Topic: I have MAX $20K and need a family car....HELP!!

[mdxtasy]

I would look at a 1 or 2 year old used car in the domestic maker's stable.  Or, a new one if there's a great financing deal or some cash back incentive (for end of model year sales). 

[mmret]

I remember tryin' to pass someone on the 401 in a 4c and it sounded like a lawnmower...i would have done more good cutting grass while i went by them!

I remember the days of my family's 198x Hyundai Pony. I think it had like 75hp? Can't remember...I was a wee little kid back then. The entire car would shift sideways when a transport drove by in the other direction on the highway. We also had a 1990 Ford Taurus. The ancient 3.0L V6. I believe it had 140hp. The base model 4cyl Taurus back then had 90hp IIRC. In 1999 we bought a Chrysler minivan, again a 3L V6, again 140hp, and not enough torque.

Now? Comparatively crazy. Girlfriend's Civic has a tiny little 1.8 that pumps out equivalent horsepower to the 3.0 V6s of old and gets 6.5L / 100km. My 2.4 4cylinder tops out at 205. VW/Audi's 1.8T can be chipped to produce something like 230hp, and we have really crazy stuff like the 2.0L Turbo in a Lancer Evo variant that spits out something like 400hp (trying to remember).

Family cruisers like Camrys, Accords, Altimas, and Impalas are available with well over 200hp, and even closer to 300 in the Altima's case. These family haulers are doing 0-100 in the mid 6s on the way to Costco.

Through the front wheels too.

[M]

(laffin with mmret)...oh yeah,,,the shimmy when an 18wheeler passed...been there...don't wanna be there again.  But you have me fairly conviced that the recent 4cyls are better.

soo...a new 4 cyl?

a used 6cyl? like the Impala (i can't get off the impala thing...should i?)

lease sumpin?....is leasing dumb?

[1TSX]

I remember tryin' to pass someone on the 401 in a 4c and it sounded like a lawnmower...i would have done more good cutting grass while i went by them!

Now? Comparatively crazy. Girlfriend's Civic has a tiny little 1.8 that pumps out equivalent horsepower to the 3.0 V6s of old and gets 6.5L / 100km. My 2.4 4cylinder tops out at 205. VW/Audi's 1.8T can be chipped to produce something like 230hp, and we have really crazy stuff like the 2.0L Turbo in a Lancer Evo variant that spits out something like 400hp (trying to remember).

Family cruisers like Camrys, Accords, Altimas, and Impalas are available with well over 200hp, and even closer to 300 in the Altima's case. These family haulers are doing 0-100 in the mid 6s on the way to Costco.

Through the front wheels too.

More like 300 for the Evo  But if tuned/modded, 400 is definitely possible.

But 4cyl engines are definitely more than adequate for a typical daily driver.

I wouldn't recommend leasing...you won't see the benefits unless you don't like to keep a car for long, or if you own a business.; otherwise, its more expensive.

[mmret]

In your case I'd go check out the family pricing thing that Ford and GM are offering. Focus / Cobalt / Pursuit / Vibe. Leasing, well...depends on interest rates.

Sleeping now. Good luck.

More like 300 for the Evo  Wink But if tuned/modded, 400 is definitely possible.

Hence why I said "variant" It was a modded car. Apparently the torque curve was extremely sharp. Most of the actual WRC cars have restrictions on specific engine parts that essentially limits crank HP to ~300, so the focus is more on building an engine with a flat torque curve. Not all that easy when you're dealing with a 2000cc motor with a huge turbo on it!

EDIT: we regulars are amazing at getting off topic.

[mdxtasy]

(laffin with mmret)...oh yeah,,,the shimmy when an 18wheeler passed...been there...don't wanna be there again.  But you have me fairly conviced that the recent 4cyls are better.

soo...a new 4 cyl?

a used 6cyl? like the Impala (i can't get off the impala thing...should i?)

lease sumpin?....is leasing dumb?

