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Please Help Me Decide

Gryffindorian

Vice Admiral
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My 2001 Volkswagen Passat is slowly dying. :( I bought it used back in 2007. It's got 118,000 miles, but it's still in pretty good running condition. Unfortunately, it couldn't pass the smog check certification because of a faulty ABS controller, whatever that is, and the repairs (parts, labor, tax) would cost more than $2,000, which isn't worth it. So I'm trading it in for a new one.

Any suggestions? Here are my criteria

  • Japanese-made car, American is OK, too
  • Intermediate/Mid-size 4-Door Sedan
  • Automatic transmission
  • V6 a plus, but not necessary
  • $15,000 - low to mid $20,000s
My choices so far (2011 models):
  • Toyota Corolla
  • Honda Civic
  • Toyota Camry
  • Honda Accord
 
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My hubby has a 2009 Camry and he loves it. It gets great gas mileage, is very comfy. His previous car was a 98 Camry that had almost 200,000 miles on it. I'm a big fan of the Camry--never had any problems with it.

I really liked my old Honda Accord--mine lasted 15 years. However, the newer Hondas are a bit more pricey than the Toyotas. However, Honda does seem to have an even better repair record than Toyota. Either way, you can't go wrong.

Have you test-driven the new models and compared prices?
 
I work for Toyota, but drive a Honda product and my list of recommendations was going to include the four cars you have listed.

Personally, I would take the Civic over the Corolla, but its a toss-up between the Camry and Accord.

If you are getting a new car, get a 2012 Camry, they will be available quite soon. Its a brand new body design and although its nothing revolutionary it is an improvement over the current Camry, but its really the interior that would be a selling point, its much improved.

http://www.toyota.com/upcoming-vehicles/camry/?srchid=K610_p434022332

These are made in Georgetown, KY and Lafayette, IN. Its a Japanese car, but for several years now the Camry has been rated as having the highest North American parts content of any car sold in N.A., so you get the best of both worlds.
 
I admit I haven't been in a Civic since about 2001, but I'm very picky about the size of my cars.
 
I recently bought a 2011 Honda Accord EX-L. Fully loaded it was about $30k, but if you don't want all the extras you can get it in the low 20s.

It's a great car and I can recommend it.

My search also came down to Camry vs Accord. (I tried the Civic as well, but didn't like the small amount of back-seat space. Accord is much roomier.) There's a lot to recommend either car. The biggest difference, from what I could see, is that Camry offers more options customization while Accord just gives you a few trim levels to choose from. Since I was going for the whole package this wasn't a problem, but it's something to consider.

Try and get a backup camera if you can. I really love that feature.

The other thing to think about right now is that Honda keeps offering this 0.9% financing deals, while Toyota has been doing 0% deals. So financing might be slightly cheaper on the Camry. Still, it's not a lot of difference.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. I always thought Toyota cars were more expensive than Hondas.

An American I'm interested in is the Chevy Malibu, starting in the low $20,000s.
 
My sister has had a few Camrys and has always loved them. She says they get great mileage and are super-reliable, comfortable little cars.

I'm a Jeep person, myself...so I can't help you first hand - only via what my sister says.

I need my vehicles to have more 'personality' than the ones you listed. But then, I'm a non-conformist, so there you go.
 
I need my vehicles to have more 'personality' than the ones you listed. But then, I'm a non-conformist, so there you go.

I'm trying to figure out what's non-conformist about driving a jeep. In my experience old guys with hats own jeeps to go hunting so it's kind of the most boring, philistine car choice I can imagine! :vulcan:

ETA: Well, either that or the funny breed of people who own a jeep but only drive inside cities to feel special which is sort of pathetic but at least mildly amusing.

Not saying you're either of those obviously but that's what I associate with "Jeep". ;)
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. I always thought Toyota cars were more expensive than Hondas.

An American I'm interested in is the Chevy Malibu, starting in the low $20,000s.

When we were looking for a new car for me back in 2007, the Toyota Corolla and the Nissan Sentra were the exact same price, but the Corolla was SO boring, styling wise. It didn't excite me at all. I saw the Sentra and fell in love. I drove that car home that night.
 
I admit I haven't been in a Civic since about 2001, but I'm very picky about the size of my cars.
Compensating for something? :p

I'm a Jeep person, myself...so I can't help you first hand - only via what my sister says.

I need my vehicles to have more 'personality' than the ones you listed. But then, I'm a non-conformist, so there you go.
What's non-conformist in having a Jeep? :vulcan:
 
The car only has 118k miles on it and you are ready to scrap it?

$2,000 is a small inestment to make to keep it running a few more years compared to $20,000 for a new car.

Also, how diligent are you on maintaining the vehicle? I get regular service on mine religiously and it's got 160k on it and runs fine.
 
I'm trying to figure out what's non-conformist about driving a jeep. In my experience old guys with hats own jeeps to go hunting so it's kind of the most boring, philistine car choice I can imagine! :vulcan:

ETA: Well, either that or the funny breed of people who own a jeep but only drive inside cities to feel special which is sort of pathetic but at least mildly amusing.

Not saying you're either of those obviously but that's what I associate with "Jeep". ;)

Well, yeah...you kind of did. :p But whatever.

I originally bought a Jeep because I lived in Alaska and used to do road bike racing, running, and triathlon in summer and skiing in winter...and thus had a lot of gear to haul around in my free time. Additionally, in my profession (accountant - auditor) I had a lot of workpapers to haul around to client offices for work. I did not drive a Jeep because I'm an 'old guy' (actually, not a 'guy' at all, nor am I 'old') who goes hunting, nor a person trying to feel 'special' (but is in fact, 'pathetic') because I drive a jeep in the city (and yes, I DO drive a jeep in the city - I have been living in Atlanta for the past several years and felt no need to rush out and buy a nondescript car that I couldn't even pick out of a parking lot because there are so many of them that look exactly the same).

There are plenty of reasons to drive a Jeep besides hunting and being 'pathetic'...but of course, you know that. You just chose to go for the insult. Which, by the way, a smilie on the end can't disguise.

I had no idea what this thread was about when I opened it, because the title is very vague. When I saw what it was, all I had was my sister's positive experience and opinion of the Camry....which I felt obligated to explain was second hand, in the interests of full disclosure.

Sorry if my own choice in vehicles is 'pathetic' to you...but at least I have a sister who drives a standard black Camry and who thus apparently conforms to your idea of what should and should not be driven on city streets. Maybe if I'm lucky, she can talk me into a less pathetic choice next time...although I doubt it because I'm in the process of moving my Jeep back to Alaska, where I'll be living this time next month. Jeeps tend to do better in several inches of snow than do Camrys....regardless of their 'patheticness' otherwise, so I'll probably drive it till it dies. But I'll be sure and pull a few Camrys out of the ditch this winter though....because they sure as heck can't pull each other out. And pulling other motorists out of ditches in winter is just what we 'pathetic' Jeep owners do. :p
 
Well, PK, when you open your post claiming you need more "personality" in your choice of vehicles, and then proceed to compliment yourself on being "an nonconformist" , I don't think you can really complain when people add some bite to their comments. :p (obligatory smile to emphatise that, while I think my comment is appropriate, it is not intended in hostility.)
 
The camry and the corolla/auris are the two most reliable cars i know of. As long as you service them according to the specs, the'll run as long as you want them too.
 
Pontiac Grand Prix - V6 (supercharged on the GTP) 4 door, automatic, plenty of space
I love mine :D

Honda and Toyota don't automatically mean great value and durability, certainly on the '11 models
give consumer reports a look
Kia seems to be on the up and up these days
 
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