I’ll second what RNATB said about the Elantra. I got the SE for $16,289 last summer (before tax, title and license). The main differences between the SE and the base-model GLS are bigger tires, alloy wheels and electronic stability control on the SE. Consumer Reports rated it higher than the Corolla or Civic in their review last year.
I’ve already put 18,500 miles on mine, and the only non-standard service I’ve had to have done is an alignment. If you don’t have potholes the size of swimming pools where you live, you probably won’t have to worry about that. (I swear, Madison has worse roads than Detroit…)
Frankly, if money is tight, have you considered the possibility of just keeping your current car? Just because you spent a thousand dollars on it for repairs in the past month isn’t necessarily a problem, particularly if that was for maintenance issues (brakes, tires, and so forth) or stuff that doesn’t break down often (a timing belt, for instance, which needs to be changed only every 60,000 miles or so). I’ve spent a thousand dollars on maintenance on cars that were worth only slightly more than that, and gone on to drive them for months or years without spending substantially more.
Edited to add that if you have to finance the new car, the thousand dollars is probably three to five months of payments on it, so if your current car lasts that long, you’ve come out ahead.
I think you also got an extra pair of speakers (8 vs. 6). I was sorely tempted to go for the SE, but I didn’t care about the stability control and figured I’d get aftermarket alloy wheels when I get the tires replaced.
We own one. It’s our second one. The first one died at 8 years old, in a 4 car pileup on a Beltway exit; 3 of the 4 cars were totalled. My husband walked away from the accident, uninjured. Our second one is now just over 10 years old, bought a week or so after #1 died.
It’s reliable, gets great mileage, adequate trunk space (we managed to fit 2 kids’ camp luggage back there), etc.
BUT - as a tall person, and one with… an extra pound or three - it’s NOT very comfy for me. It’s so low to the ground, that I have to fold myself in half to get in, and struggle to get out.
As it’s mainly Typo Knig’s ride, I’m happy enough with it - but for my own driving needs, I want something a bit taller (I have a CR-V).
Can’t comment on the comfort-level of the other cars mentioned and obviously I know nothing about your own height / build issues, but I’d be very if the Civic were my main transportation.
We’ve concluded our 2-month shopping process for a new car, and the Hyundai Elantra won. Easily. In the end it wasn’t even close; no other car offered what we wanted for a similar price.
Of course, what you want varies from customer to customer.
My Dad is helping me out with this whole thing and he came across a Kia Spectra that looks like quite a deal. In fact, its a hell of a deal, too good to be true.
i called the dealership to ask about the disparity and he said the first was a rental and had been on the lot for a while. Both of those reasons seem legit, but to this extent? Kia has a great warranty (same as Hyundai’s) so I will probably jump on this, but i don’t want to get screwed. Any opinions?
I just had my 12 year old Chevy Blazer fixed and hope to keep it going a couple more years. It has low mileage, practically no rust, though it uses a lot of gas I only drive it around town a few times a week. I’d like a Subaru Forrester someday to replace it, but they’re pricey.
the thing is, I need 4 wheel drive, or AWD , as I live in snow country and a wimpy regular car can’t get up the slight slope of my driveway.
Is there a reasonably priced car with AWD that is good in the snow? I know nothing about cars, haven’t even thought about them for 12 years, but I may have to start…
If you’re planning on keeping it for a while, keep in mind that the Hyundai/Kia 100,000 mile/10 year powertrain warranty is not transferable- if you buy one used, you only get the 5 year/60,000 mile bumper to bumper coverage.
It is transferable but 2d buyer gets the balance of 5 yrs 50K – or at least that was the case when I bought mine (used) but that was in 2004. Clarify w/ dealer what “transferable” means.
Thank you all for your help. I settled on a 2009 hyundai accent Sedan. Not super exciting, but the warranty is amazing and it only cost 11,500. (12,400 after all the extra crap).
You all have been great and really helped the proccess.
if the Civic were my main transportation.