]

I'm in the market for a new car. I'm thinking I'll be getting a used car for sure.

Now I'm stuck trying to decide what car. I really haven't paid much attention to the automotive world till I had to get some work done on my current car (1989 Volvo station wagon), so I don't know much about cars at all.

I know I need something with good, or at least decent mileage. My car currently gets about 17 miles per gallon, give or take 3. I was considering a hybrid of some sort, but I don't know if those will require any extra maintence costs or anything.

Basically, I'm looking for a used car:
-Cheap (sub $12k would be great, I can go a bit higher)
-Good mileage
-Fun/sporty looking. I'm 21, I don't want to drive a station wagon anymore.
-Not likely to have something break every few months

Any suggestions? Links to prices, pics, etc would be great!

 

[NaOH]

You can get a nice car for 12K. How about a celica, civic si, rsx? You won't get a hybrid for 12K. Maybe the insight.....

 

[Cattlegod]

Originally posted by: kyzen
I'm in the market for a new car. I'm thinking I'll be getting a used car for sure.

Now I'm stuck trying to decide what car. I really haven't paid much attention to the automotive world till I had to get some work done on my current car (1989 Volvo station wagon), so I don't know much about cars at all.

I know I need something with good, or at least decent mileage. My car currently gets about 17 miles per gallon, give or take 3. I was considering a hybrid of some sort, but I don't know if those will require any extra maintence costs or anything.

Basically, I'm looking for a used car:
-Cheap (sub $12k would be great, I can go a bit higher)
-Good mileage
-Fun/sporty looking. I'm 21, I don't want to drive a station wagon anymore.
-Not likely to have something break every few months

Any suggestions? Links to prices, pics, etc would be great!

you wanted to in the firstplace!!??!?!

anyway, try a used 2003 mazdaspeed protege or something like that. good mileage and sporty.

 

[DeviousTrap]

You won't get a decent (if any) hybrid for 12k. You may be able to find a Jetta or Golf TDI which will get you 40-50mpg which may look relatively sporty, but they won't be much fun to drive. Generally the more fun the car is to drive, the more gas it wants.

 

[Mermaidman]

Don't get a hybrid to save money, but do get a hybrid to feel good about using less energy.

If you buy a used car, the best values are domestic brands because they don't hold their value. If you're a Japanese fanboy, buy new.

 

[xrax]

consider something that is flexfuel (e85).
http://www.e85fuel.com/e85101/flexfuelvehicles.php

 

[PowerMacG5]

What kind of driving do you do? Hybrids only excel in city driving (stop and go). On a highway, and mixed conditions a good diesel will get better mileage than a hybrid.

Also, for 12k you couldn't get a good used hybrid unless it was a salvage of some sort.

 

[kyzen]

Originally posted by: Cattlegod

Originally posted by: kyzen
I'm in the market for a new car. I'm thinking I'll be getting a used car for sure.

Now I'm stuck trying to decide what car. I really haven't paid much attention to the automotive world till I had to get some work done on my current car (1989 Volvo station wagon), so I don't know much about cars at all.

I know I need something with good, or at least decent mileage. My car currently gets about 17 miles per gallon, give or take 3. I was considering a hybrid of some sort, but I don't know if those will require any extra maintence costs or anything.

Basically, I'm looking for a used car:
-Cheap (sub $12k would be great, I can go a bit higher)
-Good mileage
-Fun/sporty looking. I'm 21, I don't want to drive a station wagon anymore.
-Not likely to have something break every few months

Any suggestions? Links to prices, pics, etc would be great!

you wanted to in the firstplace!!??!?!

anyway, try a used 2003 mazdaspeed protege or something like that. good mileage and sporty.

It was free, I didn't have a job

 

[Strk]

You could get a used Focus ST.

 

[blackangst1]

I read some study (sorry cant remember where), but it was very technical and the bottom line is that hybrids arent economically efficient until gas reaches over $10/gal. So I wouldnt buy one.

