in need of car...

[LERecords]

I am starting a new job (hopefully very soon) and really need to do something about my car. The one i currently have makes no sense for a outside sales type of job. Below are all my variables for picking a new car. help out please :thumbup:

miles per year: 18-25k
I live in New England, so snow will happen durring the winter
do not want a turbo or SS car (well I do, but i have to be realistic)
am looking to ballpark in the $20K range (as my car is about $2-4k less than current loan)
will have to have relativly good size trunk as i will have a bunch of stuff to put in it. also has to be able to fit a snowboard
really want to have the HID headlights as they are great for night time driving.

I really am not interested in a civic, corolla, or anything by nissan. I am really leaning toward the jeep patriot for a truck or a Mazda 3 / ford focus for a car. any other suggestions or reviews of what you have. thanks all :thumbup:

 

[chaskell27]

I just bought a new 2011 Subaru Legacy. MSRP is around the high 19k's or so. winter driving isn't a problem as all Subies are AWD. I get around 28 mpg on the highway if I'm behaving. Mine is just a base model but has everything I need. I'm a skier but can easily fit three sets of skis and gear in the trunk with one of the seats folded down. I think it looks pretty good too. I've had subies in the past and don't have a single complaint. Good luck with the search and the job.:thumbup:

 

[Smersh]

My personal favorite: Subie Impreza 5-door.

I have Saabaru (Saab 9-2X), which is basically Subaru Impreza underneath. I've had mine since '05, I've put about 40k on it in the first 3 years and the only thing i had had to do was to change brake rotors (thanks to my own driving style). I was thinking of "upgrading" in 2010 (I paid off the loan) but after reading this, I decided - no way, i'm going to get the most out of this baby. I believe there is a review by some guy who put 200k on it, having a sales job. I know for sure my next car is going to be a WRX, just not sure if STi.

Pro's:
- Road-grippin' all-wheel drive
- Boxer Engine which makes a lower center of gravity
- Subaru quality
- Bullet-proof Manual Transmission (my personal requirement) that makes non-turbo model fun to drive
- Plenty of space in the back for stuff (folding rear seats), given the size of the car.
- Heated seats for those New England winters
- Big smile on my face as i look for a parking lot covered in snow to have some fun, while my friends are trying to get out of their driveways.:cheer:

Con's:
- Tight rear-seat space for people (granted, I'm 6'3 so i move my seat all the way back)
- Non-turbo with automatic, is not going to provide as much thrill as turbo and/or manual

On HID's: this one may be tough - Impreza lineup has HID's in (some of) their WRX models. I've been thinking if i want to get a set of those HID kits people get for their FZ6's.

Other things to mention: I've had a few friends who had only great things to say about Subie Forester. Same all-wheel drive, more space. The latest ones look a little inflated though. Mazdas seem to be decent cars too, but i dont have any experience with them beyond doing some research before i got Saabaru.


PS: Oh and before the Saabaru I had a '95 Impreza 2-door FWD, bought it used, with almost 100k, and between me and my sister (who got it from me), i believe we brought it past 220k, at which point she sold it for $2k, I believe. Yeah, I'm clearly biased ;-)

 

[Erci]

I've had a Protege5 (an older model of Mazda3 hatch) for 7 years now and I still love it.

Have also had a Subaru Outback 2005 for 5 years and have had many problems with it.. it had to go. AWD was fantastic in that car, but I will avoid Subaru in general (doesn't mean you or anyone else should avoid them.. just stating my opinion based on my experience).

Might want to add Kia Forte5 to your list. Very functional and for $20k you'll have more toys in the car than any other manufacturer will give you. Hyundai/Kia cannot be beat at the moment, when it comes to value for the money. 10yr/100k powertrain warranty is a nice plus too.

FWD is plenty for New England, with snow tires

I wouldn't let HIDs be a bit factor in car selection. It's a nice bonus, but if all else is perfect with the car, I wouldn't stay away from me just because it didn't have HIDs. If the car has good headlights, it'll be plenty bright (my Protege5 has the best headlights of the 14 vehicles I've owned and it just uses standard bulbs).
Adding aftermarket bulbs can help a great deal too.. sure they don't last long, but for $30-$40 a year it may be worth it.

 

[Old Fart]

I 've had Subarus for years . 87 was the first. Always had great luck with them. Suruban Subaru in Vernon is a great Dealer. I can't say enough about these guys.

 

[chaskell27]

Yes I do love the Subies like I said above.

in response to Smersh, I would stick with the WRX. I've heard that the new gen wrx is actually faster 0-60 than the STI and you get a better ride. around the track, the sti will obviously be faster but I'm assuming you won't be doing any track days with it. My fiance has her PHD (Papa Has Dealership) so that is her 2010 WRX as my avatar. That thing is MEAN and I am nowhere near responsible enough to drive that thing on a regular basis. I've driven older ones but this one is in a whole other league. No turbo lag at all and it corners by just thinking about it.

