[sleepergun]

Hey peeps.

I am in the market for a decent Sedan/smaller SUV wih the median being $25K.

I have about 300 miles/wk in commuting and average about 50 miles a week on top of that (figure 3000 miles per year for non-commuting).

I would still lie to both see and feel the road, so land-yahts are out.
The models I have looked at online are:

Suzuki Kizashi
Nissan Altima3.5 SR
Honda Crosstour
Honda Accord EX-V6
Hyundai Sonata SE
VW GLI
VW Tiguan (?)
VW Jetta
Mazda CX7-S (?)
Mazda 6
Chevy Impala

Any other suggestions recommendations/warnings?

[bppstorr]

Suzuki is said to have quality problems; Hyundai will probably be good value. Is Hyundai the new Toyota?

[Helloheshess]

Late models of the Hyundai Sonata is said to have safety problems with the air bags.

I'm not sure if they've rectified that problem or not.

[avodeinst]

Late models of the Hyundai Sonata is said to have safety problems with the air bags.

Well, there you go; if this is true, then Hyundai is the new Toyota.

[EvonsRorgon]

Ha!!

Never thought of it that way.

But I think Kia owns Hyundai, so THAT co is also the new Toyota.

[Hrennilasi]

New Ford Fusion - should be on any short list that includes mid size cars.

[zoppereurvito]

I am not 100% on the Ford's styling. Very chunky/butch.

the hybrid would also be ok, except for the fact that 90% of my driving now is highway, producing a net of 0 savings (gas) in the long run AND a $5000 set of batteries I have to replace in 5-10 years... (I was also looking at the Altima hybrid, and the extra $$ for no net savings on my commute....)

BTW, living in Hoboken makes it hard to throw a 300' long extension cord out your 4th floor window to charge your street-parked car halfway down the block! (So all those plug-ins are still not feasable for me....)

[FoetAgerhot46]

Someone I know just leased a Ford Confusion.

[Borzopayn]

I am not 100% on the Ford's styling. Very chunky/butch.

the hybrid would also be ok, except for the fact that 90% of my driving now is highway, producing a net of 0 savings (gas) in the long run AND a $5000 set of batteries I have to replace in 5-10 years... (I was also looking at the Altima hybrid, and the extra $$ for no net savings on my commute....)

Lets face it, you see the interior of the car more than the exterior. So what do you think of the interior? I'd recommend at least giving it a test drive - its pretty much the pinnacle of US engineering - which is amazingly not a sarcastic joke now-a-days.

Also - why get the hybrid version? The base car gets great mileage too.

[9uWzBx4l]

So far I have no recommendations available for Asian and American (N&S/Continent) made cars, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Hyundai and such are all having massive recalls, I feel it is the parts problem rather than the car manufacturer problem, so I need to hold the recommendations for now.

[Vomekayafboke]

I think that Toyota's is the exception here because they had intentionally withheld valuable info that could have helped saved those who died so needlessy.

[Polopolop]

Asian and American cars are sort of meh in my book. They are built by an "as cheap as it gets" mentality, and that never works out.

If you can get a VW Tiguan within your budget, that would be hands down the best purchase of that list.

Was a little bit disappointed with the looks of the Tiguan, because the concept/prototypes they were showing actually looks badass, and it turned out to be pretty bland / average, but quality-wise, it's a top notch car.

[refsherne]

Ken, I agree with you there. i was looking at some of the VW's and they look pretty tight. The only problem being that they have a tendency to be prohibitively small (especially when considering I am looking for one that can hold a kid seat in the back and a stroller in the trunk).

the CC LOOKS really sweet, but from what i heard, it is like a more compact Passat. Compact Passat??!? They weren't exactly spacious.....


I have also looked online at BMW, but they are CRAZY expensive, even for the certified pre-owned (they only drop marginally in price, even at milages like 40K!).

There was also a Kia or two recommended on Edmunds.com, but most of the reviews seem to say it is kind of a "mushy" car (midway between performance and luxury, making it rather undistinctive in styling and "smooth" in performance....). I don't like "smooth", it usually means fluffy/soft.

Thanks for the help so far, it is appreciated! (This ain't easy.. I need to do some driving!!)

[Quaganoca]

Just get a Ferrari!

[angelxmagic]

Yyyyyyyyah.

Okey.

Next suggestion?

[LindaSmithIV]

Six speed Hemi Challenger in B5 blue. The kid will love it as a 16th birthday present.

[DrBrightonone]

That Hemi Challenger sounds terrif. The odd thing is, I can actually afford to get one, while the getting is good, but I know darned well gas is going back up to $5.00 a gallon (or more) in the next year or two. So why would I buy a $45K toy to either park in the garage, or lug around the crowded, radar-infested streets of Phoenix and Scottsdale at a lousy 25 MPH? Complete waste!

I have to believe there were plenty of guys who had the chance, in 1968 or 1969, to get the first generation of muscle cars, but passed on the opportunity due to practical reasons.

So I'm thinking, this MIGHT be the last hurrah for real muscle cars. Decisions, decisions.

[duncanalisstmp]

Get it! You live once.

[lierro]

Fun choices people, but back to earth. Muscle does not get you to and from work every day very practically, especially in traffic.

I am still looking at the more efficient vehicles that are not econo-boxes.


Also, used BMW?

[Tndfpcin]

A BMW 3-Series is a bit small as a family car. That's to keep the price somewhat low. Latest models are a little bigger.

Used BMW is a good choice. Get familiar with CPO. I'd first look for a 5-Series within budget.