In the market for a different car...

Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 3:08 pm

Well, the Grand Prix has finally gone. Well, not quite, but I don't feel like dealing with it any more! (2001 3.1L 170,xxx miles) I'm looking for something around the $10k price point. Any suggestions? This is the list so far: (in no particular order)

2006 Mazda MAZDA3 Sedan
68,103 miles
$10,990

2004 BMW 330xi Sedan
89,961 miles
call for price (figure it should be close with the year and mileage)

2006 Honda Accord 2.4 LX Sedan
61,556 miles
$10,700

2006 Honda Civic EX Sedan
58,761 miles
$11,999

2002 Honda Accord 3.0 EX
63,512 miles
$9,782

2004 Chevy Colorado
92,165 miles
$9,990

2006 Chevy Monte Carlo LT
79,624 miles
$10,877

Are there any other models you guys might recommend? I found a car I really want ('03 MINI Cooper) but it's stick and the gf needs automatic. This is the back-up vehicle for both of us after all Confused

WGA Friend Joined: 2010-01-08 Posts: 275

Quote:

2006 Honda Accord 2.4 LX Sedan
61,556 miles
$10,700

I bought a brand new 2006 Accord V6 EX Coupe (6 speed manual)
I loved that car, just wish I still had it. I test drove the 4 cyl. version, both the coupe and the sedan.

All the Accords were very comfortable, Especially on long trips. I drove my Accord on a few 3-day, 3000 mile each way trips across the country. No sign of driver fatigue whatsoever.

I imagine the 4cyl Accord should get decent gas mileage. I got around 29mpg in my V6, driven aggressively.

One thing I noticed about the 4cyl Accord models, and the main reason I bought the 255hp V6 EX, is that they felt a little underpowered. It may have ample power for a grocery getter or trips on the interstate, but it wasn't a very fun car, if you know what I mean.

The 2002 3.0 EX sounds like a good car (a little more my style), but $10K sounds like too much.

Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 7:51 am

Honda's are very reliable, and hold their value. Just make sure it hasn't been driven by a teenager and raced, then converted back to stock.

BMW's are fantastic cars, well engineered, reliable, blah, blah, blah. But when they do break, you may need a second mortgage to fix it.

STAY AWAY from the Colorado.

Mazda's are great cars too. Reliable, hold value and fun to drive factor on most models is off the chart for the price paid

That MonteCarlo is at the stage where it's going to start nickle and diming you to death. Trust me on this one.

I was in car sales for years, and have been working on cars since I was 14. You can't go wrong with Toyota, Nissan, Mazda and Honda. The domestics have generally been junk since the early 70's. I hate to say it but it is true. For three years I worked at a local dealer that sold 13 brands. Day in and day out The big three auto-makers stalls (of which there were double the import stalls) were backed up with work. Where the Toyota Nissan and Honda bays were generally empty, and the mechanics were sick of only ever doing oil changes and brake jobs. I should mention our imports outsold the domestics 3 to 1. I should also mention I worked for GM, and drove them for most of my life. None of the last three GM's I owned made it to 100k without thousands in out of pocket expenses. I simply don't buy GM anymore. If you want a domestic car that's going to be reliable, Ford id the only way to go anymore. In the past 10 years, they have really stepped up their game, and have almost caught up to the imports.

All of the above is IMHO

Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 8:14 am

buy a jeep Very Happy

i got a 98 grand cherokee with 175,xxx and it rund like it brand new. i've just done regular maintance on it brakes oil tune-up stuff like that.

Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 8:19 am

glorkar wrote:

2006 Mazda MAZDA3 Sedan
68,103 miles
$10,990

2006 Honda Accord 2.4 LX Sedan
61,556 miles
$10,700

2004 Chevy Colorado
92,165 miles
$9,990

Are there any other models you guys might recommend? I found a car I really want ('03 MINI Cooper) but it's stick and the gf needs automatic. This is the back-up vehicle for both of us after all Confused

I love the Mazda3 and they seem to be a good car. STAY AWAY FROM COLORADO they have had hoardes or problems and they do not hold value. The Accord looks like the best "deal" and it is a very roomy car

Cant drive stick?? A weekend will take car of that! Minis ROCK!!!!!

Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 9:32 am

Thanks for all of the input. My thoughts so far:
The Monte and the Colorado I was never too sure of, but I put them on the list for some variety.
The Bimmer would be nice, but you're right, they can be pricey to fix.
Don't really like Nissan. They've just felt 'cheap' after the mid 90's. Never liked Mopar (Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep.) They seem to have more problems than other brands. A Jeep wouldn't be bad, but I don't really want anything that big.
Toyota might be okay, same thing as a Lexus without the price tag.
More than likely it will be a Honda over the Mazda, but we'll see. I'll have to do some test driving this weekend Twisted Evil

Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 9:33 am

neonride93 wrote:

Cant drive stick?? A weekend will take car of that! Minis ROCK!!!!!

That's why her daily driver is an '06 MINI Cooper S w/6 speed auto Very Happy

WGA Member Joined: 2007-12-27 Posts: 342 Location: Wausau

Don't get a mini unless you want to overpay for constant maintenance and repair. The 06 Accord looks like a good pick to me. but if you don't need space the Civic is good too.

Why didn't I see a Honda Fit on your list?

Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 2:19 pm

Price is the big factor. These were the best of the bunch under $10k.

FWIW, we have not had any problems with our current MINI except the drain tubes for the sunroof disconnecting. Other than that, we have had nothing but good luck.

Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 2:20 pm

I would stay away from the '02 Honda Accord. I am just saying that model year was notorious for bad transmissions. Both my father-in-law and I had that car, they both needed a new transmission before 50,000.

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 10:06 am

Updated list:

2000 BMW 328i
2008 Mazda Mazda6 sedan (about 6 different ones w/varying trim levels)
2008 Saturn Astra XR (same as Opel Astra in Europe)
2006 Honda Civic EX

Decided to bump up my budget ($11-13k.) What's another $25/month, right?

Gonna test drive the Honda and the Bimmer tonight. I'll let you know how it goes.

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 10:14 am

You could bump a little more and get a 2010 Pontiac G6 for 14500 with about 10k on it. Bergstrom has a bunch. I have an 09 and LOVE LOVE LOVE it.

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 11:00 am

I'll admit, some of those G6s aren't bad looking, but I think I want to try something different this time around. The last two cars were Pontiacs (Grand Prix and Bonneville.) Plus, like you said, those things are all over the place! They (along with the cobalts) will become what the cavalier is now Confused

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 11:12 am

Very true. The G6 is the new Grand Am and yeap they are everywere. I actually didnt want it when I got it last year, but I couldnt pass up the price. Brand New the car I got had a MSRP of 24000 and I paid 14,400 In Sept of 09 for and 09 with 12k on it. ( it now has 28k thanks to Geocaching) car is still worth 14,000 So i could trade it in and not lose anything How often can you say that in the first year of ownership!

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 12:20 pm

Check out my newest cachemobile:
http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?id=2467118
It is a 2006 Scion Xb, drives like a go kart, and is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside!