OMG a blog that isn’t about EA buying Bioware! 
This is about my parents’ awesome gift they’re buying me for Christmas – a new car! I really have the coolest parents in the world. They miss me lots and the car they bought me has been having tons of problems lately, so apparently they are going to buy me a new one instead =) Yes, I know I’m spoiled – no need to point it out.
So here’s the deal…I have probably about $18,000 – $20,000 to spend. I don’t know much about cars at all. I know that I want a car that looks good, is comfortable, and reliable. I don’t drive all that much so gas mileage isn’t all that important. I don’t know how to drive a stick shift. I guess I’d prefer something new, but a 2006 or 2007 wouldn’t be bad either. So here’s what I’ve been looking at so far, but I’m wanting advice.
Mazda Miata:
Sporty, cute, but a little on the spendy side. I’d probably be looking at a 2006.
Subaru Impreza WRX
Scion tC
I’m also looking a bit at new Honda Civics. Anyone else have any car recommendations? =)
Tami Baribeau is the Associate Producer for Metaplace, Inc, currently working on Island Life. She is also the Lead Editor of feminist gaming blog The Border House, and the National Facebook Games Examiner for Examiner.com. She can be reached on Twitter or by email.
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Out of the three I prefer the WRX however, being down in Sunny San Diego…. well the miata might be a perfect fit.
The biggest problem with the miata, much like my old car (Audi TT Roadster) is that it is a small little 2 seater. This means never can you take more than one other person with you, you are limited as to how much you can carry as trunk space is limited (cut down by about 1/3 because the top needs to be stored, and usually, even when its up you do not regain that space. Which means limited ability to go camping, hiking, shopping etc etc etc.
Check out Car and Driver.com and a couple sites like it to see side by side comparisons of cars and what their reviewers think of them.
Pre-Grats on the new car cuppy!!!!
Oh!!! PS!
No, you are not spoiled. Just well taken care of
Whatever has the best fuel economy.
Oh, but the WRX is going to run you around $24k – also I think the only WRX you can get in a manual is the Limited edition which is pricier?
My previous car was a Civic – loved it – never had a problem (was just time to trade up from a 94!)
Onyx- did you mean the only one I can get in an automatic is the Limited edition?
And yeah, I’d be looking at either a 2006 or 2007 WRX, not a brand new one.
I’d go with a Mazda 6. My parents have one and it’s a great car (there’s is stick but you can get it in an automatic) barring that I’m a big fan of the Nissan Maxima or the Subaru Legacy.
I’d go with either the new Civic or an Impreza
I personally wouldn’t want those cars myself, but seeing that you are in souther Cali where it does get hot hot hot. I would say get the Mazda Miata. You need something with the top down. I would personally say get the desel VW Golf convertable or the Mitsu Eclipse Convertable. Gotta have the top down in the summer time
Jeep Wrangler. Sure, you’re not in the midwest anymore, but so what, get something cool. (Sidenote: Wranglers are pricey, but they hold their value if you want to sell in a few years.)
Don’t buy a family sedan until you have a family.
Not sure about the Scion in particular, but every Toyota I’ve had is virtually unkillable. I’m currently still driving around in the ‘93 Toyota Tercel I bought in college and (knock on wood) I’ve had no severe problems with it yet. My friends have had good things to say about Hondas, too.
Toyota Prius. Even if gas mileage isn’t your main concern the Prius is a great car. Incredibly roomy, great field of view, despite not being a big car you don’t feel low to the ground, lots of nice features and the hatch back gives you lots of transport options without having to buy a big SUV or ugly station wagon. So its a small car that has lots of the nice features of many other types of cars.
You’re in CA dammit! Smog City! Go Hybrid!
Actually one of my friends has a Mazda 6, and I was surprised how fast that car grew on me — solid, classy (needs the sport kit though or it looks like a boring ass sedan), fun to drive. I bet I could borrow it one afternoon if you wanted to check it out.
I’m not in love with the newer Miata look personally, and if size limitation is an issue, it’s smaller than my car even — but space issues aren’t universal to all convertibles, take a look at the storage space and how it fits your lifestyle before dismissing one on that (my del sol fits 2-3 suitcases and at least 2 carryon bags… even with the strut brace across half the trunk, and even with the top stored. Except I fly twice a year, so it doesn’t matter anyway). Flip side on the convertible — you’d think it’s a good idea for those 90 degree days down here, until you’re sitting at stoplights in direct sun every couple of minutes, blinded and baking, and have a sunburn down the part of your hair.
Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t buy a convertible but I don’t use mine as much as I’d think I would.
Also, I totally live and love this thought by naladini:
Don’t buy a family sedan until you have a family.
You also know I’m biased cause I want you on team s2k when I take the plunge.
Miata has serious issues with space and it’s not like you can fold anything down. I would go with something more roomy based on how long you sit in the car.
Scion is nice and I almost got a Civic myself last year but decided on an Altima instead. Those are both good choices.
It’s not your money I guess, so this might not matter, but you might be better off looking at getting someone elses lease.
New cars depreciate at an incredible rate. Even just driving a new car off the lot costs you 3-5 grand.
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/auto/20011226a.asp
Leased cars tend to have been cared for because of the terms on return or trade up. If you want to trade to a newer lease you need to maintain a certain schedule of services. So, previously leased cars will usually have been taken fairly good care-of.
You might be able to find a car with more options if you look at prev-leased vehicles vs. brand new.
I cannot say enough good things about my mazda3. The mazda6 is bigger and more power, but getting the mazda3 you can get fully loaded grand touring, so you have all the bells, for a better price, than base model of any of those others cars.
I didn’t know manual either when I bought it, but I’m glad I learned, it’s so much fun to drive (considering it’s costs compared to a WRX or an Eclipse).
I would stay clear of Miata and WRX if you don’t have the urge to learn manual.
I would add 06/07 Corolla (I was just on Toyota’s site and noticed the 08’s start at 15K+) with the sport body kit, and Mazda3 or 6 to your list as a lot of people have said. Civic is also a great car but I think a tad over priced for what you can get at other dealers.(At least in Canada)
Avoid a lease like the plague if you do any major driving at all. I have seen more people screwed over by the mileage rules on a lease.
Also add the Mini to your list. They’re made by BMW and fun as hell to drive.
Whatever you end up with make sure you got AC for those hot Cali days, and a sunroof for those cool nights. (Plus both add resale value.)
For the sake of our planet, don’t settle for a car that gets less than 30 MPG.
I recommend the Civic hybrid. They’re comfortable and reliable. (I enjoy my non-hybrid Civic, which gets 29 MPG on average.)
I also second what Hailin has to say about leases. My lease holds me to 12k miles/year – if I go over that, I start paying through the nose.
When I got the car, I figured I’d be OK, but I didn’t take into account trips to San Diego and vacations! My bad.
Got to go for the Zap!
http://www.zapworld.com/
3 wheeled electric car, goes a maximum of 35mph (downhill with the wind behind you) and gets a whopping 20 miles to the 27 cent charge.
My mother drives one…all the cool people do
OK, other than that I dont think I can contribute, I’m a motorcycle person myself.
Happy early non-religiously affiliated gift giving time!
Twill
I’ve got to agree with Sean. Don’t get a Miata. My uncle had one, and those things are tiny. You might not care about the lack of room most of the time, but you’d surely have times when it’s a huge irritation. Those cars are made for folks who have more than one car (i.e., a fun vehicle and a useful vehicle).
If you are thinking about doing the WRX then defintiely, definitely teach yourself how to drive stick shift. It’s a skill everyone should have… And then when you’ve done that, buy yourself a Honda S2000. ‘Specially if you are living in sunny San Diego. Look for a 2002-2003. Awesome little car.
If you’re looking at the hybrid Civic I’d say forget it – the engine is in behind the back seats which means you can’t fold them down, meaning NO space at ALL in the back. Which sucks! If you were thinking of a hybrid you’re welcome to test drive my Prius next time I see you – I’m quite happy with it, and it’s got a surprising amount of room in the back for a hatchback. Gets about 38-39 mpg driving to and from work, 45-50 on freeways, so definitely nice when filling up. Good luck whatever you pick!
I’d avoid scions like the plague honestly. but that is a personal thing.
i’ve got a mazda 6 and it’s an amazing car. you could also go with a 3. less power not quite as big, but still better than the miata.
miatas are good cars and all, but they are small and pricey. and they’re tempermental/high maintenance sorts of cars.
Plug-in Hybrid all the way, baby. Only they’re a bit more than your budget and very hard to get still unless you’re famous for marketing reasons.
Still, it doesn’t hurt to ask.
If you do not know how to drive a manual transmission vehicle, you shouldn’t go for the higher end model of the Impreza line (the WRX). You should just get the regular Impreza. The extra features would just be wasted money if you can’t drive a manual, ditto for the Miata. If you _really_ want either of those two cars, then you should get them, regardless of whether its an automatic, but only if you have a burning desire for those cars specifically. Since you’re polling your readership, and you seem undecided, I think you should consider either the Scion or the Honda.
Stay away from the Scion also your in Cali so get a convertable
Check out the saturn sky. As for Subaru only get one if you wanna look like an extra from Too Fast Too Furious lol.
Why all the scion hate? I’ve had a Scion Xb for 3 years now and never had a single problem. It’s a toyota by another name for pete’s sake. They are great (!) cars for the price you pay. You can’t go wrong with a scion.
The WRX rocks, but I’d check to see how many reliable repair shops there are for Suburus in SoCal. They tend to be more popular in snow country…
Hey there,
I’m new to your website, actually came by it when I heard Brent mention your “So you want to be a blogger” post, since I want to start my own gaming blog.
Anyway, I just went through the car shopping process with my wife and I got her a Toyota Matrix. My best advice…research research research. If I had done the research for my current car, a 2001 Volvo S60 I could have saved alot of money on repairs! I don’t suppose you want to buy a volvo s60?
I make liberal use of this website when researching cars:
http://autos.yahoo.com/newcars/reliability.html
OKay I have the same tc you have pictured here and let me tell you… I LOVE IT… i just got it a month ago and it is just great, i get so many compliments its just a neat car… as lots and lots of room inside to so your friends wont be squased if you decide to take a trip.. trust me.. go for the scion…
just be careful