 

[jlee]

V6 Accord?

 

[0roo0roo]

hybrids are nice. new ones like the camry are gas saving + practical. very little sacrifice at all if any.

but at 12k u will never get one, they cost much more.

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
Don't get a hybrid to save money, but do get a hybrid to feel good about using less energy.

If you buy a used car, the best values are domestic brands because they don't hold their value. If you're a Japanese fanboy, buy new.

I bought my 97 civic ex coupe for about 7K with 70K miles on it 4 years ago. Still running strong.

Just get a civic. Sporty, gas saving, reliable.

 

[kyzen]

Ok, I guess I'll steer away from a hybrid for now. The driving I'll be doing is mostly highway trips, with the occasional trip to the grocery store or mall in town. I tend to walk to work, the bank, etc.

In addition to car makes, any suggestions on how to get a good deal on a car in the first place? I'm currently browsing via www.carsdirect.com.

 

[tennisflip]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman

Just get a civic. Sporty, gas saving, reliable.

 

[Ornery]

You're going to take it up the ass on econoboxes today, new or used, because they're in demand. My wife said she saw some kind of offer for a new SUV that included a $6,000 gas card as well as some other incentive. How many miles do you drive per year? I'll see if I can track down that deal she was talking about. Think outside the (econo)box!

Here's an old one...

Maybe she meant $6,000 rebate...

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: tennisflip

Originally posted by: AMDUALY
Just get a civic. Sporty, gas saving, reliable.

 

[Mermaidman]

Originally posted by: tennisflip

Originally posted by: Mermaidman

Just get a civic. Sporty, gas saving, reliable.

Just for the record, tennisflip erroneously attributed the above quote to me.

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: Ornery
You're going to take it up the ass on econoboxes today, new or used, because they're in demand. My wife said she saw some kind of offer for a new SUV that included a $6,000 gas card as well as some other incentive. How many miles do you drive per year? I'll see if I can track down that deal she was talking about. Think outside the (econo)box!

Here's an old one...

Maybe she meant $6,000 rebate...

Why are they advocating the sales of SUVs? Kind of a bad time to get people to buy their gas guzzling cars. Even if it is for money, kind of a bad time.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: blackangst1
I read some study (sorry cant remember where), but it was very technical and the bottom line is that hybrids arent economically efficient until gas reaches over $10/gal. So I wouldnt buy one.

It depends on how much you drive, but IIRC the cutoff was more like $4 a gallon. That's just off the top of my head, of course.

 

[Strk]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: blackangst1
I read some study (sorry cant remember where), but it was very technical and the bottom line is that hybrids arent economically efficient until gas reaches over $10/gal. So I wouldnt buy one.

It depends on how much you drive, but IIRC the cutoff was more like $4 a gallon. That's just off the top of my head, of course.

They're still pretty silly. It almost reminds me of some of the threads I've been reading about the new Honda Fit (on Edmund's and other sites) and people paying over MSRP by a considerable amount (1500+). That's a bit silly when you realize the Honda Fit Sport - the upgraded model - is only about 1k lower than a Civic LX, which has more power and only slightly lower MPG. Yet people will pay the premium. Why? I'm not really sure. If your goal is to save money, I don't see how paying a premium for the car achieves that.

 

[Ornery]

Originally posted by: AMDUALY

Why are they advocating the sales of SUVs? Kind of a bad time to get people to buy their gas guzzling cars. Even if it is for money, kind of a bad time.

Uh, I think they have to unload the damn things. They're already built, so they have to be sold one way or another, even if it's only break even or worse. Their loss could be your gain!

 

[Dr. Detroit]

$12K

2002 -Mazda Protege ES
New - Focus ZX3
2003 Mercury Cougar V6
'00 Miata 6spd, LSD

 

[z42]

a good site is edmunds. it will give you a pretty good idea what a car is worth on average. You can also check out their cost to own section which will give you an idea about reliability and such.

 

[nakedfrog]

Station wagons rock.