A TTAC reader who wishes to remain anonymous writes:
I have to buy a 2nd car to be used mostly in the city with short highway trips, my problem is that I have a budget of $7,500.00 since a car payment is not an option at this time.
Clear title, no accident, reasonable mileage and low maintenance cost are high priority, after 2 weeks of detailed search over the internet, I’m down to three cars that I never thought I would be thinking about: 2007 Ford Focus Sedan, 2007 Nissan Sentra and (believe it or not) a 2007/8 Dodge Caliber. The mileage I have seen on this budget varies from 18,000 up to 45,000 miles. By the way, some cars don’t have power windows, which was a shock for me and almost a deal breaker, however, some of these cars have the best mileage and lowest price.
Any thoughts on which would be the best bet?
Sajeev answers:
Unless someone else makes the payment, a Dodge Caliber meets nobody’s needs. That said, both the Sentra and Focus are but mere shells of their former selves, yet either is a better alternative to the Dodge. I’d look for the car with the most options, most appealing color and the lowest mileage to help sell this ride easily in the future.
Let’s pretend that the Sentra and Focus are equally optioned and both are dressed in a conventional color. Look at the product: the Sentra sports a more modern design, a nicer interior and has none of the negative perceptions of the frequently recalled, first-gen Ford Focus. The Focus is probably more fun to drive with its amazing steering, independent rear suspension and no CVT transaxle option.
I’d drive them both and see which one is a better econobox for low-budget hoonery, and I suspect the Focus fits the bill. But there’s no wrong answer. Except for the Dodge Caliber, that is.
[Send your queries to mehta@ttac.com]
Blech.
I say first generation Scion Xb instead. Find one that was adult-owned, 75K miles or less. Very roomy/practical with extraordinary fuel economy.
Sigh, those three are some pretty depressing choices. I would go with the Focus though with a pretty strong stance. After having ~50% of the 40 2008 Sentra’s in our fleet kill their CVT and another ~1/3 of them blow their 2.0 engine up…anything would be better than those cars. I feel sorry for the people who buy these from the dealers after we wholesaled them.
Why are you down to these three choices?
For my $7500 (and this duty) I’m looking for a ’06-’07 Hyundai Elantra. If it suits you, an ’07-’08 Accent.
I have a 2007 ZX3 with the 5M trans. It’s been a perfect car and has 43,000 miles. My only suggestion if your not going to do mods, is lose the Hankook Optima tires (if it has them), they are dangerous. Go for something with a V rating.
Since there no criteria save short trips in a city.,
1. A motorcycle (cue Top Gear chainsaw).
2. A mazda 3 or protege5
3. Scion, any Scion is better then the 3 choices you listed.
Sorry Calibers make me want to vomit. If you’re stuck on your three choices I’d say the Focus. That’s the least not fun option of the 3 you named.
With a bit of patience and possibly an out-of-state trip to collect it, you should be able to find a motivated seller of a 2005 Vibe with under 60k.
I drover Caliber as a renter and it was pretty good. The bad news it will be orphan, but I don’t think you will read much of horror stories from owners. If you can get one with manual tranny, that could be a bonus, but those are rare. The question to ponder when you are buying used car: why is car with low miles being sold? Unless it is leased car. But leases are at least 3 years nowadays. I would hunt for older off the lease vehicle or older adult owned one.
Honestly… out of the three, the Nissan would be last for me.
Its beyond mediocre, the Focus is a better car.
What the Caliber has going for it though is increased utility. It’s a hatch and that surely will come in handy.
Its also the cheapest out of the bunch by far.
Sure its no spectuacular car. But in terms of price and utility, its a win.
I find it absurd that some here would rather buy a Scion with double the miles on it for the same price.
In the realm of buzzy little econoboxes, cheap is cheap, I don’t see much difference between a Scion and a Caliber.
Buy the newest, lowest mileage Civic you can get for $7500.
