So, I want to buy a new car.

systemshock3

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:) one of my fav subjects!! I will echo the suggestions of the group, but
I will recommend you go back to 2005 or 2006, unless you can find the two cars i am going to mention with some dealer incentives on an 07. Just so you know how much I love cars, I cleaned lube off my left hand just so I could type this out properly. LOL

By rank:
1) VW GTI MKV: You will NOT find a more entertaining car for around 20 grand. You just won't. Yes, I am longtime VW/Audi Nut, but don't listen to me, check the 10best lists from the major Car mags the last few years. Highly practical, comfy and appointed like a much more expensive car, brilliant handling wet or dry, quite powerful...AND they get greater than 28 MPG on the freeway (with the REALLY cool DSG transmission).

2) Mini Cooper S. They don't ride as well as the GTI and don't have as much interior room (and you can't get one in a 5-door..yet), but they handle very well, get great mileage, and you can pick one up certified pre-owned for well within your price range. Mini has BMW's free maintenance program, so you would get whatever is left of that even if you pick up a certified used one..and that means a lot. Plus, damn it, they are fun to look at and drive.

3) Subaru Impreza 2.5i - You can actually pick these up brand new in hatchback for around your price range with everything on them, and they are the ONLY All-Wheel-Drive car in your specified range. Very fun to drive, very well built, not the most attractive to look at, but not ugly either

4) Mazda 3 - Being a current Mazda owner (2006 MazdaSpeed 6), I can say that every single car they make is a hoot to drive, and pleasing to look at. You can find a good deal on a used one, but you can probably get them to bend over backwards on a 2007 right about now if you wanted to. One thing...don't bother getting one with their Nav system. Mazda's nav system sucks, IMHO. ;)

5) Saturn Astra - Just Came out, Imported straight from Europe, and GM's Euro Competitor to the VW Rabbit. Great handling, stunning looks, and also fit your price range. I did not rank it higher because it has only been HERE a month or so.

Honestly...I never even put Toyota (Scion) or Toyota on my list of car buying for any vehicle I have bought. Why? They are boring. Boring to look at, VERY boring to drive (unless we are talking Civic Si...near the top of your range..but available used now), and slow.

I rank the VW first because when you drive it you will feel like you are getting much more car than what you paid for, and it will make you smile. :)

Yes, a new car is what I am looking for.
I have an 05 cobalt, but i am looking for something more.

Anyone have any suggestions?
I'm not looking to pay over 22 thousand, really. 23 at most.

I was looking into Scion Tc's, Honda Civics, and Mazda 3's.

What would you suggest?

I'm leaning more towards a scion, really. i just like them.
[anyone have one? how is it?]
 

D_Adoniah Sheervolume

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systemshock3's suggestions are definitely from the enthusiast's point-of-view (and i share most of them!). however, if one is looking for long-term satisfaction, the VW and mini have to be dismissed for their rather bad reliability records. minis seem to hang onto value very well, not so much the vw.

astra looks promising but is an unknown, reliability and resale-wise. european critics rate it (as an opel) behind the vw, so why bother?

mazda3 is good all-rounder. gawd the new impreza's ugly (would one want to be SEEN in one...?).

the tC has become scion's top-seller. no great shakes to drive, but solid, looks ok, and one can add a trd supercharger... ;)
 

B_reid96816

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The Honda Civic would be your best bet. Also having the best reliability and resale value. Motor Trend car of the year for 07 I think too.
 

Dave NoCal

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A year or so ago, the starter on my very old BMW (1986, 230,000 miles) went out and I got it trucked to the shop. When I asked the driver what brand car he does the most call on, he immediately replied VW. I bought a GTI new in 1985. Within 20,000 miles it was burning a quart of oil in less than 1000 miles. The dealer's response (Chris Motors in Atlanta) was that it was normal. Not for me! I sold it and have never considered another VW.

