Help me solve my car buying woes!!!!!!!

[jserio]

i recently bought a 2009 Corrolla LE. (we have bout 3k on it now). it has been an awesome little car. i didn't exactly get hosed in the deal but i am upside down but thats due to the fact i was upside down in my trade-in car. but i was constantly wrenching on the car i traded it. so, sure you can look at it like i pay $450 a month for a car that i should be paying less for. but i'm paying for my peace of mind. i looked at the civics as well. but the civic was a bit smaller on the inside than my toyota. i needed the little bit of extra room for my family. otherwise, i may have bought the civic instead. i don't think you can go wrong with either honda you buy. so many people say don't buy new because you'll lose money. that may be true, but only if you plan on keeping the car a short time. if you plan on having it for a long, long time, i think you win in the end. honda's and toyotas are at the top as far as resale unless i'm mistaken. i never would have pictured myself owning a toyota but after we test drove ours, it had to come home with us! and there really is nothing like that new car feeling/smell. best of luck to you! 

[Juan1]

They hold the public hostage as well. The friggin' police and firefighter unions here in Oregon absolutley fleece us constantly. I hate unions as well.

I hate unions because I want to be uninsured, work 7 days a week, and I want to earn less money.  I love being hostage to my employer!

Back to the topic, I would stay away from the Si.  The engine is great, but its in a front wheel drive car, so there is no point.  

[jserio]

i don't work 7 days a week. i have insurance. (sure i pay for it but i have it, i've known people who pay more than me). and i make a decent wage. i provide for my family. i'm happy with my employeer. and we're non-union. (i'm a machinist for Crown Equipment, forklift maker, if you're curious. ) 

on topic though, why do you say that engine is pointless in a front wheel drive car?  i have previoulsy owned 2 hondas: a 1993 civic and a 1989 accord. both had well over 200k on them when i parted ways with them. and both ran reasonably well for such high mileage.

[TheGoodGuy]

Well the Si actually can put its power down very well. The 200 hp runs through a limited slip, so its not like the power goes to waste. Sure its not a RWD, but I have seen some videos of it on Youtube doing 100mph in like 4th gear and it does 0-60 in 6.5 seconds, yeah its slower than our gs500 but not bad for an econobox.

I still think the EX-L is a better value, but a part of me really likes the darn Si.. gosh I wish i was in a perfect world, I would drop the Si engine and drive train into the EX-L

[Jay_wolf]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___03-LANCER-EVOLUTION-TURBO-4X4-SUNROOF_W0QQitemZ280267945406QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20TrucksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item280267945406&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1308&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245#lg

cant get over how cheap they are

2 litre turbo. 26 mpg..  4 wheel drive ABS  2003 .. Sexxxxy Looks!

[bikejunkie223]

They hold the public hostage as well. The friggin' police and firefighter unions here in Oregon absolutley fleece us constantly. I hate unions as well.

I hate unions because I want to be uninsured, work 7 days a week, and I want to earn less money.  I love being hostage to my employer!

Back to the topic, I would stay away from the Si.  The engine is great, but its in a front wheel drive car, so there is no point.  

I'm non-union, have insurance, make a good wage and don't work 7 days a week so not sure where you are going with that one- I shouldn't have to pay a portion of my salary to somebody to hold the employers feet to the fire. It's called a free market and you should be worth what you can negotiate, if you need better insurance or more pay be a man and negotiate it yourself, or find a different job that gives you what you want or feel you deserve. workers shouldn't be owed anything because some union boss can make production stop if they aren't given what they want.

As for your second point- you clearly have never driven either a modern Honda, modern front wheel drive car, and defenitely not an Si. It's a fast car, that corners very well, is very comfortable, and fits in any parking space. that's the point.

[Revere2]

"Good Guy"..............you remember all that I typed...............it's important...........

[manofthefield]

One car that wasn't on your list is the Saturn Astra.  Maybe it's not what you're looking for though, as everything on your list seems to be a sedan.

It's really caught my attention, though I'm sure it doesn't have the reliability of the Honda.  But it does have good looks, uniqueness, and great handling.

[theUBS]

FYI unions are what's killing the big 3, not their unwillingness to change.
I effen hate Unions.

I don't actually remember when Unions used to be for good things, but they were at some point...
Got this at the Milwaukee Ale House:


Now on topic.  I bought a 1987 Honda Accord lxi for $300.  I got all the fluids changed and put a new front axle in it to take care of the CV joint/boot problem that does seem to plague Hondas.  Some say it's ugly.  I have the sunroof duct taped.  I care not about its appearance because I've been very blessed in that it keeps running! (Knock, knock)  Next month I'll have had that Accord for 6 years!!!  SIX years, and no car payment!   

[makenzie71]

I also dig WRX's...but I got to thinking about it and I figured out that I like anything that isn't the same goofy looking Honda/Scion that's on every corner right now.

[bettingpython]

If I was buying a boy racer toy it would definately be a scooby.