Leasing is an alternative payment program.  You defer some of the cost to the end so monthly payments are lower.  The downside is at the end of the lease, you have to figure out if you want to buy it out (either with cash or another loan) or return it for something different.  Typically, lower short term monthlies mean longer overall term to actually own the car (if you take another loan after lease expires) or lower short term monthlies for never actually owning a car yourself.  Insurance may also be higher for leased cars as they require more coverage.

[M]

 (nodding);)so, basically, ya bend over at the end of the lease, as opposed to the beginning, before you drive the car offatha lot.

I'm thinkin' leasing is not such a great way to go....i have no extra $$ for the lease insurance.

SOOO...y'all have been great! (greatbigboobysquishinghugs)...i gotta get to bed, now...weeone is up at 6 or so.

I'll check back in later, if'n anyone has more advice.

Thx TUUUUUNS!

[mdxtasy]

<still scratching my...>

[1TSX]

Sounds like someone still needs to do their homework.

[airbalancer]

(laffin with mmret)...oh yeah,,,the shimmy when an 18wheeler passed...been there...don't wanna be there again.  But you have me fairly conviced that the recent 4cyls are better.

soo...a new 4 cyl?

a used 6cyl? like the Impala (i can't get off the impala thing...should i?)

lease sumpin?....is leasing dumb?

Leasing is an alternative payment program.  You defer some of the cost to the end so monthly payments are lower.  The downside is at the end of the lease, you have to figure out if you want to buy it out (either with cash or another loan) or return it for something different.  Typically, lower short term monthlies mean longer overall term to actually own the car (if you take another loan after lease expires) or lower short term monthlies for never actually owning a car yourself.  Insurance may also be higher for leased cars as they require more coverage.

How would insurance cost be higher on a car that is leased as compared to car you finance

[DockMan]

eek ::)a stationwagon...don't ya call those "grocerygetters"?...(ggl)...i guess they're a step down from a minvan, which i refuse to buy, 'cause they are worth "poopoo" once you drive 'em offatha lot.

Welcome.....do not fear the Minivan...embrace your motherhood. If you already have a small car and need to replace the Eagle a 2 year old, 50% depreciated Dodge Caravan (about 8-10 G's) is as hell of a deal. Not the best on gas but very, very practical. I always hated Minivans until I was forced to get one, now I would never be without one, people can have their sport-utes and large sedans, but my minivan does everything i need it to do.

[DockMan]

(laffin with mmret)...oh yeah,,,the shimmy when an 18wheeler passed...been there...don't wanna be there again.  But you have me fairly conviced that the recent 4cyls are better.

soo...a new 4 cyl?

a used 6cyl? like the Impala (i can't get off the impala thing...should i?)

lease sumpin?....is leasing dumb?

Leasing is an alternative payment program.  You defer some of the cost to the end so monthly payments are lower.  The downside is at the end of the lease, you have to figure out if you want to buy it out (either with cash or another loan) or return it for something different.  Typically, lower short term monthlies mean longer overall term to actually own the car (if you take another loan after lease expires) or lower short term monthlies for never actually owning a car yourself.  Insurance may also be higher for leased cars as they require more coverage.

How would insurance cost be higher on a car that is leased as compared to car you finance

Hear ya apparently some hearsay mis/pre-conception.....AB I'll let you do the honours of dispelling the myth for this damsel.

[stodge]

Maybe Wing needs to write an article explaining leasing.

[BlackS40]

MD...(gglnblush)...so you would buy new rather than used?

That's another of my dilemmas...new...used...lease...borrow?....(hairtossshouldershrug)

btw...does the "blueeyed goshgolleegee" eye thing work on car salesmen? 

Holy cow....you're not related to safristi are you???

I'm thinking a car salesman would take advantage of the "blueeyed goshgolleegee" eye thing, and take you to the cleaners.

[dorin]

MD...(gglnblush)...so you would buy new rather than used?

