Looking for a car, advice?

So I'm graduating soon and my sister turns 16 in June, and she's buying my current car. I'm on my second Jetta and would love to get a third, but they ruined my Jetta. I think it's absolutely hideous. I'm interested in the TDI, but I would like a car that I can take vacations in comfortably, and have a family in. The back seat of the Jetta sucks, and I'm assuming that's the same for the TDI. The Passat is a maybe, I still think it's, eh. I do love all the perks VW has, I've always thought they were ahead of the curve for an economic car.

As for other options, I would like a car that wouldn't cost a billion dollars to fix. I change the oil in my Jetta because it's a turbo and it's crazy what shops will charge just for synthetic oil.... anyhow, I drove a '10 Ford Fusion (that's my max price range), and I was not impressed. It has got its perks, it's synced, it's pretty (ish :) ) it's a good sized car, but the power, there was none.

So, any clue/advice about what I should drive next and what year I should look at? I don't have a thing that I have to be the first person to own the car. I would rather get a car that is a year or two old so it's quite a bit less expensive.

In a nut shell:
Good MPG
Not ugly
Comfortable
Manual
Some power!!!

Oh, and I want a car that I can have forever. I don't know much about other cars and how long they last, but I pack on the miles. My VW has 150k miles on it and I'm still driving it 1,500+ miles a month.

Check out consumer digest/reports and I think you'll find that either Honda or toyota is going to be the best rated..

Anything AMERICAN made:salute:

I just got a 2009 food Taurus and I love it!! Limited edition too so it has all the perks!! Insane comfy and fast too! Now the 2010 Taurus is a lot better looking and is plain sweet looking!! Oh yea, j get 30 mph city and like 43 highway... least that is what the sticker said :) I agree though, anything American!

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The Ford Escape is a really neat/nice car.

I am partial to Chrysler/Dodge stuff so I bought a 300c its a nice Big comfortable car, but the Magnums, and 4 door chargers are just as nice.. and with the Engine management it run's on 4 cylinders at highway speed so great gas maleage for long hauls..

Take a look at the Honda Fit. At first I didn't like them, but my uncle got one and raved about it. I got to drive it and its a fun car to drive and you get a lot of car for the money. And the looks have grown on me.

My other suggestion would be a Mazda 3. They're also super nice cars. I was going to get one of those instead of my current VW GTI, but I needed a car ASAP after my current one was totaled and I got fed up trying to work with the Mazda dealer and walked out and went to VW. But I loved the Mazda car.

It would be easy to find used versions of either car in a manual transmission as well.

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

Anything AMERICAN made:salute:

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I "use to" say the same thing..But knowing of the bad attitudes of the general worker,Dreading Monday and waiting for friday I no longer feel that way..My $$ wants to be well spent..:O..They may be Japanese owned but factories employ american workers..GM has like 7 of the 10 worst made vehicles..LOL, I drive a ford P/U and have no complaints, Ford didn't take any bail out money either..
I like'em Ford product..:D, The Taurus SHO was and may still be equipped with a Yamaha engine..If Ford had offered it in other vehicles they would have likely seen increased sales..

I did look at the 10 Taurus and couldn't believe it was actually a Taurus. They are a BIG improvement from the 90s model!!!

Anything American made, lol, I figured I would hear that. You guys realize that not all "American made" cars are actually made in the US anymore right? :D

Ford Fusion: Hermosillo plant, in Mexico-because it says right on the car

And just for fun

"foreign cars" the percent is part assembly in the USA/Canada
Toyota Sienna USA 85% DOMESTIC
Toyota Camry USA 80% DOMESTIC
Toyota Tundra USA 80% DOMESTIC
Honda Ridgeline USA 75% DOMESTIC
Honda Pilot USA 75% DOMESTIC
Toyota Avalon USA 75% DOMESTIC
Toyota Corolla USA 75% DOMESTIC

"American made" cars....
Ford Focus USA 60% IMPORT
Ford Mustang USA 60% IMPORT
Jeep Liberty USA 74% IMPORT
Dodge Ram USA 74% IMPORT
Jeep Grand Cherokee USA 73% IMPORT
Lincoln Navigator USA 70% IMPORT
Dodge Caliber USA 70% IMPORT
Chevy Impala CANADA 92% IMPORT
Dodge Ram USA 74% IMPORT
Chevrolet Impala CANADA 92% IMPORT
Chevrolet Tahoe USA 67% IMPORT

http://www.automotiveaddicts.com/int.../07-10-06.html

Not trying to start an argument, just pointing this out to people who don't realize it. If you want an American made car don't assume that it's made here just because of the name.