Of those 3 rather depressing choices, I think I’d have to go with the Focus, if only to avoid a CVT. Even it was 120% more reliable than a conventional auto/manual, I just hated the driving experience with the CVT.
I’d go for a 2005/2006 Hyundai Sonata — lot’s available under $8k and under 40k miles.
Twotone
As someone whose been in the car business for 15 years I’m afraid I don’t understand Sajeev’s argument against the Caliber. I may have heard that they are unreliable but i can’t confirm that. I do know that the MPG’s on the Caliber will be less than you are wanting… they trail the industry. However, these are 2 very different classes of vehicles. If you are considering the Caliber, why aren’t you also considering the a Toyota Matrix/pont Vibe. My girlfriend purchased a 2005 Pontiac Vibe (made by Toyota)p/w, p/d, a/c, a/t, tint….. with 46K for $8300.
She never thought she would love having an econobox type vehicle (her last vehicle was a Nissan 240z). SHE LOVES THE VIBE!!!! It is very roomy, front and back and can be had in a.w.d. if need be. Her m.p.g. is 26 city 32 highway. It is more reliable than any vehicle you chose and looks pretty damn good with tinted windows. The only rub here…… the resale. But this can be your advantage right now…. except for 1 thing…. not many owners are willing to give these cars up. You just wont have alot of competition with other buyers.
I didn’t mean to get on such a tangent… but my g/f and I went thru the same scenario as you last year when she began looking. I’m sure you’ve seen the astronomical prices for high mileage Civic/Corolla that are around 2002-04… that are available. I told her to steer clear of cars this old… IF they have an automatic. I’ve seen too many failures by the civic with around 80k with a/t. Corollas on the other hand are ok cars.. similar to the matrix…. but these models….. its fairly obvious that Toyota cut costs on the interiors and sound deadening for the sake of mileage/weight. Nissan sentra’s suffer from this same approach.
You should look into a MANUAL trans vehicle. Perhaps a 2003-07 sentra, elantra, Scion Xb, civic, or even a Focus.
Or, if you must have automatic… 2004-06 sentra without the CVT, corolla, Matrix, Vibe or Xa/Xb.
Newer (2006-2008) Hyundai and Kia are ok choices but the automatics aren’t the best I’ve seen.
I don’t know enough about the Cobalt, but the SSR has sure gotten decent reviews from Consumer Reports.
Steer Clear of the Caliber, Neon &compass on the basis that Chrysler isn’t on firm footing right now. and pre 2006 Hyundai/Kia cars scare a similar amount of the general public. I’ve tried for years and years to get my customers to look at Hyundai and Kia… but they run the other way soo fast that I can’t even yell lower prices fast enough to get their attention, if you get my drift. I’m saying that Caliber isn’t a terrible vehicle, its just a scary proposition right now because of the UNKNOWN. Understand? If you end up selling the car in 2 years… you may encounter BIG problems with either the Caliber, Compass, Neon, Kia, Hyundai and possibly the Vibe. If you KNOW FOR SURE your keeping the car past 100K and 4 years… this becomes much less important.
So, if you are looking at a 2 year or less scenario… look at even cheaper cars… and the money you save… you can put into a smarter invertment… that is where a large portion of liquid assets should be going for any american. Don’t waste your money on a car in $8000 range if you plan on putting a shiitload of miles on it and are unhappy in 2 years.. and you end up SELLING it for far less than you thought.
Clearly there is a lot at stake… Look VEry VEry hard… and you will find happiness. Definitely pick up a Consumers Report Auto Issue at your local library… your stupid not to.
Is it me…or has this site guzzled the Ford kool-aid in the last two weeks? It’s like a love fest around here. I’m feeling all warm and squishy!
In all honesty, Focus is probably the best option. I like oddball cars though, so I’d probably try to find a Suzuki Aerio with it’s remaining 100k warranty (or until Suzuki goes bankrupt). People tend to rag on the Suzukis, but their Japanese made stuff (non GMDAT) is simple reliable technology and can probably be had underbudget.
Consumer Reports ranks the reliability of the Caliber/Patriot as “above average” for what it’s worth.
