Time to Buy a New Car

[Mr Light]

My 2003 Honda Accord never had a single problem... until starting six months ago and it's been an unceasing pain in the ass since, mainly involving the AC breaking and the engine overheating. Now there's a cracked head gasket that would take $2,300 to repair so the guy basically told me just trade it in and get a new car.

So I've been looking for the best car to buy right now. All I care about is cost and reliability. And that it's comfortable to sit in. That's all I care about. I want a reasonable price for something that isn't going to break down.

The names floating to the top of the lists I've been researching are the Ford Fusion (19,700) and the Toyota Prius (22,800).

Now the Prius is a hybrid. My sister is reluctant on that because the cost to repair them could be much more since its new technology. But it got a 10/10 on the reliability review.

Also, am I correct in understanding that you do NOT need to use an electric charging station with a hybrid? That it recharges its own battery with kinetic breaking and the gas motor?

So does anyone have any top picks, any opinions on the Fusion or the Prius? Thanks!

 

[Ood Sigma]

I have a Prius, and have since March 2005. In 5 1/2 years, I've put nearly 150,000 miles on it, and I have never had a single problem with it, either with the mechanics or the battery. I recently had to replace the serpentine belt as it had cracked, but that was caught during routine maintenance and cost < $100. All in all, I'd say it's incredibly reliable, much more so than any other cars I've have in the past. The gas mileage is great. Initially I would get 48-50 mpg in the summer, but this past summer it's been about 43-46. Still awesome though.

The Prius does not have to be plugged in at all. It operates the same as a regular car from that perspective. You described the recharging of the battery perfectly. Honestly the only thing you have to get used to is the car ceasing to make any noise after you've been stopped at a light for a few seconds. It sounds as if the car has died, but it's just the gas engine shutting off. You get used to it after a while.

 

[Warp Coil]

You are correct that the Prius does not have to be plugged in. The Prius does seem to be rated pretty well but I've heard stories that it isn't fun to drive. And of course, if you're looking for something with decent power and kick under the hood, the hybrid is not the best choice for you. Many have compared driving a Prius to driving an appliance. Gets you from point A to point B fine but it isn't a "fun" driving experience. I also don't think the Prius does well in winter weather. I've heard many stories about the Prius performing horribly in snow, and I've seen a few on the side of the road in winter due to this problem. So if you need something that can handle poor weather conditions, I'd do more research before you settle on it.

The Ford Fusion is getting rave reviews. The 2010 refresh was pretty substantial and Ford made a lot of improvements. I still think it looks a little dated style-wise, and it is bound to be replaced by an all-new model in a couple of years. Still, if you are in need of a car now, it's worth a look.

I'm fairly impressed with the 2011 Hyundai Sonata. Dramatic styling inside and out, tons of features, good gas mileage, and very positive reviews. I haven't driven one but I'd at least consider it.

I'm not really sure what your price range is exactly - how much are you willing to spend? And are you specifically looking for sedans or would you consider something else? Do you like hatchbacks? Crossovers? Do you specifically want good fuel economy (hence looking at a Prius)? What is your criteria, more specifically?

 

[RoJoHen]

How tall are you? I know that when I bought my last two cars that I had to cross a lot of things off the list because they just weren't designed for my long legs. Ford Fusions were one of those cars. Plus, they're everywhere. Everyone and their mother owns a Ford Fusion nowadays.

I just bought a Chevy HHR. It's definitely got a different look, but it was cheap and extremely comfortable to drive. There's so much leg room! Plus, it's more like a wagon, so it has extra storage in the back, and it gets great mileage. I love it.

 

[propita]

That's one thing that people don't think about when looking at cars: driver height.

Hubby and I have a not-too-uncommon problem, differing heights. I'm 5' 1". He's 6' 1". We both have to compromise. He loses leg room somewhat (he's got a longish body and long legs) and we both get imperfect sight-lines.

But he's liking the Subaru Forrester.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ I thought of the Forrester when I went carshopping but I decided I liked the Honda CR-V better. It was more comfortable and had better controls.

Light, do you need a good *winter* car? That's another thing I like about my CR-V, it's great on snowy roads with the automatic AWD. Priuses (Prii?) don't have that, do they?

 

[Captain Ice]

If you're looking at the Prius, then I suggest that you also look at the hybrid version of the Fusion/Milan.

I also agree on the recommendations for the HHR and Sonata, both are relatively roomy (though in different ways) and fuel efficient. If you get the HHR, y9ou should get one with the larger engine as the base engine is a little underpowered.

 

[CaptainStoner]

Even for the labor intensive head gasket, $2300 sounds astronomical.
Christ you could probably get a whole new engine for less. If you like the car, shop the repair around.

^ that Chevy HHR looks real nice. Love the slightly retro styling.

