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Help me choose a new car!

Discussion in 'Non-Vegas Chat' started by weluvvegas, Aug 21, 2013.

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  1. weluvvegas

    weluvvegas Casino Countess

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    I love asking you guys for advice so here goes...I'm in the market for a new car. Looking for a mid-size sedan (I'd take smaller but the 6'3"hubby and 6' son say no) with really good gas mileage - preferably somewhere around 27-30 city - and a good price $20k or less. I'd love a 2013 model if I can get a good price.

    I've been looking at the Nissan Sentra or the Hyundai Elantra. I had my heart set on the new Nissan Juke, I love it's funky look but my husband said it is way too small.

    What kind of cars do you have and how's your gas mileage?
     
  2. gpenguins67

    gpenguins67 High-Roller

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    I test drove a 2013 camry... i know its a bit bigger than some of the cars you were looking at but that should be averaging around 30mpg, but you'll get closer to 25 city. Very comfortable. I'm just shy of 6' and a big guy and there was still plenty of room to move the seat back. I even hopped in the the back and it was comfortable for me to sit in. If you work all the rebates and specials you should be able to score one around or just under 20k. My buddy just scored a 2013 camry hybrid for his wife for around $24k(i was surprised you could get it that cheap). It's a base model but she gets in the low 40mpg city with it.

    I had a 2012 corolla for a rental car while my old truck was in the body shop. That got good gas milage but it wasnt that much better than the camry considering it had nowhere near the power that the camry had. Plus its not really built for taller people. There was no way an adult was going to sit behind me when i was driving
     
  3. JWBlue

    JWBlue VIP Whale

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    Nissan fan here.

    It is definitely the way to go. Way more fun to drive than Toyotas and Hondas which just about as good reliability.

    After graduating college I bought a new 1994 Pathfinder SE. Loved that thing. Handled great and a blast to drive. I would have driven it for 20 years if it had not been totaled.

    http://youtu.be/zDam4G9DVM8?t=55s
     
    Last edited: Aug 21, 2013
  4. Someone

    Someone High-Roller

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    Ford Fusion
     
  5. sarah9nascar

    sarah9nascar VIP Whale

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    I have a 2012 Hyundai Elantra. It does get good gas milage but not as much as they say. They are sending Visa cash cards for the gas milage thing. I just got mine and it was $96. It does NOT come with a spare tire. You will have to buy that with the kit if you don't want to be driving around without one. It does come with an air pump.
     
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  6. lotso-bear

    lotso-bear VIP Whale

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    Personally, I don't recommend Nissans/Infinitis due to the higher insurance rates. The replacement parts for these vehicles are expensive, which is why insurance companies charge more. I will be honest that the current lease offer for the GX37X AWD is very tempting though!

    I recommend looking for 2013 vehicles since dealerships are trying to get rid of them due to the arrival of the 2014 vehicles. In my opinion, the better midsize vehicles that are in your price range are Honda Accords and Toyota Camrys. I'd also wait till Labor Day when they start doing Labor Day sales. If you have time between now and then, I'd go price shopping and see what dealerships are currently quoting you.

    *BTW I'm biased towards Asian and European vehicles since I've had less mechanical issues with them and they also tend to have a better resale value*
     
  7. JWBlue

    JWBlue VIP Whale

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    Adding:

    When I buy a vehicle, I buy new and run it into the ground. I also get all the packages and accessories I want since I know I will enjoy them for a long time.
     
  8. lotso-bear

    lotso-bear VIP Whale

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    Personally, I lease my vehicles since it allows me to get a new car every 2/3 years depending on the lease contract. I hate having an "older" vehicle...
     
  9. weluvvegas

    weluvvegas Casino Countess

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    Thanks for the ideas..any Sentra owners? My husband says its small, but it's classified as a mid size. Most importantly is the front row space since my 15 yr old is 6 ft and still growing.

    My husband has a 2006 Fusion and that's what we will be trading in. Bought it because his Saab was totaled and he only had 3 days to find a car before the rental ran out. Definitely not what we would've picked otherwise.

    We've always bought used, I'm looking forward to actually driving a new car off the lot this time.
     
  10. hammie

    hammie VIP Whale

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    With a desired fuel economy of 27-30 city, I think this is really hybrid territory. A colleague just bought a Camry hybrid and likes it.

    My current driver is a 15 year old Volvo S70 with 132k miles. Bought a second one for my daughter to drive.
     
  11. LucyR.

    LucyR. VIP Whale

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    I have a Toyota Camry LE 2003YR.

    I am a retired senior and believe it or not..... I only have 26,000 miles on it.
    When I can nolonger drive I plan to sell it and I will get a great rate for it because
    it will have low millage. I don' like to drive.

    The Camry has low maintenance and great protection in case of an accident.

    Almost everybody in my condo owns a Camry.