[CanukGS500]

After reading the OP's post, I would like to suggest the following additional 2 options:

1) Dodge Caliber SRT4 - from a performance standpoint, it crushes the Si nomatter what the civic nutswingers or Car and Ricer..erm...Driver, say about it.  You can get nav and still be < 27k OTD.
2) Subaru WRX 4-door sedan with spoiler delete.  You'll lose the "boy racer" look and get more of a "sporty sedan" look with the delete, and even though getting nav and other options may take you over your 27k OTD price, if you live anywhere that actually has a real winter (read: snow), the AWD comes in handy.  For me, id would be using AWD a lot more often than the nav.

[bombadillo]

Honda, or Subaru if you're buying new, but seriously as stated over and over why buy new.  Buy a 2-3 year old car and let someone take the hurt of buying new.  You're more than likely going to get something that just as nice if you have time and can be picky.  I'd go civic SI 4 door if you can do an 07 with nav, and six speed.  To my knowledge, I don't think you have to put premium in those but I could be wrong.  Stay away from VW, BMW, Volvo, Jag, and other euro makes if you want something that will actually start when you want it to.  Not saying those cars aren't nice, but they flat have nowhere near the reliability of the honda/toyota cars on the road.  I'd look at toyota as well but you said it was out.  How about a scion TC.  Fun little cars with a 2.4 liter camry motor in it that will go forever and get decent gas mileage.  Just watch what you're expecting because if in reality you're expecting 30mpg, you're shooting way too high if you're not going for a honda fit, toyota echo/yaris, or corolla.  None, NONE in reality will get that kind of mileage unless you're highway all the time.  For real fuel econ. values, go to www.fueleconomy.gov  its a great site.

[The Buddha]

I am with UBS ... I paid a whopping 800 for a nissan paid $200 for fixing the calipers and other BS, may need a tire shortly but 40 clicks to the gal, cold AC and nice and peppy, and that car in 1 month has saved me $400 in gas alone. As long as it runs ... I'm happy ... knock on wood. I may paint it in 2-3 months and its POSiness will reduce by 40% ... atleast.

BTW UBS, there is a school of thought about being drunk while working with tools ... people who are classically factory workers sometimes are very against it, the potential for accidents are too great. In fact during one of our great weekend trashes last year, 3 drunks who had never split a motor case swore that all bolts were out and watched as the only non drunk member of the team used a bolt and a power tool against one of the bearing points in the case 1/2 ... only to split it in 1/2 ... and then we find that the bolts under the alternator were still in ... jeez, that was a bad night. Being drunk definetly has its disadvantages ... though I only do things I done a 100 times when I have had any alchohol ... and I dont drink more than 1 beer and 1 wine by myself.
But I can see the danger in being drunk at a factory. I do desk work, and bike BS is my way of unwinding ... drinking is OK in that context.
Cool.
Buddha.

[TheGoodGuy]

From my multiple poll at multiple sites.. the general concensous is that I either get another car or get the EX-L

With gas prices on the way up ($25 increase per barrel yesterday) .. i think its more prudent getting a bit more fuel efficiency. My old Focus gave me 31mpg and was doing that on the streets too. (but thats my driving style).. Any case looks like its teh EX-L that's teh winner. (at least for now).

[theUBS]

Chances are, you'll be happy with the EX-L.  I'm sure I'd enjoy driving a new one myself--if I didn't get anal about every new scuff, scratch, and rattle.  My car?  I expect that.  It's just part of the experience.  Enjoy the fresh smell if you decide to buy new.  Just keep in mind it'll wear off.

[theUBS]

BTW UBS, there is a school of thought about being drunk while working with tools ... people who are classically factory workers sometimes are very against it, the potential for accidents are too great. In fact during one of our great weekend trashes last year, 3 drunks who had never split a motor case swore that all bolts were out and watched as the only non drunk member of the team used a bolt and a power tool against one of the bearing points in the case 1/2 ... only to split it in 1/2 ... and then we find that the bolts under the alternator were still in ... jeez, that was a bad night. Being drunk definetly has its disadvantages ... though I only do things I done a 100 times when I have had any alchohol ... and I dont drink more than 1 beer and 1 wine by myself.
But I can see the danger in being drunk at a factory. I do desk work, and bike BS is my way of unwinding ... drinking is OK in that context.
Cool.
Buddha.

The only times beer/alcohol seemed to help me was when I was at the bowling alley, or the pool hall.  And at that, there was a very fine line to walk!  Just enough to take an edge off.  I just thought it was humorous the change that society has gone through.  Now it's all about benefits, wages, and working conditions.  Back then, beer was the union mandate!

[bikejunkie223]

The only times beer/alcohol seemed to help me was when I was at the bowling alley, or the pool hall. 

I believe that's called aiming fluid...

[theUBS]

The only times beer/alcohol seemed to help me was when I was at the bowling alley, or the pool hall.

I believe that's called aiming fluid...

...I guess I shouldn't forget darts... 

[makenzie71]

Odds are if you completely disregarded everyone's advice to get a different car all together and are still leaning toward a Honda then you likely didn't need to ask us this question.