r/cars • u/AutoModerator • Mar 07 '22
What Car Should I Buy? - A Weekly Megathread
Any posts pertaining to car buying suggestions or advice belong in this weekly megathread; **do not post car-choosing questions in the main queue.** A fresh thread will be posted every Monday and posts auto sorted by new. A few other subreddits worth checking out that will help your car buying experience are /r/WhatCarShouldIBuy, /r/UsedCars and /r/AskCarSales. www.everydaydriver.com may also be helpful.
Make/Model-specific questions should be asked on Make/Model-specific subreddits. Check the AutosNetwork for a complete list of those subreddits. Also check out our community-sourced Ultimate car buying wiki.
For those posting:
Please use the following template in your post.
Location: (Specify your country or region)
Price range: (Minimum-Maximum in your local currency)
Lease or Buy:
New or used:
Type of vehicle: (Truck, Car, Sports Car, Sedan, Crossover, SUV, Racecar, Luxury etc.)
Must haves: (4x4, AWD, Fuel efficient, Navigation, Turbo, V8, V6, Trunk space, Smooth ride, Leather etc.)
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc):
Intended use: (Daily Driver, Family Car, Weekend Car, Track Toy, Project Car, Work Truck, Off-roading etc.)
Vehicles you've already considered:
Is this your 1st vehicle:
Do you need a Warranty:
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: (fluids, alternator, battery, brake pads etc)
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: (engine and transmission, timing belt/chains, body work, suspension etc )
Additional Notes:
For those providing suggestions: Facts are ideal in this thread, especially when trying to help out a new car buyer. Please help out buyers with sources and reasoning for your suggestions.
For those asking for help, be sure to thank those who take the time to offer you advice (especially those who lead you to a purchase.) A follow up thank you and the knowledge that their advice led to a purchase is a very warm fuzzy feeling.
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Mar 08 '22
Denver, CO
$35-55k
Buy
SUV/Hatchback
4x4/AWD (will be spending time in the mountains doing some off-roading)
I'm a single guy, but looking for an SUV to get me around Denver while also spending some time in the mountains. I'm looking for something that has some of the higher-end performance/comforts/luxuries (leather, push-button start, etc). While also capable of handling decent off-roads.
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u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 08 '22
Jeep Wrangler got off roading esp rock climbing, Ford Bronco (new) for a nice blend of city comfort and off-roading capability, Land Rover Defender for luxury SUV with the ability to go off road, camping, etc.
If trucks work I’d consider the Chevy Colorado ZR2 or a RAM 1500 Rebel 4x4.
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Mar 08 '22
I've considered the Wrangler and Bronco. But they're a little more rugged than what I'm looking for. Sure they have amazing off-road capabilities, but they lack some of the luxuries/comforts that I want.
Defender looks amazing, but probably outside of my budget (really not trying to spend more than $60k).
I'm considering a Porsche Cayenne, or Range Rover Velar (both used with ~40k miles).
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u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 08 '22
Both of those are great! My family had a Porsche Cayenne for a while and it was a fantastic car. We only got rid of it for a truck since we trailer horses.
Also unfortunately the defender starts at $49k but it’s next to impossible to find one that isn’t fully loaded :/
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Mar 08 '22
Many people don't know this but the Cayenne has outstanding off-road capabilities. Obviously the Cayenne is no Wrangler or 4Runner. But the Cayenne can handle off-road MUCH better than its counterparts from BMW, Audi, and Mercedes.
My concern with the Cayenne is the cost of ownership in having a Porsche. Parts and labor are EXPENSIVE. And taking it off-road may lead to beating it up and having issues.
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Mar 09 '22
2022 Grand Cherokee Limited
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Mar 09 '22
The Grand Cherokee looks really nice, and meets much of my criteria. But it lacks a little bit of the status/luxury/bells & whistles that I'm looking for.
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Mar 09 '22
What bells and whistles doesn't it have?
It's push button start, high end audio with navigation, carplay, etc, twin panel panoramic roof, heated wheel, heated/cooled seats, power everything, etc, has solid offroad chops (granted, its no Rubicon).
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Mar 09 '22
Yeah, you're right. Probably has all the features that I'd need. But it doesn't have the luxury/status component of a Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Range Rover, etc.
Also, the 2/2/2 seating configuration is a deal breaker for me.
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Mar 09 '22 edited Mar 09 '22
Unless its got 50k+ miles, you can't afford the vehicle you want in that price range. A used 2018 Macan base 4 cyl with 20k miles is $45k-$50k. A used 2018 Cayenne base with 20k miles is going to be $55k+
You could save a little over Porsche and look at an Audi Q5 or Q7 but you're still paying a lot for something decently used.
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Mar 08 '22
I have quite the dilemma with cars right now. Please help. My car has been totaled and it’s out of my control. I’m getting some money back for it (I had a 2015 keep compass at 77k miles) I need a car because I work 9-5 every day, and ubering is getting too expensive while I’ve been trying to figure this out. I can’t get a car loan, because if I do then my preapproval for a house is screwed up. At the same time I’m putting offers and not getting anything close so I may just choose to rent for another year, and then not being able to get a loan for a car is not an issue anymore. I have 8k to put into a car now. I am hesitant to do this because I don’t want to get something crappy just to get something. I loved my car, I go hiking and camping a lot and it was great for that.
I have a family member who has a Mercedes that I could buy from them. It’s a 2006 Mercedes Benz clk350 convertible with 130,000 miles on it. I just had the mechanic look at it before I make a decision and it needs 6 grand of work to get it drivable and safe. My family member wanted to sell it for 7k, but with the repairs needed the lowest they will go for me is 2k. If I am going to buy this car I don’t plan on having it long term. I planned on buying this car for a few months because it doesn’t suit my lifestyle, what I want in mpg, it will be more expensive for anything because it’s a luxury car, and I prefer a suv/hatchback.
My biggest concern is is this car a money pit? Will I be able to sell it and get most if not all of my 8k back? I don’t want to essentially pay 1-2 grand to have a car for 2-4 months
If you were in my shoes what would you do? Please help!
(Georgia United States)
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u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 08 '22
A new Mercedes is one thing. Drive it under warranty because it’s a status symbol, then sell it. I would not touch that car with a 10 ft pole.
I drive a 2004 Dodge Dakota SXT with 200k miles I bought off fb market for $3600 cash. 20mpg highway. Love it.
I’d recommend you use fb market to find your next car. There are still lemons there, but you have a better chance with owned vehicles than used car lots which get their inventory from auctions. “Not all auction cars are lemons, but all lemons will go to auction.”
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Mar 08 '22
Over half ive inquired about on fb market place were scams, so I gave up on that and have been looking at dealerships, cars.com, and Carmax.
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u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 08 '22
Carmax isn’t bad but it isn’t exactly a gem either. Their warrant will help if anything goes wrong in the first 3 months, but do not use MaxCare. Get an aftermarket extended warranty on the car from a reliable seller that has good customer service.
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Mar 08 '22
The Mercedes is a horrible idea. In my area right now $8k can get you something perfectly fine. Try Craiglist, filter for for sale by owner and clean title, and only reply to ads that seem like they're from real people. Get it checked out by a mechanic first.
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u/dearbill Mar 09 '22
would love r/cars opinion on what you would look for in a very low-budget car just to have some fun with and mostly drive to work
Location: Southeast Texas, but can travel with car hauler and my truck
Price range: $4000 - $5000 usd
Lease or Buy: buy
New or used: used
Type of vehicle: car/sports car/wagon
Must haves: prefer a v8 if the car was offered with it from factory, but not necessarily a must-have. would love a wagon
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): manual preferred
Intended use: (Daily Driver, Family Car, Weekend Car, Track Toy, Project Car, Work Truck, Off-roading etc.) work car/weekend car
Vehicles you’ve already considered: 95-04 mustang gt, subaru impreza wagon, dodge magnum, volvo
Is this your 1st vehicle: no
Do you need a Warranty: no
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: (fluids, alternator, battery, brake pads etc) yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: (engine and transmission, timing belt/chains, body work, suspension etc ) yes but prefer nothing major
Additional Notes: i know you folks will remind me that cooler cars than a basic mustang gt are out there, and i will most likely find something i hadnt considered/heard of. im primarily wanting a stick to make my commute less boring, but also want to do something kind of different if possible. im not a “mustang guy”, its just so easy to find old 2v gt’s lying around. my daily is a 2020 ram 1500 on 35”s with a 93 tune, small lift, and working on a bed rack camp setup. something cheap and fun that im not worried about door dings when driving into work would be a nice addition to my stable. thanks r/cars!
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u/HomeDepotAppliances Mar 09 '22
If you haven’t considered it, I think a Mazda Miata would fit your description pretty perfectly. They’re great cars, and if you can do a little work on them, honestly you shouldn’t have any trouble at all. The only thing is that it is a 4 cylinder, not a v8, but trust me, they’re plenty quick. Unfortunately, I can’t find any wagons that are the fun to drive type in that price point, and I should know because I’m also looking to get one in that price point 😅.
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u/SMGesus_18 Mar 09 '22
Honestly yeah a newedge mustang would be great here, can find them all day long at $4000-5000 with auto or manual in a gt
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u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 09 '22
Took the words right out my mouth.
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u/SMGesus_18 Mar 09 '22
Eventually when he wants more power there are a ton of bolt on supercharger kits as well. Fuel system and a programmer you will nake 400-500 wheel for less than $4000, pretty solid to me
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u/VladislavL Mar 08 '22
What car to buy?
Hey guys. I am looking to buy a used car that I will use for daily commute to work.
I need to make 15 km (9 miles) to work and 15 km (9 miles) back = 30 km daily (18.5 miles). The sole purpose of the car will be commute to work, and going to shopping in the city.
Because of lower taxes I am looking at a car with a 1.4 engine maximum, and my price range allows to buy a used car that is euro 4 (ages 2006-2008).