That's another of my dilemmas...new...used...lease...borrow?....(hairtossshouldershrug)

btw...does the "blueeyed goshgolleegee" eye thing work on car salesmen? 

Holy cow....you're not related to safristi are you???

I'm thinking a car salesman would take advantage of the "blueeyed goshgolleegee" eye thing, and take you to the cleaners.

[mdxtasy]

(laffin with mmret)...oh yeah,,,the shimmy when an 18wheeler passed...been there...don't wanna be there again.  But you have me fairly conviced that the recent 4cyls are better.

soo...a new 4 cyl?

a used 6cyl? like the Impala (i can't get off the impala thing...should i?)

lease sumpin?....is leasing dumb?

Leasing is an alternative payment program.  You defer some of the cost to the end so monthly payments are lower.  The downside is at the end of the lease, you have to figure out if you want to buy it out (either with cash or another loan) or return it for something different.  Typically, lower short term monthlies mean longer overall term to actually own the car (if you take another loan after lease expires) or lower short term monthlies for never actually owning a car yourself.  Insurance may also be higher for leased cars as they require more coverage.

How would insurance cost be higher on a car that is leased as compared to car you finance

I've never financed a car and never stated it vs financing.  Only know they require a set level of coverage when leasing vs a car I own myself. 

[UmroAyyar]

(laffin with mmret)...oh yeah,,,the shimmy when an 18wheeler passed...been there...don't wanna be there again.  But you have me fairly conviced that the recent 4cyls are better.

soo...a new 4 cyl?

a used 6cyl? like the Impala (i can't get off the impala thing...should i?)

lease sumpin?....is leasing dumb?

Leasing is an alternative payment program.  You defer some of the cost to the end so monthly payments are lower.  The downside is at the end of the lease, you have to figure out if you want to buy it out (either with cash or another loan) or return it for something different.  Typically, lower short term monthlies mean longer overall term to actually own the car (if you take another loan after lease expires) or lower short term monthlies for never actually owning a car yourself.  Insurance may also be higher for leased cars as they require more coverage.

How would insurance cost be higher on a car that is leased as compared to car you finance

I've never financed a car and never stated it vs financing.  Only know they require a set level of coverage when leasing vs a car I own myself. 

I had enquired about this last year. Meloche-Monnex said there would be no difference since both would be new (or fairly new) cars and are used as security.

The cars you don't owe any money on, you can customize your insurance coverage more on it, meaning reduce some coverage.

[mdxtasy]

I had enquired about this last year. Meloche-Monnex said there would be no difference since both would be new (or fairly new) cars and are used as security.

The cars you don't owe any money on, you can customize your insurance coverage more on it, meaning reduce some coverage.

That's what I had meant. 

[airbalancer]

I had enquired about this last year. Meloche-Monnex said there would be no difference since both would be new (or fairly new) cars and are used as security.

The cars you don't owe any money on, you can customize your insurance coverage more on it, meaning reduce some coverage.

That's what I had meant. 

what coverage would you do without on a car worth lets say 15gs?
On a beater worth 2 gs , I would only get the minimum which would be liability
On the daughters '95 Cav it is still $800 a year in Ontario, 2000 Odyssey full coverage is $1100 a year

[sirAQUAMAN64]

When i used the Ford site "bulid a car", the 4door Focus, seems outta reach for me, with the AC and ABS and delivery and yaddayadda...

The MSRP of domestic Chrysler/Ford/GM cars is rarely what the buyer pays - they often discount heavily. Ford still has the Family Pricing offer on, so the Focus Sedan SES with heated seats/power windows etc/steering wheel controls/ABS/16" alloys/sunroof and such, MSRP @ $20,199 is now offered at $18,609. Side air bags are a $250 option. The discount was reflected when you built & priced, but other incentives may be offered in addition to them. I've seen new Focus sedans for $14,000 and decently equipped at $17,5 so they can be affordable if your careful with the options and are aware of the discounts available.