New or Used: Expensive Wives and Necessary Understatement

Sajeev Mehta and Steve Lang
by Sajeev Mehta and Steve Lang

Ryan writes:

Hello everyone, I am looking for something with these attributes: 2005+ model year, $8500 or less, at least four doors, not too old (or older but VERY reliable), smaller is better, cute will win, and no clutch pedal. Go!

Backstory: the missus and I grow weary of a 1998 Beetle that is now host to a trifecta of troubles (transmission, electrical, and engine. Considering this is the 2.0 non-turbo motor, it’s almost a blessing). We’d like something that is more reliable and allows easier access to the back seat (my mother- in-law and wife have both earned the right to not be folded up back there). This is our only car, but neither of us drives to work, so fuel economy is a non-issue. But easy parallel parking on weekend trips downtown is an issue. Our cargo needs are modest, nothing that can’t be handled with a bike rack.

I’d love to get a stick, but it’s not in the cards.

What I love about the Beetle is that it’s a luxurious small car: keyless entry, quiet, goes around corners well, and isn’t tinny. Given that we have to get a 4-door automatic, I’m resigned to a non-sporty ride, so why not go all the way and buy the smallest, most comfy car we can buy?

Consider that my wife’s favorite cars right now are the Fiat 500 and the Mini, you can see where her aesthetic tastes lie. So I guess the ideal car would be a 4-door Lexus that was the size of a Mini, and costs around $8500, and is nice and reliable, and preferably 2005 or newer. I don’t ask for much!

PS: if it’s good at going around corners, that would be great.

Sajeev Answers:

Nice. Reliable. And for $8500. Which eliminates anything not made by a Japanese or American manufacturer: I know, I know…the Euro fanbois say there are plenty of reliable 3-series, 9-3s, or V-whatever Volvos out there, but anything from hard-to-find control modules to brake pads (maybe) are gonna cost more. And if you don’t the toolbox skills and/or a reasonable and honest mechanic in your area, forget it. So you know the drill, suck it up and buy something that lacks the industrial design flair of a fashion-savvy small car.

Which leaves understated refinement: anything Honda or Mazda has a clean and wannabe stylish look, topped by the necessary understatement of this price point. And doesn’t it sound awesome when you think about it that way?

So drink this Kool-Aid: seek a Civic, Mazda 3, Accord, Mazda 6. You probably can’t be picky, because at this age, finding a unit with reasonable miles, a comprehensive service history and (with any luck) an owner willing to negotiate on price may not be terribly easy. That depends on where you live and what’s on the market when the search gets serious. Good luck.

Steve Answers:

You have an expensive wife. Wait, that’s not what I meant. Your wife has expensive tastes.

A lot of cars may ‘seem’ to fit into this niche. Much like a 40 year old may ‘seem’ to fit in their college jeans. The Honda Fit would obviously be near the top if price weren’t the issue. But with $8500 to spend, you would have to get one with highway miles. Think around 80k to 100k. A BMW 3-Series that ‘may’ cover the luxury aspect of your desires would have even more miles. Those cars are questionable at best in terms of maintenance costs.

The Mazda 3 would be one of my top choices…if it weren’t the living embodiment of finance fodder these days. That one has a price premium that rivals the Fit. A Suzuki SX4 is a crapshoot when it comes to reliability and dealer service. Golfs and Rabbits will likely hit right near the same price issues without 80k+ miles. As for the Mini you mentioned? That would be in the six digit odometer range.

My choice would be the Ford Fusion. Take a 2006 Fusion S model for around the 60k range. Throw in leather seats on Ebay or your nearby auto recycling center. Get a nice premium sound system, and keep the maintenance costs in check by making sure everything is up to date. Some other folks will recommend the Mistubishi Lancer or a Nissan Versa. They’re good cars. But luxury and low miles aren’t easy to come by for either one. I would opt for either the Fusion S or a Mazda 6 of similar vintage and outfit it to your heart’s content.

Need help with a car buying conundrum? Email your particulars to mehta@ttac.com, and let TTAC’s collective wisdom make the decision easier… or possibly much, much harder.


Sajeev Mehta and Steve Lang
Sajeev Mehta and Steve Lang

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  • Itsgotvtakyo Itsgotvtakyo on Jan 13, 2011

    SX4- not terrible cars. If you have reasonable access to a dealer it's certainly worth your time to check one out. A friend has one of the AWD crossover jobs and hasn't had any unscheduled dealer visits. Doesn't suck to drive either.

  • Ryan Cousineau Ryan Cousineau on Jan 25, 2011

    Just thought you'd want to know, we bought a car: 2007 Nissan Versa S, automatic, 80,000 km (~50k mi). It cost $8500 (including all fees, $9450 with taxes) from a local used dealer in the Vancouver area. I was attracted to the idea of a Versa by the CVT and the huge and quiet interior, but in the end I could only afford the S-grade with the 4-speed auto, and that seemed a reasonable compromise for our needs. Thanks for all the suggestions!

  • Carson D At 1:24 AM, the voyage data recorder (VDR) stopped recording the vessel’s system data, but it was able to continue taping audio. At 1:26 AM, the VDR resumed recording vessel system data. Three minutes later, the Dali collided with the bridge. Nothing suspicious at all. Let's go get some booster shots!
  • Darren Mertz Where's the heater control? Where's the Radio control? Where the bloody speedometer?? In a menu I suppose. How safe is that??? Volvo....
  • Lorenzo Are they calling it a K4? That's a mountain in the Himalayas! Stick with names!
  • MaintenanceCosts It's going to have to go downmarket a bit not to step on the Land Cruiser's toes.
  • Lorenzo Since EVs don't come in for oil changes, their owners don't have their tires rotated regularly, something the dealers would have done. That's the biggest reason they need to buy a new set of tires sooner, not that EVs wear out tires appreciably faster.
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