I would like to try this out for size.

This is (and isn't) another one of "those threads". I give data, you give suggestion, I say [NO]... everyone "learns" in the process. Sounds fun right?

This is mainly brought on due to fuel consumption. I currently drive a 2007 Ford F-150 and drive roughly 190 miles to and from work each week. That along with 2-3 softball games a week (another ~150 miles) has me filling up every 5-6 days. At this point in my life I really don't have a need for the truck and would like to get something that is much more fuel efficient.

I've never owned a car. All of my vehicles have been either SUVs or trucks. So i'm completely ignorant in the car/sedan market.

Caveat. My truck is paid for. So while I want something more fuel efficient I don't want to buy a car only to end up paying more per month than i am now when combining fuel with car payments. Does that make sense? KBB says I can get around 20k for my truck in a private sale.

my only real factors right now are a sedan with 26+ MPG and a decent interior package.

I've began looking online at the Focus, Legacy, Mazda 3 and 6, and others. Really just getting started.

10/17/2013 11:38:55 AM

Outside of the MPGs, 4 doors, and a decent interior what other criteria do you have? Are you leaning towards a hatchback or something? If not, why not a 4 door prius?

How much are your current truck payment + fuel costs?

10/17/2013 11:50:51 AM

...sounds like you want a 4cyl beater as a 2nd car.

10/17/2013 11:52:59 AM

But then he'd have to drive around in a beater. Doesn't sound like that's what he wants.

10/17/2013 11:53:38 AM

my truck is paid for. let's just assume i pay roughly $400 a month in gas.


the beater second car is a suggestion i've been given many times. I would just rather not own two vehicles, have two vehicles on my insurance, two vehicle tax bills, and two vehicles to maintain.


4 door, hatchback, i'm considering both. it's so early that i still don't know what else i'm really looking for. 4-cylinder is fine. Hybrids still seem priced out of the range i'm looking at. Right now i'm considering $30,000 to be the very high end of my range

10/17/2013 11:59:08 AM

Like I said before man, Mazda3 or 6.

I wouldn't bother with a Focus unless you're going to get a manual transmission. Their dual clutch 6 speed automatic is crap.

10/17/2013 1:14:03 PM

Quote :

"Right now i'm considering $30,000 to be the very high end of my range"

Oh so you're wanting to buy new? Why?

My gf has a Mazda 3 w/ Skyactiv, and that thing gets sick gas mileage. Not a bad little car either with leather.

10/17/2013 1:25:39 PM

Quote :

"my truck is paid for. let's just assume i pay roughly $400 a month in gas. the beater second car is a suggestion i've been given many times. I would just rather not own two vehicles, have two vehicles on my insurance, two vehicle tax bills, and two vehicles to maintain. 4 door, hatchback, i'm considering both. it's so early that i still don't know what else i'm really looking for. 4-cylinder is fine. Hybrids still seem priced out of the range i'm looking at. Right now i'm considering $30,000 to be the very high end of my range"

I understand your consideration of the options and respect that, but, might as well snip off those nuts if you get rid of the truck for a sedan

10/17/2013 2:15:08 PM

Quote :

"Oh so you're wanting to buy new? Why?"

i don't need to have a new car. i'm just trying to set parameters. I don't want to trade in my fully loaded truck for a bare bones civic with an FM radio.

it's frustrating, lol


^i'm over the whole vehicle image thing. so snip away

10/17/2013 2:18:15 PM

I really like the exterior of the Subaru Legacy. but the interior has more hard plastic than my niece's barbie jeep. i understand Subaru is more utility than luxury. Perhaps I am more spoiled from my King Ranch than i have thought I was.

10/17/2013 2:23:34 PM

With the details you've provided, yeah you should be able to get around $20K for your truck, which leaves you plenty of cash to check out nicer cars like Audi, BMW, etc.

10/17/2013 2:33:14 PM

Quote :

"^i'm over the whole vehicle image thing. so snip away"

easy broski My lifestyle requires a minimum of (3) pickups, different strokes for different fokes.

10/17/2013 3:06:26 PM

For $25k the world is your oyster when it comes to sedans, as ^^ alludes to.

