So I am getting to the age when I need a mode of transportation! The problem is I don't know very much about cars. I am looking for an entry level car. So the question is, what kind of car should I get, and why? Nice gas mileage would be good. But beyond that I just don't know!
So if you know things about cars, lend me a hand and convince me of what car I should buy. I trust you guys more than car sales people.
Cheers and thanks!
Yep, Toyotas and Hondas get the best gas mileage and are the most reliable.
I also encourage posting images of cars you mention!
Thanks!
I'm a personal fan of Toyotas. They're cheap on gas, super reliable. We had a standard tercel that 5 people learned how to drive standard on, put over 180 clicks and never had a problem (until I rammed it into a meridian in the road; it doesn't stand up to concrete very well).
My advice is to go to chapters and get the Lemon-Aid book. It is a great book to help with your first car. I would greatly recommend not buying new; get this book, prioritize the stuff that's important to you, then you'll have an idea of what you're looking for. Use things like Auto Trader to find something you like, and I have a back-door into the Black Book listings for cars and can provide you with a link.
From a lot of reports I've read the GMs (some, not all) quality isn't there compared to the jap cars; they don't last over the years. I haven't met a really happy Saturn owner yet, although I'm sure there's exceptions. GM is closing a bunch of plants in Ontario this week I believe as well, their business just isn't doing very well.
Toyota, Honda, VW, Nissan, Subaru, all have good names in the reliability department... personally I wouldn't buy Chevy, Saturn, Ford...
Get a smallish car, it'll reduce insurance rates for you. Get a Toyota, they are the statistically cheapest to run (maintenance-wise). Get it second-hand, it's cheaper. A Toyota Aygo is the smallest engine size and should be fairly cheap to run (insurance, petrol and maintenance-wise) and should be quite cheap second-hand. Do not buy Ford, they are statistically the most expensive in terms of maintenance (they may be easy to fix, but that's because they break so much).
I'd put a picture of my car, but we sold it about a month ago. Ford Focus. Would've been worth about £400 when brought up to spec, but it needed £320 of work to be in that case
My dad only gave them two of the keys, so we still have three (the previous owner gave us 5!).
Hints:
Buy a later series model. Cars get developed in runs, and the later runs generally have the bugs hammered out of them, so you'll have less problems. Getting one of the last of a series with a good name is usually a really good call. (example: Remember the really tiny corollas, and then they made roomier ones?)
Year of make: This can be deceiving. You can have a Jan. made 2003 or a Dec. made 2003. Both will be '03s. Check the plate, usually on the inside of the drivers door.
I'd recommend getting used, 1-3 years, at the tail end of the warranty. As Sojourn said, cars deteriorate in price extremely fast, you save thousands for the same car.
Insurance: When you figure out what cars would suit your needs, look this up. Civics are horrible on insurance; Mazda 3s were pretty bad the 2nd or 3rd year as well. If you can save 500-1000 a year on insurance, well worth it. Also, get a high deductible on your insurance.
Suspension: Where you're living, the roads are terrible. Test drive on the bad roads, and get something that has a decent suspension.
Buy down south. You'll find much better deals. Auto Trader will give you a baseline, although bargains seem to be harder to find in it more and more.
Erm... thats all I can think of off the top of my head. Lots more to consider though. Gas is generally the cheapest of all car expenses so don't get completely lured by it.
are you buying new?
if so I would look at the Toyota Prius...
http://www.toyota.com/prius-hybrid/
an afordable (21,5) hybrid with the best fuel economy... ever...
and lets face it... this situation will only get worse...
the Prius is also notorious for retaining its original value... up to 70%...
which means you could turn them over every year with minimal investment...
the money which you would have spent on maintenance... you spend on a new rig...
Excellent advice, all. I will take it all under advisement.
Also, what is the general consensus about Hyundai?
Thanks! By the way, I now have internet in my new place, Huzzah!
Hyundai is crap. They're supposedly getting better, but I've heard so much bad things about them from people that have bought Tibs, Elantras and Accents. Personally I wouldn't buy one.
Hey; that link didn't take me to the Toyota Corolla Ish. What kind of devil's trickery is this?! Don't force me to pour sugar in your tank.
Yeah, Hyundai bought them out 2 or 3 years ago I believe. I've heard people complain about their hyundais, and never heard a complaint about a toyota, even though the toyotas are much more common.
Prioritize what's important, narrow it down, adn then test drive a lot of cars. Don't sacrifice comfort in your car, and if you're going to be travelling cruise control can be very important.
you have to buy a tank, everybody needs a tank! and don't forget to buy a p*ssy magnet for your tank
So I went with the Mazda3!
Thanks for all your help everyone! With any luck, I will be driving it tomorrow.
Looks nice, but it means ya gotta keep paying
Buy a Citroen Xantia then get a personalised plate that reads "XANMAN"
lol, the time for car advice is over guys. ;P
But I should investigate about a customer license plate... ;P
Nah, that'd be Da Humie
I think is should say HBs to all
Especially Sojourn (just because she'll tell me off for being "biased")
Haha. How about CODE APE?