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Author Topic: Buying advice  (Read 3132 times)

Offline Merlin

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Buying advice
« on: February 03, 2007, 08:35:29 am »
Hi, well im an 18 year old teen (male) and im looking for a car to last my college years.

My budget is of about 10-12k, im mainly looking for something reliable. Preferably 4 doors to keep my insurance cost down.

Any suggestions?
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mdxtasy

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Re: Buying advice
« Reply #1 on: February 03, 2007, 10:31:34 am »
Cheap and reliable.

Mazda Protege
Honda Civic
Ford Focus
Toyota Corolla
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Offline inco

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Re: Buying advice
« Reply #2 on: February 03, 2007, 10:35:38 am »
I'm sure by now that you must also have some likes and dislikes as to brands in mind as to the car you want. You have to lead us a little if you want some specific info.

Based on what you have provided -reliable, four doors and low insurance rates you can't go wrong with any Japanese car (Corolla, Matrix, Civic, Mazda 3) even Korean (Accent, Elantra). NA is out - German not reliable etc.

So some more feedback would help and we can then narrow it down.
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Offline village

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Re: Buying advice
« Reply #3 on: February 03, 2007, 02:13:47 pm »
Maybe a new Hyundai Accent or Kia Rio at whatever 0% or so rates they are offering might be worthwhile to look at.  Keep your cash, earn a bit of interest on it and use it to pay for the car during your college years + full warranty. 
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Offline Cord

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Re: Buying advice
« Reply #4 on: February 03, 2007, 11:52:01 pm »
Quote
NA is out - German not reliable etc.

Why is NA out? The Focus (as suggested by MDX) has recently been a recommended model from Consumer Reports. Reliability is not generally an issue with the Focus. I'm not saying it is the best car out there but it is certainly not deserving of total dismisal. And in terms of being a car that someone might actually enjoy driving it is heads and shoulders above something like a Corolla.
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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Re: Buying advice
« Reply #5 on: February 04, 2007, 02:41:00 pm »
Quote from: MdX5 on February 03, 2007, 10:31:34 am
Cheap and reliable.

Mazda Protege
Honda Civic
Ford Focus
Toyota Corolla


Yeah.

I would go for the best price/value/overall package of:
Protegé (fun to drive - little stiffer suspension tho, reliable, spacious, a little less expensive than Civic/Corolla, also a little less fuel efficient)
Civic (excellent fuel economy, good ride-handling tradeoff, reliability just below Corolla)
Corolla (quiet, plush ride, reliability, near Civic fuel economy, but boring to drive)
Elantra (depreciates quickest, good power but less fuel economy, fair reliability, Corolla-like but cheaper)
Focus (great handling, choice of bodystyles, good power, decent reliability after initial few years, depreciation is high)
Accent (high depreciation, decent quality, smaller size, but sedan less popular than hatches)
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mdxtasy

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Re: Buying advice
« Reply #6 on: February 04, 2007, 11:02:46 pm »
The Hyundai's that SAM suggests are good bets too. 
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Offline Arctic_White

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Re: Buying advice
« Reply #7 on: February 05, 2007, 01:33:20 am »
Corolla has better fuel economy than a Civic.

Moreover, the Toyota will probably be cheaper to maintain and insure.

:) 
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Offline 2latecrew

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Re: Buying advice
« Reply #8 on: February 05, 2007, 07:37:51 am »
If you are an 18 year old male my guess is that the Civic will be the most expensive to insure.
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Offline Damien

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Re: Buying advice
« Reply #9 on: February 05, 2007, 11:46:06 am »
How about a Miata.

I don't know about where you are, but insurance on them seems cheap in BC.

I had a 20% discount when I first bought a 1991.  My insurance was $1050.  I bought it with 170,000kms, sold it with 230,000 3 years later.  Only had to change a water pump ($350), I did the timing belt at the same time as I was in there anyway, and clutch slave cylinder ($100).

This was with a lot of hard driving and Auto-x.

