Quote:
I work around cars for a living. Here is my standard answer when friend and family ask. Get the newest 4-cylinder Honda Accord you can. Bigger than you think, more power than you think, safer than you think, will pull down 30 mpg all day every day, utterly competent and utterly devoid of soul. When I had to commute I found a three year old Accord with 40k miles on it. I drove it for two years and 80k miles. Brake pads once, tires once, fuel, oil, trans fluid on schedule. It needed nothing else. Sold it for $2k less than I paid for it. Not bad for 2yrs and 80k miles.
Oddly enough (I do live in MS) I know quite a few folks with Prii. Never heard of any major issues. They all love 'em.
If a smaller car works think about an Acura TSX. European Accord. Can be had with a manual trans so you can pretend it's sporty.
BMW and Audi scare me with their Direct Injection engines. Too many problems early on for me to be confident in them long term
Last winter my Wife said I was buying her a new (to her) car. I ended up getting a 2011 Mercedes E350. M-B didn't go to Direct Injection until 2012 on the 3.5 V-6. M-B actually encourages you to service the 7spd ZF trans which has to extend its life. AMG/Navi/MBTex. Sold new for around $50. CPO asking prices were mid-$40s. I bought mine from an independent broker/dealer with a line on off lease M-B. Avoiding the dealer I was able to buy the car for $32k after letting someone else drive it for 2 years and 28k miles. Just at 40k miles now and no issues. With a lead foot my wife averages 22mpg. The car will pull down 27 or so on road trips. She'll drive it three or four more years and be out of it before it hits 100k miles. -J
|
Having switched jobs and needing reliable airport transport, I leased a new Accord Sport with a 6 speed gearbox. I'm blown away with how good this car is...and how cheap. Quiet, 30+ on the highway, stick shift (available with CVT), great stereo, comfortable and room for 4 adults. Gets my recommendation for an inexpensive, decent looking, reliable dd.