... has to be something not to maintenance intensive, she'll be paying a shop for repairs.
Guessing 10-15k-ish?
Needs to be autotragic, though she can drive stick, not the best choice for her.
I know (or think I do) the Koreans are the way to go, so I figure Elantras, is the Optima the Kia equivalent?
Are the Tucsons ok?
Nissans are ugly, but how are they?
Others?
I am currently shopping this same class of car for the missus. The SUV has killed the midsize sedan market.
It seems you don't get a lot for your money with the Camry or Accord choices. The Fusion is only rated for 20mpg in town. The Optima seems most interesting of the few that are left. It would be a hard sell to get me to consider any GM product (entirely my own bias, no logic there)
Can anyone extoll the virtues of a 2015 and up Optima or the Hyundai counterpart?
In reply to ГУЛАГ мальчик УР следующий :
The "we don't talk" part makes me think that you'll be the bad guy if the car needs repairs. Every car needs repairs but if you suggest a "weird" or unique car then you might get bad-mouthed over the choice. For this reason, I think you need to only suggest the choices that are universally agreed upon as being good cars.
Some of those are:
Rav4 or CRV or Highlander
Camry/Avalon or Accord
Civic or Corolla
Fit or Yaris
I like the Prius Hybrids and I keep 200k'er alive but I don't recommend high mileage units for the "non-GRM'er crowd" because having them fixed at retail is expensive. If you're going to be getting a used car fixed at retail I still think plain ole, common gas engine cars are the way to go.
If GM enters the discussion then I only think whatever the newest 3800 is that you can get. They stopped the LeSabre in 2005.
$10-$15k doesn't buy much at used car lots anymore. I think the #1 and best thing you could do for her is teach her how to line up used car financing directly with a bank. This will keep her from the vultures in the dealership financing room. If she buys via private party with a bank loan she will get more car with less hassle.
I'll make the assumption that she does have some money for a down payment. I recommend to keep $1k of that intended down payment dollars and not use it as a down payment. Rather, every used car needs something. Keep that $1k to either fix whatever her car of choice needs or as quick cash on-hand to address whatever repair pops up shortly after buying.
Good advice on holding back some cash. In my experience (and I've never bought a new car), every used car needs something as soon as you buy it.
The oldest, highest-mileage jaguar you can find. Preferably with 6 carburetors.
I'm kidding
Kia, Hyundai, Honda, Mazda, or Toyota. Nissans are ok, but they don't quite have the reliability track record of the others.
On paper, Buick nails it as well. They take some of the top spots in reliability rankings.
Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:On paper, Buick nails it as well. They take some of the top spots in reliability rankings.
I see what you did there.
To the OP: Are you under some sort of order to get the ex a car?
In reply to L5wolvesf :
Did I hit the nail on the head?
Friends don't let friends drive Versas.
Ex wife? Buy her a Versa.
Why is her car your problem?
In reply to Racebrick :
I'm going off the assumption that there is a shared kid so as much as this car is her problem it becomes the kid's inconvenience also.
There's a billion Gen3 Priuses still out there and the 2014-2015 cars fit into that price range.
If you go with a KIA or Hyundai make sure it's one that you can get insurance for. They are apparently very easy to steal and some companies won't touch them.
*insert Skyactiv-era Mazda here*
In all seriousness, they're as reliable as gravity, sip fuel, don't seem to carry the same resale values at Toyotas, and don't rust catastrophically like Mazdas of old.
Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:In reply to L5wolvesf :
Did I hit the nail on the head?
Yes and the sound was kinda like a "BOP".
Accord or Camry, 4 cyl. Camry generally commands a bit more $$ but there seem to be more to choose from. As reliable as anything, good at everything except truck stuff. Safe, economical. Every town has experienced and knowledgeable mechanics, dealers, and parts availability.
Or buy a solid older car and drop some love into it. I just sold a 99 accord, and honestly $1000 would have transformed it. There's tons of good stuff out there.
Or be super rad and get an xB. That's what all the cool kids are doing.
Camry. Corolla. Prius, but I second John's comments above. I have one at 324k but I work on all my own stuff.
This sounds like something I'd just avoid.
My ex is in the same boat. Her and I are only cordial because there's a kid involved. She recently had a "friend" total her car out. Needs a new one. I know exactly what she needs, I know where to find it, and I actually know where there's two of them. I'm staying the berkeley out of it. No matter what happens, if something goes wrong, she's gonna try and blame that E36 M3 on me, and the only way I can win that game is to not play.
THAT BEING SAID- Since no one listens to me anyhow, best toyota sedan you can find. I prefer corollas.
A Dodge Journey. They scream terrible life decisions. No intelligent man will willingly sleep with a woman who they know drives a Dodge Journey. This isn't bout getting her a decent vehicle, it's about defecating in her dating pool. The only losers who would sleep with her will later find this thread when Google searching how to install a tracking device on a Dodge Journey just because I typed the fact that it's truth.
And now they know why that's what she drives and they still don't know how to violate stalking laws. See you ARE keeping her safe. Checkmate.
Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:The oldest, highest-mileage jaguar V-12 you can find. Preferably with 12 carburetors.
I'm not kidding
FTFY - Thanks Frenchyd, wherever you are.
Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:The oldest, highest-mileage jaguar you can find. Preferably with 6 carburetors.
not sure why you'd say this? I'd like an old V12 Jag with carbs.
I bought my ex-wife a very clean 2007 (W211) Mercedes E350 4-Matic sedan. It was a clean, one-owner car. No rust or accident damage.
Paid just $4k because it failed inspection due to a check-engine light, which was just a bad smog pump. Had that replaced ($1k). Just to be safe, I replaced tires, shocks, and brake rotor/pads. Flushed all the fluids. Had a professional detail done. Sailed through inspection. All together, I'm in for just under $8k. It's been dead reliable for 3 years now and just passed 150k miles.
For me, that's the perfect car for a non-enthusiast. It's a tank, so I don't worry (as much) when she's carting our 8 year-old around town or barreling down the NJ Turnpike. It's a big, black Mercedes so it fits in at the yoga studio or whatever the berkeley ex-wives do with our money LOL.
L5wolvesf said:Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:On paper, Buick nails it as well. They take some of the top spots in reliability rankings.
I see what you did there.
To the OP: Are you under some sort of order to get the ex a car?
Nope, just the mother of my children. I'm making assumptions about her budget, she used to be full commission, not sure what's up with her business in the current economy.
In reply to SV reX :
Ha.
John Welsh said:In reply to Racebrick :
I'm going off the assumption that there is a shared kid so as much as this car is her problem it becomes the kid's inconvenience also.
Kids are grown, but it was the daughter who asked. LOVE my brats, they are awesome.
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