So, the auncient Dodge Caravan that had eased my eldest daughter’s transition from novice driver to experienced crasher – and, it is profoundly to be hoped – into the realm of the merely median actuarial risk, has now yielded up the ghost. Or it is, at any rate, now firmly in the category of “beyond economical repair,” considering its superannuation, over-use and general shabbiness. All that remains is finding the title, sanitizing those personal documents that have gotten under the carpet and turning it over to someone who might auction it for the residual value that’s in it, on a tax deductible basis.
Leaving your correspondent back in the market for a for a new (used) car, preferably with a bit of factory warranty left on it that is (in order of priority), 1) not horribly unsafe, 2) is relatively reliable, 3) gets the kind of gas mileage that an impending college student can get along on a modest stipend with, 4) will not further bankrupt the family finances to an unnecessary degree(>10k – <15k), and 5) is not socially disgraceful. (These are my priorities, not hers. But then again I’m paying for it, amn’t I? So I believe I have the majority vote.)
We are open to suggestions.
http://ph.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070723082942AAPvdfY
Mazda Protoge/3. good economy, as reliable as the Hondas and Toyotas without the price and she won’t be embarassed to be seen driving it. Can she handle a standard , tho?
Mazda Protege/3. good economy, as reliable as the Hondas and Toyotas without the price and she won’t be embarassed to be seen driving it. Can she handle a standard , tho?
Stay away from any Taurus/Sable/Fusion/Malibu stuff. Mine had Honda and Nissan – altho the Sentra was a little short on the crash-worthiness at anything above a fast taxi, IMHO.
4 years with a Honda, one set of tires, one battery.
Nissan in 4th yr – 2 tires, one battery. No engine, a/c, tranny issues.
Good luck. And don’t buy a black one!
Cap’t, I thought we were proud Americans here, what’s with all the rice burner talk? Even CNN, Consumer Reports, et al that hate the domestic market rate the Fusion / Milan BETTER than the Accord and Camry and have since day 1, PLUS they rate the entire Ford line equal or better than any other manufacture. I don’t know what the incentives are on the left coast but here in the midwest, I can deliver a NEW Focus auto, A/C, power windows locks and the Sync bluetooth system for under the $15K. Yes I am with Ford and may be a little biased but remember, Ford had not gotten in any taxpayers pocket and we are an American company. Even if you don’t buy from me or a Ford, BUY FROM AN AMERICAN COMPANY! Don’t buy a car that is just assembled here and the $$ goes offshore! Keep jobs and our $$ in this great country!
Can’t do that here, unfortunately.
Do you have cash or your own secured financing? Lowball them. Knock 40% off whatever they’re asking used and be prepared to walk away.
My father used to write what he’d pay on a piece of paper along with his phone number. Then he’d leave. Towards the end of the month, when quotas were due, he’d get the call.
U.S. manufacturers have narrowed the quality gap considerably IMHO.
Another development in today’s news if you’d consider moderately priced new-if the Caravan was a guzzler…
The U.S. House approved a plan Tuesday offering up to $4,500 for owners of gas-guzzlers to trade in their wheels for new models in a bid to boost the lagging market for new vehicles.
The Fusion is build in Hermosillo, Mexico.
The Mazda6 (same car) is made in Flat Rock, Michigan.
Which one’s the American car again?
Fusion was built on a stretched Mazda6 platform – and the new Mazda6 was built off the Fusion. We own both and swear by both. SWMBO drives the ’07 Fusion and S(whothinks)SMBO the Mazda6 (’06). Picked the latter up from a Mazda dealer w/20K left on the factory warranty (50K) in the depths of the economic downturn last year for $14.5K. V6/auto and nice insurance rates which worked out right for a college-bound daughter.
- SJS
George
Can’t get any more Mur-can than “built in Marysville Ohio” by non-union labor on the Honda.
Could not agree more G-Man.
