New Car help!

[Wulfgang]

FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY GET A MANUAL.

Every car you have listed has a manual option. Manuals are cheaper, more reliable, and cheaper to fix. Manuals make you a better driver and driving is more enjoyable. And don't give me any shit about you are lazy or you don't want to learn. Anyone can teach you, and it's fucking easy. Also, better gas mileage.

This a million times. I bought my car in 2008 (Wrangler Unlimited) having never driven a manual transmission. Took about two days to be passably good at it, about three weeks to not even think about it when driving, and now I cannot fucking stand driving automatic cars. Just do it.

[Humblejoe]

Actually, a lot of car manufacturers are now aiming at making the automatics more fuel efficient. They are usually ~$1500 more than manual, but it's the more popular choice amongst most drivers, it's something that has changed in the last couple years.

[bluefan]

Next car will totally be a manual....if it's a hybrid. I get my manual transmission fix from my bike, so getting auto isn't a deal breaker for me.

[Kalmado]

On MINI's across the board, to upgrade to automatic it's $1250. As far as hybrids, from everything I've read and discussions I've had, they only benefit those that drive a ton. General opinion was it's a selling point for those that are into trying to be environmental friendly.

Taken from http://bp3.ford.com/2013-Ford-Fusion...ang=en#/Style/, a base Fusion is $21,700. Hybrid is $27,200. Rough estimate for loan amount is for every $1k=$20/month. So to get that Hybrid I'm spending roughly $110 more a month. For an driver that puts average miles on their car, is it worth the extra money? My personal opinion is individuals need to weigh out their situation and make that decision.

[archibaldcrane]

Taken from http://bp3.ford.com/2013-Ford-Fusion...ang=en#/Style/, a base Fusion is $21,700. Hybrid is $27,200.

However, you get more than just hybrid powertrain for that $6500 - the Hybrid base model isn't as poorly equipped as the non-hybrid - you get power seats, automatic dual-zone climate control, Sirius XM radio, heated/power adjustable mirrors, rear fold-down armrest, compass, rear A/C vents, possibly cruise control, etc. with the hybrid.

Even the mid-level non-hybrid SE trim doesn't have some of those features for $23,700.

[Kalmado]

However, you get more than just hybrid powertrain for that $6500 - the Hybrid base model isn't as poorly equipped as the non-hybrid - you get power seats, automatic dual-zone climate control, Sirius XM radio, heated/power adjustable mirrors, rear fold-down armrest, compass, rear A/C vents, possibly cruise control, etc. with the hybrid.

Gotcha. I didn't look past the price page so I wasn't aware of those upgrades as well, which if you're adding many of those things to a base model it's going to run up the cost.

I just don't see the value in a hybrid even with the aforementioned things if you don't drive much. For example my wife has put about 6k miles on her car in the last two years as we use mine mostly. Also, I'll have to say I do not care much for buying brand new and dislike having a payment very much. I drove my last car for 8 years and ran it up to 185k :D

[Anakron]

Most, if not all, hybrids today come with CVTs (a lot of non-hybrids do as well). Make sure you test drive it, because the driving dynamics are very different from traditional transmissions, whether manual or automatic.

[archibaldcrane]

I just don't see the value in a hybrid even with the aforementioned things if you don't drive much.... I drove my last car for 8 years and ran it up to 185k :D

Heh, if you're driving over 20k miles a year, you'd definitely see the advantage of getting a hybrid.

[Ratatapa]

It's not in the list But KIA forte is really a beast

Not regreting my buy one bit

[Kalmado]

Heh, if you're driving over 20k miles a year, you'd definitely see the advantage of getting a hybrid.

Yeah if it was in my budget I'd like to have one between my wife and I. I'm about to start a new job commuting roughly 75 miles a day. My 02 Toyota Solara 3.0 gets around 23 mpg. I'm not looking forward to what I'll spend in gas. I hope I can either get a car allowance or a demo from my job!

[Humblejoe]

I believe it takes 5 years, driving 12k miles a year, to break even on the cost of hybrid upgrade in terms of fuel savings.

Speaking of Fusions, I actually went out and bought a SE today. It has a lot of features in it for the price, drives very smooth, isn't cluttered in the media cluster. The only thing is the place we have around here is the cheapest in the state, I paid $20k for a $24.8k car. It was actually under my monthly budget by about $20. I think the car is a great deal if you take into account looks, and what you get for the price.

[archibaldcrane]

A friend of mine has a deposit down on a Fusion Energi plugin hybrid, as soon as they are on the lots he'll get one.