What kind of car should we buy?

[ESF]

You were all so helpful in y4m's thread that I thought I'd see what MM recommends for me.

Our current car is a piece of shit. It's 16 years old. While it has low-ish mileage, it's falling apart. It needs quasi-necessary repairs, like the AC is broken. The blinker is fucked up, as it recently started randomly not turning on about 20% of the time. The glue melted off on the piece of the shift that you press in to change from drive/reverse/park, and cannot be glued back in, so it's taped on there, but the tape falls off and has to be redone regularly.

That said, I can't figure out what to buy or how much money to put into this purchase, given our needs.  We put about 5000 miles on our car a year. Neither of us rely on the car to commute to work. We run errands, and maybe take a few 2-5 hour drives for long weekends a year.  Also, we park on the street in a neighborhood with some petty crime. Some thefts and vandalism. We've had a hubcap and the cap to our gas tank stolen and one of our windshield wipers bent. My next door neighbor had his windshield cracked (I think a kid hit it with a bat on a dare). That sort of stuff.  

But we can't just keep using our existing car. In addition to not wanting to pour thousands of dollars into a car worth maybe $1000, we've reached a point in our lives where we just don't want to drive a piece of shit any more. We occasionally need to give work colleagues rides for one reason or another, we get a lot of out of town guests, and we'd probably go out exploring and doing more stuff on weekends if we didn't feel like we were riding in something that was going to fall apart completely mid-ride. We both work with casual, granola-y people, so it's not like we need a new Lexus, but it would be nice to have something professional looking.   

What would you recommend we buy? 

ETA: No Honda Fits or hatchbacks.  A trunk is a non-negotiable, given the car break in rate in our neighborhood.

ETA 2: to clarify, we do not need the car only on weekends. I occassionally have spur of the moment work things, like a boss who calls me the night before a meeting/hearing/deposition etc to ask if I can cover it.  A few times a month, we might have a work thing. For example, I might drive to a court appearance where I see my boss, who has taken the subway and I offer to give him a ride home, since he lives near me.  Or H will fly out of town, and when I pick him up at the airport, he offers his work colleague a ride home.   

[shevacc]

Do you have something like zipcar available convenient to you? If you only need a car on the weekends, maybe renting, not buying, would give you more for your money?

[ESF]

Sept 7, 2016 12:31:26 GMT -5 shevacc said:

Do you have something like zipcar available convenient to you? If you only need a car on the weekends, maybe renting, not buying, would give you more for your money?

We have plenty of car share options available to us, and we did that for years until we bought our car 6 years ago.  I don't really want to do that again. It was fine, but I'm willing to pay for the convenience factor of owning a car.

Not to mention, I added a second ETA to clarify that it's not just weekends, and it wouldn't address the random spur of the moment work related reasons we need a car for.

[CrazyLucky]

I'll plug the Sonata again. We bought one this year, and it's the first time we bought a car at a higher trim level. We love it. It has android auto, which is nice because the GPS on our phones is better than the navigation system. The rearview camera is great. There are so many unnecessary bells and whistles, but it's fun to have them - heated seats, heated steering wheel, the side mirrors turn down when you back up so you can see the curb, etc. I think the sticker was like $35k. With the trade in, it cost us somewhere around $26k, if I remember correctly.
It has plenty of room. Adults can fit comfortably in the back seat. It gets about 32 mpg. I could go on. We're really happy with the purchase.

[compassrose]

I would buy a 2014 or 2015 Toyota Camry/Corolla or Honda Accord/Civic, depending on the size you need. They are reliable, go forever, and the slightly-used route should get you a better deal.

[Deleted]

Honda Civic? I spent about $14k on a basic three year old Civic with about 30k miles. I won't go much smaller than a Civic because sitting shoulder to shoulder with DH is no fun when we travel.

I'm not sure what Toyota's small-but-not-tiny car is called. We rode in a Corolla years ago and it was like riding in a tin matchbox.

