Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute?

[bunnycat]

Hubs has decided he wants to start shopping a little earlier than planned for a new car. I was thinking later this year or early next but he's already researching.

I haven't car shopped in many years, and we've currently got a 99 Honda CR-V with 112K on it. I'm a Honda girl at heart, but HATE the look of the newer CR-V's and have never really been happy with the gas mileage on them. I love the reliability and have gotten used to the extra storage/hauling space that they have and don't want to give that up. I also am not a person who likes to change cars a lot. As you can see from the mileage, I stick with one thing for long periods of time, so reliability is a must. I am also the driver. Hubs vision is such that he can't drive but I absolutely want us to both like the next car we get and he is having so much fun doing research.

Does anyone have any suggestions for cars to look at or have any experience with any of the ones listed below? Reliability is one of the biggest ones for me, because I don't like to change cars out. Affordability is also a factor (budget is up to $25K or so). Good to excellent fuel economy and good visibility for me, because I am short and have a hard time seeing out the back. In an ideal world, we'd like to have something that doesn't look too cookie cutter, this is less important than reliability for me at least.

So some cars we've got on the shortlist so far are:

Honda Fit- good visibility, hauling space, very reliable, reasonable gas mileage, affordable....not very cute....but I'm a Honda girl, so could be easily talked in to it because I am used to and like Hondas.

Mini Cooper or Mini Cooper Clubman- Hands down winner on the cuteness factor! We both love the look. Gas mileage about the same as Honda Fit...but only rates as barely average on reliability and though this doesn't daunt hubs, it really puts me off. Storage space on the Clubman is reasonable, but this car doesn't have a lot of data on it.

Toyota Prius or Prius C- Hands down winner for gas mileage. Looks nice, seems reliable from what we've read, same price range as the Clubman...so why am I only moderately interested in it???? The look of the Mini Cooper still has me hooked, I think...

 

[iheartscience]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

My friend has had terrible luck with her Mini. She's had to make multiple repairs, including replacing the transmission, and parts are super expensive on them. It may be a fluke but after her experience I would never get a Mini!

I'm a big Toyota and Subaru fan myself. I have several friends with Priuses and have rented one myself, and if I were going to get a car I would get a Prius. (I had a Toyota Camry I sold after I moved to a city with great public transportation, and am partial to Toyotas due to their reliability. Prior to that Camry I had another Camry that I drove until a drink driver totaled it while it was parked.) My husband has a Subaru Outback that's been great-very reliable and nice to drive.

I also have 2 friends with the Honda Fit and it is SMALL. Definitely feels smaller than the Prius.

 

[iheartscience]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

Have you checked out Consumer Reports? They've never steered me and my family wrong when it comes to cars!

 

[kenny]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

Honda Fit.

All things considered, MPG, price, reliability, resale value, roominess, cargo carrying flexibility, it's probably the best car available.

Look how the bottom of the rear seats fold UP!

 

[bunnycat]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

Thanks thing2of2!

yes- as I said, hubs went full tilt into research mode and has been reading Consumer Reports every night the last 2 weeks.

Thank you for the input into the Mini. He does has a friend with one and is going to ask about reliability but expensive to fix is a big downside for me.

I know we are going to really seriously look at the Prius. We both like it and I think part of my ambivalence is liking the look of the Mini so much and also that I like Hondas and they are kind of my "fallback" car where I go to out of habit. It's good to know you think the Fit feels smaller inside than the Prius, so that's something I need to consider because I am enjoying the hauling space I have. Coincidentally, a friend with a Prius say she loves it and can fit tons of stuff in it, which surprised me.

 

[bunnycat]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

Honda Fit.

All things considered, MPG, price, reliability, resale value, roominess, cargo carrying flexibility, it's probably the best car available.

Look how the bottom of the rear seats fold UP!

Thanks Kenny! Honda is always my "safety blanket" kind of car.

 

[bunnycat]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

Kenny- when looking at the Fit, most people recommend the Sport package. Does the Fit have some sort of iPhone or Bluetooth connection on it?

 

[rubyshoes]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

I've seen a lot of Honda Fits and I think they are so adorable! Very cute car and we owned a Honda Civic ages ago so I am familiar with Honda quality.

We bought a new car exactly a year ago and I remember test-driving the Mini Cooper Clubman. We thought it looked really cute but ultimately it was not for us. I can't put my finger on it and say why we didn't like it... we just didn't. Also, I really don't know much about Mini Coopers in terms of how trustworthy they are etc. I don't know a lot about the brand.