Oh, if you want cheap (CHEAP) also look at a stripper Chevy HHR.
Those things are in the same love category as the Caliber.
Like others have said, out of those choices, the Focus. However, I would say to consider something else. The Hyundai /Kias would be a good bet, as well as the Vibe. Also, the HHR isn’t bad, but if you consider it, be sure you are getting one at a huge discount.
With that budget I’d find a Mercedes-Benz W123 or W124 with a turbo-Diesel. (300D, 300CD, or 300SD) That kind of money will find a nice, clean, rust-free runner with around 150k on the clock, which with Stuttgart Panzers in that era is only half-way to rebuild. Drive it until the wheels fall off, which should be sometime around 2030.
The Caliber, while not very pretty, is actually a pretty solid car. The CVT trans, while annoying, has proven to be pretty solid (if you don’t beat on it).
The Focus tends to have trans trouble.
I can’t help you with the Nissan.
I’m sure you’ve seen the astronomical prices for high mileage Civic/Corolla that are around 2002-04… that are available.
Not even that I was helping a friend shop for used cars and they had a 02 V-6 Accord coupe that sold for $10k with 120k miles. Would someone really buy a 7 year old car with 120k miles for $10k?
Chuck Goolsbee :
You’re also looking at very high maintenance costs. While the engine may be bulletproof, the rest of the car is not.
I know… thats what I’m saying… the Honda’s and Toyota’s have really high resale… its not hardly worth it
I did forget a few cars tho.. Suzuki and Protege and Maz 3 are good cars. again be nervous about the automatics tho
The Focus is probably more fun to drive with its amazing steering, independent rear suspension and no CVT transaxle option.
For the record, they softened the Focus a bit in 2005 and significantly in 2008, so that wonderful ride/handling compromise that netted it Consumer Reports’ top rating for most of the decade is gone. They also decontented it both times, though the 2008 was the worst (telescoping steering went out the door, for example).
I would skip both and consider the Nissan Versa: it’s actually slightly roomier than the Sentra, lighter, more fun, better-riding, about as safe and—this is important—cheaper.
Saturn’s can be had for cheap as well.. why not look at them too? Plastic panels mean these cars will still look good in 10 years. Helps the resale……
psarijahn has a good point.. you can buy a stripper Versa for like $9000…. brand new…
I agree with twotone – drop a model year and get a Sonata. If not that, the Focus.
In general I find little to interest me in the Nissan line-up. However a friend was given a ’09 Sentra as rental car while his was in the body shop. It was somewhat of a shock to see how big the interior was and how quietly it ran. Pretty ugly, though.
I don’t think he is going to want a big ugly Hyundai…. … so that leaves a focus… 2004 maybe….don’t get an older one… they fall apart pretty fast even though they drive nice.
2004 Scion xA is a better choice than anything above, although you might need to spend a grand or two above budget to get one. A Toyota Echo of about the same age is a unpopular model with Toyota reliability that could be had for less than budget. A 2004 Echo or xA will be more reliable than any of the 2007 models being considered, IMHO.
I wouldn’t take any of the three. Here are my suggestions for cars that you won’t quickly grow to hate:
1. Prev gen Acura RL. Tough, comfortable, and ultra reliable. Probably the only car that can last as long as a Lexus LS400 with minimal effort.
2. 4-cyl Accords from the ’98-02 generation. Surprisingly decent cars to drive, and like the old RLs they just keep going.
3. Pre ’04 Nissan Maximas. As long as the engine is in good order they hold up extremely well, and are more fun than most cars out there, particularly the SEs.
Any of the above would be better than the plastic-fantastic Dodge suckfest.
Of the three you have, I too would go with the Focus. Are you limited by what’s available in your area, then?
Others I would look at are Impalas (cheap and easy to fix), HHRs, Vibes, Saturns, and the Versa. As noted above, Honda and Toyota carry far too high a price premium.
Avoid the Cobalt. Yeah, it’s engine is pretty good and it’s frugal but good lord did the seats on mine wear out fast and the cheapness of the interior will piss you off. The door was hard sharp textured plastic, so I couldn’t rest my arm on it. Thank god I slammed that POS into a median and got a new car.
Have you considered a lease? Take that $7500, throw it into an ING Direct Orange Checking account and don’t touch it. Set it up for auto payments and see what you can get in the neighborhood of $200/mo.
I got an Impreza for $242/mo. w/ only the first payment due at signing. Mazda was offering $0 down for 3’s at the time, but I wanted AWD. So, check out what’s being offered right now and that $7500 could go for 2-3 years for you.
We are actually on our second Focus at our house; my wife likes them. First was a new 08 4 door, 5 speed. Seats did not fit me worth a damn (but the height adjustment is a nice feature in this class) so I resisted driving the thing until I did some quick reshaping of the seats. Nonetheless we traded it away after a year because the wife doesn’t like to shift. Notable is the handling; you can make it go where you point it with ease.
Second one is an 02 ZX5 Automatic with 65k miles. It runs fine, no problems; put some AGP shocks/struts on it and if anything it rides a little firm on the softest setting. I find the Auto Trans too loose for driving in traffic, and it gets considerably lower mpg at speed on the freeway than the 5 speed one did. We paid under $5k for it and havent had a bit of trouble. One of these days I will replace the timing belt. Parts are common and cheap and accessories are widely available. Some combination of factors makes this one feel a bit unstable above 75mph, even with fresh tires and shocks, otherwise it drives fine.
The handling/steering on either one is actually quite nice and better than many higher priced rigs I have driven. Road noise is unexceptional, although choosing quiet tires makes a difference. Ergonomics are good, other than the aforementioned seat …but Im a big guy.
I’ll echo what some others have suggested. Pontiac Vibe is a heavily discounted Toyota Corolla, great gas mileage and a certain funk-factor.
Hyundai/KIA also seem like decent choices. Didn’t Hyundai and Mitsubishi offer ridiculously long warranties a few years back?
I am not sure if they Hyundai/Kia warranty is transferable to second owner.
I have seen lots of 02-06 Hyundai’s with serious transmission, suspension, interior hardware failures at around 50,000-60,000 miles.
Stay away from them, unless you like making expensive repairs.
Some here also drink Hyundai Kool-Aid.
Keep looking. Because whenever the answer is: “The Focus is the best one” … it should be obvious that you’re asking the wrong question.
I don’t know about the suggestion of a W124 or a W123 Benz… you have to be the right kind of driver to really appreciate this kind of car… it will not be as reliable as a newer car and anything that goes wrong will be expensive to say the least.
As for the others… ugh. Dismal. The Focus actually is probably the better car, but that is not saying much. I wish there was just another $1000 in your budget… that would open up so many doors… literally.
Vibe: EXCELLENT city car choice.
Impreza 2.5i: sucky gas mileage, but another well built choice.
Corolla: Yawn, but it will last.
Echo: hideous, but cheap
BUT… if it were my money I would look for the best lowest mileage Honda Civic of the last generation… they are so well built and economical… and very common
“Saturn’s can be had for cheap as well.. why not look at them too? Plastic panels mean these cars will still look good in 10 years. Helps the resale……”
Wrong on two counts. Saturn did away with plastic panels in recent years, and the resale value of orphaned cars from defunct brands is horrible.
I just did a quick AutoTrader search for Honda Civics from 2003-2005… I am finding TONS of automatic 2005 Civics all over the country for $8000… that seems as if it would be the best bet around.
“Davekaybsc :
November 3rd, 2009 at 6:44 pm
I wouldn’t take any of the three. Here are my suggestions for cars that you won’t quickly grow to hate:
1. Prev gen Acura RL. Tough, comfortable, and ultra reliable. Probably the only car that can last as long as a Lexus LS400 with minimal effort.
2. 4-cyl Accords from the ‘98-02 generation. Surprisingly decent cars to drive, and like the old RLs they just keep going.
