… please!
I’ve been driving a 2006 Buick Lucerne for seven years. I like it but little things are starting to go wrong and I don’t want to deal with them anymore.
I’d buy another but a little variety would be nice too.
What I’m looking for is:
seats four comfortably…prob a 4-door
good gas mileage
smooth, comfortable, quiet ride
electronics are not a priority … GPS is for people who can’t read maps and don’t plan ahead… I do both!
TIA
Your requirements pretty much cover every entry-level sedan made by every manufacturer on the planet.
I would test drive different cars and then pick out one you like. I always try to buy cars at the end of the model year, as car dealers will usually give a discount, since they need to make room for the next year’s models.
Invest $12 in a year’s subscription to Consumer Reports online. With that you’re going to be able to compare things like fuel economy, comfort, trim levels, etc. You can then cross reference with Edmunds, US News car rankings, The Car Connection, and others.
Having driven most of the “affordable mid-size cars” the one thing in my list that I’m not getting is the “smooth, quiet, comfortable ride”… except for the Honda Accord that is.
I’m almost ready to pull the trigger so does anybody have a suggestion for something I my have missed? If not the 2013 Accord I’m leaning toward a 2012 Hyundai Sonata that I can get for a good price.
… Smooth, quiet, comfortable ride …
You are right about this being an issue with most, if not all entry level mid-sized cars. In order to get better gas milage you have to lighten the car and that makes for a less comfortable ride. Some of the newer full sized cars are getting impressive milage ratings but the cost of them is getting up there.
New or used?
What is your price range?
Are there any brands you simply will not own?
I test drove the Kia Optima last year and really liked it. I currently own a 2009 Saturn AURA that we plan on keeping till it falls apart.
Ah, I see now you are leaning toward Honda or Hyundai. If you haven’t already, check out the Kia.
You’ve nailed it already–new Honda Accord.
Lincoln MKS. Or a Ford Taurus. That’s if by comfortable you really mean comfortable.
Nobody ever made a mistake choosing the Honda Accord. They also were never awarded as person with coolest car in the company parking lot. But your current ride is Buick, so I’m guessing impressing your cow-orkers is not near the top on your list of priorities. 
My brother just bought a 2013 Accord and loves it. He test drove everything in the class. Said the Hyundai Sonata was a close 2nd, but felt the appearance of the dash was “plasticy” vs. the higher quality appearance of the Honda.
I’d start with trying the models that have been going 20+ years, i.e. Toyota Camry, Ford Taurus, Honda Accord, etc. Just because manufacturers have had that long to work the bugs out of them.
The model name has nothing to do with the actual underlying design. That some manufacturers use the same name for decades through multiple redesigns whereas others might change the name while leaving actual mechanics unchanged is entirely a marketing decision.