Car transmission has a leak...

[Subhumanguy]

Well, my POS 1991 Oldsmobile Delta eighty eight decided to roll over. I think I have an oil leak, plus transmission fluid pours out of of the bottom of the car. It has almost 285,000 miles on it, so I say it's about time. Now the question comes to what type of car should I get? I really want to just go ahead and finance a new car and get it over with. I'm in college and I feel like I can afford it at this point...

Right now i'm looking at a Kia Specta or a Honda Civic. I want something great on gas milage and most all dependable. I'm really tired of buying cheap and crappy used cars.

Any thoughts?

 

[StageLeft]

Cheap and crappy sucks, so buy used that doens't suck. If money is a big problem you can get a used, low mile sentra for like $7k with lots of warranty left on it.

Otherwise if you're buying new don't buy a civic because that model is about 40 years old and they are refreshing it soon. Buy a corolla

 

[Subhumanguy]

When do you think they will refresh it? I had my doubts about Kia but the warranty seems good and my friend just bought one... so I dunno. I really adore hondas though. My mom told me to get a corolla 'cause she had an early 90s model...she loved it until it caught on fire in a parking lot

 

[Zee]

hyundai

 

[Scarpozzi]

Agreed Hondas are good and they keep their value. However, that's not a plus if you want to buy a car that you're going to keep and drive. I suggest staying away from Hondas because their sticker-price is jacked too high.

Look at Nissan Sentra and investigate american cars. Don't buy new unless you get a deal with the GM savings they have going on right now. You can get a decent discount on Pontiac Sunfire, Chevy Cavalier, etc...and get lots of options on that class of car if you go that route...but they don't hold value well.

Just test drive and see what's in your price range.

 

[Subhumanguy]

I'm really not big on american cars. I generally don't like the design and I've just heard pretty miserable things. I know NOTHING about cars, so I will stay open minded and consider all options. i really want to stay at or below $15,000

 

[nakedfrog]

So you'll enjoy your new car payment

 

[deejayshakur]

if you like lots of wind and road noise, get a corolla. civic's handle noise better.

 

[Subhumanguy]

Well, i'm gonna have a car payment no matter when route that I choose, and I'd really like to pick the car I really want and know that I can drive home (my hometown is 6 hrs from my college) without worrying about my engine melting down. So in one sense yeah I do want to enjoy my car payment :-D

Anyone recommend the Kia? My friend was telling me that this Kia place will give you a $1000 trade in value for a car, as long as you can drive or push it onto the lot. That sounds like a good deal to me. I really love the design of the Spectra, but the Civic is equally appealing. People are telling me that if I maintain it, the Honda will last forever.

 

[SammyBoy]

how much are you looking to spend.

Honestly....all of these cars that people have mentioned are extremely boring and uninspiring. I wouldn't want one but that doesn't mean that they wouldn't all be great fits for you. The thing is...why pay 16k for a brand new tin can feeling car? Civics and Corollas are very reliable, and also have good resale value which means you aren't going to get a used one for a steal, but a few year old corolla with 50k on the clock will go FOREVER.

I'm a VW guy so Id suggest a 96-98 4 door golf or jetta with under 80k for like $3000. I've got a GTI VR6 and a Corrado but neither fit the bill for what you are looking for

But if i was gonna buy an appliance and gas mileage was important I'd get a couple year old corolla. Good luck choosing something good!

 

[Subhumanguy]

Thanks Sammy. It seems everyone loves the corolla. I"ve had two used cars at this point and I've just had miserable luck with them. Since I drive so much, and so far on relatively abandoned roads, I believe that a new car is probably my best bet. If i were going to buy a used car, then I'd go for a 2000 or 2001 accord or corolla. Any idea of what I would realistically expect to pay for something like that?

 

[jaedaliu]

I don't know what it's like in other parts of the country, but in Los Angeles, you crack open the LA times on friday morning, find the cheap deal on the mainstream car you want. can get a 2 year lease on a nissan altima for less than 200 a month with a 2k down (or something like that) or a camry LE for 16k, um, i forget the cost of the other cars, but they're pretty cheap. only problem with this system is that you have to be at the dealer first (as in get the newspaper by 7 in the morning, find the car you want, and get there before the dealership opens), AND the only thing you get to choose on your car is the color.

used is more cost effective, but if you're like me and barely know anything about cars, new feels safer. good luck.

 

[Subhumanguy]

Yeah I don't really have a lot to put down (as I really wanted to trade my old car in) and most dealerships are willing to work with that.

 

[Subbaculcha]

Take a look at the Mazda 3 i. With minimal options buying slightly over invoice you could get out the door for roughly 15k. But it may be hard to find a bare bones one.

In your case i'd buy new. Why? Because if something goes wrong, you don't have to worry about paying for repair while you are making payments on a loan.

 

[Subhumanguy]

I'm also worried about insurance, though I think I am going to put it under my mom's insurance

 

[Subhumanguy]

I started looking at the GM stuff and the saturn Ion looks niiiiceee :-D

 

[DaveJ]

Originally posted by: Subhumanguy
I started looking at the GM stuff and the saturn Ion looks niiiiceee :-D

I think you forgot your sarcasm tags there. Don't get an Ion, it sucks... and that's coming from a former Saturn owner. If you're looking at Kia, check out Hyundai too, they make excellent cars for the money IMO. I replaced my 10yo Saturn with an Elantra 3 months ago, and I couldn't be happier with it. You should be able to find an Elantra GLS for 11-13K, and a GT for 14-15.

Dave

 

[RU482]

Originally posted by: Subhumanguy
I'm really not big on american cars. I generally don't like the design and I've just heard pretty miserable things. I know NOTHING about cars, so I will stay open minded and consider all options. i really want to stay at or below $15,000

hahaha...the guy driving a 15 yr old AMERICAN car with 285,000 miles is afraid of american car reliability

say what you want, but that's just a strange combination

 

[Subhumanguy]

Well, I didn't purchase my current car. My dad bought it for me last summer. I had NO say in the matter. Between this car and the car my mom drives my opinion has been shaped

 

[SammyBoy]

If you're gonna go new listen to Subbaculcha, The mazda 3 is by far my favorite compact car. Mazda has their act together, these things are a joy to drive and are very well equipped for the money. Get the hatchback/5 door with 5 speed....Yummy. I like the way it looks in gray. Pretty edgy and not pretty, but a great driving, good looking and different car.

Check autotrader in your area for used accords and whatnot. If you do your homework and buy a properly maintained car that you get checked out, you won't go wrong with an accord, but I change my vote to mazda 3

 

[SammyBoy]

I've been in 1 elantra GT and I must say I was impressed all around. Good suggestion DaveJ .

I'd suggest a new golf but a 1.8t or VR6 is out of your price range, and they aint as reliable as the japanese contingent. The motors are solid (my vr6 has 155k on it, running strong), but they need more tender love and care than a civic or corolla over the years.

 

[LS20]

honda civic hatchback.... 35+ mph.. ridiculous... tons of hauling space

 

[SammyBoy]

Originally posted by: LS20
honda civic hatchback.... 35+ mph.. ridiculous... tons of hauling space

Civics are pieces of crap they max out at 33.

 

[Subhumanguy]

thanks for all the suggestions. I'm going to talk to my bank about financing on Monday and then i'll go and make a decision. The Ion is sort of my focal point right now, with the civic in 2nd and mazda 3rd. The Civic seems to be far more durable than any of the others.