Rank these things to help us out:

Gas mileage
Vehicle styling
Interior quality
Fun to drive
Staying < $20k
Less than 3-4 years old
Reliability
Warranty
Hatchback

Hybrids aren't outside of your price range either btw. You can easily get a Prius for under $20k

10/17/2013 3:11:16 PM

is a king ranch that nice? I figured it was just the same old plastic stuff plus leather seats and accents

either way.. stick an HHO kit on it

10/17/2013 5:53:14 PM

Dear jsauce 2 cars+ is actually nice...with 5 cars and 2 drivers I pay almost half now of what I did with the 6k jeep and a dwi for insurance. And that was just collision we have full coverage on over 100k in cars now for like 160 a month. So I wouldn't count that out.

Until Subie widely adopts the new 2 liter into the car you want I'd stay away. Or comes out with a next gen flat six.
And in the south you don't need awd certainly not if you are looking for mpg.

Fuck, you could get a Taurus sho lol... Kia optima is a pretty fuckin cool car if you want new and warranty.

Fusions look cool and drive well but possibly cheap plastic.

335 would be fun but questionably reliable.

I'd get a g35 or a 5 serious bimmer maybe.

I dunno need more priorities... Fast? Fun? Campable?

10/17/2013 7:14:51 PM

Does it have to be new? If not, go CPO at that price point.
My candidates (all slightly used/certified should be around $25K) would probably be:
-Ford Fusion (don't know much about the driving experience but the new model is beautiful and has a nice interior)
-Kia Optima SX (loaded Turbo or Limited)
-Audi A3
-Acura TSX

If you're insistent on new:
-Mazda 3 (hatch w/skyactiv)
-Civic Si
-Focus (highest trim you can get for your desired price, manual)
-Hyundai Veloster (tech package, manual)

10/17/2013 7:23:06 PM

↑

You driven a veloster? The one I drove.... Drove like poo (and I have a Kia soul lol)

10/17/2013 8:05:54 PM

Didn't actually--I was shopping for what would be my wife's car and she didn't want a manual. I'd heard enough bad things about the auto in that car that I just steered clear entirely. Unfortunate if it can't back up its sporty looks with a good driving experience.

10/18/2013 11:03:04 AM

It might be better for the 2014 MY, as the Turbo model now has an electronic torque vectoring front LSD.

10/18/2013 1:16:58 PM

going to check out the Fusion Hybrids this weekend.

Mazdas and Subaru are off my list.

i really like the Honda Crosstour too, but they are pretty pricey and not very outstanding MPG

11/6/2013 11:46:23 AM

Those fusion Hybrids look really nice...

11/6/2013 11:55:52 AM

I loved my 2013 Optima SX. Loaded with features and a lot of fun to drive.

11/6/2013 11:56:10 AM

Cross tour's backseat is useless.

11/6/2013 12:58:49 PM

Quote :

"going to check out the Fusion Hybrids this weekend. Mazdas and Subaru are off my list. i really like the Honda Crosstour too, but they are pretty pricey and not very outstanding MPG"

1) thought that was outside of your range?
2) why off your list? describe what you don't like, could help with further suggestions from us
3) seriously? I don't think I've ever heard someone say "really like" and Crosstour in the same sentence before. Don't do it!

11/6/2013 2:01:56 PM

it was outside my range to begin with, but the more i've thought about it and having some discussions with the dealer I bought my F-150; throwing out some ballpark trade-in values, customer loyalty, and the ridiculous 47 MPG it's slowly trickled into my range.

Not to mention that, to me, it's the best looking sedan on the road today.



The Mazda 6 I still like a lot, i just like the Fusion more (if i'm going to spend the money on a brand new car, it would be the Fusion). The Subaru interior really turned me off. Hard plastic everywhere, center cluster was pretty terrible, and i just don't think I need an AWD vehicle like was mentioned here.

My mom wants a new car too, so i'm going to take her to check out the Maximas and TSX/TLs and will probably drive those just to see. But at this time they are out of my price range and not being considered. and as much as I like the TL (almost bought one in 07) they were ultimately too small for me in headroom and i don't think that's changed.

11/7/2013 8:49:23 AM

Quote :

"(if i'm going to spend the money on a brand new car, it would be the Fusion)"

Why spend the $ for new only to watch it depreciate so much over the first few years? No good CPOs in that model? I guess with this particular model, there's only one prior year to choose from. This one doesn't look too bad imo: http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/4107896532.html

Quote :

"The Subaru interior really turned me off. Hard plastic everywhere, center cluster was pretty terrible"

I can't get past the interior either, despite my best efforts.

11/7/2013 9:47:27 AM

^^did you drive both of them? (Fusion Hybrid and Mazda 6) You haven't said a word in this thread about how any cars you have looked at drive.

Design is subjective of course, but I think the Fusion looks like a bloated fish with it's mouth open

11/7/2013 1:14:13 PM

but the fusion is sooo ugly from the back

11/7/2013 1:26:16 PM

yup

11/7/2013 2:15:33 PM

diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks

11/7/2013 2:29:47 PM

If I were you, I'd keep the truck and buy a decentish beater for $4-6k. I'm in almost the exact same situation: Land Cruiser that guzzles gas worth about $12k and paid for.

Over the last couple of years I've figured out I really need two cars - one for pulling the boat, driving up to the mountains in snow and for family trips, moving stuff etc. The other for my daily commute of about 60 miles round trip.

I'm currently looking for a manual IS300 or a 330i. I'm leaning towards the Japanese car. It's tough finding an IS300 though that doesn't have all kinds of crap slapped on it and aftermarket wheels.

If you had to get a car with a more downmarket badge (and I used to have a job that would frown on even a beater Lexus, though a coworker's $60k King Ranch F250 was fine...), I'd get a the new body style Fusion or a couple year old Taurus. I think the Subaru fad will die down soon.

Anyway, buying new cars is stupid. So don't do that.

11/7/2013 9:37:53 PM

Looking for a 2003+ is300 is hard. They are quite rare and the ones I did find wanted quite a bit of money for what they are.

With that said... IS250's have problematic motors. I'd stay away. IS350's should be solid/reliable tho.

11/7/2013 10:15:18 PM

Quote :

"I think the Subaru fad will die down soon."

How's that?

11/8/2013 9:42:56 AM

Yeah...not really a fad.

11/8/2013 10:09:21 AM

It's sorta the jeep thing

11/8/2013 4:13:50 PM

i'm waiting for the ferrari fad to die to i can buy one on the cheap

11/8/2013 4:14:26 PM

The problem isn't buying them, haha.

11/8/2013 4:54:48 PM

maintenance son, maintenance! mother of all car evil!

11/8/2013 7:21:16 PM

Jeep

11/8/2013 7:53:28 PM

Quote :

"How's that?"

Subarus are the neck beards and American Spirits of cars.

11/8/2013 9:34:57 PM

I don't get it. $400 on gas but the truck is paid for. New car, $200 on gas, car payment, higher insurance, etc. Is this purely for fuel economy or do you want something nice? Seems like you come out ahead driving the current car as compared to buying a 2nd car in good condition or a new one that requires payments.

11/9/2013 12:18:27 AM

So when did Subaru get the hipster stigma?

I can see lesbians, ricers, soccer moms, and hippies but I don't see hipster.

11/9/2013 7:11:44 AM

I don't get it either. They're incredibly functional vehicles.

11/9/2013 11:17:36 AM

while they are incredibly functional, I agree with the stereotype. As with just about any other non-appliance vehicle.

11/9/2013 11:22:30 AM

Quote :

"I don't get it. $400 on gas but the truck is paid for. New car, $200 on gas, car payment, higher insurance, etc. Is this purely for fuel economy or do you want something nice? Seems like you come out ahead driving the current car as compared to buying a 2nd car in good condition or a new one that requires payments."

Fuel economy and i'm just sick of driving a full sized truck.

11/11/2013 9:51:39 AM

Your vagina is growing in nicely. ;-)

11/11/2013 2:25:00 PM

thanks, i keep it trimmed.

11/12/2013 10:01:53 AM

Lol will played sir.

11/12/2013 11:38:18 AM

I, too, may be in the market for a new (to me) car shortly.

11/13/2013 8:48:25 AM

Brz troubles ?

11/13/2013 8:49:56 AM