[ESF]

Sept 7, 2016 12:46:00 GMT -5 @juno said:

I have a Fit in a neighbor sort of near you i think. Our fit's never been bothered but our malibu with trunk was broken into. And dh had the trunk only broken into in a rental. I wouldn't count on a trunk for security. We just never leave anything valuable in the car and bought the extra hatch cover so that you can't see what behind the back seat. I know you said no fits, but we freaking love that car for the bay area and occsional use (we are bike/walk commuters most if the year, park at Bart the remainder; malibu was also broken into at bart, but never the fit).

We don't keep anything valuable in the car, but we do keep stuff in the car. For example, we keep an emergency kit in the car since we are in earthquake territory. It's nothing of value, just a few supplies - extra water and food for the dogs, first aid kit, flares, flashlight, a pair of old sneakers each, a blanket, etc.   But I would really rather not have my back window broken so some dipshit can rummage around a box of supplies looking for shit to steal.

I realize no car is break in proof, but my personal preference is to not leave bait in plain sight. 

I also don't like the Fit because it doesn't look like there's room for stuff. We rent cabins from time to time and bring food, clothes, supplies, etc. That stuff won't all fit in the tiny little hatchback, and we need the backseat for the dogs.

[georgeharrison]

I recently bought a 2015 Chevy Malibu and I really like it. It's pretty nondescript on the outside (won't attract robbers), but the interior is really nice and it wasn't $$$.

[drloretta]

I would buy a low-mileage used sedan, a la Civic/Accord, Corolla/Camry, or Sentra/Altima/Maxima.

papiercherri , everything's gotten bigger. Today's compacts seem ginormous compared to when i bought my first Civic.


ESF, the Fit is surprisingly roomy once you sit inside. My hulk of a husband loved the room, and he can put all of his hobby crap in it. Way roomier than the Versa for comparison.

[ESF]

Sept 7, 2016 12:46:33 GMT -5 CrazyLucky said:

I'll plug the Sonata again. We bought one this year, and it's the first time we bought a car at a higher trim level. We love it. It has android auto, which is nice because the GPS on our phones is better than the navigation system. The rearview camera is great. There are so many unnecessary bells and whistles, but it's fun to have them - heated seats, heated steering wheel, the side mirrors turn down when you back up so you can see the curb, etc. I think the sticker was like $35k. With the trade in, it cost us somewhere around $26k, if I remember correctly.
It has plenty of room. Adults can fit comfortably in the back seat. It gets about 32 mpg. I could go on. We're really happy with the purchase.

Heated seats are my dream car perk!!!!!!!

Any idea how the used market is for these? There's no way we are buying brand new, and the further under $20k, the better. 

[sfy]

Sept 7, 2016 12:46:33 GMT -5 CrazyLucky said:

I'll plug the Sonata again. We bought one this year, and it's the first time we bought a car at a higher trim level. We love it. It has android auto, which is nice because the GPS on our phones is better than the navigation system. The rearview camera is great. There are so many unnecessary bells and whistles, but it's fun to have them - heated seats, heated steering wheel, the side mirrors turn down when you back up so you can see the curb, etc. I think the sticker was like $35k. With the trade in, it cost us somewhere around $26k, if I remember correctly.
It has plenty of room. Adults can fit comfortably in the back seat. It gets about 32 mpg. I could go on. We're really happy with the purchase.

It is blowing my mind that a Sonata is $35k!  That is ridiculous to me, I really don't understand why cars seem to be getting so much more expensive.  But given this, I will plug the Elantra.  It's smaller, but sounds like it would suit your needs and you can get one new for half the price.  

During our recent experience car shopping, I also liked the Civic very much.  I was talking to an uber driver about his yesterday and he was absolutely raving about it.

Eta - the Elantra has heated seats and many of the same bells and whistles.  If you are willing to look at 2013s or 2014s, we saw quite a few around the 12-15k range.

[ESF]

Sept 7, 2016 12:57:14 GMT -5 drloretta said:

I would buy a low-mileage used sedan, a la Civic/Accord, Corolla/Camry, or Sentra/Altima/Maxima.

papiercherri , everything's gotten bigger. Today's compacts seem ginormous compared to when i bought my first Civic.


