Opportunity Cost

[phillipthorpe]

So, yeah, I did state that I'd post again soon, didn't I?
This is, however, something of a pragmatic post.

I'm getting a car, you see.

I need (well, would like) the input of my oh so many car-literate friends to help me settle the question of what to get.
Said vehicle will be:

1. used pre-owned.
2. a sedan
3. including an automatic transmission

Comments

[nmmn24u]

nissan - mexican, so it would fit you.
passat - good but expensive if it needs to be fixed. get 2003 or newer, do not go older
volvo - nice, expensive to maintain, little more expensive to buy
Audi - same as passat but more expensive to buy and maintain.
mazda - not my style. passed those up when i got my car.
jetta - fits you perfectly - gay. for the price you might as well spend the extra 500 and get the passat. its just as expensive to maintain and not much cheaper than a passat.
honda - cheap, reliable, not as expensive to maintain, but its a honda.
infiniti - too spensive for you
jag - expensive ford piece of shit.
sentra - nissan, mexican, crappy, id rather have the honda.

Carmax is a good place to go for used cars, just dont spend the extra dollar on the warranty. Find a mechanic you trust or go to the dealership to get it fixed.

How are you able to afford this?

[arwyr]

I agree with your assessment except I'd have to say the Mazda3 is probably better than what you are giving it credit for. I've never had a problem with Mazda's, and everything I've heard and read about the 3 is that it is a really nice car for the price.

[phillipthorpe]

*nod* It seems solid enough, though I confess that I'm not a huge fan of the styling. Practically, though, it sounds good, and should be at least *somewhat* fun to drive.

[phillipthorpe]

hey, what makes Nissan mexican? :p

If I get a Passat I will try for a 2006, but we'll see

And, I am able to afford this because for some reason my father decided to buy us all cars this year. I am not complaining. :) He bought my brother a little silver 2006 Sentra, and he bought my sister a corolla but we took it back today after we had a mechanic look at it, so we are looking for a corolla for her or a 2007 sentra now.

[notquitezeus]

for what it's worth, i have a mazda3 s and i've been very pleased with it - enough so that i've been seriously considering upgrading to a speed6.

[phillipthorpe]

orly?

Well that's good to know... I like the idea of the Mazdas, but don't have any first-hand experience with them

[notquitezeus]

the mazda3 is a fun drive -- zippy, great handling -- and so far painless to maintain.

[shiwasha]

i'm guessing the nissan mexican thing.. theyre done here.. but so are VW and theyre not crappy ..
me tackles his bro..
i have absolutely no idea about cars.. but ask joey... he knows quite a bit =P

[david1011]

Personally I would avoid American/Asian cars and go for a nice Euro model. Then again I am very biased with these issues!

I don't know if you have Peugeot over there or not, but I have a Peugeot 307 and it just had its first 1 year birthday and no issues to date. Runs beautifully and is an absolute pleasure to drive.

Have you thought about a VW Golf? They also drive really wonderfully.

Of course, Euro cars cost a bit more to maintain - but they offer you an emotive drive, compared to Asian cars which offer a bland method of transport (the exception of course being asian sports cars), and American cars which tend to be all muscle no substance.

That's my 2c anyway!

[servious1983]

In order of preference:

1a. Honda
1b. Nissan - These three are pretty much tied. They run well, cheap to fix (normally)
1c. Mazda
2. VW - Ties with Audi aside from cost of parts/attaining the vehicle
3. Audi
4. Volvo - Probably about tied with Audi... cost factors.
5. Infiniti - You don't want to afford it.
6. Jaguar - You can't afford to keep it running.