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She will have about $4000 from insurance after paying the loan off and she is willing able to borrow $2000 - $3000 more.
She had a Fiesta and will no consider another one (terrible transmission).
So far she is looking at a 2015 Fusion and an Iforgetwhatyear Mitsubishi Mirage which she said is really cute.
I love the Fusion and it appears form reviews and people who have them it is a decent car. Best looking widely produced car out there right now IMO. Drive trains have always been uninspiring, but it looks nice and functions well for basics.
Any comments on these two cars or suggestions she might want to look at?
The Mirage will feel like a tin can next to the Fusion. Among those two, I would go Fusion if it is in reasonable condition.
Fusion is 8,000 miles. Should be in good shape. I have not seen it.
I am glad she is ok too. A car hauler semi did not see her, knocked her into the center divider, she bounced off hit the truck then bounced back and hit the divider a second time. She was lucky. Frankly I was surprised to see how well the little Fiesta held up given it was 65 MPH and that is a really cheap car. Too bad the transmission is so awful (she just got notice of a class action settlement over the transmission).
Given the scare we had, I would prefer her in the bigger fusion. However MPG and "cute" are pretty important to her. Hopefully I and her brother can push her towards the fusion, or something else. (Her brother took a different approach - told her the Mitsubishi is made of the bones of dead babies and kittens and if she bought one, she would be responsible for them - not sure that is going to work, but it was creative).
I am not really sure what else is out there in the lower end boring car market. I do not look at those much. Her sister has a spark (which was just totaled by hail, but she is buying it back from the insurance company because she likes it and it is still mechanically fine). I recommended the spoark after some research but she was buying new and gets the GM level 8 (I think that is what is is called) employee discount). But I think there are better options out there for used cars.
I know to stay away form the Nissan Versa and Toyota Yaris, but not much about other lower end cars. Fusion is a step u p above low end. What competes with it? Cruze? Scion? No idea.
The Honda Accord is a direct competitor, and you can't get a better car for the money than that.
Do accords still come with a huge reputation premium?
My son wanted a Honda something, but he would have to drop back 4 year or more older than a comparable American branded car. They did have somewhat better reliability, but not that much better (now I don't think that is any difference). Maybe that has changed since most newer American branded cars are equally Reliable.
Thanks though that is a good idea, I will suggest she look at them. Too bad they aren't "cute"
Do accords still come with a huge reputation premium?
...
Too bad they aren't "cute"
I will admit they are more expensive, and I did buy mine used, but my 2010 is at almost 200,000 miles right now and the only thing I've had to replace is the rack-and-pinion assembly.
Mine is a 4-door sedan and they aren't cute, but the 2-doors are sporty-looking (to me, anyway).
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