3. Pre ‘04 Nissan Maximas. As long as the engine is in good order they hold up extremely well, and are more fun than most cars out there, particularly the SEs.
Any of the above would be better than the plastic-fantastic Dodge suckfest.”
actually………..actually!!!!! (dramatic pause)
…………………………….
I believe our dude is looking for:
“Clear title, no accident, reasonable mileage and low maintenance cost are high priority”
I hate to be negative but you’re wrong regarding the Maxima, the Honda accord, and the RL being bulletproof cars that are cheap to maintain. The owner of the dealership I work buy the RL or the Maxima strictly b/c maintenance costs associated with repairs. They can be reliable, but so can BMW’s and Mercedes,….. until they break. The parts are ridiculous for all three of the cars you mentioned. My boss does gamble on the Accords b/c they are so damn popular with the local Asian population. But a timing belt every 60K will run you about $600.. and that is about the age he would be looking to buy.
All three of the above cars are decent machinery but they don’t fit the search terms…
I want to reiterate some others’ remarks
-The Hyundai/Kia’s can be quite unreliable but then again so you get a lot more bang for your buck so it really depends on whether it can be worth it to give em a shot.
-Get a Focus if you can find some history on the one you find… Quite a few were rentals, or teen’s first cars. The carfax can tell you a lot.
-Older Subarus can be trouble. Notorious head problems. Take any prospective car to a mechanic’s shop.. Look on CarTalk website for recommendations.
-After looking at all the available choices based on your criteria here are my rankings. I place value/cost of ownership as most important rankings. So if the car is expensive it goes down on the list, even if it should rate better
1. Scion Xa
2. Pont Vibe
3. Corolla
4. Scion Xb
5. Matrix (5spd only)
6. Versa (CVT if new)
7. Focus (with careful selection)
8. HHR (if you can find one for 8K)
9. Sentra (5spd only)
10.Honda Civic (great, but expensive)
11.Mazda 3
12.Impreza (5spd and mechanic check heads)
13.Protoge (5spd only)
the rest I can’t recommend….
14. Echo (better, if only engines would last)
15. Aerio (good cargo hauler)
16. Honda Fit (too expensive still)
17. Lancer (averg reliability)
18. Hyundai Elantra (can be good, but rare)
19. Kia Rio (cheap, but not always in a good way)
20. Acura TSX/Integra (Expensive but awesome car)
21. Cobalt (maybe….)
22. Mini Cooper (OMG not a cheap fix)
23. Suzuki Esteem (owners beat em up???)
24. Dodge Caliber/Jeep Compass (Great in some ways, terrible in everything else) you could always rent one for a week.
25. Chevy Aveo (forgettable, small, and not great gas mileage for the size.)
phew… i hope this helps
Also agree the Pontiac Vibe would be a whole lot better choice were someone looking for a Caliber-type vehicle.
A Matrix or Mazda3 would be just as good but probably more expensive.
RE: Saturn…. I was recommending the plastic panel versions… I know my cars…. I don’t recommend the newer ones, which happen to have steel panels.. maybe it was a sign of things to come. Yes, defunct brands have horrid resale… but i’m saying that if you get an older one.. the price is already depreciated…. Furthermore, Saturn of 2004-2009 are not as good as earlier models.. for some reason.. do your homework.. you can find a reliable Saturn… but it ain’t easy. I’m just saying they are cheap.
Well said, Sajeev. You are my hero.
I’m going to echo some of ozzy’s sentiments regarding the suggestions of Japanese near-lux/lux brands. The LS and RL are still desirable cars even at ten years of age, but in no universe could the upkeep be considered cheap. In spite of the legendary reliability of the LS, something’s gonna break sooner or later. I wouldn’t want to foot the bill when that time comes. Not to mention their city mileage is nothing to write home about.
Sixth-gen Accords are notorious for transmission failure. Granted, this fell more heavily on the V6 models, but is not unheard of in four-bangers. If you think a timing belt is expensive to repair, wait until you see what it costs to rebuild an Accord tranny.
