If you were shopping for a new car, what would you get?

[zoebartlett]

My husband and I both bought our cars in 2005 (I have a Corolla and he has a Prius). Although they''re both in great condition, we''ll probably be looking to replace his car sooner than mine because of the miles on my husband''s car (he''s had a long commute before and could likely have another one in the future). We haven''t really begun to look seriously, but every once in a while we visit other cars just to see what''s out there.

If you were looking for a new car, what would you buy and why?

 

[Steel]

I want the XC30 or a V50.

Oh Please!

 

[atroop711]

We just got our 3rd (we lease since my husband uses it for work) Nissan Murano. We have never had an issue with any Nissan we had. The 2010 model is a wee bit smaller than our previous one

and that irked me since we have 3 kids to fit but we all fit fine..just not with the extra comfy space we had before. It''s still very big inside but I''m missing the extra inches the 2006 model had. Still..wouldn''t get anything else. Love the car

 

[Maisie]

My sister has a Volvo XC90. Its a big family car with heated front seats. Who could ask for more?

She had hers converted to gas instead of petrol so its economic to drive too.

 

[Imdanny]

I'd buy a Honda Accord or Civic.

If I bought an Accord, it would be a 4 cyl.

Why? Because Honda is my favorite brand outside of Audi and Mercedes.

Because I can't afford an Audi S6 or Mercedes SL 550.

Because I have a Honda right now and I love it.

 

[kenny]

The Civic hybrid is very nice.
We have one and love it.

We also have a 2010 Honda Insight hybrid and it is not nearly as nice, though it is thousands cheaper.

 

[Lilac]

Honda Accord. I love my car.

 

[HollyS]

Honda Accord.

Maybe an Acura.

 

[ArtistJess]

i''ve been lusting a kia soul lately.

 

[Amethyste]

Date: 3/9/2010 7:07:15 PM
Author: ArtistJess
i''ve been lusting a kia soul lately.

Oh wow!!! That''s the car I drive at the moment... Alien green. It''s really nice actually!!!

But I just bought the Soul - so I won''t be car shopping for a while...

But, I would look for a Mini Cooper - but I am dreaming - they are really expensive.

Also, I would go to the Suzuki dealer and test drive a SX4.
The Scion Xb kinda talks to me too...

 

[Gypsy]

We just turned in our Camry's and bought two Mazdas. Our logic probably won't help many but it boils down to this: Life is too short and our commutes are too long to hate our cars. So we both decided what was most important to us (and despite our commutes, gas efficiency wasn't at the very top of either list) and went out to find cars that fit our needs. I got a new 2010 Mazda 3 Grand Touring (Fun driving experience, interior appointments, compact car, with decent gas effeciency and a good crash test rating were my desires) and John got an a new 2009 RX-8 Grand Touring (he wanted a sports car with bells and whistles that wouldn't break the bank and Mazda had a clearance offer on 2009 RX-8s).

We're both very happy with our cars. VERY happy.

 

[zoebartlett]

Date: 3/9/2010 6:24:09 PM
Author: atroop711
We just got our 3rd (we lease since my husband uses it for work) Nissan Murano. We have never had an issue with any Nissan we had. The 2010 model is a wee bit smaller than our previous one

and that irked me since we have 3 kids to fit but we all fit fine..just not with the extra comfy space we had before. It''s still very big inside but I''m missing the extra inches the 2006 model had. Still..wouldn''t get anything else. Love the car

I really like the Murano. I also the smaller version, the Rogue. A friend of mine has the Rogue and she LOVES it.

 

[zoebartlett]

Why don''t Mazdas or Nissans rate higher? I love them and I''ve had friends who have both and they love them as well. I''m just wondering why they''re not quite as high up in ratings as Toyotas and Hondas. This isn''t meant as a slight to those cars, just a question.

I read in CR last year that the Jeep Compass didn''t rate very well at all, but I loved the one I drove when we were on vacation last year. CR said that of all the owners they polled, only half would buy another one. Huh. That''s not very promising.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

I have a Nissan Altima Hybrid, it''s my fourth Nissan and I love it to death!

