Getting a new car

[Matthyahuw]

After being stranded on I-90 for almost 2hrs before help showed, I think it's time for a new car...

SO ANYWAY...I'm looking at around $20,000 (22 is my max).
Has to be a family car (no sporty 2 seater), and have a fairly large trunk.
I've been looking at Hyundai's Sonata V6
http://www.hyundaiusa.com/byo1/images/son2002BrilliantSilver.gif
Seems to have the most bang for the buck, and a real good warranty...

The SantaFe has also been in the back of my head, any opinions from you d00ds? or just tell me what car you drive and if you like it or not (if it's a family car).

[saturnotaku]

Take a look at the Saturn L200. Starting price with automatic is $19,040. Toss in $400 for ABS brakes/traction control and you have yourself a very well-equipped family sedan. And I think GM is still offering 0% financing for 5 years. Get yourself a decent down payment and you'll get a great car at a great price. (course I may be slightly biased toward Saturns, hehe :D)

[fishlung]

I'm not sure I would go with a Hyundai, but I guess it's as good as anything else out there, and more affordable than a Taurus.

You could check out www.carsdirect.com , especially if you hate haggling for a close-to-invoice price with a dealership. It's possible you could save some money through them. I bought a 2002 Dodge Neon R/T through them. Compared to going to a dealer, I paid less than invoice, plus well as the bonus of a factory incentive. Anyway, the amount you may save may not matter to you, and will vary depending on manufacturer. But it's something to check out, at least.

[Essense]

Get that cool Hybrid reviewed on Envy News, 21k 5 seater, 48 MPG!

And you'll dot he enviroment a Favor, and when you factor in the 2,000$ tax break you'll really get it for 19,000! Besides Honda makes good **** anyways.

Regards,
Mike

[saturnotaku]

Honda does make good, reliable cars. Just don't get into an accident with one because it will fold faster than Superman on laundry day. My cousin was in a low-speed crash in her Civic - over $3000 worth of body damage. :eek:

[styles-T]

I have a civic coupe.
Great GAS mileage.
Great car.
Nice Ride.
Decent Trunk Size.

Honda!

[styles-T]

Originally posted by Essense
Get that cool Hybrid reviewed on Envy News, 21k 5 seater, 48 MPG!

And you'll dot he enviroment a Favor, and when you factor in the 2,000$ tax break you'll really get it for 19,000! Besides Honda makes good **** anyways.

Regards,
Mike

Tax Break?

What do you mean?

[de><ta]

hyundai....:rolleyes:

I guess it is better than dodge or plymouth or ford.

Daewoo would be a better alternative for the given price range.
Dont know if u get daewoo's here though.

[Matthyahuw]

yeah Daewoo is here, but I'd like a company that's been in the US a while...I don't want another Peugeot, or Renault...

[de><ta]

puegot is supposed to be a good car, yes even though it is french. Go to you mechanic or even try finding out how much parts for hyundai sonata's cost, what is the mileage, warranties etc.
Use those for comparing cars.

Probably the sonata would be a good car since you are looking for something which can accomadate a family.
Try the camry/avalon, even though the price might be a bit more.

Secondly go for a second hand car within 2 years. It still has the warranty and you avoid the new car depreciation rate. Plus the insurance is not that high for second hand cars. For some reason in NY the insurance for new cars is a lot higher.

Nissan maxima's would be ideal for second hand in the price range you are looking at.

[intercede007]

Daewoo is a bad idea. I sold cars over the summer while I was out of school. The dealership I worked at was basically giving them away. Invoice was the starting point, but they often were willing to go another grand (and more in one case) below that. Since Daewoo North America doesn't exist anymore, warrantes from them don't either. Our dealer was giving away 5 year, 60,000 miles warrantes from a third party....personally, I don't hold a very high opinion of that kind of coverage. They get fickle. In other words...skip the Daewoo's..unless you want to make a salesperson happy..our dealership was doubling our commision for them. Hyundai has come a long way, but I urge you to sit in one then go over to the Toyota dealership and sit in a Camry. You will notice the differance. You might not get as many bells and whistles with the Camry for the same price, but you will get a car from a company that has a history of selling automobiles that will get you around for a long time. Just take a look around next time you drive to work. How good do the 3 and 4 year old Hyundai's look? How many do you see? We have a 94 Camry that has doneover 260,000 miles with no serious problems to speak of. BTW, I didn't sell Toyota's, so this isn't some sort of pitch :D

