Time for a new(er) car, need some feedback from owners

[NFS4]

OK, it's time for a new car. My current car is a '95 Camry LE in EXCELLENT condition. Before it depreciates anymore, I'd better go ahead and start lookin' for other options. My current car has the following:

4-Cylinder
4-doors
Keyless
Power Windows/Locks
Power Moonroof
A/C
Cruise Control
ABS
Leather
AM/FM Stereo/Cassette, 4-speakers
10-Disc trunk mounted CD player
New alloy wheels

Kelly Blue Book Retail: $5,345
Kelly Blue Book Trade-in: $3,560 <--- Kiss my FUGGIN' A$$:|



Anyway, I'm looking at a few cars to "trade up" to (NO DOMESTICS, NO NISSANS):

[PRACTICAL]

'00 - '01 Honda Accord EX 4-cylinder 4-door
'01 - '02 Honda Civic EX 4-door
'03 Toyota Corolla LE
'01 - '02 Mazda Protege

[WHAT I'D LIKE TO HAVE]

'03 Mini Cooper



NE1 that has any of the above cars, please let me know how you feel about them??

 

[vi edit]

NFS4 asking for suggestions on cars??? I think Hell needs to call the furnace repair guy!



First off, I'd try and sell my car outright. You'll have ZERO problems doing that, and you'll get a good $1000 over trade in on it. Second, assuming you get $4500 or so out of your current car, how much extra are you looking at putting out?

 

[Argo]

NO NISSANS

You just lost me there

 

[vi edit]

For what you are looking to spend on the Accord and the Civic, you are *this far* away from a 4 cylinder Mazda 6.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
NFS4 asking for suggestions on cars??? I think Hell needs to call the furnace repair guy!



First off, I'd try and sell my car outright. You'll have ZERO problems doing that, and you'll get a good $1000 over trade in on it. Second, assuming you get $4500 or so out of your current car, how much extra are you looking at putting out?

I'm looking in the $15,000 and under range.

 

[her209]

Camry

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: her209
Camry

The newer Camrys are huge. I want something a "little" smaller than that.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: her209
Camry

The newer Camrys are huge. I want something a "little" smaller than that.

It was on your list.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: her209
Camry

The newer Camrys are huge. I want something a "little" smaller than that.

It was on your list.

The Corolla was, not the Camry

 

[vi edit]

I'm looking in the $13,000-$18,000 range.

Hmmmm....

With some ferengi skills, you could maybe get the dealer down to $19k on the 4cyl Mazda 6, throw in your $400 grad discount and you are down to 18,600.

Probably a bit out of your range though.

 

[geno]

up to 18k eh? My mom just got a 2000 I30 for that much - sweet car Anyways, for that money you should be able to put yourself in a bottom of the line Mini, but who wants that?

You could probably find an RSX for that much, but I don't know if you want to go that sporty (although it's not a really sporty car, it sure has an edge on your Camry )

 

[vi edit]

Just looked over at Edmunds...the resale has dropped quite a bit on the Accords. 2001 EX sedans are going for $14k retail. Sheesh! A little haggling and you could probably walk out the door with it for $12k. Not bad.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

I'm looking in the $13,000-$18,000 range.

Hmmmm....

With some ferengi skills, you could maybe get the dealer down to $19k on the 4cyl Mazda 6, throw in your $400 grad discount and you are down to 18,600.

Probably a bit out of your range though.

Yeah, but I'd really like a smaller Civic or Corolla that has a lot more options. I was just hopin' that there are people on the boards that have them.

But if I could get a '01 Accord EX for aroud $12,000 I'd be singin'

 

[vi edit]

Just looked over Auto trader for accords in your area. Those dealers ARE DREAMING! HA!

You could get brand new 2002 closeout Accord SE's for $15,000....and these yahoo's are trying pull in $16,000 on 2001 USED Accord LX's.

pppppffffffffffffftttttttttt!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I love Nissans (family currently has three of them), but I'm a HUGE fan of the MINI Cooper S. If you can afford it, go for it.

Also, check out MCO and MINI2.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Why are you looking at such stodgy cars if you are such a car nut? Your no-Nissan edict means you are missing out on great values in fresh used Maximas, which offer better performance by far than any of the cars you have listed. Why no GTIs or Passats?

 

[Desslok]

Have you thought of a GC 8 style Impreza? Loved mine while I had it. They were made up till 2001

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Don_Vito
Why are you looking at such stodgy cars if you are such a car nut? Your no-Nissan edict means you are missing out on great values in fresh used Maximas, which offer better performance by far than any of the cars you have listed. Why no GTIs or Passats?

- Just b/c I'm a car nut doesn't mean that I have the money to go and buy a performance vehicle (or want one for that matter).
- I don't like the look of Maxima, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. I think they're ugly. I haven't liked them since the '89-'94 models.
- I prefer not to deal with VW's. Repairs are expensive as are their parts...even compared to Japanese cars.
- I don't NEED a performance car. Maybe when I'm 30 and I'm settled down, but I'd prefer to be "boring" right now...it's my right

 

[vi edit]

Since you excluded Nissan, dollar for dollar, Mazda (protege, 626) is going to give you much better BTB (bang to buck) ratio than honda/toyota.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Since you excluded Nissan, dollar for dollar, Mazda (protege, 626) is going to give you much better BTB (bang to buck) ratio than honda/toyota.

LOL, that's funny b/c I was just looking up used pricing on the Protege

The Protege is a nice looking sedan:


2001 Protege ES

Engine: 4-Cyl. 2.0 Liter
Trans: 5 Speed Manual
Drive: Front Wheel Drive
Mileage: 30,000

Equipment
Air Conditioning
Power Steering
Power Windows
Power Door Locks
Tilt Wheel
Cruise Control
AM/FM Stereo
Single Compact Disc
Dual Front Air Bags
ABS (4-Wheel)
Alloy Wheels



Retail Value $11,380

 

[LAUST]

You know you won't be happy till you get that Cooper

Also I like N.A.D.A. m,uch better then KBB, if you are talking trade in I've been to MANY dealerships in my time and they all use the Yellow Book (NADA)

 

[vi edit]

The Protege ES is a pretty nice little car. It's got the 2.0L in there which is a fun little engine in a car that size. Everything that I've read on the Protege is quite positive reliability wise. I know that consumer reports really likes the car.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: LAUST
You know you won't be happy till you get that Cooper

Yeah, I'd "like" to have one, but realistically...nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[zoiks]

Forget everything. Get a Honda Element.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
The Protege ES is a pretty nice little car. It's got the 2.0L in there which is a fun little engine in a car that size. Everything that I've read on the Protege is quite positive reliability wise. I know that consumer reports really likes the car.

Yeah, the Protege is moving up the top of my list. I'm going to go to the dealership tomorrow and see what they have on the lot. Here's a review where the Protege won first place:

http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caranddriver/comparisontests/2002/november/0211_comparo_smallsedans.xml

My roommate had a '00 Protege 5-speed and it was pretty nice.