I bought my first Accord during my last year at GM over twenty years ago (UAW did not appreciate that and let me know about it). Frig the UAW
Been Camry or Accord ever since.
Right-on G
Whatever
I recently purchased a 2002 Dodge Neon for Son Number 1 – 65,000 miles – good runner, 30 mpg and my mechanic said that, since the Neon came out in 1996, he’s replaced a head gasket in one. Other than that, he’s never seen any major problems with their drivetrains. And, Son thinks it’s a pretty decent-looking little car.
But, while I drive a 2001 VW Jetta with 170,000 miles (still on the original factory clutch, thank you very much…) I must confess that I do like the looks of the Ford Fusion and will probably go in that direction when the Jetta finally dies.
What about an Altima? They are a great car, very reliable, solid performance and very safe. Was going to buy one the last time I went in for a new car in 2003 but they couldn’t deliver the color I wanted. Otherwise I’d still be driving it.
Although, James Bond drove a Ford Fusion in the latest Bond Film – Quantum of Solace. That gives it an uber-cool factor…
Sigh… Lex, maybe you can find a used Aston-Martin DB5, with some “extras,” now that Bond drives something so pedestrian.
A few years ago in college, my parents and I bought a used Volkswagen Jetta (2005). It was a stupendous purchase. The transmission was replaced when I bought it (warranty covered it), but other than that, it has not given me any problems in 3.5 years.
Terrifically safe (great ratings, side-impact air bags), decent mileage, has bona fide sex appeal and will def. be under $15k nowadays. (I bought mine in 2006 with 25,000 miles for $14k).
While I concur with the quality of VW/Audi in general, Car Talk has an expose on the psychology of Jetta Drivers at http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/jettadrivers/ .
A used Honda Accord or Civic. Very solid and very reliable.
And for the “buy US” crowd, the Accord is built in OH.
Concur with Accord or Camry.
If you want safe and reliable (and not too expensive) while being something a college kid would like, you really can’t go wrong with a Civic.
Right-on Civic is the deal!
Mazda 3 hatchback. Meets all requirements and is also fun to drive and fairly cool. Cheap, too, since Mazdas depreciate surprisingly quickly.
Or a Ford Fusion/Mazda 6. More or less the same car, but the Ford will be cheaper and hold more stuff. Not the new ones, but the pre-09 models.
Though it’s a bit of a drive for you Kieffe & Sons Ford in Mojave does some pretty good deals on used cars and trucks.
Mazda 3 hatchback. Meets all requirements and is also fun to drive and fairly cool. Cheap, too, since Mazdas depreciate surprisingly quickly. A Protege5 will be out of warranty by now, which is a shame. Really good car, that.
Or a used Ford Fusion. More or less the same car as the Mazda 6 pre-2009, but the Ford will be cheaper and hold more stuff.
Subaru Forester if she’ll need real 4WD, although not cheap on gas because of it. As socially inoffensive as it gets, too.
Hang on to it! It may be worth $4500 in cash if you buy something with better mileage. And that shouldn’t be too hard.
http://tinyurl.com/nfqo82
Believe what you will. Yes, initially you’ll be paying for it from a monetary standpoint, but completely ignore her desires and you may end up paying for it in other ways. After a few weeks the partisan sniping will start, the intentional rolling of eyes and heartfelt sighs whenever the new purchase is mentioned. Soon, in the interests of domestic harmony, you’ll be pedaling as fast as you can, trying to unload that Hyundai Elantra w/ the fabulous factory warranty and urgently seeking a low mileage new generation Beetle, probably a convert-triple as per her expressed wishes.
Teh wimmin. Tehy have tehir ways.
Been there, done that. Honda Civic, new in 2000, was driven until 2008, when it attempted to occupy the same space as a guardrail on the 5 in Glendale. Bulletproof, acceptably young woman chic, kept an amazing amount of value, was never in the shop.
Replaced with the princess’ own money by a Volvo S40. Gets that from her mother, veteran Volvo driver that she is….
