Let's talk about cheap NEW cars

Scottah wrote:

91RSImpulse wrote: http://www.fiatusaofowingsmills.com/new/FIAT/2015-FIAT-500+Abarth-581373ac0a0a006576a1e601a268e222.htm well sorry $16,300... There are a ton within the $17k range though...

Well, poop. The ones listed up here in the 'burgh are in the 24k plus range. Thanks for the link.

That is not a bad price except for a few things, for me at least. I have kids so I want leather seats, that one does not have the forged wheels and being old now I want heated seats also. Once you factor all of those in the new ones are considerably more money.

In reply to Rusted_Busted_Spit:

No factory heated seats on any 500; it's a dealer add-on. How many kids would you be trying to carry in a 500 anyway? Wrong car to look at if that's your intent...

oldopelguy wrote: It costs less for the payment+insurance+gas driving my Mirage to work than fuel alone was costing me in my Silverado. Ac, cruise, Bluetooth, power everything, it's better equipped than any 90's beater, has 100k warranty, and like an old truck if it gets a door ding I don't have to care.

I second the Mirage. They're surprisingly good cars for the money. Think Geo Metro with a bit of original mini, and the crash protection of a modern car.

In reply to G_Body_Man:

Do people actually like the Mirage? I've heard pretty mixed things. It's relatively expensive for what you get (pricing about equal to the Fit, Sonic, etc) and has received pretty terrible reviews.

The reborn Mitsubishi Mirage lowers expectations, strangles them and buries their remains in a deep unmarked grave. If this car wasn’t disappointing, it wouldn’t be anything at all.

SlickDizzy wrote: In reply to G_Body_Man: Do people actually like the Mirage? I've heard pretty mixed things. It's relatively expensive for what you get (pricing about equal to the Fit, Sonic, etc) and has received pretty terrible reviews.

The reborn Mitsubishi Mirage lowers expectations, strangles them and buries their remains in a deep unmarked grave. If this car wasn’t disappointing, it wouldn’t be anything at all.

The reviewers hate it, but I know a few people that have them and they have nothing but nice things to say about them.

To me, the mirage would be a good car for $9999, not $15k. But I digress.

neon4891 wrote: To me, the mirage would be a good car for $9999, not $15k. But I digress.

I don't think it would be too hard to get one for that price. You could probably haggle off 3-4K because they are not moving well.

I've been told that the Mirage is a horrible excuse for an automobile, but you guys seem to disagree?

neon4891 wrote: To me, the mirage would be a good car for $9999, not $15k. But I digress.

Would This Be More reasonable?

Any thoughts on the Lancer? Seems like a lot of nice car for $18k. Just worried it would be worth $7k next year.

http://www.southparkmitsubishi.com/new/Mitsubishi/2015-Mitsubishi-Lancer-83ba76cb0a0a0065040020d8513748b9.htm

Scottah wrote: I've been told that the Mirage is a horrible excuse for an automobile, but you guys seem to disagree?

They're good cars if you just want either something that gets great gas mileage, is cheap, or is a slow car that is fun to drive fast without getting tickets. The reviewers compare it to established subcompact cars, whereas it plays in a similar arena as the Versa sedan.

Scottah wrote: Living in Pittsburgh, we do have the potential for a lot of snow/ice, so I want to keep that in mind.

How about an Impreza?

noddaz wrote: Fiesta ST is just outside the given range.... 197 hp, 202 torques $20,945 starting MSRP.

You could get one for $20k I bet. I found a local used one 2015, 9k on the clock for $19,975 asking.

In reply to SlickDizzy:

It was a factory option from what I can tell, just not that common. As for the kids, I just need to be able to carry the three of them from time to time, we would still have moms R350 and my 9-5 for extended trips.

Related to that, my 12 year old had more room behind me in the 500 than he had behind me in the Fiesta ST which really surprised me.

The Mazda2 is a lot of fun and you could probably still find a new 2014 on a lot somewhere(no more 2015+).

Nice suspension and its a load of fun. I've had both parents + my 2 year old(in a car seat) in the back seat and wife in passenger seat for a 3hr round trip before so its doable

I've been getting 37-38mpg on my 100mi daily commute.

With a $20k budget you can get a good suspension and a lot of wheel/tire sets that are Miata compatible.

noddaz wrote: Fiesta ST is just outside the given range.... 197 hp, 202 torques $20,945 starting MSRP.

