Help me make my car buying decision

[i am one]

As the title says, I need to buy a car. I'm leaning towards something used because I can't justify the price of new. My wants are simple:

- $15,000 or less (I'm willing to go up to $20,000 if I find something great);
- AWD (for the winter);
- trunk space (or fold down seats) to fit my bicycle;
- relatively good gas mileage (my current car does 10.1L/100km).

Right now I'm looking at the Mazda 3 Sport, Toyota RAV4 and Lexus IS250 (which is closer to $25,000 used). The Hyundai Tucson also looks good, but I don't see too many used ones. I drive to work every day and also on weekends. The only person driving it would be myself, and I wouldn't generally have any passengers.

What do you think?

 

[ig-88]

AWD will impact your mpg

do you really need it? (i.e. are you planning on living in the yukon?)

 

[Perry Mason]

The Hyundai Tucson also looks good, but I don`t see too many used ones.

I just bought one [https://terb.cc/vbulletin/showthread.php?282339-Used-Car-Opinion-Advice&highlight=Hyundai] and I can tell you it is a great car.

The 4WD comes with a 6 cylinder engine that overcomes the only consistent criticism I have heard about this truck: that not all the horses in that engine show up for work when you need them most. It`s a great feature; don`t let ig-88 discourage you because the marginal mileage loss is minimal unless you are actually using it and you only use it 1% of the time, when you really need it.

I am getting about 12L/100km but about 75% of my mileage is highway driving @120/kph.

07`s and some 08`s should be coming off leases about now and will fit in your price range.

Look and you shall find!!!

Perry

 

[Master_Bates]

I drive a craptacular civic... but i get about 6L/100km with mainly highway km. I have winter tires, they haven't failed me yet.

You might want to look at leasebusters.com. It's just people trying to get out of their leases for various reasons. Sometimes you can get a vehicle with less than a year left with a decent buyout price.

 

[i am one]

AWD will impact your mpg

do you really need it? (i.e. are you planning on living in the yukon?)

I drive up north quite a lot during the winter to go skiing, hence the desire for more trunk space and AWD. Having good gas mileage is more wishful thinking on my part.

 

[Prim0]

I think some of you are confusing fultime AWD with parttime four wheel drive. I have a jeep that has part time 4wd and it comes in very handy without really costing much in mpg or maintenance.

 

[JohnHenry]

This is one of the most common vehicles in Northern Ontario. Will go through 18 inches of snow, and gets about 21mpg (13l/100km). You can expect to drive it 200000 km with only scheduled maintenance. http://www.autotrader.ca/used_cars_Truck_details/Burlington_Ontario_2007_GMC_SIERRA%2b1500_1780766.html?srcID=5&frnID=7938071&ms=trucks_vans&cofid=ON20071122103307952&prv=Ontario&r=40

 

[james t kirk]

I think some of you are confusing fultime AWD with parttime four wheel drive. I have a jeep that has part time 4wd and it comes in very handy without really costing much in mpg or maintenance.

Same with Infiiti. It's not full time AWD. It only comes on when you need it or lock it on. Very good system.

It adds about 300 pounds of weight to the car though, which is going to cost you something to haul around, but minimal.

I love my AWD in the winter. Car becomes a tank and I live in Toronto.

 

[Bear669]

Honda

As the title says, I need to buy a car. I'm leaning towards something used because I can't justify the price of new. My wants are simple:

- $15,000 or less (I'm willing to go up to $20,000 if I find something great);
- AWD (for the winter);
- trunk space (or fold down seats) to fit my bicycle;
- relatively good gas mileage (my current car does 10.1L/100km).

Right now I'm looking at the Mazda 3 Sport, Toyota RAV4 and Lexus IS250 (which is closer to $25,000 used). The Hyundai Tucson also looks good, but I don't see too many used ones. I drive to work every day and also on weekends. The only person driving it would be myself, and I wouldn't generally have any passengers.

What do you think?

Thats what all my colleagues in the leasing biz tell me.

 

[Bif_Butkiss]

I know people will laugh at me for suggesting this BUT why not one of the new Ford Escapes..... You can the base model for a little over 16 grand now. I've been seeing a lot of them around lately and I've been considering buying one as well OR a used 2009 Nissan X-Terra. ALL the Ford Escape driver's that I've talked to seem to like them.

 

[seth gecko]

I know people will laugh at me for suggesting this BUT why not one of the new Ford Escapes..... You can the base model for a little over 16 grand now. I've been seeing a lot of them around lately and I've been considering buying one as well OR a used 2009 Nissan X-Terra. ALL the Ford Escape driver's that I've talked to seem to like them.

NO WAY! The Escape is FANTASTIC! My GF bought one last year; nothing but good things to say about it - excellent mileage (she went for the hybrid) but the regular 6-cylinder gas engine still has great fuel efficiency, plenty of cargo room, and if you fold down the rear seats, theres even more room, lots of leg & head room up front (I'm well over 6' tall & fit as comfortably as I do in my gas-guzzling fullsized SUV). We would volunteer to do a commercial for Ford over this vehicle; in fact we are probably going to buy another one when its time to replace another vehicle. Have you driven a Ford lately? Try the Escape....two postive votes from the Gecko'seses.

 

[puffdaddy]

Get a REAL 4wd - something with a differential; add an offroad tire pack and voila; you'll never get stuck; just wait until there's a foot and a half of slush on the road. So my reccommendations: Toyota FJ Cruiser, Nissan Xterra, Pathfinder or 4Runner. Nuthing beats a bit of extra torque or a bit of extra muscle. Trust me these vehicles rock when the going gets rough.

 

[hairyfucker]

get one that runs.

all good advice but in the end get one you like and realize that the most important part to driving in the snow is the driver.

 

[gladheateher]

I drive a craptacular civic... but i get about 6L/100km with mainly highway km. I have winter tires, they haven't failed me yet.

You might want to look at leasebusters.com. It's just people trying to get out of their leases for various reasons. Sometimes you can get a vehicle with less than a year left with a decent buyout price.

how do you spot a good lease?

 

[Master_Bates]

how do you spot a good lease?

most of the cars are taken to the dealer for regular maintenance as per the lease agreement.

If you want to buy the car, of course its better to find one closer to the end of the leasing period.

If you just want a lease, people that have made a downpayment will have lower monthly payments.

Some people in a bind that need to get out quickly will sometimes offer a cash incentive as well...

Its always a good idea to meet the leasee, ask why they're trying to get rid of it, maintenance records, test drive etc... Some good reasons for wanting out of the lease are moving, loss of job, new company car etc....

you should also go price out a new one to get an idea of what the going rate is for comparison

 

[spacyfoil]

Thats what all my colleagues in the leasing biz tell me.

(About Honda)

You work in a logical place

Actually try Acura (Honda's Luxury Branch) MDX

It is a SUV. Acura MDX 2005-6 will fall in your range, gives you gas milage you want. Good power, looks good, plus its Luxury.