Author Topic: Car Advice Please  (Read 4725 times)

txranger

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Car Advice Please
« on: December 09, 2015, 05:27:15 PM »
I currently have a lease ending on an Infiniti Q50.

I am considering buying a Nissan Versa Note SV 2016 for around 13k plus tax, with less than 1000 miles.

My current driving needs are work commute less than 20 mins total daily, and maybe once a month 300+ miles one way drive to see family. Drive about 10k a yr max

My concerns with Versa are safety with a young baby, longterm reliability, resale value, engine quality. I am also considering a Honda Accord.

Are my concerns well founded with Versa Note? Any other advice to find a reliable long term vehicle. Budget is around 15k.

lbmustache

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Re: Car Advice Please
« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2015, 05:37:31 PM »
If safety is a concern, I think the Accord would be a better choice.

The Versa has typically done ok in crash tests but when all is said and done lighter cars don't fare well. (People will link you to the safety is an illusion post. I am not advocating that everyone drive around in a pickup truck for max safety fwiw.)  My only reliability concern with the Nissan would be their CVTs - they had issues with some earlier ones but those seem to have been fixed. That's really it though.

Camry is also a solid choice for all your categories. Maybe a Camry hybrid since your commute doesn't seem too long?

txranger

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Re: Car Advice Please
« Reply #2 on: December 09, 2015, 05:41:59 PM »
If safety is a concern, I think the Accord would be a better choice.

The Versa has typically done ok in crash tests but when all is said and done lighter cars don't fare well. (People will link you to the safety is an illusion post. I am not advocating that everyone drive around in a pickup truck for max safety fwiw.)  My only reliability concern with the Nissan would be their CVTs - they had issues with some earlier ones but those seem to have been fixed. That's really it though.

Camry is also a solid choice for all your categories. Maybe a Camry hybrid since your commute doesn't seem too long?

Thank you, I did consider Camry. Based on craigslist, it seemed Accord's tend to have better resale value. I guess that shouldn't be a main point, if I intend on keeping the car for a long time.

alsoknownasDean

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Re: Car Advice Please
« Reply #3 on: December 09, 2015, 06:57:24 PM »
Why not buy something five years old for half the price? I'd assume by your username that you live in Texas,  so cars wouldn't rust out like other parts of the country.

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RWD

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Re: Car Advice Please
« Reply #4 on: December 10, 2015, 11:10:10 AM »
I wouldn't be worried about safety with pretty much anything built since the mid to late 2000s (introduction of side airbags). And you can find recent used cars that still ace the current crash tests (e.g. 2013 Accord and Civic).

Reliability, quality, and resale should be fine with most Japanese cars. If you buy used resale value will be even less of an issue. I recommend TrueDelta for reliability information:
http://www.truedelta.com/car-reliability

snacky

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Re: Car Advice Please
« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2015, 11:20:45 AM »
one thing you may not have thought of - if you are keeping that versa, one day your baby's legs will be a teenager's legs and the leg space in the back seat is punitive.

signed, someone selling a perfectly good Honda fit because children grow.

ShoulderThingThatGoesUp

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Re: Car Advice Please
« Reply #6 on: December 10, 2015, 11:25:13 AM »
Why are you buying new?

KarefulKactus15

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Re: Car Advice Please
« Reply #7 on: December 10, 2015, 01:28:26 PM »
I wont link the safety is an illusion article but I will say this.  A crash test rating is a crash test rating.   I cant stand when people say " So and so got in a minor fender bender and totaled their compact car" even though so and so wasn't hurt at all....   The car did what its supposed to do.  That's the only way to achieve high crash test ratings on small cars is to crumple up and redistribute the force somewhere other then the passenger compartment. 

Astatine

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Re: Car Advice Please
« Reply #8 on: December 10, 2015, 01:34:56 PM »
Why are you buying new?

This. If you want a newish car it's better to buy one that's a few years old. Not sure what the resale values are like in the US but a brand new Corolla is $8k (Australian dollars) more than a 3 year old Corolla. As long as you check that the car isn't about to be repossessed and that the services have been done on time, the risk is very low.

mucchad

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Re: Car Advice Please
« Reply #9 on: December 10, 2015, 01:46:07 PM »
I had a 2009 Versa, the original model. Its as safe as a small car can be. I have had kids in the car, was never worried. I have driven 500 miles, through mountain passes, during snow storms in it.
It held its resale value decently. Maintenance was not unusual for a 6 yr old car.
I would buy a Versa again, but not a used 2016 for 1k less then MSRP.

txranger

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Re: Car Advice Please
« Reply #10 on: December 27, 2015, 02:44:05 PM »
Why are you buying new?

Thank you for all the advice everyone. Ended up buying a 2011 Camry for under 10k with less than 90k miles. So far working great.