New Car help!

[BerenTebogo]

Hey guys, haven't been around much lately but need your help!

I'm looking to get a new car soon, trying to keep it under $25,000. I have a pretty solid idea of what cars look nice, will be nice to own, cheap to fix, etc, but I wanted to hear opinions from people who own them.

I'm looking for a new car, at most ~3 years old. Something reasonable to insure. Heavily considering the Scion FR-S but it's going to cost more to insure than it will to own, which is a pain in my ass.

I'm looking for something that gets decent MPG but that I can have fun in, if I want to. I have a 2005 Scion TC right now and despite how awful it is, it's a really fun car when I want it to be.

I pretty much hate hatchbacks, so they're out.

Cars I'm considering that maybe some of you own / can comment on:
2012/2013 Nissan Altima 2 door
Subaru Legacy / Impreza (not WRX)
VW Jetta (maybe rethinking this, they're looooooooooong now)
Some VW that isn't a Golf
Hyundai Genesis (is this real life?)
Mazda something (maybe? Kinda cheap lately).

I'm not a fan of American cars but present me something nice and I'll consider it. Also looking for anything not on my list that may strike my fancy.

Things I just pretty much won't own: Honda, trucks, jeeps, SUV, automatic only transmissions.

Thanks guys!

[nayaminfenrir]

I'd go with a suburu. Great reliable cars, really safe with awd, and retains its value better than any of the other cars you listed.

[MarkM.]

Nissans retain their value as well. I would also check with your insurance to see if they have any options to help. I have USAA and they have a car buying service that makes negotiating a price a lot less hectic.

My main advice is to do a ton of research on the internet. I read an article a couple of years ago and if I could find it I would link it for you. For every 3 hours you spending researching a car (contacting dealerships, loan interests rates, etc...) you can save about 1,000 dollars. I know there is a floor for this, but trust me, it's worth the effort. The last car I bought I had 4 dealerships practically in a price war over the car I was buying. It helps when you can say Joe at dealership x will give me this car at this price, what can you do to beat that.

[ringthree]

Pre-req questions: How old are you? Do you have a wife, kids, girlfriend?

I assume you only mean a used car, because it's going to be kinda hard to get something new in the list you made with decent options.

The Altima is a very nice car, but it's also really boring. Interior is nice, but bland, engine is way more pedestrian than it should be.

Subaru's are for performance or off-roading. It doesn't look like you are into either of those. The interior is really bland, and the fitment feels like it's designed to be in a WRC car, and not in a daily driver. If you aren't considering the WRX or the high-end Legacy, then I would say no.

Anything VW. Do you enjoy random lights in the dashboard? Window glass exploding inside your door? Random engine failure? If not, then avoid.

Hyundai Genesis. This is my pick. Best reliability of all the cars you have listed. Great new interiors. Really good engines and a lot of power for the money. Also consider the Sonata and Elantra.

Mazda 3 is nice, 6 is really nice. But the 2013 is a new model year, which means that you are looking at the last generation, which can be good and bad (kinks worked out, usually lesser engine and components).

I need to say something here and it is very important.

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.

[Ashmada]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g2dGktanw9...ies-1.jpg.jpeg

Don't know the US price, but it's within your converted budget over here. Great handling, great fun, nice looking, not the most practical car ever though.
(BMW 1-series if you couldn't tell)

Another "good (reliable, comfy, really safe, not ugly, not that expensive anymore) but very boring" option: Volvo S40.

Also seconding the notion of getting a manual. Don't know why you 'ricans love your automatics: they're most expensive and they drive like shit.

[ringthree]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g2dGktanw9...ies-1.jpg.jpeg

Don't know the US price, but it's within your converted budget over here. Great handling, great fun, nice looking, not the most practical car ever though.
(BMW 1-series if you couldn't tell)

Another "good (reliable, comfy, really safe, not ugly, not that expensive anymore) but very boring" option: Volvo S40.

Also seconding the notion of getting a manual. Don't know why you 'ricans love your automatics: they're most expensive and they drive like shit.

Ehh, maintenance costs on that thing is insane.

Besides, the wheels are put on inside-out.

[BerenTebogo]

I have always only driven manual and will continue as such.

And for the love all that is holy that BMW is god awful ugly

[avelle]

Cars I'm considering that maybe some of you own / can comment on:
2012/2013 Nissan Altima 2 door
Subaru Legacy / Impreza (not WRX)
VW Jetta (maybe rethinking this, they're looooooooooong now)
Some VW that isn't a Golf
Hyundai Genesis (is this real life?)
Mazda something (maybe? Kinda cheap lately).

