What car should I get ~ $15K range

[Murpheeee]

Looking at getting a new car around $15-17K for an everyday runaround

Main considerations are reliability and economy


considering :

Dodge Caliber
Pontiac G6
Subaru Imprezza
VW Rabbit
Mazda 3
Suzuki Forenza

Any recommendations?

 

[Kaido]

Saturn ION 2 would be my recommendation. I actually lease mine for about $200 a month ($1000 down). Gets good gas mileage, reliable, quiet inside, nobody wants to steal it, and maintenance is even covered under the lease. I pay the monthly lease fee, insurance, and gas, that's about it. Car washes are free too

 

[Mellman]

Mazda 3, hands down. It is an AMAZING car, holds its value VERY well, has great styling (esp. the 5 door) is VERY fun to drive, good MPG, and plenty of aftermarket for it. the only downside is the lower warranty for the 2007's. but you can get a heck of a deal on 2006's now!

 

[radioouman]

If you are looking for a low maintenance, cheap car, why not get something used with 50,000 miles or so?

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: Murpheeee


Main considerations are reliability and economy


considering :

Dodge Caliber
Pontiac G6
Subaru Imprezza
VW Rabbit
Mazda 3
Suzuki Forenza

Any recommendations?

Well you better take that VW out of there then.

I'd get the Subaru since it'll handle the snow/ice better than the rest.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: lokiju

Originally posted by: Murpheeee


Main considerations are reliability and economy


considering :

Dodge Caliber
Pontiac G6
Subaru Imprezza
VW Rabbit
Mazda 3
Suzuki Forenza

Any recommendations?

Well you better take that VW out of there then.

I'd get the Subaru since it'll handle the snow/ice better than the rest.

Saturn has Traction Control, prevents you from sliding around in the snow. But yeah if you can afford a Subaru and want one, do it! I've never met an unhappy Subaru owner. Go AWD/4WD if you live in a winter state.

 

[Murpheeee]

Originally posted by: radioouman
If you are looking for a low maintenance, cheap car, why not get something used with 50,000 miles or so?

just had two bad experiences with used vehicles, I am a little reluctant to go that route again

 

[preslove]

Honda civic.

 

[Tom]

Originally posted by: Mellman
Mazda 3, hands down. It is an AMAZING car, holds its value VERY well, has great styling (esp. the 5 door) is VERY fun to drive, good MPG, and plenty of aftermarket for it. the only downside is the lower warranty for the 2007's. but you can get a heck of a deal on 2006's now!

Where have you seen deals on Mazda 3 ? And how much of a discount are you talking about ?

 

[EngenZerO]

civic

 

[ViviTheMage]

rabbit!

 

[Mellman]

Originally posted by: Tom

Originally posted by: Mellman
Mazda 3, hands down. It is an AMAZING car, holds its value VERY well, has great styling (esp. the 5 door) is VERY fun to drive, good MPG, and plenty of aftermarket for it. the only downside is the lower warranty for the 2007's. but you can get a heck of a deal on 2006's now!

Where have you seen deals on Mazda 3 ? And how much of a discount are you talking about ?

goto the dealership, its end of year, they want them off their lots, and all you have to do is negotiate with the dealer, they'll let go of these with relative ease

 

[Riverhound777]

Originally posted by: Mellman

Originally posted by: Tom

Originally posted by: Mellman
Mazda 3, hands down. It is an AMAZING car, holds its value VERY well, has great styling (esp. the 5 door) is VERY fun to drive, good MPG, and plenty of aftermarket for it. the only downside is the lower warranty for the 2007's. but you can get a heck of a deal on 2006's now!

Where have you seen deals on Mazda 3 ? And how much of a discount are you talking about ?

goto the dealership, its end of year, they want them off their lots, and all you have to do is negotiate with the dealer, they'll let go of these with relative ease

You can always find a deal if your willing to wait and shop around. I got my 06 mazda 3 in dec of last year for $300 over invoice ($200 under after my rebate). and that was ordered to my specs. Would think you could get a much better deal now.

Oh and yeah, Mazda 3 hands down

 

[Mellman]

yeah - mazda 3's are amazing cars, I'm getting a mazdaspeed3 should be fun, can't wait to drive one...just gotta find a dealership who'll take s-plan (they're out there, my dealership decided to not take it now after assuring me they would...)

 

[boomdart]

The mazda, or a used Fusion

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: Kaido
Saturn ION 2 would be my recommendation. I actually lease mine for about $200 a month ($1000 down). Gets good gas mileage, reliable, quiet inside, nobody wants to steal it, and maintenance is even covered under the lease. I pay the monthly lease fee, insurance, and gas, that's about it. Car washes are free too

Great deal.:thumbsup:

 

[sniperruff]

you can't go wrong with a new civic. it'd have a higher resale value than the maxda3 or even a corolla. good exterior, great interior, great honda reliability track record.

 

[jpeyton]

Honda Civic or a turbo 'Busa.

 

[swtethan]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Honda Civic or a turbo 'Busa.

one of those will get you killed quicker

 

[Kelvrick]

I remember looking at the 3, but with the big rebates on the 6, you can get them for almost the same price.

 

[Batti]

The Nissan Versa's are really nice.

 

[MulLa]

Subaru for the handling, but the current impreza ain't that appealing appearance wise...

 

[Captante]

Subaru Imprezza

-or-

Mazda 3

Subaru if you live where its snows, Mazda 3 if you want somwhat better handeling on dry roads & better fuel economy... both should be very reliable.

 

[Cougar]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
I remember looking at the 3, but with the big rebates on the 6, you can get them for almost the same price.

That's what's crazy about the 3's...they're small, popular, and get good gas mileage so mazda doesn't need to do anything to promote them. they almost sell themselves.

I just got a new 3 a few months ago and I love it. I have noticed a couple of nagging issues with mine but overall I still love the car. There's no way I'm going back to a mid or large car after driving this one.

 

[Caesar]

Scion tC