The time has come: New Car Edition

Javelin wrote: Certified Pre-Owned Volt.

This. I got mine for $26,000 with 18,000 miles. I think it would be perfect for this application.

SilverFleet wrote:

DaveEstey wrote: It's not always this bad. Construction projects are making life awful. On a good day it's only 2 hours spent driving!

It's supposed to take me 37 minutes to get from my house to work. That never happens because people apparently like to turn the morning commute into a demo derby or stunt show and do barrel rolls in their appliances. Lately, there has been at least one accident in the morning and evening, not to mention the endless construction. Last week, I had a few 2-hour commutes, and that was just on the way home. Also, how the berkeley does one roll over in a late model Toyota Corrola all by themselves? I swear these people are doing it on purpose.

They're always finding new ways to surprise me with their stupidity.

I'd go for either a Mazda 3 or 6 or a Honda Fit. If I had to have an automatic for a daily driver, i'd at least want something that had a decent sport shift/manumatic system.

Mazda Miata with auto and PRHT?

Simple answer, a 1yo Fusion Titanium package with the 2.0T Very very nice place to be in.

Your situation has hybrid or volt written all over it. If you didn't hate the Prius, look at the CT200h. You can get loaded 2011's for about $20k. The Volt would work too, but it sounds like your round trip would be way over the electric only range, so a hybrid would deliver better mileage. Get an F-sport CT200h or at least test one with the upgraded stereo and real leather. You will be surprised at how good it is and how much better it is than a Prius, except that the Prius gets 1-2 mpg more.

don't ever sell that car. you'll be sorry.

I like my '13 Fiesta.

aussiesmg wrote: Elantra, we have 2, Mrs Aussie has auto with all extras, nice place to be stuck in traffic

This right here is the easy button. Hell, for $25k new you can get a Veloster Turbo or the new Forte5SX with the Turbo..... and it leaves room for suspension/wheels/tires if you so desired.

Are they building the auto box 500 Abarth yet? One of those would be fun.

And for the love of God, buy something that makes you happy and excited to drive. You spend 15 hours a week there, make those 15 hours as awesome as you can.

mazdeuce wrote: Are they building the auto box 500 Abarth yet? One of those would be fun.

This.

Adrian_Thompson wrote: V6 Auto Mustang new with Performance package. New MSRP with only the PErformance package added is $25,525. Negotiating with the S550 coming out will easily beat that. PErformance pack is important it gives you larger bars, higher rate springs, bigger brakes, 19" wheels and summer tires and most important of all the 3.31 with LSD. Get a base car and add the gears yourself for even less. Add snow tires for winter.

I bought mine for $19,700 before tax and delivery and it also had the 102a package!

I'm about where you are looking for a vehicle. Just drove a Mazda2 and Fiesta, both auto's. They were both auto's but the Fiesta seemed like more of an appliance (NVH) when compared to the 2.

I just test drove a Veloster yesterday and while it does seem good for a DD. However, the large blind spots and interior (it had about 3 plastic handles? by your knees, feels confining) were too much for me. I didn't have time to test the Elantra but I'm told they drive about the same, so I'm heading back for a test drive.

For something slightly bigger, the Sonata is in your price range. A friend of mine claims mid-30's in an auto 2012 Sonata all highway commute. Pretty comfy car to drive in but never piloted one.

isnt the Powershift in the fiesta and focus having lots of issues?

MrChaos wrote: isnt the Powershift in the fiesta and focus having lots of issues?

I drove a friends car with one, and once going it is fairly smooth.. but herky and Jerky in stop and go.. And.. Oh my the clutch chatter..

This is going to sound really stupid, but for your commute and overall weather patterns, take a look at a Subaru Crosstek. I recently bought a 2014 Forester for a DD (have an MR2 and a Vette for summer fun and a Tacoma for mountain trails), and it's a very enjoyable car. Quiet, handles quite well for what it is, gets excellent mileage (I'm averaging 29 mpg overall after 8000 miles, including 25 % off pavement), works great in the snow. Mine's a stick, but the CVT is quite nice, supposedly gets better mpg than the stick, and it can work like a paddle shifted stick in sport mode. Plus, you can bolt on go fast stuff if you want to. You should be able to get one for way under $25 large.

170 hp isn't a lot by today's standards, but it's plenty for regular driving.

If you are ever interested in a S197 V-6, you're welcome to take mine for a drive, Dave (just remember mine is manual and has some suspension tweaks).

I drive 35 miles each way up and down I-495, which sometimes has brutal traffic. More often, the lane speeds from right to left are 55mph-60mph-80mph. Lots of NASCAR qualifying going on... I will vouch for the V-6PP not getting great mileage around town but I can usually manage 24-26mpg combined and 29mpg on the highway, even with the shorter gearing. The stock summer tires are frighteningly bad in the snow but I know a couple of dudes who drive their Mustangs in the winter with proper winter tires and weight in the back, and they say it's pretty darn good.

However, with your criteria I'd probably go for a fun appliance. Mazda 3, Mazda 6, Focus, and Aston Fusion would be high on my shopping list.

Aspen wrote: Your situation has hybrid or volt written all over it. If you didn't hate the Prius, look at the CT200h. You can get loaded 2011's for about $20k. The Volt would work too, but it sounds like your round trip would be way over the electric only range, so a hybrid would deliver better mileage. Get an F-sport CT200h or at least test one with the upgraded stereo and real leather. You will be surprised at how good it is and how much better it is than a Prius, except that the Prius gets 1-2 mpg more.

In my experience the Volt gets about 40 mpg when running on gas. If the OP's commute is 90 miles, the Volt would get about 40 miles on the charge and then burn about 1.2 gallons of gas. I'm not getting out the calculator but that's about 80 mpg in that application.

I really like the wife's Elantra. The only problem is I'm 6'with long legs and even with the telescopic steering wheel I have to sit too close to the pedals which causes massive pain in my very bad knees after an hour or so. Cruise control helps on the highway but it's not always an option. Other than that I really like the car.

Fueled by Caffeine wrote:

MrChaos wrote: isnt the Powershift in the fiesta and focus having lots of issues?

I drove a friends car with one, and once going it is fairly smooth.. but herky and Jerky in stop and go.. And.. Oh my the clutch chatter..

The problem with it is the computer tuning to make it feel like a car with a torque converter......

Cruze? Mazda3? Focus? For a larger car, 300/Charger with a V6 and the 200/Avenger. CPO Bimmer?

Can it be a 2dr? FWD/RWD?

nicksta43 wrote: I really like the wife's Elantra. The only problem is I'm 6'with long legs and even with the telescopic steering wheel I have to sit too close to the pedals which causes massive pain in my very bad knees after an hour or so. Cruise control helps on the highway but it's not always an option. Other than that I really like the car.

Try adjusting the front of the seat bottom up to support the back of the knee more.

yamaha wrote:

Fueled by Caffeine wrote:

MrChaos wrote: isnt the Powershift in the fiesta and focus having lots of issues?

I drove a friends car with one, and once going it is fairly smooth.. but herky and Jerky in stop and go.. And.. Oh my the clutch chatter..

The problem with it is the computer tuning to make it feel like a car with a torque converter......

I'd buy the reason, but overall the experience is lacking.

Ive driven a veloster and a mazda 2 and thought those would both be great commuters. If you can DD a stick shift i would say fiesta st or veloster turbo.