I'm looking for some car buying advice , please help !

Doug · Oct 28, 2013

In short, my old F-150 blew a tranny is not worth fixing so I sold it, leaving me with my backup vehicle which is a 150 cc Vespa Scooter, that won't cut it in a CT winter !

Wife wants to give me her Honda CR-V and get herself a new car, hard to talk her into used.

What I really want is a realistic guide to new prices ( not the manufacturers suggested retail price) as a starting point, then I can work on getting her to accept a newish used car.

Fuel economy is of high importance here so this car must be a 4 cylinder model, it must have 4 doors and and an automatic transmission.....beyond that every car now comes with AC/ radio/ etc. as standard equipment so it can be basic trim level. A small pickup truck with a shell would also work for her, preferably one with a bit of extra space behind the seats ( xtra cab or whatever they call it).

I don't want to buy new. but it is a starting point. This has to be under 25k, I'd prefer 15k which is very hard to do with new.

I don't want another CR-V, this one has only been OK, but she needs some ability to carry light cargo for her work, so no 2 door sedan. Actually the CR-V has over 200,000 miles on it but has had some problems like defective door lock actuators and other pesky stuff....but I think it can approach 400k being a Honda

I'm thinking along the lines of...

Honda

Civic
Fit

Toyota pick up or other model

Mazda cx-5

I really don't want anything american branded like Ford/ Chevy/ Dodge etc. I want a Jap car made by real Japs in Japan !

Shoot me some suggestions on models and how to find realistic pricing please, and UNDER 25K new. I'm fine buying it 2-4 years old with like 30k miles.....but I have to sell that concept to the wife

So we need a 4 door car , automatic, that gets great gas mileage ( 30+) is Japanese ( or at least non American made)and is under 25k new, and a 2 door pickup with a shell would work

Thanks for any help.

GoBlue34 · Oct 28, 2013

You said you don't want American but the Chevy Impala and Chevy Malibu both are getting really good reviews. I don't own one but they are pretty decent looking cars and get good gas mileage (not sure on the exact numbers).

Nissan Altima is another I would consider at your price range.

Can't go wrong with a Honda ever though. I'm looking at getting a new SUV so can't help much on cars outside of what I said above.

Good luck!

MIKEY.1TIME · Oct 28, 2013

check out edmunds.com......tells you everything..if you will go toward 25k, i suggest the 2014 sorrento 4 cyl....awesome value with great warranty....

Akillies · Oct 28, 2013

honda no longer the best, [made in usa]

MattyMatt · Oct 28, 2013

MIKEY.1TIME said:
check out edmunds.com......tells you everything..if you will go toward 25k, i suggest the 2014 sorrento 4 cyl....awesome value with great warranty....

Resale value is garbage.

C.P. · Oct 28, 2013

don't know if you have a Carmax in your area....not a bad place..imo

MattyMatt · Oct 28, 2013

C.P. said:
don't know if you have a Carmax in your area....not a bad place..imo

Terrible place. There "no haggle" price is BS. Way better pricing out there.

MattyMatt · Oct 28, 2013

Glad to hear non-American cars only. That is the ticket right there...

C.P. · Oct 28, 2013

MattyMatt said:
Terrible place. There "no haggle" price is BS. Way better pricing out there.

really..thats wierd....I usually just sell me cars there....so maybe your right...

Doug · Oct 28, 2013

carmax exists locally but it is a terrible place to purchase a car. They wanted as much for a used CRV with 10k miles and as I could paid for the same 2006 model brand new from the dealer ( there was a major redesign in 2007).

Not a bad place to sell a car or check out multiple brands in one stop, but not a place to buy at. They seem to specialise in loans to low credit people, I think that's where they make money.

I'd be a cash buyer, but that doesn't help much on a new car, works good on real estate though !

MattyMatt · Oct 28, 2013

C.P. said:
really..thats wierd....I usually just sell me cars there....so maybe your right...

Well anyplace that tells you that they can't even come off the price even a penny, but is allowed to charge you an "administration fee" on top of the sales price is a no-no to me. Tells all you need to know IMO. Don't get me wrong, they have a great rep, but it's also because cars are impulse buys for a lot of people and they just get suckered into the car and forget the damn pricetag sometimes. Not me.

MattyMatt · Oct 28, 2013

Doug2 said:
carmax exists locally but it is a terrible place to purchase a car. They wanted as much for a used CRV with 10k miles and as I could paid for the same 2006 model brand new from the dealer ( there was a major redesign in 2007).

Not a bad place to sell a car or check out multiple brands in one stop, but not a place to buy at. They seem to specialise in loans to low credit people, I think that's where they make money.

I'd be a cash buyer, but that doesn't help much on a new car, works good on real estate though !

Keep that cash in the pocket anyways. Most are offering 0% for 60-72 months. The CX-5 is .9% for 60 months, so still worth keeping the cash in the pocket.

Doug · Oct 28, 2013

MattyMatt said:
Glad to hear non-American cars only. That is the ticket right there...

Jap cars are just better. Every Ford I've had ( at least 4 ) has had problems, never had a problem with 5 or so Toyotas , some purchased with over 200k miles, my first Honda went 250k miles ( bought new) before I sold it to Carmax for 2k, present one is well over 200k....not sure what I'll do with that one once the wife gets her new (er ?) car/truck. I could see trading it for the right mini-truck with a shell. I have to have something beyond a 150 cc mini-motorcycle when winter hits.