ESF , the Fit is surprisingly roomy once you sit inside. My hulk of a husband loved the room, and he can put all of his hobby crap in it. Way roomier than the Versa for comparison.

Yes, but it is still a hatchback.

[audry80]

we just got a screaming deal on a 2016 Corolla. It was cheaper than buying used. It's not fancy but it's nice enough! Has a trunk and plenty of room.

[Deleted]

Sept 7, 2016 12:55:41 GMT -5 ESF said:

Sept 7, 2016 12:46:00 GMT -5 @juno said:

I have a Fit in a neighbor sort of near you i think. Our fit's never been bothered but our malibu with trunk was broken into. And dh had the trunk only broken into in a rental. I wouldn't count on a trunk for security. We just never leave anything valuable in the car and bought the extra hatch cover so that you can't see what behind the back seat. I know you said no fits, but we freaking love that car for the bay area and occsional use (we are bike/walk commuters most if the year, park at Bart the remainder; malibu was also broken into at bart, but never the fit).

We don't keep anything valuable in the car, but we do keep stuff in the car. For example, we keep an emergency kit in the car since we are in earthquake territory. It's nothing of value, just a few supplies - extra water and food for the dogs, first aid kit, flares, flashlight, a pair of old sneakers each, a blanket, etc.   But I would really rather not have my back window broken so some dipshit can rummage around a box of supplies looking for shit to steal.

I realize no car is break in proof, but my personal preference is to not leave bait in plain sight. 

I also don't like the Fit because it doesn't look like there's room for stuff. We rent cabins from time to time and bring food, clothes, supplies, etc. That stuff won't all fit in the tiny little hatchback, and we need the backseat for the dogs.

Given the size of your dogs and the stuff you would need to take, I think a hatchback would be a good option. Most of them can have a cover that acts as a quasi-trunk. It's not locked the way a trunk is, but it covers everything up.

The Fit can fit a surprising amount of stuff. My can get a grill, grill stand cooler, bags of food, table, and four camp chairs in the back of ours. There is also a shocking amount of room when you fold the seats down - we got about $800 worth of furniture from IKEA in it, including the king sized bed frame.

Other slightly bigger hatchback options would be a Suburu Impreza, Mazda 3, or Prius. We rented a Prius that had a cover over the hatch area, and except for the fact that it didn't lock separately from the rest of the car, it really functioned like a regular trunk. VW also has a hatchback option, but I would steer clear of them in light of this emissions thing (plus German cars tend to be more expensive to repair). If you want to go for used again, you could look for a Toyota Matrix or Pontiac Vibe, which are no longer made.

If you decide a hatchback is an absolute no go, I'd go for a Civic, Accord, Corolla, or Camry, depending on how much trunk and back seat space you want.

[lys]

I would recommend a slightly used Honda Civic or CRV, Toyota Corolla or RAV4, or Subaru Imprezza.

[drloretta]

Sept 7, 2016 13:02:56 GMT -5 ESF said:

Sept 7, 2016 12:57:14 GMT -5 drloretta said:

I would buy a low-mileage used sedan, a la Civic/Accord, Corolla/Camry, or Sentra/Altima/Maxima.

papiercherri , everything's gotten bigger. Today's compacts seem ginormous compared to when i bought my first Civic.


ESF , the Fit is surprisingly roomy once you sit inside. My hulk of a husband loved the room, and he can put all of his hobby crap in it. Way roomier than the Versa for comparison.

Yes, but it is still a hatchback.

Hey, I'm not trying to sway you one way or another. We were just surprised at how roomy it was, considering it looks tiny from the outside. I understand your hesitation, so I suggested some sedan options that I think would work in your situation. But I do love my Fit

[CrazyLucky]

Sept 7, 2016 12:59:10 GMT -5 sfy said:

Sept 7, 2016 12:46:33 GMT -5 CrazyLucky said:

I'll plug the Sonata again. We bought one this year, and it's the first time we bought a car at a higher trim level. We love it. It has android auto, which is nice because the GPS on our phones is better than the navigation system. The rearview camera is great. There are so many unnecessary bells and whistles, but it's fun to have them - heated seats, heated steering wheel, the side mirrors turn down when you back up so you can see the curb, etc. I think the sticker was like $35k. With the trade in, it cost us somewhere around $26k, if I remember correctly.
It has plenty of room. Adults can fit comfortably in the back seat. It gets about 32 mpg. I could go on. We're really happy with the purchase.

