Sensible car for my mom

[Martin]

My mom sold her old car yesterday, and I've been suggesting she get a used 2009 or 2010 Hyundai Elantra, since it seems like a good mix of value, dependability and features and comes with whatever's left of a 5 year warranty (so 3-4 years).

What would you get for around 11k?

 

[PricklyPete]

Elantra is not bad. You can get a 2008 or 2009 Fusion for close to the price you're talking about which will be larger car.

 

[Vette73]

DON'T GET A HYUNDAI ELANTRA!!! Its wrong wheel drive man.

What she should get is a Honda S2000. Make sure she gets a couple sets of rims so when she takes it to the track she can swap them out.




OK for real...

Chevy Cobalt (reliable and with cruze coming prices are really cheap)
Nissan Sentra (not as nice looking as older model but cheap as many pass it over now)
Pontiac G6 (can get real cheap now but it a little larger)
Ford Focus (good all round car to add to the mix)

 

[mmntech]

DON'T GET A HYUNDAI ELANTRA!!! Its wrong wheel drive man.

What she should get is a Honda S2000. Make sure she gets a couple sets of rims so when she takes it to the track she can swap them out.




OK for real...

Chevy Cobalt (reliable and with cruze coming prices are really cheap)
Nissan Sentra (not as nice looking as older model but cheap as many pass it over now)
Pontiac G6 (can get real cheap now but it a little larger)
Ford Focus (good all round car to add to the mix)

Chevy Cobalt? Are you serious?! That car is a colossal piece of crap. Very unreliable. I work for a rental company and we've had nothing but problems with them. The suspension, sensors, and climate controls are usually the first to go. Typically at 30k kilometers. 50,000km and they're done like dinner. They even feel cheap. Cruze I can't speak for.

I've driven a lot of cars in this class. Here are my top pics.
-Ford Focus
-Honda Civic
-Mazda 3
-Hyundai Sonata

If you're looking for something cheaper, the Kia Forte actually isn't that bad a car.

 

[Vette73]

Chevy Cobalt? Are you serious?! That car is a colossal piece of crap. Very unreliable. I work for a rental company and we've had nothing but problems with them. The suspension, sensors, and climate controls are usually the first to go. Typically at 30k kilometers. 50,000km and they're done like dinner. They even feel cheap. Cruze I can't speak for.

I've driven a lot of cars in this class. Here are my top pics.
-Ford Focus
-Honda Civic
-Mazda 3
-Hyundai Sonata

If you're looking for something cheaper, the Kia Forte actually isn't that bad a car.

Cheap rental cars that are beat on do not equal real world results.

I have worked on a ton of them and they have been very reliable cars. Even edmunds and owners give them high ratings in terms of relability.

http://www.edmunds.com/used/2007/chevrolet/cobalt/100759439/reliability.html

Funny you turn you nose up at the Cobalt but recomend a mazda 3? Really? Even owners of Mazda 3's that love them admit they have plenty of issues.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Guys, guys, let's not fight. Instead, let's discuss something we can agree on: don't consider the G6! The engine is a peach, but the interior is shite and the electric steering is prone to failure. My buddy had one (don't remember the year) and he was replacing the electric steering unit every year.

 

[Vette73]

Guys, guys, let's not fight. Instead, let's discuss something we can agree on: don't consider the G6! The engine is a peach, but the interior is shite and the electric steering is prone to failure. My buddy had one (don't remember the year) and he was replacing the electric steering unit every year.

I think there is a recall for the steering in the G6. Not sure if that will fix it 100% or not.

 

[desy]

Focus or Elantra
Fusion or Sonata
Funny these cars seem to be undervalued in the market place but hold up generally well
If she wants large, Impala or Buick

 

[PricklyPete]

Cheap rental cars that are beat on do not equal real world results.

I have worked on a ton of them and they have been very reliable cars. Even edmunds and owners give them high ratings in terms of relability.

http://www.edmunds.com/used/2007/chevrolet/cobalt/100759439/reliability.html

Funny you turn you nose up at the Cobalt but recomend a mazda 3? Really? Even owners of Mazda 3's that love them admit they have plenty of issues.

Reliability...I have not comment as I really don't know...but when driving the regular (non SS or Mazdaspeed 3) models, there is no competition...Mazda 3 is UNBELIEVABLY better and more expensive.

 

[Zap]

Mazda 3 is UNBELIEVABLY better and more expensive.

More expensive = better? Who would'a thunk!

Still, Mazda 3 is a nice choice, and is seconded by me.

 

[Vette73]

More expensive = better? Who would'a thunk!

Still, Mazda 3 is a nice choice, and is seconded by me.

Mazda 3 is a nicer style car but has a lot of issues I have seen, and cost more to repair on average. I think some were in the steering system? But if I remember that is also under recall now.

 

[alkemyst]

I think the ascent has better reviews than the sonata. It's a smaller car, but not terrible. Pretty peppy.

My parents inherited one when my grandmother passed away this year. It was a 2009. I drove it 4.5 hours home.

These kinds of threads are impossible to answer though esp when the real budget and driving style/stuff they do are not mentioned.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Don't get a cobalt, they're shit.

I know i've owned one.

 

[ponyo]

Elantra is a good choice. It's like the Corolla. Boring car but cheap to maintain and very reliable.

 

[angry hampster]

Elantra is a good choice. It's like the Corolla. Boring car but cheap to maintain and very reliable.

Yep. The current body style Elantra ('08 I think was teh first year) is a very good car for the buck. Stupid reliable, good MPGs, and a little bigger than a Corrola.