Considering I’m in the same boat as the guy asking for advice (searching for an economical compact/midsize car on a sub-10K budget), I’ll offer my findings thus far:
Corolla/Matrix – Dull as glue, and expensive to boot. I’d be suspicious of anything newer than MY2003 under $8K.
Vibe – I’ll echo this recommendation. However, it would appear that pricing varies highly by region. Here in snow country where I live, AWD Vibes fetch a high premium. Even vanilla FWD models are pricey – I couldn’t find a sub-9K Vibe with a clean title and less than 80K anywhere near me.
Mazda – The 3 is a fine choice, but thirsty and expensive. 4-cyl 6es are also thirsty and can be costly to maintain. Late-MY Proteges are something to consider, especially if you can find a Mazdaspeed version. Three cheers for hoonage on the cheap.
Cobalt/G5 – The only thing it has going for it is cheap upkeep and purchase price. It doesn’t do anything well otherwise. SS version is tempting, but commands a price premium, used cars are likely to have been abused, and the fuel economy sucks.
Civic – MY2004 and 2005 are the ones to look for. There was a very nice cosmetic refresh for 2004. More importantly, prior MYs of that generation also had transmission issues. Great fuel economy, reasonable upkeep, relatively cheap to buy.
Sentra/Versa – Current generations can’t be found at the target price point. Previous-gen Sentras are something to consider, but I can’t speak to their build quality/reliability.
Hyundai/Kia – A Sonata, Tiburon, Elantra, or Optima is tempting, but I’d only recommend it if you’re planning to keep it for less than 5 years. I still wouldn’t bank on the long-term prospects of these cars. “Initial quality” is a useless metric to me.
Mopar products/Aveo/Saturn/Lancer – Fuggedaboudit.
Focus – Avoid any MYs up to 2004. Ford finally seemed to iron out the glitches from 2005 onward, but I’d still be wary. I’d buy one only if the mileage was low, the car was optioned out, and a hell of a sweet deal.
Scion – If you can find one with low-to-middling mileage and a sub-10K price, go for it. I certainly haven’t been able to.
Other – ’01/02 Infiniti G20s are a great choice, but rare. Low mileage G20s especially so. The Suzuki Aerio is an odd duck, but something to think about. I can’t speak to their reliability, but the cheap price of entry is attractive. Not to mention available AWD. Finally, the ’01/02 Chevy Prizm (another spawn of NUMMI) is an E110 Corolla at a bargain basement price. Low-mi versions are increasingly rare, though, and you look like a total dork driving one. Still, I’d strongly consider an ’02 LSi with 70-80K on the odo for about 4-5K.
Whew. Hope that helped!
Why bother with an econobox? For that money you can buy a nice, gently used first-generation (1990-97) Miata. Only the most fun you can have on four wheels. Been there, done that, got two sitting outside…
How about a Crown Vic Interceptor? If you look hard enough you can find a sub 100k (or much lower if you’re a good enough bargain hunter) for about half of your budget. The car will be good for at least 100k-200k miles. Sure, you’re not quite goint to get the mileage of the three vehicles you mentioned, BUT the convenience of people getting out of your way because they think you’re a cop should make up for it. You’ll get more GO when you’re in stop-and-go traffic if people think you’re a cop.
05-07 Saturn ION will be cheap to buy [and probably leave change from $7500],operate and repair.Ecotec and Hydramatic [as well as Getrag 5 speed] long lived with common parts shared with millions of other GM products.
Polymer panels,easily replaced. Perfect to have on a commuter bomber. No timing belt, but a chain. No oil use problems like the S series. Leave your key in the trunk or ignition and the car will still be there in the morning.
Problems: ignition switch, strut bushings, it’s a Saturn.
Avoid 03-04, espescially with CVT [aka vTI].
+1 on the Crown Vic. My folks have a Grand Marquis that has over 100k, has been quite reliable and mileage is actually pretty good. It yields about 28 on the hwy. City, not so good.