Toyota Prius we didn't even test-drive. I really dislike the look and how a car looks matters to me... But I will say, I know MANY people who own this car and they absolutely love it. I haven't met a single Prius owner who regretted their purchase so that says a lot to me.

We test drove a lot of cars - Honda Element (I LOVED! Husband didn't plus they're not making any more), Scion (neither liked the feel of driving it), Nissan Rogue (we really, really liked this one! It was like a smaller Murano.), VW Jetta TDI (really liked but not sure how we feel about VW), a Merc SUV, a BMW SUV and the-

Subaru Impreza - this one really blew us away and we ended up buying a brand new one. What we liked a lot was gas mileage (36 mpg!), storage space, the Subaru name (very, very reliable), all wheel drive which is so great in our Chicago winters, very comfortable, and it looks nice too. We got ours in Venetian Red Pearl - it's a gorgeous, rich red that looks so lovely especially in the snow. We named him Yukio Chan.

The thing I've noticed about Subarus is that some people love them and some people just do not like them for whatever reason. It's the one Japanese brand that comes with preconceived notions, unlike say Hondas, Toyotas and Nissans. When we bought ours, a friend actually made a face and said "Oh, so you're a lesbian professor from the Pacific Northwest?" I'm like... okay... whatever. It's like some people think if you don't live in Oregon, why are you getting a Subaru? Which imo is the stupidest thing I ever heard. <rant over>

Anyway, good luck with your search! It is so exciting to buy a new car, is it not?

 

[rubyshoes]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

Have you checked out Consumer Reports? They've never steered me and my family wrong when it comes to cars!

This. It's an awesome resource. Helped us a lot in our search.

 

[kenny]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

Kenny- when looking at the Fit, most people recommend the Sport package. Does the Fit have some sort of iPhone or Bluetooth connection on it?

This links below says Bluetooth is "available" with the Sport model with Navigation (available means you can get it but you have to pay extra).
The following are all standard on the Sporty one:



http://automobiles.honda.com/fit/specifications.aspx

 

[Clairitek]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

I LOVE my 2012 Mazda3 Hatchback. I bought the regular model because it gets STELLAR fuel mileage. In the summers in CA I was getting 36 mpg average with an average speed of 30 mph and in the Utah winters I'm getting 32. I paid for the "moon and tune" moonroof and Bose stereo package and I cannot begin to describe how much I adore my stereo. It's fantastic. It drives very solidly for it's price point. I used to drive a 2004 Honda Civic and this Mazda feels much more... expensive. It doesn't feel like a cheap, light car. I paid under your budget with tax and the upgrade. It's insanely convenient owning a hatchback. I can fit an amazing amount of stuff in it, too. Two bikes? No problem. 5 cases of wine, two cats, two suitcases of clothes, and 2-3 large bags of kitchen and home items during my move? No problem. I even had space to spare in the front seat. I am a DIY junkie so I knew I would need something that could sustain a trip to Home Depot coming back filled with plywood and other large stuff. I can also fit a small round dining table and 4 chairs with the seats down.

I think it's a cute car, too. Sporty looking without looking too harsh or agressive. The interior has held up well to my 8 months of abuse so far. I am not kind to my cars. I've found that it handles well for a front wheel drive car in snow. I've endured several large storms in SLC so far this winter and not once lost traction. Then again, I'm cautious and slow and don't slam on the breaks or gas in slippery conditions, but my point is I've made it safely in this car while I've seen a lot of smaller hatchbacks (Honda Fits, little Nissans) stuck on hills.

I saw you asked about Bluetooth- I think that is standard with the Mazda3. I have it in my car and I'm certain it wasn't part of the upgrade package I bought.

ETA: I read more of this thread and wanted to comment on the Mini Cooper Clubman. I've sat in the back of one of those. Not nearly as much space as the Mazda. I even think the Fit has more legroom in the back as well as more cargo space.

 

[Malbec54]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

Definitely cannot go wrong with a Honda or a Mazda IMO...

I owned a Mini Cooper base model in 2005; loved it, although I hated the way it shifted. Great on gas and was a super solid car with heavy doors and a lot of room. Actually made money when I sold it.

Fast forward to 2012, I purchased a Mini Roadster convertible S. I actually met my fiance while picking up my vehicle and he was buying a Countryman. I really enjoyed driving my fiance's countryman, but aspects of the interior looked and felt cheap to me....
Again, Mini's are solid and sturdy cars with great gas mileage, and are super cute.
Drawbacks are that they are expensive to maintain if something breaks (I paid $347 plus for a new tire because of a nail) and it's $85 and change to rotate your tires, but the trade-off is worth it for my life-style.

