Advice Needed on a New Car (Vanity)

[MarkL]

Hi All,

I'm in need of some advice on a new car.

[Peter Horry]

I am looking at a Kia Rondo and Scion xB, Edmunds shows most specifications but don’t think they have seat height.

You will probably find a Kia for less if buying used, but find the Scion xB for less if buying new. You will need to perform the old entry-exit test, anything that doesn’t meet your requirements is not a good deal..

[alfa6]

You might look at a Nissan Versa. It would be roughly the same size as the Corrola but it seems to sit quite a bit higher.

My daughter has one and I have used it on several 800+ mile roadtrips and I found that getting in and out of it was quite easy, unlike my Dad’a Taurus where I almost have to have a rope attached to a pole so I can pull my self out of the Taurus:-) Also gets about 25/30 mpg FWIW with an auto tranny!

Also you should be able to pick one up new for about 15K I would think.

Regards & Good Luck

alfa6 ;>}

[mewzilla]

Since Toyota ruined the Scion xB, IMHO, take a look at the Nissan Cube :)

[NittanyLion]

I’ve driven the HHR and PT Cruiser as rental cars and thought they were both junk. I suspect after driving a Toyota you would not like either of these cars. Good luck with your search...hope you avoid Chrysler and GM.

[knowshon]

I wish u the best Mark L, but u need to narrow ur focus down a bit.

[Peter Horry]

Unlike Mewzilla, I find the 2008-2010 more to my liking. Cars.com can be useful for searching cars, in your area, that meet your criteria. This will give you an indication of what to expect in your price range. Below is an example for the Scion xb.

2008 Scion xB $10,404- 90,856 mi.Blue, 4 door, FWD, Wagon, AUTO, 2.4L I4, Stock# P5872-0. Dealer: Kings Mazda (Cincinnati, OH ~ 319 mi. away)

2008 Scion xB $10,480- 75,128 mi.White, 4 door, FWD, Wagon, AUTO 4SPD, 2.4L I4, Stock# P41565. Dealer: Atlanta Toyota (Duluth, GA ~ 467 mi. away)

2008 Scion xB $10,750- 61,700 mi.Super White, 4 door, FWD, Wagon, AUTO 4SPD, 2.4L I4, Stock# 006652. Dealer: North Coast Auto Mall (Bedford, OH ~ 495 mi. away)

[Peter Horry]

Unlike Mewzilla, I find the 2008-2010 more to my liking. Cars.com can be useful for searching cars, in your area, that meet your criteria. This will give you an indication of what to expect in your price range. Below is an example for the Scion xb.

2008 Scion xB $10,404 90,856 mi.Blue, 4 door, FWD, Wagon, AUTO, 2.4L I4, Stock# P5872-0. Dealer: Kings Mazda (Cincinnati, OH ~ 319 mi. away) 888-625-4308 Email DealerFree CARFAX ReportClick for Specials 23 2008 Scion xB $10,480 75,128 mi.White, 4 door, FWD, Wagon, AUTO 4SPD, 2.4L I4, Stock# P41565. Dealer: Atlanta Toyota (Duluth, GA ~ 467 mi. away) 866-906-8094 Email DealerFree CARFAX Report 32 2008 Scion xB $10,750 61,700 mi.Super White, 4 door, FWD, Wagon, AUTO 4SPD, 2.4L I4, Stock# 006652. Dealer: North Coast Auto Mall (Bedford, OH ~ 495 mi. away)

[frankenMonkey]

Tons of great cars coming off of leases. Try CarMax for some examples.

[rabidralph]

Check out used Ford Flex or the Edge. But mileage is around 17/25 for both. Cars.com has great listings. Also pick up the free used car magazines at your local convenience store. I hope you can find something.

[rabidralph]

A friend of mine has one of those Scions that looks like the HHR. She loves it and it rides very well.

[Halgr]

Stick with Toyota....they have other models you know.....

I’ve had nothing but Toyota’s for the last 15 years and its a decision I do not regret.

Camry?

;-)

[MarkL]

If you're going to buy used, check your state's sales tax laws.