There’s a guy selling a 2001 Z3M roadster (with hardtop) 39k miles for about $21K if you decide YOU need a car and wish to donate yours to her.
http://tinyurl.com/nokj93
I like the way you think, but she doesn’t drive a stick.
Come on Lex, What will it take her to learn to drive a stick?
An afternoon at the parking lot of the local High School is all it took for me to teach six of my younger sisters and countless nieces and nephews.
… and a new clutch plate!
you bet..teach her..i taught my second daughter to drive with my corvette stick, lol
…..er, for free she could learn?
Teach her to drive a stick. Or show her the mechanics and let her learn on her own if you make her too nervous.
You seem to be a patient man, you can do it.
My philosophy is there shouldn’t be a car out there I can’t drive, in case I get into some sort of bind. It has gotten me out of some messes.
I recommend one of the Korean jobs with the long warranty. I just spent 1k replacing an out of warranty a/c on my 04 Buick.
GM–your first mistake.
Hyundai or Kia. Buy one new (for <$15K) and get the whole warranty (10 yr/100K powertrain).
Excellent build quality, safety, milegage and reliability. I worked for a major car rental company and the Korean cars held up as good or better than anything else we carried. Not bad looking cars to boot, and the new Kia Soul actually has some cache with the younger crowd.
I found the Fusion/Milan to be junk. Poor to frightening steering, ugly interiors and unless you get the V6, they wont get out of their own way even going down hill. Although the Mazda 6 is a very close cousin, it is a wholly different car in all respects.
A 2-3 year old Mazda (6 or 3) would be a good buy as well.
Please don’t purchase an “Obama Motors” UAW junker.
I’m partial to a nice used Acura/Honda. I’ve been driving them for 10 years and they’ve never given me a problem (and they don’t leave me stranded in far away parking lots like my BMW’s did).
Lex, not mentioned above but a darn good car for the money, good mileage and heck of a warranty is the Hyundai. give them a try. I’ve been in the car biz for a while and have sold lots of used cars. 8-9 years ago, wouldn’t touch one. Nowadays, when my sister asked what she should buy, told her a hyundai, she got an elantra and she loves it, gets 38mpg on the highway and no issues in 2 years.
whatever you decide, do your research, Edmunds is pretty good.
http://www.edmunds.com/hyundai/elantra/review.html
Pontiac Vibe. Built on the same line as the Toyota Matrix and essentially the same car. ***5-star crash rating*** (possibly important here) and usually great deals to be had because the Pontiac depreciates a whole lot faster than than the Toyota.
Lex, take her to your local Carmax dealer and walk the lot while she looks at the suggested makes your readers have given. Even if you and she don’t find “the One”, go online and look at the selection at Carmax.com. They will ship any car you find to San Diego (you pay a fee). If not as advertised, you don’t pay the shipping fee. We bought a 2006 Ford Explorer that way last year, and it was the least painful car purchase I’ve ever made. No high pressure, no haggling over price. The car was missing a front license bracket which I had to purchase from Ford; Carmax reimbursed me. They will buy your trade-in, but it’s usually below book value.
Carmax is best!
Ah… Hell, have some fun!
This is the CAR she NEEDS! (sorry for the long link but I still haven’t figured out how to hyperlink a word in a comment…) I have the 2005 3.0 and LOVE IT! Great gas mileage too! 25-29 on average… really!
http://autos.yahoo.com/used-cars/bmw-z4-cars137455839?geo=true&sortcol=price&sortdir=up&location=San+Diego%2C+CA+92101&listingtype=used&model=z4&make=bmw&distance=50
And have fun teaching her to use a manual… 2nd best fun to your chosen profession!
F-series…:)
I’m kind of in the same boat, but it’s not my money. My daughter is planning on buying her first car when she comes home for a week in September. She’s got that Navy check coming in, and since she’s still in A School not much of it is getting spent yet.
