buying a new car
monopolowa
Join Date: 2004-05-23 Member: 28839Members
Join Date: 2004-05-23 Member: 28839Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">under 20k</div>So my '98 Ford Escort died on Tuesday, and looks to be not worth fixing. I've mostly decided on what my next car will be, but I thought I'd see what kind of input the NS2 crowd could provide, as it's a big purchase and I don't want to overlook anything. I'm interested in a new 4 door sedan costing up to 20k.
Things I'm look for:
economy
safety
reliability/longevity (would like to keep it for as long as possible)
sporty (I don't need a WRX, but a bit of pep is nice)
Number one on my list right now is a 2012 Mazda3 i Touring w/ 6 speed manual transmission. It gets 27-39 MPG, and has a 155 hp engine with 148 ft-lb of torque @4100 rpm. MSRP is $18,700 but I got a quote from the dealer for $17,075.
Any reasons why I should not get this car? Any other cars I should be looking into?
Things I'm look for:
economy
safety
reliability/longevity (would like to keep it for as long as possible)
sporty (I don't need a WRX, but a bit of pep is nice)
Number one on my list right now is a 2012 Mazda3 i Touring w/ 6 speed manual transmission. It gets 27-39 MPG, and has a 155 hp engine with 148 ft-lb of torque @4100 rpm. MSRP is $18,700 but I got a quote from the dealer for $17,075.
Any reasons why I should not get this car? Any other cars I should be looking into?
Comments
I'd really recommend a Corolla though, the XR-S model comes with the Celica GT-S engine if you want something faster. TRD also makes a supercharger for it if that is not enough. Everything under the hood is easily accessible and parts are easy to find since there are so many Corollas produced. I've taken mine on road trips plenty of times and I never get fatigued driving for long periods of time. Civics are always a good choice too, you can easily push over 45mpg with the right mods and tuning.
I'd avoid late model Mazdas like the plauge. Parts are stupidly expensive.
<a href="http://www.subaru.com/vehicles/impreza/static/compare.html" target="_blank">http://www.subaru.com/vehicles/impreza/static/compare.html</a>
I'm probably going to go all out for the 2.0i Sport Limited 2012 Impreza myself.
But if you refuse my advice, I liked the Nissan Versa. base model is 17 and it gets 30-36 mpg, and looks pretty nice too. Nissans have always treated me well.
<!--quoteo(post=1909795:date=Mar 4 2012, 01:40 AM:name=LV426-Colonist)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (LV426-Colonist @ Mar 4 2012, 01:40 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1909795"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Get yourself a truck.
Screw mini coopers.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Gotta agree, trucks are the funnest.
For extra fun pull up to an airport curbside pick and see who hopes into the back of your car.
Looking cool and a large back seat.
For under 20K <b>new</b>, it's also one of the few options available that isn't a tissue box with wheels (eg: Smart car).
If you had a bit of time and didn't *need* a four-door, I'd recommend a Toyota FT-86. They're due to come out soon enough (in Toyota/Subaru/Scion trims), and are apparently getting rave reviews from professional drivers about just how incredibly _fun_ they are to drive; some supposedly made offers to buy the test car outright then and there after their time on the track. What I'm looking at for my own next car.
I don't know U.S. petrol prices but it's 135-140 pence per litre in the UK right now. :(
That new FT-86 is looking pretty damn awesome, but it would probably go along with the lines of my Celica being small. It would be a good investment though, I see it keeping its value somewhat since its one of the rare drift cars that only come around ever so often.
step your game up
or walk in cash in hand and wheel and deal
[edit]
I was also going to say get the toyota skittle small dealy, Talesin said it as well
I'd actually recommend taking a look at a (manual) Toyota Yaris. <-- get one from a fleet dealer so it's bare bones manual with crank windows etc dirt cheap excellent etc etc
automobile hecklers who suggested first idear also say put that 20k in a CD for 6 years and then buy the new NSX when it comes out
[/edit]
"We can live in it year round."
Lol...
<!--quoteo(post=1910085:date=Mar 4 2012, 10:37 PM:name=lolfighter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lolfighter @ Mar 4 2012, 10:37 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1910085"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Only thing I can say is go for mileage. Hoping for falling gas prices is denying reality.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yah but cars with high miles per gallon look fugly.
<!--quoteo(post=1910183:date=Mar 5 2012, 09:47 AM:name=sherpa)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (sherpa @ Mar 5 2012, 09:47 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1910183"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I had a Subaru Impreza WRX and it was an absolute joy to drive. The 50 minute drive to work became fun. Unfortunately said 50 minute drive emptied my wallet so I had to sell it.
