CD Article: Subcompacts under $15,000

[Demosthenes X]

 

I'm happier knowing that the safety is there should the need arise...  that's doubly true if we're talking about a family vehicle!

[Knucklez]

i don't know what subcompact to buy.. i been searching

honda fit = way too expensive.  sorry, for smaller engine 1.5L SOHC they want $20K + no deal on financing entire lot, so end price is ~ $23,500.   wow..

yaris does not have a coffee cup holder in front.  no thanks.

kia rio 5 is good, but 2.9% financing ?  engine is the EXACT SAME as hyundia from what i saw.  only the body looks cheaper.  but car is $1000 cheaper..

so, for $1000 i'd pay to have a hyundai accent, 2 door.  walk of the lot price is $19,200 with financing included in final sale price.  come with 100Km warrenty too so not bad.  i like hyundai cause the last one i drove into the freak'n ground and it cost me nothing to maintain

ford focus was really cheap at $18,200.  bigger engine.. was too good to be true.  i think they just sell a lemon, so i stay away.  the engine looked like a rat's nest of wires & tubes.

i'm off to see the pontiac Wave tomorrow.  what do you think of this car?  i'll post the walk of lot price when i find out.  seems GM offers now 160,000KM warrenty as standard, and i qualify for new grad deal

i am down between the wave & hyundai accent 2007.  what do you think?  really need your advice.  i need cheap car to maintain, no lemon, last at least 250,000km.

thanks!

Knucklez

[stickshift]

knucklez, have a look at the Nissan Versa, too.

[Demosthenes X]

The Fit is expensive once you start moving up in trim, I agree.  Worth the money?  Maybe - Honda's got a great reputation, and the Fit is supposed to be great to drive, too.  But not cheap.

I really like the new Accent hatch.  Looks great, supposed to drive well enough, and priced well.  Are you looking at the Sport model?

[Knucklez]

no sport, just a move around the city car.  i have an honda accord sport for fun weekend driving 

thx for the advice on nissan versa.  it was a VERY nice car, suppior in its hatchback class - better than the FIT - no doubt about it.  but their financing rate was outrageous, so this is a MUST BUY but only if you have cash.

i'm liking the pontiac wave now, hope it is a reliable car 

Knucklez

[wing]

Mazda 3?  How about a City Golf?

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I would likely pick the Accent 3dr myself for the best combo of price/warranty/quality/size. The Wave if you just want the cheapest runabout possible. Fit is the best all around IMO, wins out on the Yaris because of hatch space but Yaris packaging/equipment for the price is better on the top trim level RS vs Sport.

[Knucklez]

i have no problem with the city golf, but the price is too high for me.  the same is true for the FIT.  you see, the subcompacts under $15,000 topic is actually a bit false because once you pay tax and misc. you will be hard pressed to keep the cost under $15,000 - heaven forbit you want an automatic, air conditioning or extended warrenty!

i guess for me i just want the car with the best ratio of cheap vs. reliable, and it needs to be a hatchback.  my gut feel tells me the answer is accent 2dr, but it is a clear $3000 more than the wave...  maybe the wave isn't as reliable so, 5 years down the road you sink $2000 into it to bring it the same distance as the accent.  well, then in this fictional world, the wave becomes a better ratio of cheap vs. reliable.

get what i mean?  when it comes to city drive-around..  i want a brand new car, but one that fits only the bare minimum requirement.  to me, this defines the subcompact world.

thoughts?
Knucklez

[Rupert]

We have the 06 4 door Accent and we are very happy with it. Good city car but also a super little highway cruiser, comfortable and quiet. This is important to us as we have an elderly relative who lives out of town who we visit quite often requiring a long drive. The car stays on center as well as any American car that we have had and is supprisingly unaffected by truck bow-waves when passing. The gearing of the automatic drive makes RPM of about 3000 at 110kmh. Super engine, easy entry and exit, great seats for a small car, not an 'ECONO-BOX' by any means, whatever that stupid slang means. I have read about competitors having better handling. Can't comment on that other than to say that I don't know what you would want to do with a car that would require more than what this has. Coming up to 20,000km at this point and zero problems.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Look for some deals and report back.

'06 Elantra sedans were on for $11,999. Maybe the 5-door not much more? I'd inquire while you're at Hyundai - maybe they have some to move.