Suggest a New Car - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

OilKiller · 07-31-2012, 03:45 PM

I'm currently driving a 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe. It's been a very good vehicle and while I wouldn't mind owning one again, they are a little out of my price range right now. I bought this one used. I wouldn't mind another SUV, but I'm finding that most are out of my price range. I would really prefer to buy new. I don't want another used vehicle.

With that being said, I'm pretty open to the type of vehicle. It doesn't need to be a coupe or anything like that. I'm fine with a sedan and even 4 doors. I wouldn't mind if it had a bit of pep to it though. My wife recently bought a Ford Fiesta and while it's not a bad vehicle, I find it pretty gutless. I would prefer an automatic, but if it saved me a bundle, I could go with a standard transmission if need be. I'm really looking at spending about 22k max. Really want to keep my payments between $350 - $400 max a month. $350 would be better, so that's why the 22k is about as high as I can go. My credit won't allow me to take advantage of 0% financing or anything like that unfortunately.

I am really looking for something with great interior options. I would love a built in navigation system, but realize that is most likely not going to happen in my price range. What I need to have though is power everything, ac, bluetooth and at the very least, an auxiliary plug in for other devices. I prefer digital readouts if possible and really like features like so many km's until empty, etc.

I've done quite a bit of searching at some of the various websites for Chevy, Honda, etc. but wanted to get other opinions on vehicles I might be missing out on or other options out there. Ideas, thoughts? Any help would be appreciated based on your experience. Thanks!

DownhillGoat · 07-31-2012, 03:55 PM

You're asking for a lot in that price range

I'd check out the Mazda 3. Last time I looked you could get one pretty loaded for 24k. Might be able to knock off a few options to drop that price a bit. It's not a power house but it's fairly peppy for what it is.

The Subaru Impreza is a decent peppy car starting around the 20k mark.

I find standards won't save you as much $ these days, and some cars are actually pricier in the standard models.

OilKiller · 07-31-2012, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

You're asking for a lot in that price range

Oh don't I know it...that's why I'm still looking. Thanks for the suggestions.

QuadCityImages · 07-31-2012, 04:17 PM

I'm looking into buying a 2012 Focus SEL with MyFord Touch. Anyone in here have one by chance? Figured I wouldn't start a separate thread...

Derek Sutton · 07-31-2012, 04:31 PM

22k will go a lot further in a car that is 1- 2yr's old then with a new one. I know you said you wanted new and their is no better feeling then driving your new car right off the lot but when your on a budget, I'd go with a used "like new" model.

meanmachine13 · 07-31-2012, 04:34 PM

I love my Hyundai Elantra Touring

OilKiller · 07-31-2012, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

22k will go a lot further in a car that is 1- 2yr's old then with a new one. I know you said you wanted new and their is no better feeling then driving your new car right off the lot but when your on a budget, I'd go with a used "like new" model.

Yeah, I might look into that. Really want a vehicle this time that no one else has driven though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by meanmachine13

I love my Hyundai Elantra Touring

I think I looked at those, little bit higher than my range though if I remember, with the features I'm looking for. Edit: Looks like I'm wrong on the price. I'll check it out. Is it fairly peppy though?

trew · 07-31-2012, 04:40 PM

I think Ford is still running it's employee pricing promo, and they seem to be doing a lot of work on their interiors and stereo electronics. A nicely trimmed Focus from the 2012 model year with the top level trim might fit into your budget and feature wish list.

Also look at Kia offerings for 2012 model years with SX luxury trim.

Both of these are going to be at the top of your price range, but it's possible that you can get things under 22k if you find the right dealer who wants to move out old product.

Also consider just installing your own navigation system. Probably can be done for under $1k, and might save on expensive trim level upgrades you may not want.

meanmachine13 · 07-31-2012, 04:41 PM

I upgraded from a 1994 Geo Metro, so it seems a great deal more peppy than that. However, I am not a car person, nor have I driven anything aside from my Elantra and Metro. So I am not too sure how it compares to other newer cars.

QuadCityImages · 07-31-2012, 04:43 PM

http://www.maclinford.com/en/newcars....spy?id=246320

Something like that, only in blue, is what I'm looking at. Its a little above the 22k range, although I don't know how far below MSRP they go up there.

8" touch screen with navigation built in, and Ford is all over the tech side of things lately.

Table 5 · 07-31-2012, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

22k will go a lot further in a car that is 1- 2yr's old then with a new one. I know you said you wanted new and their is no better feeling then driving your new car right off the lot but when your on a budget, I'd go with a used "like new" model.

This is what we did a few months ago. We looked at all the new options in this price range 18-22k (Focus, Rio, Mazda2/3 etc), and instead ended up going with a 3 year old certified Volvo v50 that still had a 3 year warranty.

Frankly, it spanks the pants off of anything you can buy new in this price range (it's a 30k+ car new) in terms of build quality and driving dynamics, while still looking and driving new.

OilKiller · 07-31-2012, 04:48 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Lots of good info in here.

Table 5 · 07-31-2012, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuadCityImages

http://www.maclinford.com/en/newcars....spy?id=246320
.

I'd stay away from Maclin Ford....I had one of the most inept customer-service experiences there in a long time. A great combination of rude and incompetent. Basically if you're not buying a 40k truck, they don't care.

Table 5 · 07-31-2012, 04:51 PM

Btw, if you're gonna get a Focus (which is not a bad option) the hatchback is much more useful than the sedan. The smaller the car, the more efficiently it has to handle space....and the hatch does that much better. You can fold down seats to get a bigger trunk for those times when you need to carry something bigger. Plus it's shorter so it's easier to park (and often has more glass so you can see out back better). Sedans are kind of terrible when it comes to space efficiency.

QuadCityImages · 07-31-2012, 04:52 PM

Well, I certainly have no idea about any car dealerships in Canada. I was just looking for an Focus SEL sedan with the MyFord Touch in a color other than ugly from a dealership that includes actual photos.

Table 5 · 07-31-2012, 04:53 PM

Ah, didnt notice you were from Iowa. You're excused!

Derek Sutton · 07-31-2012, 05:48 PM

http://www.autotrader.ca/a/Mitsubish...howcpo=ShowCPO

I have no idea what this dealership is like but ot looks like a fairly good deal. There's a few of these in your price range and they would be a huge step up from your current ride, very nice and affordable suv. I just like car shopping

STeeLy · 07-31-2012, 05:51 PM

Also, if you wait until about September, a lot of car companies/dealerships will do their "year end" clearance then, they can bring the the price by a fair bit too.

VO #23 · 07-31-2012, 06:13 PM

I just bought a 2012 Escape XLT (with AWD) at the beginning of the month and got a really good deal because of the employee pricing event. It was $31K a few months ago and I picked it up for just a shade over $25K before taxes...with my trade my payments are $410 a month.

Northendzone · 07-31-2012, 07:58 PM

Would you like a car who horn play la kookaratcha? If so, I'd suggetq the homer

http://www.google.ca/search?q=the+ho...-3CV2tStdbuPM: