What is the safest car I can get for less than $20,000 (preferably less than $15,000)?

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ETan

Golden Member
Jan 23, 2001
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My wife and I only have one car now... I want to buy her a car within the next 6 months or so... My priorities are:
- safety
- price and TCO (total cost of ownership);
- style (prefer a sporty sedan or a small SUV, but regular sedan would work also)

I will probably keep it for 5 years or so... I think a slightly used 2-3 year old car would be perfect, as I can get a bigger bang for the buck.

A few cars I am interested in: Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Mazda RX7 (RX8 is too pricey), Chevy Impala, BMW 323i, Hunday Sonata, Hunday Santa Fe, Mitsubish Galant, Mitsubishi Montero, Honda Civic, Hunday Tiburon... etc.

I think there are quite a few AT'ers here that know a lot more about cars than I do. I want to see if I can get some good feedback / discussion here... I love cars but don't know enough about them... :(
 
M

mAdD INDIAN

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
7,804
1
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Originally posted by: ETan
My wife and I only have one car now... I want to buy her a car within the next 6 months or so... My priorities are:
- safety
- price and TCO (total cost of ownership);
- style (prefer a sporty sedan or a small SUV, but regular sedan would work also)

I will probably keep it for 5 years or so... I think a slightly used 2-3 year old car would be perfect, as I can get a bigger bang for the buck.

A few cars I am interested in: Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Mazda RX7 (RX8 is too pricey), Chevy Impala, BMW 323i, Hunday Sonata, Hunday Santa Fe, Mitsubish Galant, Mitsubishi Montero, Honda Civic, Hunday Tiburon... etc.

I think there are quite a few AT'ers here that know a lot more about cars than I do. I want to see if I can get some good feedback / discussion here... I love cars but don't know enough about them... :(
Click to expand...

two year old Saab? They depreciate like anything..and are one of the safest cars on the road (probably more safe than a Volvo).

Also if you get a relatively new one, they will have their warranty balance as well as possible free maintance for a year or so.

I'd seriously look into it.
 
DingDingDao

DingDingDao

Diamond Member
Jun 9, 2004
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Out of all the cars you listed, I have to believe the Bimmer is the safest out of all of them. However, its TCO will definitely be the highest as well.
 
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fredtam

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2003
5,694
2
76
Safe for who? Since it is a woman I'd say a geo metro. That shouldn't cause to much damage when she hits somebody.
 
OS

OS

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
15,581
1
76
since safety is the first consideration, I'd say a BMW 7 series or MB S class. I think Caddy also builds a comparable freeway battlecruiser. :p
 
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ETan

Golden Member
Jan 23, 2001
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Originally posted by: DingDingDao
Out of all the cars you listed, I have to believe the Bimmer is the safest out of all of them. However, its TCO will definitely be the highest as well.
Click to expand...

2 co-workers of mine have Beamers... man they are nice. Cost a lot of money to fix anything on them though, even the headlights. However they feel really safe and sturdy though.

Doesn't Volvo make the safest cars?

Originally posted by: fredtam
Safe for who? Since it is a woman I'd say a geo metro. That shouldn't cause to much damage when she hits somebody.
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As for the Geo-Metro.. :) She's a very good driver.

honestly I'm terrified of some of the drivers I've seen, especially the very young (teenagers to mid-20's) and the very old (60's +).... Some of them really shouldn't be on the road... Anyway, that's why I want to get the safest car I can get (under those criterias) for my wife.
 
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ETan

Golden Member
Jan 23, 2001
1,299
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0
Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN

two year old Saab? They depreciate like anything..and are one of the safest cars on the road (probably more safe than a Volvo).

Also if you get a relatively new one, they will have their warranty balance as well as possible free maintance for a year or so.

I'd seriously look into it.
Click to expand...


SAAB? I've always liked their looks, but thought that they were only sporty cars... never realized they were supposed to be very safe... Is this true? I know a friend who's selling his 2000 SAAB 9 - x (forgot the number) for $19,000... it's a sporty convertible...

I'm in Pittsburgh, PA by the way. Where I live, there are well over 20 car dealerships within a 10 mile range... So once I figured out a short list of what I want, I can go test driving!
 
OS

OS

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
15,581
1
76
you should get a used BMW 7 series, paint it school bus yellow, and then run HID high beams as daytime running lights. :D
 
OS

OS

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
15,581
1
76
Originally posted by: Ketteringo
I vote for Honda Accord, because I have one and love it! :)
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For the accord, don't buy a used one. The new model is much nicer than the old design, I have abusively driven both before. :p Also, I think for 2005, side airbags are standard. This is like a life or death factor for side impacts.
 
Nebor

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
That should be all you need to read.

A touching story from many Volvo owners, a company who's slogan is "Volvo for Life." It's a dual meaning phrase, firstly, Volvos save peoples lives every day, through active and passive safety mechanisms. Second, Volvo owners are one of the most loyal group of car buyers in the world, second, I believe, to Saab.

Either way, the safest cars are Volvos, Saabs, BMWs, Mercedes, Audis, Jags. Probably about in that order too. BMW has come up with very radical new safety ideas in the last few years, moving them up the ranking. Funny, when you think about it, that the most expensive cars are the safest; It begs the question, are they expensive because they are safe, or are they safe because their expensive. The guy with a bigger wallet stands a better chance of walking away from a wreck either way.