For the kind of money you are talking about, you can easily get a several year old BMW three series coupe, probably with an extended warranty. Steer clear of the automatic transmissions. They die shortly after the 100,000 mile warranty runs out.

Dave
 

SteveHd

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roy86, is there something seriously wrong with the Cobalt? Bad mechanicals? Been wrecked?

It's only a few years old. If there's only minor things broken or worn out, I'd say fix it. A $1,000 or so is a lot less than $22,000.

"Car fever" can be costly.:smile:
 

like2playwbd

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I love my Honda CR-V.
It sits higher than the civics so you can see around most vehicles except the big ol suvs.
You can get an EX for about 22k. EX includes power windows / sunroof etc.
It looks small but it really isn't once you get in.
Plus the gages at nite are pretty cool.
 

viking1

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Scion TC is nice. I tried one, but I couldn't fit in it. I bought a Tacoma instead. It's not as nice, but at least it's comfortable, and cost less too...
 

visualalert

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I agree with lots of posts here, especially the buying used recommendations. A 2 yr old car has often lost 50% of its value but still has a lot of life yet (my grandfather always bought 2 year old cars, kept them three years, and then dumped them before the resale value nosedived to nothing - and he ended up pretty rich). 'Course he offset that by buying my grandmother much nicer cars brand new and trading them about as often.

All that said, I usually buy new and too often.

Don't even think about buying any car without researching it at New Car Prices, Used Car Pricing, Car Reviews by Edmunds Car Buying Guide. htto://www.clarhoward.com has more good info especially about financing.

One word about hybrids - don't. They are generally not cost effective. You can buy a shitload of $3 - $5 gas for the premium you pay for a hybrid.

Remember that a car is a depreciating asset - the less of your money you pour down that rathole the richer you will be when you get old and grey like me. And you will.
 

earllogjam

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I have a friend with a Scion Xb, the one that looks like a box on wheels. It's a great city car fitting into tight parking spaces, gets great gas mileage, roomy, able to fit 4 adults comfortably and is pretty peppy and fun to drive. I wouldn't get one if you do a lot of freeway driving however because it rides rough and it doesn't offer you much padding if you get into a crash.
 

visualalert

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Honestly, something from Japan. And, as HazelGod says, buy 1 year old with low mileage. ALso, starting around 2006, the safety features took a flying leap upwards with most cars offering side impact air bags.

I'm in the middle of buying a car (cash) for my daughter, and I'm using the yahoo auto site -- the search feature is pretty useful.

Seriously -- use the below link. It'll take you to the best car search parameters that I've found.

USE ME!

And if you do get something from Japan, make sure it's REALLY from Japan. I have an 04 Mazda 6 with a Japanese transmission, a Mexican engine and it was assembled in Michigan. It's been reliable but the quality is NOT all there and most of my complaints are the with assembly/fit and finish.

Started talking Mazda with a guy in a parking lot who had a Mazda 3 (completely Japanese) and he was raving about how well it was built. Said he had friends who were 6 owners who sounded just like me...reasonably satisfied but hesitant to recommend the car.

Did I mention that cars are my favorite subject?
 

systemshock3

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systemshock3's suggestions are definitely from the enthusiast's point-of-view (and i share most of them!). however, if one is looking for long-term satisfaction, the VW and mini have to be dismissed for their rather bad reliability records. minis seem to hang onto value very well, not so much the vw.

astra looks promising but is an unknown, reliability and resale-wise. european critics rate it (as an opel) behind the vw, so why bother?

mazda3 is good all-rounder. gawd the new impreza's ugly (would one want to be SEEN in one...?).

the tC has become scion's top-seller. no great shakes to drive, but solid, looks ok, and one can add a trd supercharger... ;)

VW's arent THAT bad. I've owned 4 of them (if you count the Audi S4). LOL. But, to be fair...yes, I had a fair share of issues with them, but I never expect a car to be just an appliance that I put gas and oil into and just putter along in.