I had an 08 forester and it was great. I could fit a whole bunch of stuff in that thing. It had more ground clearance too so it was really good in the snow. All of the cars I've talked about (forester, legacy and wrx) were all manuals. My new legacy is a 6 speed manual which is nice on the highway. They do come in auto which is a CVT (like a snowmobile) so no shifting which gives better mileage

Oh and the legacy does have HID's which have definitely made a difference at night.

Shameless plug for my soon-to-be father in laws dealership but Check out Quirk Auto Park in Bangor, Maine. Great guys and they'll treat you well.

 

[macem29]

really surprised to see the all the Subaru recommendations,
it was gonna be first on my list based on where you live
and your description of what you want to do with it...

I've had very good luck with Mitsubishi vehicles as well,
typical Japanese quality but they tend to be more affordable
than Honda, Toyota etc, and they have a solid AWD or 4WD
platform like Subaru

staying away from Nissan is a good idea IMO...sub-par
Japanese vehicle

 

[Hoshiko]

I had a Honda CR-V and have absolutely no complaint about it. It will do everything you required and more. It will be a little more then what you want to spend, if you want the EXL but it's totally worth it.
I know you said no Nissan but take a look at the Juke.
Sounds pretty interesting and reasonably priced.

 

[LERecords]

I actually just went and looked at the focus and fussions.. $3k cash back (or applied to loan) because next year they will have a new model look.. cant really compeate with that.. the fusions had the hid's which i really like, but i dunno.. just have to keep looking.. mazda's will be this afternoon...

Update: my dad just told me that on the news (i dont have cable at the moment) that they are prediciting gas to be somewhere between 4-5 a gal by mid summer. I dunno about 5, but i can definitly believe at least 4.. i might have to re-think and look at the fiesta and mazda 2.. dont want a real small small car, but i do have the bike for fun

 

[Erci]

Update: my dad just told me that on the news (i dont have cable at the moment) that they are prediciting gas to be somewhere between 4-5 a gal by mid summer. I dunno about 5, but i can definitly believe at least 4.. i might have to re-think and look at the fiesta and mazda 2.. dont want a real small small car, but i do have the bike for fun

How about 2011 Hyundai Elantra then? Great looking, cheap, relatively big (compared to Mazda2) and gets 40mpg hwy.

 

[LERecords]

looked at a 2011 honda insight... thinking this is the route.. hid's, 40mpg city.. 4 year 60k warrenty and 10y 150k warrenty on the battery.. plus a little button that says econ (meaing it will drive like a granny car)... but it will make the bike that much better to drive

 

[The Toecutter]

Why not lease a Chevy Volt?"A federal tax credit would shave the electric car's price to $33,500. The carmaker turns heads by offering leases as low as $350 a month". " the Volt has its backup generator – removing the issue of battery range and finding a place to charge. In essence, the Volt was designed to be an electric car on most days, but operates like a conventional car when it’s time for a road trip." :BLAA:" After that the gas engine will kick in and allow the car to be driven an additional 344 miles on a full tank (9.3 gallons) of gas."

 

[Erci]

looked at a 2011 honda insight... thinking this is the route.. hid's, 40mpg city.. 4 year 60k warrenty and 10y 150k warrenty on the battery.. plus a little button that says econ (meaing it will drive like a granny car)... but it will make the bike that much better to drive

You'll love this review then! :BLAA:

Jeremy Clarkson Honda Insight 1.3 IMA SE Hybrid review | Driving - Times Online

 

[LERecords]

Why not lease a Chevy Volt?"A federal tax credit would shave the electric car's price to $33,500. The carmaker turns heads by offering leases as low as $350 a month". " the Volt has its backup generator – removing the issue of battery range and finding a place to charge. In essence, the Volt was designed to be an electric car on most days, but operates like a conventional car when it’s time for a road trip." :BLAA:" After that the gas engine will kick in and allow the car to be driven an additional 344 miles on a full tank (9.3 gallons) of gas."

no against the look at all, but i cant fund that kinda purchase.. has to be around 20K.. but i do like the volt :thumbup:

 

[Humperdinkel]

I own & swear by the ever reliable Hyundai Tucson V6 , 5 years unlimited warranty , economical , safe & plenty of room :thumbup: Not sure what the prices are over there in the US but I think they would fit into your categories

 

[The Toecutter]

no against the look at all, but i cant fund that kinda purchase.. has to be around 20K.. but i do like the volt :thumbup:

But if it's gonna be your work car I would rather lease.that way with you putting 25k a year on it, you turn it in, in 3 years and get a new one,instead of dropping 20k on a car you will have put 150,000 miles or more on in 5 years it takes to pay it off,and will need repairs and maitenence in that period also.at 350.00 a month lease it cost you $12,600 in 3 years.a 20,000 car loan with 7.0 interest rate is 396.02 a month with 3,761.44 in interest tacked on.just something to consider.:BLAA: :rockon: