What car should I get?

[WNigz]

Hey,

Got a question for everyone, what car should i get?

This is the current situation.
I need a car that is fuel efficent and cheap. Looking at about 4000 as my budget but wouldn't mind spending less. I would also have to consider insurance since I am 21 and a guy, insurance is going to be expensive. Been looking at a lot of civics, but around that price range they all have high mileage, can any suggest anything else?

Criteria:

1. $4k budget
2. Cheap on insurance
3. Fuel-efficient

Thanks,

[RideGuy]

I find Civic's to be overpriced. I think you can find better bang for the buck elsewhere.

Alternatives:
Mazda Protege
Nissan Sentra
Suzuki Esteem
You also might be able to find a newer Hyundai Elantra for $4000 as well. They are good cars with a low resale value.

You might want to pick up the Lemon-Aid Guild for used cars.


RideGuy

[TrevorK]

You'll be able to pickup a Cavalier/Sunfire in that price range that's fairly new (2000+).

Cheap parts, reliable. They aren't Lexus quality - but nothing in the $4000 price range is.

[justakid]

Volkswagen Jetta TDI

[Shaner]

You can get a fairly new Sunfire/Cavalier for $4,000 easily. Hell, the last year of production for those cars, they were selling for under $10,000 BRAND NEW!

My car has been great to me, it's a 2000 Sunfire SE. I have been looking into selling it as I want something else, and I would be lucky to get $2,500.

[RideGuy]

You'll be able to pickup a Cavalier/Sunfire in that price range that's fairly new (2000+).

Cheap parts, reliable. They aren't Lexus quality - but nothing in the $4000 price range is.
I forgot about the Cavalier. Our loaner car at work is a 2001 Cavalier with 320,000K. And still drives really well for what it is.


RideGuy

[NorthYorker]

Looking at about 4000 as my budget but wouldn't mind spending less. I would also have to consider insurance since I am 21 and a guy, insurance is going to be expensive. Been looking at a lot of civics, but around that price range they all have high mileage, can any suggest anything else?I'd say you should forget about Civics or any "cool" cars at all. They'll carry ungodly insurance rates and will be pretty much beaten up in your price range. So what does it leave us with? Either subcompact (read Tercel) or uncool compact (Esteem, Aerio, Cavalier sedan, Escort, maybe Sentra but avoid Neons although they are CHEAP) or "small midsizes" a-la old Altimas or old GMs (like Malibus or GrandAms). I'd say you may also find an amazing deal on something like Lumina or Impala which will most likely soldier on for dozen or more years and get cheap insurance for these cars but they're not eactly fuel misers. It may be good car if you're not putting like 30-40K/year, otherwise price of gas will outweight insurance savings.

[VivienM]

I'd say you may also find an amazing deal on something like Lumina or Impala which will most likely soldier on for dozen or more years and get cheap insurance for these cars but they're not eactly fuel misers. It may be good car if you're not putting like 30-40K/year, otherwise price of gas will outweight insurance savings.

Impalas are more fuel efficient than a lot of people think... :) especially on the highway. If you're doing a lot of city driving, it's a different story...

[tienm23]

Elantra's are a very good car for the money. Highly rated by Phil Edmundston in the Lemonade guide.

http://www.trader.ca/search/Results.asp?BFROM=1&BAD=N&BPRICE=N&BTYPE=D&BCAT=1&BOREGION=100&BYEAR1=&BYEAR2=&BPRICE1=&BPRICE2=4000&BKEYWORD=&BMAKE=721&BMODEL=ELANTRA&category=1&region=100&makeid=721&modelcode=18148&adcopy=&clienttype=D&multiphoto=N&SortBy=askprice&SortOrder=d&DisplayType=pictures&DisplayRowCount=48&mknm=721&mdnm=ELANTRA&subcategory=&CAT=1