Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I am currently driving my nissan versa into the ground. It needs $2k+ worth of work but it is not detrimental to the running of the car at the moment (broken window motor, control arms, mounts, A/C, slight grind in 3rd gear). I don't plan on doing any work to it because its probably worth less than that as is. Also I bought the car over 2 years ago to learn stick and it is a penalty box with no features.
When it either breaks and I junk it or decide to sell it I plan on getting something that has some nice features. mainly:
Leather seats
Leather steering wheel
heated seats (cooled seats are a bonus)
other requirements
gas mileage (at least 25 on the highway)
reliable, low maintenance costs
decent acceleration - at least sufficient to merge on highways with ease
4 doors preferred - but would consider a coupe with a largish back seat
prefer 100k miles and under
FWD or AWD, I live in Northeast and also have a RWD fun car for nice weather
Manual or automatic transmission will be fine with me
This will be used as my daily driver, probably around 10-15k miles per year
cars I have been considering
2006+ Acura TSX or Honda Accord EX-L (4cyl version, I know 6-cylinders have transmission problems unless I can find a 6 cyl manual)
2006+ Lexus IS250 (really like this but at the top end of budget)
2006+ Lincoln MKZ or loaded Ford Fusion (are the 6 cylinder engines reliable)
2007+ Acura TL. I have heard they redesigned transmission for 2007. I am really liking this car as well as my first option
2007+ Nissan Altima SL - probably not if this has a CVT transmission - I hate those
2009+ Hyundai Sonata Limited - I really like the 2011+ but may be too pricey. for a few thousand more could get one with a certified warranty
I will probably avoid the german cars unless I make friends with a independent german specialist in the near future... but I have found a bunch of 2010 Jetta's with a 2.5 engine for only 5-6k
Anyone have any experience with these or other recommendations?
Check if any have a timing chain or timing belt. A non-interference engine or an interference engine.
The most important thing about a used car is the previous owner.
As stated in many other posts here.
One owner.
No accidents or paint work.
Maintenance records.
Have the car checked out by an independent mechanic/shop.
Obtain a Carfax.
If you are jumping to a 6 cylinder used car just remember that the engine is put in sideways. And with some, they have to take the entire engine out for some repairs. Do you really want to take on that?
Now, if you are just posting to read opinions . . . well . . . go for it.
I know many of the 6 cylinder cars will probably have a timing belt so I will be sure to make sure that has been taken care of, and also will be researching the individual car forums
Are you saying some cars in general need the engine out for some repairs or just the 6 cylinder ones because of it being put in sideways?
Also would like general opinions of any owners as well
I actually had a 2006 Mazda 6 as my first car. it never gave me any problems. Wonder if I could find a good one. wasn't the 2009+ model much bigger and roomy?
Are you saying some cars in general need the engine out for some repairs or just the 6 cylinder ones because of it being put in sideways?
Yes.
Something as simple as a water pump. And a few where they can't even replace the spark plugs in back (side) without taking engine out.
If I was buying new, I'd would only get a 4 cylinder engine.
Granted, if you are leasing or trading in every 3 or 4 years - then it does not make any difference.
I have had 4 cylinder cars and trucks. I have had 6 cylinder cars and trucks. And I have had V8 cars and trucks.
They all got me from point A to point B. And some were quite comfortable and reliable.
Sure if someone wants to take on ridiculously high parts and maintences costs.
More likely one hell of a money pit.
Watch your $8,000 used car turn into a $15,000 used car just in order to pass emissions.
People say that about cars like my daily driven '01 BMW 7 series. I paid $7500 for it, spent $100 on getting it to pass inspection (needed new brake lines due to some age cracking in the rubber at 14 years old) and have put another $2 in repairs to it in the year and a half I've had it (new bulb in the instrument cluster) and have put 16k miles on it, including a few 8 hour plus road trips. Oil changes are 11k mile intervals with synthetic, so oil and filter cost me nearly $60 so far. Big deal. Tires were by far the biggest cost, as they had probably 30k miles on them when I got the car, so putting $500 worth of performance 18" tires was a given. So yeah, $102 in repairs after purchase, and $560 in maintenance in the year and a half (but the tires should last another 5 years, so that cost won't be repeated soon).
Spend a little more than KBB on one that's been maintained properly and it'll treat you as well as any Honda or Toyota.
Many low mileage MKZ's available at your price point.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