[LORD-eX-Bu]

eh, I like KIA, and BMW, but my BMW is like $45k. Kia on the other hand, has a really good luxury sedan called the Optima. They offer many variations on it ranging from $14,899 to $18,849. Its nice, roomy and pretty fast. It has a 5 star safety rating also. Its great, I'd get that. Here is the site: http://www.kia.com/optima/index.shtml

http://www.kia.com/images/optima-top.jpg
http://www.kia.com/images/optima-front.jpg

[vampireuk]

hows about a 2nd hand Subaru impreza or a mitsubishi lancer:cool:

[intercede007]

LOL! Unfortunatly, us 'Yanks' have only enjoyed the WRX since the 02 model year, and the Lancer Evo has yet to show itself, although its supposed to be released mid september. The regular Lancer we have is barely worth sitting in. The Imprezza isn't such a bad deal now that I think about it. AWD, and that never-die Subaru reliability might just be what Matthyahuw could use in the winters. Thought about a Subie yet?

[Matthyahuw]

Originally posted by intercede007
Thought about a Subie yet? Actually yes, but they seemed a little small when I sat in em at the auto show...

[vampireuk]

The lancer from the IV seemed rather nice to me....but then again in britain we have rather easy weather on cars....um im a bit drunk dont mine me;) :cool:

[Switch]

Originally posted by saturnotaku
Take a look at the Saturn L200. Starting price with automatic is $19,040. Toss in $400 for ABS brakes/traction control and you have yourself a very well-equipped family sedan. And I think GM is still offering 0% financing for 5 years. Get yourself a decent down payment and you'll get a great car at a great price. (course I may be slightly biased toward Saturns, hehe :D)

I so want one of those... 5 speed manual for me though.

[vampireuk]

I want a Calibra Turbo:D

£3000 tops and its a beatiful car:cool:

[[Corporal Dan]]

Originally posted by Essense
Besides Honda makes good ****

Regards,
Mike

with which one can make rice-burners out of

[[Corporal Dan]]

2003 Nissan Altima 2.5 = $17,189.00

Standard Features

• 2.5L DOHC 175 HP 4-cylinder Engine
5-Speed Manual
Not a v6, but quite respectable, and it's a really nice car.


---


2003 Nissan Altima 3.5SE = $23,189.00

Standard Features
• 245 HP 3.5L V6, 5speed Manual
• Dual Exhaust and 17-Inch Alloy Wheels

I know it's over the price limit, but come on, 1000 bucks is nothing for what you get.


Pic:
http://www.nissandriven.com/m/cma/i/3al/3altima_gal_big06.jpg


Edit: A friend of mine has been getting quite a perf increase by changing 4 things on his v6, imagine the diff on the 4cyl:

1) New spark plugs
2) Better spark plug wires
3) New O2 sensors
4) Intake mod (involves removing some stupid plastic shield.)

[intercede007]

The Altima is definatly a nice package. The only thing that threw me off about it was the interior material quality. Frankly, it sucked. I ended up buying a Jetta GLI instead. Less power, smaller, but felt much tighter and the interior was of a much better quality. I just wish my 200HP Jetta could keep up with the 240HP 3.5S Altima :(

[[Corporal Dan]]

Originally posted by intercede007
The Altima is definatly a nice package. The only thing that threw me off about it was the interior material quality. Frankly, it sucked. I ended up buying a Jetta GLI instead. Less power, smaller, but felt much tighter and the interior was of a much better quality. I just wish my 200HP Jetta could keep up with the 240HP 3.5S Altima :(

I dunno, I got into the 2002 model and it seemed alright, much better than Hyundai Accent, that'f for sure.

Define the suckage of the altima's interior.

[intercede007]

The plastic panel pieces around the window switches. First of all, they looked cheap. On the passanger side, one corner was sticking up and and poorly alligned. The height-adjustable center arm-rest was sticking into position, and at one point during the test drive, the salesman helped me smash my fingers trying to get it to move down. On a personal note, while the fit of the dash was excellent, the material looked cheap to me. That solid plastic just looks like something Preskool would make. That can't be held against Nissan though, its my own taste. On the outside of the car, I did notice that the drivers side skirt wasn't tacked on all the way at the back. That would be easy enough for the detail department to fix. I basically just nit-picked the car to death.

[LORD-eX-Bu]

My car:
http://www.bmwusa.com/assets_client/vehicles/M/0137/0137_Main.gif

Anybody know how to disable the electronic device that limits the speed on these german engineered monsters to 155 Mph? Or is that illegal?

[Essense]

Originally posted by !plonk*


Tax Break?

What do you mean?

The Honda Civic Hybrid is a ULEV Vehicle (Ultra Low Emision) because of that, the government gives you a Tax cut, in the case of this vehicle it comes out to around 2000$. You also get special privilages like being able to drive in the car pool lane with only 1 person in the car :D

Regards,
Mike