Looking for a good cheap car

[jst0ney]

Well its official my GF's car has died. We can get by for awhile with one car but with both of our jobs being so far apart and public transport being difficult from where we are, we are looking for a new car this weekend.

Of course I will be checking out used car but I want to know my options and may look at new cars too. Are KIA's as bad as I have always thought they were or is the stigma just because they are new?

Any other advice? I don't have much experience with cars so any adice would be great. Thanks.

 

[BoldAsLove]

KIA's have really crappy engines...you get what you pay for. You didnt really list any specifications, but I assume you are wanting a typical sedan. Id check out either a civic, mazda 3, or corolla/yaris.

 

[jst0ney]

Originally posted by: BoldAsLove
KIA's have really crappy engines...you get what you pay for. You didnt really list any specifications, but I assume you are wanting a typical sedan. Id check out either a civic, mazda 3, or corolla/yaris.

yeah not looking for anything special. Her last car was a Jeep (go figure) I liked having a SUV around if we needed to move anything but the mileage was utter crap so I'm thinking of a used Honda or something.

 

[Childs]

Fit , Versa or Yaris.

 

[thomsbrain]

how cheap is cheap? $1000? $5000? $15,000?

basically, a used honda, toyota, mazda, or nissan will probably be a pretty good car.

 

[iversonyin]

Get a hatchback, you get room and good mpg. and WTF is "cheap" these days?

 

[jpeyton]

Ford Fiesta......Sport.

 

[dug777]

F350.

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
how cheap is cheap? $1000? $5000? $15,000?

basically, a used honda, toyota, mazda, or nissan will probably be a pretty good car.

Yeah, what is your budget anyway? I'm not going to recommend a $5,000 car if you only have $500 to spend.

 

[b0mbrman]

Chevy Prizm, Ford Escort

 

[jst0ney]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
how cheap is cheap? $1000? $5000? $15,000?

basically, a used honda, toyota, mazda, or nissan will probably be a pretty good car.

Yeah, what is your budget anyway? I'm not going to recommend a $5,000 car if you only have $500 to spend.

Well what we have figured out is that we can afford about $250 a month in car payments so it will have to be a loan. I guess I'm looking at anything 12k and under (preferably lower of course).

 

[chusteczka]

For new at that price, I would recommend a Chevy Aveo or Cobalt.
It appears to me that Chevy provides inexpensive cars with no options, with prices that quickly jump higher when options are added.
Chevy 2006 has a three year warranty.
Chevy 2007 has the newer, longer warranty.

 

[vi edit]

For 12k I would absolutely not buy new. Buy a year or two old car that actually has some safety in mind along with some creature comforts that will make it more liveable. I just don't get the mentality of wanting a brand new car and being forced into a tiny little pop can because of a limited budget. If you have a fixed budget, buy used and get much, much more of a car for your money.

The savings of going used could be rolled back into an extended warranty direct from the car manufacturer that just extends the original bumper to bumper.

You should be able to easily find something like low milage Pontiac G6 w/ the V6 in that range.

Linky (not 12k, but close and you can probably find some locally that would fit in the price range with some good haggling)

It's not a Honda or a Toyota, but it's a very nice car for the $$. Great milage for a V6 too. Insurance and repairs will be cheap and light years beyond any brand new car you could get for similar $$.

 

[vi edit]

"New" Sonota would be other suggestion

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
"New" Sonota would be other suggestion

imho that's a reasonably sweet looking ride