The only car on that list I have experience with personally is the Nissan Altima. My gf has an older (2007ish) 4 door Altima and I have been really impressed with the car. Last year I drove us from Ohio to Texas and back in it and at no point was I uncomfortable. I'm 6'2 so a pretty decent sized guy. The thing I honestly like the most about her car is that it has push to start and all you need is to have the key on you (in your pocket or whatever). The doors are the same way. You can keep your keys in your pocket the entire time, hit the button on the outside of the door to lock/unlock it, hop in and then start the car. It's extremely nice if you live somewhere cold and want to start the car in the morning but also happen to be paranoid about leaving the doors unlocked. Start that sucker up, hop out, and lock the doors without a care in the world. It's also a pretty zippy car for what it is. I would definitely check one out at the dealer to see what you think.

edit: Saw your post above. Gf's car is an automatic but I assume a manual version is available.

[Humblejoe]

If you want something fun and fast, you can probably find a used 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart. It's considered a normal car for insurance purposes, unlike the Evo, but it's dual clutch automatic. It's got a great awd system, and one of the best all around cars you can get for the money. Friend of mine tuned his up, and he still maintains 28mpg on the highway doing 80+ the entire way.

[Ksandra]

Make sure to test drive without buying if you are really wanting a car that's fun to drive.

For me, personally, the funnest I've ever had was a VW bug convertible. I know that's too girly for some, but wanted to point out that just having something with the top down was the best feeling ever, so maybe think of getting a convert model. Initially before I broke down to lease that one (that was always my dream car), I was always interested in the Chrysler convertible. I've ridden in some and have really decent legroom even in the back (one major downside to the bug). Not sure if you can find a decent one in your price range though.

Regardless, when I was shopping to replace my car (knew we were starting a family and you can't really fit a baby car seat in the bug ) I made a thread here and someone led me to:

http://www.truecar.com/

Use it. Especially the part where they send emails to local dealerships. I ended up going for a versa, which dealers were trying to sell for 18k, got an email back from a dealership offering 16,500. Once there, I was able to haggle them down further to 15k (they didn't have the color I wanted!)

If you get lucky on any emails you may get a better car than you expected.


[edit] oh ya, and if I were you I'd test out any hybrids for shits n' giggles. You get a lot of perks (can use carpool lane, tax breaks) n' such for owning one. I see a million toyota prius series cars on the road, so I would assume those are decent, but obviously test drive first.

[Ashmada]

I have always only driven manual and will continue as such.

And for the love all that is holy that BMW is god awful ugly

Oh, you've got anuses for eyes? You should've said. Get a Citroën, you'll love it.

On a serious note: yeah, it's not as good-looking as other BMWs, but still, better than most hatchbacks.

[Ksandra]

He said he didn't want a hatchback though.

[Ashmada]

He did. Price range is more favourable to hatchbacks than saloons, though. I don't really like them either, but the 1-series really surprised me. (it shouldn't have, Ultimate Driving Machines are always good)

[Ddz]

Get an Audi A4. AWD, fun, fast, affordable, safe.

[archibaldcrane]

I'm looking to get a new car soon, trying to keep it under $25,000.

You realize the Genesis starts at 34k right? A4, 1-series BMW, etc all are well above 25k. Unless you mean a new used car?

Oh, the coupe. Jesus the coupe is 10k less? Yeah, fucking get that.

If you are a douche you may want to check out the 2013 mustang too, if you're looking for something that has good performance (assumed since you're looking at the genesis and BRZ).

[BerenTebogo]

I'm surprised to hear all the rave reviews on the Hyundai. I might go test drive one once all the snow melts.

And yeah, no, not a Mustang. I'd rather take the bus.

I also ate my words to my roommate, after looking at the new Ford Fusion I REALLY like it, which is shocking.

[Kyte]

I was about to say the CR-Z, then I saw no Hondas or hatchbacks =(

[Dmitry]

The Genesis looks really cool. If you're looking for something sporty but still a good DD I would probably go with that.

[archibaldcrane]

I'm surprised to hear all the rave reviews on the Hyundai. I might go test drive one once all the snow melts.

And yeah, no, not a Mustang. I'd rather take the bus.

I also ate my words to my roommate, after looking at the new Ford Fusion I REALLY like it, which is shocking.

The mileage on the fusion hybrid is ridic, 47mpg, although it's an automatic and is 27k. The only trim of the fusion that is manual is the SE with the 1.6L eco-boost engine (not very sporty) - that's $24,495.

Get out there and test-drive some stuff!

[archibaldcrane]

At 12,000 miles a year it would take about 5 years to break-even on the hybrid at current gas costs.