I suggested she buy new, and get something sporty, Mustang, 2010 Camaro, RX8, something the old man would want. And she’s pretty level headed, so I’m not worried about her street racing or getting herself in trouble.
Did I mention she was pretty level headed? She wants to buy a 2 or 3 year old compact or midsize, with 20 to 50,000 miles and good gas mileage. One option is a really bright color so it’s easy to find in a parking lot, ala Dodge Neon Yellow.
We’re checking out the internet right now, and the above suggestions will help.
Lex, my Saturn VUE has been tough as a tank, easy on gas (about 24 in the city) and in 90K, the only thing I’ve replaced are the brakes and tires. Been in two wrecks, pretty good ones, nary a scratch on me, the other cars? Not so good. Shame it was their fault. Seriously, I love that Vue, and I feel totally safe in it.
I owned a small pickup in college. Seldom bought my own pizza or beer. Useful, it was.
They make sporty ones too.
Bought my daughter a new Jetta in high school (shoulda bought used) and she drove it for ten years. wasn’t all that well maintained but held up well. I enjoyed driving it the few times I did.
Thinking Toyota of Honda might do the trick.
Teach her a stick – no better time. Think of the “bonding” opportunity and besides, how much grayer can your hair get? Speaking from experience here….
I bought a 3 year old Acura TL in ’04. It was certified pre owned. It’s the same as the Accord but a little pricier. Fantastic car and fantastic service. When my warranty expired and I needed a major repair they did it for me anyway, just charging me <$200 for a tranny. Get the Accord or an older TL. The dealer sends you brownies too.
I have owned Ford products almost exclusively. The one exception was a 1950 Dodge P/U.
I got 250,000 miles out of my Ford Escort. I liked to think of it as a Mercedes with a $30,000 rebate
Seriously, the Escort is a darned nice vehicle, and with proper maintenance will last a long long time.
One other thought… if she really is prone to fender-benders, you might want to check into average repair costs before purchasing.
My wife is on our second Ford Focus. 8.5 years, 2 cars, 3 problems, and averaged 40MPG from RI to Norfolk. You could get new in the price range you are thinking and if you are financing you will save money with a better rate on new. Cash, well, is cash.
Having been Asst Service Manager of Toyota service departments in the past, I rate the Focus 95% the car of the Corolla and Civic at shorter money.
Otherwise, stay in the Civic/Corolla/Camry/Accord realm for used. Don’t by a Mitsubishi or a Subaru and think real hard about a Kia.
Lex, if it doesn’t hold 4 golf bags, 4 golfers and clothes for four for a week, don’t even consider it. You never can tell when DNO will take up golf and want to visit Pebble, Pinehurst, etc. You have to plan for the unknown buddy. Just warning you. Boss.
Lex
I’ve already made my suggestion but bullnav’s comment on F series pickups is spot on. When I dumped my youngest princess off at her apartment the back lot was filled with F-150s and they had their fishing and duck hunting boats attached! Thar’s some ser-ous country boyz there. And look at the safety factor – all those snotty kids driving the Civics and Sentras and Fusions will get outta her way! Plus when you back in at the drive in picture show (you DO still have those in CA right?), the lawn chairs and coolers fit jes fine.
I won’t own a “Government Motors” vehicle. And my ’89 Escort GT was a POS. So I’m not a big fan of Fords.
I loved my ’99 Honda Civic so much so that I went back to Honda for my ’06 Pilot. Their dependability, high resale value, safety ratings, and service have won me over. I’m a fan of Toyotas too but I prefer Hondas.
And teach her to drive stick, please. I’m so glad my Daddy taught me. He always said that, no matter where I was, I could count on being able to drive any car, any time. He was right.
Lex..you can get big bucks from obama for turning it in to the feds, lol
Bah, just find a moderately rusted ’82 Volvo 240 DL wagon 4cylinder for $1200-1600 and send her on her way.
