Just Sold My Jeep... Car Choices

[Kyran Vale]

My Jeep just sold, should be finalized Friday freeing up 525/mo in payments and probably 150-180/mo in gas depending on my replacement car.

I will be car shopping this weekend and would like some additional advice.  I drive 15k miles per year until further notice, so I'm not sure what the best option is.

I'm looking at a few of these options around 5k:

06 Pontiac Vibe with 97k miles and manual trans for around 5500.
05 Corolla around 119k miles for 4750, manual trans.
03 Camry around 103k miles for 5250, auto trans but great condition overall

Or - go this route:

2012 Ford Focus Hatchback 50K miles @ 9500
2012 Ford Focus Sedan 36K miles @ 10250

All of these options seem reasonable to me, and only because I drive a lot.  When that changes, the needs will also change, but I need to know if I deserve a facepunch for thinking of buying a used car that's newer due to my commute and factoring total cost to own..

Thanks!

[Dude on a Mission]

I'd probably look into an older Prius. You can potentially get one in the $10k range with decent mileage and you'll save a crap-ton in gas. Maybe you'll even get a better deal than you would have last month when gas was $0.50 more per gallon - you know how reactionary people are with choosing cars depending on MPG when gas prices change.

[Gone Fishing]

I've been pretty satisfied with my '08 Corolla with 5 spd manual.  I get around 36 mpg with mostly highway miles.

Do you have family that will need to travel a good bit in the back seat?  If so the Camry might be the best bet.

I would not buy the GM Pontiac.  Consumer reports has recommended not buying ANY pre-bail out GMs, apparently they were cutting corners everywhere.

Ford's quality is supposed to have improved, but we had a lemon from the 90's so I am still prejusticed against them.  Although if I knew I was going to have to drive 15k/yr I would probably be tempted to go with the newer models.  Final cost per mile will be a bit higher, but it will be longer before you have to start shelling out for repairs.     

[surfhb]

Those 2012 models are probably salvaged titles.    That's really cheap

[Dude on a Mission]

I would not buy the GM Pontiac.  Consumer reports has recommended not buying ANY pre-bail out GMs, apparently they were cutting corners everywhere.

The Pontiac Vibes are basically Toyota Matrix (Matrices?) with Pontiac sheet metal on them. They are some of the best cars Pontiac ever produced and can be a savvy buy.

[Kyran Vale]

Surf - not Salvaged, just auctioned which is fine for me.  I'm still interested in your honda so PM me details if you are still looking to sell.

Vibes are on MMMs list of above average card for smart people based on it being a toyota gmc collaboration.  The vibe I'm looking at is also a one owner car which is appealing.

[hodedofome]

I'd go with the Camry. It's bulletproof. You could drive it another 200-300k realistically. Not joking.

[Kyran Vale]

Ok, I'll take a look at them and see what happens.  The Vibe intrigues me alot just because of the price.  The Fords were rental cars, so those 35K miles could be very different than another vehicle's 35k miles.

[Gone Fishing]

I would not buy the GM Pontiac.  Consumer reports has recommended not buying ANY pre-bail out GMs, apparently they were cutting corners everywhere.

The Pontiac Vibes are basically Toyota Matrix (Matrices?) with Pontiac sheet metal on them. They are some of the best cars Pontiac ever produced and can be a savvy buy.

Rock on.  I believe the old Chevy Prism was a Corolla that cost thousands less on the used market.

[Kyran Vale]

I'm thinking the vibe may be a really good choice.  Unfortunately it has power locks and windows which I hate (more stuff to break). 

With a 15k mile per year commute, am I pushing it reliability wise by not spending a little more?

[StartingEarly]

I've never had power locks or power windows go out on me.  Only person I know who had it happen had a German car.  They're horrible with electrical reliability.

[humbleMouse]

Camrys are the best!  They are super comfortable and pleasant to drive... last forever.  I have a 99' with 150k and it drives like a dream.

[southernhippie]

Camry is an easy decision.  Repairs will be very cheap compared to others

[MayDay]

We have had two 2003 civics (one now sold) and between the two of them, 4 power windows have gone out around 100k miles. 

We owned a matrix and quite liked it.  Sold it when H was able to bus to work. 

[Kyran Vale]

I'm leaning towards a Camry.  Have to figure it out this weekend so I have transportation on Monday.  Wife really likes a used 2012 Honda fit she found for 13k - with only 15k miles.  VERY tempting to go and check it out, but it's way over the recommended 5k price range.  I'm pretty sure that would deserve a facepunch if I'm making FI a focus, but I know that car will last me 200k miles and it's got barely anything on it at the moment and is a great price.

[Kyran Vale]

Found a decent 2005 Civic as well with 116k miles at 6k in price.  My lovely wife keeps pushing the fit though.

[Dude on a Mission]

Honestly, I don't think it matters much between the Matrix, Civic, and Camry. They're all solid cars that should last a long time. Maybe other things you want to consider are driving comfort, MPG, insurance cost, final vehicle price. One or more of those could sway you toward the correct vehicle for you.

If you're going to spend $13k on a car, a Fit with low mileage is not a bad choice. I didn't personally like it when I test drove it, but I can see why lots of people do. Also in that range would be a used Prius. 50mpg is not too shabby, along with a higher resale value. We fill our 2006 up for $12-$16 and drive past many gas stations :)

[MrBuckBeard]

When I had a car, I had a Camry.  Ran it up to 177k miles before getting T-boned by a guy who didn't see the stop sign.  I love those cars.  Roomy, comfy, cheap to maintain, and great gas mileage.

A Prius would also be a good option. 