 

[bunnycat]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

Thanks for the extra info and recs! Keep 'em coming, we're still in "open" mode. I'm adding a few more to the research list, including (I can't believe I'm saying this) a Hyundai Veloster....yes, Hyundai....any thoughts???

Thanks for the extra Honda specs Kenny, I'm sure hubby has it all down, but I haven't done as much in depth reading as he has.

I don't think I actually need Bluetooth, but I DO need some sort of connection for our iPhones (USB, I guess). Neither of us listen to CD's much anymore but I do need need my Golden Era Argentine Tango music on tap at all times. It's hard to make it through a lengthy drive without my Biaggi or Rodriguez.

It is very exciting going car shopping. I suck at negotiation though.

 

[jazzoboe]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

Well, I wasn't going to reply since what we have doesn't seem to be what you're looking for exactly, but since you brought up hyundai...

We have a hyundia genesis coupe and a kia forte... I realize neither of these are the type of car I think you want, but I will say we have been very happy with both of them. They are very reliable and budget friendly (both fell well below your max budget) and kia and hyundia both offer the same fantastic warranty. My kia also came with free oil changes for life, which rocks. Both cars also have bluetooth and USB ports.

Before we bought the genesis, my DH was driving a 2001 hyundia sonata that we bought from my mom (who bought a kia forte hatchback about a month after i got mine lol), and aside from an occasionally squeaky belt that the mechanic never could figure out, it really had very few issues over the years. It would have lasted a few more years for sure.

So long story short, I wouldn't rule out hyundai, even though they are certainly not the most glamorous brand. But buy whatever makes you happy!

 

[Gypsy]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

I have a Mazda 3 as well. Not the hatchback, though now that I've seen and been in Clairetek's I would totally go for one. The car's been great. It's MUCH more fun to drive than a Honda. And miles better than a Toyota. I made the mistake of leaving my husband alone after I negotiated the pricing, and he upgraded me to the larger engine so I'm not getting great gas mileage. But on the plus side, I think I terrified the sales person so much he gave us a great deal on the engine upgrade. So... it worked out.

Another thing I like about Mazda's is all the standard features. It bugs the heck out of me to have to negotiate things like 'power door locks" as 'upgrades'. NO. It's 2013 folks your base model needs to include a certain minimum of things. Last time I was in Honda all the nickle and diming was so bad, I actually just walked out. Toyota was just as bad. At Mazda all the basic convenience features come standard. And frankly I think that's the way it needs to be. Don't sit there an dicker with me about power windows, and door locks, ABS breaks, and (god help me) power steering.

My mother in law has has great luck with Hyundai. We looked at them. They are nicely loaded, have a great warranty and are very well priced. I think they are a bore to drive, but in terms of bang for buck they have been a good value.

 

[Gypsy]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

Regarding tires.

Buy your tires from Costco. If you get a flat and they can't fix it, they'll just replace it for your free of charge, immediately.

 

[bunnycat]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

Regarding tires.

Buy your tires from Costco. If you get a flat and they can't fix it, they'll just replace it for your free of charge, immediately.

Hmmm...perhaps a good reason to join Costco....

 

[rubyshoes]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

Regarding tires.

Buy your tires from Costco. If you get a flat and they can't fix it, they'll just replace it for your free of charge, immediately.

Hmmm...perhaps a good reason to join Costco....

We got our car at a good price because of Costco We asked Costco for a quote for a Subaru Impreza with the details we wanted. Then we called up the Subaru dealership where we'd test-driven and asked them if they would price-match. If they didn't, we'd buy from Costco. They did, and we got a great price on our car. A friend recently bought his Honda Pilot through Costco and he says he saved $3000. So it is definitely worth checking with them.

 

[zoebartlett]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

I could have written your post, except that I'm your husband in this case. We're talking about new cars and I've already begun researching (although we won't be buying anything for at least a year or so). I prefer Toyotas but I've heard good things about the Mazda3, the Hyundai Elantra, the Nissan Altima and Rogue, and the Subaru Outback. Of those, if I was to look, I'd focus on the Outback and the Rogue. Hyundai's reputation has been more positive over the years than it used to be but I'd prefer to focus on cars that have been consistently reliable. Subarus and Toyotas have that, for me.

I don't know how you feel about compact sedans but I have a Toyota Corolla and I love it. It's just the right size for me (I have the same issues with being very short and having a hard time seeing out the back of certain cars). I've been told that they've redesigned it for the 2014 model, which will be considered the 12th generation (or 11th, hmmm, can't remember) of Corollas. They say it's going to be like a baby Camry. Great gas mileage, visibility, all the things you listed, plus, the newer models are said to be much more roomy than the '05 Corolla that I have.

