Buying My First New Car

[DESS]

I bought a new car from the states and saved $10K in 2007. With the dollar half-way decent again you should look into that as well. It's easy to do.

[MRCboicgy]

I'm actually in the same boat right now. I'm in a position to buy my first car, and the first one I looked at was an 09 Fusion. It was the I4SEL, loaded, which they knocked 6500 off of to bring it down to 22K. I saw on here Ford was only offering 7.99% on new, but didn't believe it. It was true though and they wouldn't budge so I walked out. I heard an ad on the radio that they've lowered the rate on some cars, if anyone knows if that's true---the Ford.ca site doesn't give enough info and I don't feel like walking back into the dealer again.
If an 09 Fusion 4cyl is something you'd consider, go try one, I thought it was a nice ride. Great steering feel, lots of room.

I also think the Benz B200 is cute, anyone have thoughts on a 2 year old one of those in the mid $20's. I'm a brand whore at times.

[STeeLy]

I'll probably be known on this board as the biggest Mazda 3 Fan boy... Because I will advocate this car any chance I get with someone looking or a car.

Seriously get a slightly used (maybe even Demos if they stil have them) Mazda 3, don't go for the 2010 just yet... The 2009 are priced a little less than the 2010 and they may have purchase incentives as well. A used Hatchback could be found near the $20k mark with relatively low km. You could probably even haggle a new one down to roughly that price.

[Finner]

Hey guys, I took the advice from you and went used. I ended up buying an 07 Dodge Caliber today...never was much for the american cars but it was pretty fun to drive. Has pretty good reliability and safety reviews too, and i liked how high up you sit in it. I tried the Elantra Touring, but holy it was terrible to drive. Just felt heavy and slow.

You were all right about the better deal on slightly used. I traded in my fairly damaged old car (back passenger door knocked in and a ton of mechanical work needing to be done) and got the caliber with 65k on it for $11000. Warranty is still good for another 35000 km.

Thanks for all your advice!!!

[GreenTeaFrapp]

You're driving a Dodge in Edmonton? Just make sure to be careful about what you do with the sunroof open!

[Barnes]

Sounds like a good deal. My parents have the Calibre's sister, the Jeep Compass and i have driven it a few times. It's way uglier than the Calibre but a pretty good drive.

I will also be in the market soon. Has anyone driven/been in a Mini Cooper Clubman S? Any idea if there is room for a medium sized dog + kid for short drives?

[DESS]

Originally Posted by Barnes

Sounds like a good deal. My parents have the Calibre's sister, the Jeep Compass and i have driven it a few times. It's way uglier than the Calibre but a pretty good drive.

I will also be in the market soon. Has anyone driven/been in a Mini Cooper Clubman S? Any idea if there is room for a medium sized dog + kid for short drives?

I've driven a Cooper S, but not the Clubman. I really like those cars, but I find them to be a touch pricey for a car that wouldn't work well for me as a primary car with two kids. And if it's just a toy, they aren't quite fast enough to justify the expense. I'm wanting a 370z when it's time to go back to a fun car. At least with a Cooper they can work great year-round here being FWD. I say go for it!

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Barnes

I will also be in the market soon. Has anyone driven/been in a Mini Cooper Clubman S? Any idea if there is room for a medium sized dog + kid for short drives?

Absolutely, there is more room in there than you might think. I can fit both the kids in my Cooper S hatchback for day trips, and the Clubman is roomier than mine. And the drive is like no other.

[Coach]

+1 for a Versa. I have had mine for a year and love it. For a smaller car it has TONS of room and you could get it hatchback but if you aren't into that I have the sedan model and the trunk is a good size.

edit: and i realized im a little too late. congrats on the new wheels!

[COGENT]

Looks like this thread is turning into a form for advice so I will take my turn.

I am currently leasing a 07 Escape which ends in December. I actually really like it but I would be stupid to buy it out as the buy out price is $2,000 less than buying a new one and the buy out interest rate is set at 2%... Ford is offering 0% at the moment.

I am interested in buying a used Honda Element... seems like a very logical vehicle for my lifestyle and something that can adapt to my future lifestyle (children). Does anyone have experience with these cars?

[DESS]

Originally Posted by COGENT

Looks like this thread is turning into a form for advice so I will take my turn.

I am currently leasing a 07 Escape which ends in December. I actually really like it but I would be stupid to buy it out as the buy out price is $2,000 less than buying a new one and the buy out interest rate is set at 2%... Ford is offering 0% at the moment.

I am interested in buying a used Honda Element... seems like a very logical vehicle for my lifestyle and something that can adapt to my future lifestyle (children). Does anyone have experience with these cars?

I love Elements, but at 6'3" I just couldn't find a comfortable seating position in one. The ones that have the plastic cladding are ugly, IMO, but as long as it is all sheet metal they look nice. And obviously Hondas are great cars so you can't really go wrong with this.

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by ok, ok,....I get it

yeah the hyundai points...please

3yr old car was grinding going into 2nd, Precision Hyundai rebuilt my clutch after 40K(!) saying it "should" be under my 5yr bumper-to-bumper warranty. After the work was done they tell me it was "driver fault" and charged me $1900. I insisted on seeing the destroyed clutch or speaking with the mechanic who came to this conclusion and they refused. I spoke to the GM Andrew Robinson who said "Driver fault is driver fault, I can't do anything about it". They also refused to show me the book dictating how many hours of labor a customer is automatically charged for each type of work. Hyundai Canada said warranty work after the base 3yr warranty is the dealer's discretion. I'd driven stick for 10 years and never replaced a clutch, and the car still grinds going into 2nd.