    Try to buy a practical car and not what you think is a cute car. My favorite cars
    have been Fiats, Mercedes, and Jaguars. But I have always needed a reliable car
    so I always have bought me the Toyota Camry. Buy at CarsDirect.com that is where I got the best deal for my new car in 2003. The car included extra things
    that I didn't even ask for.... so I was super happy. I didn't have to play the manager's game like I used to do in the old days to get a great deal.
     
  12. numeno

    numeno VIP Whale

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    Sadly I can't help you out much.

    I've tried a lot of cars in that price range and simply find them not comfortable enough for me. I just enjoy the Accord/Camry size and it is hard(if not impossible) to find that size for under 20k.

    I have no idea what price it is, but I did enjoy driving a ford fusion. It still wasn't perfect but no car ever is I guess.


    I like the larger cars as they seem more build around me. I have my own recliner instead of one portion of a couch is the closest I can come.





    I will say, no matter what car I get now I always go up from the base model. The comfort level of the seats is generally worth it just by itself and then there are other random perks. In the Honda family for example I would rather get the 2nd lvl Civic vs 1st lvl Accord. A lot of this is personal prefence though. I care very little about performance or MPG just because I know it is within what I consider acceptable with any car I get. I care much more about the comfort and how things like the armrests/dash feel to me as I'm sitting in the car. I am paying a crapton of money for this, I want it to be comfortable to me while driving. :)
     
  13. mikenhe

    mikenhe VIP Whale

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    I have a 13yo Volvo s80. just cleared 140K
    gas mileage is not good but given that I only paid 10k for it 5 years ago then I still come out on top. very comfy,safe and with twin turbos it can out accelerate most cars on the road if I need it to....
     
  14. Guy

    Guy Captain of the Heads

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    Add me to the Volvo club :)

    2012 Volvo V60 with the little (Ford) 1.6 diesel engine.

    Pretty slow in a straight line but is the R-Design trim level so has wide tyres and grips pretty well, so you can maintain speed around corners/roundabouts/etc.

    Economy is worse than the 5-cyl 2.4 litre diesel S60 I used to have as you have to use full throttle more in the smaller engined car to 'make progress'.

    I average low 40's (UK) mpg which is around 35mpg in American sized gallons, but I'm either driving to work with a cold engine or storming the motorways at 80/90mph. If I keep to a 60-70mph cruise I can get 50+ mpg on a run.
     
  15. bardolator

    bardolator Lifelong Low Roller

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    If you plan to take trips in this vehicle, take your husband along and make him sit in it. Also, take it on the highway and see how it feels and sounds. Some of the cars you're looking at may not be good road cars or may not be comfortable for tall people.

    I strongly prefer Toyotas and Hondas, but for $20K you might want to look at Hyundais, too.

    Do not discount the possibility of a used vehicle. You save a lot on that first year depreciation. It took many years for me to get my wife to agree to used. Last time we bought, we got a 3-year-old car with 16K miles for 5/8 the cost of a new one. Just do the math on that.
     
  16. VegasGroove

    VegasGroove VIP Whale

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    I just purchased a 2013 Hyundai Elantra in April and I love it! This is my second Elantra, purchased my first in 2001. I keep my cars a long time. I knew I would buy Hyundai again because of their 10year/100,000mile warranty and because of the great customer loyalty rebates they give. The service department at my local dealership is top notch.

    My new Elantra is a dream. The cabin is roomier, longer for more leg room. The modern conveniences such as the bluetooth pairing with any mobile phone, the "miles to empty" feature for the gas tank, the AUX port so I can keep my iPod connected for all my music. I say modern conveniences because my 2001 didn't have all this. LOL!!

    It's a great, sleek-looking car and I got a nice deal, little over 20K.
     
  17. texdan17

    texdan17 Low-Roller

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    The Elantra is nice...I have a 2011. But what Sarah said is correct, no spare tire. And I think the downfall is...your 6'+ men won't fit very comfortably. My 6' 2" coworker rode with me to an event yesterday and he was jampacked in there...had about a half inch of headroom and knees were to the dash.

    The Sonata is nice and has more room but falls outside your price range.
     
  18. Natural21

    Natural21 Low-Roller

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    Does anyone buy American these days? Take a look at the chevy malibu. You won't be sorry.
    Good luck. :beer::beer:
     
  19. NickyDim

    NickyDim Hockey is life

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    I second that. I own a fusion 2011 V6 and still get 24 city/29 hwy. The new 2013 hybrid gets 47mph combined. It's powerful, it's cool, it's got every bell and whistle you can imagine, handles great, and is american, built solid and is heavy(safer).

    If you want Japanese import, I'd stick to Toyota or Honda. Nissan isn't made as tough as those two. They use to, but their quality has slipped in the past 3 or so years. But that's my personal opinion. Just remember, muscle beats import every time.
     
  20. ValerieJo

    ValerieJo High-Roller

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    Buy American!
     
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