There's also the Toyota Rav4. This is the other car I'm considering if I don't get another Corolla. Sitting higher up helps with the visibility issue. They got rid of the spare tire on the newest model and they're beautiful. There's plenty of room, too, without it feeling like a boat. I actually prefer the back window of the Rav4 to that of the CR-V. I feel like I'm looking through a porthole whenever I drive my mom's CR-V. This is a less practical option if you don't need the extra space. Gas mileage is more of an issue, but if you already drive a small SUV, then I'm guessing it's not a deal breaker.

My husband loves his Prius but he's not as wowed by the fuel economy as he thought he'd be. The tank is smaller so he's still filling up once a week or so. He does have a longish commute to work (about 50 minutes one way). There is plenty of room in the Prius. It's bigger inside than you'd think, judging from the outside.

I'll be excited to read when you've decided on what to get. Good luck searching and have fun!

 

[zoebartlett]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

Rubyshoes, I loved that you named your car Yukio Chan. I wasn't familiar with the name (but I loved it) so I googled it. Apparently it's the name of a Japanese anime character. Fun!

I agree about Subarus. You'll find that people either love them or hate them. I had an Impreza that I bought from a family friend when it was about 4 years old. I drove it for a few years before trading it in for my new Corolla in '04. I loved that it had AWD (although some would say this is a negative). I heard that Subarus are expensive and you don't get the same great trade-in value as you would with Hondas or Toyotas. While I did find those things to be true, I really liked my Impreza.

Clairitek, I'm glad you like your Mazda3. I don't see many of those on the road (I feel like I'm in Subaru, Toyota, and Honda land). I'm considering test driving one when we get closer to buying something. I know you love your hatchback, but did you consider the sedan, too? If so, what made you choose the hatchback?

 

[amc80]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

Check out the Chevy Equinox. They get good MPG and will give you the room you've come to enjoy.

 

[JulieN]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

Those Cooper repairs and maintenance are very expensive.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

I pretty much stick to Toyota, Honda, Mazda, and Subaru when shopping. My last car was the Subaru Outback but I found it a little too small. The new ones are larger inside, though. It is a good reliable car. I now have a 2013 Toyota Venza and love it. My daughters both have Toyota Corollas and they get terrific gas mileage and they last a long time. We did look at Mazda 3's when we were looking at the Corolla's, but we got a better deal on the new Corolla. I just think the Honda Fit is too tiny. I'd go for the Civic over the Fit anyday.

Oh, and we always use Consumer Reports and ONLY consider cars with excellent reliability!

 

[bunnycat]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

Thank y'all for the extra info and recommendations. We've broadened the search a little and expanded in to Mazda and a few others.

We're both starting to shy away from the Cooper now (but it's just so darn cute... )

We've looked at a lot of online specs and now we're going to need to hit the pavement and start visiting some places.

 

[JulieN]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

How about the Ford Fiesta or Focus? I drove the Fiesta from SoCal to SF and back, and it is very fun... My dad drove the same route in the Focus (both rentals) and he liked it. 40 mpg.

 

[Clairitek]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

I have a Mazda 3 as well. Not the hatchback, though now that I've seen and been in Clairetek's I would totally go for one. The car's been great. It's MUCH more fun to drive than a Honda. And miles better than a Toyota. I made the mistake of leaving my husband alone after I negotiated the pricing, and he upgraded me to the larger engine so I'm not getting great gas mileage. But on the plus side, I think I terrified the sales person so much he gave us a great deal on the engine upgrade. So... it worked out.

Another thing I like about Mazda's is all the standard features. It bugs the heck out of me to have to negotiate things like 'power door locks" as 'upgrades'. NO. It's 2013 folks your base model needs to include a certain minimum of things. Last time I was in Honda all the nickle and diming was so bad, I actually just walked out. Toyota was just as bad. At Mazda all the basic convenience features come standard. And frankly I think that's the way it needs to be. Don't sit there an dicker with me about power windows, and door locks, ABS breaks, and (god help me) power steering.

My mother in law has has great luck with Hyundai. We looked at them. They are nicely loaded, have a great warranty and are very well priced. I think they are a bore to drive, but in terms of bang for buck they have been a good value.

This is one of the reasons I chose the Mazda over the Ford Focus hatchback (they're actually built on the same platform). The Ford just didn't come with as much standard and the price was almost identical. Blew my mind!