EDIT: To end with one of the Volvo Life Saving Stories:

"Our family had its greatest test when three young men stole a car and hit my busband's 740 GLE on the passenger side at 75mph...

"My daughter escaped with minor bruises and scrapes, and she was strong ehough to lift her 250-pound father from a car that was wrapped around a telephone pole. We continue to be committed to Volvo because of the police officer's statement to me, 'If it wasn't a Volvo, they probably would not have survived.' Thank you, Volvo."

Beverely Elliot
Tucson, AZ
Click to expand...

BTW, tons of stories like that on the link above.
 
O

OffTopic1

Golden Member
Feb 12, 2004
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M

mAdD INDIAN

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
7,804
1
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Originally posted by: ETan
Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN

two year old Saab? They depreciate like anything..and are one of the safest cars on the road (probably more safe than a Volvo).

Also if you get a relatively new one, they will have their warranty balance as well as possible free maintance for a year or so.

I'd seriously look into it.
Click to expand...


SAAB? I've always liked their looks, but thought that they were only sporty cars... never realized they were supposed to be very safe... Is this true? I know a friend who's selling his 2000 SAAB 9 - x (forgot the number) for $19,000... it's a sporty convertible...

I'm in Pittsburgh, PA by the way. Where I live, there are well over 20 car dealerships within a 10 mile range... So once I figured out a short list of what I want, I can go test driving!
Click to expand...

no, SAABs are very safe. Just as safe as Volvos. You know why they put the ignition on the center console? So if your in an accident, it won't damage your knee (as oppossed to it being on the steering column and your knee could hit that hard in an accident).
 
halik

halik

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
25,696
1
81
My mom was in the same position 6 months ago,
we looked at an s40 volvo (1.9t) - it was a nice sedan, but nowhere near luxurious enough. A4s are little too sporty for her (I have an 2.8 quattro) and she'd rather have a benz than a bmw.

The Benz turned out to be a right-on hit. I found a great deal on a 97 c230 - mint shape, one owner and all the maintenance record. Even though it doesnt have much power, the car rides amazing. You cant even hear the engine from the inside and barely ever you feel a bump on the road. My mom loves it and honestly if it was black, it'd trade my a4 for it :)
 
Nebor

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
Originally posted by: halik
My mom was in the same position 6 months ago,
we looked at an s40 volvo (1.9t) - it was a nice sedan, but nowhere near luxurious enough. A4s are little too sporty for her (I have an 2.8 quattro) and she'd rather have a benz than a bmw.

The Benz turned out to be a right-on hit. I found a great deal on a 97 c230 - mint shape, one owner and all the maintenance record. Even though it doesnt have much power, the car rides amazing. You cant even hear the engine from the inside and barely ever you feel a bump on the road. My mom loves it and honestly if it was black, it'd trade my a4 for it :)
Click to expand...

The Volvo's seats are at least twice as comfortable as the seats in an equivalent Merc.
 
The Stigenator

The Stigenator

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,216
3
81
you can get a new Suzuki Aerio SX or Aerio for under 15K.. its the best in crash availableity for its size.
 
F

fyleow

Platinum Member
Jan 18, 2002
2,915
0
0
Originally posted by: Nebor
That should be all you need to read.

A touching story from many Volvo owners, a company who's slogan is "Volvo for Life." It's a dual meaning phrase, firstly, Volvos save peoples lives every day, through active and passive safety mechanisms. Second, Volvo owners are one of the most loyal group of car buyers in the world, second, I believe, to Saab.

Either way, the safest cars are Volvos, Saabs, BMWs, Mercedes, Audis, Jags. Probably about in that order too. BMW has come up with very radical new safety ideas in the last few years, moving them up the ranking. Funny, when you think about it, that the most expensive cars are the safest; It begs the question, are they expensive because they are safe, or are they safe because their expensive. The guy with a bigger wallet stands a better chance of walking away from a wreck either way.

EDIT: To end with one of the Volvo Life Saving Stories:

"Our family had its greatest test when three young men stole a car and hit my busband's 740 GLE on the passenger side at 75mph...

"My daughter escaped with minor bruises and scrapes, and she was strong ehough to lift her 250-pound father from a car that was wrapped around a telephone pole. We continue to be committed to Volvo because of the police officer's statement to me, 'If it wasn't a Volvo, they probably would not have survived.' Thank you, Volvo."

Beverely Elliot
Tucson, AZ
Click to expand...

BTW, tons of stories like that on the link above.
Click to expand...

BMWs have poor Front Seat Side Ratings. The C Class and Audi A4 is much safer.
 
HeroOfPellinor

HeroOfPellinor

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
11,272
1
0
I've owned a Saab since 1995. Safe as hell. Great ride. Most people have no idea how great driving can be cause they've never driven a Saab. TCO is absolutely through the freakin' roof, though. I mean that.

Personally, we need a new card and I'm looking at the Chevy Malibu. Great price and same underpinnings as the Saab since its redesign.
 
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