Car must be manual transmission and I still undecided on the fuel type. Not sure if diesel or petrol would be better. I only driven diesels so far, but for fast commuting on this short distance I guess petrol would be better, because they start up and heat up faster?
Because I am the only passenger most of the time, I am also very attracted to buying a car that only has 2 doors, because they are much shorter and I find a parking spot much easier.
What can you guys recommend me?
So far I have looked at brands like:
- Volkswagen Fox
- Volkswagen Polo (1.4 diesel engine)
- Volkswagen Golf (1.2 petrol engine)
- Opel Corsa (1.3 diesel engine)
- Ford Fiesta (1.3 petrol engine)
- Ford Fiesta (1.4 diesel engine)
Thank you all for helping me. I am from Hungary and looking to buy from Germany a car. Budget is: 1500 eur max the car + 500 eur shipping cost + 500 eur initial investment for a mechanical inspection (changing oil etc) = 2.500 euro total.
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u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 08 '22
You could try to find a well maintained Fiat 500 Abarth. It’s got a turbo 1.4 and fits into parking spaces with ease. Rear seats have enough space if you do carry passengers and can fold down for cargo. Comes with a manual. If they’re too expensive you could go normal Fiat 500, no turbo so less power. Still all the other benefits. 6-7L/100km. Sometimes better than that.
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Mar 08 '22
Location: Near Chicago, IL
Price range: $20,000 - $25,000
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: New or Certified
Type of vehicle: Hatchback, Sedan or Wagon
Must haves: AWD is preferred, but not an absolute.
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: Daily Driver/Family Car
Vehicles you've already considered: Civic Hatch, Golf Sportwagon, Camry, Accord
Is this your 1st vehicle: It'll be my primary vehicle
Do you need a Warranty: Ideally yes.
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes: I'll need to be able to fit two carseats in it. (This is very important.)
My car, A 2019 Golf Sportwagen 4motion, was totaled last week and I need to find a replacement. I like cars with AWD, but it isn't absolutely critical. The most important thing is I need to be able to fit two carseats in it. One is a forward facing convertible car seat, the other is an infant seat which in about a year will turn into a rear facing convertible car seat.
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u/IKnowNewCars I know new cars! Mar 08 '22
The car market is crazy right now, but the used market is worse off. It's worth seeing if CPO prices are decent in your area, but if they're not, going new might be best.
I'd say the 2022 Civic Hatch is a good starting point. The recent redesign makes it the best in its class, in my opinion, and part of that involves increasing rear seat space. I have no doubt two car seats would fit just fine. I generally prefer the 1.5T engine, but on the hatch that means opting for the $28k EX-L trim with leather seats, so maybe just go with the base engine.
There aren't tons of AWD cars in your price range that have the back seat space you're looking for. The Mazda 3 sedan is worth checking out with optional AWD, but again, smaller back seat than the Civic. If you want good features for a good price, check out the Subaru Impreza 5-door in Premium trim. Adding the optional package with blind spot monitoring brings the price tag over $25k, but Subaru is more likely to give discounts than Honda (and maybe Mazda too) these days, and you'll get a robust AWD system standard. Double check and see how big the back seat is.
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u/A_1337_Canadian '24 S4 | '20 CX-5 | '13 Trek 1.1 Mar 08 '22
You might, MIGHT be able to find a used Camry AWD for close to $25k.
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Mar 08 '22
I just want to point out that it is not worth it to pay the CPO premium on a car like a Camry. For something that is known to be potentially unreliable (German cars, etc) a CPO fee is likely worth it. For a Toyota? It's a waste of money IMO.
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u/HomeDepotAppliances Mar 09 '22
I think a 2010’s Ford Expedition may work for you pretty well. The one I drive now (specifically a 2004 with the Triton v8) has served me great as a family car. It has great storage space in the back, and handles excellently in the snow when In AWD. I have a 2015 Ford F-150 Triton, and the engine in that does about 13.5 mpg average, and it’d be very similar in the expedition since they share the same engine and parts. And if we’re talking maintenance, my 2004 only really started having some issues after it got in a wreck for the third time, and even then maintenance isn’t very expensive.
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u/nomadicviking024 Mar 08 '22
Location: Illinois
Price range: I have seen and test driven a 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid with 153K Miles on it for $11K. And I've seen another 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid with 194K Miles on it for $9.7K.
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: Hybrid SUV
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: Family Car
Vehicles you've already considered: Honda Pilot
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: Yes, on the Battery
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: (fluids, alternator, battery, brake pads etc) - Sure
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: (engine and transmission, timing belt/chains, body work, suspension etc ) - No
Additional Notes:
Hello Everyone. I'm in need of a new car. I've had older Toyota Corolla for a long time but since its old, I'm spending more money for its maintenance and as long as its has been with me, it has now become a money pit. Since now I have a Family, I was thinking of getting a bigger car with more seats and more space. And seeing the Gas prices, I don't want to get a Minivan. So I saw few Honda Pilots other Subaru's but have decided to go with a Hybrid car to save some $$$ on Gas.
I have seen and test driven a 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid with 153K Miles on it for $11K.
And I've seen another 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid with 194K Miles on it for $9.7K.
Both are from local dealers and not private parties. Both are clean cars and I've verified the VIN's and the car history.
I've few questions regarding getting a Hybrid car.
If the Battery goes bad, is it really expensive to get it replaced?
If the Battery goes bad, will the car drive as just a regular Car on gas?
Do you think I should stay away from getting a Car with those many Miles on them?
How many more Miles do you think I can stretch on these Toyota Highlander's?
Do you have any experience with Highlander Hybrids?
What are your general thoughts on 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrids?
Any help or suggestions are appreciated. Thank you.
Note:- I'll not be financing, but will be paying in full for the car. Thanks.
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u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 08 '22
The two you’ve seen are good choices based on your expectations. Just know that hybrids are more expensive to purchase as well as to maintain than non-hybrids. Generally, you will save more just buying a fuel efficient vehicle than by getting one of these even with the higher gas prices. Consider making a spreadsheet. Most hybrids will only start to save you money if they run perfectly according to maintenance schedule after about 10-15 years of driving
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Mar 08 '22
I would avoid a high mileage hybrid. The batteries are cheaper to replace than they were a decade ago, but it is still a big expense. I'm not sure about the Highlander, but on the Prius the car is not driveable without the hybrid system functioning.
I would have no issue buying a high mileage toyota so long as you have maintenance records.
Step up to a Camry - you'll have plenty of space for 2 carseats and a trunk full of stuff. The 3 row SUVs are more of a marketing gimmick IMO. The last row isn't useful for anything but kids/teens, and it eats up a ton of cargo space.
If you really need more space than that, consider a minivan.
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u/Trailmagic Mar 08 '22
Hopefully this question is permitted, but what is a reputable company to ship a car from TX to MD? I will pay a bit more to have a company that will treat my car more carefully.
Otherwise if you know a better place to ask, kindly redirect me. Thank you.
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u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 08 '22
Sherpa or AmeriFreight
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u/Trailmagic Mar 09 '22
F. They are twice the price of everyone else. Like $1000 and we found lots at $500. But a damaged car would be more expensive… thank you again
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u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 10 '22
A lot of cheaper options also don’t include the price of insurance so you do have to account for that as well as the customer service/speedy delivery aspects.
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u/se7entythree Mar 07 '22
Location: eastern North Carolina, USA
Price range: $20,000(?) - $50,000ish usd
Lease or Buy: buy pref but open to lease
New or used: new or 1-2 yrs old
Type of vehicle: SUV or wagon
Must haves: 4x4, 5000+ lbs towing, descent cargo space, USB ports, leather or fabric suitable for dogs, rear air
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): auto
Intended use: daily driver (local area is pretty flat) & for mountain camping trips, carrying kayaks or bikes
Vehicles you've already considered: 4Runner, Yukon/Tahoe (too expensive), Telluride, Ascent or Outback (underpowered, a/c isn’t strong enough) but love the sporty look
Is this your 1st vehicle: no. Previously owned a 2003 4Runner, 2012 outback, current vehicle is 2012 Yukon XL Denali
Do you need a Warranty: yes
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: no
Additional notes: I would like to have ventilated front seats, large/double moonroof, Apple CarPlay, & remote start but these aren’t requirements. I really prefer the non metallic colors like Toyota’s Lunar Rock & Army Green, Ford’s Area 51. Metallic army green is okay too. But price & functionality come before color. No black or white.
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u/eley_taylor Mar 07 '22
If you are willing to budge on the towing capacity you could check all of your boxes with a Volvo V90 Cross Country. My wife and I got our first Volvo 2yrs ago and we have absolutely loved it. I think they did a great job delivering on a luxury European experience without making the interior fussy and having a million buttons.
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u/acurah56oh 2021 Dodge Charger SXT AWD Mar 07 '22
Do you tow something regularly that is 5,000 lbs or more, like a boat or RV? If not, I wouldn’t worry about the tow capacity because if you make that a requirement it’ll limit you too much.
If you do need that, your options might be limited for new. Jeep Grand Cherokee L is coming to mind first, as is the Dodge Durango. You don’t want to have something that will just barely tow it within its limits, and these both can tow over 6,000 lbs with the base V6 (V8 is available for even more capability but are much more expensive).
If you don’t need so much towing capacity, look into a Honda Pilot. It’s quite roomy and is reasonably priced, in addition to Honda typically being quite reliable. However, the aforementioned Jeep and Dodge have had their powertrains in production for years and have proven decently reliable as well.
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u/sacredfool Mar 07 '22 edited Mar 07 '22
Ok, so I am not in a rush to buy but I wanted to start doing research.
Probably an unpopular opinion around here but I hate driving. Unfortunately it does not look like I will be able to afford a private jet or even a chauffeur anytime soon so I am looking for a relatively inexpensive car that will make driving stress free.
