What used car should I buy?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

dfib slim

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2012
Messages
1,277
Reaction score
1,046
.

Members don't see this ad.
 
Last edited:
Currently I have an Audi with 90,000 miles and a blue book of $16,000. I love my car but I want something that is good on gas, cheap to maintain, reliable and something that will last me at least the 4+ years. Any suggestions?

Is the Audi paid off? If it is, it'll be cheaper to keep the car no matter what you're paying for gas.

Edit: Just realized that didn't make sense if you sell if for blue book (doh). However, by keeping it you don't have to deal with the hassle of selling it and that Audi should last for a while still with only 90K on it.
 
Last edited:
My Audi is running at 160k still. Awesome to drive and still holds its own in snow.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
Currently I have an Audi with 90,000 miles and a blue book of $16,000. I love my car but I want something that is good on gas, cheap to maintain, reliable and something that will last me at least the 4+ years. Any suggestions?

Honda Accord.. Toyota Camry. Nissan Altima.
 
I would avoid newer Toyota or Honda cars because there are much better options. Kia and Hyundai are the new champions of cheap, fuel efficient, reliable cars. Ford's latest offerings are great, too. For $16k you should look at new or CPO: Hyundai Elantra or Accent; Ford Fiesta or Focus; Kia Forte or Rio.
 
Currently I have an Audi with 90,000 miles and a blue book of $16,000. I love my car but I want something that is good on gas, cheap to maintain, reliable and something that will last me at least the 4+ years. Any suggestions?

Meh... until you tell us what model Audi or without knowing. I would say keep the Audi.
 
Sell it and pick up a Cherokee Diesel (2013 edition).. its supposed to get around 30 mpg in the city
 
Currently I have an Audi with 90,000 miles and a blue book of $16,000. I love my car but I want something that is good on gas, cheap to maintain, reliable and something that will last me at least the 4+ years. Any suggestions?

VW GTI or golf. Great gas mileage and VW has cheap maintenance.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
Meh... until you tell us what model Audi or without knowing. I would say keep the Audi.

It's probably an A4. I own an A4 myself and unless you can work on cars and don't mind using non-OE parts, they definitely aren't cheap to fix.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
The gas mileage is fine, I'm worried about up keep and maintenance costs when I'm gonna be broke as hell.

Nah man, that's a reliable car. You are good to go.


It's probably an A4. I own an A4 myself and unless you can work on cars and don't mind using non-OE parts, they definitely aren't cheap to fix.


I guess we have differing opinions. Not much is too difficult to learn on a car if that's your worry.
 
you're mad about 20/31 ????!???!??


more comments to follow

Yea I get 14/21 (G37S coupe)

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
Nah man, that's a reliable car. You are good to go.





I guess we have differing opinions. Not much is too difficult to learn on a car if that's your worry.

He's about 20,000 miles away from the maintenance interval recommended timing belt change. That's a $1200 job at the dealership and definitely not under warranty.
 
He's about 20,000 miles away from the maintenance interval recommended timing belt change. That's a $1200 job at the dealership and definitely not under warranty.

Far.

2. It's a maintenance he's eventually going to have to do on a car with timing belt.... Well unless he plans on avoiding these things by selling/buying.
 
Good on gas at least...

800px-Smart_car.jpg
 
Any climate or terrain considerations? A Honda Fit may work well for a daily commuter.
 
Sort of off topic, but...

Is anyone else stubborn about not switching to automatic transmission? I can't imagine driving anything but stick.
 
Check out the new nissan sentra, yes the 2013 one. It looks good. Starts at 16.
 
I have been driving the old family minivan all throughout undergrad and it is going to die soon.

My parents getting me a new car around 20k before I start med school in July.

What y'all recommend?

I'm thinking Honda civic coupe or scion Tc.

Sent from my Galaxy S2
 
Sort of off topic, but...

Is anyone else stubborn about not switching to automatic transmission? I can't imagine driving anything but stick.

MM is a decent enough medium for me.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
I have been driving the old family minivan all throughout undergrad and it is going to die soon.

My parents getting me a new car around 20k before I start med school in July.

What y'all recommend?

I'm thinking Honda civic coupe or scion Tc.

Sent from my Galaxy S2

Used GTI imo

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
Sort of off topic, but...

Is anyone else stubborn about not switching to automatic transmission? I can't imagine driving anything but stick.

too bad all the new sports cars are drifting towards that auto man stuff...🙁 (Not that I have 100k+ to throw down :laugh:)

Also, I take it morning parking lot commutes are not in your agenda.?
 
Used GTI imo

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

Has to be new.

My Dad has a small business so he gonna do a lease, and he can write the whole thing off as business expense. When the lease finishes I can decide if I want to buy it by paying off the residual.

Sent from my Galaxy S2
 
Has to be new.

My Dad has a small business so he gonna do a lease, and he can write the whole thing off as business expense. When the lease finishes I can decide if I want to buy it by paying off the residual.

Sent from my Galaxy S2

20k new is hard 🙁



Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
too bad all the new sports cars are drifting towards that auto man stuff...🙁 (Not that I have 100k+ to throw down :laugh:)

Also, I take it morning parking lot commutes are not in your agenda.?

They used to be, I grew up in LA. I also lived in SF for a while. I'm pretty stubborn about sticking to stick... haha

But yeah, stop and go traffic can be a huge bummer. Especially on a hill.
 
Has to be new.

My Dad has a small business so he gonna do a lease, and he can write the whole thing off as business expense. When the lease finishes I can decide if I want to buy it by paying off the residual.

Sent from my Galaxy S2

Seems unethical :whistle:
 
Am I the only one who'd suggest leasing? Great deals these days on Honda Civics for ~$119 a month w/ no down payment. Stop by your local auto dealer today!
 
Currently I have an Audi with 90,000 miles and a blue book of $16,000. I love my car but I want something that is good on gas, cheap to maintain, reliable and something that will last me at least the 4+ years. Any suggestions?

If you've considered new cars, a Nissan Versa new with no features is like 12k. Gets you from A to B. But if you want power windows and some stuff like that, you can get the entire thing for less than 15k new.

But if you're looking towards used, definitely Civic, Camry, or Corolla is the way to go.
 
Seems unethical :whistle:

Haha! You might redefine that word after witnessing the kind of stuff most other corporate people do.

(Not that it's right, but there are too many loopholes in the US system)
 
Am I the only one who'd suggest leasing? Great deals these days on Honda Civics for ~$119 a month w/ no down payment. Stop by your local auto dealer today!

For most ppl leasing doesn't make sense. But it has some benefits, low monthly payments and u can always buy the car at the end if u want. (Sometimes the residual ends y up being less than blue book value so u can flip the car)

And where did u find that deal? Honda civic is like $189 month lease on their website.

Sent from my Galaxy S2
 
For most ppl leasing doesn't make sense. But it has some benefits, low monthly payments and u can always buy the car at the end if u want. (Sometimes the residual ends y up being less than blue book value so u can flip the car)

And where did u find that deal? Honda civic is like $189 month lease on their website.

Sent from my Galaxy S2

Ah, maybe it's a regional deal. Living in the south does tend to have its benefits.
 
Am I the only one who'd suggest leasing? Great deals these days on Honda Civics for ~$119 a month w/ no down payment. Stop by your local auto dealer today!

I'd rather go used.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile
 
Top