What is a good $14K to $20K new car? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

alamostation · #1 12-09-2007, 05:10 AM

My significant other is fed up to yar with her 2003 VW Beetle Diesel she bought two years ago for more than she should have. 30 MPG. Sometimes less sometimes a bit more. Plastic interior breaking everywhere. Electrical system I call "Old Sparky." No glow plugs, headlights are shorted out (replaced bulbs and fuses, still no low beam on driver's side, no high on passenger side.) Airbag light stays on. (VW forum basically says live with it. Dealer will charge $x00.00 to reset and it will come back in a week). Radio hisses and drains the battery when the ignition is off even if the radio is turned off.

The original plan was to buy Rommel and sell the Bug. The problem is she owes $2500 more on the Bug than we could sell it for. Plan B is to trade it in on a new car.

What new car can you suggest that will get good mileage, have room in the MSRP to absorb a $2500 trade-in loss, fit two real humans in the back seat and be better than average in repairs and future value?

So far the candidates are: Honda Fit (not much trade-in room), Subaru Forester (don't know about the gas mileage), Ford Fusion (reliability and future value are questions), Chevy Cobalt (same issues as the Ford except it comes with a standard transmission optional), Toyota Camry and Nissan Sentra (both have the trade-in room issue).

Mazdas scare me because of the price of parts. Based on experience Chrysler products are not an option.

Anybody out there happy with their new car that cost under $20,000?

Gurkha · #2 12-09-2007, 06:25 AM

Honda Fit is very good, has 5 star rating from NHSTA and has a very nice engine tranny package as well. Far better than similar range offerings from Toyota and Nissan, stay away from Ford Fusion, the friends I know who own this complain of too many reliability issues.

engatwork · #3 12-09-2007, 08:33 AM

I'd agree with the Fit. A nice looking little car in my opinion. I predict that in a few years it's size will be in line with everything else driving around by then.
If she can wait another year or so and you can afford it you may want to consider an Accord diesel.

Gurkha · #4 12-09-2007, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by engatwork

I'd agree with the Fit. A nice looking little car in my opinion. I predict that in a few years it's size will be in line with everything else driving around by then.
If she can wait another year or so and you can afford it you may want to consider an Accord diesel.

Yes Accord diesel would be a fantastic deal with 58mpg figure expected.

rg2098 · #5 12-09-2007, 10:15 AM

Chevy Aveo sdean, don't knock it until you have driven one. The build quality is unbelievable, especially for an $11k vehicle. Cheaper and a better car then the Cobalt. If you can swing it, a base Malibu starts at 19k and it a ton of car for the money. I would wait until spring on the Malibu. Right now the 4-cyl only comes with the 4-speed, and it gets the 6-speed in the spring.

The Saturn Aura beat out the new camry for car of the year last year. The Malibu is a newer uplevel rendition of the Aura. The new CTS beat out the Malibu for 08 car of the year, but it was a runner up.

Jim B. · #6 12-09-2007, 10:38 AM

Trading a car in, whether paid for or not, is a disaster; an even bigger one when is when the dealer doesn't want it, if it is a different make than what he sells, and the car isn't even paid for.

I never understood why people trade in running cars every 3 o4 4 years (or less) and why they do so when they are not even paid off.

Rant over. How about thinking outside the box here?

If 25 mpg and anvil reliability is acceptable to you, and you some carefull shopping around, you should be able, with luck, for about $18,000, be able to get a brand NEW Mercury Grand Marquis GS, (the loaded ones, the LX list for about $26k - $32k). They are Mercury's best seller - for a very good reason - and they are the only choiice for intelligent buyers who desire comfort, safety, decent mpg, and loads of room. Their Crown Victoria cousins starting 2008 model Year will only be sold to Taxis, Police, Government and fleet buyers.

Better yet, you could pick up a one year old used one, from a rental or fleet return, the first year depredication is horrible on them, and why not let someone else bear it, while you enjoy the remaining factory warranty?
The abuse of so called dealer and daily rental cars is a myth with these. They are well kept, and most renters simply drive them normally.

Another bet is to get one from one of their core buying groups, the senior citizens, if you can find them.

The pool should be large in Texas. There are still a few Crown Victorias to be had down there, as they are taken out of fleet and rental service.

They may be the butt of jokes as the Grandma Marquis but are very good cars.

They have been discussed here pretty recently; they are good cars is the general consensus here.

see:
Been thinking about a new Mercury Grand Marquis

MS Fowler · #7 12-09-2007, 12:53 PM

My personal experience with my wife's Hyuandai is excellent. Every time they redesign a car line it gets better and better. The new Elantra is a LOT of car for the money--and their warranty is hard to beat.

suginami · #8 12-09-2007, 01:14 PM

I would buy a Certified Used Honda Accord LX. You get a ton a car for the money and they get great mileage.

Hatterasguy · #9 12-09-2007, 02:04 PM

A new Honda Civc or Toyota Corrolla would make excellent choices. They don't break and have lots of resale. Both have a lot of room inside, and quality is excellent in all respects.

The Toyota dealer where we bought my moms Rav4 from includes free oil changes for life, and offers bumper to bumper 5 year 125k mile warranties.

mpolli · #10 12-09-2007, 02:22 PM

Saturn ION

Ara T. · #11 12-09-2007, 05:34 PM

Fit is a decent choice but the dealers are still marking them up as far as I know, they are in high demand.

They look too much like a minivan to me, but I hear they are a fun drive, especially with the stick.

I'd probably go with the Civic.

I don't know if Chevy is dealing on their new Impala but those are very nice cars, they actually compare quite nicely with their Japanese competitors now.

xtreme barton · #12 12-09-2007, 06:00 PM

gap insurance and a couple gallons of diesel

pawoSD · #13 12-09-2007, 10:21 PM

If I had to drive something else I'd probably drive a retired police cruiser.....cheap to buy/own/drive. And reasonable build quality etc...

Plantman · #14 12-09-2007, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suginami

I would buy a Certified Used Honda Accord LX. You get a ton a car for the money and they get great mileage.

Even better, get a brand spankin new accord for about 19k. LX.

My sister just bought one about a month ago. Try and go thru your credit union and deal with the fleet mr.

Also, the civic is awesome and can be had for about 16k, that was her other choice, but the accord is larger and safer.

.02