It is blowing my mind that a Sonata is $35k!  That is ridiculous to me, I really don't understand why cars seem to be getting so much more expensive.  But given this, I will plug the Elantra.  It's smaller, but sounds like it would suit your needs and you can get one new for half the price.  

During our recent experience car shopping, I also liked the Civic very much.  I was talking to an uber driver about his yesterday and he was absolutely raving about it.

Eta - the Elantra has heated seats and many of the same bells and whistles.  If you are willing to look at 2013s or 2014s, we saw quite a few around the 12-15k range.

My MIL has an Elantra and loves it.  We wanted the bigger car because we're still dealing with two car seats and it's a lot easier.

[kadams767]

I'd consider a Subaru Legacy sedan also. IMO, they are a bit nicer looking than Civics and the ilk, in regard to your comment about it being "professional." Trunk space is decent, they are reliable and hold value well.

[Deleted]

Ditto Toyota Camry. A very vanilla car without much on it to steal. It would be reliable transportation and would last for many years. New they are around $20K so I am sure you can pick up a used one for much less.

[orangello]

I'd probably avoid Toyotas and Hondas - they're amongst the most stolen cars IIRC, and while it probably won't make them any more of a target in your neighborhood, I'd do anything I could to lessen it. Personally I'd get a 2-3 year old used car known for reliability - a Subaru Forester or something along those lines.

[chimera]

Sept 7, 2016 12:57:57 GMT -5 ESF said:

Sept 7, 2016 12:46:33 GMT -5 CrazyLucky said:

Heated seats are my dream car perk!!!!!!!

Any idea how the used market is for these? There's no way we are buying brand new, and the further under $20k, the better. 

A lot of the used Subarus should have the winter package, when I bought my Forester new (2011) it was a $500 list add on for heated seats, mirrors, and windshield - I think everyone of the cars on our dealer's lot had the package. The new Legacy DH is getting at has this option standard.

[imojoebunny]

I saw a Mazda 6 the other day, and looked it up to see how much it cost. I had one for 10 years before I needed 7 seats, and loved it. It is right at $20K new, and looks pretty sharp. I can't wait to go back to a sedan, but it will be a while for me.

www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=30030&endYear=2017&showcaseOwnerId=100005810&makeCode1=MAZDA&startYear=1981&firstRecord=0&searchRadius=25&maxPrice=20000&showcaseListingId=429416575&mmt=%5BMAZDA%5B%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=435659290&Log=0

[sfy]

Sept 7, 2016 14:34:09 GMT -5 CrazyLucky said:

Sept 7, 2016 12:59:10 GMT -5 sfy said:

It is blowing my mind that a Sonata is $35k!  That is ridiculous to me, I really don't understand why cars seem to be getting so much more expensive.  But given this, I will plug the Elantra.  It's smaller, but sounds like it would suit your needs and you can get one new for half the price.  

During our recent experience car shopping, I also liked the Civic very much.  I was talking to an uber driver about his yesterday and he was absolutely raving about it.

Eta - the Elantra has heated seats and many of the same bells and whistles.  If you are willing to look at 2013s or 2014s, we saw quite a few around the 12-15k range.

My MIL has an Elantra and loves it.  We wanted the bigger car because we're still dealing with two car seats and it's a lot easier.

Yes, it's huge inside!

[ESF]

Sept 7, 2016 12:59:10 GMT -5 sfy said:

Sept 7, 2016 12:46:33 GMT -5 CrazyLucky said:

I'll plug the Sonata again. We bought one this year, and it's the first time we bought a car at a higher trim level. We love it. It has android auto, which is nice because the GPS on our phones is better than the navigation system. The rearview camera is great. There are so many unnecessary bells and whistles, but it's fun to have them - heated seats, heated steering wheel, the side mirrors turn down when you back up so you can see the curb, etc. I think the sticker was like $35k. With the trade in, it cost us somewhere around $26k, if I remember correctly.
It has plenty of room. Adults can fit comfortably in the back seat. It gets about 32 mpg. I could go on. We're really happy with the purchase.

It is blowing my mind that a Sonata is $35k!  That is ridiculous to me, I really don't understand why cars seem to be getting so much more expensive.  But given this, I will plug the Elantra.  It's smaller, but sounds like it would suit your needs and you can get one new for half the price.  

During our recent experience car shopping, I also liked the Civic very much.  I was talking to an uber driver about his yesterday and he was absolutely raving about it.

Eta - the Elantra has heated seats and many of the same bells and whistles.  If you are willing to look at 2013s or 2014s, we saw quite a few around the 12-15k range.

I missed your ETA on the first pass, but this is good info. I'm adding this to the list of cars to look into!

[ESF]

Also, is it just me, or do the newer models of cars seem to have weird proportions between the side of the car and the window. The windows look tiny compared to the length of the door.

[emisi]

Mazda3 or 6, depending on what size car you need. I have a 2006 that still going strong, and if you like driving a manual, they have one of the nicest in the business. Plus you get a ton of stuff standard, and they're just all around nice, fun cars.

[love1999]

I love my Ford Fusion! This is my 2nd one. I had a 2008 and would still be happily driving it had it not been totaled in June. I replaced it with a Ford certified 2015 with all the bells and whistles and less than 18k miles on it out the door for under $20k and thanks to buying certified, it will have warranty coverage up to 48k miles and then a power train warranty to 100k miles.

[ECB]

Sept 7, 2016 12:59:10 GMT -5 sfy said:

It is blowing my mind that a Sonata is $35k!

We got our 2012 brand new for about $20k. but BASE model. BASE. However, the point being, they don't have to be that expensive.

While we have the Sonata and not the Elantra, if you don't want too big of car, I'd consider the Elantra. If we still parked on the street, it would have been a more serious contender.

[sfy]

Sept 8, 2016 7:07:41 GMT -5 ECB said:

Sept 7, 2016 12:59:10 GMT -5 sfy said:

It is blowing my mind that a Sonata is $35k!

We got our 2012 brand new for about $20k. but BASE model. BASE. However, the point being, they don't have to be that expensive.

While we have the Sonata and not the Elantra, if you don't want too big of car, I'd consider the Elantra. If we still parked on the street, it would have been a more serious contender.

No, we looked at Sonatas also (too big) and I certainly saw many below that price point, particularly since we were looking at used models, but that one can cost $35k is mind-blowing to me. When I hear $35k for a car, I think of a luxury model. And obviously, it's not just Sonatas, even with the Civics, I was shocked by the prices. It just seemed to me that in the past few years, car prices have jumped quite a bit. I guess this is probably the number one sign that I'm getting old as hell. Because I definitely recall saying that I remembered when new Civics were $8k .

[ECB]

Sept 8, 2016 7:43:27 GMT -5 sfy said:

Sept 8, 2016 7:07:41 GMT -5 ECB said:

We got our 2012 brand new for about $20k. but BASE model. BASE. However, the point being, they don't have to be that expensive.

While we have the Sonata and not the Elantra, if you don't want too big of car, I'd consider the Elantra. If we still parked on the street, it would have been a more serious contender.

No, we looked at Sonatas also (too big) and I certainly saw many below that price point, particularly since we were looking at used models, but that one can cost $35k is mind-blowing to me. When I hear $35k for a car, I think of a luxury model. And obviously, it's not just Sonatas, even with the Civics, I was shocked by the prices. It just seemed to me that in the past few years, car prices have jumped quite a bit. I guess this is probably the number one sign that I'm getting old as hell. Because I definitely recall saying that I remembered when new Civics were $8k .

I hear ya.  DH and I are huge used car buyers!!  We bought the Sonata new only because it was actually cheaper than buying a 1 or 2 year old USED Sonata!  It was insane.  And I was comparing apples to apples!!