Rear wheel drive, ergo repairable. No crazy transaxle costs if the tranny goes, relatively cheap fixes — and worth fixing. Built like a Scandinavian tank and still get 24mpg.
Agree with 603. Can’t go wrong with a tank for safety and reliability. Plus it will almost haul a dorm room full of gear.
Of course, by the time you get to comment 38, you probably already found a car.
great comments!!
The car to buy??
The one she wants
Used Honda Accord. I used to recommend (and drive) Civics, but nowadays want more metal around loved ones. If she can’t drive a stick and that’s all that’s in the price range, she can learn – I did in an afternoon way back when. Have a relative who works for GM who calls me unpatriotic, btw. Pah. My Accord was made in the USA. The many new GMs we looked at when we were replacing our Buick last year? Workmanship so poor on the visible parts it scared me to think about what the quality was on the parts you can’t see. No thanks. I bought an Avalon.
A good second hand Vespa. It defines road mortality, discourages the sorts of distractions that kill our kids, (looking over one’s shoulder while driving in order to make eye contact with the girls in back, fiddling with the AM/FM/CD/IPOD player and talking on the cell phone while driving and that whole nothing at all between one’s pink body and a road rash……) yes, it would definitely produce a prudent short range commuter.
Perhaps a trip to Kearny Mesa will yield something that meets your criteria, without all the price haggling (which I hate):
http://www.carmax.com/enUS/search-results/default.html?ANa=4294966614&N=4294967112+206+4294966615&D=90&zip=92111&sP=NA-16000&No=0&Ep=homepage:homepage%20Make&Rp=R&PP=20&sV=List&CD=14+240+190+9&Q=59c5bc88-8caa-416a-8b6f-51fc4806c0f9
Subaru is the car of choice here in Casa Boog, after our attempts to “buy American” were met with dropped transmissions on the highway (Dodge), exploding tires (Ford), and all manner of crappy workmanship (Mercury, Ford, Dodge).
Link here shows that what an “American car” actually means is increasingly quite blurry.
http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2009/06/there-is-very-bright-future-for-us-auto.html#links
May I recommend the Dodge Caliber? I have an ’07, purchased used a year ago. Good mileage, A+ crash rating, lots of passenger / cargo room, kickin’ stereo.
http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/default.aspx?make=Dodge&model=Caliber#used
Steve,
I’m TAD in Hawaii and that’s my rental car! They’re everywhere in Makalapa and I don’t recall ever seeing one in San Diego.
I don’t know what they cost but it seems like an OK ride to me. Mine has a glitch but I’m sure it’s a unique glitch. When I lock the doors using the remote it turns the headlights on and they stay on, forever. This is not the kind of car you can turn your back on and walk away while clicking the remote door lock.
Lex, Be careful what you ask for…like that ” what do you want?” thread a few days ago…things can go in very unexpected directions very quickly…44 and counting well meaning comments later … Toffler’s burden of overchoice rides again… back to the drawing board…you have my sympathies. Best
How about a Ford Ranger? Fairly small, manuverable, decent milage with a 4 cylinder, and since it has a frame, it is safer for the occupant than most cars. She would sit higher, for better road vision, than she would in a car, and it can haul things. An extended cab Ranger can haul 4 college age gals with ease, and being a pickup, it will hold it’s resale value.
If Lex had moved to Texas and she opted for one of the fine in-state institutions of higher learning I’d say the Ranger would be a fine choice (F-150 even better). In Texas everybody has at least one pickup…Left Coast – not so much.
Wouldn’t do to force such non-conformance – college kids figure out enough of that without help from dear ‘ol Dad.
Nissan Versa w/ CVT. USAA will give you a price and dealer.
Check out the local DRMO sale/auction should be an office around 32nd st. (a surplus M35 should fit the crash worthiness issue.
My middle “leetle gorl” got a Subaru Forester a few months ago, and loves it. It’s made several Sandy Eggo to Portland and back trips, and she’s been very impressed with the ride, and the gas mileage.