With the car still under warranty, I tried Calgary Hyundai out when I had a knocking noise going over bumps coming from the wheel well. They replaced some transmission brackets and charged me $750, citing "expected wear and tear" which is not covered under warranty. Of course the knocking was still there, and Calgary Hyundai refused to even look at it again without charging me the minimum inspection fee of $100 or whatever.

Currently my right blinker is stuck on solid, all the time. It stays on when I turn the car off and kills the battery. I have to remove the fuse every time I turn my car off. For either dealer to fix this, the entire body control module must be replaced, which is around $1000.

Just. Stay. Away.

[FlamesKickAss]

I have an 07 Ford Fusion. I highly recommend it. Lots of room and the trunk is huge. 3 hockey bags or 5 golf bags.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by COGENT

Looks like this thread is turning into a form for advice so I will take my turn.

I am currently leasing a 07 Escape which ends in December. I actually really like it but I would be stupid to buy it out as the buy out price is $2,000 less than buying a new one and the buy out interest rate is set at 2%... Ford is offering 0% at the moment.

Return your Escape and then go back in a day or 2 and buy it for the reduced price they will be selling it for on the lot. That, or tell the salesman you want to keep the vehicle but not at the buyout price and see if they will negotiate.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

1) Stay away from all things Hyundai (that includes Kia).
2) Purchasing a new car is among the dumbest financial decisions possible.
3) Stay away from all things Hyundai.

Let me know if you require clarification on any of these points.

What's the hate for Hyundai? What model car do you have?

They were rated the second best company just behind Lexus by JD Power, but what do they know? Anyone who still thinks Hyundai's are garbage has not driven one in a very long time.

You even look now at the type of cars they are bringing out like the Genesis Sedan which beat out the Lexus ES350 and is about $15-20K cheaper with equal options. Then the Genesis Coupe which is beating out Infiniti G35's, Nissan 370z', Ford Mustangs, etc. for overall quality and price.

This isn't the same Hyundai that built the Pony, they are a different company now. They actually remind me a lot of Nissan in the 80's where everyone was laughing how they would never break into the market and built nothing but crap. Now in the 90's and 00's the Nissan Maxima is one of the best cars out there for resale value even beating out BMW, Lexus, etc.

My suggestion to you if you are looking at a new car is going test drive all the ones you like, narrow your options down and then read the reviews and compare each car against each other.

[COGENT]

Originally Posted by Dion

Return your Escape and then go back in a day or 2 and buy it for the reduced price they will be selling it for on the lot. That, or tell the salesman you want to keep the vehicle but not at the buyout price and see if they will negotiate.

This is definitely something I am considering. However, I am curious if a newer one would have better gas mileage? My 07 isn't terrible on gas but I would prefer if it was better.

[DESS]

Originally Posted by HOOT

What's the hate for Hyundai? What model car do you have?

They were rated the second best company just behind Lexus by JD Power, but what do they know? Anyone who still thinks Hyundai's are garbage has not driven one in a very long time.

You even look now at the type of cars they are bringing out like the Genesis Sedan which beat out the Lexus ES350 and is about $15-20K cheaper with equal options. Then the Genesis Coupe which is beating out Infiniti G35's, Nissan 370z', Ford Mustangs, etc. for overall quality and price.

This isn't the same Hyundai that built the Pony, they are a different company now. They actually remind me a lot of Nissan in the 80's where everyone was laughing how they would never break into the market and built nothing but crap. Now in the 90's and 00's the Nissan Maxima is one of the best cars out there for resale value even beating out BMW, Lexus, etc.

My suggestion to you if you are looking at a new car is going test drive all the ones you like, narrow your options down and then read the reviews and compare each car against each other.

Hyundai is getting better for sure, although Mike's experience runs contrary to what we're hearing in the media. And maybe Hyundai is rated better than the ones bolded above for quality, but Hyundai still consistently rates below all of the competition when it comes to driving dynamics, though they are catching up.

[COGENT]

Originally Posted by DESS

I love Elements, but at 6'3" I just couldn't find a comfortable seating position in one. The ones that have the plastic cladding are ugly, IMO, but as long as it is all sheet metal they look nice. And obviously Hondas are great cars so you can't really go wrong with this.

I agree... the plastic is terrible. I am looking at 2007 SC models that have the solid paint on the outside and the carpet on the floor.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by DESS

I've driven a Cooper S, but not the Clubman. I really like those cars, but I find them to be a touch pricey for a car that wouldn't work well for me as a primary car with two kids. And if it's just a toy, they aren't quite fast enough to justify the expense. I'm wanting a 370z when it's time to go back to a fun car. At least with a Cooper they can work great year-round here being FWD. I say go for it!

"Fast enough" is somewhat relative. In a straight line, yes, the MINIs lack top end speed compared to beasts like a 370Z/Corvette/Porsche etc. However, my car (Cooper S Works) has a sub 7 second 0-60, and the MINIs always seem to come out near or on top at the autocross events. And you're right, they make a great all weather car also (with the right tires of course).

[ikaris]

Originally Posted by HOOT

What's the hate for Hyundai? What model car do you have?

Hyundai = Blech.

I recently drove a brand new Hyundai Elantra with only 48km on it for a rental (I didn't have a choice) and it was such a crappy car. It felt weak, and the way the driving felt was absolutely terrible. Unresponsive steering, and a high pitch squealing for the engine (I was advised that this was normal).

For your reference, I drive a Lexus and have previously driven Volkswagens. Both companies are magnitudes better in terms of quality and drive.