Planning on buying a new car

[AllAboutThe'O']

So after seven years and 160,000-plus miles, it's time to buy me a new vehicle. I'm looking to get a car in the $15,000-$20,000 price range and American, as well as something that gets me at least 30 miles a gallon. I haven't officially narrowed the list down, but at the moment, I'm thinking about a Dodge Avenger (my last car was a Dodge, BTW), a Chevy Cobalt or a Ford Fusion. Any other help would be greatly appreciated.

[olevetonahill]

Seems like Ive heard bad things about the ford , But im not sure .

[frankensooner]

The Fusion is manufactured at Ford's Hermosillo Stamping & Assembly plant in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, where the similar Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ are also built.

The Dodge Avenger is assembed in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

All Chevy Cobalts are currently manufactured at GM's Lordstown Assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio.

Toyota Corollas are manufactured in Fremont, California. (Being a Toyota fan, I had to throw that one in! ;) )

[GottaHavePride]

Both the Avenger and the Fusion will run you over your $20,000 mark unless you're talking used.

I think the Avenger is a better car than the Fusion, and cheaper as well. Fusion = overpriced.

[C&CDean]

Consumer's Report has just rated a couple of the smaller Fords better than some Toyotas. Just an fyi.

[Oldnslo]

Mazda 3 is based on a Ford/Volvo design. Is that close enough?

[yermom]

i'd plug the Corolla as well, i think.

although, i generally pan American cars, i'd look at the Malibu in that range

have you looked at the Impreza? ;)

[royalfan5]

These guys like the Fusion, and they are generally pretty hard on cars
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/reviews/ford-fusion-sel/

The American Ford Focuses are generally regarded as crap.

[olevetonahill]

These guys like the Fusion, and they are generally pretty hard on cars
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/reviews/ford-fusion-sel/

The American Ford Focuses are generally regarded as crap.
That may be the one I was thinkin of ?

[AllAboutThe'O']

Bumped this thread to let everyone know that I finally purchased a new car.
Bought a 2008 Chevy Impala 4-door that comes with power locks, power windows, cruise control, XM radio and one-year of free OnStar service. Got it at the Chevy dealership in the town I grew up in, and I got it for a very reasonable price. Only thing so far I've noticed is that it's a bigger car than I'm used to driving so I have to make that adjustment. But I can't wait to take it out for a road trip and test it out.

[yermom]

i generally don't like FWD or automatic transmissions, but the Impala i rented a few years back was pretty nice and kinda changed my mind on Chevrolets a bit

[Oldnslo]

Congratulations! Nothing more fun than a new car!

except maybe a puppy. maybe.

[soonerbrat]

Mazda 3 is based on a Ford/Volvo design. Is that close enough?


Zoom Zoom Zoom :D


i love my mazda 3. mazda is owned by Ford but I don't know where they are manufactured.

[soonerbrat]

Congratulations! Nothing more fun than a new car!

except maybe a puppy. maybe.


puppies poop on the floor. the car is definitely more fun

[TopDaugIn2000]

I can't imagine you being comfortable in a cobalt....just sayin.



oh, and Camry gets 38 on the hwy....:D

[yermom]

my mom's Cobalt wasn't too uncomfortable, of course the clutch dropped out of it in like 3000 miles...

[Okla-homey]

That lifetime powertrain warranty on Dodge's/Jeeps is pretty sweet.

[soonerbrat]

i got stuck with a cobalt when i rented a car once and i hated it

[royalfan5]

Zoom Zoom Zoom :D


i love my mazda 3. mazda is owned by Ford but I don't know where they are manufactured.I believe those come from Flat Rock Michigan.

[royalfan5]

That lifetime powertrain warranty on Dodge's/Jeeps is pretty sweet.
Lifetime of the Jeep or Lifetime of the compay? Chrysler is toast as a viable company. Nissan will likely take Dodge trucks and maybe Jeep, and the Chinese the rest. The CEO admitted the company is operationally bankrupt last week.

[TopDaugIn2000]

i got stuck with a cobalt when i rented a car once and i hated it


same here, but it was a Neon. I thought I was gonna be roadkill on the Atlanta freeways. I'd punch down on the gas pedal and get NO response. I was a-skeerd

[critical_phil]

Zoom Zoom Zoom :D


i love my mazda 3. mazda is owned by Ford but I don't know where they are manufactured.


another vote for the Mazda 3. it's the 4-cyl version of the S40 without all of the nice trim (well, except for brat's)

[yermom]

does it have all the tranny problems?

(the car, not the trim)

[soonerbrat]

I haven't had any problems with it..mine is a manual transmission though. just turned 55K miles the other day.

[soonerbrat]

OH, and for the record..i had a mazda protege before the 3. never had ANY problems with it..it had 120K miles on it when it was totaled. Probably would've lasted til 200K

[yermom]

I haven't had any problems with it..mine is a manual transmission though. just turned 55K miles the other day.

yeah, i'm talking automatics

i bet that is a fun little car with a stick shift

[Okla-homey]

Lifetime of the Jeep or Lifetime of the compay? Chrysler is toast as a viable company. Nissan will likely take Dodge trucks and maybe Jeep, and the Chinese the rest. The CEO admitted the company is operationally bankrupt last week.

link please.

[royalfan5]

link please.
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/editorials/chrysler-suicide-watch-28-the-end-of-the-beginning-of-the-end/
http://www.thecarconnection.com/Auto_News/Daily_Auto_News/Cerberus_Spins_Nardellis_Bankruptcy_Talk.S173.A137 79.html
http://www.portfolio.com/views/blogs/business-spin/2007/12/23/chrysler-clarifies-financials-did-we-say-bankrupt
http://money.cnn.com/2007/12/21/news/companies/chrysler/?postversion=2007122107
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071224/OPINION03/712240310/1147/AUTO02


Chrysler is ****ed with a Capital F. The only thing of value they have left is Jeep, the lending unit, and the truck building capacity that Nissan needs. Other than that they have fleet queen mid-sized sedans, fading RWD platforms, a couple of niche products, and a couple of bastardizations of the Jeep brand in the Patriot and Compass. Plus with new car sales likely to drop. It won't be pretty. There is a reason Daimler gave them away. While they got 6B for Chrysler, the terms of the deal required them to put 6.75B into it for the new owners.

[soonerbrat]

yeah, i'm talking automatics

i bet that is a fun little car with a stick shift

it really does zoom zoom..i have to be careful when i'm on the highway..i can get up to 95 without even realizing it...

my protege was an automatic - no tranny problems with it.

[soonerboomer93]

some of us need a v6 though

I'll be looking around when I get home for what to buy