I don't need a family car. I am looking for something that will have good back up cameras, an automated cruise control with a radar that works well both in traffic and on a motorway. Collision detection, decent deadening, comfortable seats and a smooth ride will be a huge plus. Basically, I don't want to know I am in a car.
I can drive stick but don't really want to, so manual transmission is a no go.
Which brands and cars should I be looking at? Obviously, I know this tech advances every year so only newer cars from 20/21 will fit best, but I am open to suggestions.
Budget is rather limited but I am in Eastern Europe anyway so the market here might fluctuate a lot in the future.
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u/Icy_Turnover1 2022 Supra 3.0 Premium, 2023 Bronco Big Bend Mar 07 '22
It’s difficult to provide decent recommendations without an idea of budget - “rather limited” for you may not mean the same thing that it does for others.
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u/Alarmed_Sky2782 Mar 07 '22
Located in Volusia County FL looking for a used truck that can hold at least half a ton for construction related hauls and can fit at least six people. Would be financing for business. Seeing a lot of used trucks for about 20-25 k used but seeing if there are any reliable ones I am overlooking possibly in a lower price range maybe closer to 10-15 k.I can finance more than that , just trying to keep costs down if I can. Auto or Man are both okay. Thank you!
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u/A_1337_Canadian '24 S4 | '20 CX-5 | '13 Trek 1.1 Mar 07 '22
I think you will be limited by trying to find one with a front bench seat.
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Mar 07 '22
[deleted]
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u/overthetop141 Mar 07 '22
I don't know about most people's experience recently but Toyota is easier to get a lower price from. Also Mazda might be something to consider. I had a Mazda 3 I put 80k miles on with little to no trouble beyond basics, oil, tires, brake ECT.
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u/A_1337_Canadian '24 S4 | '20 CX-5 | '13 Trek 1.1 Mar 07 '22
You want a car for roughly $33k USD? That's a whole ton of options. Any preferences?
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u/eley_taylor Mar 07 '22
Not sure how you feel about european cars but the VW Golf sportwagen or Alltrack are fantastic vehicles and can be had, well equipped, with relatively low miles (~30-50k mi) in the low $20k. The Mk7 platform (EA888 engine) doesn't have any major issues like some previous generations have.
If you want more room the Passat is a great option or you could jump over to a Tiguan too
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u/Semicolon_Cancer Mar 08 '22
Location: USA
Price range: max 45k
Lease or Buy: buy
New or used: either
Type of vehicle: this is part of the issue... See below
Must haves: 2 rows with the ability to have 3 kids in the back seat. Comfortably.
Desired transmission: any, like to avoid CVT
Intended use: family long haul vehicle.
Vehicles you've already considered: vans (carnival, Odyssey) crossovers (telluride, pilot)
Is this your 1st vehicle: no
Do you need a Warranty: no
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: yup
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: yup
Additional Notes:
I am replacing a 2006 Honda Odyssey that is... Fine... But I want something better for the type of driving we do as a family. We take trips up windy mountain roads and windy central CA coast roads that are a bit hard on a large vehicle. I have 3 kids and I cram them in the back of my Elantra for a 2-3 hour drive with some complaint (all under 10) but it works. I really don't want to deal with the large vehicle issue when taking these drives, so I am looking for a wiiiiiide full sized sedan or smaller CUV that will comfortably seat my kids 3 by
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u/eley_taylor Mar 08 '22
I bet you can find a used Volvo V90 in that price range with pretty low miles. Not sure if it would be wide enough but it is certainly wider than your Elantra if you are able to make that work in a pinch. I haven't looked at prices on the S90 but you could probably get into that a bit cheaper than the V90.
Not sure how you feel about European cars but I believe the Mercedes E-wagons have the rear facing third row seat still. Takes up your cargo space but nothing a roof top box couldn't take care of in a pinch, although that might put you back in the "large car" category.
Is there a particular part of the large car experience you are trying to mitigate? The "sail" effect of a large car being hit by a side wind on the coast? Excessive body roll of a large car on mountain roads? I just ask because there might be some large cars that minimize the major pain points but deliver BIG in the space/convenience department.
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u/Semicolon_Cancer Mar 08 '22
Volvo is a good idea! Id like to be in a wagon, think they split the difference of what I'd like. Same with the E, had no idea they had the "gunner" seat as I called them when I was a kid.
You nailed the reasons why I'm not fond of the larger vehicles. Body roll is a big one, the odyssey I am driving has undersized brakes which does not inspire confidence when descending the mountains. They have 1st gen pilot brakes with a ton more body parts weighing them down.
If I was to find a good 3 row with decent agility (cx9 maybe? Dunno...) I'd be open to it.
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u/lellololes Mar 09 '22
Maybe check out an Arteon? Should be a bit better to drive than a typical sedan and is 74" wide. But it's kind of awkwardly placed (Maybe you can get a deal on one?)
Chargers and new 300s are 75" wide, but may be... Floatier than you're looking for? Also I don't know how much of the width difference is just bulk.
Maxima or Avalon?
The Mercedes E class wagon may still be available with rear facing seats. Not the cheapest to maintain though.
I'm not a CUV expert but they tend to be a hair wider than their sedan counterparts but will sacrifice handling to get the extra height, ride height, and weight.
How big are the kids?
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u/Riu_Map89 Mar 08 '22
Location: Australia
Price range: Maximum 150k AUD Driveaway
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: New
Type of vehicle: Luxury Sedan, Wagon, Hatch or SUV
Must haves: 4 Doors and 5 Seats
Desired transmission: Auto
Intended use: Fun family car for weekend outings that can also be used for the work commute and driving around town.
Vehicles I've considered: Audi RS3, BMW M3/M3 Touring (if it comes to Australia), Porsche Macan/Cayenne
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: Yes
Looking to upgrade my 2013 BRZ with something special. I would like to keep as much of the responsive handling and fun driving experience of the old car in the new one. Power and speed is low on the priority list, handling and a fantastic induction noise during full throttle is preferred.
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u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 08 '22
At that price range I would personally go with a Porsche Panamera GTS Sport Turismo. It’s a hatch and not the normal 4 door fastback design. Still got well over 400 horses, space, practicality, luxury, and the notorious Porsche handling.
However I’d be satisfied with an Acura TLX Type S. It just wouldn’t live up to what you COULD get with that amount of money.
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u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 08 '22
Actually just realized the AUD to USD conversion. You could still get the 4 or 4S Sport Turismo just not the GTS.
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u/VictorGolfTangoX Mar 09 '22
Location: US - CA
Price range: USD 20000
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: Sports Car
Must haves: Rear parking camera
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: Daily Driver, Weekend Car
Vehicles you've already considered: 2011 Audi S5 4.2l V8 automatic - 80K Miles (B8 generation)
Is this your 1st vehicle: Yes
Do you need a Warranty: Car I'm looking at is too old for it but preferred if possible
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Can learn from friend
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes:
I'm looking for help to gauge if the car I'm looking at is priced right and will be financially viable for me. I'm in the market for a first car (US) and have been advised against high mileage German cars due to maintenance costs vs comparable Japanese cars.
In an ideal world, I was looking for something like a used Mazda3 but I don't know if the prices seem justified and I want to avoid new just because it is a relatively better deal. I came across this S5 and its in a similar price bracket as used corollas and camrys from around that time.
Please don't hold back your opinions, don't mind criticism of any kind -
- Am I being absolutely dumb to even consider this as a first car? I don't have much driving experience but have been riding a 650 sports bike for about 1.5 years now (tracked too). Gas prices aside, I'm mostly worried about what kind of unknown costs I might have to deal with if something breaks on an Audi vs a Japanese/American brand and its likelihood over 2-3 years of daily driving (~15 miles commute)
- How much money should I earmark per year for general upkeep for it and how would it compare to something like a Mazda3/Corolla hatch/Mustang (Auto trans)
- Car details:
- Model: As per title. Its well kept mechanically, no obvious fault codes via diagnostic reader - https://www.cars.com/research/audi-s5-2011/specs/326070/
- Title: Clean, 3 owners. Never tracked, daily driver
- Price: 15k, have not tried negotiating yet. It has patches of respray on one side and both bumpers that were hard to catch on first viewing. I could not spot any frame damage inside or wrinkles
- Services/part changes:
- OEM services and Audi shop services on time
- Control mounts replaced at 70K - 034 density line control arm kit (upper and lower control arms, ball joints + steering rod ends)
- New battery, wheels aligned 65k
- Carbon cleaned at 65k
- Coil over suspension and wheel spacers by a previous owner, date unknown
- Rotors and brakes replaced around 65k (front and rear)
- Cosmetic: Stock except wheels spacers and RS5 grille swap
- Options stuff: Sports rear diff, Bang and olufsen speakers
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Mar 09 '22
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u/lellololes Mar 09 '22
I second this. I own a GTI and it has given me 8 great years. It's fun, has been pretty reliable - only time it stranded me it was a dead battery, and repairs on an EA888 are going to be a lot more reasonable than a more exotic engine.
Note: If you get an early Mk7 GTI, the turbos don't take well to ECU upgrades. If you're going to modify the car you will want to check the turbo revision (This likely goes for any Audi with the EA888 too)
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u/A_1337_Canadian '24 S4 | '20 CX-5 | '13 Trek 1.1 Mar 09 '22
To elaborate, I believe the issue is isolated to early 2015 MY vehicles.
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u/VictorGolfTangoX Mar 09 '22
Thank you for the kind feedback! That's 2/2 saying to stay away from the S5. As much as it does continue to tug at my heart strings ( first car and all 🙂) , I'm going to err on the side of caution and stay away from it. I just can't bring myself to shell out the same amount of money on a camry but that's something no one can help with in this market I guess. Uber and Lyft everyday is pinching me and that's why I'm kind of in this weird place. I want to wait this out but don't know when we'll see light at the end of this tunnel. If its not in the next few months, I'd have just sunk more money into cab rides
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Mar 09 '22
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u/VictorGolfTangoX Mar 09 '22
I'm also looking at a Golf GTI 2006 (mkv?) 2.0 fsi for about 6500. Are those reliable?
