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Help on looking for a new car.

Rodimus Prime

Rodimus Prime

macrumors G4
Original poster
Oct 9, 2006
10,136
4
Ok I am considering replacing my 04 Sentra in the next 6-7 months because
a) Nissan 2.5L engine has a long list of known problems
b) Already starting to have minor problems that require work on it
c) I got out of school a year ago and the car was a gift from my parents in 04 and I want to say I bought the car I drive and it not be a gift (pride)
D). I want something larger than a Sentra.

I thinking of spending in the ball park of 25k of that 25k 15k would be financed rest would be a down payment and my car trade in value. I figuring i could get a 28k car down to 25k with out to much trouble in the current climate.

Ok on to the cars I am interested in.

Voltswagon Passat,
Subaru - Legacy
Honda Accord
Nissan Altima
Ford Fussion

Requirements for what I want in a car. Leather heated seats, Bigger than my current car and comporible to an Accord EX with leather. Of that list what does everything think and other cars in the same price range that I am passing over.
 
What are your needs in a car, those are all family cars described there.

What about the Volkswagen Scirocco? Or the Golf (cringes, ok, Rabbit).

Although If it was out of those cars, I would go for the Subaru Legacy or the Passat (if you are able to get it with he DSG transmission that'd be awesome). When my best mates old car was being repaired, he was loaned a top of the line Passat, and it is a really comfortable and pleasing car to drive. The Diesel engine was surprising too, its definitely up there with the A4 as a great family car.
 
Rodimus Prime said:
Ok I am considering replacing my 04 Sentra in the next 6-7 months because
a) Nissan 2.5L engine has a long list of known problems
b) Already starting to have minor problems that require work on it
c) I got out of school a year ago and the car was a gift from my parents in 04 and I want to say I bought the car I drive and it not be a gift (pride)
D). I want something larger than a Sentra.

I thinking of spending in the ball park of 25k of that 25k 15k would be financed rest would be a down payment and my car trade in value. I figuring i could get a 28k car down to 25k with out to much trouble in the current climate.

Ok on to the cars I am interested in.

Voltswagon Passat,
Subaru - Legacy
Honda Accord
Nissan Altima
Ford Fussion

Requirements for what I want in a car. Leather heated seats, Bigger than my current car and comporible to an Accord EX with leather. Of that list what does everything think and other cars in the same price range that I am passing over.
Click to expand...

To point C, it was a gift, you should not be ashamed to drive around in a car that your parents gave you. I do like that you seem to respect it instead of feel as though it was your birth right to have a new car. ;)

You are right about the Sentras. I've always been a Nissan girl, first truck was a Nissan and survived what should have been a crash that took my legs. Second truck ... Nissan, third car, Nissan. So yeah, I get it. But there was something about that Sentra that didn't work.

Of the five you listed and giving no specific model numbers to the Altima (for example) I would say that my order would be:
Honda Accord (if you can swing the V6 do it)
Nissan Altima
Ford Fusion (this was an excellant car, had a brand new one as a rental and drove from Syracuse to Canada ... had tons of fun in it)
Subaru Legacy
VW Passat (sorry but I'm not a total fan of VW yet).

I say Honda first because that car will last you a very long time. You can get tons of options without spending your life savings. Nissan next because what they've done with the Altimas is amazing. I love their 2-door models. The rest is just because. ;)

Good luck to you. And you're right, in this climate you can easily get a great deal. I wish I were in the market today for one as I'd like to pick up a Honda Pilot or Ridgeline (possibly the Ford Flex), but I have 6 months left to hang in my truck.
 
steviem said:
What are your needs in a car, those are all family cars described there.

What about the Volkswagen Scirocco? Or the Golf (cringes, ok, Rabbit).

Although If it was out of those cars, I would go for the Subaru Legacy or the Passat (if you are able to get it with he DSG transmission that'd be awesome). When my best mates old car was being repaired, he was loaned a top of the line Passat, and it is a really comfortable and pleasing car to drive. The Diesel engine was surprising too, its definitely up there with the A4 as a great family car.
Click to expand...

I am 6'4" and the sentra is a little small.

it is just me but I wanted something larger and more conformable to drive long distance in. Lets face it 5 hours in my sentra is just really cramped. Not enough room for the legs. While it is a Spec V (highest model sentra) at the end of the day it is still a sentra so it is not like it is the most conformable car. A blast to drive but still it wearing on me

So more conformable on long distance trip. If it has extra power for the fun factor then it is huge bonus points. I have grown used to having a car with a lot of get up and go power so it added to the fun factor.
 
jessica. said:
To point C, it was a gift, you should not be ashamed to drive around in a car that your parents gave you. I do like that you seem to respect it instead of feel as though it was your birth right to have a new car. ;)

You are right about the Sentras. I've always been a Nissan girl, first truck was a Nissan and survived what should have been a crash that took my legs. Second truck ... Nissan, third car, Nissan. So yeah, I get it. But there was something about that Sentra that didn't work.