You buy American made to support American companies..

Thanks everyone else for the advice. I'll have to check out some more cars! I do like the Mazda 3 and was thinking about driving one, but I don't know anything about Mazdas and reliability. I definitely need to do some reading on consumer reports!

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Originally Posted by SlitherinSisters

Thanks everyone else for the advice. I'll have to check out some more cars! I do like the Mazda 3 and was thinking about driving one, but I don't know anything about Mazdas and reliability. I definitely need to do some reading on consumer reports!

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I drove a Mazda into the ground really liked that car..

I have to say though that if I was going to buy a car for gas milage, size, and reliably.

I'd have to buy a Nissan.

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

You buy American made to support American companies..

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But they are selling American jobs to other countries just so they make a buck with cheap labor. I don't particularly support that.

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

I drove a Mazda into the ground really liked that car..

I have to say though that if I was going to buy a car for gas milage, size, and reliably.

I'd have to buy a Nissan.

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What kind of Nissan? My parents have a Max, and it's def not gas efficient. They had an Altima before that, but I don't know the gas mileage for that one.

If you are looking for all around practicality, including cost, consider a Chevy Malibu.

Im going to vote Toyota Corrolla S model ...well because we just bought one yesterday :D I love it ..... its pretty spacious inside it looks a little sporty and it does not cost an arm and a leg ... we got ours for 17,500 and the big thing with toyota is 0% financing and 2 years scheduled maint.
Also Ford Focus .. I have an 05 which I still love thats my baby BUT the newer models are really nice.
Good LUck !!!!!!!!

What don't you like about the 2011 Jetta that just came out, I agree the body is ugly but the price range and the fuel economy are great and you still get the perks. The starting price is in the $15,000's which is a few thousand less than I paid for my '09. What ever you choose I wish you luck.

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Originally Posted by SlitherinSisters

I did look at the 10 Taurus and couldn't believe it was actually a Taurus. They are a BIG improvement from the 90s model!!!

Anything American made, lol, I figured I would hear that. You guys realize that not all "American made" cars are actually made in the US anymore right? :D

Ford Fusion: Hermosillo plant, in Mexico-because it says right on the car

And just for fun

"foreign cars" the percent is part assembly in the USA/Canada
Toyota Sienna USA 85% DOMESTIC
Toyota Camry USA 80% DOMESTIC
Toyota Tundra USA 80% DOMESTIC
Honda Ridgeline USA 75% DOMESTIC
Honda Pilot USA 75% DOMESTIC
Toyota Avalon USA 75% DOMESTIC
Toyota Corolla USA 75% DOMESTIC

"American made" cars....
Ford Focus USA 60% IMPORT
Ford Mustang USA 60% IMPORT
Jeep Liberty USA 74% IMPORT
Dodge Ram USA 74% IMPORT
Jeep Grand Cherokee USA 73% IMPORT
Lincoln Navigator USA 70% IMPORT
Dodge Caliber USA 70% IMPORT
Chevy Impala CANADA 92% IMPORT
Dodge Ram USA 74% IMPORT
Chevrolet Impala CANADA 92% IMPORT
Chevrolet Tahoe USA 67% IMPORT

http://www.automotiveaddicts.com/int.../07-10-06.html

Not trying to start an argument, just pointing this out to people who don't realize it. If you want an American made car don't assume that it's made here just because of the name.

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Tell your government to stop giving stupidly big tax cuts to outsource, almost to the point where it is a punishment to keep jobs here, and mayb it wouldn't be that way. sure labor is one of the reason to send jobs over seas but tax cuts are huge.

Toyota Corolla or for a few bucks more, a nice lightly used 2009-2010 Audi A4.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith

I love my '02 A4 1.8T Quattro, but it's a bit expensive to keep running, and a 2009 or 2010 would almost certainly exceed the OP's specified budget. I will second the Nissan idea though; my GF drives an '05 Sentra and loves it - she bought it new and has yet to have a single problem with it 60K miles later. Her mom bought an Altima (I think '08) and she has also been very happy with it. Both of them get 30+ MPG average and have been very reliable. I would expect new models to be the same in terms of reliability and economy, though you might as well get something a year old with ~10K miles on it to let somebody else take the depreciation hit IMO.