 

[RoJoHen]

Even for the labor intensive head gasket, $2300 sounds astronomical.
Christ you could probably get a whole new engine for less. If you like the car, shop the repair around.

That's one reason I traded my car in. It was getting to the point where it was probably going to need regular repairs, and I figured the money would have been better spent on a new car instead.

^ that Chevy HHR looks real nice. Love the slightly retro styling.

Yeah, the style intrigued me, and then I took it for a test drive and thought it was awesome.

 

[SVD]

I'd get my hands on one or more of these books from Consumer Reports, and buy one of the cars that get their top ratings and best reviews.

 

[Guartho]

That's one reason I traded my car in. It was getting to the point where it was probably going to need regular repairs, and I figured the money would have been better spent on a new car instead.

Did you do the math on that? You can do a *lot* of repairs for $20,000 cash or $450/month. I don't think I've spent more than $1500 on repairs total for my entire adult life (10 years) and I've never owned a vehicle with less than 110,000 miles on it in that time.

By those numbers, I've spent less than $13 a month maintaining cars.

 

[RoJoHen]

$1500 total? I had to spend $1400 in one shot last year just to fix my breaks.

My new car was only $9000.

 

[BolianAuthor]

I would also seriously consider the Fusion hybrid... I have heard some very good reviews about the Fusion's build quality, ride comfort, and performance.

 

[Guartho]

$1500 total? I had to spend $1400 in one shot last year just to fix my breaks.

My new car was only $9000.

My mistake, I thought you bought a brand-new car so I averaged the prices the OP mentioned for the new cars he's looking at.

What was wrong with your brakes? Did you have to replace all the discs/drums or something?

 

[Jetfire]

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0903_2010_chevrolet_cruze_drive/index.html

Looks like a fun car.

 

[Ood Sigma]

You are correct that the Prius does not have to be plugged in. The Prius does seem to be rated pretty well but I've heard stories that it isn't fun to drive. And of course, if you're looking for something with decent power and kick under the hood, the hybrid is not the best choice for you. Many have compared driving a Prius to driving an appliance. Gets you from point A to point B fine but it isn't a "fun" driving experience. I also don't think the Prius does well in winter weather. I've heard many stories about the Prius performing horribly in snow, and I've seen a few on the side of the road in winter due to this problem. So if you need something that can handle poor weather conditions, I'd do more research before you settle on it.

Opinions vary, of course, but I find it extremely fun to drive my Prius, even after all these years. No, it doesn't have a ton of power, but I've never been in a situation where it didn't have enough power to do what I needed.

I've also driven it in winter, and found that it's no worse than a regular car. The only concern I have with it is that sometimes the traction control has trouble kicking in, usually after a rain storm when the road is wet. I imagine driving on ice could be slippery too, but if you drive slowly and carefully, you should be OK.

 

[Tribbles]

Mr. Light, I know next to nothing about automobiles, but I just got a Toyota Solara and love it. It's a sportier version of the Camry, which is also very reliable-- my husband has a Camry and it runs great.

All the manly men in my family grunted in approval when they checked the Solara's engine, so I think it must be pretty good.

 

[RoJoHen]

$1500 total? I had to spend $1400 in one shot last year just to fix my breaks.

My new car was only $9000.

My mistake, I thought you bought a brand-new car so I averaged the prices the OP mentioned for the new cars he's looking at.

What was wrong with your brakes? Did you have to replace all the discs/drums or something?

And rotors. It was a shock, to be sure. It was at that moment that I decided that as soon as something else broke, it was time to search for a new car. Then, a couple months ago, the battery died and a headlight went out. Small things, I know, but it was enough to motivate me to get rid of it.

 

[Canadave]

I also don't think the Prius does well in winter weather. I've heard many stories about the Prius performing horribly in snow, and I've seen a few on the side of the road in winter due to this problem. So if you need something that can handle poor weather conditions, I'd do more research before you settle on it.

I've also driven it in winter, and found that it's no worse than a regular car. The only concern I have with it is that sometimes the traction control has trouble kicking in, usually after a rain storm when the road is wet. I imagine driving on ice could be slippery too, but if you drive slowly and carefully, you should be OK.

The biggest thing about driving in winter is tires, anyway. I think the Prius is FWD, so with decent snow tires, I can't imagine it would be bad in winter conditions.

 

[Mr Light]

I'm about 6'1" so having enough leg room is definitely important. I live in Pennsylvania but we only get 5-10 snow days a year and I live two blocks away from work, so I dunno how important a concern snow is.

Price range... I can afford a new car but I'm a cheap bastard and don't want to spend unnecessarily. That said I do want a new car because it's all about avoiding hassles and breakdowns and repairs. I just a four door car with leg room that isn't going to break down and is sensibly priced. I don't care about engine power or look or style or anything like that.