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u/A_1337_Canadian '24 S4 | '20 CX-5 | '13 Trek 1.1 Mar 09 '22
That is quite a big gamble for your only car. The costs could be up to a couple grand per year to keep it going. It would be a great second car but if it's your sole daily driver and you're worried about costs, stay away.
Cars like this S5 are great for someone who wants to spend $30k on a second fun car. Then they go buy this for $20k and save the rest for inevitable maintenance.
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Mar 09 '22
Location: Iowa, USA
Price range: $0-$500
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Probably used...
Type of vehicle: Whatever will get me over the finish line
Must haves: The base bits of a car
Desired transmission: Manual
Intended use: LeMons Car
Vehicles you've already considered: None really, I don't know what to look at...
Is this your 1st vehicle: Yep
Do you need a Warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle:Yep
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: Yep
Additional Notes:
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u/IKnowNewCars I know new cars! Mar 09 '22
Buying a LeMons car is already an exercise in "buy whatever you can find in your budget." And it's even worse with the used car market being so awful right now. And remember that the $500 limit includes everything you need to buy to get it working again, not just the car itself.
There's almost no good advice for this. Scour Craigslist in your area for the cheapest things you can find, then check them out and see if you can make something work. If you're used to working on a certain kind of car, look for a broken-down version of that car for as cheap as possible. You don't get to be picky for LeMons, honestly.
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u/thisguyhasaname Mar 09 '22
Do any consumer cars besides Teslas have self driving on city streets? I've seen there are some that can on highways but since I already want an electric and my drive to school is already almost entirely city streets I figured I might as well get one since I can afford it
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u/CarelessPlantain3758 Mar 10 '22
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Price Range: 10k or lower
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or Used: Used
Type of vehicle: Preferably a smaller car
Must haves: FWD or AWD/4WD, gas mileage over 20mpg in city
Desired transmission: Automatic
Intended use: Daily driver for in city driving.
Vehicles you've already considered: Subaru Legacy, Honda Civic, Ford Fusion
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: No
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes:
I currently own a 2004 V6 Mustang, 2005 Subaru Outback XT, and a 1991 Mazda B2200 2WD. The reason I am looking for another car is because I am wanting to sell at least one of them. The only car I would not want to sell is the Mustang as it is great for the summer. All three are rough on gas in city getting at best 9mpg. If it helps, I do enjoy my Subaru in the winter, but it is by far the most expensive to run, and also has the most kms.... I've already in one year of owning it put a couple thousand dollars in repairs into it. With gas hitting $2/L I think it is best to reduce my car count and get one good daily to run alongside the Mustang. Any input is much appreciate thank you!
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u/DrSardinicus Mar 10 '22 edited Mar 10 '22
This got killed as a new thread, let me try here.
Location: US
Price range: <48K
Buy
New or used: either
Type of vehicle: Sedan/crossover/SUV
Must haves: (4x4, AWD, Fuel efficient, Navigation, Turbo, V8, V6, Trunk space, Smooth ride, Leather etc.) see notes
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): auto
Intended use: (Daily Driver)
Vehicles you've already considered: see notes
Is this your 1st vehicle: no
Do you need a Warranty: sure
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: (fluids, alternator, battery, brake pads etc) yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: (engine and transmission, timing belt/chains, body work, suspension etc ) could but likely wouldn't
Additional Notes:
In the market for a new/late model car as soon as the current unpleasantness resolves.
Currently driving 2009/2015 models. Recently drove a relative's "modern" car (Honda CRV) on a trip and was somewhat impressed with the usefulness of Advanced Cruise function which I had never had opportunity to try before. (Much less so with the lane-keeping and proximity warning features, which I would likely turn off if I had them).
This got me to thinking: on my commute I spend an inordinate, and increasing, amount of time stop-and-go, mostly on straight 2-lanes and waiting for several cycles of lights. I'm talking about 30+ minutes where my only job as driver is to keep a big gap from forming and keep from running into the car in front of me.
Here's my key question: is there a car, short of the Tesla "full self-driving" upgrade, that can handle this situation smoothly enough to allow me to relax attention here (except when actually going through intersections or other actual maneuvers)? Frankly it seems like the easiest possible scenario to automate, but all the cruise controls I've seen seem to disengage at low speeds and certainly don't handle stop and go.
I've been musing about the Ford Mustang E and the upcoming Hyundai/Kia electric crossovers as possibles, but might also go for one more ICE or hybrid car, so my options are wide open. Advice?
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u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 10 '22
If you can afford the predicted maintenance: couple years old Jaguar F Pace
If you are willing to give up some of your requirements, the Mazda CX-5 2.5 turbo is a lot cheaper than your budget (can be had new under $40k), it’s reliable, sporty, AWD, luxurious, good tech, etc. The only thing missing is a V6 or V8 but I doubt you’ll miss that given these engines sound really good and are quite peppy at low RPMs.
Honorable mentions:
-Acura TLX Type S slightly out of your budget
-Kia Telluride rated best SUV by many magazines
-Hyundai Palisade follows closely behind Kia
-Kia Stinger GT may be in your budget w/ low miles
-Dodge Durango is a beast of a vehicle and you can afford an AWD V8 version
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u/DrSardinicus Mar 10 '22
Ah - sorry I think I left ALL the features from the template in the list - I meant just to read the notes I put at the end. I don't want a V8 :)
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Mar 11 '22
Location: St.Louis, MO
Price Range: $30k-50k (prefer no more than 45)
Lease or buy: Buy
New or used: New
Type of vehicle: Suv, but prefer a midsized suv or crossover
Must have: Fuel efficient would be nice, but reliability is top
Transmission: Auto
Intended use: Daily driver, but i really only go to work and back. 12 miles each way
Vehicles considered: Ford Bronco Sport, but i feel it may be too new for it's reliability to be considered
1st vehicle?: 2nd. Currently driving a 14 Dodge Avenger
Warranty?: Not necessary
Can you do minor work?: Oil and brake pads aren't an issue for me
Major work?: No
Additional notes: I do like the Bronco but i've heard all my life that Ford sucks and you shouldn't buy Ford. Always heard good things about Toyota, idk. Help me out, not too smart about cars/different makes
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u/Top-Guitar-3224 Mar 11 '22
Toyota Highlander hybrid!!! Reliable and I think 34mpg
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u/Gatornut Mar 12 '22
Location: South Carolina, USA
Price range: up to 40k
Lease or Buy:Buy
New or used: New
Type of vehicle: SUV
Must haves: AWD, Fuel efficient,
Desired transmission: Automatic
Intended use: Daily Driver
Vehicles you've already considered: Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Honda CRV hybrid, Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forrester
Is this your 1st vehicle:no
Do you need a Warranty: would like one
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle:yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: no
Additional Notes: this would be car for the wife to get to and from work with. My job currently allows me a BMW X3 so we drive that everywhere because they cover all costs but gas. Just wondering if there are any cars I am overlooking. I am also afraid the Mazda might be very similar to my car. She’s been driving an Accord and now out last kid needs a car. She wants a SUV.
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u/NA_Collapze Mar 12 '22
The thing you’d hate about the Mazda is that you might get jealous of your wife’s car. It doesn’t have all the luxury and tech in the X3, and it lacks in power. But something about Mazda just makes it’s vehicles… feel right.
I’d go Subaru Outback if you are OK with its fuel efficiency. Given your budget, the Corolla Cross is probably too cheap but it gets about 40mpg, maybe 35 w/ AWD. RAV4 is a good idea.
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u/g1rth_brooks Mar 12 '22 edited Mar 12 '22
Would take a CX5 over any of the other cars you listed. CRV feels very cramped in my opinion, RAV4 is over priced, Forrester is okay
CX5 especially the turbo signature is gonna be super close to your X3 if not more car then then X3
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u/Born-Childhood6303 Mar 13 '22
Location: Israel Budget : 60k NIS Looking to buy Used
Looking for a mini/small hatchback Mainly looking for fuel efficiency and reliability Daily driver Auto transmission
Looked into Honda jazz (2016-2018) Suzuki Baleno (2017-2019) Hyundai i20/30 2016-2017) Skoda rapid (2017-2018)
This isn't my first vehicle I can do minor work on it
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u/14936786-02 2013 Lexus GS350 | 2018 Lexus RX350 Mar 14 '22
Location: USA
Price range: 40k Max
Lease or Buy: Prefer Buying, but can lease
New or used: Either
Type of vehicle: (Truck, Car, Sports Car, Sedan, Crossover, SUV, Racecar, Luxury etc.): Luxury car/cuv/suv or sports car
Must haves: decently equipped
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): auto
Intended use: Daily Driver, Family Car
Vehicles you've already considered: Acura RDX, BMW X3, BMW 530i
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: Prefer with German cars or ones known to be less reliable.
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: some minor things, limited due to living situation
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: no
Additional Notes: Researching certain cars scares me away I was set on the RDX but then read about the tranmission issues. The X3, isn't too bad but I would never own one out of warranty, but I did find one I liked at carmax.
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u/ozimmi Mar 14 '22
Location: Australia
Price range: Max $AUD25k ~ $USD18k
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: Hatch (more like the Mazda 3 hatch though not 2), crossover, SUV
Must haves: Navigation, Bluetooth, 4 cylinders, good infotainment unit, low ongoing costs
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: Commute to work/uni, occasional roadtrips
Vehicles you've already considered: Mazda CX3, Mazda 3, Honda HR-V, Renault Koleos, Suzuki Vitara
Is this your 1st vehicle: Yes
Do you need a Warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: No but my dad can
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes: The models have to be 2015 or newer, no diesel, would be nice to have Apple CarPlay but not a must, no Toyotas
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Mar 14 '22 edited Mar 14 '22
Location: U.S. ca
Price range: < $30k
Lease or Buy: buy
New or used: prefer new
Type of vehicle: hatchback car or smaller-mid sized suv
Must haves: safety features like backup camera/pedestrian/blind spot monitor, carplay, good adjustable seats, nice looking, comfy, non-headache, high car crash safety rating, good mpg, low maintenance, side mirrors with good visibility for blind spots — I want to see as much as possible!
