Help me decide on a car, I'm all over the place.

[Medellon]

I'm ready to get a new car and it will be my daily driver, I just can't seem to decide on a car though and my tastes are quite varied. I'm pretty much looking at 3-4 cars and each is totally different! Here are my choices:

1. 2016 GTI SE with PP, LP, and DCC for about 32,500-This car is a blast to drive but I worry about the reliability and the value does not seem to be quite as great as the other 2 choices.
2. 2016 Honda Accord Coupe V6 Touring for about 33,500-This is not quite as fun as the GTI but I feel it is a better value as it comes loaded with lots of safety and tech stuff. Of course Honda reliability is great and the resale value is outstanding.
3. 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Plus for about 35,000-This is about 5k off sticker which is a pretty good deal. This car has the 5.7L Hemi(375 HP)and seems the quickest of the 3. It is not quite as loaded as the Honda and is not as fun to drive as the GTI but it is a comfortable car that has great acceleration.
4. 2015 Dodge Challenger Scat Pak for about 42,000-Kind of a wild card as this car has the 6.4L Hemi(475 HP)and is pure muscle while loaded with lots of safety and tech. I think it may be a bit too powerful though as it overpowers the rear tires(245 width)quite easily but it sure can move while offering a comfortable ride.

I would appreciate some pros and cons from fellow enthusiasts in helping me decide which car to buy.

 

[Ferzerp]

Not the Dodge unless you like continuous small build quality issues. One issue is a fluke. Two can happen. I had 5 or 6 in a year of ownership on one. That's a systemic quality issue.

Clips in both doors scratched the door paint on opening.
It died on me pulling a hard right turn for no reason.
It would occasionally stall right after starting.
It would puff blue on starting occasionally.
The radio froze up and died (I was able to bring it back to life eventually with an update disk. At this point I didn't trust the dealer since they never fixed anything)
The subwoofer in the trunk would periodically thump while the car was off.

 

[deathBOB]

Why not a Golf R?

 

[Medellon]

The Golf R is nice but not worth $40,000 in my opinion.

 

[imported_Irse]

As a DD, I would get the most reliable car.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Why not:

Mustang GT or 2.3T - Dealers are dealing hard on these - expect $3-5K off and much sportier than of your choices.

2016 Camaro - all new and an amazing chassis. Interior is nice, light weight, and very quick.

Focus ST - easy $4K off on 2015. My dealer has em $4,500 off if you trade in a car. $3,500 without trade. $1,500 off on 2016's with Sync 3.

I love the Challenger as its a great GT car, soft and comfortable with a huge trunk and a great touch screen. Not sure I would opt for the Hemi in that car as the SXT with premium packages for $30K with the 8spd auto is a great car and all your doing is cruising it. FCA build quality has its issues, but the dealers will make it right so long as your persistent. Resale value is very good as well.

I would not touch a VAG car.

 

[Jumpem]

The Golf R in that price range.

 

[foghorn67]

Why not:

Mustang GT or 2.3T - Dealers are dealing hard on these - expect $3-5K off and much sportier than of your choices.

2016 Camaro - all new and an amazing chassis. Interior is nice, light weight, and very quick.

Focus ST - easy $4K off on 2015. My dealer has em $4,500 off if you trade in a car. $3,500 without trade. $1,500 off on 2016's with Sync 3.

I love the Challenger as its a great GT car, soft and comfortable with a huge trunk and a great touch screen. Not sure I would opt for the Hemi in that car as the SXT with premium packages for $30K with the 8spd auto is a great car and all your doing is cruising it. FCA build quality has its issues, but the dealers will make it right so long as your persistent. Resale value is very good as well.

I would not touch a VAG car.

This post wins. Agree on all points. Avoid the VAG with all your might.
FCA if you are damn good at bartering.
I do like the OP's Honda idea. It's not a fun car to drive, but the 6 speed manual with enough power to get out of it's own way might be enough.

For me, I don't need a new car. But the 2.3 Mustang is compelling me to trade mine in. I would consider the new V6 Camaro, but it's pillbox visibility sucks still. They fixed everything else I didn't like about it.

 

[Medellon]

Liking the responses guys, thanks. I have never really liked the view out of the Camaro, it has been that way for at least the 25 years I have been following them. For what it is worth I am 47 so the Focus ST is out for me as well as the WRX STi. Yes I know the GTI is in the same class but it does not look as "young" as the other 2. That new Ford Focus RS looks like it will be a blast though.

 

[Jumpem]

Liking the responses guys, thanks. I have never really liked the view out of the Camaro, it has been that way for at least the 25 years I have been following them. For what it is worth I am 47 so the Focus ST is out for me as well as the WRX STi. Yes I know the GTI is in the same class but it does not look as "young" as the other 2. That new Ford Focus RS looks like it will be a blast though.

The SHO is grown up looking.

 

[Medellon]

The SHO is a nice car, had a 1993 and loved it. I already have an Infiniti G35 sedan that will be driven by my wife so looking for a coupe this time around.

 

[twinrider1]

Honda is the answer, if you plan to keep the car more than 5 years. Otherwise, go with whichever makes your nether region tingle the most.

 

[mattgo]

Honda Accord is nice, so good.

 

[evident]

My vote for the Accord v6 touring. Why not mustang if you're considering the challenger.

 

[core2slow]

Vote to the honda as well.

 

[MongGrel]

Liking the responses guys, thanks. I have never really liked the view out of the Camaro, it has been that way for at least the 25 years I have been following them. For what it is worth I am 47 so the Focus ST is out for me as well as the WRX STi. Yes I know the GTI is in the same class but it does not look as "young" as the other 2. That new Ford Focus RS looks like it will be a blast though.

I had a 72 Camaro as my first car, I loved that thing at the time.

The newer ones do have a visibility problem myself I think, after test driving one not too long ago.

You might be surprised at a Focus, I still have a older decked out Mazda 3 Hatch that is similar.

They are pretty spifty.

I'm just reading the thread in general myself, I haven't car shopping in awhile personally.

My wife still drools over Challengers if we pass one, was her first car in the 70's.

Even has her key from it displayed in the curio cabinet.

 

[CA19100]

I will never own another Chrysler product in my life. Hands-down the least reliable products I've ever owned. You could offer me that Challenger for free and I'd turn it down. I've been very happy with both Ford and Honda, including a Civic that's coming up on 10 years old and has been nothing but perfectly reliable.

OP, I recently picked up a 2016 Ford Fusion AWD in the top Titanium trim line, loaded with virtually every option except the adaptive cruise control, for a little over 30K. The thing is awesome to drive, tons of power, and tons of space inside. Lots of neat technology stuff, and a lot of safety features I liked. Blind spot warnings in the mirrors, alerts if cars are coming from the side when you're backing up, inflatable rear seatbelts, knee airbags, and more. Might be another one to check out in your price range.

 

[MongGrel]

I will never own another Chrysler product in my life. Hands-down the least reliable products I've ever owned. You could offer me that Challenger for free and I'd turn it down. I've been very happy with both Ford and Honda, including a Civic that's coming up on 10 years old and has been nothing but perfectly reliable.

OP, I recently picked up a 2016 Ford Fusion AWD in the top Titanium trim line, loaded with virtually every option except the adaptive cruise control, for a little over 30K. The thing is awesome to drive, tons of power, and tons of space inside. Lots of neat technology stuff, and a lot of safety features I liked. Blind spot warnings in the mirrors, alerts if cars are coming from the side when you're backing up, inflatable rear seatbelts, knee airbags, and more. Might be another one to check out in your price range.

Still have a 96 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0 myself with about 97K miles on it.

Obviously it hasn't been driven a lot, bought it new, was my back and forth to work thing. The wife had the same non Sport version we sold that when it hit 200K.

Not sure I would trust the newer ones as much myself though.

 

[CA19100]

Not sure I would trust the newer ones as much myself though.

Sounds like you've had better luck than I have. I had an 88 Wrangler years ago that was mostly trouble free, and a hoot to drive!

My most recent experience with Chrysler was a Fiat that my wife just had to have (made in Chrysler's plant in Mexico). It's been in the shop numerous times, including one visit getting the crankshaft bearings replaced at 20,000 miles after the engine started making odd noises under load.

I just traded it in on the Fusion, taking a pretty good loss on it, but I still think it would have cost me more in the long run to keep it. I've replaced multiple instrument clusters, multiple tail lamps, done major engine work, and had many other issues. I'm afraid what it would have cost to keep the Fiat going when the warranty ran out.

Previous car was a Chrysler, which had its automatic transmission blow up at 83,000 miles because a tooth snapped in its hydraulic pump. Obvious casting defect, but Chrysler wouldn't contribute anything to the repair because it was out of warranty. That's when I bought the Honda.

On that note, when I had an out of warranty electrical repair on a Ford Contour I used to own, I ended up getting a letter from Ford a few months later apologizing, admitting there was a design defect, and refunding every dollar I spent on the repair. I was impressed. That support was definitely on my mind when I bought this new one.

 

[michal1980]

did you test drive them yet?

 

[angminas]

For that money, what about getting two cars? Say, a Civic and an S2000.

 

[vi edit]

Given that list, I think you need to at least look at the Mustang and Camaro. I love the looks of the new Mustangs. Not so much the chunky Camaro. Plus the fit and finish and tech in the Fords is great.

 

[SearchMaster]

For what it is worth I am 47 so the Focus ST is out for me as well as the WRX STi.

I'm 48 and love my Focus ST

Just drive them all and see which one "speaks" to you. I will say that you can't go wrong with the Accord. We have a '14 Odyssey and it is a great vehicle. At 80mph, that thing gets a solid 28-29 MPG on the freeway, and 24-25 around town. And with 1000 pounds less to lug around, I'd have to imagine the Accord will be even better. Zero issues (as would be expected) in 35,000 miles though I don't like the entertainment stuff nearly as much as my ST.

FWIW we had an '07 Odyssey with ostensibly the same engine and it got 18 around town and 23 on the highway so they've done a great job tweaking it.

 

[crashtech]

Well the Honda is of course the best from a pure reliability and resale perspective, but it sounds like this is your only car as well, in which case other considerations might take priority.

 

[Medellon]

I did look at the Mustang and was ready to buy the all new 2015 GT when it was released. After optioning it out it came to about $45,000 and I feel it was not worth that amount, plus the Challenger appealed to me more after a test drive. If I were to ever get a muscle car, I could not live with myself if I got anything less than V-8 power. I know the other cars on my list do not have V-8s, just some quirk I have with muscle cars.