New car suggestions!

[OverVolt]

This would be... a fairly cheap new car. Talking like Hyundai Accent and Dodge Dart price range. It must be an automatic.

Which car is the least terrible under $20k? Not for me btw!




Moved from OT.

Anandtech Administrator
KeithTalent

 

[RossMAN]

If only AT had a sub-forum for posts like this ...

 

[JMapleton]

Bullet proof Mercedes S600 with tire tacks, smoke screens, oil slicks......and flames on the side. Yeah, the flames too. That'd look nice.

 

[88keys]

I'd get a civic.

 

[BoomerD]

For $20K you can get 2 (count em, TWO) Kia Souls...

http://www.carproskia.com/Tacoma-specials/New.html

 

[Blain]

Low mileage Jetta diesel

 

[Scarpozzi]

If only AT had a sub-forum for posts like this ...

Your post wasn't helpful. It didn't answer the OP's question.

 

[mmntech]

Honda Civic
Mazda 3
Hyundai Elantra
Ford Focus
Toyota Corolla

 

[TwiceOver]

For my money. A slightly used certified Toyota.

The new car freshness wears off fast.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

If only AT had a sub-forum for posts like this ...

If only forums had moderators to handle these issues.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

For my money. A slightly used certified Toyota.

The new car freshness wears off fast.

I like this idea. A Prius with 20K miles should be findable for $20K.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I like this idea. A Prius with 20K miles should be findable for $20K.

You can find one for even less if you can find one that Dirty Mike and the boys have been in.

 

[TwiceOver]

I like this idea. A Prius with 20K miles should be findable for $20K.

Nope. Wouldn't ever buy one of those things. My co-worker has one had it is falling apart. It doesn't help that we live in the north where there is snow.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Recommend NOTHING, this way when shit hits the fan you won't be on the hook.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Nope. Wouldn't ever buy one of those things. My co-worker has one had it is falling apart. It doesn't help that we live in the north where there is snow.

And the OP lives in SF where a Prius would do great in.

 

[Insomniator]

Nope. Wouldn't ever buy one of those things. My co-worker has one had it is falling apart. It doesn't help that we live in the north where there is snow.

I think thats the first bad thing I've ever heard anyone say about a prius.

 

[Thump553]

I think thats the first bad thing I've ever heard anyone say about a prius.

And it's a crock of sh*t. I live in New England drive a Prius 600-800 miles a week including through a lot of snow storms, 125k miles and only one repair (water pump). Easily DIY on the maintainence too.

 

[JM Aggie08]

Hurr hurr buy a beater, don't finance, new cars are for chumps and lose 175% of their value when you drive off the lot, invest in your 401k, etc.

I think I covered most of it.

 

[JMapleton]

Hurr hurr buy a beater, don't finance, new cars are for chumps and lose 175% of their value when you drive off the lot, invest in your 401k, etc.

I think I covered most of it.

Lose 175% of their value. Hmmmmm. Now that's a pretty bad investment.

 

[skimple]

1969 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 428 Cobra Jet

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2014...00-found-under-40-years-dust/?intcmp=features

 

[OverVolt]

Hurr hurr buy a beater, don't finance, new cars are for chumps and lose 175% of their value when you drive off the lot, invest in your 401k, etc.

I think I covered most of it.

Rght so, I was asking around. The used car loans typically have higher interest rates and the prices are not *that* cheap on used cars. I guess cash for clunkers decimated the used car market.

You could get one of those 20k mileage cars used, though its not that cheap, still like $12k+. The interest on the loan is much higher. Someone who sells a car at 20k miles probably did so because it had a problem. So hmmm...

I wasn't really seeing the massive money savings to be had.

 

[MiataNC]

I have done a lot of shopping in that price range recently (as in the last week)...

How much people and cargo hauling room do you need?
How many amenities are you looking for (BT, Satellite Radio, Leather, Heated Seats, etc, etc.)
What kind of MPG are you looking for?
What kind of sportiness performance are you looking for?
What kind of resale are you looking for?

Depending on your wants/needs the "best bang for the buck" (in my opinion) in that price range new in no particular order:

Honda Civic
Toyota Corolla
Honda Fit
Ford Fiesta (many people do NOT like the feel of the dual-clutch auto transmission)
Ford Focus (many people do NOT like the feel of the dual-clutch auto transmission)
Chevy Sonic
Chevy Cruze
Hyundai Accent
Hyundai Elantra
Kia Rio
Kia Forte
Ka Soul

If you look at slightly used (1-3 year old lease turn ins etc. with low mileage), your options grow exponentially. You can find well equipped mid-size sedans (Accord, Camry, Fusion, Mazda6, etc) for @$20K, and the cars listed above for thousands less than new.

 

[MiataNC]

Rght so, I was asking around. The used car loans typically have higher interest rates and the prices are not *that* cheap on used cars. I guess cash for clunkers decimated the used car market.

You could get one of those 20k mileage cars used, though its not that cheap, still like $12k+. The interest on the loan is much higher. Someone who sells a car at 20k miles probably did so because it had a problem. So hmmm...

I wasn't really seeing the massive money savings to be had.

The used cars you see that are a couple years old with @20K miles are usually 24month/10,000mile-p/year lease returns. There is nothing wrong with them, and the original owner ate the new car depreciation.

For example I picked up a Certified Pre-Owned 2011 Honda Fit Sport 5mt for $12.5k yesterday when I dropped off my 2007 Cobalt for the ignition switch recall. It is a lease turn-in and is perfect inside and out. Well below my $17-20K "dump the beater Cobalt" budget I had in mind, and $4-5K less than the Truecar price of a 2014. For me the interest rate is only @1% higher than new.

 

[toronado97]

For 20,000 range go take a look at the 2014 Mazda 3i Touring. Should fit nicely in that price bracket, has a fairly spirited engine and a fantastic 6 speed auto transmission, and it's going to be more fun to drive than anything else in the price range. I think the 3i Touring sedan sits around 18,000 if I remember right.

 

[tortillasoup]

get a prius