A warning about Fits, and this might have been changed... My friend's husband (actually this friend is another PSer) has a Fit for 3 years and was always needing new tires and they're this tiny specialty size that's a total pain in the rear to buy anywhere else buy Honda. They own a Prius now, instead. After several times buying insanely tiny but insanely expensive (for the size) tires and some other stuff they gave up and got rid of it. If I recall correctly, they also mentioned that they felt it was underpowered so it really didn't get the fuel mileage you'd expect with such a compact vehicle. Just not as efficient as other options out there, IMO.

 

[FrekeChild]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

When we found out I was pregnant, we had to buy a car, as both of our cars were 2 door. Our first pick was the Honda Fit, second being the Honda Civic.

We left with a Honda CR-V. The car we traded in was a VW Rabbit. We test drove the fit--sure, the seat folding features were great...but the actual cargo capacity sucked. We went with the CR-V because we figured we would need a carseat in the backseat, and we needed to have room for two medium-large dogs in the back. What sense does it make to have a car that won't fit everyone in our family at once?

It's hard to let go of the cargo space once you have it. We will need to have it again when we get our next car.

I miss the VW. But I love the CR-V. And I'm a Honda girl too. I totally feel your pain as I'm sorely tempted to sell my car for something a little bit more family friendly (current is a Honda Prelude) but nothing out there hits my specs...within budget anyway!

 

[rubyshoes]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

Rubyshoes, I loved that you named your car Yukio Chan. I wasn't familiar with the name (but I loved it) so I googled it. Apparently it's the name of a Japanese anime character. Fun!

Haha! Actually we have always been car-namers. Our Honda was named Henry and our Merc was named Fraulein Ingrid. We named the Subaru Yukio because we decided he was a boy car. Husband suggested Chan as a suffix. (chan is for kids, san for adults) We had no idea there was an anime character by that name.

 

[bunnycat]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

Claritek- thanks for the extra info on the Fit. That's definitely something I am going to have to ask about. I had all the tires changed out on this CR-V because I didn't like the way they felt and had my favorites put on. Luckily, my favorite tires did work with this model car.

So many things to think about! Luckily- we're not in a HUGE hurry on this. I think it's just something that needs to happen before we hit 20K on the CR-V because I am hoping to get some sort of trade in on it, but I'm not going to rush it.

My main experience with Mazda was with a Mazda truck my ex drove. There were occasional (as opposed to rare) rather expensive problems with it including multiple electrical problems and it was fairly annoying for a tiny person like me to drive but we've got the Mazda 3 on the list to look at now. Before the CR-V I had a Mercury Tracer (yeh- really!) that I bought new fresh out of college and drove it happily for about 12 years with only a few problems that weren't overly expensive. We eventually gave it to hubby's niece because we drive the CR-V all the time (and well, because you can't drive in Texas without A/C, IMO) and so far, the little purple car (Barney) is still going fine, just not in the best shape anymore (you know, things like drivers side mirror loose, odometer gets stuck and unstuck, has a couple of dents, A/C not working...etc...) I also had a very old Toyota, whatever was before the Corolla. I think it was Tercel. It was ugly and a rattletrap, but it drove and drove and drove. Before that I had a Honda Prelude I absolutely loved, which unfortunately got totalled...and then a big white whale of a Ford Crown Vic that was perpetually nickel and diming me and led me to the Toyota....

 

[Loves Vintage]

Re: Car Shopping Soon...Any Recs? Affordable, Reliable, Cute

Rubyshoes, I loved that you named your car Yukio Chan. I wasn't familiar with the name (but I loved it) so I googled it. Apparently it's the name of a Japanese anime character. Fun!

I agree about Subarus. You'll find that people either love them or hate them. I had an Impreza that I bought from a family friend when it was about 4 years old. I drove it for a few years before trading it in for my new Corolla in '04. I loved that it had AWD (although some would say this is a negative). I heard that Subarus are expensive and you don't get the same great trade-in value as you would with Hondas or Toyotas. While I did find those things to be true, I really liked my Impreza.

Clairitek, I'm glad you like your Mazda3. I don't see many of those on the road (I feel like I'm in Subaru, Toyota, and Honda land). I'm considering test driving one when we get closer to buying something. I know you love your hatchback, but did you consider the sedan, too? If so, what made you choose the hatchback?

bastetcat - Sorry for the slight threadjack to follow, but I have to tell Zoe about our Outback.

Zoe - DH has an outback, and he goes on and on about how great it is in the snow! Definitely put one on your test-drive list! It also has so much storage space. We put a snowblower in his car last night!! Those things are heavy!! And, we have the older model, so I think you'd have even more cargo space with the newer ones.

Rubyshoes - It's funny how different cars are perceived in different areas! So many people have subarus in CT. People love 'em here, and they are really awesome in the snow!