Of the five you listed and giving no specific model numbers to the Altima (for example) I would say that my order would be:
.
Click to expand...

well for point C I will clarify that I am not ashamed of the car and I love car. I am very thankful I have it because it was nice not having to deal with a car payments right out of school. It just I want an upgrade to something nicer.

As for the Altima part it would a V-6 because I hate Nissan's 2.5L POS engine. and a coupe if I fit in it.
 
Historically, VW engines go for years, and years and years and years.

If that's one of your worries.

AppleMatt
 
I'd simply advise to go with the VW. I drive a Golf myself and it is a really nice car to drive. I've driven my relatives Passat and its pretty much on par with with VW's. good build quality and reliable. Comfort wise, firm yet comfortable. I've driven from Lincoln, England to Foggia, Italy in my Golf and I not once did I feel uncomfortable.

Just my opinion though.
 
VW GTI! : D

It's in that price range and you can get heated leather seats. When I turn my heated seats on in my GTI, my ass is very happy.
 
yg17 said:
VW GTI! : D

It's in that price range and you can get heated leather seats. When I turn my heated seats on in my GTI, my ass is very happy.
Click to expand...

The mark 5 VW GTI is really good with the 2.0 FSI Turbo engine. But id say the Golf is a similar size to the sentra so i think a nice Honda Accord would be good Hondas engines are really reliable and there built to a high standard. Plus the accord is quite a bit bigger.
 
Have the new model Accord and love it. A lot more plush than previous model years, really good fit & finish. I'm 6'1" with stupidly long legs and find that there's tons of space to spare. If you like driving at all the Honda manual transmissions are really well done, much better than other comparably priced cars I've driven.
 
I would advise against a VW. Pretty much everyone I know that has owned a Passat has loved it but hated the poor reliability and high repair costs. Some of their engines are good, some have oil sludge issues. I think it says a lot when the mechanics at the VW dealer don't drive VWs. You can go with the VW, expect questionable reliability, and pay high repair costs if there are issues. You can go with a Japanese car, expect good reliability and moderate repair costs, or go domestic and have decent reliability and low repair costs.

Another thing to consider is how far away the dealers are.

I would stay away from the VW. Any of the others I think are great choices.
 
I'd get the Accord. I really like the 2-door version. Although that *might* be north of your price range, I dunno.
 
The CSX is the luxury version of the Honda Civic. The TSX is supposed to be an awesome car. :p It's essentially the Euro model of the Honda Accord. Some countries get the Euro version of the Accord, Americans get the American version, and some countries are lucky enough to get both as an option (where the Euro version is more expensive). ;)


I'd go for the Nissan Altima first, then Honda Accord, then the VW Passat.


I'd get the Altima because it's not a Honda. :p However, I'd choose the Honda second because, lets face it, Honda makes a pretty good effing car. ;) The VW Passat is probably a pretty decent car, and I wouldn't be as worried as I would be if I had bought the Ford. :eek: The Ford Fusion because is supposed to be good, but who knows how durable they are long-term. My parents' previous 2 Fords were a disaster. One had to be sold in 4 years (a Taurus), while the more recent mini-van was done in 6 years. In my opinion, there is very little difference between mid-ranged cars nowadays. The difference may be in things like reliability, perceived reliability, and consequently, in resale value. In terms of driving feel, the large majority of people would be happy with any model they choose.

On that note, I always thought Subarus cost too much for what they gave you. It's a bit like VW.

My parents just bought a Hyundai Sonata, and a Tucson CUV. They paid a total of $45,000 USD for the high-end model of both cars, since Hyundai was very willing to give my parents a great deal....better than Toyota. It's not just the economic situation. Hyundai is just a really good car for the low price you pay. In the past, my parents wouldn't have ever considered a Hyundai. However, I told them that my car (in Australia) was such a great little ride that they gave the dealership a visit.
 
The Acura TSX, as stated like 3 times above, isn't a luxury model of the Civic, its a slightly bigger model of the Accord. My brother has one, and it has a lot of leg room for someone of your size. Sure there won't really be big space in the back because you're like 6'5.
 
fireshot91 said:
The Acura TSX, as stated like 3 times above, isn't a luxury model of the Civic, its a slightly bigger model of the Accord. My brother has one, and it has a lot of leg room for someone of your size. Sure there won't really be big space in the back because you're like 6'5.
Click to expand...

Meh I could care less about the person in the back seat. It does not matter much on room behind me because no matter what car I get the person behind me will be cramped.
 
I'd say accord or tsx (personally I like the last gen tsx more tho...). really, you can't go wrong w/ honda; I know almost all honda models I've driven from 02-06 have all been excellent and fun in their own ways.
 
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