Just curious, when you said they "ruined" your current Jetta, are you referring to the new one they've been advertising alot? The super cheap one.

If it is, why do you think they ruined it? Just curious to hear your opinion, I don't know anyone with a Jetta.

:D, Once again Consumer digest/reports makes for an informed purchase..
While everyone makes a lemon here and there some make far less than others..
Fit and finish of a nissan is not as good as, Mazda is a bit weak in the powertrain..Subaru makes quality ride but dealerships a scarce..
#1 Toyota
#2 Honda
The consumer reports should vouch for that..

Nissan fit and finish may not be as good as Toyota and Honda according to consumer reports, but in my experience driving them (and I've driven several examples of each), Nissans are nicer to drive. They just feel tighter and more involved with the driver. They may be less perfect in other areas, but they're better "driver's cars."

Regardless of personal preference, though, just about any of Honda, Toyota, or Nissan's cars will last approximately forever if you take care of them. You really can't go too far wrong with any of those brands.

You can never go wrong with a honda!!! I have a civic v-tec and I love it...but that is a 6 speed. Soooo fun to drive. But you can go with a regular civic or an accord for more room.

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

You buy American made to support American companies..

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How about buying what's made in the US to support American workers? Just sayin'...

But I digress, these days its hard to buy a lemon. Even the domestic cars have made leaps and bounds the past decade for reliability. Pretty much any new(er) car will easily go 150k miles and then some if you treat it right.

Mazda's are rock solid. My brother has a '03 Protege 5 that has close to 100k, he hasn't had a single problem with it. All he's done is regular maintenance - has yet to do an unscheduled repair. Pretty much any of the Japanese cars are rock solid and have a track record to back it up.

Someone also mentioned the Chevy Malibu, those are also smoking cars! If I were to buy a domestic car, it'd be either a Chevy Malibu or Ford Fusion.

Best thing would be to come up with a list of ~5 cars or so and just go test drive them and see which just "feels" right.

My wife has an '02 Focus ZTS Mach Audio edition with over 150k...never put a dime into repairs. It's also fun, spacious, and economical. We've had a few of our 75 gallon fish tanks in the back seat! We've also hauled stacks of 6+ foot pieces of lumber in it for building our tank stands. It's been used more like a truck than a car and the thing still looks/runs great! :D

I would assume the new ones are still great cars???

I'm gonna vote for Subaru. I have put over 80,000 on mine and never had to repair anything. Plus it's fun to drive, comes in a manual, and it's good in the snow.

I have a Chrysler Sebring limited. I would never buy another. I am so going back to Honda in a few months.

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Originally Posted by PolishPython

Im going to vote Toyota Corrolla S model ...well because we just bought one yesterday :D I love it ..... its pretty spacious inside it looks a little sporty and it does not cost an arm and a leg ... we got ours for 17,500 and the big thing with toyota is 0% financing and 2 years scheduled maint.

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I'll second the Toyota Corolla S. We got one 2 weeks ago and I just love it! Even made a trip to Costco (for a family of 5) and was able to fit it all in. We went with a sunroof and paid $16,785.

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Originally Posted by Tim Mead

Check out consumer digest/reports and I think you'll find that either Honda or toyota is going to be the best rated..

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And Nissan. Toyota is having another recall - you couldn't pay me to drive a Toyota these days.

I love, love, love my 2009 Nissan Altima, lots of leg room in the back for back seat passengers - HUGE trunk, CVT transmission (or you can get manual). It's a solid car, and it consistently gets high ratings, both in safety and consumer satisfaction.

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Originally Posted by SlitherinSisters

What kind of Nissan? My parents have a Max, and it's def not gas efficient. They had an Altima before that, but I don't know the gas mileage for that one.

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My Altima average 32 miles to the gallon.

JEEP WRANGLER. I just bought one and its Awesome.:cool:

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Originally Posted by dsirkle

If you are looking for all around practicality, including cost, consider a Chevy Malibu.

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I agree, I really like the new Malibu. My last car was a Honda accord and I have nothing but positive things to say about Honda cars as well. Anyway, good luck with your decision and please let us know what you decided on.


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