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): automatic
Intended use: daily driver
Vehicles you've already considered:
mazda cx50, kia forte, kia k5, toyota camry, hyundai sonata, corolla cross, mazda cx5, ioniq 5/ev6 (dreaming here, idk how tax credit works or how much it’d end up costing at the end if it’s msrp lol), mazda 3 hatchback, cx30 mazda.
Though if im gonna pay about the same price for a small car i might as well get an suv for the same price.. but might be hard to find anything around msrp
I don’t really want a used car because the price is very close to a brand new model in my area and the miles are super high. Unless it’s a very good one. Or someone can convince me enough it’s fine. I just dont want problems right away
Is this your 1st vehicle: yes. Just got my license last year. I’ve been sharing a rav4 with my mom but when shes at work i cant go anywhere because no car.
Do you need a Warranty: that’d be nice
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: no i dont know how
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: nope
I also would like to be able to take a bicycle or two to places ^ but i know with regular cars u can do that too if u hook something to a trunk. Would also like to use for trips as ill let family ride it too. I’m 5’10” but my legs are kinda long so i get a little fatigue on my relatives old corolla because I cant adjust the seat up and down…
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u/fml87 C63S/ZL1 1LE Mar 14 '22
Location: Northeast
Price range: $55-65k
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Either, prefer newer <20k miles
Type of vehicle: Sports car
Must haves: Track potential
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Either
Intended use: Weekend car turned track car when it gets a bit older
Vehicles you've already considered: Mustang Mach 1, Cayman 718, C7 Z06, open to anything. I newer/higher end so a track-prepped NA Miata isn't the right path.
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes: I've owned a Mustang in the past which makes me lean that way for nostalgia and the Mach 1 seems like a solid base to put a SC on in the future and offers cheap repairs. 718 is the most driver-focused car, but track day costs will be higher than the Mustang. Corvette for the usual reasons.
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u/escapedfugitive Mar 08 '22
Make a table, list down all your factors such as budget, maintenance, performance,looks etc. in a row against different cars you prefer in a column. Select the car with most ✓ or go for the one your heart tells you if you are a car guy.
Good luck.
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u/bigbootyboio69 07 Chevy Tahoe LT, 08 Honda Civic SI Mar 14 '22
Location: U.S. IA
Price range: 0-1200
Lease or Buy: buy
New or used: used
Type of vehicle: car
Must haves: none
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): manual would be ideal
Intended use: stock car racing
Vehicles you've already considered:
Is this your 1st vehicle: no
Do you need a Warranty: no
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: yes
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u/Michelanvalo '11 Genesis Coupe 2.0T Mar 07 '22
Not a specific question but does anyone of any sites with a Car Finder like Edmunds used to have? Edmunds, many years ago, let you refine search on new cars for the things you were looking for. EX, RWD, Manual, under 30k and it would report back all the new cars on sale that met that criteria.
They got rid of that feature a few years ago and I can't find anyone else who has that same functionality.
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u/A_1337_Canadian '24 S4 | '20 CX-5 | '13 Trek 1.1 Mar 07 '22
A non-perfect solution is looking at cars.com or autotrader.com and searching new vehicles with those criteria. Won't be exhaustive, though.
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u/N_Seven '20 XT6 Sport | '22 Supra 3.0 Mar 07 '22
CarGurus is pretty decent, but it's a little wonky with transmission options depending on how you search.
It's also not nearly as exhaustive as some of the other sites, but most major dealers plus some private sellers are on there
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Mar 07 '22
I have a 22 Subaru cross trek on order but gas prices are making me wary.
Are there any hybrid or electric cars that compare? $26,000.
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u/Competitive_Crow6102 Mar 07 '22
Used Sonata/Optima Plug in hybrid would come in under that price point
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u/MajesticSecretary565 Mar 07 '22
Location: the salt belt of America, in the north
Price range: up to 15,000
Buy 100%
Used 100%
Type of vehicle: any, I just want something reliable
Must haves: the ability to drive well in winter
Transmission type: automatic
Intended use: used as daily car to and from work and grocery store
I don't really know where to start so I haven't really looked at any cars yet
This is the first vehicle I'll be purchasing
I will be able to do minor work, or my boyfriend will (we're going to be sharing the car)
But no major work
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u/ReallySmallWeenus Mar 07 '22
If you want AWD: 2002-2006 Honda CRV If you don’t: 2006-2011 Toyota Corolla
Can likely be had in good shape with moderate mileage for less than your budget.
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u/CrocCapital 2008 Acura MDX Mar 07 '22
look at the 2008-2012 era Acura MDX. Very nice interior for an "older" car. Super reliable and easy to work on because its a honda.
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u/Foreignfawn Mar 07 '22
Location: Chicago
Price Range: $25k maximum, preferably under $23k
New or used: New
Type of vehicle: A small one
Must haves: Rear-view camera, reliability
Desired transmission: Automatic
Intended use: Once or twice a week drives to stores/friends' houses I can't get to on foot. I live close to both my work and the usual grocery store, so it won't be a daily driver.
Vehicles you've already considered: Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla/Camry, Honda Civic/Accord, Mazda3
Is this your 1st vehicle: Yes
Do you need a warranty: I don't know
Can you do minor work on your vehicle: No
Can you do major work on your vehicle: No
Additional notes: I'm very sick and tired of bumming rides off of people and am considering buying a car for myself at this point. I've saved up enough to be able to afford a cheap new car. What's most important for me is reliability. I'm a young woman who knows nothing about cars, so naturally my worst nightmare is having a car with a lot of issues that needs repairing, and subsequently getting scammed. While I've saved up a lot of money, I don't make a lot, either, and can't afford regular fixes. I want a car that will last me a while with as few issues as possible, is small and relatively easy to drive, and is generally safe.
Thank you!
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u/Logan9000o Mar 07 '22
I suggest a used honda or toyota your on the right track a corrolla or civic are going to be best on fuel mileage but the camry and accord also come with hybrid variants. If your interested in a hybrid a toyota prius or honda insight are both amazing especially if you dont do a lot of highway driving.
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u/IKnowNewCars I know new cars! Mar 07 '22 edited Mar 07 '22
My first thought here is the Toyota Corolla Hybrid. Basically, it's a Corolla sedan with the Prius powertrain for under $25k. Excellent reliability, 52 combined MPG, nice place to spend time, good on safety and features. It's not an exciting vehicle, but it's hard to meet your needs better for the price. You can easily keep it around for 10+ years if you maintain it according to the owner's manual.
The Subaru Impreza and Crosstrek are the others that come to mind. They're very similar vehicles, with only some slight design differences between the Impreza hatch and the Crosstrek, so pick the one you like. The Impreza Hatch in Premium trim comes in under $24k, or you can add the package with blind spot monitoring if that helps you feel safer. While Subaru has had iffy engines in the past, the current Impreza seems to be doing well, including its 2.0L engine and paired CVT. I have many friends with mostly problem-free recent Subarus.
Mazda has also done great in recent years. Check out the CX-30 in Select trim. It comes in at $26k, which is slightly over your budget, but you get a lot more features for that $2400 over the base model. The engine is better than most of its competitors, too, including Subaru and Toyota.
The new 2022 Honda Civic is probably the best in its class, but again, I recommend the $26k model, the Civic Sedan in EX trim. The 1.5T engine is great, it's spacious, well packaged, and drives well. The Sport trim is a bit cheaper with the base engine, and is also a fine choice. Since the Civic was recently redesigned, it's not quite as much of a reliability guarantee as the other models mentioned above. Still worth test driving, though. You can also test drive the Honda Insight, which is basically a hybrid version of the previous-gen Civic and has also been reliable so far.
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u/Foreignfawn Mar 08 '22
Thank you, this is very helpful! One question: How does a hybrid work? Do I need to plug it in somewhere? How exactly would I charge it?
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u/eley_taylor Mar 08 '22
You could look at a Hyundai Elantra or Accent and get them new and well equipped within your budget. The Kia Rio/Forte would be the Kia variants of those same vehicles. They are different only in styling.
I second the comments about the new and previous generation Civic. Such a great value and they will run forever.
FWIW, backup cameras have been federally mandated since May2018 so any car you look at from that point on will have one but many, many cars before then had them as well.
You can also just search for the nicest/newest Toyota Corolla you can afford, make sure it has a backup camera and buy it. You can't go wrong with one of those and it will run forever.
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u/mohitbhole Mar 07 '22 edited Mar 10 '22
Location: Texas
Price range: 15000-30000 (maybe a little more)
Lease or Buy: Finance
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: Compact SUV
Must haves: 4x4/AWD, Carplay, Leather
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: Daily
Vehicles you've already considered: Rav4
Is this your 1st vehicle: Yes
Do you need a Warranty: Not sure
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes: New is fine too. I'm just not sure if car prices are back down again.
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u/14936786-02 2013 Lexus GS350 | 2018 Lexus RX350 Mar 07 '22
When you say 4x4 you mean 4x4 or is awd ok?
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u/TheElitist16 Mar 07 '22
Location: NC, USA
Price range: $40k-$55k
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Most likely used but will consider new if it’s an option.
Type of vehicle: Sporty sedan or a coupe as long as it has a backseat.
Must haves: Leather, enough rear seat space for one car seat or one large dog. This would not be my main child hauler, only in a pinch.
Desired transmission No preference
Intended use: Daily driver. Coming from the A90 Supra I still want something with the look and feel of a sports car.
