Massive reply dump ahead. And on a side note, what the heck happened to green cars? I mean the color, not hybrid stuff. I looked at like 4 or 5 websites and the closest I could find to green in paint choices was this garish neon yellow-green/lime (and usually called something silly and non-descriptive like "electrolyte"). Not that it would make or break a decision, I would certainly like to see a nice forest or emerald green now and again.
@pr1mus said:
Are you buying new or used?
If new just start going around the different car dealership and look at the cheaper models they have and start educating yourself on the specifics once you've narrowed it down to a few models you like.
I've got a 2008 Hyundai Accent. That's definitely on the cheaper end and it's going through its fifth winter up here in Canada and i haven't had much in the way of problems with it so far.
New, most likely. I've actually been looking at Hyundais, my mom recently got a Santa Fe and it's pretty nice. I know how rough winters up north can be on cars, so the fact that yours is holding up well is a good sign.
I strongly recommend looking up JD Power reliability/dependability ratings when buying used vehicles. JD Power's own website isn't the easiest to navigate so I recommend just going to autos.aol.com, search the model of car and year, then go into the reliability tab under the ratings and reviews category on the vehicle's page.
In order to save money on maintenance, it's best to spend a little more on a proven reliable model of car than to go cheap on the purchasing price and wind up with a car that costs $500+ per year just to keep running. Dependable cars manufactured in the last ten years that fit your description are Toyota Echo/Yaris/Matrix/Rav-4, Honda Civic and CR-V. I have an '03 Toyota Echo, and while it looks dorky as hell, thing is a goddamn tank as far as powertrain reliability goes. 30mpg in city without mods is nice too.
Stay away from cheap american trash. <--- personal bias. :D
edit---- Also, Nissan makes some solid cars too. I don't know specific models though. My brother had an Altima he drove for, I think, 400k or so before getting a new one. He only switched because he had the rear bumper dented in a fender bender and that totaled it as far as insurance company was concerned.
Thanks, I hadn't thought to check out JD Power, but looking now it seems like a very good resource. And that's some good advice regarding maintenance stuff.
What is your budget? Because I can't really recommend cars If I don't know what you are willing to spend.
I'm thinking somewhere in the $15-25,000 range.
A potential budget would be a good starting point, as well as a class of car you'll looking for. You have an Explorer now, is an SUV something you'd like to continue using or are you open to something else?
If mileage, price, and features are a concern, I'd recommend looking at something like a Ford Fiesta or Kia Rio. They're cheap, relatively versatile, and fun to drive. More so for the Ford Focus and Kia Forte, though those are slightly more expensive as they are a class above the former models.
Really though, shop around. Look up a bunch of different manufacturers and models, look around locally, and see what piques your interest. Your purchase will most likely reflect what you think works best for you and not necessarily what is best all-around.
The main reason I'm driving an Explorer right now is just because it's what my Dad bought back around 95, who then passed it down to my older sister when she learned to drive and then to me when I learned. I don't mind driving an SUV (in fact, I think one of the only times I've ever driven anything that WASN'T a minivan or SUV was when I took my license test), and it certainly came in handy a few times when I was at college in upstate New York. But the fuel economy left a lot to be desired and the weather isn't quite as demanding in Washington DC as it was in Rochester, so something on the smaller side probably makes more sense now.
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