What car, DC area edition

I'm helping a friend look for his first car if he gets his promotion/relocation to Alexandria, VA. He's 27, single, financially stable, and little to no mechanical/automotive knowledge. He is looking to finance, I would guess a mid K-teens budget, looking for late model used(1-4 years old), AUTO only.

My top pick is a Prius, on account of city driving, reliability, and minimal maintenance. This may be a hard sell as he has said "I may be gay, but I'm not THAT gay", but he will listen to my advice. After that I would go Corolla, Civic, Fit, small Hyundai/KIA. What say the hive?

Miata / P71 / E30.

Tesla

What else does he do and where will he park it?

the thing about DC.. it has -the- worst commute in the nation. People on the beltway spend more time in gridlock than any other place in the nation (yes, even over LA and NYC) so he needs a car that will be comfortable to sit in for hours at a time and have good air as the DC region is notoriously hot and muggy in summer

Why not just take the guy to some car lots and see what resonates with him? And, hoenstly, a Prius seems like a really good solution. If he wants something fun to drive tell him to buy a motorcycle.

bluej wrote: What else does he do and where will he park it?

This. Does he need a car?

If he doesn't buy way more car than he needs so he can be seen looking affluent he just won't fit in with the rest of the NoVA set.

Fit. We're approaching 150k on ours with nothing more than the minimally retired maintenance, tires, shocks/struts, and front pads over the last 6-years since new.

It's been 100% reliable, completely practical, comfortable - and dare I say "fun" too.

In reply to petegossett: Well put! We have one about the same age with about 90K on it. We're on our 3rd set of tires but haven't even had to go with brake pads yet.

Just my opinion. I can't imagine anyone buying a Fit and not getting the manual transmission! But like almost every other ride, the dealers sell the stick shifts first but still try to order mostly CVTS. Must be more mark up in the CVT. I also think insurance companies should give a reduction in theft insurance for stick shift rides. Most of the car snatchers today & more than a few parking attendants can't drive a stick.

neon4891 wrote: My top pick is a Prius, on account of city driving, reliability, and minimal maintenance. This may be a hard sell as he has said "I may be gay, but I'm not THAT gay", but he will listen to my advice.

Not sure about now, but a year ago any hybrid/electric could use the HOV lanes in the DC area single occupant. That was the main reason the Prius became so popular in the area.

Might be a selling point.

Hal wrote:

neon4891 wrote: My top pick is a Prius, on account of city driving, reliability, and minimal maintenance. This may be a hard sell as he has said "I may be gay, but I'm not THAT gay", but he will listen to my advice.

Not sure about now, but a year ago any hybrid/electric could use the HOV lanes in the DC area single occupant. That was the main reason the Prius became so popular in the area. Might be a selling point.

For 95/395, its only Hybrids with CSV plates issued before 2006. For 66 its before 2011. Nothing you can get CSV plates on now will get you into an HOV lane except on 267.

https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/vehicles/#cleanspecialfuel.asp http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/hov-rulesfaq.asp

He will be working at the new Alexandria wegmans, not yet open. Not certain about housing yet. Any car shopping will be up here around ithaca ny before he moves.

pres589 wrote: Miata / P71 / E30.

He already hates the stereotype of a gay guy in a Prius, I would love to see him driving a slush box Miata.

What's wrong with being perceived as gay? Women will think you're "safe". My vote is a prius as that's in the price range. Either that or buy something new in the teens. Better interest rates.

So, he is going to bring a NY rustbucket down here to get rid of...

If he's ok with a little older, a Baltimore Hyundai dealer has an 08 accent with 64k miles for $6500. 4dr, auto. Looks new.

My brother bought an 09 Accent with 0 miles for $6500 in 09 (cash for clunkers). I cant imagine paying that for one with 64k today. It's a good basic car but i can do SO much better for $6500, including the Prius i bought for $4500.

My top pick is a Prius, on account of city driving, reliability, and minimal maintenance. This may be a hard sell as he has said "I may be gay, but I'm not THAT gay"

Another point in favor of a Prius is that it's massively more efficient than an ICE-only car in stop-and-go driving mostly by virtue of what's effectively stop/start that doesnt rely on the engine to be running for AC (until the battery gets low). I'm minorly annoyed by the Prius stereotype. The way i see it, gay people tend to be less stupid than average about some things because they almost all have a concept of what it's like to be 'othered' which enhances their sense of empathy and 'egalite'. If he doesnt want to be REINFORCING stereotypes by submitting to them, tell him he can add 'not being stupid and unreasonable about commuter appliances' to the things he has a leg up on by driving a Prius or something with similarly huge advantages in that usage regime.

mad_machine wrote: the thing about DC.. it has -the- worst commute in the nation. People on the beltway spend more time in gridlock than any other place in the nation (yes, even over LA and NYC) so he needs a car that will be comfortable to sit in for hours at a time and have good air as the DC region is notoriously hot and muggy in summer

I've commuted on the beltway in DC for nearly 20 years now, from Fairfax VA to PG County MD/DC. I commute during "normal commuting hours" (leave for work around 630-7am and come home at 4pm). I do 80mph on the beltway for most of my commute.

Commuting in the DC area is about being smart enough to live and work in locations that give you a reverse commute against traffic. I go 25 miles in about 35 minutes, excepting the occasional accident backup.

And I never go near Route 66, for any reason

As to car....Prius, Corolla, Civic, whatever. The roads aren't fun around here even when there's no traffic, so little point in having a fun car. That said, I commute in a WRX, because with the crazy drivers here not paying attention, I like to have a car that stops, goes, and handles well and can make "quick moves" or avoid stupidity.

pres589 wrote: If he wants something fun to drive tell him to buy a motorcycle.

Commuting on a motorcylce in this area is asking to die, IMO. Too many people going fast while yapping on cell phones, texting, reading the paper, etc. Lots of traffic, lots of not paying attention. I know (knew) three people who were killed or seriously injured commuting on motorcycles from other commuters not paying attention..

I was wrong about Alexandria. In the past he had been asking my wife and myself to go to there with him when it opens. He is looking to work in Woodbridge, with an apartment in Quantico.

In reply to neon4891:

quantico and woodbridge? perhaps a pick em up truck.

I commuted on a motorcycle using the HOV lanes on I-66 for 3 1/2 years. I only came close to dying a few times. There was a tail-gating Harley that got into a tank slapper and just about ate the rear bumper of a Honda, but that was his own fault. Since I-66 inside the beltway is HOV-only, you don't get the HOV-violating morons diving into and out of the lanes. Mute point since he's going to be in Woodbridge.

Personally, I like the Honda Fit. We test drove a Prius to replace my wife's car, and while nice inside that was the most disconnected I've ever felt in a car.

In reply to JoeTR6:

For mid teens you can buy a new Fit.

Quantico?

I meant, boring Prius for most of the time, motorcycle when he wants to go somewhere and hopefully enjoy the time spent traveling.

I also found this;