Somehow I never had a Chevy.

I've been good with Dodges, first car was a 75 Dart, and I had a 70 Dodge pickup around 1989 when gas was like $1 a gallon. Both were great !

I'm definetly never buying another Ford ever again, I guess I could consider a Dodge, but I want something made in Japan preferably

Doug · Oct 28, 2013

MattyMatt said:
Keep that cash in the pocket anyways. Most are offering 0% for 60-72 months. The CX-5 is .9% for 60 months, so still worth keeping the cash in the pocket.

doesn't work for me, I have poor credit, but I have cash !

Doug · Oct 28, 2013

Did I sell my truck for a fair price ?

2000 F-150 4wd shortbed XL trim level 130k miles needing a new transmission.

I sold it to a local mechanic for $1,000 and he is making payments on it. Bluebook is like 3,000-3.500.

I was going to take it to Carmax but not sure it make it 25 miles more.

MattyMatt · Oct 28, 2013

Doug2 said:
Did I sell my truck for a fair price ?

2000 F-150 4wd shortbed XL trim level 130k miles needing a new transmission.

I sold it to a local mechanic for $1,000 and he is making payments on it. Bluebook is like 3,000-3.500.

I was going to take it to Carmax but not sure it make it 25 miles more.

Yea, that's fair enough. I may have charged a tad more ($12-1300) for not having cash, but good enough. You benefit by getting rid of it, and he saves a little being a mechanic. New trans I would assume is $15-1800, so you're looking at $25-2800 if you fixed. He will prob have about $2k max in it. Good luck on your next one. Sounds like you could get by with the Sport Model of the 2014 CX-5. an awesome used 2013 would probably suit you if the larger new optional motor isn't a concern.

Doug · Oct 28, 2013

I like having the utility of a truck but the poor gas mileage ( about 15 mpg) kept me from driving it much ...I figure it cost 25 cents a mile just in gas to drive the thing, therefore I drove the vespa whenever possible ( I like 65 mpg). I used to drive an f-150 40 miles each way to work, that's $20 a day in gas... and 6-7 days a week. The best attribute of my last F-150 was that it was paid for. I only drove it 25,000 miles in 5 years and it has the same tires that were on it when I bought it for $4,800 five years ago.

A truck is nice to have when you need it, but you can always borrow/rent one if not needed often.

I don't think gas is going stay under $4 gallon for too long, so I want MPG. If I get a 45 mpg car , I don't really need the 65 mpg motorcycle....that was to compliment the 15 mpg truck.....but I'd keep her....nice backup, fun to ride and insurance is like $125 a year. I'm glad I have it now !

http://www.edmunds.com/honda/fit/

this seems like it would do the trick for well under 20k, and if wifey wants a nicer car then settle for a little bit used and you might get a car that was 25-30 k a couple of years ago.

I should take her to Carmax to test drive some nused cars....but it might backfire on me ?

MattyMatt · Oct 28, 2013

Hehe. I am a Honda guy (best engines made by far with Toyota right there with em), but never got into the Fit or Element.

As for going to CarMax to test drive a lot of different ones...It's great for that! But, see my post about not getting a good deal. LOL This is why the place prospers.

Doug · Oct 28, 2013

MattyMatt said:
Yea, that's fair enough. I may have charged a tad more ($12-1300) for not having cash, but good enough. You benefit by getting rid of it, and he saves a little being a mechanic. New trans I would assume is $15-1800, so you're looking at $25-2800 if you fixed. He will prob have about $2k max in it. Good luck on your next one. Sounds like you could get by with the Sport Model of the 2014 CX-5. an awesome used 2013 would probably suit you if the larger new optional motor isn't a concern.

He quoted me $1300 for a tranny and and 6 hours labor ( $600 or so) plus some lines or something for a few hundred more....I can't do it myself and I can't justify throwing maybe $2500 into a truck that books for 3k....plus I honestly don't need a truck often enough to justify owning one....I can get by with a cage ( what us bikers call youse people in cars) that gets 30+ mpg.

I thought a dime was fair enough for the truck, it is a model that might be a future classic....I just hope the guy keeps up the payments, he does own the the garage, doesn't mean he isn't broke paying bills though, no title transfer until paid....but I want it out of my name for taxes and other reasons hopefully within a month.

Doug · Oct 28, 2013

MattyMatt said:
Hehe. I am a Honda guy (best engines made by far with Toyota right there with em), but never got into the Fit or Element.

As for going to CarMax to test drive a lot of different ones...It's great for that! But, see my post about not getting a good deal. LOL This is why the place prospers.

I kind of liked the boxy element but it didn't fit my wife. She's very short 4'11" and there is a sort of wide pillar thing between the windshield and driver side door that blocks the vision severely for vertically challenged drivers, since she would be the one driving it , the Uglyment ( my name for it) lost out. I liked that you could about open it up and hose it out.

I wish I could buy a brand new 1975 Dodge dart or maybe a 60's muscle car like a Charger or GTO, just the way they were made back in the day, no cat converters, seatbelts or whatever depending on the year.