I think he’s looking for a city car though.
-1 on the Echo. If you want an econobox, you’ll probably want something with the latest safety features.
Thank you everyone for the replies and I was glad to see that my question was posted. It’s interesting to see your feedback and I just purchased the car 2 weeks ago. I can not justify the premium for a used Honda / Toyota, sorry, I just can’t. I would definitely by a new one, but not a used one, too expensive. I really searched for a Focus but it was difficult to digest the interior prior to the 2008 change and the ’08s are still selling for a premium or they have extremely high mileage for the year. I think you’re curious to know what I bought and a TTAC piston slap discussion a few weeks ago, made up my mind. There was a tough discussions a few weeks ago when someone was asking about replacing an aging Dodge Neon and a car that was not on my list just came up, the Mazda 5. I found a ’06 with automatic transmission and 68K miles for $8,500 and a clear title / clear Carfax. Yes, I had to spend an extra $1,000 but the car was in very good shape and drove very nicely. I also had to drive a couple of hundred miles to pick it up in another state, but other than that, things are good. So far, not a problem, let’s see. Thank you for your suggestions and I hope this help others as the Dodge Neon discussion helped me.
brazuca : CONGRATS! Enjoy the new ride.
ozzycode : As someone whose been in the car business for 15 years I’m afraid I don’t understand Sajeev’s argument against the Caliber. I may have heard that they are unreliable but i can’t confirm that.
I’ve been involved in the automotive nitpicking business for about a decade now, and I’d only recommend the Caliber to people with astigmatism and no sense of touch. It’s simply a horrible product.
I was hoping the Caliber would compensate with extra cargo carrying abilities, yet my rental couldn’t hold two carry-on bags and one check-in without a good bit of re-org to clear the rear glass. Most small sedans are that troublesome in the cargo department so–aside from the “death trap” thing—the Neon was a far superior product.
Oh and this merits a separate comment: thank you for not buying a Caliber. No car is perfect, but I suspect you’re gonna love the Mazda 5 for many years to come. (even when the inevitable repairs show up)
Im going to have to disagree with most here. I do not like the vibe. Aside from having horrible blind spots and a ghastly interior, the AT has known problems. There is a reason they no longer are making it.
Wow. I’m surprised that he bought the 6 passenger Mazda 5.. I mean I like this vehicle, but we had no way of knowing that he was looking at small minivans..
That said, I think he will be happy. But your right, the repair bills will be scary when it starts to break. I’m guessing the trans may last til about 110K… depending on whether the last owner loaded the car down often. Is this not the same tranny from the Mazda 6? You can find many a minivan with premature tranny failure b/c they stuffed a car tranny in a minivan that needed some beefing up to deal with the extra weight/cargo abilities. Caravan, Oddysey, venture, mazda mpv, windstar, sienna….etc….
The Sentra is probably the best-built car of the three, but the Focus might be a better buy if the price is lower and/or your local service options are limited to Bubba’s garage.
I would also suggest a late-model Hyundai as a potentially good deal… these cars have improved more than prices generally reflect.
In a Crown Vic “You’ll get more GO when you’re in stop-and-go traffic if people think you’re a cop.” Well, yeah, but if you like to speed it’s frustrating because the drivers ahead of you will tend to be going exactly the speed limit.
Focus Wagon. Bigger than an an Outback inside, cheap, reliable, relatively fun until the sway bar ends give way.
Simple…
Buy an orphan GM car (Olds, Saturn, Pontiac) that’s a few years old, with low milage and in good shape. And don’t spend over 5 Grand….(4 Grand is even better). Drive it around until you tire of it (that’s why most people sell cars) and then put it on Craig’s list at a fair price. Some poor family or young kid will buy it and get another few years out of it.
That Mazda5 is a solid choice. Holds a lot of stuff, holds a fair number of people, still reasonably small and not completely boring to drive. Had one as a rental and liked it. I would have held out for a manual model, though… ;-)