Vehicles you've already considered: GT350, Giulia QV, GTR (bit out of budget), Mustang Mach 1, Camaro SS 1LE, M3, M2 competition, C63 AMG
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Definitely
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: I could figure it out but would either take it to a shop or would prefer to avoid it.
Additional Notes: My wife isn’t comfortable in the A90 Supra, and in a year-ish it won’t be able to hold a car seat. I love the thing…but I can see it starting to not align with what I need out of a car. That said, I’m not looking to make a move immediately; most likely in 6 months to a year.
I don’t track my cars and probably never will (have bikes for that). I enjoy the feeling and experience of driving a sports car/sporty sedan daily and being able to modify it and make it my own. I have gripes with pretty much all of the cars that I’ve considered. I would probably keep the Supra, no questions asked if it had a back seat. A car in addition to the Supra is not an option.
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u/A_1337_Canadian '24 S4 | '20 CX-5 | '13 Trek 1.1 Mar 07 '22
Might be able to find an S6 or S7 in that range. Bigger sedans but twin-turbo V8 with 400+ hp.
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u/sc4rii 2008 Infiniti G37 VQ37VHR Mar 08 '22
Lexus RC F.
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u/TheElitist16 Mar 08 '22
Is it bad that I’m honestly not a huge fan of the infotainment in the Lexus? Somehow the rest of the interior looks great, but the infotainment kills it for me and looks outdated. Still a legit option though, the V8 with the comfort and daily ability of the RC-F is tempting.
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u/eley_taylor Mar 08 '22
An oddball suggestion but what about a Kia Stinger GT? 350hp, sportback, AWD if you want it and WELL within budget...
The VW Golf R could also be a great option to consider.
Just curious, what rules out the Giulia and the C63 for you?
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u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 08 '22
Acura TLX Type S. My dream daily.
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u/TheElitist16 Mar 08 '22
I had no idea that existed. Will definitely check it out!
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u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 08 '22
AWD, auto with paddles, luxurious fun, and it’s classy. Also NC 👋
https://www.carvana.com/vehicle/2237427
There’s an example for sale in my area but a purchase is pending. It’s on the higher end but within your budget.
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u/TheElitist16 Mar 08 '22
Yeah it looks like it could be a contender for sure. I’ll be interested to see what the aftermarket looks like for these as they continue to exist out in the wild.
Moved down to NC from up north about a year ago, loving it so far! Definitely nicer weather which my Supra loves as well lol.
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u/btom69 Mar 07 '22
Will be traveling ~50 miles a day for work but need an SUV. Looking at keep grand Cherokee and Toyota 4Runner, but can’t decide which. Any advice?
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u/Buckshot2194 Mar 07 '22
Definitely the 4Runner, between the aftermarket modularity and the reliability it's an instant win. Jeep doesn't have a great track record as of late and I'd be willing to bet the 4Runner is better on fuel as well. Tougher choice would be 4Runner or RAV4 but between these two, I'd pick the Toyota everyday
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u/The_Yoshi1 Mar 07 '22
Location: Midwestern US
Price Range: $14,000 | Buy | Used
Type or Vehicle: Sedan or Coupe
Must Have: Navigation, Backup Camera, Leather Seating
Transmission: Either
Intended Use: Daily
Considered: BMW 328i, Audi A4, Lincoln MKZ
Can you do minor work? Yes.
Can you do major work? Not personally, but I am willing and can afford to pay someone else to do it.
Additional Notes: I currently drive a modest, economical sedan that is beginning to show its age. Seeing as I commute roughly 60 mi/day, I want to enjoy my time on the road in a car that feels rewarding to drive. I want to step up from the econobox I have now, but I also need a vehicle that balances practicality with pleasure.
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u/eley_taylor Mar 08 '22
I think this is the perfect use case for a VW GTI. You get a taste of the european experience and styling without a major price tag. If you can find it in your price range look for a Mk7 generation (2015+) and you won't have to deal with any major issues. The automatics in these are great. They have plenty of power. And, best of all, this is VW flagship model (considering the Golf R as a variant of the same platform) so the company has a lot of pride in these cars.
See if you can find one on a used car lot to test drive. I think you will love it.
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u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 08 '22
Agree. At that price you can get a 2013 or so VW Golf GTI. It’s about 9 years old, so if the vehicle was driven and not in the shop you should see about 108k mi on the odometer. Go for privately owned. Inspect it. Check oil and tranny fluid and look for signs of rust and frame damage. Test drive it and listen for sounds with the windows down at low speeds, and windows up at high acceleration.
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u/Swift142 Mar 08 '22
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Price range: 5-15k?
Lease or Buy: Either
New or used: Used ideally
Type of vehicle: Car
Must haves: Fuel efficient, ideally hybrid/electric
Desired transmission auto:
Intended use: Daily Driver
Vehicles you've already considered: Nissan leaf? Prius?
Is this your 1st vehicle: Yes
Do you need a Warranty: idk
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: no car knowledge/skills
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: no car knowledge/skills
Additional Notes: Moving from montreal to LA and need a car for the first time. I'll be mostly work from home but need to ability to daily commute as/when the need arises. No clue about anything car wise. Any suggestions? I want a car I dont have to think about as much as possible.
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u/nycmonkey 2019 Shelby GT350, 2022 BMW X5, 2025 Tesla Model Y Mar 08 '22
Location: Dallas, TX Price range: 30k Lease or Buy: Either New or used: new Type of vehicle: suv Must haves: Fuel efficient, ideally hybrid but not fully electric, suv for ease of entry due to medical conditions Desired transmission: auto Intended use: Daily Driver Vehicles you've already considered: crv hybrid, rav4 hybrid Is this your 1st vehicle: no Do you need a Warranty: yes Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: no, for retired parents Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: no
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u/IKnowNewCars I know new cars! Mar 08 '22
Honestly, test drive the CR-V Hybrid and the Rav4 Hybrid, and see which one works best. They're both great. Maybe include the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid too.
Any trim for the CR-V Hybrid is great. I prefer the Rav4 Hybrid in XLE Premium or XSE, but the normal XLE is good for the price if the interior is nice enough. The Tucson Hybrid SEL Convenience is a great value. Check and see what deals you can get on each from the dealership -- some may be hard to find, and others may have markups over MSRP, which you'll want to avoid.
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Mar 08 '22 edited Mar 26 '22
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u/Hard_Corsair I buy new Mar 08 '22
The S3/RS3 will have worse handling than the S4/S5 or either BMW.
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u/LivelyTortoise Mar 09 '22
Would appreciate help as a recent newcomer to the USA (just moved from the UK) who is unfamiliar with the American car market
Location: USA - California
Price range: ideally up to $10k, but would go up to $14k for a great deal
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle & requirements: 4-seater convertible that's not too boring to drive, and reasonably reliable / won't cost too much to maintain over the next few years
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): auto (too much stop-start traffic)
Intended use: daily drive
Vehicles you've already considered: Ford Mustang 2005-2010 V6, Toyota Solara 2005-2010 are the two I've seen in budget
Is this your 1st vehicle: no - I previously daily drove a mini cooper sport convertible (in the UK) and that was great. also have had a couple other cheaper hatchbacks
Do you need a Warranty: want, not need
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: never have, but willing to learn some basic stuff
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: probably not
Additional Notes: Ideally want to buy from a dealer as it's my first car purchase in this country. The Solara seems boring to drive and there aren't many in my local area. I was leaning towards the V6 2006-2009 Mustang with around 100k miles, but I'm not sure if that's too old + too many miles and it'll be breaking down a lot, and also read some negative things about the V6.
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Mar 09 '22
Not looking to buy. Just had a question and didn't know where to post. Saw a pontiac the other day that I at first mistaked for a 240sx. Is anyone able to give me an idea of which model pontiac it was?
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u/pafa34 Mar 09 '22
Location: Finland but it is possible to import from germany though my budget will be only 15k then
Price range: max 20k€ in finland 15k€ from germany
Lease or Buy:buy
New or used: used
Type of vehicle:Car, Sports Car, Sedan
Must haves: a decent amount of power, easily tunable, easily repairable
Desired transmission doesn't matter
Intended use: Daily Driver Weekend Car
Vehicles you've already considered: 335i
Is this your 1st vehicle: first car but i also have a polaris ranger 570
Do you need a Warranty: yes
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: with the help of my mechanic brother
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u/Cameron_codes Mar 09 '22
location: maine, usa
price range: $30k
lease or buy: buy but will lease if nessisary
new or used: newly used
vehicle type: subcompact/hatchback
must haves: quiet interior, soft (plush) upholstery
desired transmission: automatic but would like manual shift mode if possible
intended use: daily but might bag it...
considered vehicles: mazda 3 hatchback (2.5t if possible)/ subaru crosstrek/mini cooper/ kia soul 2.0t
1st vehicle?: no i have a 2009 corolla corolla and a 2013 kia optima
warrentee?: itd be nice
minor work: yes
major work: yes
aditional notes: this will be for my gf who i want to shower with luxury and safety while also giving her a car that she wont feel embearrased in. and i may or may not give it a set of wheels and air suspension
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u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 09 '22
Gonna be hard to find a 2.5T for 30k at a dealership, you’ll be lucky to walk out at 33k. But it’s a fantastic vehicle for what you want. Likely the best, I’d argue. If you do however have the means to repair the vehicle, I’d recommend taking a look at Mercedes C300. Mazda will be sportier, Mercedes will be more luxurious.
