My inlaws just got a 2013 Hyundai Sonata for 25k, while I hate seeing them spend that much on a car I have to say for under 30k the car's loaded. 

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My inlaws just got a 2013 Hyundai Sonata for 25k, while I hate seeing them spend that much on a car I have to say for under 30k the car's loaded.

25k is pretty low in the spectrum isn't it?

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I"m an engineer and worked in the auto industry for 8 years in the assembly plants and can tell you auto companies DO NOT build cars for the ease of repair. Absolutely, positively, NOT! They build cars to get through the assembly line as fast as possible. Their customer is not YOU, their customer is the dealer. When that car leaves the assembly line it's sold to the dealer, not you. Oh, yeah, they want you to believe it in all their commercials, but it's not the case.e

I've been sent to dealerships at the company's request to mediate an end-user's complaint many times and the bottom line was always to make the dealership happy, not the end-user. My first encounter with the dealership manager before we talked to the end-user was to ascertain from him whether he wanted the end-user to be a repeat customer. From there we proceeded to tackle his issue and my decision was always in accordance with the dealership's preference.

 

Regards...........................the Chiefjag

 

Very interesting.  I learn something new everyday.  Are you a mechanical engineer, Chief?

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25k is pretty low in the spectrum isn't it?

 

maybe in California where wages are higher? I dunno I can never imagine dropping 25k on a car, just blows my mind. 

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maybe in California where wages are higher? I dunno I can never imagine dropping 25k on a car, just blows my mind. 

 

25 is on the lower end now unfortunately. I have not bought a new car since 2005. But the last time I went car browsing, I was surprised how many cars top 30k. And I am amazed at how some options can drive the price up. I enjoy not having a car payment too much that I am putting off buying a car until I basically have to.

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25 is on the lower end now unfortunately. I have not bought a new car since 2005. But the last time I went car browsing, I was surprised how many cars top 30k. And I am amazed at how some options can drive the price up. I enjoy not having a car payment too much that I am putting off buying a car until I basically have to.

 

Clark Howard says if you buy a car "new" you have to drive it 10 years to get your money's worth out of it. Sound's about right to me. Personally when I buy a car I look for 6-7 years old try and find one under 100k miles on it and I shoot to spend no more then 10k. 

 

edit: I've only broken my 10k rule once, on my truck. 

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Clark Howard says if you buy a car "new" you have to drive it 10 years to get your money's worth out of it. Sound's about right to me. Personally when I buy a car I look for 6-7 years old try and find one under 100k miles on it and I shoot to spend no more then 10k. 

 

edit: I've only broken my 10k rule once, on my truck. 

 

In 1999 I bought a used Ford (only had 10k miles) and drove it for 6 years. The last year it had issues with the transmission and starter.

 

Bought a Camry new in 2005 and have drove it since. My employer gets a corporate rate through Toyota and I paid about 22k for a car that retailed for 30k. I have about 130k miles on it. Just routine maintenance is all I have had to put into it. I could not recommend Toyota enough.

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Clark Howard says if you buy a car "new" you have to drive it 10 years to get your money's worth out of it. Sound's about right to me. Personally when I buy a car I look for 6-7 years old try and find one under 100k miles on it and I shoot to spend no more then 10k. 

 

edit: I've only broken my 10k rule once, on my truck. 

 

If a person is willing to put in the work and diligence, there's a lot of good used cars to be found.  I've only ever bought one new car.  Everything else I've owned was used and, for the most part, trouble-free.  I'm a fairly decent shade tree mechanic so upkeep and repairs are no problem.  

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In 1999 I bought a used Ford (only had 10k miles) and drove it for 6 years. The last year it had issues with the transmission and starter.

 

Bought a Camry new in 2005 and have drove it since. My employer gets a corporate rate through Toyota and I paid about 22k for a car that retailed for 30k. I have about 130k miles on it. Just routine maintenance is all I have had to put into it. I could not recommend Toyota enough.

 

Toyota best car they mad from 90's well into 2007/2008 don't know enough about these post 09 versions yet. I drove a 2002 Camry for 300k+ miles and sold it running in solid condition, only problem I ever had was at about 200k the transmission had to be replaced. Some of that was just neglect from the previous owner that eventually took it's toll on the tranny.

 

Without out a doubt 2000-2006 Camry one of the most reliable cars they've built in a looooonnnnggg time.

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If a person is willing to put in the work and diligence, there's a lot of good used cars to be found.  I've only ever bought one new car.  Everything else I've owned was used and, for the most part, trouble-free.  I'm a fairly decent shade tree mechanic so upkeep and repairs are no problem.  

 

best way to be, you'll save a fortune doing your own work. 

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Bought a used Infiniti G37s coupe yesterday. Very happy with it so far.

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Bought a used Infiniti G37s coupe yesterday. Very happy with it so far.

Nice. I think you will keep being happy with it.

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I've owned 17 cars and spent more than 10k acquiring each exactly one time - a '99 trooper with 10 thousand miles on it.

 

The best deal was an 1996 Infiniti J30 that needed the 100k maintenance done, which cost me about 600 bucks after I bought it for $3700.  I'd recommend that vehicle to anyone. UNREAL Bose stereo system.  So-so gas mileage, but great performance.

 

I just had a 2001 highlander for about 6 months that I bought for 4 grand and sold for 4500 after I put 400 bucks into it.  It was reliable, but a tinny little thing that blew all over the highway at 70.  Essentially a Camry station wagon.

 

I currently drive a 99 Toyota Land Cruiser that may be my favorite vehicle ever.  Bought for 8,300, put 2 grand into it right away for all the maintnenance the prior owner skipped, and I have added 60k miles to the 150k that came with it.  Bulletproof, but gets 13/17 mpg.

 

If you want to go the under-10k route, here are my recommendations:

 

Mazda miata or 3.

Honda civic/accord

High mileage, well maintained Japanese luxo-sedans like the Infiniti Q45, Lexus LS 430, Acura 3.2

Scion anything

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I don't think it's available in teh US but I quite like the Citroen DS3. Looks like quite a funky little car.

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I don't think it's available in teh US but I quite like the Citroen DS3. Looks like quite a funky little car.

I wish they had Alfa Romeo in the US.

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I wish they had Alfa Romeo in the US.

 

They used to sell the Milano in the US, IIRC. 

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I wish they had Alfa Romeo in the US.

Alfa's are great cars, when they work. Which isn't often.

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Alfa's are great cars, when they work. Which isn't often.

 

Hence, the Milano's discontinuance in the U.S....

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I wish they had Alfa Romeo in the US.

They are importing 2 models in 2015  I believe.  Possibly later this year.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/201...uture-cars

 

Fiat bought Alfa a while back and also now owns a chunk of Dodge/Chrysler - giving them the infrastructure to sell more effectively in the US.

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I'm in the market as well. The old Caddy finally died on me.


I went and took a look at a 2011 Elantra today. Anyone have experience with Hyundais?

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