So I need a new(er) car and have my choices narrowed down between two cars and need an opinion. My current choices are:
2011 NISSAN VERSA Sedan with 18,858 Miles for $8500
or
2012 Hyundai Elantra GLS with 56,077 miles for $8600
I currently have a Hyundai Elantra (2004) and love it, but it has over 200K miles on it and things are breaking every 4-6 months and it’s getting expensive. (It’s costing far more than the car is worth.)
So which one would you choose and why?
The Nissan: it has far, far less mileage. The Versa is in the same ballpark as the Hyundai so far as reliability and safety.
Need more info. Kelly Blue Book shows the Hyundai to be worth $7900 (private party sale, good condition, standard equipment), while the Versa (I picked the S model since none was specified) with the same variables is listed at $5800. Going by that alone, the Hyundai is far and away the better deal.
Other factors to consider:
-What features does each car have, and which are most important to you?
-The Versa was only driven an average of 3,000 miles per year. That is extremely low and cause for some questions. The 11k per year average on the Hyundai is right at what would be expected.
-The Versa is smaller and gets slightly better mileage, the Elantra is more powerful and quick
All else being equal, I’d lean toward the Elantra (and try to negotiate to the $7900 price or better) just because it is the better value. The Versa seems to be way overpriced, even at that mileage level.
If I couldn’t have a BMW, I’d take a Nissan.
It’s a moot point now, as the Nissan sold. I did test drive the Elantra and was pleased with the way it drove. Looks like I’ll be getting the Elantra. 