I don't know U.S. petrol prices but it's 135-140 pence per litre in the UK right now. :(<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It is only $3.10 per Gallon mere.
I don't know U.S. petrol prices but it's 135-140 pence per litre in the UK right now. :(<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Oh hah I just realized what you meant...thought you were saying you sold your wallet for the longest time
Gas is around $3.60/gallon around here right now
dollar/gallon = 140(pence/liter)/63(pence/dollar)*3.785(liter/gallon) = $8.41 /gallon - that's crazy expensive compared to here
or our prices in pence:
$3.60/gal * 63 (pence/dollar)/3.785 (liter/gal) = 59.9 pence/liter
Konoha's Perverted Hermit pays 51.6 pence/liter
MPG GP100M
10 10
15 6.666666667
20 5
25 4
30 3.333333333
35 2.857142857
40 2.5
Notice the difference between 25-35 MPG is actually way less than 10-20.
<!--quoteo(post=1910593:date=Mar 6 2012, 08:25 PM:name=Psyke)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Psyke @ Mar 6 2012, 08:25 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1910593"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->MPG GP100M
10 10
20 5
40 2.5<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
10 miles per gallon gives you ten gallons per 100 miles. Twice as many miles per gallon (20) results in half as many gallons per 100 miles (5). Four times as many miles per gallon (40) results in 1/4th as many gallons per 100 miles.
I dunno, that seems rather linear to me.
It is; the point he was trying to make was the same hashed-over 'Green' argument that getting people with 10mpg SUVs to buy a 20mpg car would save far more fuel than going from a 20mpg car to a 40mpg hybrid. It just got mangled as it's a diminishing returns for financial outlay between the two segments. 10->20 saves 5g/100mi, while 20->40 (twice the 'mileage' increase) only saves 2.5g/100mi, half as much actual fuel.
Also, as far as the Yaris goes, you can order them direct from the dealer with crank windows/no power door locks/no power anything. Toyota are good like that. What that same buddy did in fact, and saved a HUGE amount of weight, and cut out the stupid stuff that could break in favor of KISS mechanisms that will likely outlast the rest of the car. Also, the TRD racing clutch only costs $10 over the stock unit if/when it finally goes out, and is a MAJOR improvement.
"Keep It Simple, Stupid", stupid.
--Scythe--
Seriously, your best best is a Manual Yaris with said gearbox, crank windows etc etc it will be reliable, last forever, get sweet mileage, and have enough pep to keep you contained
--Scythe--<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
No need to be a jackass about it.
Gas is around $3.60/gallon around here right now
dollar/gallon = 140(pence/liter)/63(pence/dollar)*3.785(liter/gallon) = $8.41 /gallon - that's crazy expensive compared to here
or our prices in pence:
$3.60/gal * 63 (pence/dollar)/3.785 (liter/gal) = 59.9 pence/liter
Konoha's Perverted Hermit pays 51.6 pence/liter<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
WTF
At that price no wonder Americans can still drive powerful cars :(
So jealous!!!
10 miles per gallon gives you ten gallons per 100 miles. Twice as many miles per gallon (20) results in half as many gallons per 100 miles (5). Four times as many miles per gallon (40) results in 1/4th as many gallons per 100 miles.
I dunno, that seems rather linear to me.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
As you go up by 10 MPG, the GP100M decreases at a diminishing rate.
10->20 is a savings of 5g/100mi, but
20->30 is a savings of 2.67g/100mi...
30->40 is 0.89g/100mi
That is not linear (linear functions have a constant slope). Check it out visually: <a href="http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=100%2FX" target="_blank">http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=100%2FX</a> (where X=MPG, Y=GP100M)
But then you have to have hand crank windows.
It wouldn't be worth it to me to get a POS car to save a bit of gas. My company owns a few Ford Escape hybrids and we have gotten as low as 8 mpg, mean while our V8 Chevy Suburbans average around 6 mpg. It makes a much bigger difference how you drive then what you drive.
Of course these mileage figures are on the extreme low end, it is just an example of how the vehicle is used will have a huge impact on fuel usage.
it's one less motor that will need fixing
Seriously, A bare yaris S will still scoot and get fantastic mileage while keeping your cost low (Total Cost of Ownership, and Initial Investment) etc
A supercharger with a factory warranty? Why not...
etc etc
at least the TRD clutch is a great idear