Car shopping

[icepixie]

So, seeing as I'm going to be moving to Knoxville in less than four months, I need to get a car sharpish. (Yes, there's public transportation, but I've done the relying-on-a-bus-to-get-groceries thing, and unless you're somewhere like NYC or Chicago, IT DON'T WORK. Plus, driving home for vacations, etc., and, depending on my luck with finding nearby housing, to campus...yeah.)

I...would pretty much be okay if all we had was the modern equivalent of the Model T. No, seriously. This sucks. I have no idea what to buy, I have a relatively small budget, and seriously, all I want is four wheels, an engine that won't break down all the time, and enough steel around me to keep me from being crushed in an accident. All the different brands and models have such minute and arcane differences that do incomprehensible things to the price, and I can't even begin to wrap my mind around it. The only reason I'm not giving up and investing in a bicycle is because my dad is helping me shop, and at this point has probably done more looking than I have. (Also, biking back to Nashville would be a bit difficult.)

I'm looking solely at used cars, because my budget would allow me to get, um...a new tricycle, I think. (Well, okay, if I plunked down the entirety of my savings account, I could actually get something rather nice, but I also, you know, want to eat next year.)

Anyone have any tips? Brands you like? Bad experiences? I'm leaning towards something from Honda or Toyota because the idea of being stranded on the roadside periodically does not appeal (nor does shopping for another car for AT LEAST ten years), but of course that increased reliability and longevity comes with a corresponding increase in price. Sigh.

Comments

[valkyrieks.livejournal.com]

When I was researching the buying of my car, what most sites agreed on is that while Hondas and Toyotas are both great and last for a very long time, the brand name on them shoves the price up by several thousand dollars. There are other brands, like Nissan and Chrysler, that are so close that it makes little difference, and there is often a dramatic price difference. I ended up with a Nissan that I love. That's my input. Good luck!

[icepixie]

Interesting...I wonder if it holds as true for used cars as new? I'm also looking at Nissans, and while they're cheaper than a Honda or Toyota, it's only by maybe $500 or $1,000. Haven't looked at Chryslers, though.

Thanks!

[alto2.livejournal.com]

For whatever it's worth, a friend at work several years ago got rid of his Nissan Altima and bought a Civic because the cost of owning the Altima was too high. That's a pretty small sample size, so I don't know how common it is or how it could/should affect your decision, but I thought I should mention it anyway.

[icepixie]

Hmmmm. Thanks, that's interesting. My issue with the Altimas (otherwise a nice car) is that very few of them have anti-lock brakes, and those that do jack up the price quite a lot. ABS isn't the be-all and end-all of car ownership, but I've driven cars with both, and prefer ABS.

[alto2.livejournal.com]

My god, is ABS still not standard on Japanese cars??? I was stunned that I had to get the EX-model Civic in 02 in order to get ABS, and hoped they'd have improved that in recent years. I won't drive a car without it (and you get an insurance discount for having it, which certainly says something!). Of the three accidents I've had, two were because of slippery surfaces and not having ABS. I have more than enough evidence of the fact that, in a panic situation, I simply will not remember to pump the brakes, ergo I have ABS. I don't know why the Japanese haven't cottoned onto that one.

[icepixie]

My god, is ABS still not standard on Japanese cars???

Sadly, not on Nissans. The Hondas and Toyotas mostly seem to have it, though.

I have luckily only been in a panic situation twice that I can remember, both in dry weather, but I really would prefer not to test my pumping/not-pumping reaction in a car which requires pumping.

[alto2.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth, I filled my tank last night and went 385.5 miles on 11.2 gallons of gas, which is 34.4 miles to the gallon. (Yes, I thought of you while I was getting gas, which...may or may not be rather sad ;) )

[icepixie]

Oooooh, lovely mileage.

I went and test-drove a Civic and an Accord the night before last. I did like both of them almost equally well, but the Civic had no ABS (Accord did--although that was these particular cars, neither of which I will be buying), and also the engine was quite noisy. That might get annoying on long car rides home for breaks. I was impressed by how roomy it felt, though, and also that aside from the noise, the engines had very little difference in performance. (I mean, on neither of them are you going to hit 75 and not know you're hitting it, like you can with the six-cylinder I drive now, but I definitely didn't think they were "little putt-putt cars," to use Dad's term.)

I'm trying out some Toyotas tonight...I hope they're similar, because they're somewhat cheaper!

Yes, I thought of you while I was getting gas, which...may or may not be rather sad ;)

Heh. I'll choose to consider it sweet.

[alto2.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the Toyotas do run cheaper, though, at least back in 02 when I bought my Civic, the ABS was an option rather than standard on all models, so I don't know if it'll be harder to find one with it or not. I do regret not going to look at the Toyotas at all when I bought mine, just because I see one every so often and wonder if I'd have done myself a financial favor and ended up with a car that was just as good. I don't regret buying the Civic at all, otherwise, though. It's a great little car, and as you discovered, definitely not a putt-putt!

If you really want to see a putt-putt car, I don't think you can beat this--do watch the whole thing, it's quite funny! (Well, I crack up every time I see it, in any case!)

[icepixie]

I posted a link to that a few months ago! It is HILARIOUS! (Also, I want one.)

Alas, yes, it's hard to find ABS on Toyotas as well. Although in my grand car-buying equation, Fewer Repairs wins out over ABS. I've driven a car w/o ABS for about seven years now, so I can deal if I have to. Would prefer not to (ABS wins out over practically everything else in my grand equation) but what are you gonna do? They aren't even standard on a lot of American-built cars.

[alto2.livejournal.com]

You linked to it? Damn, I thought sure it was wheresmycow. Must need a serious dose of mental floss!

If you're comfortable without the ABS, then the Toyota may well be just as good as the Honda. I'm actually rather curious to know what you think!

[icepixie]

'Twas me, 'twas me!

Okay, back from the Toyota driving. I tried both the Camry and the Corolla, and loved them both. Both felt more...substantial than their Honda counterparts, and both had more pickup and drove a little bit more smoothly than the Honda versions as well. The Corolla was quieter than the Civic, which was nice (I think the engine is a tenth of a liter bigger or something like that, which perhaps helps...either that or they have better noise control in the car itself), and I believe the car itself is bit larger as well. It's hard to find ABS on either, but I could live if I didn't find it.

In short, I want a Toyota. :)

[alto2.livejournal.com]

Wow. Maybe next time I'll look into the Toyotas, though I'm hoping it won't be for several years. (Lordy, but I'd love to have a Prius--not only is the gas mileage great but I hear it's got Bluetooth that puts cell phone calls through the car speakers, which is just wild!)

I hope you'll be posting a pic of whichever car you end up with :)

[icepixie]

The Prius would be awesome. With any luck, by the time I'm ready for a new car, it will be down in my price range. *g*

Oh, I'm sure I'll be posting a pic at some point...