Car shopping

[kenobi65]

Great. I have considered a Mazda hatchback for storage space. But I also want to go slight off-road too, so I have looked at Subaru Imprezas and other wagons.

My wife has a Subaru Outback wagon; she loves it.

It's been fairly reliable -- I say "fairly" because we did have a problem with some seals, which turned out to be a not-inexpensive repair. But, that was the one strike against it, in 10 years of ownership, so I think that's pretty good.

The biggest issue, for you, may be cost. Many of them have gotten pretty pricey.

 

[ssampier]

Actually, I would say that record is excellent. I have never heard of a car that didn't have any problems.

As for the model, I am not too picky, but price is factor but I am single (so no $40k trucks in my future). I have a 2004 Chevy Cavalier right now. It's okay for A to B. Anything else, forget about it. I live in a rural area in mountainous Utah so horsepower is a factor as well as ability to traverse dirt roads.

 

[Harmon]

Talked to Coyote6 yesterday- "check my thread on EN World and see what they said," he asked. I did and reported a few posts that stood out. He indicated some thanks and an hour later was buying the Honda.

Talked to his Mom today- she said it was Gun Metal Gray (love that color) and that he's not even let her drive it yet.

In any case he got it. It took him many years to get behind the wheel, and many more to get a car that he's called his own.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Coyoye6 -- Congrats!!! Great color choice. Sedan or coupe?

 

[HeavenShallBurn]

What are you looking for, exactly? That's the key before anything else because it limits the field. Are you looking for storage, the ability to go off-road? Cool Factor? And in what order of priority?

I find that one often overlooked area is commercial fleet resellers. The big companies running fleets of vehicles get a good deal from auto makers and replace their vehicles regularly. So you can find vehicles that aren't that old for a reasonable price and they generally have options you don't find in any dealership.

I got my current Ranger from one and it had the heavy-duty towing package with transmission cooler, a heavier-duty suspension that's only available commercially and the no power accessories washable plastic interior. You can't generally find many such vehicles in regular dealerships even in farm country.

 

[kenobi65]

I find that one often overlooked area is commercial fleet resellers. The big companies running fleets of vehicles get a good deal from auto makers and replace their vehicles regularly. So you can find vehicles that aren't that old for a reasonable price and they generally have options you don't find in any dealership.

Although, I'm always skeptical about cars like that...maybe I'm mistaken, but I've always had the impression that they've been used hard (because their drivers know they aren't "theirs", and they're going to be replaced soon). (For the same reason, I've heard nothing but bad stories about buying "retired" rental cars.)

 

[HeavenShallBurn]

Although, I'm always skeptical about cars like that...maybe I'm mistaken, but I've always had the impression that they've been used hard (because their drivers know they aren't "theirs", and they're going to be replaced soon). (For the same reason, I've heard nothing but bad stories about buying "retired" rental cars.)

The mileage tends to be somewhat higher than an ordinary used but the maintenance is generally better than most private vehicles. Fleet vehicles tend to get more maintenance more regularly and that makes up for the higher mileage. And the big commercial fleets are able to get options that you won't find anywhere else.

For example you can find trucks with lots of options that either you have to special order or aren't available to a non-commercial buyer. I got mine with much heavier suspension and axles than normal, it's a package only available to commercial buyers. Bigger radiator and a dedicated radiator for the transmission fluid. And for a reasonable price that I never could have afforded new. And even though I don't maintain it often enough it's never given me a problem.

 

[coyote6]

Coyoye6 -- Congrats!!! Great color choice. Sedan or coupe?

Sedan.

As for the color, Honda it is "Galaxy Gray Magnetic", but I've been told it's gunmetal, taupe, pewter, and/or gray.

I'm going with "gray". Possibly "dark gray".

Thanks for the advice, folks!

 

[krunchyfrogg]

Ford Focus. I drove one for years, and it was probably the best car I'd ever owned (until now). I drove a Nissan Sentra for about 6 years and all it did was give me headache after headache.

Buy American... seriously. They get such a bad rap and I've had nothing but great cars.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

The Focus is a good car (particularly in SVT trim) ... too bad, though, that we don't get the European model Focus, not available in the US, which is a completely different and far better car.