 

[4ever]

A Fiat 500 Abarth in a nice bright colour.

Because I love my little fiat so I would want one alot like it, I think the 500''s look really smart, they are a small car so alot of savings on petrol and good for zipping in and out of traffic and the Abarth because it''s fast

(a little less fuel economy, but worth it!)

 

[kama_s]

PRIUS!

 

[oobiecoo]

Date: 3/9/2010 8:02:48 PM
Author: kama_s
PRIUS!

Might want to rethink that one after today! lol

 

[kama_s]

Date: 3/9/2010 8:15:41 PM
Author: oobiecoo

Date: 3/9/2010 8:02:48 PM
Author: kama_s
PRIUS!

Might want to rethink that one after today! lol

Indeed! But I''d still buy a Prius once they have this issue fixed. The same thing happened to my friend''s husband a few years ago, and he wasn''t driving a Toyota. I guess I''m just a die-hard Toyoto fan!

 

[atroop711]

Date: 3/9/2010 7:30:04 PM
Author: ZoeBartlett
Why don''t Mazdas or Nissans rate higher? I love them and I''ve had friends who have both and they love them as well. I''m just wondering why they''re not quite as high up in ratings as Toyotas and Hondas. This isn''t meant as a slight to those cars, just a question.


I read in CR last year that the Jeep Compass didn''t rate very well at all, but I loved the one I drove when we were on vacation last year. CR said that of all the owners they polled, only half would buy another one. Huh. That''s not very promising.

Not sure but I know that in the last 13 yrs we''ve had a few Nissan cars and never once had a problem with any of them. On the other hand my sister had the Benz Cross over and had her car in the shop every 2 months on average. Same thing happened to my best friend who had the same Benz...they''ve both changed brands. One has a GM and the other an Acura. I still love Nissan!

 

[charbie]

Date: 3/9/2010 7:14:50 PM
Author: Gypsy
We just turned in our Camry''s and bought two Mazdas. Our logic probably won''t help many but it boils down to this: Life is too short and our commutes are too long to hate our cars. So we both decided what was most important to us (and despite our commutes, gas efficiency wasn''t at the very top of either list) and went out to find cars that fit our needs. I got a new 2010 Mazda 3 Grand Touring (Fun driving experience, interior appointments, compact car, with decent gas effeciency and a good crash test rating were my desires) and John got an a new 2009 RX-8 Grand Touring (he wanted a sports car with bells and whistles that wouldn''t break the bank and Mazda had a clearance offer on 2009 RX-8s).


We''re both very happy with our cars. VERY happy.

I''m so glad you said that about the RX8s. My husband wants to get rid of my corolla (

) and get one of 3 cars-a ridgeline, which I don''t want a truck plus he drives a bit longer commute; a camero, seriously saw transformers and wanted one, but I don''t think it would be a good car for kids when we have them; or a wrangler-he had one years ago and misses it...another not so hot kids car. I will be suggesting a new manly car to him! Yay!

 

[KayPea]

I just purchased a Honda Civic on Sunday. I test drove just about everything in the class and that is what I decided was best for me. My sister just recently bought a new car as well and she went with the Nissan Sentra. It is a very nice car! The nissan was hard to find with the features I wanted on it though. The Civic EXL had everything I could have wanted on it- standard!

I of course have only had the car for two days but I LOVE it so far!

I drove a VW bug before (do not buy a VW...worst experience ever).

I can''t even begin to tell you the large number of issues I had with that car.

Hope this is helpful!!

 

[PumpkinPie]

I''ve always wanted a Honda Civic or Accord - I don''t have a car right now (have never owned one before) but in the next couple of years, this is what I will almost certainly buy

 

[megumic]

We''d consider toyota, volvo, bmw, audi, and subaru.

 

[April20]

I end up in a lot of rental cars, so I get to do what I consider "long test drives" really often. I''ve driven the new Corolla, Civic, Accord, Mazda 6 and Dodge Charger. Of all of them, the Charger was by far the WORST. At least for me. The seat was uncomfortable and it has a really bad blind spot when you''re trying to change lanes or see to back out of a space. The Accord was really nice, but my absolute favorite is the Mazda 6. I''ve had a couple 626''s over the years, but the 6 really is re-vamped and had a LOT of pep. I drove it for about 160 miles and at the end of it, said I would totally buy that car. I really, really liked it.