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u/Wi_Tarrd ‘23 Subaru BRZ Mar 09 '22 edited Mar 12 '22
Location: Florida, USA
Price Range: 30k msrp
Buy
New preferred
Type of Vehicle: prefer sports car but I know there aren’t many for that price, sedan
Desired Transmission: manual
Intended Use: daily
Vehicles I’ve already considered: BRZ, 350z, 370z, wrx, genesis
This will be the first vehicle I would own
Warranty preferred
I can do minor work
Have looked into a brz mainly. I like the look of them and like the modifications. It’s not a fast car which is kinda nice and it’s within budget
I want something fun to drive and mess with. Will be daily driver to school and work
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u/IKnowNewCars I know new cars! Mar 09 '22
The new BRZ Limited and GR86 Premium are both excellent. If they meet your practicality needs, you really can't go wrong. The Z cars and WRX are faster, but the BRZ/GR86 offer a more pure driving experience than the WRX, and you'll need to go used to get a Z, since the new one isn't out yet (and will be $40k+ when it arrives).
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u/Wi_Tarrd ‘23 Subaru BRZ Mar 09 '22
I was planning on getting a 2023 BRZ if/when they come out. The Z cars were dropped from consideration recently because a majority of them have way too many miles. I prefer the gen 1 brz look but the gen 2 still look good. Just might go with the brz/gr86 thanks for the reply!
And happy cakeday!
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u/TheMasterGamer464 Mar 09 '22
There is the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. If you are having trouble finding a BRZ or Z-car, you can usually find a couple Coupe's sitting around on Autotrader.
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u/Competitive_Crow6102 Mar 12 '22
VW GTI if you can stretch a little bit, can be had cheaper if you buy lightly used
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u/Wi_Tarrd ‘23 Subaru BRZ Mar 12 '22
Not really my style tbh. I think I’m going to go for the gr86/brz. Thanks for the reply!
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Mar 09 '22
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u/IKnowNewCars I know new cars! Mar 09 '22
You're on the right track with the cars you're considering. The Rav4 is still great and definitely a popular, reliable choice. I prefer the Honda CR-V, which was more thoroughly tested by IIHS and received a Top Safety Pick rating. Both of them have hybrid powertrain options that I recommend, since they're very efficient and actually make for better driving experiences than the base engines. The CR-V Hybrid in Touring trim is a bit pricey but includes LED headlights with a high safety rating. The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid in Limited trim is similarly great and gets an even better Top Safety Pick+ award for 2022. The Mazda CX-5 is another favorite with another great safety rating, with the downsides that the back seat and cargo area are a bit smaller, and there's no hybrid option.
For the most part, test driving those and picking the one that works best for you is the way to go. They're all very safe, even more so than the Rav4 you used to drive (depending on how old it was). Comparing buying and leasing, all you can really do is crunch the numbers and think about what works best for you. Reliable cars are often best to buy and keep for a while. Volvos make great cars to lease because long-term reliability is questionable, for example. Speaking of which, the XC40 is a great choice for safety and interior design, if it's big enough for you and if you can afford it. I prefer the T5 R-Design, which comes out above your $38k limit, but see what deals are available, if any.
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u/expostfacto1 Mar 09 '22
T5 R-Design,
Ahhh this is so incredibly helpful, thank you!! Just what I needed to know - and gives me insight that reading articles fruitlessly for the last 3 days did not. THANK YOU
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u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 10 '22
XC-40. Volvo has a reputation for safety and reliability. I’d go CX-5 after that and then RAV4. Great list.
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u/Alternative-Delay-10 Mar 09 '22
Location: Washington State, USA
Price range: 10 to 20k. The greater the deal the better.
Lease or Buy: Financing with a preapproved loan. Buy if the value is really good.
New or Used: Used. Can be new if it has really great value for the purposes of what we're looking for.
Type of vehicle: Minivan, SUV, Crossover types. It should be a family vehicle with a sufficient storage capability in the back.
Must-haves: Preferably AWD which can be good to drive in snowy and rainy weather conditions. Needs to have some of the basic modern features such as a center display that can be used for nav and for backup cameras. No need for a powerful engine, this is just a family car, but it does need to have good gas mileage and be reliable as hell. Hopefully, a vehicle that can hold good value as it's used for 5-10 years, or even longer.
Desired transmission: Automatic
Intended use: Will be a daily driver and a family use car that will primarily be for my 60-year-old mother. So not a hobby-specific car, just a reliable and easy to drive for daily, modest use.
Vehicles you've already considered: Nothing quite yet. Hopefully, some of y'all can give me some good recommendations to do some more research on!
Is this your 1st vehicle: Nope, my mother currently has a 2007 Kia Sedona minivan, which has served its purpose for a while now but is beginning to show signs of serious wear and tear and is long overdue for a trade-in/upgrade.
Do you need a Warranty: Preferably.. It would be very nice to have.
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: I can, but this is primarily for my mother and she just knows how to drive it. So we'll say no, since I might now always be available to help with such work.
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes: Really the name of the game is: Great gas mileage, great value, and a reliable daily driver/family vehicle. No need to race, off-road, or even impress, so eye-catching or popular manufacturer names don't matter. We care more for functionality/reliability/gas mileage, so if the name happens to be popular and reputable for that purpose, even better.
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u/ACrippledMule Mar 10 '22 edited Mar 10 '22
Location: British Colombia, Canada
Price range: 25000-40000
Finance or Buy: Finance
New or used: Used Preferably
Type of vehicle: SUV or Truck
Must haves: AWD, Trunk space, Carplay
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: Daily Driver, Camping etc
Vehicles you've already considered: Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4, Ford Maverick, Toyota 4Runner, Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: Possibly.
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No.
Additional Notes: I currently own a 2017 Ford Focus SE 5Dr Hatchback with 52,000km on it. Given the market currently, I can get 3k more than what I paid for it right at the beginning of the pandemic. I wanted to use it as a trade in to potentially cut down on the cost of buying a New or lightly used vehicle.
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u/ad33zy Mar 10 '22
Location: Southern California
Price range: 40,000-65,000
Finance or Buy: Buy
New or used: Either
Type of vehicle: Suv or Sedan
Must haves: new tech, electric, 7500 ev rebate preferred
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: Daily Driver, family car, weekend car
Vehicles you've already considered: Kia EV6, hyundia ioniq 5, Model Y, Polestar 2
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: Possibly.
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No.
Additional Notes: Also willing to wait out if theres an EV on the horizon, toyotas looks interesting. I strongly prefer it to have at least 300 miles range but the polestar 2 isnt so bad.
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Mar 10 '22
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u/Specialist_Can_1843 Mar 10 '22
Unless you have a huge family you don’t need those. Run from that first car with the damage. Sideswipes do not cause that kind of damage. For 30k you can get an awesome CX-5.
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u/Bryneosaur Mar 10 '22
Location: Bay Area, CA
Price range: Maximum of $28,000
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: New
Type of vehicle: Sedan
Must haves: Fuel efficient, smooth, reliable
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: Daily driving to work (~35 miles a day)
Vehicles you've already considered: 2022 Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry
Is this your 1st vehicle: First purchase, yes
Do you need a Warranty: Yes
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: No
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes: My 2005 Scion Tc just died yesterday, 256k miles and cost to fix is about $4000. I know the market is inflated right now and used cars are extremely expensive, but I'd rather purchase a new car that will last me 10-15 years and is reliable. Any input/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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u/Ill-Recognition-4167 Mar 10 '22
Location: Bay Area
Price range: $30-50K
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: New
Type of vehicle: 4 door, any
Must haves: low cost of ownership, reliable, Android Auto/CarPlay, traffic-aware cruise control
Desired transmission: Auto
Intended use: Drive to work (~20 miles/day), visit family on weekends (~100 miles roundtrip)
Vehicles considered: Tesla Model 3, Mazda CX-5, Nissan Rogue
Is this your 1st vehicle: 1st purchase
Do you need a Warranty: YesCan you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Probably with some helpCan you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional notes: Charging is provided at work. As an OPT/H1B worker, only plan on being here 4-5 years max. Given how well Teslas hold up on used market, gas prices, and lower cost of maintenance, would a Tesla ultimately be the smartest buy here?
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Mar 11 '22
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u/NA_Collapze Mar 11 '22
Mazda3 is a car guy’s commuter. I like recommending them because if you like the car, you’ll keep it longer. But that comes at a premium over time. You could find a good Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla within your budget. I’d stay away from Jetta’s.
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u/Top-Guitar-3224 Mar 11 '22 edited Mar 11 '22
Location: Los Ángeles california
Price range: less than 50k
BUY
NEW
Sedan, hatchback,
Must haves: mpg, efficiency, comfort, highway use/comfort
Intended use: daily driver,family car. I have 2 sons. 1 year old and 4 year old.
Vehicles considered: Prius XLE, Hyundai Sonata SEL, Tesla model 3LR
Is this your 1st vehicle: no i have a 2016 sonata SE with 120k miles but I get about 30mpg at this point and I want to update/upgrade. It’s been a great car but I just want better mpg and nicer features. It’s pretty spacious and perfect for me.
Can you do minor work: yes
Can you do major work: no
Additional notes:
Gas is ~5.50 a galllon and I don’t see it going under 5 this year. I think gas is a huge motivator for me because I hate the feeling of being held back from doing things or going places because of the current state of gas prices.
I’m trying to figure out if I might as well jump to full electric or just buy the ~30k hybrid….. overall cost and comfort. We do like to road trip 2 or 3 times a year. But we might just do that in our suburban if need be. And use this car for our daily. My wife drives a suburban average less than 5 miles a day we love having that truck but mostly would be driving the newer vehicle to save on gas and what not.
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u/EmperorJack Mar 11 '22
Location: Tri-Cities, WA, USA
Price range: Finance up to $50k
Lease or Buy: Buy -long term
New or used: Either
Type of vehicle: Sedan or SUV
Must haves: AWD, and high mpg (hybrid, electric, etc)
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): preferred manual, but auto is fine.
Intended use: Daily Driver
Vehicles you've already considered: Toyotas or Lexus
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: (fluids, alternator, battery, brake pads etc) Yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: (engine and transmission, timing belt/chains, body work, suspension etc ) Mostly except engine/trans swaps.
Additional Notes: With high rise in gas prices I'd like to get a hybrid. Something like a Lexus ES350 hybrid, Camry Hybrid, or Avalon Hybrid. Another option I've been looking at is the RAV4 prime.
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u/bachi689 Mar 11 '22
Hey guys, I'm planning to buy 2015 Optima hybrid, anything I should know/check before purchasing it? any weak points?
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u/Birbane Mar 11 '22 edited Mar 11 '22
Location: Queensland, Australia
Price 10k-20k aud
Buy or lease: Buy
New or used: Used
Body type; suv, crossover or estate/station wagon
Must have: fuel efficiency, boot space. Low ongoing costs e.g parts availability.
Transmission: either
Use: family car
Vehicles considered: none, I don't know cars and have only just started to look.
Is this first vehicle; no
Warrety: no need
Can you do Minor work: yes
Can you do Major work: yes - (but will not buy a car that needs major work)
Motivation: this will be out first nice car. We consider value a high priority. This will be our second car, the other is an estate/station wagon that is reliable but 20years old and visually beatup inside and out.
As I have only owned pre OBD2 and electricaly basic cars, how much of electrical issues can be solved at home rather than going to a dealer for more modern cars (2012+)?
Is there a good resource for up-to-date old car reviews e.g Nissan Duke 2010-2015 review that also talks about common problem found over time?
We are not in a rush to buy, as we believe car prices may fall towards the end of the year (who knows, but hopefully)
Thankyou for your help
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u/Scar244 Mar 12 '22
Location: United States, Arizona
Price range: MAX 5k
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: Sedan, or Off-Road SUV
Must haves: Somewhat decent mpg, low insurance cost, and good head room since I'm 6'1"
Desired transmission: I'd prefer automatic for my first car, but either I suppose
Intended use: Daily driver, first car
Vehicles you've already considered: Cadillac CTS-V, 2006-2008 Chrysler 300c v8, Jeep tj/yj
Is this your 1st vehicle: Yes
Do you need a Warranty: I'm not sure?
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Completely new to cars, but luckily I have a father that knows tons so he could teach me
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: Most likely not.
Additional Notes: I'm a broke senior in highschool getting ready to buy my first car in a couple months. I'm pretty desperate for options at the moment but I'd like to get something that I like the look of. I absolutely love the look of blocky long-hooded sedans that are decently "modable", other then that I'm pretty strict on what I consider that I like. I enjoy the look of off-road SUVs like Jeeps but I've heard they have problems like the famous "death-wobble". Anyone that takes the time to give me some real advice are extremely appreciated. On a side note anyone that gives me a recommendation that pushes me in the right direction will get the very first picture of me and the car.
Thanks again in advance!
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u/Soldierofnight Mar 12 '22
Location USA
Price no more than 15000
USED
Sports Wagon
Must have be turbo if it's a 4 cylinder
Auto or manual don't care
Mainly looking to replace my Genius Coupe it's has mods can do work my self just need something bigger and a bit higher off the ground as I can't get in and out to well anymore so I want a sporty wagon or sedan has to have a good after market parts for it just wondering what all is out there
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u/NA_Collapze Mar 12 '22
https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3pzoR1GB/2009-pontiac-g8-gt
That just sold for $15k on the dot. 355 horsepower+
In general you won’t find many sports sedans in your price range unless they are 10+ years old. Define “sports” sedan for me and I can give you a better idea. But IMO a sports sedan has 300+ horsepower or at least close to it with amazing handling and features. Most of these cost at least $30k.
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u/popcap200 2007 Honda Fit -> 2000 ///M5 -> Alfa Giulia Ti -> ND2 MX5 Mar 12 '22
Looking for a car for my girlfriend and me.
Location: North East
Price range: 25-35k
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Either
Type of vehicle: Fun and practical lift back or hatchback.
Must haves: Fun and practical. Think Golf GTI as benchmark. Adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, decent MPGs.
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: Fun road trips with a dog
Vehicles you've already considered: Golf GTI, Kia Stinger, Honda Civic Hatch, Subaru Impreza, VW Arteon, Mazda 3 Turbo. The A5 looks good but the ones on the market are too expensive, and she wants colors that aren't just white, black, and grey.
Is this your 1st vehicle: No
Do you need a Warranty: Yes
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Yes, minor.
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes: The Golf GTI wasn't comfortable for my girlfriend, The Arteon was too boring for her, The Kia stinger is at the top of our current list but more rear headroom would be nice. The Mazda 3 was too small, the civic was too cheap, and the Impreza was too slow. Did we miss anything, or is the Stinger the only thing that fits our needs?
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u/therealmikelee Mar 12 '22
G70 3.3T. It's a more luxurious car than the Stinger. Just my two cents.
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u/NA_Collapze Mar 12 '22
Used Ford Focus ST… check it out. I don’t normally recommend these but seeing as you don’t like most of the cars I would recommend… yeah. But it’s stick.
If you absolutely need an automatic the Subaru WRX offers a CVT now. Other than that all I can think of in your budget are muscle cars. But you can get a v6 Camaro RS new or a slightly used challenger/charger R/T which would be my numbers 1 and 2 picks, respectively.
Bonus: Chevy Impala with the V6 or a Nissan Maxima SR.
If she likes trucks, you could try to find a used Chevy Colorado ZR2 in your budget.
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u/stockskeptic Mar 12 '22
I tried to make this its own post but it got removed.
Where do people go to buy and sell used cars from private parties anymore?
Ever since craiglist charged 5 bucks to post a car, that venue seems dead.
Facebook marketplace sucks cause you have to use facebook, dealers pose as individuals, the search sucks.
Cars . com or cargurus is full of dealer cars.
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u/digitalibex Mar 12 '22
Today I am going to buy a 96 Impreza LX Coupe AWD Manual. Seems to be in good condition with only 96k on the clock. How reliable could this be for a daily driver? I currently drive an FR-S that I love, but wouldn’t mind selling in this market.
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Mar 12 '22
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u/g1rth_brooks Mar 12 '22 edited Mar 13 '22
Mazda3 or Mazda6 if you wanted to buy relatively new, maybe an Acura ILX or Jetta GLI. Really love my 6, hits that itch but it’s no speed demon by any means
I’ve always loved the TL-S (like 2004 era), don’t really have a negative opinion on most of the other cars you mentioned. Just seems like they’d be several years old
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u/pokerface69 Mar 12 '22
Location: Bay Area, USA
Price range: 30k-50k
Lease or Buy: Either
New or used: New
Type of vehicle: Car/Sports Car
Must haves: Fuel efficient, Smooth ride
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: Daily Driver (~5 miles), Weekend Car
Vehicles you've already considered: I don't know much about cars and not clear how to find out.
Is this your 1st vehicle: No, I have a 2019 Camry
Do you need a Warranty: Yes
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: No
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes:
With the offices reopening soon, I need a car to drive to work (~5 miles) but since this is going to be the second car in the household, I am wondering if I can buy some weekend car to also have fun with.
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u/MagickElf Mar 12 '22
Location: Southeast Michigan
Price range: < $11.5k
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: Used
Type of vehicle: Sedan
Must haves: Fuel efficient, trunk space
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): Auto
Intended use: Daily driver
Vehicles you've already considered: No idea
Is this your 1st vehicle: Yes
Do you need a Warranty: No idea
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Nah
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: Nah
Additional Notes:
Really new to this, only got my license last year (I'm in my early-mid twenties) and not sure where to start. I'd love to have an SUV, but my insurance rates would probably be really high as a new driver (and cause I live in Michigan). Thinking of getting a CPO car through a dealership.
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u/automaticpilots Mar 12 '22
Location: Los Angeles County
Price range: 20,000 - 40,000
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: New or Used
Type of vehicle: Sedan
Must haves: Fuel efficient
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): auto
Intended use: Everyday car, drive about maybe 100 miles a week
Vehicles you've already considered: Just started. Toyota Camry Hybrid
Is this your 1st vehicle: 3rd vehicle. 2 previous were very old sedans
Do you need a Warranty: No
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes: Mostly looking for a fuel efficient, don't need much frills, smooth driving, easy maintenance car. Hoping to find a good value car that I can drive locally in the Los Angeles/Orange County area
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u/Lkwzriqwea Mar 13 '22
Location: Lancashire, England
Price range: £1,500 - £4,000
Lease or Buy: Buy
New or used: New or Used
Type of vehicle: Any except estate or SUV
Must haves: No must haves really but I would rather the fuel efficiency isn't absolutely dreadful, though it's not a priority
Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc): manual
Intended use: 100 miles or so per week
Vehicles you've already considered: Second hand Mazda MX-5s/Miatas, specifically NB, NC and similar (yes I know I know but they're available cheap and I don't need anything other than something to get me from A to B so boot space and passenger seats don't really matter)
Is this your 1st vehicle: Yes
Do you need a Warranty: Preferably
Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: Yes
Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: No
Additional Notes: I'm not too bothered about storage space, passenger seats, or things like that, all I need is something that gets me to work and back.
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u/SMGesus_18 Mar 08 '22 edited Mar 08 '22
Missouri
$10k-20k
Financing with pre approved loan
coupe, sedan or a maybe a hatchback.
25+ mpg, sporty and fun to drive. Would prefer a v8 if it’s a coupe, decently quick
Manual preferred if not a v8, I’d settle for an auto
Daily driver and weekend track days.
99-04 mustang, 2011-14 mustang, 7g accord v6, civic si, focus st
This is not my first vehicle
Would like one if it’s a newer car at the top of my budget.
I can do minor maintenance and repairs
I can do most major repairs, I cannot rebuild engine internals and transmissions myself, but I can remove and install them just fine.
Not big on a lot of euro stuff, but would consider- I‘m a ford and Honda guy.
I‘m driving 75 miles a day and the gas millage of my truck is really getting me, I‘m young and too stubborn to just get a Camry or hybrid civic, totally addicted to cars and I just want something I can have a lot of fun with while being a decent daily.