In MO where I live, the state charges sales tax on the car, as well as personal property tax on any vehicle owned as of Jan 1 of the year. So unless I buy a new car before the end of the year, I'm going to wind up paying PP tax on 2 cars next year :-(

Mark

[MarkL]

Worst case if it is a head is a simple head replacement ,, maybe $1500 if you have a mechanic do it or $400 as a DIY using the best parts.

Thanks for the advice. But I think that sinking so much money into a car with a BB value of around $1000 and 178,000 miles just doesn't make sense. As I mentioned, it also needs a new clutch and new tires, so that will add about another $500-$800 to the bill. Plus there's the pain and difficulty getting in and out of the car.

Mark

[T Minus Four]

Please check the Dave Ramsey site before making a decision.

[GOPJ]

My January issue of Consumer Reports has a section of “Most satisfying” cars - these are cars OWNER’s like the most - and would buy again. So here’s from their list:

Over all most satisfying: Dodge Challenger (sporty)

Roadster: Chevrolet Corvette

Family car: Ford Fusion Hybrid

Upscale: Acura TL(AWD)

Wagons: Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Small SUV’s: Ford Escape Hybrid (FWD) - Mercury Mariner Hyubrid (FWD)

Midsized SUV: Ford Flex

Luxury SUV: Lexus RX350

Minivan: Honda Odyssey

Compact Pickups: Honda Ridgeline

[reagan_fanatic]

I highly recommend the Ford Fusion 4 door sedan.

Great car, very reliable, and very reasonable in price. Buy one about a year or two old and you’ll get an even better deal.

[Richard Kimball]

This is one area where I disagree with a lot of Freepers. I've owned one Honda and one Toyota, and found them both to be junk. I've also found Toyota and Honda dealers to be thieves.

I purchased two HHRs and they had more features and were better put together than the Toyotas and Hondas. My mom's still driving one. The other got T-boned at an intersection with my wife and daughter in it. Although the car was totaled, neither of them was injured (thank God.)

Every Toyota and Honda dealer I've visited pulled all the standard car dealer rip offs. At one, I found aftermarket cruise controls installed on the Toyotas, along with additional charges for underbody coating and scotch guarding the seats. A couple of the dealers actually tried to tell me Toyota didn't manufacture the Yaris with a cruise control, and that's why they installed it after market. BTW, Toyota does make the Yaris with a cruise, it's listed on their site. This type of rip off is common, and creates a bigger problem because if you have a problem with the cruise control it's not covered under warranty.

I stick with Chevy because I've found a trustworthy dealer, and have worked with him for around fifteen years. I still check around whenever I buy a vehicle, but so many car dealers are thieves that the dealer makes a big difference to me. Up until 85, I could do just about anything necessary to a vehicle, but they're past me now. However, I've found the standard maintenance, such as oil, brake pads, etc., are much easier on the new vehicles. It's just that anything seriously mechanical is much more complex.

Common vehicle rip offs:

After market warranties. If you get a warranty, get a manufacturer extended warranty.
Dealer add ons. Cheap pin striping, under body sealing (all modern cars are adequately sealed,) scotchguarding the seats, putting the VIN on the windows (etching), little rubber strips on the doors, and market adjustment prices (selling above retail cause the car is popular)

Dealer added features that are after market as opposed to being from the manufacturer. The cruise control is the most common, but air conditioners are also sometimes after market. These are not covered by the manufacturer warranty, and are generally of poor quality.

Funny financial business. In Texas, when trading in a car, you only have to pay sales tax on the difference between the trade in and the new car price. Several dealers have been caught charging the full sales tax on a car, and pocketing the difference. If your trade in is worth $10K, this is $800.

Bottom line is the dealer makes a lot of difference. I can usually get a car cheaper somewhere else than I can from my dealer, but during repairs he gives me a loaner at no charge, and has never tried to rip me off.

[thecodont]

Every Toyota and Honda dealer I've visited pulled all the standard car dealer rip offs.

Have you read this book?

Don't Get Taken Every Time
by Remar Sutton

http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Get-Taken-Every-Time/dp/0143038885/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261940503&sr=8-1