good daily driver under $16,000.00

[mikesride]

I am helping my 62 year old mother in law find a new daily driver. Must be automatic transmission four doors and comfy for long road trips. Doesn't want to get into car payments so she has set a top budget of $16,000.00 . Lower mileage and late model preferred, she is leaning towards a two year old Impala or Chyco 200. If this was your MIL (and you liked her... ) what would you be looking at. BTW...the only thing she has ruled out is Honda, just doesn't like the style of anything available.
Thanks guys and gals

[craigster59]

Toyota Camry.

[stomachmonkey]

Same answer every time these threads come up.

Mazda 3.

You can get a lot of value for 16k.

[Head416]

Another vote for Camry.

[UconnTim97]

Buick. There is a reason for the stereotype. lol. My retired in-laws have a 2013 Buick LaCrosse and love it. Great car for long trips and very comfortable. You can get a few year old model in that price range.

[ForBell]

Originally Posted by Head416

Another vote for Camry.

Same here. Will $16k buy a two yr. old Toyota Avalon? A friend (72 yrs. old) has one and loves it. I have ridden in it and driven it...a wonderful and precision car. Excellent combination of handling (road feel) and comfort.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Buick, Avalon, Taurus, Lexus LS. She wants big comfy and easy to get into, because old people like that sort of stuff.

[recycled sixtie]

Toyota Camry for reliability, good hiway car and resale. If she wanted a driver's car
then something like the Mazda 3. The latter might be a bit small for the hiway though.

[95avblm3]

At the risk of offending 90% of the posters on this thread, the Camry is a snoozer. And maybe that is perfect for your mother-in-law... But what hasn't been mentioned here is a Hyundai Elantra or a Sonata. Sonata being bigger and arguably a better highway cruiser than the Elantra, either one can be had for $16k with low miles and in the current body styles... If your MIL isn't a stickler for buttons to push, the base models of these cars (well, the Elantra anyway) can probably be had new for that price.

I suggest this because:
I own a Genesis (first Hyundai for me, have owned Honda's and BMWs in the past)
I like the way it drives
I like the way it looks
It was inexpensive (relative to comparable models)
The sales experience was positive
It has a 10yr powertrain warranty (and a long bumper to bumper but the exact specs I can't recall right now)
After 10 months of ownership, it is living up to its promise of offering good value and reliability...

Just my $.02, hope it helps.

[Justin@Athens]

Hyundai is generating tremendous customer satisfaction and customer loyalty figures in recent years. Consumer reports ranked them number one in 2011 for brand retention--meaning folks are very satisfied with their rides and will most likely buy another Hyundai when its time for a new car.

Honda has traditionally been the dominating manufacturer in this area. However, in recent years the Civic and Accord haven't received the accolade they once garnered for whatever reason. Perhaps cheaper materials or just lack of innovation. This tends to occur when you have a legacy model that is received well for a very long time but then fails to evolve as the rest of the sector. Also is probably related to the economy, and what people are willing to fork over for a car. Honda thinks alot of their cars.

Look at Lexus and Toyota very hard. These will hold their value, an run forever also. The Buick Lacrosse is a sharp looking ride, but I know nothing about them.

[NeedSpace]

In addition to Hyundai, you should also consider Kia, I have been reading great things about these cars recently.

That said, if it were my grandmother, I would go with the Buick. For the price, the car is very solid, good looking, comfortable and a nice ride....

[aigel]

For an elderly driver, I would look at cars with a more vertical a-pillar than what's seen in a lot of gas saver or 'sleek' models. None of the 30 degree stuff you see on a Prius, Honda Civic etc. These pillars start getting into the way of visibility big time, IMHO. Combine it with an older driver's eyesight and reaction times, and you increase the likelihood of cut-off situations significantly.

I hink the Avalon makes a great car, but it will be a few years old at $16k. Evaluate if a little smaller car would not fit the bill. It is easier to maneuver and see out of. The Mazda 3 is great, but it is a little harsher and noisier than what she probably is looking for.

I would not even recommend a Chrysler to my enemy. That 200 looks like a royal POS, just look how they have the muffler hanging out half a foot out the bottom, for everyone to look at when following the car.

G

[Don Ro]

Lots of Hyundai cars around Scottsdale...the expensive ones are gorgeous.
Can't go wrong w/Toyota, for sure.

[onewhippedpuppy]

The 200 is a terrible, terrible car. I'm with George, I wouldn't recommend one even to someone that I hoped would be stranded and left for dead. Hyundai and Kia are great appliance cars, which is what we are discussing here. I doubt grandma is much of an enthusiast.

If they can be had for $16k, check out the new bodystyle Taurus. Big inside, tall for easy entry and exit, good on gas.

[95avblm3]

Mikesride: How old or young is your 62 y/o MIL? ...and I mean that figuratively. There are some good points here about sportier swept windshield type cars vs more "distinguished" (shall we say) models... My parents are mid-late 60's and each still manually shift their DD's, clutch pedal and all... but my parents have always seemed a lot younger to me than some of my friends' parents, even though similar in age.

[Steve Carlton]

I'd make getting something safe the priority.

[slow&rusty]

1991 964 with Tiptronic.

Pros:
Automatic
Good A\C
ABS
Solid as a tank
Reliable as a Camry
MIL would look sexy
Comfortable
Surprisingly inexpensive to maintain

Cons:
None

[mikesride]

Originally Posted by 95avblm3

Mikesride: How old or young is your 62 y/o MIL? ...and I mean that figuratively. There are some good points here about sportier swept windshield type cars vs more "distinguished" (shall we say) models... My parents are mid-late 60's and each still manually shift their DD's, clutch pedal and all... but my parents have always seemed a lot younger to me than some of my friends' parents, even though similar in age.

I understand your question completely! She is a young outgoing "cool" 62. But she does see a car only as an appliance. She has recently surprised me by bringing a KIA Sorento suv by the house this morning. Looks like she might be interested in going that direction. We have long crappy winters up here and she likes getting in and out of the small suv better than a low slung sedan! We walked away from this particular one because it seemed to have some maintenance issues.