As much as I don't like the drivers aids on it, I still think it looks like a great deal for a fun daily driver. Coming from a Focus SVT which I really like makes me hope the FiST is as good too.

MCarp22 wrote:

Scottah wrote: Living in Pittsburgh, we do have the potential for a lot of snow/ice, so I want to keep that in mind.

How about an Impreza?

Surprising not until page 3. Depending on where you are located its hard to beat a base Impreza.

mattmacklind wrote:

MCarp22 wrote:

Scottah wrote: Living in Pittsburgh, we do have the potential for a lot of snow/ice, so I want to keep that in mind.

How about an Impreza?

Surprising not until page 3. Depending on where you are located its hard to beat a base Impreza.

I agree that looks good on paper and I hear they're great cars, but the blandness of that car just does nothing for me. Subaru ruined the looks of their cars around 2010 IMO.

Stopped in at lunch and looked at the Sonic (for shear size) at the local Chevy dealer. I really think they're doable. Seems roomy enough and they are sharp in person. The only cars they had on the lot are the 1.8 autotragic, so I'm not too interested in a test drive just yet. I wonder how far off that 15,188 the dealer is willing to go?

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=43240&endYear=2016&modelCode1=SPARK&showcaseOwnerId=1146859&startYear=1981&makeCode1=CHEV&listingType=new&listingTypes=new&searchRadius=500&maxPrice=10000&showcaseListingId=377788150&mmt=%5BCHEV%5BSPARK%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=381980870&Log=0

Only $9322 dollars Brand NEW!

It is my personal recommendation that the Chevy Spark be thrown into the "Pot" as well :)

I am kind of surprised nobody mentioned this car... I drove one and wanted to buy one before I found my Sonic LTZ and I actually was quite surprised on how well it drove even with A/C on. Definitely buy a Manual if I was you. This is about 3 and some odd hours away from you... They have factory traction/stability control to help in the winter months! They did axe the cd player but they come standard with a auxiliary port for mp3 players or ipod... the factory fog light kit is cheap on www.gmpartsdirect.com. that would have been the only change I would have made...

I daily drive Abarth, and regularly end up with Sonics as rental cars on work trips. The Abarth is not an ideal daily driver., but since I work from home, and on days I do need to go to the office, its only a 10 minute drive, it does fine.

The Sonics are more comfortable, if slower (all have been the 1.8/auto), and while being rental car basic, are a competent vehicle.

My recommendation, though, is try to daily the SVT for at least 6 months, while saving up about $300 a month for a downpayment. That way, you can get a "boring" DD, and keep the SVT for fun, if you decide its not acceptable. And if you do decide you like the SVT as a daily, you'll have $1800 in the bank...

I was quite serious about buying a Sonic RS about a year ago, there is a thread about it on here.

While it doesn't have the handling "chops" the Fiesta ST does, it still is a great car (and different, I like different). I liked it so much and ranted and raved about it so much that my mom went for a test drive in one and bought a white auto RS... it pains me to admit my mom daily drives a cooler car than I do lol

But seriously, the car is awesome. I've driven her's quite a bit, brings a smile to my face every-time. Through a tune and some suspension at it and have a great DD.

eastsidemav wrote: My recommendation, though, is try to daily the SVT for at least 6 months...

Well this is my new plan. As much as I'd like to just run out and spend 15k and finance 12k of that, I need to be a bit smarter. We'll see how the SVT does and if any break downs occur. I've seriously gone through the SVT with a fine tooth comb, so it should be good for a while, but you never know.

I will update this thread, but I really need to make a new one about living with an SVT as a DD. They always seem to peak some interest on this forum.

SlickDizzy wrote: The Hyundais and Kias don't interest me much, neither do any of the GM or Dodge offerings.

Not even the turbo-4 Forte SX/Veloster Turbo? New they're 23-ish, used they're in the teens with factory warranty still. seems like a no-brainer to me.

http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/641711244/overview/

In reply to Bobzilla:

I like the Veloster in concept, but the rear end styling is atrocious enough to elicit a "nope." I also wouldn't mind four real doors. The Forte5 SX is closer to my heart (didn't even know they were making such a thing!), but the fact that I can find almost none of either car under $20k locally kind of takes them out of the running.

I really need to get out and start driving stuff, but on paper the 2015 Fit seems like far and away the most car for the money right now.