NSBR: Help me buy a car?

[DaisyCakes]

I need your help. H was in a road rage related crash yesterday. Long story, he's ok...
H was trying to zipper merge. Someone pushed him off the road with his truck, got in front of him and backed up smashing up the front. Pretty damn scary, surprisingly the guy stuck around for the police, thought he was totally in the right for what he had done. Until he got a big ass ticket.
Anyway, the car is totaled. H will be taking my old 2006 Ford Fusion and I'm getting something new. Only problem is that it has to happen fast, H has a rental, but I'd like to get this done this weekend if I can. price limit is around $20k.
Here's what I'm looking at so far:
2016 or 2015 Toyota Corolla
2015 Ford Focus (hatchback?)
2015 Subaru Impreza
2015 Subaru Crosstrek (used)

Do any of you own any of these? Any other suggestions I should look at? I should add that we don't have any kids, just a pup. I'm a musician that has some equipment to haul, it all fit in my fusion just fine.
If you made it this far, thank you for your help! I wasn't planning a car purchase this soon, so I'm researching like crazy and completely overwhelmed!

[pizzapizza]

Happy to hear he is ok. I don't have any of these vehicles so no help in that respect. I would suggest going to Truecar.com and finding the price paid for your area and then using email to negotiate with the Internet Sales Person at the dealerships you are interested in. Should hopefully make the negotiation aspect less stressful.

Good luck!

[kris356]

I am Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep loyalist (Dad had dealership/brother works for factory=great discount) BUT, my husband just got a Subaru WRX this summer and it is really nice. I am really impressed. It is super nice and although we got absolutely no deal on it, I feel that we got a lot for our money(it is 2016 and there is no negotiations on a WRX/STI. We basically paid sticker and that was with a hookup). He is pushing for me to go to a Crosstrek when I get a new car.

My brother also had a Impreza hatchback and a Legacy sedan for a while and they were super nice. He got traded the Impreza in on the Legacy and only got rid of the Legacy because he was in an accident.

[bimbi284]

My sil and fil are huge Subaru fans and have had good cars and always rave about them.

[ilovebed]

My H just got a new Subaru Impreza hatchback and he said it's the best car he's ever owned! It's super zippy and sporty. Very comfortable. I feel like it will last forever and there is enough space for two car seats and our golden retriever in the back.

[luckyno7]

I'm always for Toyotas. If you can find a slightly used Camry it gets almost the same mpg as a corolla. (At the least the newer ones do!). Honda is another awesome brand.

[xokell2]

My mom just got a new Impreza and she loves it. The crosstrek is just the Impreza but a little bit higher off the ground but it cost quite a bit more.

I agree with doing truecar before you go to the dealer. It's less bullshit haggling even though Subaru usually doesn't go too low below msrp, It shows what others are paying. I would also read reviews from Edmunds from people who own the cars.

I also own a Subaru and HATE the cloth interior but love everything else. I hate it enough I'm thinking about trading it in.

Good luck, I hate car shopping. Update with what you get!!

[lostarz]

I grew up in a Ford family and both my brother and sister have a Focus and I think you can really get a lot for your money. They both have the sedan but I'd totally get the hatchback if I were buying one today. We recently bought a VW GTI but did look at a Subaru WRX. Idk, Subaru interiors are so, blah. But, everyone that owns them loves them for the most part so it's all personal preference.

[kris356]

DH's WRX has black leather, since that is the only way it comes. I will say that we do not have nav because it was ridiculously expensive because you have to upgrade to a package with a bunch of other things and their nav is reported terrible although it was supposedly upgraded in the 2016. I agree that the cloth is terrible but I hate the cloth in my jeep too so I think I am just a cloth interior hater.

[DaisyCakes]

Problem solved! Purchased this 2016 Toyota Corolla this morning. She's so pretty!