 

[lilyfoot]

Date: 3/9/2010 9:24:10 PM
Author: KayPea
I just purchased a Honda Civic on Sunday. I test drove just about everything in the class and that is what I decided was best for me. My sister just recently bought a new car as well and she went with the Nissan Sentra. It is a very nice car! The nissan was hard to find with the features I wanted on it though. The Civic EXL had everything I could have wanted on it- standard!

I of course have only had the car for two days but I LOVE it so far!

I drove a VW bug before (do not buy a VW...worst experience ever).

I can''t even begin to tell you the large number of issues I had with that car.

Hope this is helpful!!

This is what I have, a 2009 Nissan Sentra, bought in August of last year. I love it, it''s an awesome car. The Honda Civic was also the second-top contender, but the interior is too cramped for me. The wavy dashboard gave me anxiety! They''re obviously great cars though.

If we were buying another car, we''d go Nissan. FI and I both currently have Nissan''s, and we''re extremely pleased with them.

 

[LGK]

Date: 3/9/2010 7:14:50 PM
Author: Gypsy
We just turned in our Camry's and bought two Mazdas. Our logic probably won't help many but it boils down to this: Life is too short and our commutes are too long to hate our cars. So we both decided what was most important to us (and despite our commutes, gas efficiency wasn't at the very top of either list) and went out to find cars that fit our needs. I got a new 2010 Mazda 3 Grand Touring (Fun driving experience, interior appointments, compact car, with decent gas effeciency and a good crash test rating were my desires) and John got an a new 2009 RX-8 Grand Touring (he wanted a sports car with bells and whistles that wouldn't break the bank and Mazda had a clearance offer on 2009 RX-8s).

We're both very happy with our cars. VERY happy.

I heart my RX8. We have the '04 model, Grand Touring. It's at 70K miles and no problems so far. Best handling in a car under $60K for sure- it is *so* fun to drive, it sticks to curves like it's on rails. I also love that it has a full size back seat. That's so hard to find in a sporty car. My 6'4" brother in law is comfy back there. However you can't tell from the outside that it isn't a 2 seater- the back doors are suicide doors and super cute. And, you pay less on insurance than most sports cars since the 4 doors qualify it a sedan. It also has killer brakes.

The warranty is good too- 100K miles for engine & power train if I remember right. The rotary engine is neat. You can rev the holy heck out of it. It sounds like a bumblebee under the hood- way different than a piston engine. The 50/50 weight balance is really nice too, especially with a stick shift. If I remember right you can't find that in any other car anywhere near it's price. It doesn't have super great gas mileage- about like a loaded Honda Accord. It really does make driving a lot of fun, and I love the styling.

 

[lucyandroger]

Hyundai Elantra! It''s what we have now. It looks nice and is CHEAP.

 

[Imdanny]

Date: 3/9/2010 9:24:10 PM
Author: KayPea
I just purchased a Honda Civic on Sunday. I test drove just about everything in the class and that is what I decided was best for me. My sister just recently bought a new car as well and she went with the Nissan Sentra. It is a very nice car! The nissan was hard to find with the features I wanted on it though. The Civic EXL had everything I could have wanted on it- standard!


I of course have only had the car for two days but I LOVE it so far!

Congrats!!

 

[pennquaker09]

Ford Fusion Hybrid. Personally, I really want a hybrid and supposedly this one doesn't actually drive like a normal car. And from what I read, it's the best var on the road now.

 

[FrekeChild]

We own:
2001 Honda Prelude (53k original miles)
2007 VW Rabbit

What we would consider buying:
Nissan Maxima (my mom had two and neither gave her any serious problems)
Another VW
Some sort of Honda

Now if I had my way I''d get:
1997 Toyota Supra TT
2004 Nissan Z350

And truly, if I had the means and the storage space, I''d keep my ''lude, and get the Supra and the Z.

And you can see where my priorities lie when it comes to cars...