If you're looking to spend 5k, I'd check out used cars on Craigslist just to get an idea of what your options might look like.

[Gone Fishing]

Found a decent 2005 Civic as well with 116k miles at 6k in price.  My lovely wife keeps pushing the fit though.

Where are you in your 'stache timeline?  Just getting started, halfway, or almost there? 

[neo von retorch]

I'm a two time Fit owner. The only reason I am not still driving my first Fit is because I am a weak, fallible human, and I dated a pretty girl that helped me convince myself that I needed a shiny, expensive, gas-guzzling luxury sports sedan.

The Fit is probably not for everyone - I bought it because it's a great all-around vehicle (flexible for carrying adults, cargo, going on long trips, being fun to drive, being frugal), but for a few people, the small size and sportier suspension might be off-putting if you do a lot of highway / bumpy roads. But as I just posted on another thread, even that was something I got used to after a couple months, and now I love my Fit. I enjoy getting 36+ overall gas mileage (without driving like a saint.) There are few things I need to move from one place to another that I can't toss in the back. Real normal people fit in the back seat. (I'm 6'2" and when I buy a car, I get the driver's seat into a comfortable position, and then I sit behind it. The Fit passes this test, and a lot of larger cars do not!)

[Kyran Vale]

Found a decent 2005 Civic as well with 116k miles at 6k in price.  My lovely wife keeps pushing the fit though.

Where are you in your 'stache timeline?  Just getting started, halfway, or almost there?

Just starting really.  I have been hovering for 6 months but finally started doing "something" back in September. 

Trying to up the ante now and get on the right track.  Depending on who you talk with I'm either "making progress" or still living a "hair on fire debt emergency."  Selling the Jeep was the first step.

Still have 1 auto loan, House Loan, 2 student loans and a 401K loan to tackle next.

Problem is that I have 4 kids and a 15000 mile commute that's not getting shorter anytime soon.

[Dude on a Mission]

The most important thing is you're doing something about it right now. Lots of people just can't bear to part with their car for something cheaper. You should be proud of taking the first steps toward your very own 'stache.

I did the same when I sold my Mazdaspeed 3. Waaaay too expensive of a car, but luckily I realized my mistake and got very good cash for it, I gues because it's a somewhat limited production car. Anyway, I loved it but I love my much cheaper car and extra cash lots more.

[Kyran Vale]

Believe it or not, I only took a 1k loss on my Jeep for a 6 month time frame from when I drove it off the lot.  They have great resale, so that wasn't a problem at all.

I'm just trying to figure out if a 13-14k car is the right move after liquidating a 33k jeep.  If my commute was only 7-8k miles per year, this wouldn't be an issue.  But I drive 15k per year easily and need to make sure I make the right choice since I am supporting the whole family with my income.

[Gone Fishing]

Found a decent 2005 Civic as well with 116k miles at 6k in price.  My lovely wife keeps pushing the fit though.

Where are you in your 'stache timeline?  Just getting started, halfway, or almost there?

Just starting really.  I have been hovering for 6 months but finally started doing "something" back in September. 

Trying to up the ante now and get on the right track.  Depending on who you talk with I'm either "making progress" or still living a "hair on fire debt emergency."  Selling the Jeep was the first step.

Still have 1 auto loan, House Loan, 2 student loans and a 401K loan to tackle next.

Problem is that I have 4 kids and a 15000 mile commute that's not getting shorter anytime soon.

Stick to your 5-6k budget.  The Civic should hold up well and will allow you to put extra cash towards the fires.  Sure the 10k options would be fine, but you don't need fine, you need every bit you can get to get out of the ditch!

[Kyran Vale]

Just had a chat with a guy selling a 2007 Prius with 65k miles and he's willing to part with it for 10k.  It had a small fender scrape in a parking lot which was repaired and the car looks great, clean title. 

Thoughts? 

[ClaycordJCA]

Work out the costs. What's the difference in annual fuel and insurance costs?  Maybe the Prius will pay for itself in a couple of years. What are the reliability records - Consumer Reports publishes them?  Are you comfortable driving the smaller Prius?  We love ours, but also have very fond memories of a now departed Camry.

[Kyran Vale]

Man - the used car search can be totally draining!  Looked at lots and will continue tomorrow.  Thinking I may und up with a Prius since my commute is 60 miles each way.  Looked at a few cars and the only one that looked good was the used Fit for 13k and the Prius for 10k but the accident makes me nervous.

Everything I looked at 6k and under was a little rugged at least in my area.

[Kyran Vale]

After a few days of looking and being tempted by Priuses in the 13-16k range, I'm going to look at this car in an hour and would like to get thoughts from everyone.  Seems like it's a good deal, no accidents and the car looks to be in great shape.  I've read that used Accords that are 4cyl's can run to 200k miles easily without any issues.

Feedback is appreciated!

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/4754665942.html

[marblejane]

Consumer Reports reviews online only go back to the 2005 model year. The Accord was redesigned in 2003, and the 2005 gets excellent marks for reliability. Have you checked the Kelley Blue Book for this model? I'm getting an estimate of $6k in good condition. Would be a good idea to just ask him the open ended question of how he came up with his asking price.

If the VIN check is clean and he has complete service records, I'd go for it. Otherwise, I'd have a mechanic check it out first. But overall it appears to be promising.

[surfhb]

Yes.....there are mechanics who's only job is to check out used vehicles before you purchase. 

[Kyran Vale]

Turns out the guy himself is a part time mechanic and he works with a close friend of mine.  Looked at the car and it's legit - just has a small whine during rev that he's going to look at.  He thinks it's speaker whine from the Sirius radio and is going to remove it.  If that works, I'll probably make an offer.