Cheap
Reliable
Good on gas
Very fun to drive
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Offline dave 2

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Re: Buying advice
« Reply #10 on: February 05, 2007, 05:37:01 pm »
Civic, Corolla, Protege (to a lesser extent) will retain their value once you decide to buy something else.  I'd avoid a Focus just because of this.
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Offline tortoise

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Re: Buying advice
« Reply #11 on: February 05, 2007, 08:37:54 pm »
If you're in university you'll be moving a lot. 

I'd go with the focus wagon for the extra space.  They can be had with a manual, but they're rare.

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Offline jbbadboy

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Re: Buying advice
« Reply #12 on: February 05, 2007, 10:26:34 pm »
In general, domestic vehicles tend to be cheaper to insure than foreign vehicles.
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Offline dave 2

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Re: Buying advice
« Reply #13 on: February 06, 2007, 04:33:49 pm »
Check with your insurer as to costs with these models. If there isn't much of a difference go with import.  In '90, while in University, bought a 90 Civic hatchback.  Kept if for 9 and half years (to finish my graduate studies and start working in 94).  Only got rid of it because we were waiting for our 2nd kid and needed a 4door.

260 000km, practically no repairs and still got 2500 for it in 99'.

In the long run, this car did not cost me a lot of $.
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Offline Giant Dwarf

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Re: Buying advice
« Reply #14 on: February 06, 2007, 04:54:39 pm »
Quote from: Damien on February 05, 2007, 11:46:06 am
How about a Miata.

I don't know about where you are, but insurance on them seems cheap in BC.

Shhh!  Damien, don't let the cat outta the bag about the cheap Miata insurance!!!  :)

He is right though... hell of a good little commuter / economy car with the added bonus of being more fun than a barrel of drunken monkeys!

That said, a still-fun, but much more practical choice would be any of the other great suggestions listed above.  I agree with 2Latecrew that the Civic could be noticably more expensive to insure, but I was just marvelling the other day how my wife's Civic now approaching 170,000 kms has had routine maintenance (including waterpump / timing belt / oil changes), one set of new tires, one set of new front brakes and ... well, that's it!  Exceedingly reliable (as was my old Civic Si coupe years ago too).

Still, if it were me, I'd look for a Protege with the 2L engine (ie. an ES model).  They are world's more enjoyable to drive than comparable year Civics and just feel more solid, plus, as others have said, they should be cheaper to find too.
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Offline inco

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Re: Buying advice
« Reply #15 on: February 06, 2007, 05:42:28 pm »
It's been three days and the Magician is missing! Was it us? ;D
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Offline AVToller

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Re: Buying advice
« Reply #16 on: February 06, 2007, 05:48:34 pm »
Quote from: inco on February 06, 2007, 05:42:28 pm
It's been three days and the Magician is missing! Was it us? ;D

Looks like another case of "ask and run". Maybe we can get The Fuzz to charge the offender.  :-\ ??? ;D
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Offline dave 2

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Re: Buying advice
« Reply #17 on: February 06, 2007, 06:03:09 pm »
Once again, looks like we're more interested in giving the answer than he is getting it.... :o
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Offline Damien

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Re: Buying advice
« Reply #18 on: February 06, 2007, 08:38:59 pm »
I think he may have been "cruising".  You know by putting in his age and gender?

Just throwing it out there.  :popo: :-*
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Offline Merlin

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Re: Buying advice
« Reply #19 on: March 28, 2007, 06:38:50 pm »
oh no lol, i have been looking. Ive been looking around alot. But due to recent events, i had to drop my budget down to abouk 7k. Ive been looking at low milage cavaliers and sunfires... Im just trying to have the car for 4-5 years. Id like to put minimal money into it (also due to insane insurance cost).  Im appreciating the advice btw. With the new budget of 7k (need in about 2 weeks), what would you recommend?

I was told to stay away from Cavaliers, but i know a couple people that have one and dont have any problems with them.

THanks,

Alex
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