getting a new car

[Teacher Mark 53]

What about a Ford Mustang? Those new models are quite nice - and not all that pricey. In comparison to Infiniti and Lexus anyway...

I'd buy one if I were back in CA, in NJ (with roads like the surface of the moon) we're probably going to get a small-size SUV - CRV or RAV4, something with enough ground clearance to blow the shocks when it hits a pot-hole.

One of my friends has a Volvo Cross Country and it is pretty impressive. I plan on getting one for my wife (when she gets here).

Or this, since she has never drove a car.

Edited May 12, 2008 by WideAwakeInTheUSA

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Get a smartcar

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

What about a Ford Mustang? Those new models are quite nice - and not all that pricey. In comparison to Infiniti and Lexus anyway...

I'd buy one if I were back in CA, in NJ (with roads like the surface of the moon) we're probably going to get a small-size SUV - CRV or RAV4, something with enough ground clearance to blow the shocks when it hits a pot-hole.

One of my friends has a Volvo Cross Country and it is pretty impressive. I plan on getting one for my wife (when she gets here).

Or this, since she has never drove a car.

Impressive - what's the acceleration on that?

0-60 in 30 minutes?

[Teacher Mark 53]

A thing to consider with the Eclipse is that its engine is probably DOHC (Dual Overhead Cam).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dohc

I don't trust them since I've had 2 go bad on me (including an Eagle Talon which was basically the same car).

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Lexus = overpriced Toyota - boring

Infiniti = overpriced Nissan - boring

Mitsubishi Eclipse - ok

That's crazy talk.

[Teacher Mark 53]

Get a smartcar

Read the entire post Troll! I beat you to it. She doesn't like them.

Regarding the Caddy Station Wagon, it is probably quicker than that. The engines in those things were huge.

Edited May 12, 2008 by WideAwakeInTheUSA

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Amber, I'd recommend using Consumer Reports Auto Buying as a guide. I believe you can look for their top recommended cars by price ranges, or at least see a good list. They thoroughly test the cars and keep records - CR also has a car pricing guide - for about $12 you can get a detailed printout of the actual dealer cost for the car, which will help you greatly in negotiating for a fair price. I used the printout several years ago to buy a new 2001 Toyota Echo. The dealer had a sticker price of over $15,000 - the actual cost to the dealer around $9,000 ...that's over a 50 % percent markup and that's before tax and license!

[Teacher Mark 53]

Amber, I'd recommend using Consumer Reports Auto Buying as a guide. I believe you can look for their top recommended cars by price ranges, or at least see a good list. They thoroughly test the cars and keep records - CR also has a car pricing guide - for about $12 you can get a detailed printout of the actual dealer cost for the car, which will help you greatly in negotiating for a fair price. I used the printout several years ago to buy a new 2001 Toyota Echo. The dealer had a sticker price of over $15,000 - the actual cost to the dealer around $9,000 ...that's over a 50 % percent markup and that's before tax and license!

Waste $12.00 when she has us?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Amber, I'd recommend using Consumer Reports Auto Buying as a guide. I believe you can look for their top recommended cars by price ranges, or at least see a good list. They thoroughly test the cars and keep records - CR also has a car pricing guide - for about $12 you can get a detailed printout of the actual dealer cost for the car, which will help you greatly in negotiating for a fair price. I used the printout several years ago to buy a new 2001 Toyota Echo. The dealer had a sticker price of over $15,000 - the actual cost to the dealer around $9,000 ...that's over a 50 % percent markup and that's before tax and license!

Waste $12.00 when she has us?

LOL

[Sinergy 3]

You know a Saturn Vue is pretty decent on gas, and is rated one of the safest small SUV's out there. And they are a good price, and it feels just like driving a car, but has good power.

Edited May 12, 2008 by Sinergy

[Amby 490]

Amber, I'd recommend using Consumer Reports Auto Buying as a guide. I believe you can look for their top recommended cars by price ranges, or at least see a good list. They thoroughly test the cars and keep records - CR also has a car pricing guide - for about $12 you can get a detailed printout of the actual dealer cost for the car, which will help you greatly in negotiating for a fair price. I used the printout several years ago to buy a new 2001 Toyota Echo. The dealer had a sticker price of over $15,000 - the actual cost to the dealer around $9,000 ...that's over a 50 % percent markup and that's before tax and license!

Waste $12.00 when she has us?

LOL

good thinking

thanks for the advice everyone!

platy I will look at an avalon now since I'm not sure what they look like. I'm not really into the crossover vehicles or SUVs. I also like the Cadillac CTS but I think I'm too young to be driving a caddy since I'm not a gangster wannabe

[mawilson 2,133]

platy I will look at an avalon now since I'm not sure what they look like. I'm not really into the crossover vehicles or SUVs. I also like the Cadillac CTS but I think I'm too young to be driving a caddy since I'm not a gangster wannabe

Amby,

If you want a reasonably priced car that's fun to drive, check out the new Holden Commodore (aka Pontiac G8)

It's a poor man's BMW of sorts (it has a very BMW-like MacPherson front strut layout

and multilink rear suspension), only with a lot more power than most BMW's -

pure RWD goodness.

The GT version comes with a 6.0L V8 with 361hp and 385 lb-ft of torque. It's a 6-speed

automatic, so it's not too bad on gas (the V6 has a 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway rating,

the V8 - 15/24 mpg.)

[DeadPoolX 9]

Unless you absolutely have to, I'd stay away from American-made cars. With few exceptions (the Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Viper and maybe the Ford Mustang), just about all American automobiles are #######. I'd recommend going with either German or Japanese vehicles. Both have their strong and weak points, but overall, they're still better than the American cars.

[mawilson 2,133]

Unless you absolutely have to, I'd stay away from American-made cars. With few exceptions (the Chevrolet Corvette, Dodge Viper and maybe the Ford Mustang), just about all American automobiles are #######. I'd recommend going with either German or Japanese vehicles. Both have their strong and weak points, but overall, they're still better than the American cars.

The G8 is Australian-made, if it makes you feel better.

[rclouse 0]

A thing to consider with the Eclipse is that its engine is probably DOHC (Dual Overhead Cam).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dohc

I don't trust them since I've had 2 go bad on me (including an Eagle Talon which was basically the same car).

I drove my '98 Eclipse GSX with 70K miles on it to work this morning. I've had no major problems with it, and I've upgraded some of the parts (better clutch, brake rotors, exhaust). And I definitely do not baby it.

I had a '90 Eagle Talon TSi AWD before that, also had no major problems with it until some old woman decided to drive into it.

As for the purchase, don't go to a dealer. Make them come to you. Email the sales departments of every dealer in your area, describe the exact car you want (color, interior, options all the way down to yes/no on the cigarette lighter). Tell them you're purchasing in a week and the best price wins your business. You'll get a bunch of quotes and you can compare apples to apples. Then you pick the best price and you're done.

We did this for my wife's Mazda 6, and it was the easiest car buying experience of my life. Several dealers were pitching us the same car (it had to come down here from the Bay Area), we just picked the lowest price. Went down there on a Saturday, drove it around the block, then spent a couple hours signing the documents and handing over the cashier's check. No pressure, no "let me talk to my manager", no BS.