And those were fairly long-term relationships. The Scion...*sigh*. even with the Supercharger...its a pillow-y Marshmellow to drive, just a lump....a well-made one, but still. :(

But, after having thought about his requirements....and the VERY good advice of getting something used, and my own inability to recommend anything, ANYTHING plain/boring/uninspiring-to-drive. I think I have come up with the solution. Its the perfect car, at the perfect size, with very reliable Japanese internals and a LOT of car for the money:

The Acura TSX. One a couple years old can be had within the specified price range, it is nothing more than the EUROPEAN version of the Honda Accord (slightly larger than a Civic, but not as big as the U.S. Accord), so you know its reliable and well-made), EXCELLENT handling (they are modified for racing purposes in a couple small racing series), very good mileage (better than your cobalt despite being a larger car), and decent power...plus you will feel like you are getting a much more expensive car than your budget normally would allow.

I don't know why I didn't think of this before...because I damn near bought one a few years back :) Must be my German bias coming out (one country produces such good cars and men....what can I say ;) )
 

D_Adoniah Sheervolume

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VW's arent THAT bad. I've owned 4 of them (if you count the Audi S4). LOL. But, to be fair...yes, I had a fair share of issues with them, but I never expect a car to be just an appliance that I put gas and oil into and just putter along in.

i've owned five audis and two VWs. the last was a '98 v6 passat--great car. needed more repairs (suspension work & abs controller) than i'd prefer, but drove it 40k miles (from 86k-126k) and got only $500 less than i paid when it was time to go. LOVE that! :)

And those were fairly long-term relationships. The Scion...*sigh*. even with the Supercharger...its a pillow-y Marshmellow to drive, just a lump....a well-made one, but still. :(

my feelings exactly, but for most people cars are appliances. repairs these days can be terribly expensive, especially when one doesn't have mechanical knowledge and is at the mercy of the service writer. it's best to just stay OUT of repair shops in those cases, and that means japanese. even if most are dull as dishwater to drive, and the best don't come CLOSE to the feel of a good german car.
But, after having thought about his requirements....and the VERY good advice of getting something used, and my own inability to recommend anything, ANYTHING plain/boring/uninspiring-to-drive. I think I have come up with the solution. Its the perfect car, at the perfect size, with very reliable Japanese internals and a LOT of car for the money:

The Acura TSX. One a couple years old can be had within the specified price range, it is nothing more than the EUROPEAN version of the Honda Accord (slightly larger than a Civic, but not as big as the U.S. Accord), so you know its reliable and well-made), EXCELLENT handling (they are modified for racing purposes in a couple small racing series), very good mileage (better than your cobalt despite being a larger car), and decent power...plus you will feel like you are getting a much more expensive car than your budget normally would allow.

I don't know why I didn't think of this before...because I damn near bought one a few years back :) Must be my German bias coming out (one country produces such good cars and men....what can I say ;) )

great suggestion! geez, i think i'm in love... ;)
 

Qua

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Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix. With a 5 speed it gets 31/36 mpg (and the auto is a terrible trans for the engine), terribly convenient useful car. I've driven an 03 that I got in fall 05 for $11,000 with 18k miles on it, and apart from lots of fun in the snow (no abs and a stick on mine...and in Michigan! Does wonders for my winter driving skillz)
 

Principessa

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Audi's are damned fine vehicles. I think my next is going to be an A5/S5. Boiiiinnng! :32:
That is a hot car! It's so hot, if you lived near me I might fuck you in that car just to say I had been in it. :lmao: :tongue::biggrin1:
 

jnp

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People know I'm a Mustang fanatic, but I lovee my 2005. It gets about 20 mpg, 5 year 50,000 mile warranty, and very safe. Ive had mine for a year and a half now, and the only complaint I have is if its bad weather, youre stuck at the house until the roads are comletely clean. I know this goes with most sports cars, so make sure this won't be a problem when you buy one.